I guess I should fill you in on the past 2 months. It is crazy for me to think that it has been two months. Time seems to be moving by much more quickly here than it did back home. I decided that is because I have done so much more with my time here than I would have back home. Even little things, like going to Lotte Mart (think department store plus grocery store) to get a kettle turns into an adventure.
So today I thought that I could do a quick overview of some of the things I've done in my time spent here so far. Hopefully it won't get too lengthy...
As a quick side note: most of you are friends on facebook... but if you want more day to day type things I tend to post more on twitter and instagram, so follow me there if you want more random day to day type updates.
Okay... here are 3 big adventures that I've done:
1. First trip to Seoul
In March I took my first trip to Seoul with a new friend I made (Hey Wendy!). She wanted to go for her birthday, so we took a day trip there. We got on the bus that morning and it took about 2 1/2 hours to get there, which in my opinion, isn't too shabby! There we met up with another friend (Hey Emily!). They introduced me to the glorious wonder that is Kyobo and their fantastic English book section! YAY BOOKS!
Most of our day was spent at one of the old palaces. Changdeokgung, and it's hidden back garden. It was really cool, but would have been a billion times prettier if we went in spring.
Then we went to Insadong, which, as I was told, is the traditional arts market area of Seoul. You could find some really cool things there, like traditional looking fans and masks. We also went into this super cool tea shop.
Then we went to Myeongdong, which is shopping galore. The street was covered with people selling things in their booths. This is when my love for socks started. Whoa, all of the adorable socks. I may or may not have bought like 15 pairs of socks that day, but don't worry, not all are for me. In addition, I haven't worn a pair of socks from home since that day.
Emily and Wendy
Palace!
Taking a break!
Palace!
2. EPIK Orientation
The end of March I went to Seoul for the EPIK orientation. EPIK is English Program in Korea, for those that don't know, and it's the program I went through to get here. We, meaning me and a ton of other English teachers, spent a week there taking workshops and classes to make us better teachers. We even took a Taekwondo class, and I broke a board with my bare hand on the first try! We also went to a really cool traditional type musical. I met so many people from so many places! It was so interesting to see how the same language can be vastly different from one person to the other! It was pretty much like heaven to my social butterfly self. At the end I even gave a speech, so that was pretty cool.
Taekwondo Class
Taekwondo Class
During our night out to see Miso!
Our Korean class!
Me giving a thank you speech.
Just Garfield outside a makeup store...
3. Seoul/Korvia Party
At the beginning of April I went back to Seoul with Andrea (a friend I made at the orientation) and we met Emily there. That Saturday we went to Yeouido Park in Seoul to see pretty things. We also went to Hongdae and checked it out. We went to the Coffee Prince coffee shop there and to the Hongdae local market. Then we went to Itaewon where that night we went to the Korvia party and again met a bunch of English teachers there. I absolutely LOVE meeting new people. Its a personal favorite of mine.
Korvia is the consulting company that I went through to get here. They are the best in every way possible! They have been so incredibly helpful and supportive every step of the way and if I had to go back and do it all over again, I would go through Korvia again. The best. One hundred percent.
Those are just some highlights of the big things I've done. Now I'll do a list of the smaller things that I've done. In my opinion, the smaller things have been what has added up and made everything so much more exciting. I mean it when I say that everyday is a new adventure. I'm in a totally new country, with a totally different language, in a totally different culture. So these are some of my favorite things that have happened in my day to day adventures.
At the park
At the park
At the park
Street food is amazingly delicious!
1. Singing in the Shoe Store
One night I went to a local shoe store to buy a pair of black flats. The guy that was in the store was really helpful. There was also loud music playing in the store. Then the next thing I know "Love is an Open Door" from Frozen comes on. Now, everyone else seems to be over the whole Frozen thing, but I still love the soundtrack. So, I start singing along, and he starts singing along, and the next thing you know we are having a sing along to Frozen while he helps me find a pair of black flats. It was one of the greatest moments of my life.
2. Taxi Drivers
Before I got to Korea, I had never been in a taxi before, but taking a taxi is fun! Now, I don't have stories that I have heard other people having. In general taxi's seem to have an "I do what I want cause I'm a taxi" kind of feel, but clinging for dear life while trying to talk to a driver in Korean about how you like the tulips in the road or where you are from just has a sense of fun and adventure to it. Not to mention, sometimes they are really funny. One taxi driver, driving a pink taxi, told us that he was the best taxi driver and best gagman in Korea; he then proceeded to turn up his jamming jazz music and rock out to it. It was the best.
3. English Practice
It seems that because I am foreign here, there are some Koreans that are brave enough to strike up a conversation in English. I love it. I love talking to and meeting new people. I love hearing about what people are doing and where they come from. And I am more than happy to spend 30 minutes on a subway talking to you in English so you have a chance to actually speak it. It's one of my favorite things.
4. Communication
It is amazing how much you can communicate without knowing the language. For example, almost every time I walk into Lotte Mart. Once using cellphones and gestures I managed to figure out how to set up wifi in my apartment. I also was taught how to make a little rice dish thing. I love it. It's fascinating.
5. My Students
Seriously, I love my students. They are so much fun. I have students from Preschool through 6th grade. I love playing games with them and watching them learn English. For example, in third grade one day they learned the expression "What's this?" and after that all they wanted to do was ask "TEACHER! what's this?" I love it. They love it. It's just fun all around.
6. The People
I've made some really awesome friends here! Seriously, I laugh all the time!
Overall, I'd have to say this has been one of the greatest things of my life so far. It's only been two months, but I love it.
Anyways, hope you guys have a great day wherever you are. I'll update again whenever it happens. Maybe next week since I'm making a weekend trip to Daegu... or not... we'll see... Hahaha.
Love reading your adventures and how you squeeze the most out of life, Magan!!
ReplyDeleteAw! Thanks!
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