Travelbliss

Wow.  I’ve been MIA for a bit now.  Sorry, but so much as occurred in my time here.  I’m entering my sixth week in Korea.  Things have gone quite well since the last time you heard from me.  

Fortunately, I wasn’t alone in my celebration of President Obama’s (yiPppeeeEE!!) victory.  I found out about Obama’s win about an hour before I went to work.  I abandoned my lessons for the day and taught my children about social injustices, racism, the history of African Americans in America, and our first Black President.  I don’t say Black here in Korea, I prefer to be referred to as Black with a capital ‘B’, because I feel that Koreans use “black” out of context.  They say “black face” to refer to people with dark skin.  So I make sure to say African American, to make them more politically correct. 

Chocopie Mountain Cake

Everyone in Korea is pretty accepting of Obama.  No one likes Bush, especially because they feel that he is very lenient with North Korea.  It seems the world is excited about our new president.  I am excited to see what his next move will be and how things will change for the American people and for me here in Korea.  I’m still struggling with the exchange rate and life in Korea is dependent on the American economy, like so many other countries around the world.  Car production and electronics have seen a sharp decrease in Korea since the economic downturn, we are all hoping for a brighter future.  

I experienced my first Korean holiday this month.  On November 11th is was Pepero Day.  I think its very similar to Valentine’s Day in America.  Kids trade chocolate sticks with each other.  It’s a lot of fun and the kids were really pumped about it.  

Also since the last time I wrote, I’ve ridden an ATV.  SOO Cool.  Wow there is some power in being able to climb over big rocks, plow through rivers, and climb mountains.  

Friday the 14th, was my 24th birthday (25th birthday in Korea)!  Thank you all so much for the wonderful birthday wishes.  It meant so much to hear from my friends and family across the sea.  It’s nice to know that although I am so far, I’m still remembered  

Little guy in the green got me the peperos

I had an OUTSTANDING birthday!  The best time of my life thus far.  Each of my classes sang happy birthday to me!  It was so cute and really nice.  One of the students that the Korean teachers have the hardest time with has really come around for me.  He is a great student and just needed a little extra attention.  I have tried to get to know him on his own level.  He loves to draw and he collects these anime stickers.  I brought some into him that I found at a market one day and he has been my best buddy ever since.  For my birthday he bought me some peperos (little chocolate sticks) wrapped in paper that says I love you.. it was so thoughtful and cute!  Especially since I told him about my birthday over a week before.  

My director bought me a purple jewelry box that is handcrafted and really beautiful.  The teachers bought me a cake and sang me happy Birthday.  My favorite class on Friday bought me chocopies (little chocolate cookies) and made a mountain out of them and put candles and peperos in it.  It was so adorable and they did it all on their own with no help from their Korean teachers!  I’m so happy to have made such a connection with my students already.  

Friday night I went to the next town over, Busan, and partied like a rock star!  We had a great time!  A few of the teachers here that I have made great friends with, joined me in my celebrations.  The next day was the best by far.  

We went paragliding!!!!  It was the best thing I’ve ever done in my life!  It was beautiful, amazing, and so peaceful.  I felt such freedom in flying over the countryside.  The view was amazing.  In my next lifetime, I definitely want to come back as a bird.  I can’t wait to do it again!  My pictures tell an even better story.

Flyin over Korea

Everything went well and it was so fun!  Everyone had a great time.  It was the unforgettable, unbelievable experience that I came to Korea for.  I’ve already done so many things here that I never thought I would do back home.  It was definitely the first amazing adventure of many more to come.  I can’t wait.  I’m currently planning my Christmas break trip.  I have a week off!  

I’m off to grade papers (don’t I sound like a teacher).. hope you enjoyed my update.  I’ll write again soon. 

Love you all, 

Nichole

Paragliding over Cheongdo Mountain 

Birthday weekend 

Jujeon Beach

This week in Korea has by far been the greatest.  I had a superb week and even better weekend.  I have been here for one month today… can you believe it?? I sure can’t

I began my week by talking with a close friend, he was noticing how much I had been bashing Korea and praising the U.S.  He wanted to know what I thought were good attributes of Korea.  I have to say, there are many.  Priorities are different here.  Family, education, and respect are regarded highly in the Korean community.  Those are values that I feel the States could improve on.  

Families rarely live in separate cities than there family, and not just their immediate family, their cousins, aunts, uncles, great grandparents, brothers, sisters, and even their ancestors bodies!  There is a Korean ceremony here where you celebrate the birthdays of past ancestors.  The family gathers together to honor the deceased by having a party.  When I think of how close these families are, I get a little sad.  I’m thousands of miles and an ocean away from my own family.  I think that when I make it back to the states, I want to live nearby.. maybe in San Francisco??? 

Halloween partyin with Hugo and Tom AKA the Housewife

Education and respect are highly regarded in this country as well.  About 1/4 of each households income goes towards their child’s education from the moment they enter school.  Their school system is highly organized and very thorough.  By the time most of these children complete their education, they are beyond prepared for entry to any University in the world and most will be bilingual, if not trilingual.  

After analyzing these aspects of Korean culture, I feel differently about the nation.  I know that I can learn a lot from this culture simply by looking at the great parts and attempting to understand and not judge the portions that I do not like.  

I had an incredible breakthrough with one class of eleven year olds this week.  I felt so great and that a part of my purpose in arriving in this country is becoming fulfilled.  In this class, I was asked to teach the children the names of countries.  My list only included a few Asian countries (Thailand, China, Japan, and India) and 3 English speaking countries (U.S., Australia, and England).  The rest of the world map was left blank.  I was pretty upset by this, it seemed they were only teaching the children countries that Korea considers “important”, countries where people look like Koreans and other countries that speak English.  I took the time and taught the kids the names of other countries.  Namely, Africa, South America, Mexico, Canada, Greenland, and Indonesia.  

Jason, Harry, and I partyin it up

Once we completed filling in the map, a few of the kids proceeded to tell me that Japan was a horrible country and that they hated them.  I asked why, no one had a response.  They only knew that people from Japan are bad and they would never be friends with them.  In broken English, I tried to explain that it was wrong to hate people for no reason.  I made each child draw a huge heart around the world map and declare “I love all people of all colors from all countries!”  Over and over… I know that it probably didn’t make much difference, but it made me feel a little better.  Like I’m playing a role in aiding in erasing some of the long time racism that lives in this country.  I plan on following up on this activity later this week.

I chose not to participate in Halloween this year.  I did dress up for my kids (I put on bunny ears) and passed out candy and played games, but I didn’t go out and party too much.  I spent Halloween night at home resting and the following day, I did go out to a beach that is a bit farther from the beach by my home (it was amazingly gorgeous) and I went to a costume contest with a few buddies.  I had an amazing time.  

I truly feel lucky for the friends I have made here.  I have bonded with quite a few people in many different ways on different levels.  Life has been amazing, beautiful, and full of fun and adventure.  I look forward to the next 11 months.  

I have included photos from my lovely weekend, my beach visit as well as my Halloween night out in Korea.  

Enjoy 

Love & Light 

Nichole

My neighborhood and Jujeon Beach

Halloween 2008