The Last Week

The last week in Korea went by slow enough. I am satisfied. (The last hours in Jecheon, however, were filled with nervousness, sadness, and other "leaving a familiar place" emotions).

Let's start with Monday. Even though I'd taken the week off, I came to school on this day. It was just to make sure the piñata mess was really cleaned up, and to talk to my mentor teacher whom was finally returning to school after her vacation. That evening, I boarded a train to Seoul (Hongdae to be exact) in anticipation for my second-ever LanguageCast visit! It led to spending some quality time with a Korean friend I'd made way back at orientation; officially meeting Noe of ROK On! (noealz1 on Youtube); and eating some of the tastiest Japanese ramen in the... ok in MY world.

Tuesday, I had come back to Jecheon. That is all I remember right now. I believe I was running errands (mailing packages, writing post cards and thank-you letters, washing clothes, etc.) on this day. I also most likely visited my friends' phone shop. I made sure to spend most of my free time there since it was the last week.

Wednesday evening, I went to Jipyeong. It's this small country town on the way to Seoul (by train) where my nurse friend and her family currently live. Upon arrival, we drove into the nearby town (whose name escapes me right now) and met a very wonderful artist and her family. Oh! That reminds me! I need to send her a message!

Thursday I came back to Jecheon. More errand-running and phone-shop-haunting.

Friday night, I headed back to Seoul for a night of whatever-happens-happens. What happened? I met up with some more friends that I wanted to say farewell to, and they wanted to go clubbing. Around 3:30 AM,  a completely sober (there was a conversation about how ridiculous I was for not drinking alcohol), danced-out Me parted ways with the last friend. I headed to a manhwa cafe that I'd visited only once before and quietly snoozed in the comfy chairs until the subways opened up again. I caught the first subway back to the train station and attempted to sleep ... but to no avail. It's really hard to sleep when you fear missing your stop, no matter how long the trip.

Saturday I went to the phone shop (I'd promised them that I'd buy them lunch). Actually, first I went home to rid myself of smoke-filled clothing and all-nighter's fatigue. The former was a success. Even after lunch, I was having a hard time looking alert. So I went home and took another cat nap before heading off to another scheduled good-bye dinner with friends.

Sunday was full of cleaning and packing, none of which I finished that day. In the evening, I had a third good-bye dinner with some of the other foreigner English teachers. We feasted on ribs that tasted out of this world. They honestly belonged in the States, and even though I would be returning to the U.S. in a few days, I really felt it necessary to eat there before going "home."

I tell you, I ate A LOT that week. The weekend before all of this, I'd gone to Times Square (Korea's version) with a Korean friend and pigged out on yummy food as well. That makes 3 planned goodbye meals and 3 separate trips to Seoul in a 7-day period. There were plenty of unplanned feasts that week as well, but it's not necessary to count. :)

'Til next time,
-Shirby

Hey!

I just want to say I'm back! I'm back in the States. I will take some time to write about my last week (and final hours) in Korea. I have much to say. I even wrote a little while waiting for the first plane. Those notes will be copied here. I feel like even though my journey in Korea has ended, my writing here hasn't. I still have untold memories and accounts to mention (all in due time).

Meanwhile, it has been two days since I landed in the U.S. Today was the first day in a year that I drove a car. I have many errands to do (including manually adding phone numbers into a new phone, and buying a new laptop). With that in mind, it may take awhile, but I'm dedicated to finishing those stories untold.

There are many projects that I will start once things settle down. One includes "wrecking" a journal (thanks to my friend, Adina). I'd like to film the process. It should be entertaining. I also want to develop my multimedia skills. That means a lot of video editing in my future!

So, yes, even though I've left Korea, I can continue to talk about it. I am keeping in touch with Korean friends via KakaoTalk. I am staying up-to-date on the latest crazes (like that Korean Les Miserables parody video that's viral right now). I can finally play all those smartphone games like Dragon Flight and Anipang (both of which I still suck at playing) on my own phone. Yes, Korea has stolen a piece of my heart it seems. Through troubles and triumphs, I'm glad to come to that conclusion.

More later!

'Til next time,
-Shirby

Wrapping Up

Things are wrapping up here in Korea.

I've got about two weeks to go. Two busy weeks of trying to make the most of every moment. Tomorrow's my last day teaching. I asked for the last week off in order to take care of errands without the stress of rushing around. I plan to visit the school again during my "vacation" so that I can say final goodbyes, talk to the kids again, and hand out thank-you cards. Ah, I don't like goodbyes.

I said goodbye to my Australian friend this morning. I helped her call a taxi so she could head off to meet her family in Hong Kong for some travelling time. The taxi driver was baffled by the two suitcases she carried to the curb. Apparently, Korean people don't need so many bags while moving away. Still, through his "Aigooooo" 's and struggles to fit the bags in his car, my friend and I chuckled and gave each other hugs. It felt significant to be speaking to the driver in Korean as I helped send my friend off. A mark of how this place has changed me. Then, as it was 4:30 in the morning, I crawled back into bed and slept restlessly until my third alarm went off.

I have so many things I want to start doing when I get back home. All are because of my experiences here. I feel like the motivation is truly there this time. I just hope that I can accomplish some of those dreams and goals.

I have so many things I need to take care of before heading out, all of which involve the people I've met in Korea. I have thank-you cards to write; friends to track down; last-minute souvenirs to buy; last-minute friends to make (it will happen, whether I want it to or not); favorite Korean food to savor before it becomes too far out of reach; .... ah, the list goes on.

At school, I'm making pinatas with the 1st and 2nd graders. The 3rd and 4th graders are learning to move in time with Daft Punk via notecards and dance moves. The 5/6 graders made a time capsule. I hope that they don't truly lose it and it never gets opened.

I'd like to come to Korea again. I'd like to continue studying the language. I'd like to see all the friends I've made here in the future (whenever that time may come). I have so many hopes now, so many dreams. I pray that God will help me find the right path, and walk with me along it.

'Til next time,
-Shirby

Growing Up

I'm sitting at my desk. I hear the squeaky voice of a 6th grader I know in the stairwell. Why is he here, I think. Then more voices pour down from the upstairs classrooms and into the stairwell. Why are all the 6th graders here so suddenly?

Awww. The sixth graders are going to a middle school today. I don't (of course) have all the details, but it sounds like some sort of field trip. I week or so ago, one 6th grader told me that they would all find out which middle school they'll be going to on some day in January. Perhaps this is that day. But it seems strange for them to all be meeting at school in order to visit their future middle schools. Maybe it's like a shuttle service provided by the elementary school. Hmm. I'll have to ask when they come back.

'Til next time,
-Shirby

Pain Is Gain?

Dear trainer,

Just because I'm not sweating buckets does not mean that I'm not sweating. 있어! 있어! It's there, I promise!

Dear reader,
I have decided that ab workouts are not worth the pain. They just aren't. Period. As we speak, I am coughing and can feel my stomach muscles twinge with soreness at every cough.

Dear trainer,
I applaud you for learning an English phrase to say to me the next time you see me. I, too, should learn some new Korean phrases to say to you.

Dear reader,
Haha, he told me he had practiced some English. I said, "Ok," and waited for him to speak. "Do ...you... work out?" he asked.  I smiled. He asked in Korean if I understood. "Yes!" I told him, and answered him. Then I told him he did a good job, and he walked away very proud of himself.

My phone friend gave me the heads up, actually. It seems that the trainer will consult with my phone friend (or the other Korean friend who now joins us at the gym from time to time) before coming to talk to me. On the treadmill my friend tells me what the trainer has told him. "He told me he learned a new phrase. He wants to practice English."  Oh really? I wait. It happens.

I'm thinking that it must be a little frustrating not being able to speak to me so easily. The trainer, who makes an effort to get to know all the members very well and give help when needed, can talk to the others so easily. Yet, to talk to me requires studying and the help of a translator. Yeah, sorry dude.

Anyways, I have signed up for another month of gym so that: we can become good friends; I can exercise as much as possible while here (I probably won't once I return home. I know it already); I can continue to support my other friends as they work out; I won't be absolutely bored at home.

A healthy body will probably help me fight off this sore throat that the stupid winter air has bestowed upon me. Oh, but the one downside to making new friends at this point in time is that I'll be leaving soon. :(

'Til next time,
-Shirby

Gym!

Note: This was written many days ago. I'll just post it as is.

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For the past two weeks, I've been going to the gym with my phone friend and another TaLK scholar. It's come to the point where I feel like an old person when I get up in the morning. Even though I stretched and took a long shower, my muscles tighten up again while I sleep, and I wake up slightly sore. I regret doing those sit-ups and leg-raises two nights before. My stomach still protests when I go to lay down from a sitting position.

There's certain kinds of exercise pain I readily accept, and others I readily despise. For instance, I really don't mind my legs hurting after a bike ride because I enjoyed the bike ride. I do mind my arms being sore to the point of being almost unusable because I decided to do a few reps on the machine. Ugh~!

The people at the gym have been interesting. The owner was a body builder. His wall-size posters are displayed on the walls of the gym room. He looks much smaller than the muscly image of his past, yet still very fit. Personally, I never want to have that many muscles. A few is fine. On the entrance door, and on the way to the girls locker room is a picture of a totally ripped female body builder. She's sporting a high-cut one-piece and wearing high heels. I can't help but snicker every time I look at it.

The female employee... I keep looking at her to see if maybe she's the one in the poster. I don't think so. Acutally, when I first met her, I was a little wary of her. I couldn't tell exactly what kind of smile she was giving me. My stupid defenses went up. Over time, I've come to know her as friendly and helpful. She keeps an eye on my only long enough to make sure I'm using the machines properly. There's a third person. He's an assistant (?). I don't know what his relation is to the other two, but he's just as friendly and knowledgeable about every client's exercising needs. He must have found it amusing that two foreigners were coming to exercise with their Korean friend; that he had to give instructions to us through our friend; that our friend spoke English so well. Turns out, he knows a bit of English as well (words associated with the gym). He's also becoming a regular friend to us. He learned our names, said mine was hard to pronounce (well, sheesh, all my students can say it just fine!).
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That's all I wrote on that day. I'll write more about the gym later.
'Til next time,
Shirby

It's Good For Your Health!

Yes, I'm sure it is, but can you do something about the taste?

Yesterday afternoon, I went to my favorite "toast" shop for some quick dinner. I came in the store coughing, and one of the shop owners handed me a packet of instant tea mix along with my order. She explained something about the tea to me, though I assumed she was just telling me to drink it for my cough. I thanked her (it really was nice of her) and headed home. At home, I made the tea. I could smell ginseng. Uht-oh.

Now, when my mom came to visit, she was all about looking for healthy teas to drink for diet and whatnot. Jecheon is known for it's herbal concoctions, and so in our search we came across Ginseng tea. Ginseng tea by itself tastes horrible. It's almost impossible to drink... at least for me it is. Whereas my mom and phone friend managed to drink all in their paper cup, I couldn't bring myself to finish the last 1/3 amount.

So, I was wary about this tea that I had just made. Little chopped nuts were floating in it as well. Part of the mix. I wondered if that affected the taste much. I hesitantly took a spoonful and slurped it up. What? It tastes different... I thought. Hmm. I took a sip from the cup. It was a slightly sweet, slightly ginseng-y, but overall bearable cup of tea. The nuts were a bit of a distraction, but I drank it all.

In every Korean-food-related experience I've had here, the phrase, "It's good for your health," has always come up. If I hesitate to eat the unknown morsel, my MT is quick to use this phrase. So I try it, and I either like it or put up with it. Most of my food experiences here have been good, but I still find it hard to believe that such a phrase can be used so lightly. I feel like, at some point, something got lost in translation. Surely, they mean to say, "It's ok to eat,"  or "It tastes alright."

If you come to Korea, be willing and ready to try the cuisine (I'm not referring to foreign food that has been "Koreanized").  Chances are it'll be good for your health.

'Til next time,

-Shirby