Going, going...almost gone.

Yes, if you have seen my Facebook, you know by now. I am leaving Korea; leaving a lot earlier than planned.
 
Why? That answer is easy and difficult to explain. I think most people by now know that I have not enjoyed my Korean  experience all that much. Most of that blame can be placed on my coteacher and my constant string of ailments and sicknesses. But, in the end, it is more than that. Quite a few people have blamed my "issues" with Korea on culture shock. It is more than that. I have lived in another country before, one where I lived without water and electricity much of the time. And, I LOVED it. Simple as that. It goes beyond culture shock. There are things about Korea that just conflict with who I am. 
 
Some people chalk it up to cultural differences, but there are things that I just have had a very difficult time ignoring. The chaining and beating, followed by eating of dogs. The beating of children. The blatant and overt racism and sexism against foreigners and women. The unbelievable disrespect for younger people. Again, many people will claim this as, "culture" and not discuss it further. Over the weekend I had a long, philosophical debate with a good friend here. Someone who really likes it here, and we agreed on this. Culture can only go so far in explaining things. Some things are just morally wrong. Again, maybe that is me over symplifying things, or perhaps it is me taking an unpopular stance. Or, maybe its me being an American. Either way, it is how I feel. There is very little in this country that I enjoy, or even respect. 
 
Pretty much since the beginning, I have woken up daily HATING my life, due to my job. My coteacher has made my life absolute HELL. That is NO secret. I should put a disclaimer up, I know people who absolutely LOVE their jobs, and have amazing and wonderfully supportive co-teachers. I would say I am probably the exception, not the norm. My experience with my co-teacher has, without a doubt, colored my experience here. I decided awhile ago, that I couldn't, even for a year, wake up, every single day dreading going into work. Life is too short for that depth of discontent. Don't get me wrong, there are aspects of my job that I LOVE. Namely, my girls. Some are absolutely wonderful, and they have kept me going this long. But again, it isn't enough.
 
Why did I come to Korea, you may ask? Well, again, that is complicated. I finished my Master's last July and started looking for jobs in September. After four solid months of looking with no prospects, I sort of well, panicked. I needed a job to pay the ever mounting depts from school I had. So, I fled. Some people accused me of running away, maybe they were right. But, I knew I needed money and I knew that I wanted to travel. Plus, I knew people back home who loved their experience here and described it like another college experience. I can agree with that! I have had an amazing time making friends, drinking with them and seeing this country. It really has been like another college experience; lots of drinking (too much at times, haha), few responsiblities other than work, no rent payments etc... When I came here, I craved part of that. I wanted a simple life, free from everyday worries about money and loans and life and the future. 
 
What I realized in the process is that money is not the answer to almost anything. Not all, but a lot of people here don't really know what they want to do with life, and that is fine, life is about discovering what it is you want to do; and Korea is a great opportunity to figure out what it is you want to do while making money and traveling. But for me, I know and knew what I wanted to do. I want to work in maternal and reproductive healthcare and development. I spent a lot of money going to school to do that and it is something that I am deeply passionate about and brings great joy and fufillment into my life. I knew coming here would be leaving that field, if only temporarily. I realized while being here that money isn't enough for me. I can't HATE my job and not enjoy a large aspect of my life because of it, while living in an at times hostile culture and country I do not really enjoy and being away from my family and friends. There has to be more. I realized I would rather be dirt ass poor, doing something which I love, rather than stay here. I didn't care where it was, as long as I was happy where I was. I think in life, there are always aspects of your life out of balance, or whacked the fuck out. That is the essence of life, it is never perfect. But, for me at least, it can't mostly be shit. I just don't operate like that. I couldn't wake up for nine more months and hate life, counting down the days. I couldn't continue to not live authentically and in the moment, looking forward to a time when I wouldn't be here. So, I made a choice. I said: FUCK IT.
 
At about this time, maybe around a month ago or so, one of my best friends, Kelsey, sent me a text and told me: Go apply for the Doula Americorps position RIGHT NOW!!!! Those were her words. What was she referring to? An Americorps position (more on Americorps in a minute) in a community health center in Seattle that serves primarily Latinos. It was a position that trained the person as a Doula (more on Doulas in a minute) to be a Doula during births for Spanish speaking women. I have known about this position for years, and wished I could do it. I always felt that my Spanish wasn't really up to par or good enough. The position required  "fluency". So, I always ignored it and proceeded on with life. With Kelsey's command, I thought: FUCK IT! I can do this, what is the worst that can happen? They say no? So, I e-mailed the woman in charge knowing it was a long-shot, that the position was probably already filled. The position is for a year, and it is posted in January, for an August start. I just figured it was filled, but what the hell. So, I e-mailed her, described myself and my background and low and behold, she said the position was still open! Not only that, but she encouraged my application!
 
So, I submitted my application. Thinking that this position was made for me; integrating birth and Spanish, in Seattle! But, I still doubted my Spanish. After multiple interviews, including with a native Spanish speaker, I got the job! My Spanish was deemed indeed good enough. When I found out, I was absolutely estatic. I can't remember being that genuinely happy and excited in a very, very long time!!! The position starts August 15th, and I am beyond words excited. I know it will be an extremely challenging position, with the first month or so really adjusting to speaking Spanish all the time, allowing the language to slowly seep back into my brain. It will be emotinally trying, but it will be invigorating. I am so excited! So, what exactly am I doing?
 
I will be trained as a Birth Doula. What is a Doula? Here is the definition taken straight from the Seattle Midwifery School's site, where I will undergo training to become a Doula as a part of the program:  

"What is a Birth Doula?

Doula (doo’-luh) is a Greek word referring to an experienced woman who helps other women. Today the word is used to refer to a trained person (usually a woman) who provides physical, emotional, and informational support to women and families during and after childbirth. The Simkin Center trains two types of doulas: birth doulas and postpartum doulas. A birth doula assists the pregnant woman and her family in preparing and carrying out their birth plans. She stays with the laboring mother throughout the entire birth process, providing emotional and physical support and an objective viewpoint. She helps her clients get the information they need to make informed decisions. The birth doula recognizes childbirth as a transformative life experience. Her primary objective is to nurture and protect a woman’s memory of her birth experience."

So, that in part, is what I will be doing! I will be serving primarily Latina women whom speak Spanish. Myself with another Doula (there are two in this position) will visit the women during their pregnancies, get to know them and discuss things related to birth, put on educational classes relating to birth and attend births. I will be on average, attending about four births per month. I will be working at a community health clinic in Seattle called, SeaMar. SeaMar describes themselves as, "Sea Mar Community Health Centers, founded in 1978, is a community-based organization committed to providing quality, comprehensive health and human services in Washington State. Originally founded to serve only Latinos, Sea Mar proudly serves all persons without regard to race, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, or sexual preference, and regardless of ability to pay for services." They describe the Doula position as, "Doulas serve in maternity support services, providing pre- and post-labor education and assistance for clients who lack a support system." So, in a nutshell, that is what I am doing! I will be part of Americorps, under the Healthcorps program, which, "...is part of the national AmeriCorps program. Community HealthCorps is intended to promote health care for America’s underserved populations, and helps to develop tomorrow’s health-care workforce. Community HealthCorps members provide direct service to Sea Mar clients while enhancing their skills and experiences in the field of health and human services. Each member’s personal growth is fostered through a highly supportive, challenging, and educational team environment." Americorps is a national volunteer program that has been around for many decades. I will be earning a stipend; nothing huge but enough to live off of on my own, in Seattle and pay my bills. Why did I choose this route? Well, the position really is perfect for me, for starters. Also, I need experience working in public health and the economy sucks, so this seemed to be very serendipitous. So, I leaped at the opportunity, knowing it would mean leaving Korea and having to pay back my flight money and returning to Seattle making very little money. But, I was and am perfectly ok with that.

A lot of people have suggested (and I even heavily considered) just leaving in the night. AKA a "midnight run." Which in Korea, is when you leave your school and break your contract and literally leave in the middle of the night without anyone knowing. You don't pay back your flight money or anything else you owe the school. I decided, as a firm believer in Karma, regardless of how unbelievably shitty my school has been (namely, my co-teacher), I couldn't do that. I refused to run away in the middle of the night. I also believe, that what comes around goes around. My co-teacher will get his in the end, and I can know I left as a good person, upstanding, doing the right thing. I can also bid farewell to my friends and experiences here with a sense of closure. So, that is why I refuse to run, for those wondering. 

Many people have asked (and I know are probably wondering), do I regret coming? Do I regret moving my ass over here? Assuredly, I can answer: No. Not even a little bit. This experience has changed me in ways I didn't anticipate. It has caused me to grow and stretch and has taught me so much about myself. I shouldn't be suprised, really. Honestly, coming here I thought, I've done the whole culture shock thing, I've lived abroad, I've spent a significant amount of time the last five years being outside of the country or away from everything and everyone I know. No problem!

Silly me. Life and experiences change and shape you in unimaginable ways, if you let them. I know from experience, the full realization of the change experienced, doesn't really occur until you return home and have more perspective. But, even without having returned yet, I know, I have been changed. I have encountered a culture I really don't meld very well with. I underestimated how not speaking the language would drastically change my experience. I really didn't even consider it. I have only been in countries where I speak the language, or the majority of the populace speaks excellent English. I greatly understimated how not speaking a common language would shape every aspect of my life. I have learned things about myself, realized priorities and shifted others. I have also made some great, amazing friends. The kind that can only come when you are forced into an unusual situation that others can't even being to understand. Living in an isolated community (a foreigner living in another country, for example) bonds people fast and fiercely. It is just what happens and I am sure anyone who has lived abroad, or in an unusual, tight community, would agree with me. I have made friends that I know, without a doubt, will remain with me through my life. Most, I will never see again, and I know that. That is part of the course of living the life I lead. You leave people behind, which is why leaving is almost always, bittersweet. But, I have a vibrant life to return to, and I am oh so excited. These past months have felt at times like years stretching on end that would never end.

I know many people thought I was making a mistake coming. Other people supported me with enthusiasm. I am a firm believer that everything in life happens for a reason, exactly as it should. I told a few people that I KNEW, in my core, that if I didn't go, I would regret it. Maybe not right away, but I knew that I would. I still believe that. I am glad I came, because I was always supposed to come. I subscribe to a daily inspirational quote e-mail. I love quotes, because they can so often capture what you are feeling, but lack the words to express. These two gems came to me while I was in the midst of heavy deliberation on whether or not I should go or stay. They are, "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." -T.S. Eliot and "Vitality shows not only in the ability to persist, but in the ability to start over." -F. Scott Fitzgerald. The later one especially, spoke to me. Could I stay and persist, merely surviving, not really living? Just waiting for this experience to be over? Of course I could, I know I could. But sometimes, the best thing you can do is surrender, and let it go. So, that is what I chose to do; let this experience go and move on towards something new, that spoke and called to me.

 

Kelsey gave me a card right before I left that said, "1. the path is not straight. 2. mistakes need not be fatal. 3. people are more important than achievements or possessions. 4. be gentle with your parents. 5. never stop doing what you care most about. 6. learn to use a semicolon. 7. you will find love." -Marion  Winik. I brought that card with me and have seen it every single day since I arrived. I really love the sentiment of the card, and although Kelsey sent me away with it, it is part of the reason I am choosing to come back. It was a daily reminder that this choice does not have to be permanent and that I shouldn't ever stop trying to do what I am most passionate about. Inside the card, Kelsey wrote, "I saw this quote and thought of you. 'Some people die at 25 and aren't buried until they are 75.' I assure you, you will not be one of these people!" That is one of the highest compliments she could have paid me. What I hope people gain from that quote, is regardless of how old you are, regardless of your life circumstances, never stop living. If you don't like something, change it. If you need a change, make it. Skip off to another country, travel, see the World, move. Hell, come to Korea if you feel so inclined! Just refuse to be unhappy in your life. It is your life, you only have one, and it is shorter than we know.  

I talked with a friend over the weekend as to why I came here. What brought me here. I talked about the reasons above, but we also talked about what I refer to as, "The Net" or more specifically, MY Net. I have a very strong and loyal support system at home. I have a close family, not just immediate family, but extended family as well, and a ridiculously close group of friends. These people are the net that I fall upon when things go badly. It is one of the main reasons I feel so confident in my ability to go. Because I KNOW these people will be there to catch me if and when I need to come home. I will be welcomed with open arms. They will support me no matter what. As I get older, I realize this is NOT something everyone has. Some people are fortunate to have one or the other (good friends, or good family); but I am extremely lucky to have both. I realize how important that is as I continue through life. So, why do I leave? Because I know there will always, always be people rooting for me from home to succeed and welcome me back into my life when I return. 

Some people have inquired to my financial situation with my loans, because that was a huge reason I came here. There is a loan forgiveness program that forgives all of your loans after 10 years of working in public service/non-profit (which I plan to work in anyways) and you have been on an income based repayment plan (it makes the payment very affordable). So, that is what I am doing, and the stress from the loans is very much lifted knowing that this is an option! It has taken hours and hours upon hours over Skype trying to figure this out, but it is finally coming through!

So, come July 26th, I will leave Korea. I will leave for Australia to see Colin for a week and a half or so, where I will go to Sydney, Uluru (Ayer's Rock) and check off one of my ultimate Bucket Lists goals: Scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef. I am very, very excited for that trip! I will return to Seattle August 8th! I will start my new job on August 15th. Or so, goes the plan. I am telling my school today that I am quitting, and I know it probably will not go well. I am just hoping that they don't fire me. If they do fire me? Well, I will be going home sooner than expected, because that is just sometimes how life goes. I will let you know all how that goes! Hopefully WWIII doesn't erupt. It will probably make an interesting blog update, in the least! Maybe I will be fired...or maybe they will just make my life hell! I will let you all know, soon enough!

 

There are so many things I am looking forward to, they are almost too numerous to list, and so many things I will NOT miss about this place, that I will write about them at a later date!

 

Stay tuned.

 

See some of you VERY soon!!

Rainy times.

It has been quite a long time since I updated you, so here goes ( :

It is official; the monsoon season has officially begun. Summer here is characterized by high temperatures, high rates of humidity…and lots of rain; unfortunately. I have experienced summers in a lot of different countries and a lot of different states. I am NOT A big fan of humidity. Nicaragua was crazy humid, but there was the beach. Plus, it only rained in the afternoon and was sunny the rest of the time. Not so much here! Being from Seattle, I have (as all Seattle-ites do) different names for rain. There is never really just, rain. There is drizzle. Light rain. Mist. Downpours. Light drizzle. Pelting rain and many more. For the drizzle or the mist, Seattle people don’t usually use umbrellas, unless they are concerned about their hair, lol. So, I often don’t use one here (what’s the point, if it is a little mist or drizzle?) and the Koreans are always very confused. The sidewalks after school have become a mass heard of hundreds of girls ALL with umbrellas. It is taking me literally ten minutes longer to get home, trying to weave through the umbrellas! It is quite a funny sight.

The humidity here is very bad. Not as bad as I have experienced, but bad. For some reason, the air-conditioning in my school is almost NEVER on. So, you sit or stand and teach…and sweat. On the plus side, I have stopped wearing a lot of make up to school (which cuts down on my getting ready time in the morning) because by 9 am, it was just melting off and leaving big nasty streaks on my face. Fortunately, I have AC in my apartment, so I turn it on intermittently because it is expensive. Ah, the gloriousness of AC.

In more unfortunate and frustrating news, the AC Adapter (aka the battery/thing that plugs into the wall and my computer) DIED. My computer is old (nearly 3 years old) and was only $300 to begin with. So, needless to say, it is on its last legs. BUT, I don’t want to deal with buying a new one here, if at all possible. As my laptop slowly died, I frantically was backing up my music and anything else I could onto a 16 GB memory stick that I had just bought at Costco for this very purpose. I have had horrible luck with laptops, and am used to this process. I have a WD External Hard drive at home, but hadn’t backed up since being in Korea. Let’s just say I have lost a lot of data in my life, and have since learned (the hard way) the merits of backing up your shit. If your data isn’t backed up (so I was told be a techie friend) it isn’t important to you. Truer words were never said! I found replacement universal cords online for like $20 in the states. I was told I could easily find one in Korea, in the electronics district in Seoul. I had nothing going on one day last week, so asked my co-teacher if it would be at all possible to leave school after lunch (and not get paid) to head to Seoul so I could make it there in time before the shops closed, to get a cord. He responded in one of his favorite lines of, “It is my opinion, it is not possible. Korean public schools are very strict.” Ok, whatever, I tried. But then, to my amazement, he suggested I bring it to the technology teacher at school and that he could probably fix it or had a replacement one! Best of all, he said the school would pay for it! I was in shock! The school AND co-teacher offering to go above and beyond and help me?!? Insanity! Too good to be true! I was super happy and accepted. I learned the hard way 5 days later that I will never accept help from my school AGAIN.

The technology teacher cut my cord up, didn’t have a replacement and then sent it to a computer engineer. Or that is the word they used. They said the computer engineer couldn’t fix it. Well, NO SHIT Sherlock!! You cut the POS up!!!!! I kept asking for it back, so I could at least have the info to go to Seoul (I was heading there that weekend regardless). My co-teacher said the computer engineer was going to order a new one and the school would pay for it. You know, since they cut it up and all and I didn’t even ask for help. Sweet! No worries! So, I went to Seoul (more on that in a minute) and didn’t go looking for an adapter.

I have had to work the past two Saturdays (which I’ve been paid for, but still sucks, haven’t slept in in weeks, but anyways) and last Saturday, I was called by my co-teacher (I was working at a neighboring school for a special event) and he asked me where I was. Which he always does whenever he calls. What does it matter where I am? It isn’t any of your business!! It is fucking Saturday!! I tell him I am working at the neighboring school. He tells me to come in because my adapter replacement is in. Yay! I tell him I can’t come in, because I am working, so I will just get it on Monday. No big deal, I told him. He kept saying, come in, come in, come in. I kept explaining, no, I can’t, I am working, sorry. He then eventually says, you have to come in, the computer engineer must be paid. Uhhh say whhhaaattt?? The school was supposed to pay for it. He then tells me it is going to be 40,000 Won, about $40 USD. I found some online for $10 in Seoul!!!! I was pissed. I explained sorry, can’t come in and we hung up eventually. Then, he kept calling and calling. But, I just ignored him. What an ASS!!! So, I come in Monday and he wants the money, I don’t have it because it is almost payday and I am pretty much out of money. I send home the bulk of my money and leave here only what I need to survive. I tell him it will have to wait until payday. I am hoping he just forgets and the school has to pay for it, like they said they would. Why? The POS doesn’t even work!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, it works, but only if I hold it in place. Nice, eh? So, I have a $40 adapter that is for all intensive purposes, useless. Never trust the Jang. I am essentially computer-less at home, thank god for smart phones!

As I said, I went to Seoul! It was a fun weekend with my ladies from Jochiwon. We went to a spa in our town on Saturday (a Jingilbang) which is a Korean naked spa! There is one in the Seattle area, but I’ve never been. I’m not really a “naked” person publicly, but I thought, what the hell, when in Rome! Err, Korea. So, off we went. I turned out to just be the four of us in the entire spa (which was very small) and a cleaning woman…who was cleaning naked. Weird, but ok. It was so nice to just relax and have some girl time. You really forget you’re naked very quickly and just relax. In the dry sauna, they were cooking eggs. So freaking strange! It was overall a very nice, if interesting, experience! Got to soak in the tubs and sit in the saunas.

After that, we headed off to Seoul! My friend Maryam and I headed to the shopping districts of Seoul for H&M and Namdeumun Market (an enormous market, the biggest I’ve ever been in), while Charlotte and Rebecca headed off to the aquarium. Boy, did we shop! I spent way too much money, but had an awesome time! The market place was huge and very overwhelming at times. You can find literally ANYTHING there you could possibly think of. It is most definitely the place to go for Korean souvenirs, which are WAY cheaper than anywhere else. And not the tacky shit (well, that is there too), but I am not a fan of that shit. I am not the person that buys key chains that say, ‘Korea’. I like to decorate with stuff from my Wordly travels, so I tend to buy pottery, art prints, wall hangings and that sort of stuff. I got a few really pretty pieces to add to my collection! They are hard to transport, but whatevs! I also got some cheap, awesome clothes! You can barter in this place, which is awesome! It made me think of all of Kristina and I’s adventures, because one of our favorite things to do is explore markets in other countries and shop! It was a lot of fun! Don’t know how I am going to get everything home…but I will deal with that later ( :

After shopping, we met back up with Rebecca and Charlotte, and went to a Hello Kitty Café! Only in Korea. It was SO awesome! Pink EVERYTHING! Even the food and drinks were Hello Kitty inspired; either in color or appearance. Such a cute little place. There are pictures of it up in the “Seoul” album on Facebook. After the Hello Kitty Café, we went to Mexican food. I have officially given up on Mexican food in Korea…it just isn’t good! Maybe I am being a Mexican food snob, but I know what I like! Plus, it was CRAZY spicy! I didn’t even get to enjoy the tacos! Afterwards, we trekked home for the 90 minute train ride back to The Joch. It was such a fun, and very much need, ladies weekend!

I feel like something else big has happened, but I can’t remember! So, I think that is about it for now. Look for another blog Monday…it will have some interesting and exciting stuff to report! ( :

Next weekend I am going to the DMZ (the Demilitarized Zone) between South and North Korea, which I am really excited for! Something I have wanted to do before even coming here! Two weeks after that, The Mud Festival the beach! PUMPED for that!

Talk to you all sooner rather than later.

Peace!

Korean Packing List: My opinion on the must-brings and unnecessary items

This blog is materializing out of the sheer fact that I am BORED OUT OF MY MIND, rather than having something to update you all on. I have been meaning to blog about what to bring and not to bring to Korea. Why? I love lists AND I spent countless hours (as did others I know) scouring over blogs, sites and forums over people’s lists of what to bring and what not to bring, to Korea. If you have ever traveled with me, or seen my packing, you know I DON’T travel lightly. One would think that after 23 countries and years of being in physical pain from TOO MUCH SHIT, I would learn. But, I don’t. Instead, I always hear Kristina or my sister telling me to get rid of my shit or telling me I don’t need the 4th bottle of shampoo, I can buy it there. So, anyways, here it goes. But, remember, this is just my opinion on the topic! Other people (especially guys) may have very different opinions!

Here are some things I brought, because I was told they are impossible or very difficult to find in Korea:

1.)    Tampons (Read that Korean women don’t use them/they are really hard to find)

2.)    Vitamins (Read they are impossible to find)

3.)    American toothpaste (Read/was told that it tastes like ass here)

4.)    American gum (Same as above/loses its flavor quickly)

5.)    Spices (Spices are very different here, so bring your favorites from home)

6.)    Favorite tea (same as spices)

7.)    Light colored face make-up (Koreans have different colored skin)

8.)    Birth control (in its various forms) (Read this will be hard to find/you will meet wrath at the Pharmacist for birth control)

9.)    Bras/underwear for a year (Korea doesn’t have American sizes if you are bigger than a B cup)

10.) Enough clothes for a year (Pretty much if you aren’t anorexic, bring clothes)

11.) Shoes for a year (Westerners feet are bigger than Koreans)

12.) Lotions (Was told/read most lotions here have whiteners)

13.)  Deodorant for a year (was told it is impossible to find here)

Ok! About half of above I would bring, half I wouldn’t.

First on the list: Tampons. Say what? These are EVERYWHERE. Costco has many American brands. If I can find them at the corner mart in my little Podunk Jochiwon, you can find them ANYWHERE. Enough said. Ladies, they weigh nothing, but you can get them here, don’t fret.

Vitamins: Costco has all the vitamins/supplements that I brought. The same brand (Kirkland) in fact. Had I known this, I most definitely would NOT have brought these. Why? Do you know how much space a years worth of daily vitamins and Fish oil pills takes up? Let’s not even talk about weight. I probably had about five pounds in vitamins. Get a Costco card; it will be your friend. Unless you take some strange ass pill, it is probably here in Korea. They are all about health.

American toothpaste/gum: I would bring this again. BUT, you can find it in foreigner markets and at Costco, though it is very expensive. It doesn’t take up a lot of space/weight, so this one can stay or go. I would bring it, because of the cost here. I am NOT a fan of Korean Xylitol (the gum, that isn’t mint flavored) or the funky toothpaste.

Spices: If you plan on cooking (I cook almost everyday, most people here don’t). I would say bring spices because they don’t weigh much. I have so far found almost everything here in foreigner markets or at Costco, but for a significant price. I brought a few with me and would probably do so again.

Favorite tea: I am a tea drinker and most Korean tea is made with rice (yuck!). If you are a fan of British teas (what I drink) you can find it at Costco or Homeplus…but they weigh nothing and are more expensive here. So, if there is space, I would throw them in!!

Light colored face make-up: You can find it here. It is more expensive. They have lots of Western products (I.e. Clinique) but for an exorbitant cost. You can get face make-up at local places though for about what you would pay at home. No need to bring a years supply like I did….

Birth Control: Depending on what you use, this may change things. The pill is readily (and cheaply) available here without a prescription from a pharmacist. Though I have never gotten it here (I brought it or have had it sent), I have been told it is in the $5-7 range per pack. Although it is probably worth mentioning that some of the girls I have talked to have gotten some awkward grunts and disapproving stares from the male pharmacists. Anything else more specific (Nuva, patch etc...) I would probably bring. Supposedly Korean condoms don’t fit guys. I can’t offer advice on that one! Other than every guy (Western) guy saying they are too small! But, you can find Western brands at E-mart (like Wal-Mart).

Bras/underwear for a year: Yes, absolutely, 100% stock up on that shit before leaving! If you are bigger than a B cup you will NOT find bras here. If they exist, I haven’t found them. Costco carries many of the same bra packs Costco in the states carries, but only up to the B size. Underwear: It is ugly, poor quality and weird material. AND my washing machine destroys my shit (especially the delicates) so stock up!!!

Enough clothes: Unless you are very large (speaking for females here, not sure about guys, I imagine tall and/or very large guys have issues). You are fine. There is GAP, Forever 21, H&M, Zara and other places in the bigger cities where you will find clothes with no problem. You won’t be shopping at your local underground place easily if you aren’t a stick, but you won’t be running around naked here. No worry to bring everything you need for a year. Evidence? My shopping trip to H&M last weekend!!

Shoes for a year: Unless you have really large feet as a woman (or maybe guys have more of an issue) you will never have problems. However, Korean shoes are very narrow. But, you can get western brand shoes at all the big stores in bigger cities and at Costco. No worries here.

Lotions (body/face): Sunscreens and face lotions, I would say bring them. Most I have seen have a whitener in it. So, unless you like looking like Casper, bring your own. For body lotion, there are plenty here that don’t have whitener. Costco carries the same double Aveeno pack that I brought here with me! More expensive of course, but those things were freaking heavy and took up a lot of space!!

Deodorant: Yes, it is very hard to find here. Koreans don’t really wear it (but yes, they have BO, the smell is starting to appear with the warmer weather, blech). I have seen men’s deodorant (but in very limited quantities and for a lot of money) in random places and foreigner markets, but haven’t seen women’s deodorant. I brought enough for a year, I would recommend doing the same!! That is one item you really don’t want to be without!!

Something I wasn’t told to bring/didn’t read anywhere about, was face wash. That shit is EXPENSIVE here. I have no idea why. Probably because stores carry primarily Western face washes (I.e.: Clearasil, Neutrogena etc…) but OMG, it is very expensive. I haven’t bought any here yet because I brought two with me, but that is something I would defiantly add to the list!

Also, medicine. MEDICINE! MEDICINE! MEDICINE! Bring cold medicine!!!! I brought some, but I wasn’t prepared for the way Korea would ravage my poor body and immune system. Thankfully, I have people that love me and send me medicine from home, because Korean cold medicine SUCKS and doesn’t work. I would (If I ever did this again, LOL) go to Costco and bring two or three Costco size boxes of Dayquil/Nyquil pills. Seriously. Cough drops (Halls) are everywhere, so no need for those. Benadryl, cold meds, Excedrin…haven’t found it here. Didn’t bring nearly enough for a year, and have since had lots of it sent over.

Hand Sanitizer: It is here but VERY expensive. I would say it is about 3x the price you would pay in the states. A pump style bottle that might run you $3 or so at home, I paid around $12 for and it was ON SALE! Little mini ones are $3-4. I don’t understand why, probably because it hasn’t caught on here yet. I am now a freak about using this stuff since I work in a school and am always sick. Bring it! I would have replaced the lotion with bottles of sanitizer, lol.

English books: I am an avid reader. I didn’t bring a lot of books over (due to weight), but I have found everything I have wanted here. There are multiple English bookstores in Korea, so you can really find anything.

There were only a few things I was told specifically to NOT bring. That was hair appliances: Hair dryer, straightener, curling iron etc… Why? I was told that even with a converter they tend to short out. I have had friends use their American straighteners and hair dryers abroad that shorted even with an adapter, but I decided to risk it. Well, guess what happened? The very first time I plugged my straightener in (with an adapter AND converter!!!) it sparked and died ) : I haven’t tried my curling iron because I am afraid of what will happen. I didn’t bring a hair dryer because they take up too much space. I bought a good straightener for like $25, they are everywhere. Leave the hair appliances at home!

Something I brought, but a lot of other people I know didn’t bring, are converters/adapters. Maybe it is because I have traveled a lot and know you need them, but once in another country, finding the adapters you need is quite difficult. It isn’t impossible, but they are MUCH more expensive and really hard to find. I came with an international set for traveling and such. I use my Korean one everyday for my laptop! So, be sure to pack those before coming over.

I think that is about it. I am sure there are a million other things, but that will have to do it for today.

I promise to have a real update soon! Not much to report here, same old same old!

Miss all you who are stateside or in other countries!!

Love,

Kimberly

Three Months In

Ok, it’s been three weeks. I figure it is high-time for an update!

I don’t even know where to begin, life has seemed like a mish-mash of things lately. Time seems a bit stagnant, nothing really changing. In the past few weeks, I have had many days off from school, including a four-day weekend, a random day off mid-week and a sick day last week. Here we goooooo!!!!

Right after I published my last blog update, I had a day off on Thursday and spent it in Daejeon with my friend Rebecca, who lives here in my town, Jochiwon. We went to a café/coffee shop that also doubled as a fish foot spa. You sit on the edge of a bath, dunk your feet in the water and little fish eat the dead skin off of your feet! It was a bizarre, very Korean thing to do. So, I decided I had to do it. Although at first it was seriously the weirdest sensation I have ever felt (almost like little bolts of electricity, gently tapping against your skin) we both eventually relaxed into it and stayed for hours! It was really fun. There was talk of travel, Korea and life…all while getting our feet exfoliated! The fish really enjoyed my feet, which means I had a lot of dead skin! There was a marked difference on my feet before/after. They actually made this hole-like thing in my skin! It would be really good to go to right before getting a pedicure to loosen up your skin! The movement is called Dr. Fish. Google it if interested! I have videos and pictures up on Facebook. My feet are now nice and soft ( :

After Dr. Fish, we headed off to Costco, because I can’t go to Daejeon and NOT go to Costoco. I purchased two things there that have radically changed my life here in Korea: a fan and sheets. Yes, that’s right: changed my life! I am used to sleeping with a fan on throughout the night thanks to my many travels with Kristina. It is just nice white noise and refreshes the air in the room. But, let me tell you, getting a fan in Korea was NO easy task. Why? Fan Death. Yes, Fan Death. At some point in the 1980’s the Korean government announced this horrible occurrence that became known as Fan Death. There was a rash of suicides (or so the story goes) and to cover it up, the government created/announced Fan Death. Fan Death is when a fan is left on all night and sucks all the oxygen out of the room, resulting in the occupant’s death. Yes, I am serious. As a result, fans are not only very difficult to find here (I even went from store to store, pointed at my dictionary, and was given a very emphatic and horrified NO NO NO NO NO!!!! With wildly waving hands), but they often also come with time switches that prevent you from keeping it on all night/aka saving you from Fan Death. Apparently, the government recently came out saying that they have “proven” that Fan Death doesn’t really exist…LOL! Anways, I found a fan at Costco that also has a constant button! So, now I have my fan, I am risking Fan Death at night and get to sleep on real, nice, soft, sheets! I didn’t have sheets since I’ve been here because I switched from a twin bed (which the school provided sheets for) to a queen size bed. It made for very uncomfortable nights of sleep. Fans+sheets=a very happy Kimberly.

I had one day more that week (Friday, Korea doesn’t observe holidays on say, Friday or Monday, you just get them off where they fall, boo!), and then I had a FOUR day weekend! It was glorious. I so needed it. I really didn’t do anything of significance, which was exactly the point. I hung out, spent some time drinking and laughing my ass off until I cried, slept, cooked, cleaned, did laundry, went to the gym, read and watched Mad Men. Chris came for the day on his way out of the country before leaving for Australia to say good-bye, which was a fun day as well!

The weekend before last, my friend Amy from graduate school, was in Seoul for business. I was so excited and happy when she contacted me and said she would be here and wanted to spend a day together! I last saw Amy about this time last year in San Francisco (where she lives) and before that, in good ol’ Vermont. We decided to spend the day in Suwon. We went to a living history museum (think Colonial Williamsburg or Plymouth, Korean style). It was entertaining and I am glad I went, but it wasn’t overly impressive. The company was great though! It was good to see someone from home, catch up, and bitch about grad school, debt and life! Sometimes you just need those moments with friends. We also went and saw this huge, old fortress and palace. Unfortunately, some of it was down for refurbishment, so it was covered up in tarps! Oh, well. Amy speaks fluent Japanese (she taught/lived there for FOUR years! I don’t know how she did it), so at tourist centers she was able to communicate in Japanese! How fun is that?

Speaking of languages, I have started Korean classes through the educational office in my town. I missed one due to my illness, but have been studying a bit on my own. I can officially read/identify most of the alphabet! Translation: This is the hardest f*cking thing I have ever done, in my ENTIRE life. For some reason, the Korean language and I are not friends. We just aren’t. At least four people have tried to teach me, and I took a two-hour class at orientation. But, slowly but surely, it is comin’ along. I am up to about 22 (I counted, lol) Korean words that I can say (forget reading/writing) and successfully read the word “Pirates” (it was a literal translation from English to Korean) in the movie times! It was a happy, exciting moment! This is what I sound like reading: Piiiii, oh that is a P! Iiiii, oh that is an I! Raaaa, R! Ttttt, T! Es!!! PIRATES!!!!! It takes awhile, but I can get the job done…sometimes!

Speaking of Pirates of the Caribbean, I saw the movie here this past weekend! I have decided that the Pirates movie franchise is the one that I have seen in the most exciting places. I saw Pirates 1 and 3 at the drive-in theater in Everett (North Seattle), that is unfortunately no longer with us, RIP Puget Park!!! I saw the 2^nd Pirates in Munich with Kristina, where we chose seeing two movies in the city and not sightseeing (lol) and now the 4^th, in Korea! For this reason, the Pirates franchise has a soft spot in my heart. Plus, it is Disney and based off of one of my favorite rides, so no brainer!

On the teaching front, I thought I would share one of my most heart-warming moments that I recently had. And by heart-warming, I mean it raised my blood-pressure to a dangerously high-zone, warming. Thursdays are my hell days. I have my two worst classes (I have 16 total every week) and every class of theirs is always, ALWAYS Hell. I don’t even try controlling the majority of them anymore. I teach to the 8 girls who give a shit, and let the others do what they want. I also teach 6 classes on Thursdays (I teach 2 and 3 most other days) so I don’t have the energy to put forth to get them to STFU. My first class of the day is the worst, which contains my worst student, whom I have nicknamed (not to her face, of course!) psychopath. She just…is. There really is no other way to describe her. Even my Korean co-teacher told me to ignore her and not try, because they can’t even control her. She will randomly laugh maniacally in your face or do something just…completely psycho. Case in point: Last Thursday, I had to teach without a coteacher (she warned me of this the day before), so I was emotionally prepared for battle, I knew that it was going to be hell. The class was, of course, rambunctious and insane. I am doing something on my computer and all of a sudden, I hear this WHIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. A whirring sound in the distance+psycho laughing is never, NEVER a good thing to hear. I look up…and WTF!?!? I see pyshopath girl with a mother fucking DRILL! An electric drill. She is holding it in the air, drilling away, laughing psychotically, while other students lunge at the drill and try to get the drill to stab papers as she is dodging with a moving drill that has a drill bit on it!! I literally, outloud, though I know no students heard me because they were too engrossed with the paper-drilling-dodging-just waiting for an eyeball to come out-goings on, I go, “What the FUCK?!?” One of the girls involved in this little charade is half Australian/Korean, so speaks 100% fluent English (it is spoken in her home), so she also adds trouble to the class because she knows how to say, Hi my name is Kimberly and I like animals, or whatever…Anyways, I go over and yell, “ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?!?” The Australian/Korean girl clearly understood me, I don’t know if the other girls understood my English, but they got the message. Psycho handed the drill over and then I was like WTF do I do with this?!? And just put it under my desk. I then proceeded to turn on Youtube videos (which I’ve never done before) and sat on the window ledge convincing myself not to jump…ok it wasn’t that bad lol. But, I was definitely having a moment. It didn’t make matters any better that I was extremely sick and really didn’t want to deal with drilling, paper-dodging psychos. The rest of the day followed suit and was a day from hell.

Speaking of being sick. I am sick AGAIN. Though, on the tail end of it as I write this. I started getting sick about 10 days ago, just feeling lethargic and felt the all-telling tickle in my throat. By last Sunday (8 days ago) I was SICK. Full-blown, crazy sick. I knew I wasn’t going to school Monday, but hoped for the best. I woke-up last Monday morning and had no voice, felt like dying and was just in pain, everywhere. Sore throat, sinus pressure/infection, migraine, cough etc…So, I called in. My coteacher didn’t give me any grief, which I was shocked about! Tuesday morning, I go to school, (had I been in the US I would have been home), and the FIRST thing he says to me is, “It is my opinion that when we have many holidays, you should not take sick days.” I was enraged. We had the four-day weekend and the random holiday. But, seriously?!? Yes, I purposely planned this. Monday is a super easy day for me (teach few classes), but I decided to just waste one of my 7 sick days merely to piss you off. Next time, I will make sure I get sick on a holiday so I don’t irritate you. The nerve. But, it makes sense. Koreans don’t take sick days, either do Korean children. One of the reasons I am always sick. Or, as my co-teacher thinks, because I am vegetarian. He says to me (almost immediately proceeding the don’t take sick days when we have holidays comment), “It is my opinion that you should begin eating meat.” Ok, I’ll get right on that. Screw 6 years of vegetarianism, it is causing the common cold and flu!!! Someone get him a Nobel Peace Prize. So now everyday, I get to hear (at least twice) to eat meat and asking what meat I have eaten the previous day. And, for the record, no, I am not eating meat. What I want to scream at him is, “Maybe, Mr. Jang, I am getting sick because you people NEVER wash your hands (there isn’t even soap in the girls bathroom, and the teachers rarely wash their hands in the teacher’s room, case in point: a bar of soap lasts an entire month in the bathroom for 20+ women), don’t take sick days so you come to school sick and spread germs EVERYWHERE! And my poor, compromised, American immune system that isn’t used to these new strains of bacteria, IS FREAKING THE FUCK OUT!” But, instead I say, “Ok, thank you Mr. Jang.” Sigh. At least this bout of illness I was fully equipped. Between my Mom/Aunt/Grandma, I had liquid Nyquil, day/night cold medicine, inhalers, antihistamines, Vick’s, Mucinex and probably more stuff. My poor kidneys have taken so much abuse here from all the drugs I have to dump into my body!

Another potential cause for my persistent illnesses (other than those listed above) is the fact that my girls love me, and as a result, will randomly pop food into my mouth mid-sentence, so I don’t have time to react/refuse. These are the same hands that go unwashed after using the bathroom….While I appreciate the sentiment, my immune system/germophobic self, does not. I obsessively use hand sanitizer (so much to the point that my students ask, “Teacher, why, always lotion?” and after each hand-to-mouth food incident, I make up an EmergenC shot in a dixie cup and shoot it. It is like sanitizer for my mouth….the logic works, right?!?! Lol.

The weather continues to get warmer here (yay!) and more humid (not so yay, but I will take it over the bitter cold!) With nice weather, comes travel plans! This weekend I head to the beach, and soon I will be headed to Jeju Island. Think Hawaii, but less tropical.

On a more sad note that I feel I must mention because it is still bothering me....is something I witnessed on Saturday. I was walking out of my gym, and heard a little whimper and cry, sounded very much like a puppy's whimper. There are usually two dogs chained up on the side of the gym (the kind of dogs that are eaten here) and I looked, to see that the large adult white dog had been replaced with a small, furry little puppy. My heart broke into a million pieces. As soon as he saw me, he tried lunging to get to me and was crying like crazy. I hesitated for a moment, afraid I would get yelled at for petting the food/dog, but thought, I don't give a shit! I went over and gave him some love and pets. He was so happy! Wagged his little tail like crazy and gave me kisses. Our little moment was short lived because the remaining adult dog on a chain kept lunging at me (couldn't get to me because he was chained) and barking like crazy. So, I reluctantly stopped and walked away...to more puppo cries ) : Poor little puppo. It really bothered me. I know some people make the argument that "we" (Americans/westerners) eat cows, and others think those are sacred, we eat pigs, others think those are sacred/have behaviors very similar to dogs and etc...but, I DON'T EAT ANY OF THEM. Because of this, it deeply bothered me. I see the dogs often here chained, waiting for their eventual death and place on the dinner table, but I just have to try and ignore it. But…the puppy. Seeing a PUPPY just killed me. Usually the dogs look really depressed and aren't animated. This puppy was very animated because...well, it is a puppy! I know it is something I can't change here, just as I don't agree with the way animals in our own country are raised/slaughtered for food. It is just hard when something so cute and fuzzy is in your face, and giving your hand kisses, to ignore the harsh reality it faces. My heart is still broken from it. I am an animal lover (one of the reasons for my vegetarianism) and a dog/puppy lover. I wasn't raised with dogs (we always had cats), but when my sister had goldens (Sadie and Sammers), I realized I had a dog-shaped hole in my heart and didn't even realize it. I am now a bona-fide dog person and this just...ahh. Clearly, really bothered me. Thoughts of stealing said puppy have definitely entered my mind...but how to get said puppy back home, LOL.

I think that is about it for this long story. This Friday marks the official I’ve been teaching for 1/4 of a year in Korea. Craziness! I have been gone (including orientation) for over three months now.

Since I have been gone officially for over three months, I thought I would talk about some of the things that I miss. I clearly miss all of my people, but beyond that, the “things” we take for granted, or never had to do without before, or have, but don’t like it.

They are: Trader Joe’s. Wine. Washing machines that don’t eat/destroy my clothes (for whatever reason, they are really hard on clothes here.) Washing machines that have the ability to wash in hot water. A dryer. Non-stiff clothes due to air-drying. The ability for clothes to dry quickly (the humidity that is starting makes air-drying quite the process). Animals as pets in my life. Driving. The ability to get in a car and just go where I want to go. The radio. New music on said radio. Having a choice of many different outfits rather than having to wear the same damn thing every week to school (I only have so many modest/professional outfits!). Diet Pepsi. Seltzer water. Ovens (I don’t have one). Farmers markets. PCC. Taco Time. Chipotle. Mexican food. Limes. Avocados. Guacamole. Good, crisp apples. The ability to go to the doctor without hassle or wondering if you’ll be understood. Not being sick constantly. Refried beans. Baths. Showers that don’t get my entire bathroom wet. Carpet. Shopping/wandering aimlessly at Target or Wal-Mart or wherever. My gym. Spin class. Weight lifting class. Nice gym equipment. Elliptical machines. Yoga class. Hot tubs. Saunas. Recycling. Being understood/understanding everything. Comfortable beds. The smell of BBQ in the air. Fresh air. Not having allergies. Grass. The smell of fresh cut grass. Seeing water. Seattle.

And of course, I miss all of you!! Talk to you all soon, write me and update me on your lives ( :

Love ya!

Kimberly