To Be or Not to Be...Korean

I am on the Korean Blog List now.

www.koreanbloglist.com

Which is cool, because all those who are interested in Korean lifestyles can take sneak peeks into lives of those living here.

I wanted to post my blog to help those of the darker hue be able to get a perspective on life here. Plus, I wanted to battle all the majority white perspectives. People view life in different lenses, you know.

Here is the funny thing.

I am listed as a "Koreans living in Korea". My first attempt to register I was denied, because I wanted to be "Foreigners living in Korea".

Here we go.

All my life, I have dumbfounded those that are culturally unaware.

So I find it funny that yes, I was born in Korea, no I don't speak the language and I am an American citizen...I am still a Korean? Korean culture barely recognizes, mixed people who are part Korean. Only until Hines Ward won a Superbowl MVP, did they acknowledge his black Korean self. So, yeah I doubt that I am Korean unless I cure cancer or win a bunch of Olympic medals.

I am a foreigner in my birth country.

In the US, I am always asked, where am I from...No one wants to hear Seattle. Atlanta...or any continental US state.They want to know where am I reallllly from.

So, yeah. Makes no sense.

Busy Living

What have I been up to this week?

Monday:
I finally got a cell phone with my friend/co-worker Diana, who speaks Korean, even though she says she is not that great...she is waaay better than me! I really appreciate her everyday! She waited for me as I picked out a phone which is ultra cool. Okay, so I got a free protective cover that was the lesser of three tacky evils. It was either the black glitterati one pictured with two country kitties wearing bandanas with random butterflies or the white one with some lonely looking Asian girl with phrases "I do" "Love You" all over the back or it could have been some other realllly tacky one that I can't remember. Then I got a free charger, adapter, protective screen and another charger for when I go to restaurants and stuff to charge my phone. Great deal for 120 and 55 activation, considering I paid more for a Blackberry back home.
I am learning my phone, but the cutesy quirkiness of ringtones and decorative text message screens screams to the inner 10 year old girl in me.

Tuesday:
I needed to make a wire transfer home and it took forever. I reckon, yep I said reckon, I will do it every couple of months instead.
Then Diana and I went discovering the area around Samsung Plaza. I have been there before but she had not, so we went to the stationary store, which is full of cutesy things. I bought a notebook that looks like my cat, Lint. Yeah he is a boy but isn't the notebook cute?
I will definitely be picking up some things for AK before I go home. She lives for all things cute and stationary.
Then, I went back to Face Shop, to buy some more 1 dollar masks. It is a simple treat for night time relaxing.
Went home and watched Prison Break. Seriously, I have a problem. I am so addicted to this show.

Wednesday:

Called my family that lives in Suwon to try and coordinate something for Chusok, sorta like Thanksgiving in Korea, that is in September.

After unsuccessfully trying to identify myself on the phone, I asked Diana to call my Samcheon, uncle in Korean, to translate.

She explained everything and they were going to call me back.

A few hours later, I received a call and didn't understand much of the conversation, I tried calling my Unye, older cousin/sister, in Arizona on Skype to help and she wasn't there. Then I tried calling my mom and she wasn't available either.

So with my broken Korean and limited English on my Emo, aunt in Korean, part....we decided to meet at 5 o'clock at my school.

I was so excited! I have never met them before, well let me restate that, I don't remember them. I was too young.

Today:

We met in the parking lot and they immediately showed me pictures of my aunt and cousin. I smiled a lot and Diana translated that they said I looked so much like my uncle. I wanted to hug them all but wasn't sure if that would be appropriate in public. I don't know.

We rode around looking for something to eat and decided to go to my neighborhood and park at my apartment building. We ate the most delicious kalbi, barbecued beef in Korean, and had a great time gesturing and utilizing Diana's dual language abilities.

Then my aunts and uncle came to my apartment and we finalized Chusok plans.

I am so happy to have met my family. It connects me to a part of my life that had long been lost.

As an American, I am always asked why did I choose to move to Korea....this is why.

A Little Clarfication

Around here, it is important to distinguish yourself from:

A. The English teachers.
B. The U.S. military.

I vehemently let people know that I am neither. I teach at an international school. I am a certified teacher and I teach fifth grade with two math blocks, not English.

The few English teachers that have passed through the revolving doors of hagwons have undoubtedly tainted the image of English teachers and western people by acting like asses. Admittedly, you have to be a little weird to pack your bags and move half way around the world to teach...or you have to be lame in your native country, which I am an neither.
Wait, I am a little weird.
English teaching for some has become a quick fix for their problems in their own country, can't find a job there, let me teach English there. Can't score any hot girls here, let me teach English there. So on and so forth.
Now, I am going to have to say that Korea can't be all that mad about it, considering their applicant pool. You have to wonder about a person who can pack up and move to Korea in two weeks. Seriously, don't be surprised then if they are slackers, druggies or what not. `

Next, the good ol' Army. Now, don't get me wrong, I am a product of Korean citizen and military fraternization. But because I grew up around military installations, I know first hand that young, country, poor folk sign up for the Army. Also, they have a lack of couth and understanding of various cultures. I have seen obnoxious G.I.s and trust me, If I were Korean, I would raise an eyebrow or two.

People fail to realize, whether you like it or not, you are a representative.
Act accordingly.

c

KSL

Korean as a Second Language:

Charades is an art form, which I have become the Picasso in Korea. With every wave of my hand, stroke of my finger and impressionist expression of my face, I am able to get by daily.

My Korean is limited, if we had to classify it, I would say that I was like a toddler in my vocabulary. My ability to read hangul characters gives me a minor advantage.

Pine-uh-ap-ul. Pineuhapul. Pineapple! Hooked on phonetically speaking.

My illiterate self pushes random buttons on my everyday appliances to do the most mundane such as washing my clothes. I peruse menus at restaurants looking for Korean words I recognize, such as mandu, bibimbap, kimbap, chicken etc. Going shopping at stores can be all about brand recognition and part risk taking.

I have looked doe-eyed at cashiers, waitresses, cab drivers, sales people when they spoke to me in Korean.

My students have helped me with pronounciation of words and were proud that I could at least read hangul.

My Korean coworkers have corrected me in a gentle manner, with no condecending tone, when I mispronounce a phrase.

I have said "ne" to things and "aneyo" to others. Having no clue what I was in agreement or disagreement of.

Then there is the universal language of numbers, in which calculators are whipped out or pieces of paper and pen that translates what it is I need to pay.

I can count to ten. Just like a three year old. But there are different numbers for different things, when I should be using Sino or Pure Korean numbers.

I prefer to hold up my hands.

In general, Koreans appreciate that I am trying.

When I arrived to Korea, I thought about how my mother must have felt, the day she immigrated to America. Not knowing the language, the culture, or a soul. I think about her everyday that I have to gesture for the simplicities. Which is every day.

Considering my limited vocabulary, I have not been yelled at in Korean as if I was deaf. For some reason Americans love to yell at foreign speakers. No laughter when I mispronounce something. There has been no frustration and tense expressions when I am not understood.

I have felt lost and bewildered. Frustrated at my own inability to speak, not to be confused with a frustration of Koreans inability to speak English. I don't expect them to. Which is something some expats over here need to get a grip on.

Instead of being met with hostility, I have been treated with kindness and patience. Something that Americans could learn.

We are the land of immigrants, we tout. Yet we shun the outsiders, creating a culture that contradicts our very existence by insisting that someone learn English when they come to the U.S. We complain about making concessions for foreign language speakers in our schools, hospitals and places of business. All because it is not convenience for us. English laden with accents are met with colorful insulting commentary unless it is of a European nature, then it is tres' chic. But if it is someone who says "pine uh ap ul", we concentrate on our own discomforts instead of focusing on how someone is doing their best to meet us where we are.

My mother told me once, that a dissatisfied customer told her to "Go back to China!" Which is highly inaccurate but also extremely offensive.

Is that who we are in America?

I guess people may worry about my safety or well being in Korea and I admit, I also had my own trepidations after reading all the "horror" stories in Korea.

As Americans, do we expect to be treated as we treat others? Maybe so and therefore explains the self-inflicted fears.

Being well aware of me being American, a foreigner, albeit in my birth country of Korea...I find it astonishing how many foreigners choose to live in their western bubbles. Only eating western food, gawking at Korean customs, being overly opinionated about the culture and overall negative and creating a self-imposed exile for themselves.

By no means do I suggest that we lose ourselves when we move to a foreign country but I do ponder why would anyone move to another country and not be willing to become a bit vulnerable to change. Or at the bare minimum, be respectful of a culture.

Yes there are enclaves in most major cities of ethnic neighborhoods catering to the lifestyles of the hopeful and foreign. I would also argue that most people who come to America do their best to assimilate out of desire and necessity to be woven into the American fabric.

Let's really think about how many Americans only know how to speak English. That's it and hell, we can't even speak that correctly at times. We are so self-absorbed. We discourage bilingual education, yet careers are in demand for bilingual speakers. And we wonder where all the jobs are going. People all over the world can speak more than just one language and I am amazed with anyone who can speak English as a second language and all it's complexities.

It is written in many guide books on Korea and websites, that some Koreans may know English but may be apprehensive to speak it due to the lack of fluency.

Probably because some westerner will make fun of them.

Case in point. My mother swears up and down that her English is "not so good", as she puts it.
After 29 years of living in the U.S. that of course is not true. What she is however, is self-conscious about her accent or how she is perceived by native English speakers, so I have had situations where she has all but become mute in unfamiliar settings.

My Korean translated today in the store:

Me: Hello
Shopkeeper: Hello, how can I help you?
Me: Cell phone. buy.
Shopkeeper: (This is where he said a bunch of stuff I had no idea)
Me: Do you speak English?
Shopkeeper: No, sorry.
Me: simple and cheap. (I pointed to my phrase book after butchering it)
Shopkeeper: (Again, saying a whole lot but I did understand that he wanted to know what kind of phone and service I wanted)
Me: Two. (I used Sino and Pure Korean numbers and held up two fingers trying to explain contract terms)
Shopkeeper: (A whole bunch of Korean...then he pointed me to the ones with English menus or something)

This conversation went on and on for awhile, with me leaving without a phone, not due to translation but just the prices.

My point is, I sounded ridiculous. This man did not get frustrated with me or treat me as an idiot. Nor did he try to rip me off, as some people in America would do to a confused foreigner. He was patient as I flipped through my rather worthless phrasebook and used the very limited English he had to help me out and didn't get mad when I didn't buy a phone.

Afterwards, I went to the Aveda section at Lotte and bought some much needed hair product and the sales girl was super friendly and spoke the English she knew and I spoke the Korean I knew.

It is about being open. Being willing to learn and meet people where they are. She gave me a few samples after I made my purchase and said to come back soon with a gracious smile and slight bow.

As time passes on here, I am understanding my mother's life more, although I think my situation is a whole hell of a lot less scarier as her experience has been in America.

A Week In Review...

Sunday I went to church with some co-workers. It was nice to meet some friendly folks and get a little motivational inspiration.

The sermon was about God knows the end at the beginning and that your life is planned and not a random prediction.

I enjoyed the service, the pastor was quite humorous as well.

The only caveat is that it takes about an hour and a half to get there and church can last for 3 hours. Not to my liking.

I am not an avid religious enthusiast, nor do I proclaim to be of the Christian faith, but I do have faith in a higher power and sometimes you need a little inspiration in your life to proceed.

As for the week at school, it was busy and slowly but surely, I am adjusting to fit my student's needs.

Unlike when I taught in the inner city, these kids come well prepared with supplies and get additional assistance outside of school. Therefore, I am not trying to get them to know basic facts like multiplication. However, they lack comprehension skills and basic logic. Common sense just can't be taught. It is a new challenge for me to teach ESL kids and I will be working hard to get them to process information and devlop an understanding of what they are reading.

I also got my Alien Resident Card, so I am officially...an alien!!!
Cell phones are mad expensive to start off here for a foreigner, I am expected to shell out 150-200 for a cell. Yeah, no free phones for us. Even though the school is offering some, I am going to shop around.

Got paid this week and I am going to try and live off my won money only. I get paid a portion in won and the rest in US. I am going to transfer the US to my home account and pay off bills and invest in my retirement. I don't have any grandiose plans for saving like serious thousands here like some people. I just want to be able to rid myself of some debts and travel.

I am making the same amount as I did back home except I don't pay for a place to live or a car and the car expenses, which gives me a whole lot more money to handle business.

Finally found a pedicure place, which is very nice and has like every color you can imagine. It is about 30 bucks for a basic pedicure...with no scrub. Boo. Hey, I am not mad at the Koreans for charging more for this walking culture's peds. I have seen some rough heels out here. I chose a baby blue color.

Also, I went out to dinner with some Korean staff at the school and the guys were cool. We ate Korean food, of course and had dessert.

Actually, all week I have been eating ice cream or gelato or frozen yogurt after my meals. Korean food makes me crave something sweet and if you know me, I don't even like sweets.

I also found a DVD rental place and I am renting seasons of The Wire and Prison Break. Prison Break is fantastic, cute guys and thuggishness. Oh so sexy. HA! The Wire is alright so far, I am going to give it a chance but I am not interested so far.

For a down payment of 10 bucks you can rent 15 dollars worth of movies, considering that new releases are only 2 bucks and others are a dollar you can't beat that. Blockbuster can kiss my grits with that 5 dollar charge in the US.

Ever so steadily, I am getting settled here. I miss my family and friends and can't wait to see them this Christmas. I found a student at my school to cat sit for me while I am away so I am much more comfortable about leaving for three weeks. :)

Oh, I am the worst about taking pics. I keep forgeting to charge the camera or taking it with me. So I will make a vow to do better. :) Be patient with a girl.

Yesterday

Pictured above: What a Bundang Burrito looks like.

Yesterday.

A co-worker of mine needed to head to Itaewon, the foreigner section of Seoul, to purchase some clothes. We headed out at 10am and when we got there we decided that day will be Western day and ate at Outback Steakhouse.

I had some cheese fries and chicken wings, she had the steak. It was very comforting to eat something that wasn't Korean.

So we walked around and visited some shops and she bought some clothes. The store owners pretty much buy a bunch of stuff from Marshalls, Macy's and what not and sell them here. So she got some stuff from INC, Talbots etc.

I was happy that she was able to find some clothes that would fit her.

Me on the other hand, really don't like shopping. Well, I am the type that the clothes need to be displayed out front on a mannequin or something, digging through racks and bins has never been fun for me.

I went into one store that sold designer labels, albeit cut out, and I bought a cute striped sweater cardigan dress. The store owner tried to sell me a bad ass Burberry coat, but I am not into advertising, it was in the traditional plaid pattern, but the shape and the fox fur collar was soooo cute.

The stuff is real. It seems that they may get it from China or Korea, cause hell most of that stuff is manufactured here in Asia. They cut out enough of the label so they don't get in trouble I guess, but leave enough of the label so you recognize who made it.

I saw Marc Jacobs, Diane Von Furstenberg, Theory, Calvin Klein etc. just to name a few....

I LOVE THIS PLACE!

After getting doused in the rain, we headed back to Bundang to search for a mattress pad.

The mattresses here are hard as hell! We decided to go to Emart to search for the ever elusive mattress pad. It was rumored that a memory foam pad is sold there for about 200 bucks. Wowza..but hey when you are literally caught between a rock and a hard mattress, you suck it up.

So we searched the aisles and floors of the store and didn't find it. We think that us foreigners cleaned them out.

I did, however, buy a new comforter set. It is way cuter than the pink atrocity our school gave everyone, including the men.

I know I will only be living in Korea for two years maybe, but hey, this is home and I want it to look like home.

So I plopped 150 for a comforter and two pillowcases. Wow. I would have never done that back home. But I did find out it was a duvet cover and it is pretty good quality considering it is embroidered and thick, unlike the sheet like duvets we have in the States. So I guess it is a deal.

Anyways, we hopped in a cab and headed to HomeEver. Ever Ever..it was huge! Way better than Emart.

We couldn't find a mattress pad there either. But I did get a blow dryer and some scissors. I also bought a Korean version of the Ped-Egg. Trust me, it is needed here.

My co-worker got a wireless mouse and mousepad and a board game for her students.

On the way out, we saw a shop that sold mattress pads. Essentially, they are futons that Koreans sleep on the floor with. They are rather thin, but we were desperate beyond measure.

It was not as thick as we would have liked, but thicker than the futon we saw at Emart. Also, it was a double and we have queen beds. So for 55 bucks we went for it.

It was hilarious getting into the cab with two of those. We dropped them off in our apartments and headed out to get something to eat.

My co-worker wanted no Asian cuisine, no Indian either. So that made it tough.

We walked. And walked. Did I mention we walked?

Then after walking through a little park we saw the beckoning of flashing neon lights indicating more choices and the Samsung Plaza, a premier shopping center. Designer goods galore.

We first stopped in KFC, but I wasn't excited about that, since I didn't eat KFC back home. Now if that was a Popeye's or Chick Fil A, we would have been in business.

So we walked some more and found a...Mexican Restaurant? Yes!

We went into La M...something or another, I forget and it was decorated like a little hacienda pueblo deal with Mexican decor galore.

The menu was interesting. You could get tacos or spaghetti or fried rice. HA! I love this place.

So I got the burrito and she ordered the tacos and just for the hell of it we had cheesesticks.

It was very tasty and I will definitely eat there again!

After that we looked into a DVD store, cause we were disappointed that we didn't find a bootlegger in Itaewon, then again it rained hard and we weren't looking hard.

Nothing grabbed our attention, so we went into Face Shop...sorta like Body Shop. I got some masks and stuff, to beautify myself and so did my co-worker. We took the subway back, went the wrong way again and when we made it to our neighborhood, we stopped at Baskin Robbins for a small scoop.

What a great westernized 12 hour day.

Oh and I slept for the first time in bed and actually overslept....it was great!

SBF Files: Case #1

In America, Asian men are not viewed as sexy or desirable. They are usually comedy relief or master kung fu artist who are masters at knocking your block off and not your socks off.

Since I have been to Korea, I have seen some fine looking Korean men and yes they are tall. Taller than me, I saw one dude in McDonalds, let's not talk about why the hell I was at McDonalds, who was about 6'5.

I don't know if dating wise, I will meet a guy over here to date. A friend of mine asked if I would date a Korean man and of course I would. That really is not the question, it is more like would he date me? The Korean women are equally beautiful and super skinny, managing to look fabulous in their feminine blouses and dresses while teetering on heels all day long and in 96 degrees, not dripping a sweat.

While I sweat profusely wearing the most comfortable t-shirt and flip flops. I also have a little bit of a booty, if I do say so myself. And yes, I get it from my mamma. So if I have a Korean booty....whatever.

The other day while walking into my building, two guys were walking by and in the reflection of the door as I entered, I saw them checking me out. Heyyyyy....

Well, they could have been shocked to see a black girl. Then again, I have been mistaken for a Korean person a lot suprisingly.

Koreans are insistent about not getting dark. Wearing super sun visors that block the sun, shielding their faces like the sun was the paparazzi or using an umbrella.

I think I am going to tell my students that my color is what happens when you stay out in the sun, just to freak them out. LOL.

So, I wonder if a hot guy out here will date me cause I am still a black chick from the A.

Who knows. Maybe for a green card? LOL.

Either way. I am not lonely. yet.

What am I eating anyways?

My neighborhood has soooo many restaurants and it is reasonable to eat out for Korean food. I usually eat out, but today I was not in the mood to gesture and guess. Certain foods I recognize in the Korean language, others not so much. I hope to improve.

I went to the Lotte dept. store today, yes this Bloomingdale's type store has a grocery store in the basement. Cool huh?

Everything is so neat and organized. Lots of fresh and organic produce and fresh meats. I decided to make one of my favorite Korean soups. Dwen jang chigae.

I put in some soybean paste, called dwen jang. It is tangier than miso, like the soup you get from the sushi joint.

I used some clams as the meat and broth.

I used a half of a potato.

Some green onion.

Kochujang. A red pepper paste.

Sesame oil.

Splash of soy sauce.

Tofu.

Ta da!

First Day of School!

Usually, kiddies are ultra quiet, super behaved and not that inquisitive on the first day. The kids I met today were not exactly that! They were a talkative bunch, justified since they haven't seen each other throughout the summer. Some of the boys are a bit rambunctious so I will have to lay down that hand tomorrow. Oh, in a discussion about the increased lunch price...we got to talking about gas prices, recession/depression and stock prices. Wow. These kids aren't afraid to ask questions. Which is awesome!

I would say that school procedures need to be tightened up, it was a whole lot of chaos and confusion surrounding lunch and dismissal. Then again, if we had clearer instructions before hand, it probably would have been avoided.

I guess I expect more discipline in terms of children, it is okay cause I will instill that in my class for sure in the weeks ahead.

People who don't teach don't understand the amount of energy teaching can suck out of you. I am beat. I just woke up from sleeping and will be headed back to bed soon.

Oh on a side note, one of the teachers came up to me and said,"Don't they all look alike?" referring to the fact that our kids are mostly Korean. Wow. I didn't respond the first time, the second time it was said, I said no.

It amazes me how culturally insensitive people can be put in positions or seek positions for themselves that are of a culturally sensitive nature.

Last week.

Yeah, it was hell-acious trying to get on the blog since I had infrequent internet access. Now I am up and running so I will catch you up:

July 26th:

Lola did great on the plane. Had a row to myself until some old white dude wanted to sit in the aisle seat since he was stuck in the middle behind me. I told him that a cat will be seating in the middle so deal with it. He was cool.

So, one of my bags was missing and it took sometime to get help with that, language barrier and all.

Staff met me and they were nice, it was hot as hell and I just wanted to get to my new apt.

Unfortunately the bag missing contained kitty litter, food etc. I had to brave EMart immediately.

The taxi driver figured out what I meant to get home and gave me a round of applause when we pulled up front. lol.

I met MK in my neighborhood for dinner and we headed to Seoul so I could spend the night there because. Mr. Lint would be arriving the next afternoon.

After calling Delta, my bag was somehow left in Atlanta and would be arriving on Korean Air by 5. I called to verify five times, just cause I wanted to make sure the call center in India, Jamaica and midwestern US of A, had the same information. Don't you love outsourcing?

Long story short, got my bag and cat that Monday the 28th and all was well in the world.

28th- I pretty much stayed in the house and got acclimated to me being in Korea.

29th- Went to school met my coworkers. Random folks of strangely, different walks of life but similar.

School is nice and everyone is super friendly and laid back, different atmosphere than teaching in Atlanta for sure.

Went to eat and drink with colleagues.

30th-Now

Randoms

Shopping at Emart is exhausting.

Lotte Dept store is right outside my house. Half off food after about 6. Very nice grocery store in the basement too. Will post pics of neighborhood soon.

Drank Soju. It is a sneaky devil. Be warned.

Saw my first drag show in Itaewon. Itaewon is Korea's underbelly for foreigners near the Army base.

Laughed too much for my own good at work.

Walked more for the first time in life since I had no driver's license.

Discovered Dongdaemun...shopping, shopping, shopping paradise. You can shop until like 5am, although I didn't this time. :)

Bought three pairs of shoes for 50 bucks!

Received several foreigner discounts from meat to clothes!

Korean people have been so helpful and nice. Don't believe the hype!

More will be posted regularly I promise now that I have internet.