The other day at lunch I introduced Kool Aid Man to my host parents. My host mother all of a sudden said “OH YEAAAAH” and the way she said it completely triggered my memory of Kool Aid Man bustin through a wall and screaming “OHYEAAAAAHHHHHH” in that amusing voice. I started giggling to myself and began to introduce the lovely master of American sugary drinks who every kid bows down to. This somehow led to my host father showing me his favorite singer Kim KwangSeok….I’ll probably check out his stuff soon.
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| OH YEAHHHHHH |
Again sorry for not frequently updating the blog. Things have been super busy and eery night I sit down to write and I end up falling asleep or talking to people. Therefore this post will probably be a long one! So much has happened in the past week(s). Some highlights are:
*So as you all might know I have been placed in Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. After coming back from Seoul all the Fulbrights were desperately trying to get ready for receiving information about their host families. I don’t think we received the information until two nights before we met them. So needless to say we were all nervous. The most nerve-racking thing for me was meeting my principal, vice-principal and co-teacher. All the Fulbrights started saying our “see you laters” early. I really miss my roomie! SHOUT OUT TO COCO! ^^
Anyways, D-Day aka Departure Day: emotional, exciting, nerve-racking- the true beginning of my year in Korea. During the ceremony when we step out of the Fulbright line and meet our vice-principal or principal and co-teacher I was greeted by my co-teacher (whom I love!) throwing a huge bouquet of flowers into my arms. It was precious.
After the ceremony there was a lot of waiting (and praying that my vice-principal’s car was big enough to hold all my dang luggage….) and then kind of an awkward car ride. It ended up not being that bad as I was whisked away from the gigantic one-building Sovietesque castle known as Jungwon. We then met up with my principal and department head for dinner at a local Gumi restaurant. I was nervous and excited to meet everyone. The comment that took the cake the most at this event was this: My co-teacher: “Now, please don’t take this the wrong way, but the principal says that he is very pleased since you have blonde hair… he thinks this will make the kids want to speak English more.” Me: “ummmmm oh…hahah thanks….?!” And then again when offered beer later in the dinner and then I politely refuse because I’m not really a beer person “Oh please don’t worry about sexual harassment. We don’t have that at our school.” I wasn’t even thinking about that….that seriously took me by surprise. Then I had to explain that I was not really into the taste of beer. I think they got it?
After dinner I was off to meet my host family. And to put it quite frankly, my host family is da bomb. You will see why later. I have two host siblings- one in elementary school and one in middle school- and my host parents are both teachers. Super sweet and unbelievably generous and invested in their children’s education. Let’s just say there is no TV in the house. That’s an indicator. J I hope I don’t disappoint my host family in any way. Especially with helping them learn English. So far I think we have a healthy balance going between Korean and English. I have much to learn! *Ashley Restaurant in Daegu – My host family is seriously so sweet. The first weekend we were together they took me to Daegu to go to a restaurant that shares my name- Ashley Restaurant. They serve all types of food there but is basically known for its Western cuisine. Also, my host mom always checks in with me to see if I really like her food, and am comfortable. I keep telling her that I am. I really am lucky to have such a great family.
*Taekwondo class at Jungwon- Sparring my Sabeomnim….bad AND good choice. So when we took our Taekwondo master out for drinks one night I decided it would be a smart and amusing choice to challenge him to a sparring match. Not just by myself…..but three of us on one. Two of my other friends were totally in- 3 girls on 1 taekwondo master….we could do it…..NOT. So hoping that we were going to get him drunk enough so he didn’t remember we shook on it. The next day was Taekwondo class. And who is the only one who shows up to sparring that day out of the original group who proposed such a preposterous idea? ME. My luck ran out with this one: right as I walked into class he smiled at me and totally remembered my challenge from the night before. He said “Ahh Ashlee, we spar to-day!” And me in a fit of fear told him “Sabeomnim, if Di-Hoa and Amy do NOT come I will NOT spar you!” And he proceeded to brush me off. And of course I was the only chump who showed up. So I think I am off the hook until I am done sparring my other partner and he starts getting his gear on and saying “Okay Ashlee! Time to spar!” I then continued to repeatedly tell him that Di-Hoa and Amy were not here therefore I could not take him one on one. So his suggestion: get two more girls who were NOT up to the challenge. One was pretty much forced into it. Needless to say, he totally handed me my behind and he was not even trying! I wish someone got that sparring match on film… I am glad that it happened though. Now we have a special, special bond. Especially after he could have easily roundhouse kicked my head in. Gotta love Sabeomnim. ^^
*Some new-found biddies! (I mean, no one could replace the true ones…just sayin) I legit have awesome co-workers. I am now the youngest employee in the school and some ladies in the office have decided to take me under their wings. It has been really great. Most of them are in their mid to late twenties and they are bunches of fun. I really look forward to bonding with them in the coming year. They even gave me a Korean name. We went to Outback Steakhouse for a co-worker’s birthday (which is WAY too expensive by the way….no I will not pay $35 for a mini steak….thank god for family style-eating culture…) and we were talking in both Korean and English and the subject of names came up. Then they decided on the spot to give me a Korean name- Kang AeJeong or 강애정((姜愛情). Let’s just say I was overwhelmingly honored. It took me forever to get a Kanji in Japan (my name = 亜朱利) And it basically took me a week and a half to get one here. So in return, I gave them all English names. ^^ I think they liked the exchange. J
*1st week of teaching- crazy and good. Some things include:
-Arm wrestling middle school boys….and beating them.
-Me: Hey kid, whaddya want to be? What is your future dream? Student: How do you spell “paelentologist?” Me: OH…um…..uh….wait a minute let me check my dictionary…::goes and gets mini pocket dictionary praying the stupid word is in it…no dice:: Me: ::sits there for a good minute trying to figure out the spelling and eventually telling the kid I will get back to him…well I guess since you can’t spell it, you can’t be that, now can ya kid?.....
- Rockstar status and an ego boost to boot! I have this boy who constantly makes it a point to come up to me and yell in my face YOU’RE SO BEAUTIFUL! It’s super sweet and hilarious at the same time.
-All I do is sweat…even more. So Korea has decided that it will carry its summer into September when, as my co-teach swears it is cool by this time. I will believe that when I see it. One day I had pit-stains to my boobs. No lie. Embarrassing? Yes. Lesson learned? Heck yes. Hoping it will help keep the Korean pounds off? HELL yes.
*Wanting to join a gym- if I don’t ill go insane –NEWSFLASH. Ashlee has joined a gym. Named ChicaGO Fitness. Go figure. My host dad made a funny joke the night I joined: “haha…oh well now you can go home every day.” Cute, huh? Joined a gym with the help of her co-teacher and the guy decided to take her muscle mass and body weight in order to join. Thanks dude, I lift on a normal basis even though by your standards I probs don’t look like I work out. He also told me that if I concentrated on dieting and exercising I would be even more glamorous….WOW! That’s great….James. Yeah he told me tonight his name was James. And the most exciting part about this gym? You change into a workout uniform…good for my host mom….bad for the gym! HEAVEN! Also, I am by far the sweatiest person there, but really I don’t think anyone is surprised by that. AM I RIGHT MOM AND DAD?! The yoga class I just took was super interesting….not at all like American yoga. It was hysterical and the ladies were sweet. Next time I am doing the spinning class afterwards!
*Wanting my Korean to get better – I have been trying to sit down and study but I feel like lesson planning has been taking the bulk of my time especially at work. Once I plan this semester I will have more time to work on Korean but for now I will just have to learn on the fly. I really really want to learn it. Especially since I can read all of it. It is amazing how frustrating things can get if you don’t know the language….reminds me of me about 2 years ago in Japan…
*Star Wars- spreadin’ American pop culture like it’s my job...OH WAIT! It IS my job!
*Worrying about whether or not I am trying too much or too hard with my host siblings
*Becoming more interested in painting my nails…all the time...thanks for that one Jenny Wilborn!
*Having the most epic day with my host sister, host mother, and host sister’s friend. Get this: host sister and her friend are 11. They like scary movies. We went to see a scary movie. I cowered like a baby. I will blog more about this later.
*Lesson planning is hard. Thank god I have resources…and family!
*Forgot most of my gifts at Jungwon- my school co-workers probably secretly think I’m an incompetent fool of an American….the gifts should be here this weekend…
*DePauw-sickness and longing – I just really miss DePauw. I love Korea and my experience here, but you will not have anything like college ever again, people. Live it up. I’m glad I did.
*Worried I’m not going to explore on my own! – I need to channel you Nikki Brueggeman!
*Worried about educating Koreans and whether or not I am really making a difference….
*Koreans eat and eat and eat some more. Seriously. Pretty much at about 11:00pm another smaller meal comes along… probably because the kids are studying half the night away.
*Native American dream catchers- a piece of American culture to carry with me wherever I go!
안녕히계세요!~
애슐리~
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