It's been nice lately. Very nice.
The weather's cold, so I'm wearing 4 layers (bayou wuss). There have been a few occasions of flurries, which are little reminders that snow is on its way someday. There are Christmas trees and Christmas music sprinkled around town, especially in and around the coffee shops.(The coffee shops here are something to behold: I have a superb business plan for my own lil' shop back in the states now... and it does include tree-house-like rooms.)
Work has been particularly awesome. My later/older classes have been temporarily suspended for an intense study session, so for about three weeks I've only had to be at work from 2-7. The bosslady assigned some extra work in their absence, but it's really fun, creative work, like reading books and making questions to go with them for the advanced classes. I reread Animal Farm and am now on The View From Saturday and I'm loving it. Reading has always been a passion of mine, but since school's been over for me I don't often allow myself the quiet alone time to get many books in.
So, point is, this job rocks.
And, it goes without saying, the kids I teach continue to be funny and adorable and surprising every day.
Our good friends, Heather and Ian, are about to head out on a new adventure and leave Korea for a while. We are sad that they are going, but plan to spend quality time together until they leave, and will have some new things to cozy-up the apartment from their plush palace ; )... a bookshelf, a toaster oven, lamps, etc. It'll make the winter seem miles away once we get the cave all set up and the floor heaters cranked up high. We plan to just chill here at home with our friends for Christmas, and Kevin's making stuffed cabbage!
We made a funny new friend at Song's the other day- named Sang-Jae. He's 54, speaks decent English, and is an excellent story-teller. He had us in stitches, talking about the girlfriend he just broke up with and life in general. He is a big fan of music, and gave me lots of encouragement and requested some songs I was able to figure out on the spot cause they were old favorites of my mother's, and that felt pretty super. He says he'd like to take us somewhere sometime; show us some real Korean treasures. We shook hands on it- I hope to see him again, and Kevin says he'll have his camera next time.
There are about 3 months left on this contract, and I have one foot on a decision, but the other is hung up on the fence. As things are looking, I won't be re-signing but Kevin will. That's not definite: not anymore than anything in the world is. But that's the way it's looking.
I would love to stay, I like it here. And I'm not exactly running home in fear. I believe that if there is a war, it'll likely be a fizzle of a war, and then reunification will happen, and it'll all be grand, grand. But there is that chance... and that chance has pushed me into thinking a lot about what ELSE I might want to do, and as a result the old brain is truly gearing up for some cool stuff. As always, when put in a corner, this kid can come up with brilliant ways to slip out.
Currently, I'm thinking of returning home to concentrate on finishing a book or two and trying to get published. I will also drive across the country to visit with friends who've moved around... Reconnect and take a minute to experience a wide variety of lifestyles, from New York to Cali, maybe even Hawaii (wink!)
Leaving Kevin here will be a little heartbreaking, because I love his company so much, but we both agree it'd be a positive experience for us both, and we both want to concentrate on creating our thangs.... See, we're both pouring over with creative ideas for art, stories, and projects of all sorts; but then we're both easily distracted by having general fun together, so it's hard to focus on being productive. Spending serious time apart is hopefully going to allow us to focus on our own goals.
My boss wants me to stay. She took me out to dinner last week as planned to calm my fears regarding war... and brought a date. We had a terrific time: Ate at an American style buffet and met with Kevin at the German Bar. We played music (the date was a great musician, and funny, too).... ended up at Michelle's making requests but only hearing hair-bands. However, no one really discussed the 'situation'. (And by that, I don't mean the bad music.)
Granted, the lack of further provocation has done its own job of calming my concerns, but here's the thing: Just as I was settling back in to the lovely life here, in the news today it says another live-fire drill is scheduled on Yeonpyeong Island. This is South Korea holding it's bruised chin high and daring North Korea to hit it again.
They will be shooting into the water, not toward NK-- just like last time.
They are holding a routine drill; NK has seen this before and should not be upset-- just like last time.
Kim Jong-Il visited the artillery base that attacked the island a few days before the firing last time, and the news says he visited an "unspecified" artillery base today...
The drill will happen sometime between Saturday and Tuesday.
So, there's that.
But overall, it's a gorgeous winter day in Gwangju. It's Friday! I'll finish work early, do some reading, have a delicious dinner with my favorite person and maybe some others I like, and who knows what fun the weekend will hold.
Then, in a week....Crimbus!!!!
Here's a quote for the day:
“There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven’t yet met.”
- William Butler Yeats
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Status Quo
Hi, all. I'm Wendy. Let me tell you about my status quo.
I have been SO tense regarding all the hostility and threats of war from the north. Sunday, when the U.S. and SK began their big drill in the Yellow Sea, I couldn't imagine sticking around to see the outcome. I packed my baby blue three-piece luggage set until their square sides had love handles, and I researched the shortest flight out of Busan.
Then I sat around and waited painfully for a good enough reason to follow my fear to the airport.
Nothing happened.
Lots of talk happened. But nothing to allow me to run without regret for my haste.
I've been talking to everyone about the war; foreigners and locals, ages 11 to 65. And I'm the ONLY person who seems genuinely scared. I mean, a few people in the mix thought all-out war MIGHT be possible, but that even in that scenario, my city would be untouched.
I'm not convinced. I keep comparing the attitude here to that of cajuns when a hurricane is headed in. It's an excuse to throw a party, right? And sure- a lot of times that works out fine. Great memories are made and you get pictures of Cousin Benny that you can blackmail him with in a few years. But then, every once in a while, you get Katrina. Or Rita. Or Gustav. And then, you're not in the party mood.
Meanwhile, we recently agreed to stay here for a second year, though we still have 4 months left on this contract. We were certainly looking forward to that- and to the new apartments we'd receive. However, the increased tensions between North and South Korea may very well be just a part of the ebb and flow here, but I'm not from here, and I don't think I will ever get used to it.
I remember as a kid how funny it was to catch an out-of-towner's reaction whenever our nuclear plant ran it's monthly test on the emergency siren. We learned to tune it out. We certainly didn't associate the sound with any thoughts of melt-downs or mass death. How could we live there if we thought like that?
I wish now that that I could find a website where you can enter a scenario and calculate its probability. I would enter 'nuclear plant explosion' and 'North/South Korea explosion'. I wonder.
Anyway, in light of my changed level of comfort and, therefore, desire to stick around much longer, I thought i should talk to my boss and reverse our previous decision.
I asked her to come into my room for a private conversation, and I said, "Do you know what a hurricane party is?" and continued to explain my strange reaction to the goings-on.
Now, Koreans are quick to smile and giggle. And my boss does find me particularly amusing and witty, so I make her laugh often. But I have never seen her laugh this hard. She had to compose herself after.
She tried explaining to me that the threat isn't real, and it's all just a political play. I'm hearing it a lot. But I'm not buying into it easily.
She and I will meet Sunday to discuss it all.
I doubt Kevin will join us. He's had it up to here (and he's pretty tall) with hearing me try to convince people they should be at least a little alarmed, too. And let me tell you, I HATE feeling like a weirdo or a wuss because I am wary of the situation. I hate it.
But at the same time, no one is really making fun of me or being cruel. (My boss even apologized for her laughter) In fact, everyone is trying to comfort me and make me feel at ease.
I suppose it's working a little... a tiny, tiny bit. This much * .
Anyway, later, when I entered my boss' room for my session with her class, all the students screamed in unison, "DON'T BE SCARED, WENDY TEACHER!!!"
Which was cute.
Then several continued with their own 'comforting' phrases, some of which went astray:
"We will all die TOGETHER!"
and
"Don't worry! I will hold your hand if BOMB!"
Ah, sweet people. Sweet, sweet people.
I will miss them.
I have been SO tense regarding all the hostility and threats of war from the north. Sunday, when the U.S. and SK began their big drill in the Yellow Sea, I couldn't imagine sticking around to see the outcome. I packed my baby blue three-piece luggage set until their square sides had love handles, and I researched the shortest flight out of Busan.
Then I sat around and waited painfully for a good enough reason to follow my fear to the airport.
Nothing happened.
Lots of talk happened. But nothing to allow me to run without regret for my haste.
I've been talking to everyone about the war; foreigners and locals, ages 11 to 65. And I'm the ONLY person who seems genuinely scared. I mean, a few people in the mix thought all-out war MIGHT be possible, but that even in that scenario, my city would be untouched.
I'm not convinced. I keep comparing the attitude here to that of cajuns when a hurricane is headed in. It's an excuse to throw a party, right? And sure- a lot of times that works out fine. Great memories are made and you get pictures of Cousin Benny that you can blackmail him with in a few years. But then, every once in a while, you get Katrina. Or Rita. Or Gustav. And then, you're not in the party mood.
Meanwhile, we recently agreed to stay here for a second year, though we still have 4 months left on this contract. We were certainly looking forward to that- and to the new apartments we'd receive. However, the increased tensions between North and South Korea may very well be just a part of the ebb and flow here, but I'm not from here, and I don't think I will ever get used to it.
I remember as a kid how funny it was to catch an out-of-towner's reaction whenever our nuclear plant ran it's monthly test on the emergency siren. We learned to tune it out. We certainly didn't associate the sound with any thoughts of melt-downs or mass death. How could we live there if we thought like that?
I wish now that that I could find a website where you can enter a scenario and calculate its probability. I would enter 'nuclear plant explosion' and 'North/South Korea explosion'. I wonder.
Anyway, in light of my changed level of comfort and, therefore, desire to stick around much longer, I thought i should talk to my boss and reverse our previous decision.
I asked her to come into my room for a private conversation, and I said, "Do you know what a hurricane party is?" and continued to explain my strange reaction to the goings-on.
Now, Koreans are quick to smile and giggle. And my boss does find me particularly amusing and witty, so I make her laugh often. But I have never seen her laugh this hard. She had to compose herself after.
She tried explaining to me that the threat isn't real, and it's all just a political play. I'm hearing it a lot. But I'm not buying into it easily.
She and I will meet Sunday to discuss it all.
I doubt Kevin will join us. He's had it up to here (and he's pretty tall) with hearing me try to convince people they should be at least a little alarmed, too. And let me tell you, I HATE feeling like a weirdo or a wuss because I am wary of the situation. I hate it.
But at the same time, no one is really making fun of me or being cruel. (My boss even apologized for her laughter) In fact, everyone is trying to comfort me and make me feel at ease.
I suppose it's working a little... a tiny, tiny bit. This much * .
Anyway, later, when I entered my boss' room for my session with her class, all the students screamed in unison, "DON'T BE SCARED, WENDY TEACHER!!!"
Which was cute.
Then several continued with their own 'comforting' phrases, some of which went astray:
"We will all die TOGETHER!"
and
"Don't worry! I will hold your hand if BOMB!"
Ah, sweet people. Sweet, sweet people.
I will miss them.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
north korea. war. you know?
i learned about this attack on south korea during class yesterday. the students told me. these 12 year olds had seen reports on the internet, and began explaining the situation to me in english. this was the first their korean teacher had heard of it, as well- and she looked more surprised than i felt. i guess north korea doing something crappy without provocation just fits their profile. like these guys say (http://edition.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/11/23/carroll.cirincione.korea/index.html?hpt=C1)
in fact, the korean teacher's look of surprise may have been more related to them telling me their news instead of her.
they explained that north korea had fired at pyongyang island, and that south korea was fighting back. they didn't seem frightened at all, but asked me if i was. i answered honestly, not yet.
throughout the remaining 4 hours of classes, several more students brought up the fight- every time with a look of confidence and eagerness. then, "teacher, are you scared?" like they're just empathetic for my plight as a foreigner. one student i'm quite fond of said hello as he passed me in the hallway then spun around, stretching a hand out toward me, remembering something, "oh, wendy teacher! north korea. war. you know?" it was delivered like "oh, wendy teacher! my birthday. tomorrow. you know?"
yes, i heard, i told him. ah, good, he nodded- then spun back around with a tiny bow goodbye. i called his name, though, and asked him "are you scared?"
"no" he said, definitely.
"why not?" i asked.
he answered quickly and i think lazily.... if he hadn't been on his way to a class i'm sure i could have gotten a better response, but what he did say made me laugh anyway: shrugging his shoulders a bit, "because i'm children."
so, i gathered my important papers once i got home, and put them in a bag with some clothes, extra panties. i registered with the american embassy online. i felt worried last night. yes, this attack is no huge surprise... but it is a serious move on south korean civilians.
i guess as long as president lee myung-bak doesn't react like president bush might in this situation, but keeps the big picture in mind, things shouldn't escalate too badly for south korea.
more importantly, it is my hope that crazy old kim jung-il can keep it together. the condition of north korea is one giant appalling pity. but don't tell him i said so. it just makes him crazier.
i think everything will continue to be ok. i like it a lot here, and don't want to see these awesome people suffer any more war. nor do i want to have to go home under emergency circumstances. but i don't think things will come to that. i'm not scared yet. i'm just being cautious, and prepared.
and drinking coffee and listening to good music, getting ready for another exciting day of teaching cute little korean geniuses.
in fact, the korean teacher's look of surprise may have been more related to them telling me their news instead of her.
they explained that north korea had fired at pyongyang island, and that south korea was fighting back. they didn't seem frightened at all, but asked me if i was. i answered honestly, not yet.
throughout the remaining 4 hours of classes, several more students brought up the fight- every time with a look of confidence and eagerness. then, "teacher, are you scared?" like they're just empathetic for my plight as a foreigner. one student i'm quite fond of said hello as he passed me in the hallway then spun around, stretching a hand out toward me, remembering something, "oh, wendy teacher! north korea. war. you know?" it was delivered like "oh, wendy teacher! my birthday. tomorrow. you know?"
yes, i heard, i told him. ah, good, he nodded- then spun back around with a tiny bow goodbye. i called his name, though, and asked him "are you scared?"
"no" he said, definitely.
"why not?" i asked.
he answered quickly and i think lazily.... if he hadn't been on his way to a class i'm sure i could have gotten a better response, but what he did say made me laugh anyway: shrugging his shoulders a bit, "because i'm children."
so, i gathered my important papers once i got home, and put them in a bag with some clothes, extra panties. i registered with the american embassy online. i felt worried last night. yes, this attack is no huge surprise... but it is a serious move on south korean civilians.
i guess as long as president lee myung-bak doesn't react like president bush might in this situation, but keeps the big picture in mind, things shouldn't escalate too badly for south korea.
more importantly, it is my hope that crazy old kim jung-il can keep it together. the condition of north korea is one giant appalling pity. but don't tell him i said so. it just makes him crazier.
i think everything will continue to be ok. i like it a lot here, and don't want to see these awesome people suffer any more war. nor do i want to have to go home under emergency circumstances. but i don't think things will come to that. i'm not scared yet. i'm just being cautious, and prepared.
and drinking coffee and listening to good music, getting ready for another exciting day of teaching cute little korean geniuses.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
If you were curious...
After much indecision, when the day came, I went with the "stay" option. It was a tough choice to make; though not the toughest in the world, cause either side has lots of good points. But in case you were curious, these were my biggest reasons to stay one more year-
#1 Reason: I have both a job I truly enjoy and a bunch of free time with which to work on my projects. I have a new series of paintings ready to sploosh out of my head and onto a tangible surface, as well as a research/writing project I've quickly become rather deeply involved with. So, there's that.
#2 Reason: There's a bunch of exploring I can do easily here, and I intend to take advantage of that.
#3 Reason: Financially, it's the best move I could possibly make for right now.
#4 Reason: It sounded like a great way to spend my time as I concentrate on planning my next adventure.
Plus, I will definitely get 3-4 weeks vacation time between contracts to spend with my family and friends at home, and that's not too shabby. In fact, I can't really remember any time as an adult that I had 3 weeks for just visiting with my loved ones. There's always work to get back to. So this could be an awesome chance for some quality visits!
So, yeah. Now we're ready for the small adventure of a new apartment, coming soon. I'm looking forward to having my own space to decorate : )
#1 Reason: I have both a job I truly enjoy and a bunch of free time with which to work on my projects. I have a new series of paintings ready to sploosh out of my head and onto a tangible surface, as well as a research/writing project I've quickly become rather deeply involved with. So, there's that.
#2 Reason: There's a bunch of exploring I can do easily here, and I intend to take advantage of that.
#3 Reason: Financially, it's the best move I could possibly make for right now.
#4 Reason: It sounded like a great way to spend my time as I concentrate on planning my next adventure.
Plus, I will definitely get 3-4 weeks vacation time between contracts to spend with my family and friends at home, and that's not too shabby. In fact, I can't really remember any time as an adult that I had 3 weeks for just visiting with my loved ones. There's always work to get back to. So this could be an awesome chance for some quality visits!
So, yeah. Now we're ready for the small adventure of a new apartment, coming soon. I'm looking forward to having my own space to decorate : )
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Holiday!
It's Peppero Day in SK. For the folks back home, that means it's a day for eating cracker sticks dipped in chocolate and, if you're lucky, nuts. It's a little like Valentine's Day... thought they call that White Day, and the girls give the boys stuff, from what I understand. And there's Black Day, where single people sit alone and eat black noodles and sniffle. But today's not so much about the love, it's just about the food representing the date (11/11). Anyway, to celebrate the day in America, just give some edible pair of sticks to someone who makes you smile. Maybe a couple of string cheese sticks, or beef jerky, or corn dogs! Baguettes! OH! I got it: Those cracker sticks that come with processed cheese dip! And have a Happy Peppero Day!!!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Countdown to Decision 2011
So.
I used to have four months to decide whether or not I would choose to stay another year in Gwangju. That was yesterday. Today, I have one week.
Due to circumstances out of our control and changing situations expected from our school, we were asked to make a decision by the 12th, so that our boss can go to her boss and try to make sure we can be offered the contract.
What I'm saying is, we have to say "YES", so they can say "Maybe"...
Or we say "No" and go home in April.
And we have to say one or the other in a week or sooner.
Now, if we say YES and they say OK, then by the end of the month, we are granted new apartments that we've wanted for a while. (The boy and I love each other, but we also would love some elbow room)
And if I say NO, what then? What would I do next? I thought I'd have way more time to figure this out.
No, this is not a rhetorical question.
I used to have four months to decide whether or not I would choose to stay another year in Gwangju. That was yesterday. Today, I have one week.
Due to circumstances out of our control and changing situations expected from our school, we were asked to make a decision by the 12th, so that our boss can go to her boss and try to make sure we can be offered the contract.
What I'm saying is, we have to say "YES", so they can say "Maybe"...
Or we say "No" and go home in April.
And we have to say one or the other in a week or sooner.
Now, if we say YES and they say OK, then by the end of the month, we are granted new apartments that we've wanted for a while. (The boy and I love each other, but we also would love some elbow room)
And if I say NO, what then? What would I do next? I thought I'd have way more time to figure this out.
No, this is not a rhetorical question.
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