It turns out, someone had stolen my wallet while I was at church. The Pastor called me today and said his wife found my wallet in the main part of the church. So someone stole it, took the money, but had an attack of conscience and brought the actual wallet back to the church.
Even though I know it's a bit ironic that my wallet was stolen in church, I know God was behind all this. I learned a good lesson, a heart lesson when I lost my wallet. I'll be doing my best to remember it now that I have it back.
On a sidenote, I was getting used to the idea of buying a new wallet (I've had this one for three years), so I think I'll buy a new wallet anyway.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Lost and Found
...mostly lost.
Yesterday I lost my wallet. I might have lost it in a taxi, or it might have been stolen from me in church (I am not lost on the irony however), but either way it's gone. Money can be replaced, the cards can be replaced over time, but I kept a lot of sentimental things in there that I'm afraid I'll never get back. So, I'm going to list these sentimental things here and why they are so, in case I forget.
Ich bin Geleibt - I am loved (in German) pin: I gave these out during our run of Cabaret at PAI. I'd all but forgotten about it, when I read that Dom used to have that pin on her, and it would remind her that she is loved as well. I put it in my wallet, to remember that I am loved, and to remember all the love I have for others.
Lost:
Dom's Prayer Card - Dominique passed away May 13th 2007. I put her prayer card in my wallet to remember her, but also what her passing stood for, for me, in my mind. We weren't there for her, she needed us, and we weren't there. I know there's nothing I could have done, but there is something I can do: make sure it never happens again. It reminds me to let people know how much I care for them, that I am thinking about them, and I am glad they're here. It reminds me that I have to be strong, that I have to help keep a group of people together even when we drift so far apart. And finally it reminds me to love myself, the way I am, because I am beautiful.
London Tube Map and Oyster Card - I put this in here when I was in London for a few days in the summer of 2007, before I went to Ireland. I carried them around with me everywhere like a child, just in case I was going to London unexpectedly. I didn't care that it was stupid or pointless. I love that city. I love everything about that city. I loved the semester I spent there. It shaped a lot of my adult life, insomuch as I screwed up so many times in London that it helped me learn how to get it right when I got back.
A Ticket to See Riverdance - I went to see Riverdance when I spent a month in Ireland. While I was there, I sort of hated it - the weather was the worst weather I had ever experienced. But I had so much fun with the people, and I learned a lot in class. It reminded me I want to go back, and travel around that funny, quirky island some more.
My University ID - I'm very upset about this. I was planning on using this ID anytime I wanted to rush a Broadway show. I still look like the picture, and could probably pass as a college student for my $26.50 ticket. Even though I'm a contributing member of society, I don't have $115 to spend on one ticket to one show. Or if I did, you better be damn sure it's my favorite.
Assorted Business Cards - A Class Act Auto Shop: The best body shop I went to in Philly. These guys were awesome, never cheated me, and treated Rhonda like she was a princess. The Elephant and Castle: A restaurant in Dublin, delicious fucking breakfast. The business card of this random man Sarah and I met when we went for dollar margaritas at a restaurant in Savannah. I don't remember his name or what he did, but he was drunk and it was funny.
And Found:
As I was compiling this list, I realized that these are all things that are from outside my home. Except for PAI, but PAI floats in another time-space continuum wherein it is everywhere and everyone's home. But I realized these are all things from my travels, because two important and wonderful people are missing from these memories, and then I realized I've never traveled with them. I have so many memories of these two wonderful people, I don't need something physical to remind me. Granted my travels are finite, while my time with my two best friends is (hopefully) infinite. And then I thought, at first when I had Dom's prayer card in my wallet, I would look at it, and think about her all the time. But time passes, and those feelings of grief inevitably lessen, and I would think about her less and less when I opened my wallet - but I found myself thinking about her more and more at other times. The London Tube Map and Oyster Card can be replaced the next time I travel to London, because what they really remind me of is that there is always a next time I will travel to London. I don't need a piece of paper or plastic to remind me of that, I know it in my heart.
I do wish I had my Ich Bin Geleibt pin, because sometimes it's hard to remember you're loved. It's always harder to remember those true and good things than the petty, small, evil things that enter our heads. But really, that pin was just a reminder of something I know in my heart - I am loved, and I deserve that love. Sometimes I forget that, but those times are so black that no pin could bring me back, only I could bring myself back.
And that's what I have. I have myself. I am a vessel filled with memories, with longing, with hope, with love. My wallet was the representation of those memories, that longing, hope, and love. But those things aren't real, they're idols. I am real. I am not the representation of longing, I am longing. I am not the representation of hope, I am hope. I am not the representation of love, I am the product of love. I am found.
Yesterday I lost my wallet. I might have lost it in a taxi, or it might have been stolen from me in church (I am not lost on the irony however), but either way it's gone. Money can be replaced, the cards can be replaced over time, but I kept a lot of sentimental things in there that I'm afraid I'll never get back. So, I'm going to list these sentimental things here and why they are so, in case I forget.
Ich bin Geleibt - I am loved (in German) pin: I gave these out during our run of Cabaret at PAI. I'd all but forgotten about it, when I read that Dom used to have that pin on her, and it would remind her that she is loved as well. I put it in my wallet, to remember that I am loved, and to remember all the love I have for others.
Lost:
Dom's Prayer Card - Dominique passed away May 13th 2007. I put her prayer card in my wallet to remember her, but also what her passing stood for, for me, in my mind. We weren't there for her, she needed us, and we weren't there. I know there's nothing I could have done, but there is something I can do: make sure it never happens again. It reminds me to let people know how much I care for them, that I am thinking about them, and I am glad they're here. It reminds me that I have to be strong, that I have to help keep a group of people together even when we drift so far apart. And finally it reminds me to love myself, the way I am, because I am beautiful.
London Tube Map and Oyster Card - I put this in here when I was in London for a few days in the summer of 2007, before I went to Ireland. I carried them around with me everywhere like a child, just in case I was going to London unexpectedly. I didn't care that it was stupid or pointless. I love that city. I love everything about that city. I loved the semester I spent there. It shaped a lot of my adult life, insomuch as I screwed up so many times in London that it helped me learn how to get it right when I got back.
A Ticket to See Riverdance - I went to see Riverdance when I spent a month in Ireland. While I was there, I sort of hated it - the weather was the worst weather I had ever experienced. But I had so much fun with the people, and I learned a lot in class. It reminded me I want to go back, and travel around that funny, quirky island some more.
My University ID - I'm very upset about this. I was planning on using this ID anytime I wanted to rush a Broadway show. I still look like the picture, and could probably pass as a college student for my $26.50 ticket. Even though I'm a contributing member of society, I don't have $115 to spend on one ticket to one show. Or if I did, you better be damn sure it's my favorite.
Assorted Business Cards - A Class Act Auto Shop: The best body shop I went to in Philly. These guys were awesome, never cheated me, and treated Rhonda like she was a princess. The Elephant and Castle: A restaurant in Dublin, delicious fucking breakfast. The business card of this random man Sarah and I met when we went for dollar margaritas at a restaurant in Savannah. I don't remember his name or what he did, but he was drunk and it was funny.
And Found:
As I was compiling this list, I realized that these are all things that are from outside my home. Except for PAI, but PAI floats in another time-space continuum wherein it is everywhere and everyone's home. But I realized these are all things from my travels, because two important and wonderful people are missing from these memories, and then I realized I've never traveled with them. I have so many memories of these two wonderful people, I don't need something physical to remind me. Granted my travels are finite, while my time with my two best friends is (hopefully) infinite. And then I thought, at first when I had Dom's prayer card in my wallet, I would look at it, and think about her all the time. But time passes, and those feelings of grief inevitably lessen, and I would think about her less and less when I opened my wallet - but I found myself thinking about her more and more at other times. The London Tube Map and Oyster Card can be replaced the next time I travel to London, because what they really remind me of is that there is always a next time I will travel to London. I don't need a piece of paper or plastic to remind me of that, I know it in my heart.
I do wish I had my Ich Bin Geleibt pin, because sometimes it's hard to remember you're loved. It's always harder to remember those true and good things than the petty, small, evil things that enter our heads. But really, that pin was just a reminder of something I know in my heart - I am loved, and I deserve that love. Sometimes I forget that, but those times are so black that no pin could bring me back, only I could bring myself back.
And that's what I have. I have myself. I am a vessel filled with memories, with longing, with hope, with love. My wallet was the representation of those memories, that longing, hope, and love. But those things aren't real, they're idols. I am real. I am not the representation of longing, I am longing. I am not the representation of hope, I am hope. I am not the representation of love, I am the product of love. I am found.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
All my other blog posts have concerned themselves with some aspect of traveling, or being in another country, or something...but this one is a little different.
I started going to a Presbyterian church here in Gwangju. I basically gave up on finding the Roman Catholic one, but I found a Presby one so I figured....same book, same God, can't do any harm. I actually kind of like it, too...which is weird because I'm a big Roman Catholic-loving nerd. It's less structured, which is weird...but there's singing at the beginning and I like that. And the sermon is usually ok. If there was a movie made about this church, it would be one of those Royal Tennenbaum-weird-character-driven movies; everyone is a little bit off and I like that, I'm a little bit off.
Anyway, during the sermon this past week, I was reading through the Bible because they get a little long and I'm working on the attention span, but I definitely don't have it down yet. I was reading the end of the book of Ephesians wherein Paul says (in the King James version):
"14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
I was reading this, and everything seemed hunkydorey...breastplate of righteousness, that makes sense, feet shod for the gospel of peace also makes sense, shield of faith and sword of the Spirit check check...then why are we putting on a helmet of Salvation, but we're girting our loins with truth? I went back and reread the verse thinking, maybe we get two helmets? One for truth and one for Salvation? To my confusion, truth is protecting our loins.
I thought, at first, that truth should protect our minds - isn't that where we figure truth out? But then I realized Paul hit the nail on the head, or the loins rather. When we know something is true, we know it in our gut. We've renamed it intuition, but really it's truth, the truth that matters. There is truth in our heads, scientific research, things we see with our eyes, but there is truth in our gut too. That truth we can't see or touch, but it's truth we feel - and it's a far more important truth. We can't see that someone loves us, we can't test them, but we can feel it, it is truth.
That is the kind of intangible truth we feel in our loins, and we must girt it - encircle it, surround it - because it is the easiest to lose, or rather bury, or hide. But we must encircle it, to make sure it doesn't go anywhere. We cannot reason the loin truth with our mind truth, we will end up doubting one or the other, or both; which is the end goal when evil acts.
When Paul says girt your loins with truth - he means protect the truth residing there, but he also means protect your loins with truth. Once one lie weaves its way down into your belly, it opens up a channel for all other lies to live and fester there. Even though that is where our most basic and important truths live, they are the most fragile truths as well.
I think a universal girting of loins would help. It helps us keep our loin-truth at the front of our minds where it should be, rather pushed down to the back and degraded to intuition. Though seeking loin-truth, and trusting it does not bring happiness (no truth seeking brings happiness), it can bring peace of mind, and we all need a little more peace of mind...or of loins.
I started going to a Presbyterian church here in Gwangju. I basically gave up on finding the Roman Catholic one, but I found a Presby one so I figured....same book, same God, can't do any harm. I actually kind of like it, too...which is weird because I'm a big Roman Catholic-loving nerd. It's less structured, which is weird...but there's singing at the beginning and I like that. And the sermon is usually ok. If there was a movie made about this church, it would be one of those Royal Tennenbaum-weird-character-driven movies; everyone is a little bit off and I like that, I'm a little bit off.
Anyway, during the sermon this past week, I was reading through the Bible because they get a little long and I'm working on the attention span, but I definitely don't have it down yet. I was reading the end of the book of Ephesians wherein Paul says (in the King James version):
"14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit..."I was reading this, and everything seemed hunkydorey...breastplate of righteousness, that makes sense, feet shod for the gospel of peace also makes sense, shield of faith and sword of the Spirit check check...then why are we putting on a helmet of Salvation, but we're girting our loins with truth? I went back and reread the verse thinking, maybe we get two helmets? One for truth and one for Salvation? To my confusion, truth is protecting our loins.
I thought, at first, that truth should protect our minds - isn't that where we figure truth out? But then I realized Paul hit the nail on the head, or the loins rather. When we know something is true, we know it in our gut. We've renamed it intuition, but really it's truth, the truth that matters. There is truth in our heads, scientific research, things we see with our eyes, but there is truth in our gut too. That truth we can't see or touch, but it's truth we feel - and it's a far more important truth. We can't see that someone loves us, we can't test them, but we can feel it, it is truth.
That is the kind of intangible truth we feel in our loins, and we must girt it - encircle it, surround it - because it is the easiest to lose, or rather bury, or hide. But we must encircle it, to make sure it doesn't go anywhere. We cannot reason the loin truth with our mind truth, we will end up doubting one or the other, or both; which is the end goal when evil acts.
When Paul says girt your loins with truth - he means protect the truth residing there, but he also means protect your loins with truth. Once one lie weaves its way down into your belly, it opens up a channel for all other lies to live and fester there. Even though that is where our most basic and important truths live, they are the most fragile truths as well.
I think a universal girting of loins would help. It helps us keep our loin-truth at the front of our minds where it should be, rather pushed down to the back and degraded to intuition. Though seeking loin-truth, and trusting it does not bring happiness (no truth seeking brings happiness), it can bring peace of mind, and we all need a little more peace of mind...or of loins.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
I don't believe in titles.
It's been quite a while since I wrote in this blog. I also haven't been writing in an actual journal either. What could you call that? Instead of weblog, (blog), could you call it alog (actualog)? Irrelevant.
I suppose it's been a while because I liked writing posts about funny Asian things I wasn't used to. But, the longer I'm here, the more I get used to funny Asian things. Or perhaps, the longer I'm here, the more I get used to anything happening without calling it weird, or culture-shock to be more p.c.
But one interesting thing I've noticed lately is that my Christmas spirit is directly in relation to the amount of Christmas propaganda spewed by big businesses. Sometimes I can be a bit of a Scrooge at home. Usually, Christmas makes me think of all the people that I'm missing at the holidays, who I will never be able to share another Christmas with. And this makes me sad; Couple that with hours of Christmas shopping in a crowded mall accompanied by Jessica Simpson's heinous version of "O Holy Night," seemingly on repeat, turns any half-hearted Ebeneezer into a full (blue)blooded humbugger of a Scrooge in two seconds flat. Or at least that's what I always said.
Here in South Korea only about 30% of the population is Christian, so far fewer people celebrate Christmas here than in America. And since big businesses don't have an advantage for slapping a Christmas tree and stocking on every price tag, it's rarely done. Though Christmas carols are played EVERYWHERE. But not "newly released" carols (which are usually crap), or the worst crime committed against Christmas carols: Christmas Shoes. It's mostly Josh Groban, and N'Sync. Oddly enough (and yes I admit it), two groups I rather enjoy.
But what I realized most was that being halfway around the world from everyone you love makes you thankful for the people you do have, instead of focusing on the people you can't have. Every Christmas I've taken my family for granted. I always think, "This holiday would be so much better with (insert family or friend here)." Instead of saying, "Christmas is great because (insert name of one of many loved people in my life." But I'm saying that now. I thank God for my mother, who is so strong and has been such a pillar in my life. I thank Him for my Aunt Barb - for her humor, and her incredible listening skills; for John, who makes me laugh more than anyone else; and for Mare who understands me like no one else.
I shouldn't be surprised by this turn of events. This kind of thing usually happens to me. I leave a place to find my love and my heart, and realize my love and my heart have been in the same place all along. But doing this has been a great experience and adventure, and I wouldn't trade it for anything, even if it means being away from my family for this holiday.
This mindset is also helped by having a best friend and lover here. Without that person, I might not feel this way at Christmastime at all, and I might be even more bitter than I usually am (if that's possible). So after I pray for my family by blood, and my family by choice, I'm sending out a prayer for all foreigners, expats, and strangers in their strange land that they can find someone to share Christmas with, and to know they're not alone. I'm thinking of you.
It's been quite a while since I wrote in this blog. I also haven't been writing in an actual journal either. What could you call that? Instead of weblog, (blog), could you call it alog (actualog)? Irrelevant.
I suppose it's been a while because I liked writing posts about funny Asian things I wasn't used to. But, the longer I'm here, the more I get used to funny Asian things. Or perhaps, the longer I'm here, the more I get used to anything happening without calling it weird, or culture-shock to be more p.c.
But one interesting thing I've noticed lately is that my Christmas spirit is directly in relation to the amount of Christmas propaganda spewed by big businesses. Sometimes I can be a bit of a Scrooge at home. Usually, Christmas makes me think of all the people that I'm missing at the holidays, who I will never be able to share another Christmas with. And this makes me sad; Couple that with hours of Christmas shopping in a crowded mall accompanied by Jessica Simpson's heinous version of "O Holy Night," seemingly on repeat, turns any half-hearted Ebeneezer into a full (blue)blooded humbugger of a Scrooge in two seconds flat. Or at least that's what I always said.
Here in South Korea only about 30% of the population is Christian, so far fewer people celebrate Christmas here than in America. And since big businesses don't have an advantage for slapping a Christmas tree and stocking on every price tag, it's rarely done. Though Christmas carols are played EVERYWHERE. But not "newly released" carols (which are usually crap), or the worst crime committed against Christmas carols: Christmas Shoes. It's mostly Josh Groban, and N'Sync. Oddly enough (and yes I admit it), two groups I rather enjoy.
But what I realized most was that being halfway around the world from everyone you love makes you thankful for the people you do have, instead of focusing on the people you can't have. Every Christmas I've taken my family for granted. I always think, "This holiday would be so much better with (insert family or friend here)." Instead of saying, "Christmas is great because (insert name of one of many loved people in my life." But I'm saying that now. I thank God for my mother, who is so strong and has been such a pillar in my life. I thank Him for my Aunt Barb - for her humor, and her incredible listening skills; for John, who makes me laugh more than anyone else; and for Mare who understands me like no one else.
I shouldn't be surprised by this turn of events. This kind of thing usually happens to me. I leave a place to find my love and my heart, and realize my love and my heart have been in the same place all along. But doing this has been a great experience and adventure, and I wouldn't trade it for anything, even if it means being away from my family for this holiday.
This mindset is also helped by having a best friend and lover here. Without that person, I might not feel this way at Christmastime at all, and I might be even more bitter than I usually am (if that's possible). So after I pray for my family by blood, and my family by choice, I'm sending out a prayer for all foreigners, expats, and strangers in their strange land that they can find someone to share Christmas with, and to know they're not alone. I'm thinking of you.
Monday, August 11, 2008
As many of you know, today is my birthday. Gotta love the mini-feed for alerting people to the day of my birth.
ANYWAYIn honor of...myself...I thought I would talk about birthdays in Korea, and how they're completely not like birthdays in the states.
100 Days and 60 Years
In Korea, the first important date celebrated for a newborn is their 100th day of birth, or the tol. Parents celebrate that their child has lived through the first 100 days without difficulty. It's basically a day of eating and celebrrating, and it's traditional that the child receives money for their birthday. Although what a 100 day old baby is going to buy is beyond me. But here's the catch: Everyone in Korea ages on the same day. I know. Let me say it again so you guys comprehend the weirdness, and move on. Everyone in Korea ages on the same day - New Year's Day to be exact. So on January 1st of every year, everyone in the country gets one year older. So if a baby is born on December 31st, the next day he turns one year old. Mind-blowing, I know.Other birthdays pass with small celebrations as people grow older, because the big one is on New Year's Day. Except for your 60th birthday. If any readers out there remember my last note, we know that Korea is a Confucian society, so old peeps are hella important. Well, once an 'old peep' turns 60, they get a huge ass party called a hwan-gap. It is their children and grandchildren's responsibility to throw them a blow out party with eating, dancing, and drinking. And get this - sometimes their children (who are clearly grown adults), are expected to dress up like little children and dance for their parents. So word to the wise - if you move here, never bring your parents. Also, everyone has to sit in age order at the table, and everyone must base their eating and drinking consumption off of the oldest family members. So if your grandfather is an alcoholic, you better hope he passed those genes on to you, because you need to keep up.
Fermented Cabbage
Of course on these celebrations much food is consumed, so I thought I would talk about the national dish of Korea - kimchi. Kimchi is fermeneted cabbage. Yeah, you read right. The cabbage gets fermented and boiled with hot peppers and other spices, and is served cold. I've had it, it's not half bad...if you like cabbage, and fermented food. And of course the city I'm in, Gwangju, holds the annual Kimchi festival. And at this festival, they not only ferment cabbage, but all sorts of vegetables and other foods - so when it happens, I will SO post pictures.
You want me to do WHAT with that?
I have learned that the Koreans are a multi-purpose people. They try to recycle and find new uses for everything. Here are two of my favorites:
Scissors - oh yeah of course you cut paper, boxes, packaging with scissors...you also cut your food. No lie. Korean restaurants supply you with chopsticks and a big spoon, and if you can't cut your food with a spoon, you use scissors. If that for any reason freaks you out..then you're shit out of luck and better be able to stick the whole thing in your mouth. I shit you not.
Toilet Paper - gotta go the bathroom? Gotta blow your nose? Gotta wipe something up? Toilet paper! There aren't even paper towels. I wish I was kidding.
Terry Fox
If any of you Americans are friendly with our neighbors in the north (Canadians), then you may have heard of Terry Fox. I, of course, am completely ignorant of what goes on up there, and had no idea who he was. However, I'm teaching a book called The Long Road about Terry Fox's life. Basically, he was a good runner who got cancer in his leg, had to have it amputated, and decided to run across Canada to raise money for children with cancer...with his one leg. Ok, of course he had a prosthetic, but this was 1980, and a real leg beats the hell out of a plastic one. Anyway, I'm teaching my kids about this Canadian hero, and his marathon called the "Marathon of Hope." First I ask if anyone knows what a marathon is, no one does of course so I tell them. Then I ask my students what hope is, and of course no one knows what that is either. So I say, "Hope is..." and then I stop. How can I define something like hope to 10 year olds with the English comprehension of a 6 or 7 year old? How do I define something like to all of you? I settle on something I think is kind of easy to remember, and the closest I can think of. I say, "Hope is never giving up." This man wanted to help children the only way he could - running, and he did it with one leg. He never gave up what he loved. Ever.
I dismissed the class and went to each lunch in the Teacher's Lounge. I came back to my classroom to grade papers and check Facebook, and I looked at the board and forgot to erase my definition, "Hope - never give up." People who know me best know that birthdays aren't my favorite time of year. And people who I've been talking to know that I'm just getting started here, and don't have a lot of friends yet. So today has been hard for me. But I saw that definition I wrote on the board, and I thought maybe that simplicity is what we need. People can use huge, great, powerful words to describe hope, and they're all true. But that simple hope that we all hold, that small candle burning, is just as great and powerful. Sometimes a big hope is too hard to grasp and hold on to. One thing I've learned since I moved here is that sometimes we have to hang on to the little things, never give those up. Maybe we could all do with a little simplicity.
ANYWAYIn honor of...myself...I thought I would talk about birthdays in Korea, and how they're completely not like birthdays in the states.
100 Days and 60 Years
In Korea, the first important date celebrated for a newborn is their 100th day of birth, or the tol. Parents celebrate that their child has lived through the first 100 days without difficulty. It's basically a day of eating and celebrrating, and it's traditional that the child receives money for their birthday. Although what a 100 day old baby is going to buy is beyond me. But here's the catch: Everyone in Korea ages on the same day. I know. Let me say it again so you guys comprehend the weirdness, and move on. Everyone in Korea ages on the same day - New Year's Day to be exact. So on January 1st of every year, everyone in the country gets one year older. So if a baby is born on December 31st, the next day he turns one year old. Mind-blowing, I know.Other birthdays pass with small celebrations as people grow older, because the big one is on New Year's Day. Except for your 60th birthday. If any readers out there remember my last note, we know that Korea is a Confucian society, so old peeps are hella important. Well, once an 'old peep' turns 60, they get a huge ass party called a hwan-gap. It is their children and grandchildren's responsibility to throw them a blow out party with eating, dancing, and drinking. And get this - sometimes their children (who are clearly grown adults), are expected to dress up like little children and dance for their parents. So word to the wise - if you move here, never bring your parents. Also, everyone has to sit in age order at the table, and everyone must base their eating and drinking consumption off of the oldest family members. So if your grandfather is an alcoholic, you better hope he passed those genes on to you, because you need to keep up.
Fermented Cabbage
Of course on these celebrations much food is consumed, so I thought I would talk about the national dish of Korea - kimchi. Kimchi is fermeneted cabbage. Yeah, you read right. The cabbage gets fermented and boiled with hot peppers and other spices, and is served cold. I've had it, it's not half bad...if you like cabbage, and fermented food. And of course the city I'm in, Gwangju, holds the annual Kimchi festival. And at this festival, they not only ferment cabbage, but all sorts of vegetables and other foods - so when it happens, I will SO post pictures.
You want me to do WHAT with that?
I have learned that the Koreans are a multi-purpose people. They try to recycle and find new uses for everything. Here are two of my favorites:
Scissors - oh yeah of course you cut paper, boxes, packaging with scissors...you also cut your food. No lie. Korean restaurants supply you with chopsticks and a big spoon, and if you can't cut your food with a spoon, you use scissors. If that for any reason freaks you out..then you're shit out of luck and better be able to stick the whole thing in your mouth. I shit you not.
Toilet Paper - gotta go the bathroom? Gotta blow your nose? Gotta wipe something up? Toilet paper! There aren't even paper towels. I wish I was kidding.
Terry Fox
If any of you Americans are friendly with our neighbors in the north (Canadians), then you may have heard of Terry Fox. I, of course, am completely ignorant of what goes on up there, and had no idea who he was. However, I'm teaching a book called The Long Road about Terry Fox's life. Basically, he was a good runner who got cancer in his leg, had to have it amputated, and decided to run across Canada to raise money for children with cancer...with his one leg. Ok, of course he had a prosthetic, but this was 1980, and a real leg beats the hell out of a plastic one. Anyway, I'm teaching my kids about this Canadian hero, and his marathon called the "Marathon of Hope." First I ask if anyone knows what a marathon is, no one does of course so I tell them. Then I ask my students what hope is, and of course no one knows what that is either. So I say, "Hope is..." and then I stop. How can I define something like hope to 10 year olds with the English comprehension of a 6 or 7 year old? How do I define something like to all of you? I settle on something I think is kind of easy to remember, and the closest I can think of. I say, "Hope is never giving up." This man wanted to help children the only way he could - running, and he did it with one leg. He never gave up what he loved. Ever.
I dismissed the class and went to each lunch in the Teacher's Lounge. I came back to my classroom to grade papers and check Facebook, and I looked at the board and forgot to erase my definition, "Hope - never give up." People who know me best know that birthdays aren't my favorite time of year. And people who I've been talking to know that I'm just getting started here, and don't have a lot of friends yet. So today has been hard for me. But I saw that definition I wrote on the board, and I thought maybe that simplicity is what we need. People can use huge, great, powerful words to describe hope, and they're all true. But that simple hope that we all hold, that small candle burning, is just as great and powerful. Sometimes a big hope is too hard to grasp and hold on to. One thing I've learned since I moved here is that sometimes we have to hang on to the little things, never give those up. Maybe we could all do with a little simplicity.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
WETTEST:
So I was walking around Seoul the first day I got there and didn't have training. I checked the weather report before I left and it said thunderstorms, but it said thunderstorms for every day that week so I thought...how bad could it be? Gloom and Doom Debbie was jsut writing that for the report, even though it is monsoon season. Anyway, I walked around all day and though I experienced a few intermitten showers, everything was very nice. I got the on the Metro to go back to my hotel, and got off at Gangnam Station. As I got near the exit to the street, I heard an insane pounding. First thought: North Korea is very angry. Actuality: Monsoon. Ok, not a real monsoon, but it sure as hell looked like one. I've only seen rain like that twice - and once was on tv during a hurricane.I waited it out..5 minutes...10 minutes...nope, not letting up. So I figured I would make a run for it. My hotel was one long block and two short blocks away, how bad could it be? I realized how bad it could be halfway home when I remembered I was wearing a white skirt. Yeah, a white skirt. Less than 24 hours in South Korea and I left my dignity at the Gangnam Metro Station. But what could I do? I just kept going. And I got soaked. I mean I had to wring out my underwear, that's how soaked I got. And as I'm walking, I though to myself, "Holy crap...I have never been wetter. I'm like...the wettest. WETTEST! AHHH!" And then I laughed the rest of the way to the hotel; I laughed when I wrung my skirt out under the hotel awning, I laughed when the lady behind the hotel desk asked if I was ok, and I laughed when I got back to my room, and wrung my underwear out. I guess that's what you get for always saying "Wettest!"
COME RAIN OR COME SHINE:
Women also use umbrellas in the sun. At first I thought it was some pretentious Victorian Era entrapment for women...then I went out in the day time. My umbrella was up faster than you could say "pretentious Victorian Era entrapment."
DAY BADET:
So remember how I made fun of my Starship Enterprise toilet? I have a confession to make: I used it, and I loved it. I thought the stream was a little too strong, if you know what I mean, but I got used to using a badet...it was very refreshing. And I was super sad when I got to my apartment in Gwangju and I had a regular toilet, so I couldn't sit on it and say "Captain's Log: Stardate..."
CONFUCIOUS:
Here's one thing you should know if you come to South Korea: old people will cut in front of you every chance they get. And here's something else you should know: you have to let them. Apparently this is a Confucious society so respect for elders is a huge thing, but you know what I think? They do it because they're old. Old people in America do it, don't blame it on Confucious. And I would like to say that, when an old lady cuts in front of me my only solace is thinking, "Yeah well you're going to die soon." But that's not even true! I have seen more lively and fortuitous old people here than young. Here's what I think Confucious Say: You live to be 1,000 years, torment as many young people as possible.
GWANGJU:
I haven't been here long, and I haven't gotten to see a lot of the city yet because I'm working and it's hot so I can't go anywhere when the sun is out. But here's something I can tell you based on the 20 blocks I do walk: This entire city smells like ass. I'm talking Marching Band Locker Room ass. And you know how sometimes you can be into a funky smell? Don't lie and say that's never happened, because it does to everyone. Well this smell is so funky I nearly vommed on my way to work. That's probably why Asian people wear those face masks.
WOULD YOU LIKE A MEDIUM, OR A MEDIUM?:
There are a decent amount of chain establishments here from America, my personal favorite is Dunkin Donuts: the only place that sells iced coffee. I went in one day, and I was extra thirsty, so I asked for a medium. The woman behind the counter said they only have small or large, so I say large thinking I'm going to get like...24 delicdious ounces of iced coffee. Nope. I got 16. 16 ounces is a large. I know we like everything bigger in America, but what if someone really really likes iced coffee? I have not found a way to reconcile this yet.
LETTER TO A FRIEND:
Dear Soju,I know that you only have half as much alcohol in you as vodka, but I think you should stop telling people that. And stop selling 500 mil. bottles of yourself because then people like me drink a whole bottle themselves at happy hour, thinking it won't be so bad...and somehow end up at a Night Market watching effeminate men dance, and don't get home until 12:30, and still have to prep for my mock evaluation the next day. Just something to consider.
Love,
Mary Rose
Along with all the hilarious things that happen to me, here's what's kind of going on. I had my training in Seoul, and now I'm in my branch city, Gwangju. It's about 4 hours Southeast of Seoul. I think it's about as big as Philly, maybe a little smaller, but I don't really know since I haven't walked around yet. My apartment is empty. There's a refrigerator, a washing machine, a bed, and a tv, and don't worry - air conditioning, but that's it. So now I'm watching OCN (the only English network...but only English sometimes), on my hardwood floor. I also don't have a closet, so I'm still living out of suit cases. But I have no idea where or how to buy used furniture, so I'm kind of up chocolate creek without a popsicle stick. I'm going to attempt to remedy this situation this weekend, and I'm sure it will also be hilarious.
Here's the first thing I learned about teaching: you want 5 minutes to youself? Fat chance. If it's not a student, another teacher, my boss, or the stupid printer, it will be something else. I had class from 10-1, and 4:30-10:30 yesterday, and I was left alone for 2 minutes when I turned off the lights in my classroom and checked Facebook...until a student came in and put her bag down TWO HOURS EARLY. I'm going to have to learn "Get out." in Korean soon.
So I was walking around Seoul the first day I got there and didn't have training. I checked the weather report before I left and it said thunderstorms, but it said thunderstorms for every day that week so I thought...how bad could it be? Gloom and Doom Debbie was jsut writing that for the report, even though it is monsoon season. Anyway, I walked around all day and though I experienced a few intermitten showers, everything was very nice. I got the on the Metro to go back to my hotel, and got off at Gangnam Station. As I got near the exit to the street, I heard an insane pounding. First thought: North Korea is very angry. Actuality: Monsoon. Ok, not a real monsoon, but it sure as hell looked like one. I've only seen rain like that twice - and once was on tv during a hurricane.I waited it out..5 minutes...10 minutes...nope, not letting up. So I figured I would make a run for it. My hotel was one long block and two short blocks away, how bad could it be? I realized how bad it could be halfway home when I remembered I was wearing a white skirt. Yeah, a white skirt. Less than 24 hours in South Korea and I left my dignity at the Gangnam Metro Station. But what could I do? I just kept going. And I got soaked. I mean I had to wring out my underwear, that's how soaked I got. And as I'm walking, I though to myself, "Holy crap...I have never been wetter. I'm like...the wettest. WETTEST! AHHH!" And then I laughed the rest of the way to the hotel; I laughed when I wrung my skirt out under the hotel awning, I laughed when the lady behind the hotel desk asked if I was ok, and I laughed when I got back to my room, and wrung my underwear out. I guess that's what you get for always saying "Wettest!"
COME RAIN OR COME SHINE:
Women also use umbrellas in the sun. At first I thought it was some pretentious Victorian Era entrapment for women...then I went out in the day time. My umbrella was up faster than you could say "pretentious Victorian Era entrapment."
DAY BADET:
So remember how I made fun of my Starship Enterprise toilet? I have a confession to make: I used it, and I loved it. I thought the stream was a little too strong, if you know what I mean, but I got used to using a badet...it was very refreshing. And I was super sad when I got to my apartment in Gwangju and I had a regular toilet, so I couldn't sit on it and say "Captain's Log: Stardate..."
CONFUCIOUS:
Here's one thing you should know if you come to South Korea: old people will cut in front of you every chance they get. And here's something else you should know: you have to let them. Apparently this is a Confucious society so respect for elders is a huge thing, but you know what I think? They do it because they're old. Old people in America do it, don't blame it on Confucious. And I would like to say that, when an old lady cuts in front of me my only solace is thinking, "Yeah well you're going to die soon." But that's not even true! I have seen more lively and fortuitous old people here than young. Here's what I think Confucious Say: You live to be 1,000 years, torment as many young people as possible.
GWANGJU:
I haven't been here long, and I haven't gotten to see a lot of the city yet because I'm working and it's hot so I can't go anywhere when the sun is out. But here's something I can tell you based on the 20 blocks I do walk: This entire city smells like ass. I'm talking Marching Band Locker Room ass. And you know how sometimes you can be into a funky smell? Don't lie and say that's never happened, because it does to everyone. Well this smell is so funky I nearly vommed on my way to work. That's probably why Asian people wear those face masks.
WOULD YOU LIKE A MEDIUM, OR A MEDIUM?:
There are a decent amount of chain establishments here from America, my personal favorite is Dunkin Donuts: the only place that sells iced coffee. I went in one day, and I was extra thirsty, so I asked for a medium. The woman behind the counter said they only have small or large, so I say large thinking I'm going to get like...24 delicdious ounces of iced coffee. Nope. I got 16. 16 ounces is a large. I know we like everything bigger in America, but what if someone really really likes iced coffee? I have not found a way to reconcile this yet.
LETTER TO A FRIEND:
Dear Soju,I know that you only have half as much alcohol in you as vodka, but I think you should stop telling people that. And stop selling 500 mil. bottles of yourself because then people like me drink a whole bottle themselves at happy hour, thinking it won't be so bad...and somehow end up at a Night Market watching effeminate men dance, and don't get home until 12:30, and still have to prep for my mock evaluation the next day. Just something to consider.
Love,
Mary Rose
Along with all the hilarious things that happen to me, here's what's kind of going on. I had my training in Seoul, and now I'm in my branch city, Gwangju. It's about 4 hours Southeast of Seoul. I think it's about as big as Philly, maybe a little smaller, but I don't really know since I haven't walked around yet. My apartment is empty. There's a refrigerator, a washing machine, a bed, and a tv, and don't worry - air conditioning, but that's it. So now I'm watching OCN (the only English network...but only English sometimes), on my hardwood floor. I also don't have a closet, so I'm still living out of suit cases. But I have no idea where or how to buy used furniture, so I'm kind of up chocolate creek without a popsicle stick. I'm going to attempt to remedy this situation this weekend, and I'm sure it will also be hilarious.
Here's the first thing I learned about teaching: you want 5 minutes to youself? Fat chance. If it's not a student, another teacher, my boss, or the stupid printer, it will be something else. I had class from 10-1, and 4:30-10:30 yesterday, and I was left alone for 2 minutes when I turned off the lights in my classroom and checked Facebook...until a student came in and put her bag down TWO HOURS EARLY. I'm going to have to learn "Get out." in Korean soon.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Anyyung!
I arrived last night after almost a full 24 hours of travel. I smelled. Bad. And hadn't slept in those 24 hours because I am incapable of sleep on a plane. However, I would like to say, if anyone is planning to visit Asia anytime soon fly Singapore Air. They were actually a terrific airline. I know any boeing has to be fully stocked to fly so many people for 11 hours, but the movie selection was great. Not only did they have new releases and stuff like that, but they played classics - Singin' in the Rain and Roman Holiday, to name two. Another thing I loved was that they used real silverware, not plastic. So it made me feel less like I was on a plane, and it's also good for the environment.
The school I'm going through, CDI, gave me a Welcome Packet that included how to get from the airport to my hotel without dying or being robbed, and it was really useful. It took a while, or maybe it just felt that way because I was dead on my feet. But I finally made it to my hotel.
Culture Shock #1: How to operate normal amenities. Upon checking in and arriving in my hotel room, I was unprepared. Not only could I not turn the lights on, I also couldn't turn on the air conditiioning, or flush the toilet. (All these have been amended by this morning, no worries.)
What I finally figured out after a few minutes in the dark - there's a key thingy you have to slide your key in and leave it there for the lights to work. Once you do that, about 8 light switchs lit up for like, every light in the whole room.
Air conditioning - after sweating even more, I realized it was controlled by a remote control. I figured how to turn it on, but I still don't know what any of the other 15 buttons do. I also don't know how to turn it up or down...
Toilet - ok. So there's a toilet. But the tank isn't behind the toilet, it's off to the side. And I guess to make it symmetrical, they've got like...a control panel on the other side. So you sit on it, and it's like you're in the captain's chair on Star Trek TNG. All of the buttons come with hilarious little pictures. Like one to blow hot air on your butt, or to activate the badet. But NONE of them are for the lever to flush. So after standing over a Korean toilet for what seemed like forever, I see a wide silver lever down and in back of the control panel. Like I'm supposed to have xray vision and see it there.
It's 9:30 in the morning here. So I still have to get another shower, and a map, and then I'm going to hit the streets and forage for food. I'm sure that will also be hilarious.
The school I'm going through, CDI, gave me a Welcome Packet that included how to get from the airport to my hotel without dying or being robbed, and it was really useful. It took a while, or maybe it just felt that way because I was dead on my feet. But I finally made it to my hotel.
Culture Shock #1: How to operate normal amenities. Upon checking in and arriving in my hotel room, I was unprepared. Not only could I not turn the lights on, I also couldn't turn on the air conditiioning, or flush the toilet. (All these have been amended by this morning, no worries.)
What I finally figured out after a few minutes in the dark - there's a key thingy you have to slide your key in and leave it there for the lights to work. Once you do that, about 8 light switchs lit up for like, every light in the whole room.
Air conditioning - after sweating even more, I realized it was controlled by a remote control. I figured how to turn it on, but I still don't know what any of the other 15 buttons do. I also don't know how to turn it up or down...
Toilet - ok. So there's a toilet. But the tank isn't behind the toilet, it's off to the side. And I guess to make it symmetrical, they've got like...a control panel on the other side. So you sit on it, and it's like you're in the captain's chair on Star Trek TNG. All of the buttons come with hilarious little pictures. Like one to blow hot air on your butt, or to activate the badet. But NONE of them are for the lever to flush. So after standing over a Korean toilet for what seemed like forever, I see a wide silver lever down and in back of the control panel. Like I'm supposed to have xray vision and see it there.
It's 9:30 in the morning here. So I still have to get another shower, and a map, and then I'm going to hit the streets and forage for food. I'm sure that will also be hilarious.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)