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'

Chuseok - Tuna & Panties

This weekend was the Chuseok celebration in Korea. On Thursday, the kids and teachers dressed up in the traditional Korean clothing known as the, Hambok. The kids looked adorable and I, myself look like .... well ....like a foreigner in a Korean outfit. I was glad to have the experience though. Chuseok is a day of giving gifts to your boss and teachers. I was given panties by one of my student's mother, and my school gave us all a large gift set of Tuna. (I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried- haha)

Sincheon

I got a chance to explore my area - Sincheon - a little bit more this weekend. I found a bar called the"The Wild Bunch", where the bartenders do the bottle tossing and blow fire out of their mouths. Went to the Coex Aquarium - - they had penguins, sharks, seals, and a huge sea turtle.

I was walking home the other night and saw a store with kittens in the window. They were SOO cute - I had to go in. I asked if i could hold one. it was itty bitty and i wanted to keep it, but of course i heard my parents voices in my head say, "Lindsey, you don't need a cat!!" But I may ask if i can stop by and play with them from time to time.

Sincheon is very Korean, it is rare to see another foreigner. So when I stopped in the park to listen to some live music that was going on, I was an attraction- a kids came up to me and said "Barbie" ... it was cute.

I have never .....smelled Vietnamase Rolls

My theme for art this week was: "Nutrition and Health" so we made edible art: Vietnamese Rolls. Dipping rice paper into water, and piling vegetables, fake crab, ham, and honey mustard onto it, then rolling it up. The kids loved that we could eat our art, but then something funny started smelly..... after the first two classes I realized the fake crab and honey mustard mixture make for a very interesting smell.... the best was to compare it was - Vomit. The art room smelled like vomit.

Kelsey came down last weekend and we went to my friends house in Itaweon. We played the classic drinking game: "I have never...." with about 15 random people. I forgot how fun that game was.

I'm finding my groove here. Joined a gym, and started reading the book "Blink".

Suwan Thieves and Moroccan Cuisine

Kelsey lives an hour out of Seoul. I went to visit her on friday. We had a great time at dinner, then met 3 koreans. we danced, went to a noribong (singing) and a nightclub. When we woke up we realized we had been robbed. They took my money, credit cards, and ARC card.

- - - i learned a valuable lesson .

i spent the rest of the weekend laying low and kicking my self for what had happened. i should have known better than to trust others.

Sunday i went to my friend's Moroccan restaurant- - a stew-like-meal with lamb and raisins. very tasty.

Bobby & Blood

Monday... The start of a new week.
The weekend was filled with dancing, drinking, shopping and eating.
On Saturday, I was asked to come into work for an "EWAS Syndrome" presentation. I still have the "My name is Bobby English" song playing in my head. The song is very catchy and I wonder if it will be one of those tunes I remember forever. (When I was in 5th grade we had to remember a part of the MLK "I have a dream" speech, and to this day I can still recite it perfectly)

The Korean kids keep asking me what my blood type is. Its sorta their version of telling what kind of person you are. But, I don't know my blood type which seems very strange them. I have been told that I am either AB or O. Oh, the suspense!!

Jimjilbong

I forgot to mention a very special day I had in Korea.  The Jimjilbong! I went with my boss, vice president, and manager of the school. We ate, went into hot rooms, ate, got our feet messaged, ate and bathed. It was fantastic. This picture of me shows the t-shirt and pants you wear when in the coed areas, the orange towel on my head is to protect your hair from getting fried in the rooms. I looked like mickey mouse, but everyone else was doing it so it felt ok, haha. I had a great time and plan on returning soon. 

Raining Snails

Today it rained and the sidewalks looked like an umbrella traffic jam. Koreans are always prepared it seems. Ready to for their umbrella at any moment. Although, even in the sun you will see the women walking with their umbrellas shading themselves from the sun. So maybe they just always carry an umbrella with them?!?!...

In a classroom, I saw a plastic container with two snails in it. A male and a female. After they have babies the children will eat the snails together in class. Interesting and delicious :)

Art Class

Today I am about to step into my first class as an Art Teacher. We are making T-shirt name tags :) I have very excited to teach the children this passion of mind. Even if its just color pencils, glue sticks and paper... art is beautiful in all forms!

Field Trip Day to the Seoul Science Museum. Photos of Hannah, and myself with the kids getting on the subway

3 Weeks

I have officially been in Korea for 3 weeks today. My experiences have made memory in my mind that will last a life time.
Within my three weeks here, I have....
* Gone to one of the Incheon Islands, called Deokjeokdo, with a my co-worker Sophia
* Partied at a Bikini Party in Itawan
* Seen a 3D Movie at the Coex Mall
* Had a unsanitary time at the Health Center
* Seen a Tranny Show
* Ate some of the best food of my life
* Met some amazing new friends