america

I just finished watching the season finale of Project Runway. I love that show.

Today, though, as I was watching it, I fell in love with America in a way I’ve never really appreciated.

In the last 5 minutes of the episode, the winner and the two losing finalists are all hugging their families and reflecting on the experience. In that room, with all the families, they are all Americans, but they are all so different.

Andy’s family  immigrated from Southeast Asia.

Mondo’s family is Mexican.

Gretchen’s family hails from the south west.

Just by watching a silly fashion show, a glimpse of real American people is revealed.

They are all so diverse and rich in culture and history. Everyone looks different. Every has a different story. It’s beautiful.

I love Korea, The people are wonderful, the history is sweet, but America is wonderful too.

Diversity is precious.

 

김치 축제!

김치 축제~~

The Gwangju International Kimchi Festival!

YUM!

I ❤ Kimchi!

This weekend I went to the Kimchi Festival held here in Gwangju. This is a huge event and people from all over the country come to it, many politicians and  ambassadors, too. You get to taste many types of kimchi, learn the history and culture behind it, and even make your own.

I went with friends Heather, Amber, and Shayna.

Heather is my coworker. I met Amber on the Great Wall of China this summer. She is teaching 2 hours from Gwangju. And Shayna is a friend from the English study group I go to.

For 5000 Won ($4) we got to make our own Kimchi. It was super fun!

To look at more pictures, go here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2098913&id=66501271&l=ef50d685ef

Journal: China, summer 2010

What: Summer Vacation 2010

Where: Beijing, Xian, China

When: July 20-26, 2010

 

 

*Leaving Korea for China*

We missed our flight to Beijing from Seoul, lost the money for that flight, had to pay to sleep two nights in Seoul, buy an expidited visa, and purchase a new flight to Beijing.
We tried to make the most of our 2 days in Seoul by going to Everland- Korea’s version of Disney World.. but more like Disney “neighborhood”.

 

We went to the Gimpo airport movie theater with our backpacks— like our big 3 wk travelling packs. We watched “Inception” with our backpack between our legs, like really cool people.

*Beijing*

 So when we got to China, we had missed about 3 days we planned to travel. We nixed some things and decided to do the most important things.

We stayed in a pretty decent hostel, but since we were LATE and they don’t check their email, we had to pay more moeny for a privet room. It was nice-ish but not worth the extra money. So 3 days into our “Awesome, cheap summer adventure” we are already way over budget! Good thing food is CHEAP in China!

Our first Chinese meal was roasted duck. CHINESE FOOD IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was like the BEST food I’ve had in Asia. Some things were the best I’ve had in MY LIFE! I want more! Yum!! (and really really cheap!)

Day one: *The Great Wall*

 

 
Meeting Mitch and Greg from USA in our tour group

..and those two ppl from Louisianna and Charleston

Being in a tour group with ppl from US, Denmark, Belgium , Germany, Mexico, France, and China

Meeting Amber who is teaching in Korea too

It was 35 degrees C — 95 degrees F!

Only one toilet– at start and finish. Gross.. very gross toilet. No TP. No running water.

All the poor haggling farmers greeting us at the starting point of the hike. They cling to you like leeches. They hold your hand and take interest in you and try to be your helper. I had a nice farmer lady who was actually helpful. However , I was so hot and sweaty I didn’t really want someone trying to hold my hand. She and several other farmers carried water and souvenirs all the way on the hike in immense heat in hopes that if they sucked up to us enough we would buy souvenirs. I didn’t buy anything and I felt bad.. But I told her I didn’t need her help…sad.

We chose to go on a less popular section of the wall because the ppl at our hotel told us it would be less crowded. I’m glad we did that. Because it was less popular with tourist groups, it had more original stones. The path/hike/walk was old and rough. It had steps that were falling apart, steep slopes, and more loose rocks. It was difficult to hike because u always had to watch your step. The hike/ walk itself wasn’t strenuous though. The heat was so strong that I was sweating sooo much. The heat and sun were definitely the worst parts. I wore capris and a long sleeve linen shirt because I am completely Korean now and because I was afraid I’d get completely burned. I’m glad I wore that! It protected me a lot.My shirt was soaking wet though!

 We hiked through about 15 towers (and 3 hours) . In each tower were windows. This area would be really cool because it was in the shade but also because the wind would blow perfectly in there and bring a cool breeze. The towers served not only as natural air cons, but natural toilets. One tower held the largest human poo I  have ever seen, stacked nicely on a paper plate.  So disgusting!

One farmer who was haggling us brought along somethign to relax him– home grown weed. He was even kind enough to offer us some. haha

Playing “Password” with Mitch and Greg

The two tall, blonde sisters from Denmark

Our tour guide– u couldn’t understand a word he said

*China vs Korea vs Japan*

Everywhere smells like a public toilet. It’s disgusting. They have public toilets everwhere which is convenient but they are nasty. Most are just squatty potties that are just holes and the don’t even flush. There’s never toilet paper and sometimes not even running water in the sink. One public toilet we went in to didn’t even have doors on the stalls. We walk in and a girl is in the “stall” right by the door, fully exposed, text on her cell while taking a crap: AWKWARD!! Worst bathrooms ever, yuck! And once, when the stalls DID have doors on them  this 20-something girl was purposefully holding the door open, either because she couldnt see because it was so dark or she couldnt breath because it smelled so bad. I guess it doesn’t matter because when she was done, she wabbled out of the stall with her pants around her ankles and finished pulling her pants up in front a line a 10 or so girls.

Babies don’t wear diapers, at least not all the time. Most babies have clothes with open backs, open butts, or just wear shirts. I guess they just poop and pee when and whereever they like. I noticed this in neighborhoods but also saw it at the Forbidden City when a toddler was city on teh temple steps going to teh bathroom. I guess diapers or really expensive? I saw a mother holding a baby  and the mom had pee running down her arm. Yet another reason this city always smells like a toilet.

There a lots of VW cars here. Buicks, Chevys, Audi, Range Rogers, Japenes cars. I haven’t noticed any Chinese cars.. But the foreign cars have Chinese characters in them..there seems to be a lot of nice, expensive cars.

There are many bikes. Men will be pulling whole families in carts attached to a bike….. Bike taxis..

Men roll their shirts up or just completely take them off when they’re hot. It’s very “Latin American “… And you’ll see topless men everywhere…playing games in the park, riding a bike, driving a car, eating inside at a food court, or walking around the Forbidden City. They’ll just roll up their shirt. Every day I was jealous of them. With such intense heat, it seems like the perfect solution.

Tall ppl!! Really– tall men every other person!! It’s very nice. Tall men with bigger feet.( Koreans have tiiiiny hands and feet!!) I’ve seen a lot if tall women here too. I think Chinese are taller than Japanese but both are waaay taller than Koreans!

Chinese are much tanner. They are Nazis about their sun cream.

Children have shorter hair–a lot of shaved heads. Shaved heads = military in Korea, so they aren’t very popular.

*Tian nenmen Square, Forbidden City, and Temple if Heaven*

A boy said to me: “Are you an English woman? Can I have a picture with you?” His parents and grandparents seemed very excited, and so was he. He had very good English and hopefully I made his day !

Later at the Temple of Heaven,  2 women held at their camera and said “Can u take a picure?” So I reach for the camera to take a pic of them but come to find out, she wanted to take a pic with me. It was an awkward moment but she grabbed me tight when we were posing so she seemed very happy, I don’t mind. I felt like a celebrity. It just surprised me that 2 ppl today even asked that. Beijing has a lot of foreigners because it’s such a popular tourist destination. Maybe those ppl were tourist too, coming to the “big” city from the country … ?

It smells like pee everywhere and the pollution is so bad it looks foggy- smog. I know I keep saying this, but really. Peetown.

*Olympic City*

One of my favorite places we visited in Beijing was the 2008 Olympic City. I got ot see the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube. I LOVE the summer olympics, so this was very special to me. I vividly remember everything about the 2008 Olympics and was really happy to be able to visit here. It seemed so surreal. Ok, well, really, everything I saw in Beijing seemed surreal, but YES, the Great Wall really does exist— and so does the Bird’s Nest!

*Train: Beijing to Xian*

We were looking forward to our overnight train because we thought we had “hard sleepers”. But cone to find out– we only had seats– Seats that didn’t recline. And on top of that, ppl who missed their train the night before because of flooding, were crammed onto our train as well. It was a 12 hr ride and we were packed in there. Ppl had purchased “standing” tix for a 12 hr ride!! Over night! Which was not only an inconvenience for them, but everyone else with a seat. Ppl were literally sitting on laps , on the floor, and standing in the aisle.And to top it off, the train SOLD those ppl stools if they wanted. I can’t believe after all that they made them BUY a stool…and about twice an hour, a man would attempt to come down the aisle pushing a canteen cart. It was impossible but he came.. Making all the ppl in the floor and in the aisles stand up and squeeze on top of the ppl in seats so he could get his cart through. Some ppl even had the exact same seat numbers which caused some problems. 3 guys from Spain had to alternate and share just one seat because some other ppl had their same seat ticket. Luckily, we were sitting near many foreigners: a couple from England and Belgium, and the three amigos from Spain. In the middle of us all was a nice Chinese university student who spoke good Eng. We all spent most of the trip talking to pass the time, learning about each other’s countries and travels.

 When we first got into our packed train car, I think kimber and I were both in shock! We were NOT expecting that.  We passed all the cozy sleeper cars to get to our car thinking we would have a nice bed too, but when we got to our car, it was crammed like a cattle car. Miserable. I just kept telling myself: this could be worse… It could smell like pee.. There could be no AC… I could be standing up.. There could be live chickens on here.. It could way be worse!! My seat was on the aisle so I got pumped and pushed everytime that stupid cart went by. Ppl would literally have to stand on my or others’ seats to get out of the way. I had to sit straight up ’cause I had nothing to lean on… My tailbone hurt at about the third hr in and with 6 hrs to go, I had to pee but to get to the nasty stink pit ( unisex hole in floor) I had to wake up all the sleeping ppl in the aisles to walk.. So I just held it. Anyways… We had great conversation with our new friends, I practiced my Spanish, learned about Belgium and China, and most important– made it to Xian. It was a train ride for the books and one I’ll never forget!

New City :*Xian*

 Xian is an older city, the original capital. It was much cuter than Beijing
Sharing a dorm with two Swedish guys and one Canadian and our dormmate Heidi who is teaching in Seoul.

We stayed in the BEST HOSTEL IN ASIA! Literally! It is in the top 10 hostels in THE WORLD. Perfect– Wonderful– AMAZING!! I want to go visit Xian again just to experience this hostel. And the best part (besides all the cute kittens)– we paid $6 a night for a bed!

Because we were so exhausted from the train ride, we slept the whole first day we were in Xian. It was perfect. ha

*TerraCotta Warriors*

On the tour to TerraCotta warriors: ppl on bus from Italy , Germany , Israel, Holland … and- our Spanish friends from the train!

The bus getting a flat tire!! Yes, in 100 degree heat, our bus got a flat tire!! We sat on the side of the rode for about an hour. My new Spanish friends said I was bad luck becuase every time they rode somewhere with me, there was trouble! They found it very comforting that we were taking separate planes out of China.

Mtg 3 others teaching in Korea

Our TerraCotta tour guide’s name was JaJa. “Good morning errybody. I’m Jaja. I’m Lady Jaja.”

We met a girl who is teaching near Seoul (and travel in China) and strangley enough- she went to Tocoa Falls College! I think I’m maybe the only one in the world that knows about that school and I’ve actually visited there! Such a small world!! Kimber also had a mutual friend with her. So Crazy!!

Meeting Lital from Israel who said she learned English from watching Full House reruns

Kids with really short or shaved heads-girls and boys

Sooooo stinky !!!

Piss smell everywhere

*Xian Foods/ Night Life*

We walked around the Drum Tower and Bell Tower at night to check out some amazing street food. Everything in China was tasty!

Worst bathroom of my life: three stall doors. I go to one in the middle. It’s an awfully stinky squatty– worst smelling one to date. I’m holding my breath trying not to smell it because when I first walked in I literally gagged. I get in the stall and realize it’s not much of a stall. On my right, there is only half a wall separating me from the other stall. The top half of the wall is open. I can see kimber squatting there. On my left, the is no stall wall at all! Not even half a wall. A Chinese woman is pooping and texting. We are both squatting right next to each other like a foot apart! I make eye contact with kimber– awkward– and then we both start laughing. I’m laughing because  we can see each other, because u can see the other girl, because I’m so sweating I can’t even pull my pants up or down. And because this is the absolute worst bathroom ever!!! Of course laughing means I’m inhaling big breaths so I get a big wiff of the air and am literally gagging, holding back vomit .. And in all this chaos, I pee on my foot!!

*Leaving China for Malaysia*

A baby, young enough to need a diaper, peeing on the trashcan (lid closed) in the airport bathroom. The mom is just holding the baby over the trashcan. I’m getting worried, hopeing this mom and kid aren’t sitting beside me on the plane. Because on the last flight, the kid next to kimber straight up peed on the seat.

China behind us– now off to Malaysia!!

再见 !

To see pictures, check out my Facebook :

1. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2087840&id=66501271&l=7477ab6d67

2. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2087849&id=66501271&l=6f0144bf29

3. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2087850&id=66501271&l=2fd1ada846

4. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2087888&id=66501271&l=7e9ec79bd2

parent emails.

 

And I thought talking with parents in America was difficult…

Rachel 선생님,
희망적인 messege 을 주셔서 감사합니다.
Edward가 학업에 잘 따를수 있도록 수고하여 주신 선생님의 정성어린 관심과 사랑에 대해 감사드립니다.
앞으로도 종빈이가 지속적으로 잘 할 수 있도록 계속적인 지도와 관심을 부탁드리며,
조만간에 선생님을 뵐 날이 있기를 기대합니다.
 
행복하세요…^^

At least she ended with a smile. That’s good, right?

외톨이야

Every day I am happy to be here.

As expected, the weather has drastically cooled over one weekend’s time, bringing with it anticipation of the fall to come.

I love autumn, this time of year.

I also dread it.

My one year anniversary of moving to Korea is coming within the next week. This time last year, my life was experiencing changes like never before. I felt ill-prepared, unnerved, and overwhelmed with the decision I had made to move here. In a whirlwind, I forced myself to be someone I never imagined I’d be– to do something I never believed I could. Fear encompassed every part of my life.

Moving here was exciting.

Moving here has forever changed me.

When this autumn breeze hits my face, it takes me back to that time. Fall has always been my favorite, but because of this, my longing for home (what ever you are) is almost unbearable at this time. Fall has always meant cupcakes, and college, and weekends in Nashville, and concerts, and classes, and birthdays, and downtown, and leaf cut-outs.

Last year when I wrote about being homesick during fall, I wrote with a different reminiscence. Before, I cried for familiarity. Now, I sigh for what will never be again.

It breaks my heart.

I can live without college and cupcakes. That’s not the point.

But I’m worried.

I’m worried that the next time I get to enjoy fall back home, back in “reality”, that everyone will have moved on.

I keep thinking that when I’m finished with Korea that I’ll go back home and just pick up where I left off. I keep forgetting that that’s not the case; And it’s not just “fall”, it’s always. No matter when I go back, it won’t be the past. It won’t be the same.

Most days I just have to ignore people, and wall-posts, and picture updates because it just makes me too sad. I feel like the same person. I feel like I have the same life, the same problems, the same hurts, the same confusions, hopes, and dreams, but everyone else– well, they have moved on: problems  solved, hopes restored, dreams met.

At least while I’m in Korea, I can avoid my reality. I can suppress my grudges for a little while longer. I don’t have to be reminded of them daily.

When I come home, both of my sisters will be married. I haven’t accepted  that reality yet. Being away, I don’t see the every day effects of this. I’m not ready to. It’s too weird, in the wonderful kind-of way. It’s too hurtful, in the pitiful kind-of way. This is just one way they’ve moved on. I’m still in the same exact darn place and they’ve gone off and got married.

Stupid.

I am genuinely happy to see my friends and sisters find happiness. I want that for everybody. I want that for my sisters. It’s just a reminder, though, that like this change in weather, the change in season, my loved ones are moving into a new season in their lives. It hurts a little to feel like I’m being left behind because my season of life has yet to change.

I can say a million quotes to myself to make me think positive; I’ve been writing them in my journal since I was in 5th grade.

But it won’t make things move along any faster.

As another fall comes, I again prepare myself for change. This time I don’t have to deal with change happening in my life, but I have to learn how to deal with the change happening around me and the possibility of no change at all.

Everyday I am happy here, but I still want that change more than anything.

외톨이야

헐

Good Busy…

My Classroom! Something I didnt actually expect to get, but am so happy I did! I have 10 desks, which serves my 8th Grade Lit, ESL Listening, and ESL Speaking class. The biggest class I have has about 20 kids, and that I teach in another room as well as all my Elementary classes.  I tried to do the best I could and make it look like I want… Obviously they have school supply stores here, I just dont have a clue where they are!

With my pencil, ready to go! I really am a teacher, cause even when I was in China, I was buying stupid stuff for my class. I use this huge pencil as my pointer in elementary class. Just letting the kids hold it is enough to keep them obedient!

Heather, our new Science and Math teacher. She graduated from Lee this May. She, and Adrianne, the married lady wo came, are both tall!! It’s so wonderful!!! We are all tall and have light hair and blue eyes. The elementary students call us Rachel #1 (that’s me– the original Rachel), Rachel #2 (Heather, because she came next), adn Rachel #3 (Adrianne, because she came last).

A Maekgoli and snack party with people from the study group I go to! No table! Super fun!

Teresa came to visit us in Gwangju. She was a part time teacher at GVCS last semester but has moved 4.5 hrs away near Seoul! She just returned from America, and was sporting a total TARGET outfit. Oh, how I miss thee Target! And how I miss Teresa!! 😦

My Korean Birthday

HaWon, Ted, and Greg from South Africa

Kimber, Mina, me

Me and Sera

T, Stew, Charles, me

Me and Lee

Dinner at my favorite restaurant and a fun night with friends!! Korean birthdays are the best, even though I’m 25 and practically an Ajumma 아줌마, and old lady.

melting pot

Saturday I had the opportunity to attend a study group. It’s just a discussion group where foreigners and Koreans can talk and get to know each other, sort of like a language exchange. It meets at a coffee shop near one of the big universities. I met a lot of great people. We had the study group for 2 hours, then we went out to dinner, and then some of us went bowling.

It was the first time I have been bowling in Korea. It’s really the exact same, no different, besides the fact that they gave me and two other girls free socks! That was nice! It was fun. While we were playing, I realized how special and unique this time is in my life. It’s not every day that I get to bowl with 3 Koreans, one Canadian, and one Scottish guy.

Sunday Bubble

The video from my school on The Sunday Bubble English radio program. They came to record on June 9.

Click Here! And then click on #21 to watch.

If it doesn’t work…

1. Go to www.gvcs.or.kr

2. At the top, click on the last blue heading (blue and white box) : 열린마당

3. Then, click on the second heading from the left that drops down: 영상갤러리

4. Click on the top link… Should be #21: 테스트 (which says “Te Su Tu”…test)

5. Click the PLAY button.

4. Click on Sunday Bubble.

GBSheEsh (GVCS)

Recording for the English Radio Station. We were on the radio and also on  a local TV station. The students did a great job speaking and singing all in English!

A skit…

I got to sing and dance with the little kids.

Rebekah playing the flute.

Quiz game: (left to right) Daniel, Brian, Charleen, David, Jeany, Ashley, Radio Host

The three amigos: Brian, David, and Fredrick.

Watching Korea painfully lose to Argentina in the World Cup game. Jeany and I…

Me with Ashley and Caleb

Purple shirt: Star (yes, he chose that as his English name), (Left to right) Ashley, Jenny, Kimber, Judy, Charleen, Jessica

Sun and Karrik

Friday was Sun’s last day at school 😦 Such a smart little guy.

Sarah and Annie

Showing off for all the parents at Open House