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What is Jeju Jet Lag?

Sat, 08/20/2011 - 21:23 — foreignerjoy
When coming back from a trip to Jeju Island one might experience, "Jeju jet lag" as I am having right now. What is this? You might be asking, since Jeju is just about 50 minutes away by plane from Seoul and doesn't require one to change time zones. Well then, let me enlighten you.

Jeju jet lag is a mental and physical condition where one experiences the rush that comes with leaving Jeju and arriving back in Seoul. The body will immediately feel toasty from all the sunburns but also tired from all the hiking, walking and swimming. The mind will feel a sense of nostalgia for the Jeju country side and vast green spaces. Also, ones mind will feel the readjustment of being back in the urban jungle of Seoul.

To cure Jeju jet lag I recommend heading home, taking a good cleansing shower and hitting the hay. If you have to pick up two cats along the way (one is yours...the other your friend's) for cat sitting, then so be it.
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Off to some island out there...

Mon, 08/15/2011 - 20:55 — foreignerjoy
So I am going to Jeju for 5 days and not bringing my computer. I am sure you can put two-and-two together. Whatever you are doing for the next week just enjoy it, okay!
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Last Few Days of Camp Finally

Tue, 08/09/2011 - 16:32 — foreignerjoy
There are just three more days of camp and thank goodness! Although, tiring and often mind-boggling strange, the camp has been going pretty well. I have learned what the low-levels need and how better to pace myself for them. They take time to process the English and I try to give it to them in a slow yet understandable manner. But mostly they want to learn through games, crafts and activities. I guess that is true for all first-graders.

Camp, as mentioned earlier, wasn't planned very well even though the planning committee did do hard work. I want to step up for winter camp and plan some new stuff for them, but am trying to lay-low so not to seem like a pushy person.
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All This Idling Time

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 19:17 — foreignerjoy
You finish work and you go home. What do you do? You should go to the gym and exercise. You should study Korean or do some painting.

Mostly what happens to me is that I sit back and think about my past. It's not just homesickness but the feeling that you are getting older and further away from everyone and everything in your past. Then you end up listening to a podcast and hear the following song by Adele. The rainy weather might be affecting me but generally sometimes my life in Korea makes me feel isolated and lonely. Maybe that is why I push so hard to get out on the weekend and why I am always reading other folk's blogs.
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Oh my! They took off their shoes.

Wed, 07/27/2011 - 19:52 — foreignerjoy
"The road closures and sporadic public transportation made commuters late for work, and people took off their shoes and socks in offices to dry them."

My iPhone Alternative

Tue, 07/19/2011 - 14:02 — foreignerjoy
I really thought I didn't need such a thing as an iPhone, mostly because I have an iPod and a phone and really people don't call me that much. But then my friend was snazzily working away at her iPhone looking at a map and Googling something there on the street. I thought to myself, "Maybe I could use such a thing when I go to Jeju. In case I get lost."

Thus ensued a trip yesterday to the KT headquarters in Gwanghwamun with my friend and her Korean boyfriend (who was kind enough to help me.)
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Recent Artworks

Tue, 07/19/2011 - 08:19 — foreignerjoy
JH really likes the one up there, and I call the following, "leaf flowers".
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First Semester is OVER!

Fri, 07/15/2011 - 16:35 — foreignerjoy
My gosh did it go so fast! I am really pleased that this semester has come to an end. Of course, kind of not looking forward to three weeks of camp with the same group of kids. But, in essence the toils and trials of everyday work will not come to me again till September.

Things I've Learned:
First graders do require a lot of energy, but you don't have to put on a show all the time. They like games and things for them to do that can keep their minds and hands busy. Teaching at a private elementary school has a lot of benefits when compared to my previous job. I have enjoyed the lack of coteaching and love being in control of my own classroom. However, I have not escaped the Korean workplace and still encounter many snafus related to this. I've learned that patience is the key and one can be strict with the students but not take it emotionally. 

Mom Sent a Package

Thu, 07/07/2011 - 17:10 — foreignerjoy
A while ago my mom sent a package with all sorts of stuff in it for JH and I. She mostly wanted to send him good wishes for his birthday, which was back in April.
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The Rain Pours

Fri, 06/24/2011 - 14:22 — foreignerjoy
I am okay with rainy weather. I would rather be soaked to the bone in a downpour than freezing my butt off in sleety-icy rain.

But the rain brings one to notice that it is definitely summer and the months are trucking along. Already my first semester at job #4, in Korea, is nearly over. I have learned so much about myself and what it is like to really be a teacher. Also, I am really proud of my accomplishments at the job.

In life, things seem to putter along quite nicely as well. Although, JH and I still find ourselves at odds with how to spend our weekend time together. There are also a lot of personal developments between us but I don't want to share it yet.

A week vacation is on the horizon, followed by three weeks of camp and then two more weeks of vacation. I am looking forward to a slow down in work life.
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Cat Sleepover

Sun, 06/19/2011 - 18:42 — foreignerjoy
Hamster's mom found herself a new job and so was moving this weekend. Actually, Hamster's name is now Kaiju. This meant that the third brother of the kitty-cat trio got to stay at my house with his brother Tom.

When I brought Kaiju home Friday evening at first Tom wasn't sure what thing was walking around his house. He followed Kaiju around and finally the two had at it. It wasn't aggressive fighting but more like brotherly love. However, their rumblings lasted all night which wasn't helpful for my already exhausted body.
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Win Them With Your Smile

Thu, 06/16/2011 - 17:13 — foreignerjoy
Open classes are over! All that stress and anticipation has left me like a deep drop in a waterfall. Anyways, I might be bad at making metaphors right now because I really can't believe the results.

I was praised by the parents and the principals. I was told they especially liked me and really liked my smile. Imagine! All I had to do was prop up a huge smile the whole time.

Actually, it is kind of a life-story of mine that I win people over with my smile but that I always forget this. During class even when awkward or bad things happened I just smiled at it and got the kids back on pace. There were a few mishaps, I finished a little early at the start and one kid cried in the afternoon.
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Life of Tom

Mon, 06/13/2011 - 17:29 — foreignerjoy
JH said it perfectly yesterday, "I wish I could trade lives with Tom and Tiger." Tom's life is pretty serene and well taken care of.

He is getting past his kittenness and sleeping a lot during the daytime, already having his favorite spots.
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Open Class Coming and other Work Stuff

Fri, 05/20/2011 - 19:08 — foreignerjoy
As you can see spring has been good to me with fun trips to places here and there. The warm weather has helped calm my mood and ease my mind when it comes to work rambles. The job is puttering on like a well greased machine, with a few hiccups here and there.

But a big bump in the road is coming up, and that would be open class. It's not my first time with this kind of job-related aspect, but I definitely feel like this one will be more serious. For one the people who will be observing me are the parents, and since they pay for their kids education I can only guess their gaze will be mighty. The open class is not till next month, but I am already in the thick of planning it. We are given the liberty to do whatever we want, even can break away from our regularly scheduled plan. However, I am planning on sticking with the schedule but making sure there are interactive activities involved.
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Recent Artworks

Sun, 05/15/2011 - 11:38 — foreignerjoy
Ever since I came back to Korea, back in February, I have been itching to document my works of art from the past few years here. As you may recall I documented works from long ago while I was on vacation back in the States, but left my Korean works back in Korea. Anyways, I finally got out today during the morning hours and photographed my works. It was a bit fun trying to do this while people passed by. I did it in the park nearby where the sun was shining very well on a particular park bench.
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