Peanuts at Work?

After our classes are finished for the day, we usually have a few minutes to run across the street to the store to buy some needed snacks and drinks before we phone teach and finish up with paperwork. Today Colin and I opted for peanuts and some cider (basically sprite). When we came back our one teacher asked, "So where is your beer?" Of course we thought this was funny because we were at work. Good joke Bo Hyun...we don't drink at work!

But then Hye Hyun says, "We only eat peanuts when we are drinking beer. So when you are all eating peanuts everyday, we think this is strange."

Oh. I guess that would be a bit strange to see at least one foreign teacher a day eating peanuts when it means they should be drinking beer. But does it ever occur to them to try the peanuts without the beer? Probably not. Everything has a time and a place here.

On the subject of strange things, they also peel their pears and grapes before they eat them. Now, the pears I could understand. But the grapes? That's a lot of effort to eat one grape! They think we're weird for eating them with the skin, but I think it's strange that so much energy goes into eating perfectly good fruit! I am way too impatient for that.

Nic and Se Min's Wedding

Yesterday we went to Nic and Se Min's wedding!! It was at the wedding hall and I got a quick picture with her in the bride room before the ceremony began. I love how they sit on display for everyone to get pictures with. We obviously couldn't understand anything that was being said, but it was wonderful to watch and I got choked up when she walked down the aisle. It's interesting how different it is from weddings back home. Not everyone gets dressed up, people talk through the entire ceremony, answer their cell phones, and leave when they please. When we were leaving, another wedding was already waiting to walk in and have their ceremony!! Later that night they rented out a bar to celebrate with everyone! They look so happy together and I'm so happy for them!!

Such a beautiful bride!

Bowing to her parents I love that Nic's mom wore a hanbok!

New Years Resolutions

Dear Korea,

Thank you for having the Lunar New Year (Seolnal) soon. I did well for two weeks starting on January 1st for MY New Year, but it seems that going on vacation, birthdays, and taking new people out get in the way of me sticking to my resolutions. So, in two weeks, I will start fresh. Again. I hope to be more disciplined with going to yoga class, learning Korean, and doing my daily chores. I hope to not get as stressed about work and if I do, to leave it at work and not bring it home with me. I hope to blog more, take more photos, and see more of Korea. I hope to see all my friends and family this summer, travel around America, and find a job that I am content with. Also Korea, thank you for having adorable clothes and shoes that fit like a glove.

With Love,
Allyson

Christmas and New Years in Korea

Christmas in Korea was much different than celebrating in America. There's not much hype throughout the month of December to really get you excited for the holiday. Yes, some stores and restaurants decorate and play Christmas music, but it's not as "in your face." At school, the Christmas tree went up two days before Christmas and the holiday party consisted of a Cooking Class. Not your typical school party like back in the states. But it was fun eating ra bokki and teaching my one class how to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They were apprehensive at first, but then gobbled the sandwich up! After work, our friends had a little gathering to play charades and exchange secret santa gifts. I received a t-shirt that says "Noraebang Superstar" in Korean. Love it! (Noraebangs are the private karaoke rooms all over Korea).

On Christmas morning, we actually had a decent pile of presents to open! (Thanks families for sending us packages to make it feel more like Christmas!) Since we're only in Korea for one year, I didn't want to invest in a tree, so we decided to make one out of construction paper, pipe cleaner, pompoms, and a styrofoam angel, then tape it to the wall. I think it's adorable if I do say so myself!

We met our friends for an early dinner at an Italian restaurant and ordered the Steak Set. The steaks are served as a smaller size, but it's a rare delicious treat! While we were at the restaurant, it started to snow for the first time this winter and kept snowing throughout the night! It was absolutely beautiful! It was strange seeing all the families out to eat for the special occassion, since in America restaurants would be closed and you'd be eating a home cooked meal with your family. We hung out with our friends all day and celebrated Colin's birthday at midnight. It was a much different day than what I'm used to, but I'm very grateful for the great friends I had here to spend it with.

During the week leading up to New Years, I noticed that not many people had plans nor did anyone know of anything special that was going on. I was really not in the spirit whatsoever at 8:30 when we left work to go do anything because everyone seemed so blase about the night. But I finally perked up and met some friends at a bar just in time for New Years. There were about 10 foreigners at a table and we did the countdown with a K-Pad because the only thing on TV was the movie Ironman (for about 200th time since I've been here by the way). We lit sparklers, celebrated and had a great time!
But I really have to wonder why the Koreans in the bar continued to watch Ironman when the clock struck 12. Was it just that bar? Or is it really just not a big deal here? Maybe because everyone in Korea turns one year older on the New Year so everyone was depressed about getting older. Or maybe the big celebration is in February during their Lunar holiday. Even our new Malaysian friends were wondering where the fireworks were. At any rate, it was still a great time with good people. After celebrating the New Year, it seemed only right to go to a Noraebang and start 2011 off with some singing!
So peace out 2010...You've been wonderful, depressing, exciting, strange, and a big adventure. You've been filled with lots of highs and lows, kimchi, K-Pop, little rascals, and singing. It's not that I'm happy to see you go, but it's been one heck of a learning experience.

Bring on 2011!!