Bali Bali

I walk up the stairs and hear- "Ms. Amazing, Ms. Amazing!" I blow kisses to the crowd of children as if I am star and they are my fans. I have changed my name several times since I started teaching. One month, I wrote a different name each day on the board which varied from Ms. Beautiful to Ms. Sunflower to Ms. Pretty Pink Petal. Ms. Amzing seem to stick, however it is the kids that are truly amazing - they are the future of Kimchi Land. Korea focuses strictly on education, education, education. Korean school, English school, Chinese lessons, ballet class, piano lesson, violin lesson, art class, Bible study and Taekwondo. I had my kids do a timeline on "A usual day" - Hands Down...these kids work harder than any American child.... and most adults. Over 90% of my kids didn't go to bed until 1am. Keep in mind these kids are 7 years old!! One kid didnt go to bed until 3am on some nights. These kids aren't staying up late watching TV, they are doing Homework!! At times, I have felt sorry for them but then I quickly remind myself that this is the Korean way, this is their culture, this is what they value, this is their future. An average household Korean family has 1.4 children. The average family spends over 1/3 of their income on their child's education. Not only are the Korean children growing up in a fast pace society but the adults are like energizer bunnies. Work hard, play even harder, sleep when you die. Work 12+ hour days and then go out and eat, drink and drink some more. Resturants, clubs, bars, singing rooms, jimjilbongs, and PC bongs are all open 24 hours a day. Koreans call this "bali bali" meaning "quickly quickly". My life here has also become bali bali. I hold a lot of respect for the Koreans and for the people that have built this cutlure after being taken over several times by the surrounding countries. Korea doesn't have natural resources that help them to compete in the global economy, so instead they rise above with education. For this, I smile when looking into the eyes of my students and blow kisses with love.

Honey Nut Cheerios

Fresh out of the bed. Still have sleepy eyes. Sippin' on come coffee and eating a bowl of Honey Nut Cherrios. You may be wondering, 'Can you really buy them in Korea?'- The answer is 'No.' but I have friend in the Military that can hook me up with all the must-haves of America.

-- So as I crunch on them, I get flashbacks of my old house in Kasson, sitting on my kitchen counter watching Inspector Gadget before my mom calls "THE BUS IS HERE!" and Shelby and I start rushing out the door as Mom stamps her kiss on us. - - - Is this homesickness? Can the taste of my childhood past make me miss America? I ofcourse miss my family and friends but if I had to list what else i miss, the list would be short.. and it would be as simple as Honey Nut Cheerios.

Asking the question...

Today is a day of reflection for me... I came to Seoul to answer the ultimate question, "What is my purpose in life?". The question has been asked and now I just need to keep the noise quite so that I am able to hear the answer. I don't feel like I have had my epiphany yet but my heart tells me I'm on the right track. I sense my time here in Korea is coming to an end, with 6 months left in my contract, I feel it's time for a new adventure and a new country. I'm not sure where this new place will be or what it will entail but it will come in do time- this I am confident of. I call my mother to ask for advice - "What should I do after Korea?" "Where should I go?" and her answer is the same as it has been since I was a little girl, "Follow your heart!" Frustrated at times, I think to myself- what kind of advice is that? what does that mean? And then on days like today, its dawns on me. Go back to the basics- reflect on my God given talents, keep my feet grounded, and my mind open. The question has been asked, and now I shall await the answer.

absorbing the station

I never know when the writing vibe is going to come so I often use my itouch to note certain moments that I'm having or experiences that are taking place at that twinkle of time. My latest one was in the subway station -- It was close to midnight and I was waiting for the subway to arrive. At this particular station a glass wall separates the subway tracks from station. Glass doors open and close when the subway arrives (this is in part due to that fact that many people have committed sucided by jumping out into the tracks as the subway approaches)-- My moment began when I sat down at a bench -- looking to the right was a korean man leaning against the white wall dressed in a suit talking on the phone , to the left sitting on a bench a few feet away were 2 british girls half drunk talking about some guy they had just met- My eyes then focused on the glass reflection in front.... and there I saw - me. Sitting on a bench, at some random station in South Korea, blond hair swiped to one side, tall black leather boots, and a green winter jacket with soft white and brown fur rimmed around the hood. Who was this girl? Do I know her? I wasn't having a bad day, in fact it was considerably good but I couldn't help but realize how alone a person (or I) look sitting on a bench. It was like I was seeing myself from a 3rd person point of view. I was seeing myself as this estranged foreigner. I reached for my itouch and noted this.....

"I live a life that is unknown. The normality of society will not be the life that I lead.... The subway still hasn't come. Maybe they stop running at 12?? but i thought it was 12:30? I'm not sure if this subway will come tonight or if I will have to find another means of transporting home... (I reflect back to a conversation I had with a friend that tonight)... Contrast: constrast in life will ultimatily decide what we want and what we dont want in life. The definition of contrast art refers to the arrangement of opposite elements (light vs. dark colors, rough vs. smooth textures, large vs. small shapes, etc.) In a painting, contrast is what creates visual interest, excitement and drama. My life is like a contrast painiting - but am I the artist of my life? Am I the one holding the brush? or does something else control the brush and I am the visual form conveyed on the canvas?..... the bell is ringing- the subway is approaching"

***Although this is more of a journal writing vs. a blog piece- I thought I'd share one of the many moments of my self reflection and my never ending search for the 'purpose of my beating heart'.

Expat Thanksgiving

I watch as a single leaf becomes detached from its tree and spiral down lightly and freely to the ground --- Winter is here. As the new season approaches a familiar face from home pays a visit for the Thanksgiving holiday. While potatoes are being peeled and homes across the States are scented with turkey and warm pie, my school is scented with hot peppers, radish, cabbage, onions, green onions, and garlic - Today is Kimchi Day! Children are learning how to prepare their country's most common side dish. Served with every meal and in several different ways. I've acquired a liking for it, a sort of appreciation.

This is my first Thanksgiving away from home- although I may not be eating the tradition meal - I still have taken the time to think about what I am thankful for:

* Skype: for helping me stay connected with friends and family back home
* Warm coffee with whip cream on a chilly winter morning
* My family's health
* Korean kindness: The simple "hello" head bow
* My coworker's (Brandon) great hugs each morning
* My other coworker's (Brydan) home cooking
* My students: Not only are they adorable but their youthful energy is contagious- A simple "bbo-bbo" - kiss makes me melt.
* And most of all: For this experience that I am on. The things I've learned and the things that are soon to come. I plan to keep my mind open, my heart filled with love, and my pride humbled. For everyday I am given a new experience- and that alone is worth being thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone. I love you

Endless Adventures

I have a hard time keeping up with the blog when new adventures are occruing daily. This weekend started off with my school taking all of us to the countryside (see facebook photos). Its Autumn here and trees are beautiful orange, yellow and red colors - it reminds me of Minnesota. We take the 4-wheels up into the mountains and visit a sheep farm where I purchase a small little purse that looks like a sheep stuff animal -cute :)


**** Halloween is coming up and the school goes all out with decorations, costumes, and activities. You will be proud to know that I am dressing up as " AMERICA " .... stay tune for details! ****

Spinning Konglish

One of my goals when I came to Korea was to get of a path of leading a healthier lifestyle. So I joined this very high tech gym 1 block down from my school. As a new customer at the gym, they offer three free personal trainer sessions. They give me, Iron (quite the name, right?) and he speaks enough English to tell me what to do. "Up", " Down" , " Building Muscle", "Push", and my personal favorite, "Touch me here" - yes, my trainer asked me to touch the muscle in which we are working out so that I understand what muscle to force on. Iron is very handsome and I feel my face turn red when I touch his 'gluteus maximus' while he does a lunge. Iron text me yesterday, "You come to spin class 9pm, walk 20mins before". I read it and think "SHIT". I was hoping to have the night off (i have gone to the gym every night after work) but if Iron says I must come, then I must go. - - - cut to me in a spinning class on the roof top of the gym over looking Seoul's nightly glow - - -4 Korean men, 3 Korean women, and me. The mirror in front of me says it all - - - my big blond pony tail bounces in the air making the comparison of color even more obvious. Three - very long - songs have played and my tank top has turned into a sweat rag. I am proud of myself for finishing and can't wait to hit the shower... awww, wait...did I say finish? I guess the correct word would be START. the sweat on my tank top is a sprinkle compared to what I was about to endure. "See your future" - Iron says to me, as we are in 'race mode' of the class. OH, i see my future, and my future is getting off this bike! But the stern athletic Koreans, Iron's sweaty body and my ego to not look out of shape keeps me on that bike until song number 10!! Iron pats me on the back after class and says, "Eat Tomato" - i have no idea why.. but on my walk home I stop at a vegetable cart and bite into a Tomato as if its an apple. I fall asleep thinking ' i better look like Beyonce when all this is over with'.

- I am going to leave you with some of my favorite KONGLISH (that's what we call Korean & English) I have seen around the city.

* A lady in her 60s wearing a t-shirt with a big cat on it and on the back it says, " I love pussy" (she has no idea what this means, but im sure she just saw the cat and thought it was a great shirt, haha)

* A 6 year old student learning time. Writes: "3 a cock" , " 4 a cock" , "5 a cock" ..... on his paper

* In the grocery store, I'm wearing a skirt. A man points to my exposed legs and says "OBAMA, OBAMA, OBAMA" - - - - your guess is as good as mine on this one.

* A little girl on the street wearing a t-shirt that says "Skinny Bitch" ( this is a perfect example of how Koreans love the English words so they just buy random English tshirts but have no idea of the meaning)

..... this part of the blog is 'to be continued'