This will be a quick post. A streaming of thoughts, if you will.
Final exams were December 7-10, 2010.
What has happened since December 10th?
3 weeks of class: one week of which I had none due to going over the exam, another week of which I was on my death bed, and one week of a Christmas game
Then school let out for winter vacation. Ah, but you are on the other side of the world. I need to explain further.
vacation- n. a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess or holiday
vacation in Korea- v. a period of suspension of rest, recreation or travel, usually used for extra studying at academies, winter English camp, or group study in a freezing classroom
Remember when I said that final exams were December 7-10th?
Well, today is February 7, 2011, which clearly means that kids should come back to school for one week.
This is not the first week of the new school year. This is the last week of the school year. The one with the final exams on December 7th.
"What the hell is going to happen this week?" you might ask.
Today is Monday. The first day back after over 6 weeks of no public school classes. So naturally, students have end of year exams. These won't count for anything due to the the final exams already being taken and recorded.
The next three days, class is as usual. By usual I mean kids will not listen and be stir crazy due to the fact that they literally have no reason to pay attention. And by usual, I mean I will be teaching another holiday lesson, because the book only has enough information to fill approximately 2 weeks out of a school year.
Friday is Graduation day. This means the principal and a few 3rd grade students will go into the video room and have their ceremony, while other students sit in the classroom and watch it on TV. Then kids will stay until sometime after 4:30 (my ass is out the door after that), studying in freezing classrooms.
Showing posts with label sometimes I'm serious. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sometimes I'm serious. Show all posts
16 November 2010
The Truth
All my life my "need" and "should" switches have been turned on. I should go away to college. I should stay with him because we've been together for so long. I should get an Accounting degree because its practical. I need to just get a job at a bank in Florida, since I already have experience. I should want to have a social life like my sister's. I need to meet someone soon, because all of my friends have. I should travel the world before I settle down. I should want to do things in the evenings while I'm here in Korea. I need to be more social during the week, like a lot of my friends here.
But I don't want to.
So instead of feeling guilty or lazy, I'm going to enjoy myself and do what actually makes me happy. Of course, I enjoy dinner and drinks with my friends...but once, or sometimes twice, a week is enough for me.
It doesn't matter what country, or even continent, I'm in. When I get off work, I like to go home. I like to read, watch TV, and go to sleep early. Do I wish I had someone to come home to? Yes, but I also don't want to spend my evenings out possibly finding him when I could be at home in my PJs.
If I can't spend my evenings with Jessica, Rachael, Laurie, Ashlee, Hannah, my parents, Bobby, Alex, Jodi, Keara or whoever else I absolutely love hanging out with, then I don't want to be around anybody.
I rather enjoy spending my evenings watching American TV shows and movies and eating pizza. I figure, I'm getting enough culture during the day and on weekends. What's the harm in traveling back to the U.S. on weeknights?
So while some of my friends here are eating out every night, going bowling, playing soccer, going to Seoul, and whatever else, I'm content with staying in. Hell, even on the weekends, Laurie and I usually are chilling out in one of our apartment's by 8 or 9pm.
Like I've always told my Mom, I can't wait until I'm 40. I might finally fit in with the norm.
Well, would you look at the time? It's almost 7pm! Time for some more reading The Count of Monte Cristo and watching Friends! :)
But I don't want to.
So instead of feeling guilty or lazy, I'm going to enjoy myself and do what actually makes me happy. Of course, I enjoy dinner and drinks with my friends...but once, or sometimes twice, a week is enough for me.
It doesn't matter what country, or even continent, I'm in. When I get off work, I like to go home. I like to read, watch TV, and go to sleep early. Do I wish I had someone to come home to? Yes, but I also don't want to spend my evenings out possibly finding him when I could be at home in my PJs.
If I can't spend my evenings with Jessica, Rachael, Laurie, Ashlee, Hannah, my parents, Bobby, Alex, Jodi, Keara or whoever else I absolutely love hanging out with, then I don't want to be around anybody.
I rather enjoy spending my evenings watching American TV shows and movies and eating pizza. I figure, I'm getting enough culture during the day and on weekends. What's the harm in traveling back to the U.S. on weeknights?
So while some of my friends here are eating out every night, going bowling, playing soccer, going to Seoul, and whatever else, I'm content with staying in. Hell, even on the weekends, Laurie and I usually are chilling out in one of our apartment's by 8 or 9pm.
Like I've always told my Mom, I can't wait until I'm 40. I might finally fit in with the norm.
Well, would you look at the time? It's almost 7pm! Time for some more reading The Count of Monte Cristo and watching Friends! :)
03 November 2010
A Happy Day for China
Visit me! --> www.whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com
1993: Clinton
1994: Clinton
1995: Clinton
1996: Clinton
1997: Clinton
1998: Clinton
1999: Clinton
2000: USA budget SURPLUS = $46 billion
2001: Bush
2002: Bush
2003: Bush
2004: Bush
2005: Bush
2006: Bush
2007: Bush
2008: USA budget DEFICIT = -$438 billion
We tried it one way for 8 years...lets give them a little more than 2 years, eh?
1993: Clinton
1994: Clinton
1995: Clinton
1996: Clinton
1997: Clinton
1998: Clinton
1999: Clinton
2000: USA budget SURPLUS = $46 billion
2001: Bush
2002: Bush
2003: Bush
2004: Bush
2005: Bush
2006: Bush
2007: Bush
2008: USA budget DEFICIT = -$438 billion
We tried it one way for 8 years...lets give them a little more than 2 years, eh?
12 October 2010
Freedom's Oppressive Neighbor
Last Sunday, I went on a tour with Adventure Korea to the DMZ.
The Demilitarized Zone, also known as the 38th parallel, is the border separating North and South Korea. South Korea is a free, technologically advanced, and prosperous country. North Korea is not.
First, we stopped at Freedom bridge. This is where approximately 13,000 Prisoners of War were exchanged after the Korean war. Even so, there are still displaced families and loved ones stuck in North Korea while their relatives are in South Korea. The ribbons are prayers, wishes, and messages to those loved ones who cannot leave the North.
This memorial is a popular place for Koreans to come pay homage to their loved ones trapped on the other side.
Next stop was lunch at a Korean restaurant. It wasn't spectacular. But, we did have a chance to buy different products such as DMZ rice, DMZ ginger root, and some North Korean products such as beer or soju.
I just thought you needed a picture of me in all this wordy mess. :)
After lunch, we visited the 3rd tunnel. North Korea began secretly digging tunnels into South Korea during the Peace Talks in 1974. The 3rd tunnel (found in 1978) is 1,635 meters long, and was big enough to move 30,000 soldiers per hour. It was meant for a surprise attack on Seoul.
We weren't allowed to take pictures in the tunnel, which is unfortunate because it was one of the creepiest parts of the tour. We walked 250m in. I was usually having to crouch down, and it's hard to imagine how cramped it would have been had the soldiers actually used the tunnel while carrying their weapons. The walls were painted with "coal" to make it look as though that's what the tunnel was used for, in case the tunnel was discovered. Too bad there's no coal mining in this area. When we got as far as we were allowed, there was barbed wire and a steel wall blocking it off.
Except the steel wall had windows, so we could see the other side. This is where I got weirded out. I mean think about it: a North Korean soldier could have been on the other side of that wall. I'm sure this isn't "allowed",but when you are on the wrong side of the DMZ, whatever Kim Jong-il wants is what is allowed.
Entrance to the underground tunnel
Then we were on to the Dora Observatory. It was here that my fascination and curiosity bloomed. First off, I have no good pictures of the view. This is on purpose. We were only allowed to take pictures behind the yellow line.
Best picture I could get from behind the yellow line
If you did dare to step over and try to sneak some shots, one of the South Korean soldiers saw you, and personally watched as you deleted them.
This is not because South Korean soldiers are scary like the North's. They have this restriction for South Korea's own protection. If I could have taken pictures from the edge (with a professional camera), I could have gotten some good shots of government and military buildings on our side of the DMZ. And North Korea spies enough as it is. It would be too easy for them to find pictures online and use them to their advantage. But we were able to see, through binoculars, the closest North Korean village on the other side of the DMZ.
"Cool, a North Korean village!" you say?
Let me rephrase that...
We could see a cluster of freshly painted modern buildings with a waving North Korean flag looking down on all of them.
In reality, North Korea built this village in this exact location, and repaints the buildings every year for one reason: to make them look rich to the outside world. Up until recently, nobody was even living in the village. Now, there are a few military families that live there, complete with their radio broadcasts in their homes to remind them how terrible the rest of the world is.
The actual DMZ area was really beautiful to see. 50 years of nature, untouched by humans. I just hope too many animals haven't stepped on the mines that are there. No, but really, there are apparently a lot of unique wildlife and plants in the DMZ.
Our last stop after this, was the Dorasan Train station. This station is mainly used for the small economical relationship between the North and South. The South sends raw materials via the train to a North Korean textile factory, and a week later, the train brings back jeans, t-shirts, and cookware. The North Koreans who work in the factory make $80 a month...and that's a coveted job.
In 2002, President Bush made a speech at the station, and donated a railroad tie.
Also there, Dorasan Peace Park was near the station.
While everybody else on the tour (and I mean every single person but me) bought a fake train ticket so they could go on the tracks, I chose to walk down to the peace park. I didn't know this at the time. I thought there would be other people already there.
But I was alone.
And it was surrounded by tall barbed wire fences with signs like this:
And there was creepy music playing. The music would change speakers, as if it would play only near me. And our guide had just explained about the speakers in North Korea that brainwash their people. I know this is SOUTH Korea, and it was just music, but still...I didn't like it.
I was quietly walking down the path, when I spotted a deer! I froze, with that happy rush I get when I see a wild animal. It just froze and looked at me. I snapped about 5 pictures, then slowly started walking, waiting for it to bound off into the distance.
But it didn't.
Then I saw a couple more. Holy crap! This is awesome! Are these DMZ deer that haven't ever seen humans?
Am I really experiencing this magnificent moment: walking on a beautiful day through a park and spotting deer grazing on some grass?
No.
I realized they were fenced in within the park.
Bummer about thinking I saw wild deer. DOUBLE bummer that these beautiful deer are stuck in this small fenced in enclosure. I kept explaining to them that the fence wasn't really that high, and if they just bent their legs right, they could clear the fence easily.
But they didn't understand English.
So that's it for the DMZ tour...for now. There's another tour through the Joint Security Area I want to take, where I will get to see the Bridge of No Return, the infamous poplar tree from the 1976 axe murder incident, and the buildings where government talks are curently held.
If I haven't explained something clearly enough, please ask me a question in the comments section. I am so interested in this, so I would love to answer anything!
The Demilitarized Zone, also known as the 38th parallel, is the border separating North and South Korea. South Korea is a free, technologically advanced, and prosperous country. North Korea is not.
First, we stopped at Freedom bridge. This is where approximately 13,000 Prisoners of War were exchanged after the Korean war. Even so, there are still displaced families and loved ones stuck in North Korea while their relatives are in South Korea. The ribbons are prayers, wishes, and messages to those loved ones who cannot leave the North.
This memorial is a popular place for Koreans to come pay homage to their loved ones trapped on the other side.
Next stop was lunch at a Korean restaurant. It wasn't spectacular. But, we did have a chance to buy different products such as DMZ rice, DMZ ginger root, and some North Korean products such as beer or soju.
I just thought you needed a picture of me in all this wordy mess. :)
After lunch, we visited the 3rd tunnel. North Korea began secretly digging tunnels into South Korea during the Peace Talks in 1974. The 3rd tunnel (found in 1978) is 1,635 meters long, and was big enough to move 30,000 soldiers per hour. It was meant for a surprise attack on Seoul.
We weren't allowed to take pictures in the tunnel, which is unfortunate because it was one of the creepiest parts of the tour. We walked 250m in. I was usually having to crouch down, and it's hard to imagine how cramped it would have been had the soldiers actually used the tunnel while carrying their weapons. The walls were painted with "coal" to make it look as though that's what the tunnel was used for, in case the tunnel was discovered. Too bad there's no coal mining in this area. When we got as far as we were allowed, there was barbed wire and a steel wall blocking it off.
Except the steel wall had windows, so we could see the other side. This is where I got weirded out. I mean think about it: a North Korean soldier could have been on the other side of that wall. I'm sure this isn't "allowed",but when you are on the wrong side of the DMZ, whatever Kim Jong-il wants is what is allowed.
Entrance to the underground tunnel
Then we were on to the Dora Observatory. It was here that my fascination and curiosity bloomed. First off, I have no good pictures of the view. This is on purpose. We were only allowed to take pictures behind the yellow line.
Best picture I could get from behind the yellow line
If you did dare to step over and try to sneak some shots, one of the South Korean soldiers saw you, and personally watched as you deleted them.
This is not because South Korean soldiers are scary like the North's. They have this restriction for South Korea's own protection. If I could have taken pictures from the edge (with a professional camera), I could have gotten some good shots of government and military buildings on our side of the DMZ. And North Korea spies enough as it is. It would be too easy for them to find pictures online and use them to their advantage. But we were able to see, through binoculars, the closest North Korean village on the other side of the DMZ.
"Cool, a North Korean village!" you say?
Let me rephrase that...
We could see a cluster of freshly painted modern buildings with a waving North Korean flag looking down on all of them.
In reality, North Korea built this village in this exact location, and repaints the buildings every year for one reason: to make them look rich to the outside world. Up until recently, nobody was even living in the village. Now, there are a few military families that live there, complete with their radio broadcasts in their homes to remind them how terrible the rest of the world is.
The actual DMZ area was really beautiful to see. 50 years of nature, untouched by humans. I just hope too many animals haven't stepped on the mines that are there. No, but really, there are apparently a lot of unique wildlife and plants in the DMZ.
Our last stop after this, was the Dorasan Train station. This station is mainly used for the small economical relationship between the North and South. The South sends raw materials via the train to a North Korean textile factory, and a week later, the train brings back jeans, t-shirts, and cookware. The North Koreans who work in the factory make $80 a month...and that's a coveted job.
In 2002, President Bush made a speech at the station, and donated a railroad tie.
Also there, Dorasan Peace Park was near the station.
While everybody else on the tour (and I mean every single person but me) bought a fake train ticket so they could go on the tracks, I chose to walk down to the peace park. I didn't know this at the time. I thought there would be other people already there.
But I was alone.
And it was surrounded by tall barbed wire fences with signs like this:
And there was creepy music playing. The music would change speakers, as if it would play only near me. And our guide had just explained about the speakers in North Korea that brainwash their people. I know this is SOUTH Korea, and it was just music, but still...I didn't like it.
I was quietly walking down the path, when I spotted a deer! I froze, with that happy rush I get when I see a wild animal. It just froze and looked at me. I snapped about 5 pictures, then slowly started walking, waiting for it to bound off into the distance.
But it didn't.
Then I saw a couple more. Holy crap! This is awesome! Are these DMZ deer that haven't ever seen humans?
Am I really experiencing this magnificent moment: walking on a beautiful day through a park and spotting deer grazing on some grass?
No.
I realized they were fenced in within the park.
Bummer about thinking I saw wild deer. DOUBLE bummer that these beautiful deer are stuck in this small fenced in enclosure. I kept explaining to them that the fence wasn't really that high, and if they just bent their legs right, they could clear the fence easily.
But they didn't understand English.
So that's it for the DMZ tour...for now. There's another tour through the Joint Security Area I want to take, where I will get to see the Bridge of No Return, the infamous poplar tree from the 1976 axe murder incident, and the buildings where government talks are curently held.
If I haven't explained something clearly enough, please ask me a question in the comments section. I am so interested in this, so I would love to answer anything!
24 August 2010
Beneath the Trees
Warm noodles feed the streets
Guitar strings dance and speak,
Melodies collide and gently meet
All of my doubts slowly retreat.
As I listen to these sounds
These languages and laughs;
I suddenly realize what I have found
What the heavy air is squirming around.
For this is life - without her chains.
Soft lanterns swaying in the sultry breeze
Cool beer flowing through the veins
Gently unwinding all of life’s strains.
This night belongs to the stars
To the souls who search afar;
This night will soon end
But my heart can no longer pretend.
Guitar strings dance and speak,
Melodies collide and gently meet
All of my doubts slowly retreat.
As I listen to these sounds
These languages and laughs;
I suddenly realize what I have found
What the heavy air is squirming around.
For this is life - without her chains.
Soft lanterns swaying in the sultry breeze
Cool beer flowing through the veins
Gently unwinding all of life’s strains.
This night belongs to the stars
To the souls who search afar;
This night will soon end
But my heart can no longer pretend.
22 August 2010
Wait, Was That Today?
Last night I went out with some of my friends from the TESOL course. When I say out, I mean out. Almost two bottles of whiskey were drank before we even left the hostel. More drinks were consumed at both clubs we went to. So when 4:00 am rolled around, it felt like 30 minutes had past. I had so much fun, and today have had a relaxing lie in with plenty of water, my usual breakfast from down the street, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest.
I take a break to check facebook when I see a wall post from somebody. It says, "Congratulations Jared and Jessica Stobaugh. The wedding was beautiful." I was told by somebody that it was this weekend, but completely forgot. Furthermore, I was having a fabulous night out with girl friends and cute boys while on the other side of the world, my ex of almost 6 years was getting married...to the girl he started dating very soon after we broke up.
It just hit me today how lucky I am that our relationship did not work out. I can't imagine getting married right now, and to somebody completely wrong for me. I'm sure I would feel upset if I was in Gainesville, but the fact that I have been in Thailand for a month and about to move to South Korea is just icing on this single lady's cake.
Things that don't work out in life are just as important as the things that do.
Ok, back to reading! I must finish 300 pages by tomorrow morning so I can give my copy to an Irish guy before he leaves.
PS- I am reading in the lobby, and looked over at one point noticing that two other people are reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. My Irish friend is also reading that one. I love it!
I take a break to check facebook when I see a wall post from somebody. It says, "Congratulations Jared and Jessica Stobaugh. The wedding was beautiful." I was told by somebody that it was this weekend, but completely forgot. Furthermore, I was having a fabulous night out with girl friends and cute boys while on the other side of the world, my ex of almost 6 years was getting married...to the girl he started dating very soon after we broke up.
It just hit me today how lucky I am that our relationship did not work out. I can't imagine getting married right now, and to somebody completely wrong for me. I'm sure I would feel upset if I was in Gainesville, but the fact that I have been in Thailand for a month and about to move to South Korea is just icing on this single lady's cake.
Things that don't work out in life are just as important as the things that do.
Ok, back to reading! I must finish 300 pages by tomorrow morning so I can give my copy to an Irish guy before he leaves.
PS- I am reading in the lobby, and looked over at one point noticing that two other people are reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. My Irish friend is also reading that one. I love it!
10 June 2010
Why? Because My Parents Made Me!
I am moving to South Korea for at least a year to teach English. So far, people have been surprised and hesitantly positive with their reactions. I realize it does sound a little crazy. I graduated from college with an Accounting degree after all. I should be working in a cubicle, meeting my future husband, and planning on buying a house with a yard for my future kids, right? Wrong! After the initial "why would you want to do that?" facial expression fades, I then see a "wow I could never do that" creep up. Trust me- I was not born with this courage.
When I was a girl scout in Georgia, my parents had to essentially make me to go to Camp Pine Valley for a week of "sleep away" camp. I remember being afraid they would forget to pick me up at the end of the week. I also remember being terrified of not knowing anybody and being in a new place. But who made me go anyway? Mom and Dad. Fast forward to the summer of 2003 when I went to Washington D.C. for the National Young Leadership Conference. While I was the one who took initiative this time, I still needed my parents comfort and support to help me. My Mom has always pushed me out on the limbs of life and given me the support to not fall to the ground (or at least been at the bottom to tell me to get off my ass). Since then, I've had the confidence to travel and move to new places without knowing anybody...Like when I moved to Norman, Oklahoma for college and to Panama City Beach, Florida for no particular reason- this challenge is starting to become a trend for me. This is all thanks to that first week at girl scout camp, and, of course, Mom and Dad.
But even those are traditional coming of age experiences. What really threw me through a loop happened a few months before I graduated high school. I can't recall the exact day, but boy do I remember the roller coaster ride my stomach took when I found out my Dad was going to Iraq, Afghanistan, & Kuwait for work. It wasn't the war that scared me. After all, he isn't in the military and would be living on base (In retrospect, I'm thankful for my naïveté). What really shook me was that he was moving somewhere on the other side of the world with no family or friends! After that year and a half of seeing how strong and "worldly" my small town Texan Dad had become, my eyes were finally opened.
So if anybody is wondering where do I get the courage to move to the opposite side of the planet with a completely different language, its all thanks to my parents and their support. I'm so excited to visit Thailand for a month and making the move to South Korea. Of course I'm extremely nervous and surprised with myself, but really, if I didn't feel anxious what is the point of the adventure? Stay tuned as I document my experiences, however random and foreign they may be.
When I was a girl scout in Georgia, my parents had to essentially make me to go to Camp Pine Valley for a week of "sleep away" camp. I remember being afraid they would forget to pick me up at the end of the week. I also remember being terrified of not knowing anybody and being in a new place. But who made me go anyway? Mom and Dad. Fast forward to the summer of 2003 when I went to Washington D.C. for the National Young Leadership Conference. While I was the one who took initiative this time, I still needed my parents comfort and support to help me. My Mom has always pushed me out on the limbs of life and given me the support to not fall to the ground (or at least been at the bottom to tell me to get off my ass). Since then, I've had the confidence to travel and move to new places without knowing anybody...Like when I moved to Norman, Oklahoma for college and to Panama City Beach, Florida for no particular reason- this challenge is starting to become a trend for me. This is all thanks to that first week at girl scout camp, and, of course, Mom and Dad.
But even those are traditional coming of age experiences. What really threw me through a loop happened a few months before I graduated high school. I can't recall the exact day, but boy do I remember the roller coaster ride my stomach took when I found out my Dad was going to Iraq, Afghanistan, & Kuwait for work. It wasn't the war that scared me. After all, he isn't in the military and would be living on base (In retrospect, I'm thankful for my naïveté). What really shook me was that he was moving somewhere on the other side of the world with no family or friends! After that year and a half of seeing how strong and "worldly" my small town Texan Dad had become, my eyes were finally opened.
So if anybody is wondering where do I get the courage to move to the opposite side of the planet with a completely different language, its all thanks to my parents and their support. I'm so excited to visit Thailand for a month and making the move to South Korea. Of course I'm extremely nervous and surprised with myself, but really, if I didn't feel anxious what is the point of the adventure? Stay tuned as I document my experiences, however random and foreign they may be.
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