I'm kicking it in Seoul instead of in Geumchon, but I can relate to almost every reference they make in this video. This makes me LAUGH OUT LOUD!!!! TOO FUNNY... Enjoy!
This past week I've been sick. It's nothing major, just a simple cold that made my nose run and caused me to feel really exhausted. Well, yesterday when I arrived at school my two co-teachers mentioned that I looked exhausted. I said, yes, I was sick. They suggested that I go home early - after lunch (I only teach classes until 12:10 on Wednesdays, then I sit in my office for 4 hours so I wouldn't be missing much). My new co-teacher said that I should take "what is it.. a woman problem..?" that's right, menstruation leave. She was planning on taking it so she could leave early (she wasn't really sick, I think she just needed an excuse...) I was honestly sick, there was no reason why I should claim that it's related to "women's issues" since it's not. I have 15 sick days, and I have yet to take one. I ended up going home, on real sick leave, but I was shocked that I could use my monthly visits as a reason to go home.
My understanding is that South Korean women are entitled to one day of menstruation leave a month. Before 2004 the women were paid for this day. A change in laws now means that not everyone necessarily receives pay for this leave. Catherine Price believes that the right to menstruation leave puts women at a disadvantage. It sends us a step backwards with regards to the rights that women have worked so hard for over the past hundred years. It gives employers reason to hire only men if women are going to be taking a day off each month. There are lots of points of views found in the comment section of Price's article - read them, they're interesting!
On a related note, we went to see the Vagina Monologues last weekend with some of our friends. It was a great show. The show was a bilingual show featuring both Koreans and foreigners.
Let me tell you a bit about the show those who haven't seen the Vagina Monologues. The show was originally a book written by Eve Ensler, a woman who interviewed over 200 women - young and old- on the topic of their vaginas (my dictionary is saying that this is not the correct spelling, and is suggesting vaginae!) Now in its tenth year, the Vagina Monologues focuses on stopping violence against women and children. The money raised from each show goes to support local and not so local organizations. The money from our show went to an organization in Korea that works to help women who have been brought to Korea and trafficked for sex.
The show was about 2 hours long and featured about 12 monologues related to the vagina. Some of the monologues were extremely funny (even Richard, our easily embarrassed friend was laughing out loud!) Other monologues are extremely sad. They deal with women being raped by soldiers in war torn countries, and sexual abuse against children. It's a very interesting show, one I would highly recommend (Jeff came too and he enjoyed it!)
I have to tell you about my new computer (which, incidentally, has STILL not arrived, more than two weeks after ordering!!). Mostly because I'm lazy, I'm going to tell this story in point form.
As a preface (what good story is complete without a preface?), I'd like to point out that yes, we did make it harder than we really needed to, but it wouldn't have been nearly as fun otherwise. Now with that being said, onwards!!!
- old computer died
- cost to replace display = $1000
- cost of new computer = $1100
- cost of new computer that I'd rather have = $1400
- end result = Jeff gets a new computer
- have to call Apple or order online if I want the educational discount
- no time to order a new one while visiting at home in Canada
- plan to buy one in Korea
- problem!!
- can't speak or read Korean to order from Apple Korea
- don't have a Korean credit card to order online
- ah, but there's a solution
- our friend Laina speaks Korean
- our friend Vanessa has a Korean credit card
- here's how it played out
- Laina called Apple Korea when we couldn't figure out something from the online Apple Korea website
- she told the operator my name (since I was the one purchasing it)
- when asked where to send it, Jen gave Laina the address of her school since her co-workers apparently always get personal items shipped to the school and I didn't have my school's address easily at hand
- result = Laina told the operator to address the package to Jen
- when asked about payment, Laina gave the operator Vanessa's credit card
- when asked for an email address, Laina gave her own so that she could read the Korean email
How many foreigners does it take to order a new computer in Korea? Four.
I think we broke the operator's brain.
Jeff and I have just returned from our week long "honeymoon"/winter vacation in Beijing, China. The week was great fun and included two Great Wall hikes, a Peking Opera, an acrobatics show, Peking duck (we're vegetarians, but we HAD to try it...), the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, a Hotong tour, a visit to a pearl (I originally typed purl!!) market, a silk market, and a trip to KFC for Jeff so he could have his egg tart.... oh yeah, our trip also included fireworks. LOTS of fireworks! When we first arrived in Beijing our tour guide told us that it was impossible to see fireworks in the city, we had to go outside Beijing in order to see a show since fireworks are illegal in the city centre - boy was he wrong!
The above video is not ours (we didn't think about taking a video until the morning after, and by then it was too late, but this video depicts exactly what we saw on February 6th - the beginning of the Spring Festival, more commonly known as Chinese (or Lunar in Korea) New Year. We watched the fireworks from our hostel window. The whole sky filled up just like this (this video was taken in Beijing 2008!)
Througout the day we periodically heard firecrackers being set off, the short ones that don't fire high into the sky, but that do make A LOT of noise. By the time midnight rolled around the fireworks were in full swing and didn't stop until at least 1:30. There were about four hours of solid fireworks that night - I'm pretty sure that most of them were set off by the general population - we certainly saw a few that were a little too close for comfort for me!!!
Walking down the street was insane too. We had to make sure that we watched where we were going since people were lighting firecrackers everywhere. It really did sound and look like a war zone. The next morning we saw the carnage of the night before - red paper and cardboard were strewn everywhere along the small streets where we stayed!
Over the next couple of days we'll try to get our pictures posted and post a few more blog entries.. there is certainly a lot to blog about!!
We are also preparing for another trip - our trip home to Canada for my sisters' wedding. We leave in a week!
So last weekend we hit up one of the local aquariums. And by local, I mean an hour subway ride away. But hey, it's still in Seoul. Anyway, this place was truly unique. I'll start off by saying that this aquarium also had an artistic side to it and not only was it showcasing the sea life itself, but also some of the, well, containers of that sea life.
Exhibit A. Ok, it's a little hard to see the actual fish in this photo, but trust me, they are there, swimming right next to Ariel and Sebastian (the characters from The Little Mermaid). So the aquarium had a little section that wanted to challenge the notion that fish should be kept in conventional fish bowls. Certainly not all of the aquarium's wildlife were kept in such unique structures (most, in fact were in the usual mundane aquariums that we expect to see). But there were some who had different homes. In the end, I don't think that the inhabitants really would know the difference, so... why not? At times it seemed a little off-kilter and bizarre, but since then I've come to appreciate this section of the aquarium more and it is quickly becoming one of my favourite parts of the visit. It's something distinct that really sets it apart from the rest of the aquariums that I've seen. Oh, I should also point out, if it wasn't enough that these fish are housed in a vending machine "fish bowl," that this vending machine is, indeed, a functioning vending machine that guests can use to purchase beverages. Yes... yes, we're in Korea, folks.
Is that shortbread?
Can someone tell me why there are fake cookies glued to the wall of an aquarium?
Thanks for posing, Vanessa!!
So unlike the vending machine, you can actually see the inhabitant of this display (well, sort of). I hope, also unlike the vending machine, that this is not a functioning house for this little crab!!
See the little ducky. That's where the water is.
Here is Jen being a tour guide again. I think she's got a new career ahead of her - well, unless her customers start catching on that she's just making everything up!! Notice the expression on Sue's face. She has that are-you-crazy-what-are-you-talking-about kinda look. Jen, it doesn't look good. Remember, she was a tour guide herself in the past. She knows when you're making things up! Alison is busy taking pictures of Jen's so-called evolution fish!
Not sure if bats are typical at an aquarium... but I wasn't complaining. They were cool.
And of course, what outing isn't complete without the random crazy photo of Jen and myself. "The shark's eating us!!!!"
There you have it. Hope you enjoyed it.
The Coex Aquarium.
I just spent the past 45 minutes writing about our adventures with our landlords (complete with Korean characters and everything!), and for some reason it has disappeared! Oh the joys of technology!!!
I'll make this one short... Last night our landlords showed up to fix our dripping pipe under the kitchen sink. This is just one of the numerous times that we have had our landlords in our apartment, helping us with something... usually it's the hot water. They arrived, he with a paper bag of tools to fix the leak, and she with her usual enthusiasm. He got right down to work, she came and joined us on the floor. We were watching a movie (Beowulf) and had set ourselves upon the floor (sadly it's more comfortable than our couch!) in front of my computer. I had my knitting out and she was so intrigued. I brought out my socks, mittens, scarves, and hats that I have finished since arriving here... she was amazed. It's funny, I get so much attention from the ajumas (grandmothers) of Korea when I bring out my knitting. If I'm on the subway, the ajumas will invite me to sit in the seats designated for the elderly, disabled or pregnant. They watch, enthralled, as I knit socks, mittens, or hats, it's pretty cool! Well, our landlady LOVED my knitted items.
After the drip was fixed our landlords told us how old they were (I think they were really just fishing to find out how old we are!) He is "seven zero" (minus a year because he's Korean - you are a year old when you are born here) and she is "six two". Both of them work out - he can do 70 push ups and 50 sit ups. She works out at the gym... at the end of the conversation we even got to feel our landlord's arm muscles... madness I tell you!! All of this conversation happened in broken English and Korean, but we were able to understand the gist of it.
I must say that living here certainly doesn't leave us bored... it's not very often you get to check out your landlord's pipes!
I will leave you with a bit more Korean culture.... this gem was introduced to me by some grade 5 students. I kind of like it, but I have no idea what it's about! Enjoy....
~Jen
Only in Korea can you go to a cafe to pay money to have little fish nibble at your toes. Last weekend we decided to take the proverbial plunge and try out this Korean phenomenon. For about eight dollars you get a snack (nachos, a muffin, dried squid or some oranges), a drink (beer, wine, juice, or a smoothie), and unlimited access to the fish pond. It's a great deal!
Sara was a little aprehensive. The look on her face embodies my sentiments when we first sat down at the pool preparing to put our feet in the water. We started by putting just our heels in the water, and then gently (for me it took about 10 minutes, Kelly was in within 2 minutes) lowered our feet (one at a time) into the water.
When Jeff arrived he dove in with both feet immediately. He also monopolized the fish that were in the pool. They seemed to like him much better than the rest of us. It was only when he finally took his feet out that the fish looked to us for some more food. When we were finished with the fish, we had an aromatherapy foot bath - hot water and lavender - followed by a nice lathering of cream for our now uber soft feet!
We thought that a video would best embody the phenomenon that is Doctor Fish.
We got "shh"ed in the bookstore today. Well, I guess not "shhh"ed, but told that we were being too loud, and could we please keep it down. We weren't that loud, but I guess by Korean standards we were a little above the normal noise level.
We were laughing with Sue (one of our Korean friends, my ex-coteacher) and Vanessa over this book.
The book was apparently very controversial when it first came out in Korea. It has many "inappropriate" words, and helps foreigners learn how to speak Korean for important situations such as when to tell some one off, or how to pick up and take someone home from the bar. Let me just say that it was hilarious and quite entertaining. They also have the book available for Japanese and Chinese if you are learning those languages.
I can't believe they told us to be quiet!!!
~Jen
Jumping on the Wonder Girls posting bandwagon, I thought that I would share with you this Korean music video.
The Wonder Girls are the latest rage in Korea. Quoting Sara "Spend 10 minutes in any type of clothing store and you will hear it. All of my students have it programmed on their cell phones."
So, without further ado, I present to you a Korean phenomenon - The Wonder Girls!
On another note, please read Kelly's most recent post about "the hearts". She has some great pictures of us and an explanation of where "the heart" came from. And to think, I was always under the impression that it was a Chinese thing!
We have some friends who say that Korea is just a little odd.
*Motorcycles drive on the sidewalk
*Koreans grocery shop on weekend evenings - the later the busier
*Dogs here have their ears dyed hot pink or lime green
*Koreans advertise using white people - there are so many ads with Caucasians!
*Rice is eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
*Couples dress alike as a sign of their affection towards one another
*Koreans use umbrellas to protect themselves from the snow
*Everything in Korea is healthy for you - anything you consume, as long as it is Korean, is good for you
*Banks are open Monday to Friday, 10am - 4:30pm, but most people work Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm
*You need your ID card for everything
*Koreans know their blood type (they judge personalities based on blood type)
*Konglish - a mixture of Korean and English that results in quite an interesting language
While these things are definitely odd, I am able to take them all in stride. Today though, we experienced a part of Korean culture that was just a bit too freaky for me.
We went to the Paju English Village.
The village was financed by the Korean government in an attempt to improve the English skills of the Korean population. I was told that many Korean English teachers do not support the English Village. They feel that the village was a huge expense that does not pay off. This place is huge - and it must have cost a ton of money to create (and maintain).
The trip started off with us going through customs to enter the English Village - a fun activity, not too odd.
Next we visited a post office and a police station. The kids loved being locked up in the jail cell, though the programming left a lot to be desired. The hands on activities were sorely lacking - I could have taught a better lesson in my own classroom, but that wasn't the problem.
Walking through this village was just surreal. The village was designed to provide Korean children with the opportunity to speak English. Kids wander around the village (which is HUGE!) and participate in various activities with native English speakers (this could have been my job!) Throughout the village are speakers playing messages in English and English music - Pink, Britney Spears.... There are regular running coffee shops (we had coffee at Tom n Toms), pizza joints, and even a pub (though I'm not sure that they served beer... I hope not!)
The oddest part was the musical that we attended. The whole time that I watched this terrible show all I could think of was - this could have been me.... Think of the outrageous kids shows they have on TV in Canada - over the top songs, really uber energetic actors, and bad story lines. This was an attempt at that, but it kind of failed. The English was spoken too quickly, and the songs were terrible. Now, I love me a good show. I must admit, that even though I was appauled at the show, I was also intrigued. While some of the male teachers fell asleep, I couldn't look away...
I'm sure that I have not fully captured the oddity that was the Paju English Village. It was just freaky. Can't say much more than that... I wish that you could have been there to experience this oddity that is the English Village.
~Jen
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