Next year's plans...

I enjoy being spontaneous and adventurous, but when push comes to shove, I want to know what is going to happen next in life.  Granted, some things in life are uncontrollable, and there are some things for which I  will never receive an answer.  But for those things such as jobs, living arrangements, etc., not knowing what comes next is a reckless, powerless feeling for me.  Some have said that it is a liberating feeling.  Maybe.  For me though, I need to have one foot on the ground, and when I don't - life is stressful.  Therefore, the last few months for me have been filled with varying degrees of stress related to how my plans in life would unfold.  A part of me would love to live in another country, explore more, see the world.  The stronger part of me knows that I need a base , a place to truly call home, and that I need to go back there now.  A year away from everything I love in my life is just to long for me. 


The decision to head back home was made quite awhile ago, but then came the question of where to go.  When I left Colorado to come to Korea, I was burnt out on teaching, on being surrounded by a negative atmosphere at work, and the unending politics that accompany teaching in public schools.  I had looked at changing career paths, going back for my masters, just changing schools, and obviously, teaching overseas.   I went with teaching in Korea because the pay was decent, it was something I knew as far as the teaching, and I felt that I needed a new perspective.  I think that immersing yourself in another culture always brings a greater perspective, and so, 10 months later, here I am.  I have had a great year, have met amazing people, enjoyed my students, and have seen a part of the world I knew relatively little about prior to coming here.  And I have gained a new perspective.  


Working in hagwons in Korea is a precarious thing.  Some people end up victims of an imperfect system that does not always align with western standards. Some people are incredibly lucky and end up with amazing jobs.  I am somewhere in the middle.  The hours in many schools are quite long, and vacation time is limited.  For me, the most difficult part was a result of the fact that I actually have a teaching background.  In my classrooms at home,  I had a great deal of independence, I made decisions for my classroom and students, I was free to express my opinion, and I was part of a team of professionals.  Here, I am just another person who can speak English and teach a preset curriculum that allows for no creativity, and no professional requirements.    Now, my job is not the same as everyone's in Korea, and it is a good job in many ways.  It is just not right for me.  It has, however, given me the perspective that I sought.


I have realized that despite all the flaws of my previous school,  it was a place where I was able to be a professional, I was treated as such, and there was a common sense of respect.  I have realized that the hours I worked were amazing, and that having vacations and  summers off are privileges I never quite appreciated properly.  I have realized that I need to be able to work with my administration, not just for them.  There were some very difficult aspects of my previous school, but with a new perspective, I see that many of those difficulties were a result of my attitude, and things that I can control.  


So, with that said, back to the plans for next year.  As the economy crumbled this year, I began thinking of what would be the best choice for my job security.  I came to Korea on a year long leave of absence, with no real intention of returning to my school district.  I wanted a fresh start if and when I returned, and barely gave returning to the same district, much less the same school, a passing thought.  As I read headline after headline of jobs being slashed, teachers being cut, companies folding, I realized that the fact that I have a guaranteed job, with tenure, was something I couldn't take for granted.  I decided that I would in fact return to my school district - but to a different school this time.  Someplace where I could put my newfound perspective to good use.  That was not to be, though.  After weeks of waiting to find out where I would be placed in the district, I found out recently that I will be returning to the same school I have taught at the last 3 years.  Ahhh...life certainly holds surprises sometimes.  Had someone asked me a few months ago if I would consider returning to my school, I would have responded flatly, unequivocally - NO.  Now that I am going back, and I have had some time to adjust, I think this is the best choice for me at this time.  Funny how things turn out sometimes.  I struggled for a bit with the feeling that I have been gone for a year, have experienced so much, and now I will be returning to the same place, as if nothing had changed at all.  The truth is, it is not the situation that determines happiness, but what is inside a person; and I know that I return to Colorado a different person in many ways.


I have loved so much about my time in Korea, but it has not been the easiest year of my life.  I have learned, again, that sometimes the things that seem to be the very worst, are the very things you need to grow and become a better person.  Working here in Korea has been a constant battle for me in some ways, and I wish that I had looked more seriously at teaching in a true International School.  But, if I had done that, I would not have learned many of the things I have this year.  My job might have been more satisfying  to me, but I believe I needed to gain some appreciation for the job I left back home.  Maybe an International School would be a good choice for the next time I get the itch to travel...

Lotus Lantern Festival

Lanterns lit up at night

Amazing ceiling...

Some of the monks taking part in the parade

Natalia and I with the lanterns that they were giving out for the parade - I think that technically we were supposed to walk in the parade with them.

This woman is wearing a traditional Korean Hanbok

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This little guy was so adorable - it was a great festival to take kids to - lots of crafts and interesting things to look at

Me with some girls getting ready for the parade

So many Lotus Lanterns everywhere!

The Lotus Lanterns and the candles inside signify enlightenment and the blossoming of wisdom.

The temple during the day - still beautiful. It was a really amazing sight to see. You walk into the temple courtyard, and suddenly all the lanterns are everywhere.

Broadening my Perspective...

Today I went into Seoul to attend the Buddhist Lantern Festival. It is a festival kicking off the celebration of Buddha's birthday, which is on May 2nd this year in Korea, and it was really amazing. In Bundang, where I live, there is not an obvious Buddhist presence, but throughout Korea it is quite obviously a huge part of the culture. One aspect of living in Asia that I have really enjoyed is witnessing authentic Buddhist practices in everyday life.
The first time I really observed Buddhist worshippers was over Chuseok - which is the fall Full Moon Harvest Festival, a day which Koreans spend with family and celebrate much in the same way that we celebrate Thanksgiving in America. This year it fell on September 14th. My friends Mariko and Brandon and I went hiking up in the mountains near Seoul and we stopped into one of the buddhist monasteries that are scattered through the mountains throughout Korea, and watched people worship. I truly don't know much of Buddhism, and I am completely ignorant to what the rituals signify, but they are beautiful to watch. Buddhists have a calming sense to them, and as they perform the rituals of their religion, you feel that they do have a very special belief. In China I visited a Tibetan temple, Lama Temple, and it was one of my favorite sites in Beijing. It had a special aura to it which was enhanced by the fact that it was a practicing Temple.
Today's visit to the Lantern Festival a similar feel to it, despite the crowds of foreigners. There were fifty or so booths set up where you could do everything from making your own lantern, to receiving acupuncture treatments. My friend Natalia and I both made fans, and I got a hand acupuncture treatment in which I had burning little discs placed on my palm and fingers. They really did feel like a needle, though it was only the heat from burning soot. Interestingly I could not handle the ones in the middle of my palm. The doctor told me that it was my stomach...hmmm. After finishing our fans, Natalia and I headed to the actual temple - Jogyesa Temple. It was soooo amazing - really beautiful. The entire courtyard was covered by rows and rows of lanterns. We walked around before they were lit, and then again after dark when they were all lit up - they were amazing both ways.
Natalia and I went to a cute little Indian restaurant in Insadong, and then we returned to see the lanterns lit up. We were so lucky to get back right in time for the night parade. It was so beautiful, and so much fun. So far, this has really been one of my favorite events that I have been to in Korea. Pictures to come soon! :)

Why do I like to travel?

Why?  Because this video makes my heart beat faster, and brings tears to my eyes.  Someday, this is what I hope to be able to do...it would be great if someone would pay for it.  Ideas, anyone?!?  ;)

Staying healthy in Korea

As a teacher, I have always been exposed to more than the average number of bugs - and have fallen prey to more of them than I like.  Over the last few years, I have really worked to lower my chances of getting every cold that my students bring into class with them, and I have been fairly successful.  In my classroom in Colorado I use clorox wipes all year long, my students wipe their desks down after almost every class - and most of my students enjoy letting me know that they think I am crazy - though they are just as happy to try to prevent any sickness they might get from someone else sitting in their desk.   
Then comes Korea. Now, in all honesty, I have been relatively healthy here too, despite the fact that my students are ALWAYS sick!!  At home, students do come to school sick, but it is nothing like here.  At least once a week I wish I could send a kid home they are just that sick.  That is highly unacceptable here though, and so we all put up with hacking and sneezing and germiness.   I don't have clorox wipes to disinfect everything, and eventually all of those germs catch up with me.  Currently I am trying really hard to not get a full-blown cold that has been nagging at me in the form of a scratchy, sore throat all week.  I have been trying to get extra rest, taking my vitamins, eating well...but the problem with teaching is that you are talking all day, and by the end of the day (for me - 9:00) I feel terrible again.  
What I have noticed about Korea, is that when I get sick, I get sick for a LONG time.  Plus, it seems like someone around me is always sick, so it is a cycle in which I am constantly trying to stay ahead.  Wether it is because we are just not used to the viruses here, or because our immune systems are constantly barraged with new viruses, all I know is that it is exhausting trying to stay healthy.  I need a sick day...oh yeah, I don't really get any this year.  Oh, well - maybe I will kick this without the full-blown cold developing.  Positive thoughts!  :)

Good time to be in Korea...

Ahhh.  That pretty much sums up the last couple of weeks.  The weather has truly turned spring-like, and with it has come the cherry blossoms, magnolia trees, and lighter spirits.  This weekend I really just enjoyed the warm weather.  It is so nice to be able to spend time outside again, and the transformation here is amazing.  All winter long coffee shops were packed and the malls were bustling with people attempting to avoid the cold, but today they were quiet.  Everyone was outside.  The parks here are great for people watching - mostly because they are packed.  There are so many little kids, young couples, families, grandparents.  People bring a mat and sit on the grass, they play games, they stroll.  It is nice.  Yesterday a group of friends and I went and did all of those things.  We even brought some wine and beer, and ordered chicken - which - yes - was delivered TO the park.  Today I kind of just wandered about, went shopping a bit, hung out with friends again, ate some Indian food.  Perfect weekend.  I didn't get anything done, my apartment is messy...but it is ok.  Life is good.  Next weekend my friends from Montana will be here - Erica and Brian, and I am sooooo excited to see them!
Time is flying by, and before I know it, I will be at the airport writing my last blog from Korea.  I am excited to come home, but I wish I had time to actually see more of Korea.  I am trying to fit in as many places in as I can these last couple of months, but traveling on the weekend and returning to work on Monday just isn't that much fun - I prefer the traveling without a job to return to, and no real plan on where I am going.  That requires money though, which, for me, means I have to have a job...endless cycle.

Cherry blossoms up close - so pretty - and so fleeting - they fall off after just a few days - like snow - it is really pretty.

Just one of MANY pretty pictures I have of the trees in bloom

Relaxing at the park - TJ, Matt, Christa, Sugi, Jin

palaces, cherry blossoms, ancient burial ground

Girls from work - Jin, Christa, Natalia, me, Sugi

I LOVE this red flower - so beautiful!

Cherry Blossoms and pretty days...

On Sunday my friend Mariko and I took a walk and just enjoyed seeing spring emerge.  I have never lived someplace where spring is so evident - all of the blossoms just make me happy!