Surprise Confession

We love our bosses. They might be the kindest Koreans we know. One is soft spoken and quite strictly religious. The other is big, boisterous, and the students are terrified of him. When we ask him about his weekend, he often replies, "oh, I was drunken!". Two polar opposites, but both are always willing to help us out anytime we need it.

Koreans still aren't as big into dogs as people are in North America. Most still think of them very much as vermin. Often Koreans will tell you how dirty dogs are, and how you shouldn't have one because they just make you sick.

So, after work yesterday I had to stay late to mark some practice tests for our "scary" boss (we have students preparing for an important English exam). I called to let Thomas know I'd be late, and being the kind husband he is he came over with Sawyer and some fried chicken. Our boss came in and asked, "You love having your dog?". Thomas told him yes, we loved Sawyer, and proceeded to ask our boss if he liked pets.

We fully expected to hear, "no, I don't like having a pet". We were correct, that's what he said.
Then we expected him to say, "they are so dirty". But no. He said, "when I was a boy my dog died and I cried and cried and cried. A pet brings to much sorrow".

Best ever.

Thailand

We went to Koh Samui, Thailand for 5 days last week. These are some photos from the trip.









It's funny, because when I returned people asked if I took a lot of pictures, which sitting on the beach all day I didn't think I had. Turns out I had over 600.

We're off to China September 21-25 with another couple we know here in Seoul. After one year stuck in Seoul, we're beyond thrilled at these two trips. Our next vacation isn't until February (not counting Christmas when we plan on having family visit) but I think we can make a mini vacay to Bangkok work. Warning: Don't go to Thailand unless you want to spend the rest of your life trying to get back.

Ta-da!

Here's hoping a face lift will provide me with a little more inspiration.

Apt Viewing

Things I would like to tell to the people in the apartment building beside mine:

1. That red curtain, combined with having your light on makes it look like you're "open for business" Amsterdam style.

2. Stop keeping your dog on your balcony! With all the windows closed up it must be, like, a million degrees!

3. Hey, even with your window closed a little, I can still see you dart around naked.

4. I don't care if you can see me dart around naked.

5. Everyone keep up the good work. If I ever have to give up cable I'll be turning to y'all for entertainment.

Honesty is the Best Policy?

Something about working with children that most people learn quickly is their inhibitions in regards to truth telling. Young children won't shy away from telling you, "your breath smells" or "you have pointy ears like and elf!" (both of which I've had said to me in the past, and in defense of the bad breath it was after I'd had coffee).

Being in Korea, though, you have to develop an entirely new skin of thickness for what these children will say/do to you. Keep in mind these are not things only my youngest students have said to me, but students up to age 16:

1. "Teacher, you look awful today. You have dark eye circles." (age 11)
2. "Teacher, your nose is long and big" (age 15)
3. On more than one occassion I've had students reach out and just press on the tip of my nose. It usually results in screams, and encouragement for other students to also touch the end of my nose. (ages 13 - 15)
4. Every female teacher's most dreaded, "Teacher, baby?" while pointing to your stomach. (ages 9-13)
5. The other week I was wearing shorts with tights, and a female student came up to me and "examined" my thighs (checked the girth and firmness). I got a "good teacher" when she was finished. Phew. (age 15)
6. Often changing between curly and straight hair, I showed up to class with straight hair after wearing it curly, to which I was told, "Oh teacher, better hair, curly hair is old lady hair". (age 16)
7. One time my students came in to visit me in the office, and upon looking at Thomas they simply pointed at him and laughed, "funny hair today!"
8. This last one isn't bad, quite the contrary, but I need to share it. For some reason Thomas keeps getting told he looks like Brad Pitt, "Teacher Tom, same Brad Pitt!" they say. My students saw a picture of Brad Pitt in their text books and exclaimed, "Teacher! It's Tom!". Oh brother.

I'm sure I'm missing some classics, and I'm sure by the end of the day I'll have a few more. My new slogan for teaching English in Korea:

Foreign Teaching Korea: Daily Lessons in Letting Things Go

Thomas' Look of the Week

What does a black eye and really chapped lips with lots of blistex on them look like?

This:

I'm Learned

Things I learned or realized today in Korea:

1. Finding your 2 Korean friends in a sea of 2,000 Koreans is in fact as challenging as it sounds (at one point I wasn't even able to remember what my friends actually looked like).
2. After 6 months I still hate that they all chew with their mouths open. I believe in 6 more months I will still feel the same way.
3. I see a drunk Korean man every single day.
4. I see a drunk Korean man fall down every 3-5 days. Literally, man goes from vertical to horizontal (tonight the man was fortunate enough to land in a pile of snow).
5. My favourite Korean food is meat. The meat really just tastes like meat you'd find at home. So I guess I don't really have a favourite Korean food.
6. Everyone will tell you the bus is faster than the subway. What they don't tell you is that your chances of dying on a bus (or wetting your pants in fear of death) is multiplied by 5.
7. Just because I have learned more Korean, doesn't mean Koreans have learned more English. Must remember to clarify that no, I do not want a Vanilla latte, I want a Banilla latte.
8. I will spend $70 for two bottles of my favourite wine.
9. I am not on vacation here, so I need to stop eating like I am.
10. Dairy products have ridiculously short expiry dates, while bread lasts freakishly long.
11. I like waiting to show the salesgirls my face until after they've run up to me and spoken a bunch of Korean (the dark hair and bangs usually makes them assume I'm one of them). Reactions I get usually involve them stopping mid sentence, backing away slowly, or awkward smile/giggle/red face combinations.
12. Milk is never going to smell right, just put it in your coffee and cereal and don't ask questions.