Fabulous Co-Workers

I have really lucked-out with the people I work with. I probably have the most fun here in Korea (aside from adventures with 친구) just being at work, because I love my students and I love the people I work with. Not only are they hilarious (when I understand them), but I am also constantly learning new things about culture, language, and perceptions.

At my school, students don't change classes each hour, instead teachers do. So teachers have a desk in a teacher room and they go to their different classes to teach when it is their hour to do so. My desk is in the main teacher room. The main teacher room probably has about 50 teacher desks in rows of about 5, divided by department. (I am just now learning that these departments have nothing to do with grade or subject taught but instead have to do with the additional administrative responsibilities of the school, and they change each year - so I might not sit next to these co-workers next year 😭). I sit next to my main co-teacher and then there are 3 other teachers in my row that I have come to just absolutely adore. The teacher at the end of our row is 쑤니 ("Su-ni," self-made nickname she apparently made for me to call her, because when I refer to her as such other teachers always laugh - I guess it's a rather traditional, rural name or something?), she teaches Chinese characters. I am forever grateful to 쑤니 because, other than my co-teachers that are required to talk to me because we teach together, she came up to me and initiated conversation, even though her English isn't "perfect," and helps break the ice for others to talk to me, too. 쑤니 is very outgoing, kind, and just hilarious. I love her! She always says, "No, no, Bekah, I don't speak English, I speak Konglish" 😂 With my very limited Korean and her fearless English, we can usually understand each other. And together with the other ladies in my area, they communicate to me what is going on when my co-teacher is not there 😊 The other 2 teachers are 영희 ("Yeong-hui", math teacher) and 명미 ("Myeong-mi", Korean teacher). These three ladies seem to be pretty good friends and they have generously involved me in their little clique. Whenever there are extra-curricular things going on at school, 쑤니 is sure to grab me and take me along, which I so appreciate because otherwise I just sit at my desk, and if you know me, you know I love to be involved!

I think my friendship with them really started the second week of work after 쑤니 took me to some crafty thing for students at lunch. Apparently it was practice for the city arts and humanities festival on Saturday, September 15th. 쑤니 and 영희 invited me to come help and, of course since I have nothing going on and I love community involvement, I said yes!


Arts and Humanities Festival

영희 picked me up from the school on Saturday morning and we went to the festival together. 쑤니, 영희, and the library teacher (I think they call her Jinny something, maybe 진희) had a tent where students and children could come and decorate ceramic mugs, have them heated, and the design transfers and actually stays through use and washing! 쑤니 and 영희 learned that I could read 한글 (Korean alphabet) so they put me in charge of finding students' mugs when they came back to pick them up. They also made students practice their English with me 😅 I had a lot of fun and we all stayed very busy the entire day:

I was able to make a mug at the end, too. I made a Korean flag and wrote the city on it as a little souvenir. I had no idea everyone would be so impressed! All the student volunteers gathered around me to watch me make the Korean flag and compliment my horrible 한글 writing 😂

At work on Monday, so many teachers came up to me and told me they heard I helped at the festival and told me great job and all of this praise and stuff... I thought it was kind of odd so I finally asked my co-teacher and friend, 희정, how she knew I had helped at the festival and she informed me that there was an email sent out about it 😂 We use a messenger app at work and obviously it's all in Korean, so I usually only read it if it is from one of my co-teachers whose name I recognize. Now I use Papago every time to see what I'm missing 😅 The library teacher a message with the above pictures attached, talking about how very impressed and humbled she was to see me, a foreigner, helping in the community and how patriotic she felt seeing my little Korean flag mug:

I get the feeling that many Koreans have very low expectations of foreigners. That's a bold statement so please don't quote me on that, but I feel like my co-workers and co-teachers are impressed by some of the simplest of things, like me trying to learn Korean or me "going out of my way" to help around the school (like talking to students during lunch, or offering to help if I can) ...all these things that I just think you are supposed to do when you want to be a contributing member of your workplace and/or community. So shout out to you, Mom, for teaching me these values of service and the importance of reaching out to others. Some days it's kind of scary to do those things in a different country with a different language but since it's what's normal to me (because of you, Mom), it's what I try to do. Anyway, helping at the festival was lots of fun and, as a surprising bonus, it helped me build a more positive image with my co-workers. I also got to work with some 1st graders (I only work with 2nd and 3rd grade)*, so that was nice getting to know them, too. And they were so helpful with bridging the language barrier 😅 

*1st, 2nd, 3rd, grade middle-schoolers are about the equivalent to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders in the U.S., respectively.

After helping at the festival, I had dinner with 영희 and her sister (and sister's family). Her sister and family were camping at the park that the festival was held at. I wish I took pictures but it was dark by then. They were so kind and dinner was really good (even though I can't remember what it was called, but some kind of pork and shrimp and veggies and kimchi). I made friends with 영희's niece who I think is 8. It's sure is funny when younger kids realize you have no idea what is going on because you don't speak the language, so then they try to speak Korean really slowly for you in the hopes you'll understand 😂 she was really impressed that I could ask her about her age and school, though. Oh, and that I could ask for food and say it was delicious 😅 thank goodness for brave little kids that just want to talk to you! 영희's brother-in-law is an English teacher so he asked me a lot of questions, too. He was very kind (just like the whole family) and reminded me what an awesome opportunity this is to be here in a foreign country, experiencing the way other people live outside of my own world experiences. I was reminded of my responsibility to really learn as much as I can while here, even just from simple, everyday experiences. 

Picture Day

We had picture day at school and then 쑤니 wanted pictures together, so of course I snapped a few selfies, too:

in the back: 진희 and 영희

front: me, 명미, and 쑤니

Cultural Differences (maybe?)

I wore a messy bun for the first time a few weeks ago and received so many compliments! However, I also had an interesting conversation with 쑤니 and 명미 about it, too. 쑤니 complimented my hair and then asked if my hair was dirty, like if I hadn't washed it. I laughed and said it was clean (seriously Mom and Dad, it was this time!). I asked 쑤니 why and I think I understood that usually in Korea, this style is for when you don't wash your hair. I laughed and then asked 명미 if that was true and she reassured me that only 쑤니 thinks that and then, I think, proceeded to poke fun at 쑤니 about it. 명미 told me that it's not dirty hair but a sexy, wedding hair style... so who really knows?!

Then, when I walked into one of my girl classes, all the students said, "Oh! Bekah Teacher, I like your poop hair!" ...what. 😅 It turns out buns are called, ""똥 머리" ("ddong meo-ri," directly translated: "poop hair") because it looks like a little poop on the top of your head. I asked if it was pretty or weird and they all yelled at me that it was pretty and "so style!" Then I asked why they don't wear poop hair, if it's so pretty? They told me they don't know how to or it is too much work. I told them they need to start wearing "buns" because then I won't be alone* 😂 they told me they would but I have yet to see any other poop heads! 

I think maybe since my hair is much thinner (and curly), it is easy for me to do this style, but maybe it is more difficult for thicker, Asian hair. I'm just remembering doing Tay's hair for prom and thinking how many bobby pins I had to use compared to my own hair. 🤷 Idk, but I know I'm still gonna rock my 똥 hair even if I'm the only one!

*The first questions people ask here are whether you are married or have a boyfriend, and then my students at least ask if you are lonely since I live by myself. They also think it's really sad when they hear that I eat by myself haha so a lot of my students seem to worry that I am alone 

Being Volun-Told

Along with my fabulous co-worker friends comes being volun-told for school things. 쑤니 is very involved in school events and activities. We had a reading day where students submitted some kind of writing assignment and the school had a drawing for winners. When I showed up to work that day, it turned out I was the one drawing the winners and announcing them on the school TV broadcast 😲 When I asked why, 쑤니 told me it's because I am the "school celebrity" HA! I was very nervous because I had to read the students' names, which FYI, 한글 handwriting (not print) can be very challenging to read! I did alright though (쑤니 only had to help me out once) and a lot of students were super impressed - or mad that I didn't choose their name 😂 Oh! and it was really funny (but also kind of embarrassing) because 쑤니 introduced me as "our blued-eyed angel Bekah Teacher" 😆😅

the school's broadcasting room

쑤니 prepping students on what to say and do for announcements

쑤니 reading off some other category winners

All-in-all, I have a lot of fun at work, whether because of students or because of the great people I work with. I really love this job. Every day is definitely an adventure and learning experience!

안녕!

Bekah

Church, My Kim Unnies, & Everyday Struggles

An aspect of my life here in Korea that I tend to overlook but am so, so, SO GRATEFUL for is church. I am so blessed by my ward, just over and over again. I go to a ward in Busan, about an hour-and-a-half by bus and about 25 minutes by car from where I live. I took the bus the first Sunday I attended but since then I've been given a ride every week by my amazing Korean family here: my beautiful Kim sisters, 세원(Se-won) and 세현(Se-hyun) 😍 I'll talk about my fabulous adventures with them later, but first, a little more about my ward.

Fortunately, my ward has a resident translator (rare, right?!) because there is a Vietnamese couple in our ward who speak English, but not Korean (although they are learning). Translator-dude's name is Wyatt, an American who served a mission here in South Korea a while back and (I think) recently finished up grad school here. The Vietnamese guy's name is Vantu (spelling?) and he and his family joined the church a couple years ago. I think they also came here for his grad school and subsequent work. Anyway, so when I first came to church, people immediately ushered me over to Wyatt (because that's what people here do, connect you with other foreigners ASAP haha) and then I was introduced to 세현 because she lived and studied in the States. She introduced me to Bishop and translated for me when he sat down to get to know me and get my church info. Bishop is so funny (he reminds me a lot of Bishop Gardner from 29 Palms), he's definitely the father of the ward. My ward also has a YSA Sunday school class (again, rare!) and I've met a few other girls in that class who I really enjoy, 혜원 (Hye-won) and 하림 (Ha-rim), who both generously translate for me in Sunday school and Relief Society. I've since learned that the majority of the guys (and a few of the other gals) in the class also speak English because of serving missions or studying abroad. It's funny because when I learned that a lot of them speak English, I was like, "Whhaaaaaa?! This whole time...?" and they just shrug their shoulders like, "Yeah. And" 🤦 but don't end up talking to me in English!

I'm learning that there are actually a lot of people who do speak English, both at church and at work, but you'll never know it unless you end up all alone with that person and the situation calls for it and you try to speak to them. People here are crazy shy and self-conscious about their English-speaking. I had heard this, both from friends who taught abroad and in TESOL classes, but it was still a surprise and different than what I was expecting. This also has brought to my own attention my own insecurities. Where to begin...? Okay, so if you know me, you know that I can be pretty chatty (is that an understatement?). In recent years I have thought less of myself as a crazy-talkative person, unless I'm with family or close friends and the situation calls for it, but living here one of the things I find myself missing the most is the simple ability to strike up conversation with a stranger at the store or on the subway. That's definitely not something I thought of as a thing I did, I mean, that's something my mom and grandma do, not me, right? 😅 Wrong. Oh, how I miss randomly talking to people and connecting with people! Definitely not something I expected.

Okay, so what does that have to do with me being insecure? Well, I've realized that I hesitate to speak English (outside of work) like ever because I feel like (hello?!) you're in a different country with a different language, you need to speak their language ...but... I can't, yet ...so... I just stay quiet. I feel super self-conscious about being a foreigner and speaking my language. Even though, in reality, existing power-structures are totally in my favor and I am a super privileged foreigner (because I am white, American, have an education, and have a well-respected job). Aka: out of the foreigner population, I recognize that when it comes down to it, I'm pretty well-liked given our prejudiced world. Anyway, I think this insecurity about my language comes from my American culturalization. In America, even though we don't have an "official" national language, I grew up hearing that "if immigrants are going to come to our country, they better learn our language." That's a thing, right? Not just me? So, since I'm the immigrant in another country and I don't know the language nearly enough, and I don't want to offend someone using my language, I'll just keep quiet. This is totally unrealistic thinking, no one has ever told me this (in fact, I've been told the opposite - to just speak English because most people know it), I know this, but that's just how I feel about it and I'm trying to break that mindset. Realistically, outside of work, I try to prepare myself to use Korean for different situations I go into (like shopping, ordering food, at the post office, using the taxi, etc.) and Korean people end up using English with me! So why do I hesitate to use English? (A) because I'm trying to learn Korean, and (B) because I'm a guest in another country and want to be polite, I don't want to just assume people will accommodate me and speak my language. The burden of communication is carried by all participants in a conversation, not just the non-English speakers (which, sadly, I feel the opposite has become the thinking in American culture, and a lot of the world as English expands as an international language).

Well, that took an unexpected turn. Sorry-not-sorry for the rant. I mean, that's what you signed up for when you decided to read my blog, right? 😄 To wrap things up: I have found that when I have confidence and approach people, even in English, it pays off and nobody judges me for using English so I just need to get over it and be more confident.

Anyway, church is good. Now let me tell you about my amazing Kim Unnies (if you are a girl, unnie, 언니, means big sister in Korean). So I met 세현 first and sat with her my first Sunday at church. She is super outgoing and so kind and just fun! She seems to always be on the go, which makes sense because she has a toddler, 도이. 세현 then introduced me to her sister, 세원, who is also a lot of fun and also has a baby, 유정. On that very first Sunday, 세원 and her husband offered to give me a ride to church each week (they live about an 8 minute drive from me). Since then, 세현언니 and 세원언니 have basically adopted me and I just freakin love them! Not only have they helped me so much (like moving my "TV" from work to my apartment or helping me set up my cell phone plan) but they've really become my family away from family here. I wander around stores with them just for fun, we go out to eat, I hang out at 세원's apartment on Sundays, they feed me, we talk a about all the things. They feel like home and I am so grateful for them 💗 Oh! Actually, Rachel, I've decided that 세원 is a lot like you. Her and her husband actually remind me so much of you and Matthew 😆 I just love it!


So far, I've decided that 삼겹살 is my favorite Korean food, and it was 세현언니 and 세원언니 that introduced me to it. Oh  my goodness, it's so delicious! (I've also since been to this restaurant like 5 or 6 other times, no shame hahaha but I can cook it all by myself like a pro!):

I also went to my first 노래방 ("singing room") in Korea with them. So much fun!

Oh my goodness, and one time when we went to a buffet for dinner, 도이 found herself a boyfriend 😂 so cute!

Needless to say, I have a lot of fun with these two beautiful sisters I've gained here in Korea 😄💗


Back to church: a week-or-so ago, Bishop, along with Wyatt and the executive secretary, came over to bless my apartment and brought so much delicious food - ALL FOR ME! It lasted me like 2 whole weeks (actually, i didn't even finish the whole loaf of bread before it went bad - shhhh, don't tell on me, Koreans take their food very seriously! which makes sense because it's delicious). Anyway, he is the sweetest.

I am so blessed by my ward. The Lord knew where I needed to be and I am grateful for His hand in my life. I do have to admit that this last Sunday I did struggle a bit (the first time since being here so that's awesome, right?). Last Sunday was the first time I felt overwhelmed by the language barrier at church. Which is crazy ironic since I have so many people there able to translate for me, something that many foreigners don't have available to them. Last week, some of the people who usually translate for me during Sunday school were gone and I could tell the teacher felt worried that I wouldn't understand - something I am learning is just how kind and out of their way a lot of people here go for you to be sure that you understand what it going on (just another reason I shouldn't be so insecure about using English/not knowing Korean fast enough) - but I reassured her that it was all good and I'd "learn through the Spirit" 😅 And honestly, I was fine because I like just listening and practicing picking up on words that I recognize. So class was all good but I ended up feeling overwhelmed after class when I ran into someone who needed to talk to me. She didn't speak English, my church-specific Korean sucks, and there was no one around to translate. *sigh* Usually I can make do with Papago (a translation app) but when it comes to church words (like ministering, relief society, church titles, etc.), translations are never correct so we were just both confused. Then, she asked her elementary school son to try to help (since they learn English in school, and most kids are actually pretty good) but again, with church words it's a different story. Anyway, we exchanged information, I gathered that she was assigned to minister to me. But after that I just felt so overwhelmed and just the weight of how much I really have to rely on other people, something difficult and new to accept because I really value my independence and self-reliance. It was humbling to say the least. It also made me realize the small sphere of contexts in which I have acquired vocabulary in Korean. At work, the store, and public transportation, I feel like I've got the basics down for simple things that I need to communicate (with less and less Papago use) but at church and not on those topics I am completely out of my depth in Korean 😔😓

That being said, the day turned around and I had dinner with 세원 and her family. Dinner was delicious (if you've never had ramyun with peanut butter mixed in, you're missing out - try it!) and conversation was really good, as always. And then this week I had so many language successes and learned a lot of new words so, taking the bad with the good, feeling ever grateful for the Lord being aware of my needs, and constantly feeling blessed by tender mercies. Like having adorable little kids around that call me "베카이모"("Bekah i-mo," "i-mo" means "aunt"), who don't seem to mind too much that I'm a foreigner, and fall asleep holding me finger on the way home from church:

안녕!

Bekah

Beautiful Yangsan (+ random Korean stuff)

I really love where I live. I know when I was first given my placement, I was a little wary because I was expecting somewhere rural and quaint and in the countryside. But guys and gals, I really lucked out. I seriously have the best of both worlds where I'm at. If you know me, you know I've never been a fan of big city (I mean, I seriously want to retire in 29 Palms some day, remember?). I love small, run-into-people-you-know places, but still within an hour of civilization/big city. Here in 양산시(Yangsan), I live right next door to down town (my "city"), a mile or so block of all the things you could need (shopping, entertainment, food). At the same time, there are beautiful mountains, a river, fields, and greenery all within walking distance, too. Agghhh, I just love it!

Above are pics I've taken walking to or from work. Below are pics I took while wandering back from the post office. I decided to explore the path along the river heading back to my apartment:

 Also, I've been going jogging after doing some basic exercises (my routine from my chiropractor back in AZ, actually) and it's just so beautiful. This is seriously a 5 minute walk from my apartment.

YAY ME for exercising!! 

Here's a map of my beautiful city:

Also, I know I've mentioned this before, but I'm a 8-10 minute walk from the last subway station on the Busan line and a 10-12 minute walk from an intercity bus terminal, so getting to places outside of my immediate block or 2 of "city" is really manageable (and affordable). Just to emphasize the juxtaposition of city and countryside, check out the view from the subway:

Okay so just know that where I live is pretty awesome 😏😁 I love my school (co-workers and students), I love my ward, and I have a great group of friends that I've been able to visit with at least once a month so far. The Lord has definitely blessed me in all of this 💗


Alright so some random things:

1. I'm still figuring out how to live with my hair here. I realize that frizz is something I have grown up viewing as a negative thing but here, people get perms to make their hair anything but straight and so any wave in hair is better than no wave, frizz included. Don't nobody here bat an eye over frizz!! I don't think people even know it's a thing. But I still care about it 😅 but I have yet to find a method or product that keeps the frizz away so... whatever. I guess I need to be less vain 😂 even though I know I'm no where near the same level of 100% frizz, I can't help but compare myself to 황정음's character in She Was Pretty:

2. I. LOVE. THE. FOOD. HERE. My favorites so far are 삼겹살 (samgyeopsal) and, of course, 빙수(bingsoo). But out of all the Korean food I have eaten so far, I have only disliked 2 things. The food here is that good. *knock on wood* I don't even miss American food (I'll let you know when that time comes, though 😉)

 삼겹살

 

 빙수

 교촌 치킨

육개장 (YUM!)

 비빔밥

 김치 볶음밥

 떡볶이

 고구마 (sweet potatoes - YUM!)

 핫도그 

(yes, that's a corn dog. they call them "hot dogeu" here. they're a popular street food and they're delicious. much more batter than American corn dogs, the batter is a bit sweeter, and that's sugar not salt. sounds crazy but its so good!)

3. Every chance I get I take pics of Korean celebrities I recognize hahahahhaha (and usually send them to Kat). They just pile up on my phone so I've gotta share 'em somewhere! Before you judge me, just think of all the celebrities I don't recognize, though:

Walking to work I see 박서준 

(Kill Me, Heal Me; She Was Pretty; Hwarang, etc.)

and 태형 (V, BTS)

 지창욱 (Suspicious Partners)

찬열 (EXO, Goblin OST, Roommates)

공유 (Goblin, Train to Busan, etc.)

진 (BTS)

박보검 (Moonlight Drawn by Clouds)

공유 (x2)

공유 (x3)

정국 (BTS)

지민 (BTS)

지민 (x2)

 Seventeen

BT21 

(Not necessarily celebrities but endorsed by them and, oh, how I love this money-wasting collection 😅)

4. Chopsticks are way more convenient, efficient, logical... all the things. I find myself using chopsticks in my apartment even though I can just as easily grab a fork. If you don't know how to use chopsticks, learn, and you can thank me later 😉


Hmmmm... that's all I've got for now. 


안녕!

Bekah