Hiking in Korea (My first hiking adventure)



Posing for a pisture with my Principal




Beautiful

 Friends!  Two more posts to go and you are all caught up.  In Korean time I have less than twelve hours to accomplish this before it is officially 2011.  Wow, time sure can sneak up on you.  As the leaves were in their full mode of change illuminating beautiful colors of red, orange and browns my school Principal decided it was time for a teacher outing.  Turns out once every month the Principal takes all the teacher out on some kind of activity and then dinner is followed at a traditional Korean restaraunt (sitting on the floor and the menu includes traditional dishes and sides).  For October the outing would be a hiking trip.  I was pretty excited because I had been wanting to go hiking.  I had even set out to climb the mountain in view from my window and failed because it was merely an illusion of being closer than it truly was. 



Soo modeling a seed that is
said if eated brings good dental health. 
I did try it! ???

 Regardless the time had come; I would get to climb a mountain.  Watch out!  Hiking is very serious here and the franchise of hiking merchandise is booming.  You will not take a trip hiking and not see at least one person with boots, hiking jackets, packs and walking sticks.  So, I of course thought, Wooh hoo I am climbing a mountain, ready to be in shape I am and see what these muscles can do.  I actually thought it would be pretty strenuous.  Well as Yoda would say, Wrong you were, were you?  Yes.  Wrong I was.
Totally, not strenuous at all.  Still worth the time, due to the beautiful sites of nature.  There were many different types of trees including my all time favorite (weeping willows).  I have accustomed a favorite tree here in Korea, the Gingko Tree.  They are beautiful in the fall; takes a little of your breath as your eye is caught by the dark bark and yellow leaves that seem to dangle like earrings.  Any who, we had a guide that took us on an hour long hike (of course it was in Korean but easy to follow).  After the hike the Principal took us to a restaraunt that served us duck and a very strange seafood platter.  It was here I tried duck and some king of intestines for the first time.  Don't be grossed out, it was an adventure, and this is the adventures of Kate, right?  It was random I tried the duck considering I don't really eat meat.  Not a fan but I tried it : 0 ).  The intestines accidentally happened and I could barely keep them down, that was disgusting.  Still the experience was worth the trial to my taste buds and mental toughness.  I am living in Korea and do not want to miss out on fellowship with the people here or experiencing new things. 


Here in Korea it is traditin to serve
at least three or four side dishes with every meal.  here we have,
 spicy (SPICY) crab legs (really hard to eat w/chopsticks),
Kimchi (2 kinds), seaweed, and raddish


Ok, about time to wrap this up.  A few things I learned from this adventure:
1.  Hiking is not as fierce as I thought (well, at least not in this situation)
2.  There is a tree that you plant if you want your children to be scholars
3.  The smell of duck stays on your clothes until the next day at least.
4.  I do not enjoy all seafood
5.  There are weird seafood options served here in Korea with sprouts, intestines and little things that look like oyster but just disperse liquid into your mouth that tastes awful then you spit the chewy part out.
6.  Sitting on the floor is awesome but your feet fall asleep fast!

Check back later to catch up on my last two posts of the year!  <3

A little of this and little of that...



Soo (one of my two Co-Teachers) and her son Shioo

Soo took me on a bus adventure through Seoul

when I first arrived it was great fun!  

                                                                            

Soo also took me out to dinner when Anyang
(the city I live in) had a festival,
I met her husband and ate some Korean pizza!



Hello my friends!  You are almost caught up, yay!  I have had many random outtings here in Korea.  Random meaning they come up fast and are unplanned and the things I end up doing brings surprise to myself each time.  Here are a few of those moments. 

I made a instant friend upon my arrival who showed me much kindness.  I decided to show my thanks by
 taking this friend out to dinner.  Turns out they had some plans of their own to welcome me even more.
During dinner my friend asked me (knowing I am not much of a meat eater) if I ate fish and if I cook with it often.  I said "Oh yes, I like fish and I cooked it all the time for dinner back home". 
Something to keep in mind: 
I was answering yes I like fish while thinking the fish would be without scales and bones already preparred to eat and I cook fish I have boughten from the store ready to go nothing dirty involved. 



My dinner?


After my answer we began talking about something else.  For a brief second I though, "hmm that was a random question" then I was distracted and forgot all about it.  When we were finished and ready to part eachother I was reminded.  My friend gave me a present to show their appreciation and thanks.  This present was a freshly killed, still bloody FISH.  My friend said they were happy to hear I could cook fish so chopping the head off and gutting it should be no problem.  I thought, EH, UH what do you want me to do with this fish???  I have never, NEVER gutted a fish before.  Well this was sure to be an adventure.  It really was a kind gesture and part of me really did feel honored.  Random for sure!





SoonDooBoo

 The food here in Korea is definitely differnet compared to what I am used to, but I always enjoy trying new things!  My third week here I set out to find a church and made a new friend who took me out to my first dinner in Korea.  We ate SoonDooBoo (I have no idea if that is right, but it is how it sounds).  Turns out Soondooboo is one of my favorite dishes here.  It is soft tofu soup that is SPICY served with a bowl of rice and customary side dishes. The rice comes in a stone dish that.  You must take the rice out of the stone and place in a bowl then pour water in the stone bowl.  Ah, also before you eat your tofu soup you crack an egg in the soup, it is hot enough to cook the egg.
When you finish your meal you drink the rice water, it is considered as a dessert here in Korea and is defined as refreshing!  I liked it!  Ok, well hope that gave you a decent dose of what you are missing out on in my life, be ready to read more soon!  The year is almost over so I better get a hurry on catching you up, I have three more things that I must share with you before the year ends, so keep tuned in!  <3



Anyang JoongAng Elementary



Anyang JoongAng Elementary

 Hey Hey Friends!  Again time for a catch up.  Still behind, but let me tell you I am having some pretty different adventures that I know you want to hear all about.  You will, just bear with me ;0 ).  Let me first tell you about my school.  The school I teach at is fairly large and is in a building that has stood awhile ; 0.    There are five classes of each grade and the grades run from first through to sixth.  There is a seprate building where kindergarten is held, here in South Korea the kindergarten program is much like our Pre-school programs, it is not mandatory nor part of the elementary grades.  Also in my school is a dance studio, where the students take ballet.  Let me tell you, it is very magical.  It is taken very seriously here and these kiddos train hard,  and they are rather good.  Sometimes after my classes I make copies on the third floor across from the studio and I love listening to the music. 



The classroom I have been teaching in :)


I hope you enjoy the photos of my school expect to see more after winter vacation.  The English department is actually being remodeled into an English zone!  Thus, it will look completly different, exciting!






My students wrote me a nice note
(they spelled my name Cake*)



My First Day!



Shortly after the live-broadcast, I had a photo shoot!
 I felt very important!

 Hello Friends, it is time I update you once again.  I still have much to catch you up on!  My goal is to be caught up by the start of the New Year.  I want to tell you a little about my first day at my new job here in Korea.  I started right after I completed my orientation, which I told you all about.  My co-teacher Clara met me near my apartment to take me on my first day.  I was not sure which building she had told me to meet her at.  It was either NC Department or NC Outlet Store they are both HUGE and in the same area.  I found myself walking back and forth across the street to each building then thinking, No, it's the other one.  By the time she arrived I was worn out but the excitement of my first day and meeting her as well as the relief I was in the right spot took over and I was all smiles and ready to get to work!  Clara hailed a taxi and we made it to Jungang just in time. 

As I walked through the gates I saw the Principal right off!  He is a very nice man and extremely kind.  He greets the students each morning at the main gate with a bow and welcome phrase (Hello in Korean) and the students respond with the same.  It is obvious that the students admire and have much respect for him; the same can be said for the vice principal who is also a very kind and friendly person.  Ok, back to the story, well my life, I met the principal right away and completely forgot the Korean I practiced to greet him with.  All I could say was HELLO and I was off to meet the vice principal and get ready for class.  Before I had a chance to check out where I would be teaching I was whisked away and taken to where they film live announcements.  Yes, I was an announcement myself.  It was such a neat experience.  I gave a short speech which my co-teacher translated as we were broadcasted live through the entire school!  They all met me before I met them!


Posing with my Co-Teacher, Principal, and Vice Principal
at Anyng Joongang Elementary




Greeting the Principal!

Clara and I then headed to the English room where our students had already arrived and were waiting for us!  The day kept up the same fast pace but was exciting none the less.  I teach approximately 300 students each week and have at least four classes a day.  I teach third and fourth graders and get to see two fifth grade classes each week to help with pronunciation.  I am happy to finally be able to tell you all about my first day and will work on catching you up on the rest of my already had adventures!