Small face, big eyes

That my friends, is the definition of cute. This is what I was told by one of my students. The attitude towards one's image here is so funny. In class one day the kids were to do this collage about themselves. So while flipping through the magazine, they would point to every woman they could find and say "ugly... ugly..." (but it would be more like "uh-guh-lee"). Only the old men, and the cartoons with big eyes get the favored title of 'cute'. It's odd because you see a similar concern about image in adults too. If there is a mirror to be walked past, whether it be ten inches or ten centimeters, almost everyone that I've seen will stop and check themselves out... It's funny. And hey, we may do this back home and I've just never noticed it, but those who I've seen were very obvious in doing it. Anyways, just an interesting thought.
So, Becky and I are headed to Busan! Our contract to work at Haeundae Beach turned out to be a contract to work near Pusan university instead (communication errors I guess..), but this seems like a good thing... Haeundae was SO packed, and since I visited all I've heard is negative things about it. Though a busy place in the summer, it's supposed to be empty in the winter. The cold winds that come off the ocean make it a harsh place to live in those chilly months. And it is one of the most expensive areas in Busan as well... So, we head to the cheaper, more student oriented life near the university. We leave in two days, and actually start teaching in early September.
How fun was 'How Fun English Camp'? Well, I must say it has both positives and negatives. I've really enjoyed hanging out with the other native teachers I've met, as well as the T.A.'s. And the food has been great. Because there are hardly any western options I've been forced to dive into the local food, and besides kim chi (and those odd mini hotdogs), I really like it. Yet the one overarching issue that seems pervasive among the western teachers is this wall that has been placed in between 'us' and 'them'. This is an issue that'll be talked about in later blogs I'm sure, but I wanted to mention it quickly here. It seems like the staff here have this idea that they need to protect their own interests by placing a divider between the Korean people and the foreigners. Thus, we teachers are on a need to know basis, and it seems like we never need to know. I wonder if there is this overarching mindset passed down through generations that makes Koreans feel like they need to protect their identity or way of doing things from outsiders. Is there still a spirit of oppression among them? I don't know. It might just be at this camp (and probably is just at this camp) that the westerners are told "you wont understand because you're not Korean". And although this is true, after running into a few westerners who have been here for years, some who are even married and are settling down here, it seems like there is no way to be truly accepted as a local if you were not born here. (Disclaimer: this is just my experiences here at this camp. In no way am I generalizing any other part of Korea to be of this mindset.) And it's not the end of the world that westerners are restricted on how far they can enter into the Korean here (at How Fun), but it does pose a problem with building any type of community or friendship. I just think it's too bad that we can't click a bit more with the staff here... they seem like really cool people.
Anyways, hopefully this post doesn't jump around too much. It's late and my mind isn't on any one topic. For more pictures check out:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=38693&l=d04e1&id=517865133

The meaning of pilgrimage...

The word pilgrimage seems to be one of those words that often escapes definition, at least one that is more specific. And as I learned in May of this year, the reasoning behind the journey for each individual is usually quite subjective. As I walked this trail called St. Cuthbert's way, a path that dates back to around the middle of the 7th century, I pondered the possible reasons that I would want to walk this 100km trek from Melrose, Scotland to Lindisfarne England. My reasons are many but they wont be discussed in this blog. Instead, I'll give you the run down on a bit of the history of St. Cuthbert and this trail according to "The Scottish Borders" brochure.

The life and progress of St Cuthbert has provided the inspiration for this route to be developed. St Cuthbert started his ministry in Melrose in about 650AD. After a period at Ripon, he came to Lindisfarne to be Prior. While here, he became famous for his healing powers. He was appointed Bishop of Linisfarne, and for several years travelled widely, preaching the Gospel.

He spent the last part of his life on Inner Farne island in retreat, died there, and was buried on Lindisfarne. Eleven years later his coffin was opened, and hjis body was found to be perfectly preserved, which led to his beatification. In the following centruy the Community of St Cuthbert was responsible for the Lindisfarne Gospels, perhaps the greatest work of art of the Anglo-Saxon period.

- The Scottish Borders Council; 2007.

I hope these videos will play ok for you, and give a brief glimpse of our trip. They are in order, so if you are one of the pilgrims viewing, start from here moving down. That way you get our walk in order... Enjoy.

The island of Iona... it was so beautiful.


To be that man who walked a thousand miles and falls down at your door...


St. Cuthbert must have been in shape...


Of the bus, onto the trail


The darkest woods and the greenest fields


We near the end of our journey.


Credits

Recap.

Coming to Korea seems like such a blur to me. But then again, so does the last few months. I went from SSU, a safe, secure, consistent home, to living at home; traveling to Scotland; staying at my cottage; and then just bouncing around seeing friends before I jet out of the country. And now that that's done, it almost feels like I have to catch up to myself. The camp job is pretty intense as well; there seems to be very little free time. This weekend Becky and I get to travel to Jeonju to visit Rachel, Becky's sister. I'm looking forward to the weekend, catching up, not only on sleep but on life in the past little while. Here's a few pictures from the trip thus far. My facebook has a bunch of shots up as well and you can check that out at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=38693&l=d04e1&id=517865133 .

Arrival. Here's the plane we flew in (or one just like it!)

Korean BBQ. Jeremy suggested I check it out. It was pretty awesome. The brown stuff in the jugs are 'brown rice water', and it taste... like water that rice has been sitting in. It's almost like a tea.
I thought this was a cool picture.
Don't you want to go in here?! Hof and Soju... pretty much like a bar. Soju is their type of local wine/hard alcohol. It's 21% and taste (in my opinion) similar to vodka. Hof I believe, is other alcoholic drinks. I did think this picture was pretty funny though.

This is one of the kids from my class - a pretty funny guy.

This is a picture of me. Or rather, a picture of the guys drawing a picture of me.

Ok. So, the camp is made up of six different classes that are based on skill level. Each of those classes has their own classrooms named after a well known school in the US. So I can actually say that "I teach English at Stanford University". Pretty cool eh?

"Everytime you do that thing you do..."

Good morning Korea!! I just awoke from a 12 hour sleep, but I'm not sure jet lag has been adequately fought off. I'm staying in a dorm room with a roommate (Mike from Windsor), and we are two of six English teachers. The "How Fun English Camp" is located in Juchiwon, which is a small town in the mid western part of South Korea.
Lets see, here's an overview of the last few days.
Thursday night: We arrived. Although we left on Wednesday morning at 10 am, and the flight was much longer than 12 hours, we still didn't see a bit of sunset or night time. We went from Wednesday to Thursday without any type of night! Once we arrived, Becky and I had to look for a man holding a sign with our names. It was pretty awesome walking out of the baggage claim area because there were SO many Koreans there with signs and cameras and hopeful looks in their eyes. It felt like I was walking out on stage at a rock concert at a little venue. And they were so interested in what we were doing and where we were going. Three or four came up and asked us who we were or where we were going, and ... being the paranoid Western type, being trained on what to do when strangers ask personal information I just replied "No, it's ok. We're being picked up by a friend." And that sent them off looking for another white face; probably another English teacher.
So finally outside the airport we saw a bit of night time. We traveled back to the University (3 hours away) and found our dorms. Pretty nice rooms, with "True" high speed internet.
The weekend was spend in meetings, and wanderings by myself, Becky and my four other co-workers. We tried to catch up on sleep but... at least for me, it didn't happen. We eat together in the cafeteria everyday, breakfast lunch and supper. The food is... different, not in a bad way. Kim chi and rice seem to be standards in every meal. It doesn't seem to matter the meal, the food is relatively the same type, although they might have toast and cereal at breakfast time.
The kids arrived on Sunday and the classes began on Monday. Yesterday (Monday), the classes felt SO long. The day went like this: Woke at 7am (they play the song "that thing you do", I think its by the Moffat's, every morning over the intercom as a wake up call). Breakfast is at 8am, Classes start at 9am and go until 12:30. Lunch ends at 1:30pm and then classes resume. The classes will end around 2:50pm or so, and the project classes begin. Project classes include games, and more games. At 5:50pm we head off to supper, and then the 'work' part of the day is done. I guess I must be recovering from Jet lag still cause I was SO tired yesterday.
I teach the intermediate class, level one. This just means that they can understand key words that I might say. Conversational English does not exist with them yet. But they are better in English than I am in Korean...
Anyways, it's a pretty good time, and fun work atmosphere. And I'm sure after the tiredness wears off I'll be able to be able to take advantage of the cool hiking trails that surround the school. Pictures will come soon! But now, it's off to shower and then breakfast, and then off to the classes.

Heading toward the homeland..

"So, you're heading to Korea eh? North or South; cause you don't want to go to the north... too many crazy's up there. It's run by a mad man!"
"Teaching english eh? I've heard a lot of people are doing that! Why did you pick Korea?"
"Wow, Korea eh? Good luck!"

I've heard a variety of responses to my traveling to Korea, and most have been fairly positive. Many people will seem quite excited for me, but with a sort of 'why would you ever want to go there and do that?' kind of expression on their faces. Well, I guess the main reason is money. I suppose that if I had won the lottery a while back and was fairly financially sound, then I might not have decided Korea to be my home for the next year. But I don't think that money is the only drive for me there; the idea of community among friends in a larger setting in comparison to SSU would be another good reason. Also, the adventure of it all is quite appealing! I've never been there, I don't know the language, and I don't know much about the culture. What an opportunity! I look forward to learning the language, seeing the things that I've never seen, eating the things that I have never thought about, or considered eating, and walking on ground I never dreamed of walking on.
Another draw for me to go there would be the teaching aspect (good thing right?!). I think it will be challenging, yes, but I also am looking forward to learning how to teach, and how to express myself to a group who does not understand me at all. I've taught snowboarding, and coached hockey and waterskiing and wakeboarding... but teaching in a formal setting with kids sitting down at desks expecting me to help them grasp the elusive, confusing English language... well that's a challenge. How will I handle it? I don't know. And maybe it's this idea of 'not knowing' that is drawing me there. I am the optimist. Don used to say "it'll be ok in the end. If it's not ok, then its not the end", and I love that quote. I love having a challenge and working through that. hmm, maybe this is why I always choose the underdog, why I believe I can do things that I have never been able to do... why I cheer for the Leafs... Well, here's to optimism. I am looking forward to this new part of life, and I am eager to find out how I will do in this new context.
It's funny writing a blog without photos, I didn't think I would do that on this site. It's tough, because I thing that my pictures speak what I am trying to convey much better than I can with words. And it's also odd how open one is online when they are tired and exhausted.
Anyways, I leave for Korea at 10am tomorrow, and will arrive there, on Friday sometime. My feelings about that right now? Just relaxed, it seems too surreal for me to react in any other way than just, going and doing it. So, I suppose that this blog will be my window for those interested in viewing what I am doing over there. For those who will be looking through it, hopefully you will be able to see and understand my experiences and attitudes through photo and story. Hopefully you will be able to see 'the view from here', while I'm over there.