It has been far too long since I have updated my blog. Since my last post about China so many events have happened that I can't discuss them all in detail. Basically, here is a quick rundown of the last 7 months. In May I had the chance to go to Taiwan, I traveled there by myself. It was amazing! Taiwanese are lovely and caring people. I spent my week there in the far south in a small town called Kenting. This place had an amazing feel, relaxed and beachy vibe. I stayed at a hostel called Afei for half of the time, although not the most comfortable I highly recommend staying here. You can rent surf boards and motorbikes and the people who run the place are amazing. There are always people hanging around locals and foreigners alike, who are up for anything! I met a girl named Moe who was visiting from Japan, we ended up visiting many places together. It was nice making a new friend.
After returning from Taiwan I was very unhappy being back in Korea. For about a month I was having hard time being at work. The Intstitute was hard enough to deal with on a daily basis, but after being on vacation I didn't want to be there at all. I was thankful to have a few close friends/coworkers (Ellen and Nia) who were always there to boost my spirits.
I used my summer vacation to return to Washington for 3 weeks in July. It was the best thing I could have done for myself. I had decided a month before in June that I would stay in Korea for another year, so my trip home really refueled me. I felt better emotionally and mentally about coming back to Korea.
After deciding to renew my contract and returning to Korea from visiting home, I wasn't sure if I should leave the Institute or transfer. I didn't know what to do at first, I really wanted to stay in Andong. I kept going back and forth....'maybe I want to stay at the Institute...but then someone would tell me..'Savannah, don't do that...you are not happy there!' I knew that I couldn't stay there if I wanted to keep myself healthy. Even though I was at a point where I could handle work, I knew that I really wanted to be in a real classroom. It was really hard for me to step outside my comfort zone and decide to leave. When a my friend and her boyfriend decided to leave Korea for good, I jumped at the chance to take his job in Gumi city. I knew his situation and the fact that he loved his job at the middle and high school. It was a big difference from teaching elementary kids (which I love) and online teaching...but I had to go for it! So sadly, I had to say goodbye to my good friends Ellen and Eddie, but I have benefited greatly from moving to his job. I currently really like Gumi, this is my second week of school. My coworkers are amazing!
Oh yes, and before moving to Gumi I used my renewal vacation of 2 weeks to go to Thailand!~ I went with my friend Jill from home....the trip was great. I loved Thailand and plan to go back someday. We saw elephants, monkeys, beautiful beaches, and I drank so many mango smoothies. The only thing is that I got the worst food poisoning of all time that started the day we left. I barely remember my 5 hour layover in China...I was so out of it. The food poisoning lasted for two weeks!!
When I came back to Korea I only had 5 working days left at the Institute before coming to Gumi! It was such a relief to know that I had made the right choice in leaving Andong and moving to Gumi and I felt at peace with my decision during that last week at the Institute. I packed up all my stuff (way toooo much stuff) and hired a truck to move it all to Gumi. Ellen came with me to Gumi in my moving truck and I was happy to spend her last weekend in Korea together. Ellen and Eddie left for Bali and their big backpacking trip around Southeast Asia...before relocating in New Zealand. I am hoping I can make it there before they move again!
Well basically that is a wrap up of my life the last 7 months. I really like my new job at Hyun-Il. My new apartment is way bigger than my last although there are no kitchen counters. That makes thing a little difficult. I live right behind the train station so I can travel around Korea much faster. There are many foreigners in my building so I have already made some new friends. This weekend I may be going to a film festival in Busan, it has been a year since I have been to that city. I am currently feeling good about my next 11 months in Korea....the only thing is I wish the exchange rate would get better so I can send some money home!!!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
My trip to China, and other wonderful things!
Wow, I have so much to catch up on! At the end of January I went to Beijing, China for 1 week with 3 of my friends. Ellen and I went to Seoul earlier in the day so we could go to Itaewon (the Westernized part of Seoul) to get some yummy food and hit up an English bookstore called What the Book. So after a 3 hour bus ride we arrived in Seoul and took the subway to Itaewon. We went to a small restaurant called Petra, thanks to a suggestion from my friend Alana. Anyway, the place was super cheap and amazing. I got a falafel wrap with vegetables and tsatsiki sauce. It is really nice to go to Seoul every once in a while and get different food. In Andong, where I live...there are not very many options. Although today I went to an Italian-ish restaurant with my friend Jinsuk and got seafood carbonara and it was actually not bad. I will never understand why their garlic bread is sweet though.
So after going to Petra we went to What the Book and browsed around for about an hour and a half. I swear I could spend all day in a bookstore its kind of a problem. This bookstore is also nice because it has a lot of used books as well. So me and Ellen took forever trying to figure out what books we were going to buy...I just settled on one so I didn't have to lug even more stuff to China with me. We then made a trip to Starbucks which is a necessity when going to a bigger city, they don't have one in Andong. Mmmmm...peppermint white chocolate mocha! After that we hopped on the Subway for 1 hour to Incheon, where the airport is located.
We stayed the night in Incheon at a hotel so we could catch our flight the next morning. Our flight to China was only 1.5 hours so we got there by noon. We then took the subway all the way from the airport to our hotel in downtown Beijing (about 1/2 hour). Our hotel was directly next to the subway station which was nice. Sadly when we got to the hotel they had lost or never received mine and David's reservation....so we had to sit in the lobby for 3 hours until they figured it out. Once we finally got to our room, it was pretty nice and I was thankful that everything worked out.
The next morning we woke up at 8am to meet our tour guide for The Forbidden City, The Summer Palace, The Temple of Heaven, a silk factory and a pearl factory. It was a very long day but everything was amazing. We also had a very good Chinese meal with lots of vegetables...I think it may have been the best meal since I have been to Asia. There was this one dish with scrambled eggs and tomatoes...my mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Most of our time in Beijing was spent walking around and checking out the city. I spent a lot of time in grocery stores because there was so much American food. I found a grocery store that reminded me of my Food Co-op back home, lets just say Ellen and I were in HEAVEN. I was able to pick up many things to bring back to Korea such as beans and lentils that I cannot find here. Clothing is also very cheap in China so of course I had to go shopping. I went to a park on Chinese New Year where they were having a HUGE festival with thousands of people. There were vendors everywhere selling all different kinds of food and everything rabbit because it is the year of the rabbit. I am talking rabbit masks, rabbit socks, food shaped like rabbits....rabbit craziness. I found a vendor that was selling beautiful scarfs for the equivalant of $3.50 USD....so I bought about 10 of them!!!
A few days into our trip we planned to go to The Great Wall. We had to wake up at 6am to catch our shuttle. We went with other people, one girl who was a teacher in Korea as well, such a small world. We were so smushed in the shuttle it wasn't the most comfortable ride. We sat like sardines for about 3 hours, and when we arrived the wait was well worth it. We hiked for about 1.5 hours up because we stopped to take so many pictures, and 45 minutes back. We didn't spend that much time there, but it was beautiful and the highlight of my trip to China. There were barely any people there so we had the whole wall to ourself it seemed like. The view was beyond breath taking...and it was hard to take it all in. It wasn't until the next day that I had registered in my mind where I had just been. I never thought that I would see The Great Wall in my lifetime. Overall my trip to China was wonderful. The people are caring and welcoming, just like in Korea. I am sooooo happy I was blessed with the opportunity to go.
So after going to Petra we went to What the Book and browsed around for about an hour and a half. I swear I could spend all day in a bookstore its kind of a problem. This bookstore is also nice because it has a lot of used books as well. So me and Ellen took forever trying to figure out what books we were going to buy...I just settled on one so I didn't have to lug even more stuff to China with me. We then made a trip to Starbucks which is a necessity when going to a bigger city, they don't have one in Andong. Mmmmm...peppermint white chocolate mocha! After that we hopped on the Subway for 1 hour to Incheon, where the airport is located.
We stayed the night in Incheon at a hotel so we could catch our flight the next morning. Our flight to China was only 1.5 hours so we got there by noon. We then took the subway all the way from the airport to our hotel in downtown Beijing (about 1/2 hour). Our hotel was directly next to the subway station which was nice. Sadly when we got to the hotel they had lost or never received mine and David's reservation....so we had to sit in the lobby for 3 hours until they figured it out. Once we finally got to our room, it was pretty nice and I was thankful that everything worked out.
The next morning we woke up at 8am to meet our tour guide for The Forbidden City, The Summer Palace, The Temple of Heaven, a silk factory and a pearl factory. It was a very long day but everything was amazing. We also had a very good Chinese meal with lots of vegetables...I think it may have been the best meal since I have been to Asia. There was this one dish with scrambled eggs and tomatoes...my mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Most of our time in Beijing was spent walking around and checking out the city. I spent a lot of time in grocery stores because there was so much American food. I found a grocery store that reminded me of my Food Co-op back home, lets just say Ellen and I were in HEAVEN. I was able to pick up many things to bring back to Korea such as beans and lentils that I cannot find here. Clothing is also very cheap in China so of course I had to go shopping. I went to a park on Chinese New Year where they were having a HUGE festival with thousands of people. There were vendors everywhere selling all different kinds of food and everything rabbit because it is the year of the rabbit. I am talking rabbit masks, rabbit socks, food shaped like rabbits....rabbit craziness. I found a vendor that was selling beautiful scarfs for the equivalant of $3.50 USD....so I bought about 10 of them!!!
A few days into our trip we planned to go to The Great Wall. We had to wake up at 6am to catch our shuttle. We went with other people, one girl who was a teacher in Korea as well, such a small world. We were so smushed in the shuttle it wasn't the most comfortable ride. We sat like sardines for about 3 hours, and when we arrived the wait was well worth it. We hiked for about 1.5 hours up because we stopped to take so many pictures, and 45 minutes back. We didn't spend that much time there, but it was beautiful and the highlight of my trip to China. There were barely any people there so we had the whole wall to ourself it seemed like. The view was beyond breath taking...and it was hard to take it all in. It wasn't until the next day that I had registered in my mind where I had just been. I never thought that I would see The Great Wall in my lifetime. Overall my trip to China was wonderful. The people are caring and welcoming, just like in Korea. I am sooooo happy I was blessed with the opportunity to go.
Our delicious meal, and the yummy egg dish.
Stretching Silk at the Silk Shop
The Temple of Heaven
America: written in Chinese by a cute little man with a water paintbrush on the sidewalk.
Me, Eddie, Ellen, & David on The Great Wall
The Great Wall
The Forbidden City
Roots Reggae Bar ~ So thankful for live music!!
At Ditan Park on Chinese New Year
A fruit called Boboboboeeee or something like that, delicious.
Ellen and I with our aloe and coconut drinks from the grocery store.
The year of the RABBIT!
Just enjoying a Tsingtao with David, fun night!
Being in Korea has allowed me to experience other cultures, and is giving me the opportunity to travel. I leave for Taiwan on May 5, 2011 for 5 days. I am ecstatic, and cannot wait to go surfing and lounge around on the beach all day. Also I will be coming home from June 29- July 17th. Can't wait to see all of my wonderful friends and family especially during the best time of the year in Washington, SUMMER!!!!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Work, sleep, work
January 11, 2011
Today I was walking to work with Ellen, we usually walk to work and sometimes home...it's 2.5 miles each way and it is good for us. Anyways, we were walking across the walking bridge and what do we see but a poor little fish lying in the middle of it. Well it was kind of a big fish. The water was probably 30+ feet below, so we decided since it was suffocating that we should save it. I took off my gloves, picked it up (fish blood all over my hands) and decided to toss it back into the water. I think it lived...well I hope so. So after doing our good deed for the day, we started to think....hmmm...how did the fish get there? We then remembered that we had seen fishermen before fishing off the bridge. I looked up to a lone fisherman staring our way, we had thrown his fish back into the water!!!! It was so funny, but he looked kind of pissed off so I said sorry and kept walking. It was very odd that he just left the fish lying there half alive, not in a bag or anything. That is pretty much the only super exciting thing that has happened lately haha. Actually I take it back, I am super excited about reading Blue Like Jazz, I am already almost 1/2 way through it in 3 days.
The job at the Institute is becoming somewhat redundant. I feel like all I do since this new schedule is work and sleep. I am hoping I adjust to it soon and don't want to sleep everyday until 11am!! Staring at the computer for most of the day is hard on the eyes....and the job itself is challenging when some students do not want to participate. I only have 1 or 2 classes like that though and I think it is because their English level is really low. I am praying it will get better. I have been spending my extra time at work reading and calling friends, so that is nice. I have one student, his name is Yeong Jay and he is so cute. He is about 7 years old and he always wears a cute stuffed animal hat. Today it was a white tiger hat...it made my day. I am thankful for times like these, it reminds me why I am here.
I am leaving for China at the end of the month yayayayay!
Today I was walking to work with Ellen, we usually walk to work and sometimes home...it's 2.5 miles each way and it is good for us. Anyways, we were walking across the walking bridge and what do we see but a poor little fish lying in the middle of it. Well it was kind of a big fish. The water was probably 30+ feet below, so we decided since it was suffocating that we should save it. I took off my gloves, picked it up (fish blood all over my hands) and decided to toss it back into the water. I think it lived...well I hope so. So after doing our good deed for the day, we started to think....hmmm...how did the fish get there? We then remembered that we had seen fishermen before fishing off the bridge. I looked up to a lone fisherman staring our way, we had thrown his fish back into the water!!!! It was so funny, but he looked kind of pissed off so I said sorry and kept walking. It was very odd that he just left the fish lying there half alive, not in a bag or anything. That is pretty much the only super exciting thing that has happened lately haha. Actually I take it back, I am super excited about reading Blue Like Jazz, I am already almost 1/2 way through it in 3 days.
The job at the Institute is becoming somewhat redundant. I feel like all I do since this new schedule is work and sleep. I am hoping I adjust to it soon and don't want to sleep everyday until 11am!! Staring at the computer for most of the day is hard on the eyes....and the job itself is challenging when some students do not want to participate. I only have 1 or 2 classes like that though and I think it is because their English level is really low. I am praying it will get better. I have been spending my extra time at work reading and calling friends, so that is nice. I have one student, his name is Yeong Jay and he is so cute. He is about 7 years old and he always wears a cute stuffed animal hat. Today it was a white tiger hat...it made my day. I am thankful for times like these, it reminds me why I am here.
I am leaving for China at the end of the month yayayayay!
Friday, December 31, 2010
New Year...New Life January 1st 2011
So I am going to do a little back tracking because it has been awhile since I updated. I have currently left the Elementary school I worked for and am now working at the Gyeongbuk Educational Institute with 7 other foreigners. I am teaching students online and though it has its challenges, I truly feel blessed to have this opportunity. The program that we work for is brand new and from what I can tell it is kind of a big deal in our city. One of the other teachers I work with was actually recorded and broadcasted on television in Korea. I have my own little office so that is nice, plus I get to work with a good bunch of people. Andong has been very good for me and even though it is tough being away from home I am very thankful for my life here. I have heard some horror stories from other teachers about being stuck in bad situations. So I am happy that I am not placed in one of those.
This last Wednesday was my birthday and I went out with my co-workers and we sang karaoke...it was a lot of fun. My co-teacher from English camp (Jin Suk) went out with us, and we had a great time!! I love her, she is probably one of my best Korean friends and she has been super helpful to me since I moved here.
Tonight was new years and we all went out for drinks and to the local "booking club" where apparently if there is a table full of guys they bring you a girl! Interesting....But anyway I don't go there for any of that , I just enjoy going and dancing with friends and having a good time. For the rest of the weekend I plan on lying low....reading, cleaning, and talking to people from home. Sunday, I plan on going to church next door to my house. I believe that Pastor Kim is having a birthday party for me....how cute is that? I am really happy that I started going there, especially because it feels great to be surrounded by wonderful and welcoming people. I have been spending time with the girls who invited me there in the first place, one is my student from Bokju and the other is my landlords daughter, last weekend we went shopping downtown after church and got ice cream. I loved it~
I am excited for this new year and have a lot to look forward to...China in February, Hawaii in March, hopefully Thailand in the summer. I can't wait!!!! After all the great times and the hardships that 2010 has brought, I am looking forward to a new year. I am so happy with the way my life is going especially spiritually, I really see God working in my life and am so thankful for that. I hope that this year brings peace to the issues that are going on back at home in the states and that my family can feel the peace that I am experiencing myself. Happy New Year EVERYONE~~ I pray that its a good one :)
This last Wednesday was my birthday and I went out with my co-workers and we sang karaoke...it was a lot of fun. My co-teacher from English camp (Jin Suk) went out with us, and we had a great time!! I love her, she is probably one of my best Korean friends and she has been super helpful to me since I moved here.
Tonight was new years and we all went out for drinks and to the local "booking club" where apparently if there is a table full of guys they bring you a girl! Interesting....But anyway I don't go there for any of that , I just enjoy going and dancing with friends and having a good time. For the rest of the weekend I plan on lying low....reading, cleaning, and talking to people from home. Sunday, I plan on going to church next door to my house. I believe that Pastor Kim is having a birthday party for me....how cute is that? I am really happy that I started going there, especially because it feels great to be surrounded by wonderful and welcoming people. I have been spending time with the girls who invited me there in the first place, one is my student from Bokju and the other is my landlords daughter, last weekend we went shopping downtown after church and got ice cream. I loved it~
I am excited for this new year and have a lot to look forward to...China in February, Hawaii in March, hopefully Thailand in the summer. I can't wait!!!! After all the great times and the hardships that 2010 has brought, I am looking forward to a new year. I am so happy with the way my life is going especially spiritually, I really see God working in my life and am so thankful for that. I hope that this year brings peace to the issues that are going on back at home in the states and that my family can feel the peace that I am experiencing myself. Happy New Year EVERYONE~~ I pray that its a good one :)
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Today is the beginning of my new life
December 18, 2010
Tomorrow is a new day, I am excited. I am starting at Gyeongsangbuk-do Educational Research Institute. I have been very hesitant about this position and what it entails, but I decided today that I am no longer going to worry about it. I have been doing a lot of self-reflection lately, and it has made me realize that I have only been going through the motions of life and not fully living to my potential. I haven't been being completely true to myself, or my character....and feeling somewhat lost. It could be that I am a million miles away from home and everything I love. I guess I feel like I have been living only half-way, worrying too much, not making the most out of this amazing experience, sometimes forgetting my values and my worth. With much prayer and thought I now realize what needs to happen. I know that God has put me here for a reason and even though sometimes its tough, I know he has a plan. This is amazing to me, and I feel truly blessed to have this inner peace. So now with a better grip on things I am going to start getting involved in activities I am passionate about, I want to get out there and do what God intended me to do. I am starting on my new venture tomorrow (not only the new job, but something else I have been wanting to do), but I am going to keep it underwraps until I know the details. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas.
"All seasons are beautiful for the person who carries happiness within."
Tomorrow is a new day, I am excited. I am starting at Gyeongsangbuk-do Educational Research Institute. I have been very hesitant about this position and what it entails, but I decided today that I am no longer going to worry about it. I have been doing a lot of self-reflection lately, and it has made me realize that I have only been going through the motions of life and not fully living to my potential. I haven't been being completely true to myself, or my character....and feeling somewhat lost. It could be that I am a million miles away from home and everything I love. I guess I feel like I have been living only half-way, worrying too much, not making the most out of this amazing experience, sometimes forgetting my values and my worth. With much prayer and thought I now realize what needs to happen. I know that God has put me here for a reason and even though sometimes its tough, I know he has a plan. This is amazing to me, and I feel truly blessed to have this inner peace. So now with a better grip on things I am going to start getting involved in activities I am passionate about, I want to get out there and do what God intended me to do. I am starting on my new venture tomorrow (not only the new job, but something else I have been wanting to do), but I am going to keep it underwraps until I know the details. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas.
"All seasons are beautiful for the person who carries happiness within."
Saturday, December 18, 2010
This too shall pass
(December 18, 2010)
You can sure get a lot of thinking done when you can't sleep from 3:30am until 8:00am because first someone calls you from home in the U.S. and because they do not understand the time difference they wake you up. Secondly, Anthony stumbles into your room at 4am and falls asleep sitting up....finally you get him to wake up and send him stumbling off to his own room. Thirdly, your dear friend David is snoring so loudly on your bedroom floor that you could have built a log cabin by now with all of the logs he has sawed. Lastly, there is so much on your mind that even if all of these things had not happened you probably couldn't sleep anyway.
You can sure get a lot of thinking done when you can't sleep from 3:30am until 8:00am because first someone calls you from home in the U.S. and because they do not understand the time difference they wake you up. Secondly, Anthony stumbles into your room at 4am and falls asleep sitting up....finally you get him to wake up and send him stumbling off to his own room. Thirdly, your dear friend David is snoring so loudly on your bedroom floor that you could have built a log cabin by now with all of the logs he has sawed. Lastly, there is so much on your mind that even if all of these things had not happened you probably couldn't sleep anyway.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Last day of school
Today was my last day at Bokju, it was sad and bittersweet. I will miss it there. It is also Friday night....not quite sure what the plans are, but tomorrow night we are having an ugly sweater party!
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