Updated: The Korean Public Bath.. a.k.a. the Roman Spa equivalent

EDIT: Recently Updated! (new material added + CAUTION!! section)

(Photo Credit: Suzon Fuks. Scroll over the photo for more photos and cite information.)

Sunday was just one of those days that had to be spent relaxing. Although I had yet to finish more than -"Oh, it's that time again"-85 progress reports for the end of September, I wanted to pamper myself and finally check out what the Korean public bath was all about.I woke up early thinking I would get a good head-start on my day. Near 6:30 I woke up, feeling the sun shining on my face, making me feel a bit dehydrated: so I grabbed a liter of water and chugged it, thereafter laying down for a quick rest.

Around 8 I came to again, which was still rather early for my sleepy eyes, and headed over anyway to the GoongJeoungLavander public bath close to 경북 (KyongPook) University. From what I had heard, it's a good place and one of the largest here in Daegu.

What a haven it was indeed! I felt a little out of place, walking up to the information window and paying my 4,000 Won to go take a bath---amid other naked Korean ladies, people I didn't know, doing what I had always believed to be a very private affair: that is, washing oneself, taking a bath, and cleansing the body in a fashion us Westerners are accustomed to doing (however, I'm still getting used to not being able to take a bath here, just the shower I have in my apartment, where everything gets wet within a foot radius.)

*** Read Carefully if you plan on going to a KOREAN PUBLIC BATH!! ***

When I entered the Women's section, I found the usual: entryway and place to lock your shoes, then the usual path to the women's locker room. Alas, I hadn't even entered the women's bathing area and I already found women walking naked everywhere. Strange.

I noticed a little convenience stand just across my line of site, so I bought a pumice stone, bathing body scrubber, a mango face mask and apricot body scrub: all for a whopping 8,000 Won. Ouch! But I felt like having a pampering session, so it was well-deserved. Next, it was off to my locker to remove my clothes, and gather my belongings to finally check out the baths.

Maybe it's just my Westerner frame of mine, but it was definitely a strange site to see Korean women and children so comfortable in their birthday suits; they showering, scrubbing themselves, laying around in the baths, conversing, laughing and simply, pampering themselves! I felt at ease, in my own skin that is, but I expected some wondering eyes looking my way---and there was, indeed. How could they not miss me? I'm the only foreigner with blinding white skin!

The baths were amazing, and there were so many, too. I didn't find out until later (since I can only read Hangul at this point, having absolutely no idea what they mean in English), I just pounced around, going from one bath to another, having an honestly good time and feeling very relaxed. There were even a few Korean girls that asked me in English what my name was, if I was a teacher and whether I spoke Korean or not.

There were several hot baths (about 40 degrees Celcius), a salt bath, a negative and postive ion bath section, a cold water pool, massage jets with varying degrees of strenth (boy did they feel SO good!), a steam room and a sauna room as well. There was even a little padio with heat lamps, where women could just lay down and feel the warmth of the heat lamp on their skin. When I visited the massage jets to give my myself a back rub, an older Korean lady asked me in Korean, "너무좋아?" ("Namu-jowa?" which means, does it feel good?) and I agreed, "내!" (yes!). She asked me in broken English if there were Saunas like this one in "Mee-guk"--America, and I said there wasn't like this one. There are Spas, but they're expensive.

The last and final bath I visited--AND LET ME CAUTION YOU HERE!--is the replication of the Dead Sea bath (Check out the link, it's got great info about the Dead Sea). It's blue, beautiful actually, and loaded with several minerals (like calcium, bromine, magnesium, etc) that is supposedly very similar to the Dead Sea. But here's the cautionary: you're ONLY supposed to stay in this bath for NO MORE THAN 10 MINUTES! If you stay longer, your skin may become sensitive, or there many be adverse effects. Let me explain.

I stayed in the bath approximately 15 minutes, and it was NOT until after I left the bath, that I half-hazardly read the sign at the entrance to the bath, to not stay longer than 10 minutes immersed in the "Dead Sea Bath." I did however, and by only a few minutes--so I thought it wouldn't make much of a difference: Well, I was wrong. Sorely-wrong.

After the Dead Sea bath, I went into the Sauna, then the cold-water pool once again, revisiting the hot bath at 40 degrees celcius, only afterward, heading over to the bathing section to exfoliate my skin, wash myself, and essentially, take a shower to clean up from the bathing.

GRAPHIC CAUTION: The next paragraph is GRAPHIC. So if you don't want to know the details of my anatomical mishaps, move along and don't read any further!

A few days later, I noticed that I was VERY sensitive in the pubic region: whether bathing, going to the bathroom, or simply wearing underwear. I was rather red and swollen nearly everywhere (and I mean, everywhere, folks.. the whole kitten caboodle.) My poor 질 (vagina) felt like I had been riding on a horse for 3 days straight, trying to cross a desert in the hot, blazing sun: my labia was cracked from top to bottom, and I could barely go to the bathroom without almost immediately dousing myself with cold water to relieve the pain. To say I was a parched horse is an understatement. What a vision.

So I just couldn't understand why it felt like the entire lower part of my body was about to fall apart-- until of course it dawned on me, like an instantaneous smack to my skull: could it be that Dead Sea Bath? No wonder. And I had felt dehydrated for days following my Korean Bath adventure. Let me tell you, I might just think twice about that Dead Sea Bath again... however, when Sunday rolls around, you bet you'll find me soaking in a local Korean bath near you! (And might I add, one should take it EASY in the salt bath, too. That might have added to the iritation, come to think of it.)

So cheers for the soothing, non-irritating Korean baths--and a word to the wise for those who choose to check out the Dead Sea Bath at your local Sauna: immerse your feet, folks, ONLY your feet. Seriously, don't immerse anything else, or else you might wind up replicating my anatomical mishap. You'll be thanking me afterward, I promise you!

New make-up: A new person?

Women are crazy. And I'm one of them.

We spend so much money on our appearances: from plastic surgery to breast implants, expensive cosmetics to clothing accessories, the list is seriously endless... to try and look good, to make-up our character, our personalities, ourselves---simply because we believe that if we figure out and make good of ourselves on the outside, we'll automatically transform and make better what's on the inside. Maybe we'll be more liked. Maybe we'll feel better about ourselves. Maybe, we'll even like ourselves better!

Boy, oh, boy--here we go, more pills again.

Perhaps that's why there's birth control and psychiatric medicine: the pill cleans the surface of your skin (while of course, helping to decrease a woman's chance of pregnancy--but that's not the issue here) and the psyciatric medicine helps those ATP cells go to where they need to go; hence righting the wrong happening in our minds, making us feel and appear like we're sane, normal, in control, real---not imaginary! Oh, my! Let's face it, folks, we're screwed up, and the cosmetic industry is making us women more and more fallible to these weak tendencies!!

Why, you ask?

Because as women, we simply cannot help ourselves at the very sight of a good deal when we see one, when passing by for example, a clothing store or a shoe store. Eureka! Even a grocery store or convenience store... or, hey better yet, a cosmetic store with real Korean cosmetics--not imported stuff--that, for a limited time, cost half the price than they usually do, because we are like dogs on a trail to a meaty-bone: We are destined to fall for the historically infallible, the most well-known of all customer attractors ever invented in the Capitalist system--that, my friends, is the SALE!!

And....like the weakling that I am, I walked into my neighborhood cosmetic shop, because, low-and-behold, the words S A L E eased out rather boldly through the window, lewering passers-by---Yes, EVEN ME!---for a quick peek for curiosity's sake, if none other than to buy simply because there is a sale.

Thinking I was a thrifty shopper, I was esctatic to find such cheap cosmetics.. when just downtown recently, I went searching for mascara, ONLY to find the cheapest, most unknown imported brand that I could find at a mere (drum-roll, please): 17,000 Won. Absolutely, positively crazy! Holy cow.

So I got sparkly purple eye shadow. And, sparkly pink lip stick. Plus more sparkles with sparkly mascara. Wow. Then, followed by a rose lip liner, and a stick of black and brown eye-liners--one doubling as an eye-brow pencil. What a thrill! And the lady gave me a free little rosey cosmetic bag, and a 500 Won discount! What a delight! And it was all on S-A-L-E!

The Sale, alas, is simply the opportune to not only attract customers (perhaps business is slow), but to finally give those well-deserved breaks to the common lad: so finally, we see, prices dropping down to semi-doable and closer to 'what-they-should-be' prices, especially for the average, middle-class customer walking by. Nevermind whether they're Korean or American, or what have you. I'm talking about reasonable prices for goodness sakes!

So I captured it on camera, my find of cosmetics... And made up my face with these precious-girly-on-sale-Korean-made items...

...then, going to bed with a ridiculous smile on my face, and all the while, laughing for falling for this sale trap. How much did it cost me? About 20,000 W that I could have spent nearly half on back in the US. I guess it's the price you pay for wanting to feel good on the outside!

All the more, I add to my feeling stupid for sharing these crazy, girl-like photos of myself. I am indeed, nuthin' but a knucklehead.

So, thank you Korean Cosmetics! You've changed my life!! (And another Jerry Springer show loses it's ratings, once again...)

Landscapes from Andong...

And me wishing I could see this view out my window every morning.

A real Korean cold

Pills, pills, and more pills: Korean-style.

This past weekend I went to Andong--enjoying a fairly relaxed Chuseok with Seungbo's family, checking out the famous Hanhoe folk village and eating some great Korean food. Of course, the weekend wasn't spent without a price; I got a bonafiedKorean cold. Now my pasttime has become sneezing, blowing my stuffy nose, and crunching wads of toilet paper in my pockets. Nice.

So yesterday I went to the doctor's to get checked out. The price was amazing--I got in, got out, AND got my antiobiotics in LESS than 20 minutes. Fast you say? Indeed. And it only cost me 15,000W. Now, to an American, that's absurdly cheap. Back in the states, I couldn't get INTO see the doctor for less than $100 in my present situation without insurance, and no less than 30 minutes just for waiting. I could safely say that Americans don't even THINK of visiting the doctor's WITHOUT health insurance unless they're on their near-death bed.

Seungbo tells me that when I get my insurance card from my boss, I'll be reimbursed 10,000 W for my doctor's visit. That means my doctor's visit would only cost me 3,000W verses 10,000, and my medicine merely 3,000W verses 5,000. I couldn't believe it, I was in awe!

But here in Korea, medicine is CHEAP! In fact, I'm told that Korea is number in the use and popularity of antiobiotics: what they call, the other once shot! (memories of one shot with Dong-Dong Ju is coming back to me now..) The other day, Seungbo tells me he went to the doctor's to get a shot because he wasn't feeling too well. I thought, What do they put in those shots? And where can *I* get one?

I seriously thought that I would get a shot when I visited the doctor's. However, the Doc said that I probably don't need one, even after asking me my surgery history, any alergies that I may have, and inquiring into my general health background. Supposedly Koreans think Americans are 'alergic to everything' so it was safer to just give me antiobiotics instead of risking giving me a shot and there being a possibility that I would be allergic to something in it. But I'm not allergic to anything!! So what is IN these shots anyway?? Antiobiotics. Alright, so I'm taking them in pill forms, 3 times a day for 3 days. But isn't it faster to just get the shot? I could really do for a little pain in the bum for feeling better a little quicker.

The answer is Yes and No. If I have a cold, or the flu (symptoms of both), it's no doubt a viral infection. The deal is, you can only get rid of a bacterial infection through antiobiotics. So why take antiobiotics for a viral infection if it won't work?? I have no clue; they just take the medicine here and don't ask. That's a question I still have left to answer.

In the meantime, I'll be drinking lots of water, struggling with a horse voice teaching my classes while my students think I've undergone a sex-change, and yes---popping my new Korean pills. I've got to get over this Korean cold!

Chuseok Weekend..

It's 추석(Thanksgiving) weekend here in Korea, and supposedly the most important of the holidays--even more so than Christmas (which is not really celebrated, I am told.) Last night, I gave Susan, my director, a Chuseock gift--a crystal necklace and earring set that I found in downtown while running errands Friday morning. She adored it! The teachers gave her a cosmetic gift of some sort---and in turn, Susan gave us each a big box of Paris Baguette sweet rolls and 50 Won to play with. It's sort of like Christmas, I like it!

I realize my last post was really dreary--who can blame a teacher wanting to make sense of everything when everyone is speaking in Korean? I've settled a bit on my feelings, and decided to spend my last work day (before the holidays) REALLY trying to listen and interact in Korean.. well, sure enough, it didn't work too well. But I talked quite a bit to my co-workers in English, and everyone seemed rather giddy because of the holidays.. and perhaps too because I was interacting with them consistantly between my class teachings.

I realize also that I've had to make a change in the way I see these people. They speak Korean because they're used to it. I'm the foreigner, so I'm the odd man out--but if I speak to them consistantly in English, will they not be forced to practice it? Right. Like you can't tell your significant other they have to lose weight by telling them. You have to go out and exercize with them. Likewise, I can't just tell my co-workers to speak in English. I have to take their hands and speak English to them. It's the only way they'll practice it, and the only way I'm going to stop feeling lonely and pitiful from listening to nothing but Korean all day.

Good remedy? I think so. Thank goodness I can think clearly occasionally. I'm off to Andong this weekend to visit with Seungbo's family---I surely don't want to be home alone on this Thanksgiving weekend! So we're sure to eat lots of good Korean food--hopefully I won't make a fool of myself trying to speak Korean either. Later everybody!! ;)

The problem with a little venting...

Pulling my hair out with problems.

This is a big topic for me. I've thought greatly about this, and I knew that I would eventually have to confront my problems. I believe it's human nature to want to run away from one's problems; to think the grass is always greener away from home, in another pasture, or in a new environment. By separating ourselves from the known, changing geographically appears to be the quick and easy fix to curing the problems in our lives. I sure did; that's why I feel I fled to Korea.

I left a relationship back home because it was failing. I left my troubles working two and three jobs when I moved back to Washington, because I failed in finding just one that fed my appetite, and gave me everything that I was looking for. I left my friends, because I neglected to realize the reality that friends change, they grow up, and friendships no longer remain the same--I wanted to look at my hometown and live my life where I grew up through rose colored glasses: but in retrospect, I failed the friends I once knew.

How do we find the remedy? I wonder whether I should have stayed home. I wonder whether I shouldn't have been selfish, to leave everything behind and seek a new life, a clean slate, a better beginning.

The truth is, the problems do remain. I've hurt many people in the process, because I wanted to run away from my problems; problems in relationships, in communication, in truth and honesty. The list goes on. Everyone and everything is the culprit; unless we confront them fully.

Now these problems have come back to haunt me. So for one, I feel friction at work. I think because I work at an English Hagwon, that everyone--namely the teachers, should be speaking English. But that's certainly not the case. Everyone speaks Korean--who would blame them, it's their native language and they feel the most comfortable speaking their mother tongue? Plus, I'm the minority; the only foreigner. So they joke, they mingle, they discuss--even gossip about one another-- in Korean. Meanwhile, I'm left feeling lonely, pitiful, like a real 파 보 (stupid) American, going about my day, pounding at my work and my teaching, growing more and more angry at them because of this language barrier.

And they have the gaul to ask me about correct English grammar and phrases, in their broken English, because they refuse to speak English consistantly and practice like they should. Why the hell am I practicing my Korean EVERYDAY--it's certainly NOT to keep speaking English only (believe me, I would be speaking in French or German, if someone else there would understand me!) But alas, I gripe to myself--and my co-worker Seungbo, who's really the only other person who speaks to me in English besides my boss, Susan, occasionally. But it's infrequent. A kid does something funny or says a cute little comment, and everyone laughs. I stare, having no idea what transpired; then it's back to work. It gets dull. And no one translates. So I sow these bouts of anger and dispise by studying Korean--thinking that if I transcend this anger into something useful, it will finally get me somewhere.

Yesterday, I made a few comments to Seungbo in French. He had no idea what I was talking about; I just said how nice the day was, that everything was calm and relaxed, even the kids were behaving. But he had no clue what I was talking about, even though I sure did because I was speaking in a language that I understood; so his reaction was to flip me off, because he didn't understand me, and he thought I was making fun of him.

I said, "T'as l'audacité de me faire comme ça, de me donner le doigt, hein?? Maintentant, tu me comprends? Je me sens mal comme ça tout le temps, tout les jours, car c'est toujours le Corée parlé ici, et moi, je ne comprends rien... et que tu n'as auqune idéa de ce que je te dise, tu me fais comme ça? Vraiment.. maintentant, tu marches dans mes chaussures. Now at least someone understands how I feel here." (English: "You have the audacity to do me like that, to flip me off huh? Now you understand me, don't you? I feel bad like that all the time, everyday, because it's always Korean that's spoken here, and I understand nothing...and since you have not the faintest idea of what I'm telling you, you flip me off? Truly...now you get to walk in my shoes...")

Touché!

So Seungbo wasn't at all pleased that I gave him the third degree about everyone speaking Korean. It's not their fault that I don't understand Korean. But it's also my fault for not relaying to them that I think they ought to speak English everyday--otherwise they won't improve. And right now, their English sucks. Period. Seungbo speaks English to me everyday because he's forced to practice it. In turn, I try to speak Korean, but I'm very limited.

This language barrier is alot harder to deal with than I thought.

Like Mondays--this past Monday, when we usually have our 20 minute 'Teacher Meeting' (Right, more like Korean teacher meeting, while I listen to blah blah as I prepare my day's classes). And my boss, Susan, asks me if I have anything to say to the other English teachers, as I blankly stare at her, thinking...

Oh, excuse me, do you want me to ADD anything to your conversation? I didn't know I was invited. Or should I just vent and say that I think these meetings are a waste of my time because they're always in Korean... you expect me to improve my teaching? How? Where's the training I was promised? You pay me more, so I'm supposed to do more, right? No, I didn't know we actually had CASSETTES or VIDEOS other than in Korean that I could use to teach in my classes. No one ever told me. So I'm sorry if I actually care about my classes and the kids that I teach---I'd rather instruct them on English they should know rather than using these hypothetical situation books that use outdated and badly translated English. You want me to monitor their learning, how, by playing games all the time, especially when I get to see the kids but just an hour and a half a week? And you think MY presence is going to help their English, especially when it takes WEEKS for them to understand me teaching them a single lesson, when the Korean teachers instruct in KOREAN they learn a bit faster, no? So why not coordinate BOTH NATIVE AND KOREAN TEACHERS CLASSES ALREADY?????? Why do I have to do teach a class when the students don't even do their homework, and they don't learn a sliver of what I've taught them, because I see them few and far between?

I want to be logical and sane about this, but I think enough is enough. The pay is not worth this headache. In fact, I would be happier if the workload were a bit lighter, if I had a 30 minute lunch evereyday perhaps, and if I were able to coordinate my classes with the Korean teachers. Why put so much stress on the kids? And parents think because our school has a native English speaker, they're automatically going to improve their English? Good grief.

So for this week, (sigh) it's already Friday and the weekend brings the Korean Thanksgiving Holiday--I won't have much room to speak to my boss about what I think of the meetings and of the teaching. But for crying out loud, the kids I teach will not learn well by this method, and not all students are like the mere 10% I have that DO actually understand me beyond, "Hello, how are you? Fine, thank you" as memorized from the textbook we use.

These are but a few of the problems I have faced here. I can't keep letting them slide--by not communicating, by not being honest and truthful, by thinking they'll just go away or get better in time. I have to confront them, whether I like it or not. And where is starts is sometimes, just a call back home...that, and maybe a little hair-pulling too!

Images of Seoul

Busan: Post 2 of 1, 948

A typical Chelsea, holding her camera, capturing the essence of the moment. That's me!

More Busan. I loved this place. The fresh air from Dong Hae streaming through the streets, the fresh fish markets (Pew!), the endless streets of people walking around. Pretty interesting place.

And then, one of the many things you'd notice: the endless pet shops, filled with Korean dogs ranging in breed, but all seem to be just about the same tiny size. A fetish perhaps? Maybe. But one cannot help but fall in love with a pup such as the one in this picture that Kate took above.

Then, miraculously, two girls appeared on the sandy shores of Haungdae beach, and scared the city folk away. Wow, Who are they?? That's me and Kate, acting a bit funny. Very typical of me: I haven't lost my sense of humor, which is good!

Then oddly enough, a strange Korean runs past us, takes off his shirt, and dives into the salty sea. That's Seungbo alright. It was rather funny; people were laughing at him as he rolled around on the sand, scratching his back and acting like a goofball! Believe me, if it were any other Korean man, they seriously would not be acting like this!

Last incrimination: Busan cannot be justly experienced without trying out the Busan nightlife. Here, Seungbo, Kate's friend Olivia and I get jiggi-with-it on the dance floor of the foreigner night club, The Vinyl Underground. Highly recommended. There were Canadian rappers there, jiving to their own tune, and they also gave props to the Louisianans and Mississipians who are suffering because of Hurricane Katrina...

On that note, I think everyone is feeling the reprocusions of this devastating natural disaster back home. Americans, Canadians, even Koreans as well. I just hope President Bush steps up a bit more than just giving debit cards to Hurrican Katrina survivors. Seriously though, what can these survivors buy when there's not even a Walmart standing to buy food and supplies from? Come on, now.

There was also a "nah-bee" (Typhoon) watch on the East coast of Korea and West coast of Japan this past week. I heard it was rather stormy in Busan, but nothing of course compared to Hurricane Katrina.

In Busan this last weekend, though, everyone felt completely separated from the current natural disaster. It's easy to not think about problems---school, kids, work, or otherwise. Fun-filled weekend it was in Busan. Who know's! Maybe after my stint in Daegu this year, next year just might be Busan! :)

Normal School Days; the Hagwon as a babysitting service

Thursday, it's a normal day. I'm currently on a break between teachings (25 minute break this time), and I usually try to lap up plenty of sitting time during those breaks; when I teach, I'm usually on my feet, very active, engaged with the kids, and relentlessly assessing their learning.

Ah, such is the life of an American go-getter English teacher; or better served, a Hagwon babysitter. Here's why.

As far as kids go, I've noticed a few differences between Korean children and those of American children. Sure, I work at a Hagwon--these childrens' parents are paying our school for us teachers to help them improve their English; to improve beyond their normal mandatory school learnings. So many of these kids visit more Hagwons besides JungChul during their normal academic day, which for me, creates a problem on the learning spectrum. You see, some days, these kids are full of energy and excited to learn; on other days, they're no less than drained of energy and could care less how to pronounce THis verses THink.

Not all of these kids are alike, either. There lies a big difference between elementary school kids, middle schoolers and near-high schoolers here. Every year, it appears mandatory school gets progressively harder, and more and more kids are attending subject-specific Hagwons to improve this or that. I've heard that by the time a Korean student reaches highschool, they're gone from 6 or 7 in the morning to near 10 or 11 or later at night. I cannot imagine having this type of schedule back in highschool.

So i've often wondered about this--whether such drastic measures in teaching children is healthy for them. What I've learned about this, however, is that many Korean parents are having to work these days. Like in the states, I find it rare to find a family whose mother is a stay at home mom; in order to get ahead, to save money, to provide for the family--both parents are obliged to work, both in Korean AND the American cases. So when the kids get home from school, and the parents are at work, where are these kids supposed to go? If they stay home, they're not looked after; they're alone, so they don't interact with other school kids. In the states, the solution is an after-school program, a daycare or babysitter, or, simply staying home alone. Here in Korea, there's another solution.

And thus, Hagwons were created: I call it, Korean Babysitting Service-Centers, which has saved many of today's Korean adolescents from turning to mischievious behavior because there was nothing else to do to release their bordom.

I wonder whether the term Hagwon is indeed a disguise for a babysitting service; if so, the result produces pretty smart kids, that's for sure! Anyway, we can see just like in the states, where pre-school, after-school programs and sport activities are a-plenty, Daegu is laiden with Hagwons to look after Korean kids. I say this, because simply, as a foreign teacher along with the other 3 Korean teachers in my school, we spend alot of time---sometimes needlessly and endlessly, babysitting and controlling these kids from getting TOO out of control.

In another perspective, perhaps Hagwons are the answer to why there's such a low-crime rate in South Korea (I am speaking in particular of Daegu, South Korea's 3rd largest city, and because this is my immediate vicinity. I'm not quite sure though about Seoul--the largest city--nor of Busan--the 2nd largest city). It's hard to imagine anykind of crime happening here, especially when I walk along the streets, and see expressionless faces passing me; to me, these people often ressemble walking zombies! (The younger generations I've noticed, are full of light, laughter, and plenty of expression: they joke and giggle; what do you expect, they're kids!Unless of course, you're in the classroom and your Korean teacher is lecturing to you--then you'd be just as expressionless! Hmmph.)

Back to Hagwons: In the same respect, these Korean Babysitting Service-Centers turn out to be a positive resource, enabling kids proper learning experiences to keep busy and keep interacting with other kids, whilst their parents work. Sort of a win-win situation I think; and this view of mine has changed somewhat since the last couple of entries... whether such afterschool programs like this Hagwon is actually healthy for Korean kids.

My opinion: I believe so.

Busan, post 1 of 1,948...

Busan was absolutely gorgeous. I only have time for posting a few photos before I head off to work...

승 보 and I headed off to Busan on Saturday morning. Thank God he was there--I would have had a hard time finding my way around, let alone finding the right train to Busan. The goal of this trip: finally meet my coordinator, Kate, who found me my job at JungChul!

There were fish markets. Wow, smelly. We saw Pig heads--REAL ONES, too! These are normally bought for new businesses as a symbol for good luck (people put money into the pigs mouth!) Plus, there were lots of people, even though it was overcast and cool. Interestingly enough, Starbucks coffee--and they make coffee the right way! The beach was gorgeous--Haeundae beach, with the wind blowing, and my feet feeling the warm sand beneath. That was my favorite part; I love the water, and it felt like home watching 당 해 (Dong Hae--or the Sea of Japan) lapping up onto the shore of the beach. It was a neat trip indeed--And Kate was a cutest Korean girl I've ever met!!!

"Nor-Rae-Bong": the singing hall of shame

I like Fridays. They're the best day of the week and it's finally the start of a nice, long weekend. Though I'm thoroughly exhausted, I know I don't have to prepare for the next days' classes; no kids, no screaming, no short 10 minute breaks between back-to-back classes. It's simply--tranquility.

Curiously though, I find myself spending less and and less time going out---going downtown I mean, like I used to over a month ago. My ex-co-worker, Angelina (who just left for Canada) used to take me out quite a bit on the weekends---we'd head down to 'SSi-Nae' in a taxi, downtown Daegu where everything was 'happening.' And just like my college days, we'd drink, check out the clubs, and have plenty of girl fun in general. Now, I find myself wanting to just relax. Maybe it's because I have alot of classes, so by Friday, I just want to take it easy and coast into the weekend. Or, perhaps, I'm reaching that point in my life where I feel like I'm getting old; going out until the break of dawn, drinking, smoking and spending lots of money just doesn't feel or seem appealing anymore. It's rather strange.

In any event, my co-worker Seungbo and I went to a Nor-Rae-Bong this evening. "Nor-Rae-Bong" is Korean for "Karyoke Hall" and it's a blast! Funny enough, we usually go to the Nor-Rae-Bong after drinking "Dong-Dong Ju" (Korean alcohol made of rice--very delicious!) so my singing ability always seemed better while drinking. Tonight my voice cracked on several occasions and I wish that I had a drink or two to keep myself from being embarrassed. Then again, I'd overhear other people's horrible singing next door to our singing room, and I'd realize that my singing wasn't too bad afterall.

Actually, I like to think of the Nor-Rae-Bong as the 'singing hall of shame:' people that don't have a chance in the world to become real star-singers, come together in clusters to express their otherwise suppressed selves through off-king singing and screeching. Ouch.

It's interesting; Korean students are really suppressed, though. By this I mean, even the kids at my school---the 10, 13 or 16 year old kids not only have regular school hours that usually last from 9 am to 3 or 4 pm--but many of them have OTHER Academies that their parents oblige them to go to. It's sort of the thing to do here in Korea. If you want your kid to do well in school, you have to send them to a Hagwon to improve their English. If you want them to go to college, they have to go to SEVERAL academies. Crazy.

Wow.. it's already 4:30 in the morning. Really late already. In 5 hours I will be on the train heading to Busan to meet Kate. I'm thrilled. But now I'm tired; the songs I sang at the Nor-Rae-Bong are still ringing in my head...

Weekend Plans and Hurricanes

I've heard much about what is happening back at home---the huge hurricane brought on by "Katrina." There seems to be a lot of devastation, especially around New Orleans---people looting the streets, no food or water, houses demolished. It's hard to imagine this happening, especially since it's been less than a year since I left Louisiana and moved back up to Washington.

I called my father last Tuesday, I believe it was, between teaching classes. I think it was nearly 1am (because of the time difference) and I had woken him up from sleep. I felt really bad--but it felt so good to hear his voice, too. It reminded me of the days that I spent at home, living with my father and step-mother, enjoying the lazy, Louisiana sun and swimming during the hot days in their swimming pool.

I also realized too that I haven't updated as much as I should. I've been here exactly 2 months, and I have yet to call home. Time has passed so quickly, and I just wonder where all the time went. I've also slacked in sending my family emails---which I plan to do so soon. So family, if you're reading, I'll send an update email. I promise!!

This weekend, I will go and see my job placement coordinator, Kate, in Busan. My co-worker Seungbo and I will take the train there (he's going to meet his sister), and I finally get to see the young lady that found me my job here at JungChul!

Love to all my family and friends---I know I haven't said lately that I miss you all, but I do. More updates soon!