Too much meat, not enough flowers

I'm beginning to miss the nasty coffee smell my hair used to have after working at Luna Vinca. Tonight it smells like meat. After eating (salad for me, thanks) at a Korean barbecue for Kirstin's birthday, I now reek like a Texan with the meat sweats. Gross! All was not lost, as it was fun to sing Happy Birthday in Korean...except I don't really know the words, so I just sang a bunch of vowels loudly and it seemed to work.

I realized tonight why I think Rosa is so cool. No matter what she's doing (playing, eating, drinking, doing her duty in the litter box) she always makes things fun. Sometimes it means more work - like when she purposely sits behind a door so has to shimmy her arm underneath just to reach her toy. She also likes to shove her water bowl across the floor because its so much more fun to drink under the table. She doesn't care we're in Korea, she's going to have fun wherever she is! Her outlook helps me accept my apartment just a little more.

From the pictures, you might be able to tell my apartment is small. It's also shaped like a trailer. You can see from one end to the other with ease. I even have a shower/sink/toilet combo! (the toilet is behind the curtain, kind of like the Wizard of Oz). I can clean the entire bathroom with my shower 'wand'. And yet, even with such a small space, its messier than I'd like it to be. I can't imagine how this happened...

Warning, the following paragraph is not for the easily offended:

Tomorrow I get to meet the parents of my students. At the beginning class this year, I asked kids why they were taking Physics. It seemed like 80% of them replied with "Because my mom/dad is a Physicist." Crap. At least they'll get my dumb science jokes! I'll probably try to say something in Korean like "Hi, my name is Meredith. How are you? Nice to meet you" but actually end up saying "Hi, Meredith is a grocery store. She is right here. Sleep well, soy water, thank you!" (These are the only words I know.) Speaking of language mishaps...the other night at cross country practice, we played ultimate Frisbee. After the game, one of the other coaches was giving high fives to the kids saying, "Good game, good game, g-g, g-g." Whoops. FYI - if you're ever in Korea, 'Gi gi' means tits. YIKES!

Notes on things Korean

I have decided to quit speaking Korean. Not really, but I've been super frustrated lately when trying to communicate. For instance, I asked my friend, Christine for the Korean word for water. She told me and I repeated it to our waiter. (this is a pretty simple word, sounds like moole) He looked at me like I was fresh off the spaceship from Planet Gyzone. Christine kindly ordered water for me. When I'm in a taxi and ask in Korean for 'foreigner's school' or 'Hannam University' they just say "Uhn?" Seriously?!!

I'm also going to pick a bone with Korean ATMs. Yeah, you read it right, I have some beef with the ATMs. After a longer-than-it-should-have-been cab ride (in which the driver insulted my Canadian/Korean friend's Korean grammar and then asked us if we were Russian prostitutes) I stopped by an ATM to withdraw some cash. Still recovering from the ride, all was well until the pin #. Apparently in Korea, you don't need to hit the Enter or OK button after you type your pin, because just as I hit OK, the screen changed to that big screen with withdrawal amount options. I just kept thinking, 'Crap...it had a five in it....it had a five in it...' It sure did. I heard bills piling up in the ATM like coins coming out of a slot machine. Mind you, there aren't any bills over 10,000 won. So 500,000 won later, my cab buddies looked at my wad of cash and said, 'Must have been a good night, eh?' (see prostitution reference above).

I love Korea, but dang it, their cups just don't cut it. Restaurant water cups are SO SMALL. Tonight I had to fill up my cup at least 9 times and I was still thirsty! It's only 80 degrees with 90 percent humidity but no worries, you can have a shot of water.

There is a little store on my way to school that has a big sign with a sun on it and it says something to imply that it is an early morning shop...except I've never seen it open before 10am.

I just called home and was reminded that my mom's answering machine still has my brother's voice on it with one option to leave Meredith a message...I haven't lived there for 3 years! I also tried to leave a message but the inbox is full because she never deletes her kids' messages. :) Cute.

So instead of getting advice from my mom, I called my Aunt Jeanie. She helped me reflect on how God has truly planted me here. I shouldn't worry about things like marriage, but should instead be praying for my future mate and trusting that God will introduce us when we're both ready. It's amazing how God directs you to people who tell you exactly what you need to hear. I'm so grateful for Aunts!

A few pictures above are from my walk home from school (the trash might be why it stinks so much) my apartment, my team for TCIS Family Fun Day, and Rosa and her window with a "view" (of the next building). :)

Oh Seoul! "I looooove you!"

Our taxi driver in Seoul thought he would try out his English on 5 American ladies stuffed in his cab. "I am boy! You are girl! Good day! Good evening!......I love you!" He was probably 75 years old. We loved him right back.

Since my camera sucks battery life as quickly as I suck down my new found Aloe juice, my Seoul pictures will be arriving shortly via my traveling buddies' cameras. Until then, a quick description should suffice.

Seoul is big. Like London big. (I really have no idea how those two compare, but whatever.) To get anywhere, you have take a bus, take a train, or take a cab. Of course, instead of visiting historical sites or going to museums, we went shopping. However, I am thoroughly accessorized, at least for now. :)

On one particularly long, boring, hot, bus ride (who knew you can squeeze 800 people on a bus?) we passed a huge group of Korean swat guys gathered around a building. Apparently there was, or was going to be a demonstration which had the potential for being violent. There were at least 30 buses that brought all of the swat guys to the site - it was incredible to see that much security gathered in one area. We decided not to get off at that stop.

Most of our time was spent in the touristy district and the cultural shopping district, Insadong. There, Christine got chased by a tin man and Kirsten helped a man hammer out rice. I was interviewed in English by Harold, a nine year old boy who keeps a journal of all the tourists he meets. He even writes "At Insadong Market August 19th" at the top of his journal. Cute :)

Rosa missed me and I missed her too. Hostel bed are not the greatest, especially when you stay out too late - who knew Seoul never sleeps?

The pictures are from the Eagle's baseball game in Taejon. It was really fun because the crowd is as pumped up students at an NCAA Final Four Championship. They even have cheerleaders. Rah!

First day

Today was the first day of school at TCIS. I didn't have the normal sleepless night before, but I did get a little anxious after waking up late, wishing I would have hired the cleaning lady to iron my clothes YESTERDAY, hustling to work to find out that my new shoes = new blisters.

My first class was a Physics class of 8 Juniors. Three boys thought they would be funny by trying to switch their name cards sitting in front of them while I wasn't looking. Teachers are always looking. I walked by and in one swift movement, switched them all back and said "Hm. Nice try." They replied with a roar and smiles. I think I won.

At the end of the day, my younger class was listening to me lecture a bit and the last bell rang during the middle of my sentence. I expected them to jump out of their seats, start yelling and run away. They didn't! It was crazy! They were all staring up at me, still listening, and I finished my sentence and dismissed them. I almost fell over from shock.

Overall, it was a fantastic day. Only 63 kids to get to know, only a few classes a day. It seems like a dream right now but I'm sure I'll wake up soon and the sunshine and daisies will be gone. For right now, I'm going to bed to enjoy it!

(the first pictures are of downtown Taejon, norabong (karaoke room!), me and Jen at the dirtiest bowling alley on the Earth, and TCIS high school)

Jal Ja

When asked for the translation of "goodnight" my Korean friends looked perplexed. Instead of goodnight, they say 'jal ja' which means sleep well. It seems like Koreans are constantly wishing one another well. When you say goodbye to someone, whether you are leaving or they are leaving, each person wishes the other person to stay or go in peace. There are also situations where you tell people to "go do ____ (your job) well". It seems intentional and seems to mean more than 'goodbye' or 'goodnight'. I like it.

There is still a lot to do at school so I have to go in on Saturday. It's ok though, because everyone else will be there too, frantically planning, copying, and thinking that their first day just isn't quite good enough. Its funny that we spend so much time worrying about it, but who really remembers the first day of school anyway? It only sets the tone for the rest of the year, so I'm just planning on talking about how much fun the rest of the year will be. :) I can't wait to meet my kids.

At the end of the day, Korea still stinks a little, but I don't mind. Every place, every situation, and everybody has their own element of stinkiness. I can deal with a little trash.

Jah Ja ~

KOREA!

I finally made it! I'm finally moved in and Rosa is casually laying on the floor in her new apartment. She likes the floors because they are slippery and toys are much more fun to chase. She isn't enjoying the view of the 'garden' outside or the apartment building that is so close she could jump from my window to theirs if she wanted. Rosa probably doesn't fancy the weird smell outside either, but we're dealing with it.

A few fun facts about Korea - you have to separate your food waste from your recyclables, and then the leftover garbage goes in a special "green" bag. Someone comes along and sorts it all but if you get caught with your food waste in your green bag, WATCH OUT! I'm terrified to take out the trash.

Personal space is something that I thought I've always been ok with - I don't mind being close to people. I like being close! Then I moved to Korea and got hip checked by an old lady at a department store and decided I certainly do have a personal bubble.

So far, I have discovered a few rules/guidelines for Korea:
1. Its ok to stare and point. At anything. You can even talk out loud about what you're staring at.
2. It is perfectly acceptable to play bumper cars with your body in a moderately crowded shopping area.
3. Don't mess with middle aged Korean women. It seems they hold the power around here.
4. Separate your garbage.
5. If you think someone will understand you because you speak English, think again.
6. Anything written in English has the potential of being jibberish.
7. Koreans are really nice.

The pictures above are of some new teachers, the view from 2 streets bordering school (notice how the businesses are stacked on top of one another), the high school, and two of my newest friends, Kirstin and Annette.

My new school is so great and my classes are so tiny, the support is wonderful, and there is a lot of spiritual wellness being emphasized.

I like my new home and I'm pretty sure Rosa does too. The jet lag has subsided, its nighttime, and we're both ready for bed.