Andong, Beerball, Ryan Kracht

[A big thank you to Emily for taking pictures during our Andong excursion]

As you know,  I am the o so proud owner of a new scooter.  Since my last post I have mastered (ok, semi-mastered) all of the basics of riding a scooter.  My first big test was riding it to the bus terminal on Saturday with one of my best girlfriends, Emily.  She has me convinced that I could do it and she was right!  Easy as pie.  Oh, pie. Delicious apple pie.  Ok, back on track.

We ended up driving to the terminal to meet up with my coworkers, Lia and Brendan.  We spent the afternoon in Andong, a small folk village a few hours away.  I went there last fall but it was such a peaceful place that I wanted to see it again and bring some new friends along for the experience.  The quiet mood of the village coupled with all of the souvenir treasures made the day quite a success.

Sometimes I don't always show my cultural side.

The markers for the village

While Lia and Brendan stayed for an extra few hours to soak in as much culture as humanly possible, Emily and I decided we were cultured out and went back to Pohang for a little beerball action.  That's right folks.  Beerball is back.  

Unfortunately we only made it for the last part of the game but it was still quite eventful nonetheless.  Combining a huge group of foreigners together with alcohol and America's favorite past-time is sure to be entertaining.  Beerball ended with the American team (yes, we know that it wasn't exactly fair to put all of the Americans on one team and the rest of the foreigners on the other) winning.  Clearly we had just a bit of an advantage.

The evening wound up at TILT for yet another farewell party.  Ryan Kracht, one of the coolest kids in Pohang, is finally done with his time here and is headed back to Michigan.  Your amazing mustaches, permed faux hawked hair and unparalleled storytelling ability will be missed sir. 

Ryan, the man mustaches are made of

Enjoy America sir.  Eat some cheese for me.

A Year in Review

Exactly one year ago today, I began writing this blog.  It began as a way to document my journey to Korea and the teaching experiences I would have, but became so much more.  It become my way to take my friends and family around the world along with me while I travel .  My outlet for emotions.  My communication to those I cared for most.  Looking back on that initial post, it is hard to believe I am the same person.  I was lying on the floor of my mediocre apartment, trying to make this life changing decision.  Somehow I knew it was right for me.  It was meant for me.

Since that initial post, I have accomplished more than I ever thought possible.  I have formed friendships with some of the most amazing people from every corner of the globe.  I have been all around Korea and witnessed the Korean lifestyle and culture at its best.  I have traveled to Japan and found the beauty and destruction that has faced that country.  I have seen Thailand and seen the beauty of the country and its people.  Coming to Korea was the best choice I have ever made.  While it was one of the hardest decisions of my life, it has afforded me the ability to experience so much more than I ever could have imagined.

An entire year has passed and I only have the future lying ahead of me.  Before I came here I felt trapped.  Paralyzed.  Unfocused.  Confused.  Now I finally know what I want to do with the rest of my life and how I want to live it.  Coming to Korea changed me for the better.

Before coming here to Pohang, Korea I had no idea what was in store for me.  I didn't know the culture.  I certainly didn't know the language.  I didn't know a single soul.  I didn't know enough about Korea to fill an index card, let alone an entire year's worth of blogs.  Somehow I have fallen in love with the spontaneity, richness and culture that is the embodiment of Korea.

Here are my favorite pictures from 2010.  I can only imagine the shenanigans that will take place in the upcoming year.  The places in Korea yet to be visited.  Friends yet to be met.  Experiences yet to be had.  If 2011 is anything like 2010, this blog will continue with a newfound fervor.  May 2011 bring as many rewarding experiences and friendships as 2010 did.

Our Pohang Beerball League

My 24th Birthday.  Korean style. 

Going away party for Jared, one of the best guys I know.

My very first Pohang Steelers soccer game.

My first Daegu Ropes course excursion

World cup fever

Going away party for Nick Kelly

Mudfest 2010

One of many Guyompo beach trips

At a harbor in Japan with my ladies

The beginning of our Chuseok vacation to Geoju Island

After our hike up a mountain near Busan during Chuseok

Some of my best girls at Bogyeongsa

Angry Sunny during arts and crafts

Devilish little Hansu

The famous Homigot Hand

My part time kinder 6 class

Anna putting on her dancing shoes at With Wine

Pictures in Andong

Ladies afternoon in Daegu at the Holy Grill

Halloween 2010

Ugly Christmas sweater party

Caroling with the babies to each home.  Cutest Santas ever.

Standing on the Bridge Over the River Kwai

Two sleepy tigers allowed me to hold their tails.  Terrifying.

My newest tattoo.

Traditions

#46.  When new students come to an English school without an English name it is sometimes customary to let the teacher pick one for the student.  Today I had that joy.  I named my new girl Kelly.  Thought it fit.  She looked like a Kelly.  Hope she doesn't resent me later like Apple (the daughter of Gweneth Paltrow) will as soon as she realizes that her parents named her after a fruit. 

My post today is going to be short and sweet.  Today is all about traditions.  Here in Pohang we have started quite a few.

Mondays and (soon to be) Thursdays is soccer.  2 hours of soccer with a bunch of Korean men who speak very little to no English.  The little they do know is "nice" or "Okay". The little Korean we know is "hello", "thank you", "goodbye", "two".   Not really useful in planning the teams for soccer or for general conversation about whether the ball was in or out.  If we didn't have the hand signals we would be up a certain creek without a paddle.  You know the creek i'm refering to.

Tuesday is poker.  Anyone who knows me knows that I have never played a single poker game in my life before coming to Korea.  I still have yet to actually participate but i'm going to try for next week.  Could be interesting.  Maybe i'll find out that I am amazing in poker and win a million dollars.  Remember how I thought that maybe my soccer skills would be amazing and i'd make a million dollars by going pro?  Yea.  Two words.  Pipe dream.

Wednesday is "Club TILT."  TILT is a foreigner bar located downtown.  The entire foreign crew of Pohang ( about 40+) get together and hang out until the wee hours of the morning.  It has kareoke, cheap drinks and microphones.  An amazing combination.

Every other Saturday we have our Pohang Softball games.  If you have read any of my posts about softball you understand why this tradition will continue.  So much fun.

I'm busy.  I love it.  Plus it gives me interesting stuff to write on here about.  Just think how boring reading this blog would be if it was "I went to school and taught tiny Koreans their ABC's.  I went home.  I went to bed"  over and over again.  I would have exactly TWO  followers:  my mom and dad.  Everyone knows that parents think that their kids art work or stories are amazing even when no one else does.  Unconditional love baby.

Good thing i'm social and do more than work and sleep.  Lucky for you.

Sleeping, Softball and Sunday Traditions

#40. Koreans sleep any chance they get. In small restaurants without alot of foot traffic it's not uncommon to see the owners asleep on cots by the door.  On the buses it's common to see Koreans sleep from the moment they sit down to their stop.  It's like somehow they instinctivly know when their stop is.

#41.  The bus system is amazing (as I know #29 already said) but the comment of the day is how Koreans get ON and OFF the bus.  Sounds simple.  You get on the bus and you get off.  Remember how I have said repeatedly that Koreans run everywhere and are constantly in a hurry?  Getting on and off the bus is no exception.  You make it to the door and get halfway out but the door shuts?  Too bad.  You're too slow.  People literally run as fast as they can to get off the bus.  They jump. Sprint.  Skip.  Anything to get them away from the slamming doors.  Not being quick is how people get hurt.  Koreans know this.  Americans don't. 

This weekend was crazy.  Crazy in the best way. 

We had our 2nd softball game of the year and it was even better than the first.  The combination of aluminum bats, softballs and alcohol always creates an interesting outcome.  Once again we had no major injuries.  My team ended up WINNING this time so that was huge success.  My hit actually brought in the winning run.  I'm a firm believer that it was the glove that gave us luck.  *Thanks Mom and Dad for sending it!* 

After the epic softball game we made our way to TILT (foreign bar) for food, drinks and dancing.  Every popular American song was played and we sang/danced into the night.  Songs I will never think of the same way again include 500 miles, piano man, amerian pie and tiny dancer.  Just try to imagine the smallest bar you have at home and pack it full of tipsy college-aged people from all over the world singing as loud as humanly possible and dancing like they actually have rhythm.  It's a pity I didn't think to do more video.

I have started a Sunday afternoon tradition with a friend of mine named Tim.  We are two of the newest Pohang additions so we feel that we need to learn more about where we live so...Sunday is our exploration day.  Today we went to Jukdo market, downtown and to Homeplus.  It started off to be a GORGEOUS day and here is a picturefor those of you wanting to know a bit more what Pohang looks like.

This week looks like it has the potential to be an amazing week.  First soccer game Monday (say a prayer), group outing on Wednesday, big theme birthday party on Saturday.  Stay tuned for more shananigans.

Bars and Bedays

Hello again.  I took a little break from writing this week.  It was definitely a trying week that tested my ability to survive away from the people I love.  It was touch and go for a minute but I passed that test.

I've come to learn while living so far away who the people are that will stick with you.  Will keep in touch.  Will take time out of what I know is a busy life to see how i'm doing.  Every so often leave a little note on my facebook wall or pop something in the mail just because they are thinking about me.  It's not that I want or need people to check on me every single minute of every day but once in a while would sure be nice.  I came here knowing full well that some people who promised to keep in touch wouldn't...and some who did would.  It's part of life and part of growing up to just accept what is and not look back.

Ok. Enough of the sad Jenn.  Back to the quirky-living in Korea-can't speak the language-gets lost everywhere-Jenn.

#38.  Koreans go out of their way to make foreigners feel comfortable.  Let me give a few examples. 

Example #1.  I went with a group of friends to a bar around our apartments one night after work.  One friend ordered Jack and Coke.  It was THAT kind of a day.  A few minutes later our drinks arrive and they apologize for the wait.  We find out that they had run out of Coke earlier in the night and one of the employees ran (literally ran) to a corner store to buy some.  Pretty sure that shit would never fly in the States.

Exmaple #2.  We went to a different bar later that night for a few drinks and to just relax.  We walked in and the big screen was on a Korean soap opera.  As soon as we sat down it was turned to a Guns and Roses concert in English.  The music that was playing was also changed to Norah Jones.  All for the English speaking foreigners.  The Korean culture caters to the customer. Pretty sure if a group of Koreans walked into a bar in Indiana the music and television would NOT change.

#39.  Koreans have Bedays (aka fancy toilets) in the majority of restaurants and bars.  There are knobs, buttons, levers...on the toilet.  It's a toilet.  There should be a lever to flush. That's it.  Nope.  In Korea  you sit down never quite knowing what to expect.  The person before you could have left the heat on.  Or the water spray.  Or both.  Surprise!

This week was interesting to say the least.  It dragged on and on and was probably the hardest since i've been here.  It was also the one where I learned the most about myself. 

Today is Saturday and in about an hour I will be going to the second Pohang Softball game of the year.  The names of our teams are still being worked out but today should prove to be quite interesting if it is ANYTHING like our last game.  I finally got my glove from my parents so hopefully that will give me a bit of luck on the field. 

After softball who knows.  It's Korea.  Anything goes. Well pretty much anything goes.  Stay tuned!

Weekends in Korea

#20: Koreans use their hands when they talk so much more than Americans. In Korea if you tap your index finger on top of the other index finger it means no. If you make your arms into an X that means no. I make those motions probably 20x a day. The kids understand that it means no and to really send your message home you repeat the motion over and over again. It has become such a way of teaching that the foreign teachers find themselves doing it even when we are not teaching.

#21: When Koreans speak to other Koreans they sound pissed. Really pissed. Like someone just had sex with their wife pissed. They talk really fast and the combination of hand motions and loud voices makes the foreigners take notice. I have seen a few who can talk calmly but the majority of them just can't do it.

Saturday was our very first Pohang Beerball League (AKA PBL) game. Yes we call it PBL. We're really cool like that and it's ok to be jealous. After more than an hour in a taxi trying to find an open field which included our driver yelling out the window at random passerbys, cabs, cars and teenagers on bikes for directions. Cabbies here love to yell and use their horns. alot. Ours was definately no exception. 1 hour later we finally found a field that was perfect. After splitting up the teams the game was on but we had a little problem. Part of the team was from South Africa or England so therefore did not know the rules and part of the team was sloshed. Definately made for an interesting game. We rounded out our first game with zero injuries so I would consider it a smashing success. We are still in the process of finding appropriate names for each team and until that happens our current name will not be found here. Let's just say it's a little vulgar for certain readers. It's definately "Colorful" as my mom would say.

This weekend was exactly what I needed. It was relaxed and let me really unwind for my first time here. I did my first load of laundry (yes I can do my own laundry Mom), tried a new kind of rice (ended up being purple) and spent time around Pohang with new friends.

Tonight we are going to see Alice in Wonderland (again) and hit up the town for some of Korean's finest food. Ok maybe not finest but better than what I can do in my shoebox of an apartment. Not a bad Sunday afternoon.