A Day at the Market!

Some Happenings in Seoul!

Palace Grounds

It’s been a while since I’ve written an update about the comings and goings of Korean life! I’m sorry!! I’m finally snuggled up in my warm apartment, drinking a hot cup of Rooibos tea and ready to share a little of what’s gone in the last few months!

One of my big excitements was finally getting Internet hooked up in my place last week Friday. Hopefully this will help me keep in better contact with everyone back home.  I’ve made frequent trips to local coffee shops and PC Bongs (computer houses that provide Internet for 1,000 won an hour) but it's not the same as being able to access internet at home.

Palace Guard 

The city is slowly becoming more familiar and I’m realizing more and more that there is SO much to do here. Some of my favorite moments have been the simple ones like going for long walks in Olympic park, shopping at local markets or having long coffees. I've spent most of my exploring time in the downtown core, which is about a 45 min subway ride away from where I live. There are so many different sections to explore, each with a slightly different focus - shopping districts, university areas, the foreigners hangout or areas dedicated to traditional Korean things. 

I have found a solid church to be a part of. It’s so wonderful to slowly start making new friends and meet people from all over the world and with so many stories to share. It’s a smaller church with a good mix of ‘white’ people and Koreans. The English service meets Sunday afternoons and is a whole day affair with the main service, Sunday school and a second service dedicated to praise and testimonies. The day ends with small group prayer time. With so many of us being English teachers that have crazy schedules and live far away, it's nice to be able to spend some concentrated time together one day a week. 

The Korean Alphabet

Traditional tea 

Every Monday and Wednesday morning my cousin Joanna and I get up early and brave the busy rush hour subway traffic (we are slowly learning that sometimes the only way off or on the subway is to push and shove – and Koreans don’t take offensive – it’s just normal!) to attend Korean classes.  We have learnt the entire alphabet now so can read all the signs around us and have started learning some basic greetings and phrases.  Its has been another neat place to meet people from all over the world like Sweden, Pakistan, Australia, Ireland, etc. Hopefully we will soon be able to say enough to feel comfortable ordering food and asking basic questions.

Kimchi pots!!

School life has started to become a nice routine and I’m starting to feel like I know my students a little more than just their names. We just finished up preparing for the pop song competition. Every class learned an English pop song and I'm happy to report that one of my classes successfully won a pizza party out of the competition, so we are all looking forward to enjoying it on Monday. Today we are celebrating Halloween with lots of candy and a special 'market' where students can trade their hard earned stamps, that they received for doing homework and good behaviour, in for small toys or stationary items. The end of the first term is slowly coming which means all the teachers are busy writing student comments and the students are getting ready to write their tests which will determine if they are able to 'level-up' to a higher class or not. When I'm not teaching or preparing for class I have been preparing 'book-club' lesson plans for next semester. It's been fun to read through lots of children's books and has brought back so many memories of reading as a kid. 

It's hard to believe that I've already been here for over two months. So much of it still seems so new and strange yet at the same time I feel like I've learnt so much already! 10 months to go!!

A view from Seoul from the mountain we climbed.

With Your Likeness Let Me Wake

I remember hearing this song for the first time this summer while counting cars on the Trans Canada down in Medicine Hat, Alberta. I listened to it over and over again one day!! It had been a long week for me - working 12-14 hrs a day and spending a couple of my evenings waiting in emergency at the local hospital.

It has been encouraging me again this week - especially the following lines:

May this journey bring a blessing,
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart's testing,
With Your likeness let me wake

I can't seen to add the actually video to this post so here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80s6fWli-Rc

Jesus draw me ever nearer
As I labour through the storm.
You have called me to this passage,
and I'll follow, though I'm worn.

May this journey bring a blessing,
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart's testing,
With Your likeness let me wake.

Jesus guide me through the tempest;
Keep my spirit staid and sure.
When the midnight meets the morning,
Let me love You even more.

Let the treasures of the trial
Form within me as I go -
And at the end of this long passage,
Let me leave them at Your throne.

Be Still

Still my soul be still, and do not fear though winds of change may rage tomorrow.
God is at your side, no longer dread the fires of unexpected sorrow.

God You are my God, and I will trust in You and not be shaken.
Lord of peace renew a steadfast spirit within me to rest in You alone.

Still my soul be still, do not be moved by lesser lights and fleeting shadows.
Hold onto His ways with shield of faith against temptations flaming arrows.

God You are my God, and I will trust in You and not be shaken.
Lord of peace renew a steadfast spirit within me to rest in You alone.

Still my soul be still, do not forsake the Truth you learned in the beginning.
Wait upon the Lord and hope will rise as stars appear when day is dimming.

God You are my God, and I will trust in You and not be shaken.
Lord of peace renew a steadfast spirit within me to rest in You alone.

A Trip To My School!

On Friday I took my camera along to work and got a few shots of my school. It's almost Chuseok (Korean thanksgiving) here so it was a quiet day with several students away. I hope this gives you a bit of a glimpse into my life everyday.

The view from the street.

Another view from the street - you can see the sign for 'Avalon English' up on the third floor. That's where I work at the elementary school. The middle school where my cousin works is on the 5th floor.

This is the lobby and information desk. All the receptionists left!! This was taken at the end of the day so I think they may have been in a meeting.

The DI class hard at work during listening class. Listening is HARD!!

DI Speaking class! They are suppose to be telling each other their favourite things to eat when they go to a restaurant.

We tried to do a group picture at the end of class... but they got a little excited. It's Chuseok! We want to go home!!

GB class writing essays!!

The teacher's office!! Only no teachers - I think they are all teaching!!

And this is my desk where I sit all day! 

Things that make me smile...

Here are just a few things about Korea that make me smile!


1. The Cars

After counting and looking at cars all summer I can't help but look at cars here too! But they're not as exciting as Alberta cars! I don't think Koreans like colour as they only seem to have three for their cars - grey, white and black. They also like big cars and they LOVE Hyudais! Even the buses and big trucks are Hyundai. There aren't any half-tons here though or really really big trucks that we car counters call 'Es.' I don't think they have room for them.

2. The Music

One of the first things I noticed on the plane ride over was the classical music they played! But it didn't just stay on the plane. You hear it everywhere here..we groceries shop to Pachelbel and go for walks in the park to Mozart and when it's time to transfer to a new train on the subway we hear Vivaldi! I even heard the street light play Bach’s Minuet no. 3 (the one that ALL my piano students played!) the other day. No wonder Korean kids grow up to be such good musicians - they are bombarded by it constantly.

3. The Umbrellas

It rains a lot here! A LOT! So we all carry umbrellas everywhere we go. I used to have three essentials that I needed before leaving the house... my wallet, keys and and phone. Now I have four - wallet, keys, phone and umbrella. It's so fun to watch everyone walk around when it rains and to see all the pretty colours and patterns of their umbrellas. I've never owned an umbrella before but I think when I get back to Alberta I might just pull out an umbrella now and again when it rains.

4. The 'Pretty' Things

While they don't like to add colour to their cars they do like to add it to almost everything else. They like things to look pretty and so patterns and colour show up everywhere. Wall paper covers a lot of walls and the toilet paper all has patterns on it...like little bears!! When I bought dishes I searched through racks of tiny floral designs to find my plain, boring white bowls. Lucky for me they were the cheapest!

5. The Hospitals

After arriving in Korea all the English teachers have to make a trip to the hospital – just to make sure they want to keep us. In Canada this check-up would take hours but not in Korea. They have thought of everything and in less than an hour they have you out of there. You just follow the colourful lines and arrows a carry your form. Follow the red to line to the eye test, then green to chest e-ray, blue to the blood work...and your done!!

6. The Heels

Korean women love to wear high heels! They wear them everywhere; to work, to the grocery store, to church. They wear them when it's hot and when it's pouring outside. I've heard they even wear them hiking! And they all have so many pairs. I only own one pair of heels and didn't think that I would need them over here, but after being here for three weeks I think I've changed my mind. I think my first visitor to Korea will be bringing my heels with them.

7. The Rubber Boots

So while the ladies seem to have trouble knowing what is a practical choice for their feet on rainy days, the really little kids do not. They pull out their little rubber boots! They usually are a little shorter than North American rubber boots and have all kinds of exciting things on them. Whenever it rains I really want a pair. I even checked out a the rubber boot rack at the a local shore store to see if they had my size. They didn't! (BTW – Korean kids are absolutely adorable!!)

8. The Church

I’m been here for four Sundays already!! Each Sunday I’ve enjoyed worshipping with other believers and visiting a different church. It has been so neat to see that although I’ve been transported to a new ‘world’ the Church is still the same. They still worship the same God here and are a family of believers too...so each Sunday I have felt like I found a little bit of home here in Korea!

My Home

Here are a few pictures of my little apartment! I know some of you have been asking about it so ... here it is! I have hot water now but still no internet. I think it's slowly starting to feel like home.

This is a view of my kitchen and desk area.

This is my hard and lumpy bed!

The chair you see in the corner was left by the last English teacher!

Here is my desk surrounded by all the people I miss!

There is tons of storage space... all tucked away in cupboards!

This is my kitchen complete with two gas burners and a sink! No microwave or oven. 

I have a FULL size fridge!! Most teachers only get a tiny one.

My bathroom sink area. I'm lucky to have it separated from the rest of the bathroom.

My shower and toilet area. The shower head is up above.

This is my window!

This is what you see when you look out of my window!!