Happy New Year!

Just wanted to wish you all a safe and happy New Year!!!

We'll let you know how it starts off!!!

Yahooo 2010!!


Much Love
XOXOXO
Jenny and Ed

What you all missed on Facebook!

Here is a small sample of my Facebook Statuses throughout the year. I think it sums it up pretty well.

Do You Know JaeBum?

New Dialogue from Korean Students:

Student: "Teacher, where are you from?"
Me: "America."
Student: "Ohhhh teacher, do you know Jae Bum???"

Finally "I'm fine. How are you?" is out the window, however this new line of questioning has started some problems on its own.

The History:
Soo way back in September there was a HUGE controversy here in the K-pop land. One of the members of a group known as 2PM quit due to some 'scandalous' comments he had made on his myspace page.

Jae Bum, former leader of 2PM and who is Korean American had come over to Korea to star in a K-Pop band a few years ago. He was suffering from some culture shock and wrote some not so nice things that he posted on his website. Well somebody found out about and started harassing him. He couldn't take it anymore, so he quit the group. Needless to say when he quit he quickly left Korea to head back to his home country of USA.

Now this isn't supposed to be a history lesson on Jae Bum, but rather a funny story about the aftermath...

The Beginning:

Student: "Teacher, you from America? You know Jae Bum?"
Me: (this happens to be the 400th time I've been asked this question since September) "Yes I know of Jae Bum."
Student: (all excited) "Teacher REALLY!!! You know Jae Bum?"
Me: "Do you really think I know Jae Bum?"
Student: "TEACHER KNOWS JAE BUM!!!"
Me: "No I don't know Jae Bum. I. Don't. Know. Jae Bum!"

Unfortunately the lines of communication were closed after I answered yes to the first question because said student only heard that I know Jae Bum and nothing I could have said afterwards mattered. AT ALL. She was just too excited that I answered yes. In hindsight, I shouldn't have played along, but well I did.

So a week later, Ed posts something on facebook to the tune of "I didn't know that my wife is famous and knows Jae Bum."

Yes, that's right. Said student above clearly did not hear me say that I don't know Jae Bum and went around telling people. And it got back to Ed. Which means that it has now gone all over Yeosu that I know Jae Bum.

Ed said his students were crushed to find out that I didn't actually know Jae Bum. CRUSHED. I haven't seen said student to let her know (again) that I was joking, but hope to run into her soon.
The Lesson

So the lesson of this story is to reiterate to all of you teachers out there: Don't use sarcasm. Actually it should be better to say: NO SARCASM EVER. ESL students generally don't get it. And if you are talking about K-Pop, forget it. They really wont get it.

Yet on the other hand, if you are in Yeosu and hear a rumor that there is an English teacher here who knows a Korean Pop Star, its me. Shhhhhh I also have his cell phone number.....

Octopus and Feet

Hello from Korea!

So we have had a busy week this week. I guess first off, I should let you all know that I have a small fracture of my sesamoid bone. For all those non-doctors in the house, its one of the bones in your foot, more like the ball of your foot. After doing some research I think it might be more like a severe case of sesimoditis, but if I don't rest it could become worse. Take a look the picture:

I hurt it a few months ago when I was playing soccer and running everyday. I went to the hospital back then, but the doctors couldn't find anything. So I rested and just started exercising full force last week. Well it started hurting again and I went back to the hospital.

Needless to say I freaked out the ER doctor because he's English wasn't that wonderful, so he was super nervous talking to me. He thought it was just a severe case of sesamoiditis. Luckily, the nurses paged one of the orthopedic surgeons (who was not nervous around me) and he looked at my X-Rays and noticed the small crack. So for now I'm in a ghetto walking cast for two to three weeks (hence sesamoiditis versus a fractured bone--if it was really fractured I would be in a straight up cast). The doctor did say to me several times "Jennifer, please please please no more soccer," so I guess I just have to rest for now.

In other news, Ed and I were invited to one of his student's houses for dinner last night. Her English ability is growing, so a lot does get lost in translation. I guess she asked Ed if we eat 'manuel' (which we thought meant garlic) so he said yes. Well he obviously mis-heard/mis understood her because when we arrived, there was no garlic in sight. It was more like octopus, oysters, and fish for dinner.

It was a night of firsts for both of us. In order not to be rude, we had to try everything that was offered and while some of the dishes were pretty common place, others were not.

Yes there was live octopus offered. And yes, we both ate it. There was cooked octopus offered. And yes, we both ate it. Steamed oysters were offered. And we both ate it. There was even raw crab brains offered. And despite trying to cover up our rice bowls, we both had to eat it. And finally cooked octopus head (yes brains, eyes, nose; the head) was offered. Only Ed ate that one.

Overall it was a very educational evening. I ate things that I never wanted to eat. Just so you all know, live octopus tastes just like cooked octopus, tough and chewy, except it moves a bit in your mouth.

Ed said cooked octopus head isn't actually that bad if you don't think you are eating an octopus's head. He said it tasted like a giant oyster.

Raw crab brains tastes like you would think it would taste like. Vomit. It made us wonder who in their right mind ever thought to eat that, then label it a delicacy.

Oysters were very good.

I can't say that I'll be running out to eat some more octopus live or dead, and I definitely won't be eating raw crab ever again, if I can help it. Oysters on the other hand I will try again.

Some Pictures

I'm not sure how many of you actually click on the photo option on the right hand side of this blog, so I thought I'd go ahead and show you some previews of Ed's (and my) photography skills. Granted most of the pictures have been taken by Ed, but I snuck a few good ones in there as well. So for now, here are some pictures. We have tons more to edit, so as soon as Ed gets that done, I'll post them!

Yeochun Bay

Local Pottery Man and Child

Suncheon Bay

Sado Island Ferry Dock

Our friends from the 80's Party (this is Chris)

Robin (Hugo in the background)

Katie

Tamsin (Hope you like this one!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Ed and I wish you all the best of days...eat lots of food, drink lots of wine, and sneak in an extra piece of pie (or cookies) for us!!

Thanksgiving here in Korea is pretty low key. We both had to work--which takes the celebration out of things--but we were able to cook a Thanksgiving-ish type meal tonight. Chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, gravy, and a quasi-apple crumble. Not bad for Korea, I'd say!

Anyways--hope your days are full of love and thanks...I know that we are sending our love and thanks your way!

PS: I was finally able to update our pictures-our new computer/camera has granted me that wish! Look to the right of the page and you will find the new pictures. Enjoy!

Student Gems

I had the kids write post cards last week for their travel unit. I got some really awesome ones; the students were very creative. Below is one of my favorites, and you can see why. Even though the written English isn't the best, he does get his point across! Just in case you can't read his hand writing:

Dear Mom,
I'm in Texas USA.
The weather is good and hot.
So far we seen the many people and cow.
I fight cow and eat cow.
Cow is very good.
I bought cow.
Love You!


And the front of the post card....

Happy Veterans Day....I mean Pepero Day!

Hey Everyone,

Just wanted to give a huge shout out to our Veterans, those old and new. Ed and I certainly appreciate the job that you have done for us and we are very glad that the country takes a moment or two to fully recognize your commitment for our country. If you ask me, we need more moments like today to happen.

So once again, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you a million times over.

And on a ridiculous side note, while most of the world (okay Canada and America) celebrates its veterans, Korea celebrates something entirely different, the Pepero.

You may remember Peperos from last year, but just in case you don't, Pepero Day is a completely commercialized based holidays where companies sell massive amounts of chocolate covered bread sticks and pretzels. Why??

Simple silly. November 11th, or 11/11 can be made completely with these stick like snacks.

Let's just sum it up by saying that most teachers get a gazillion Peperos because students love them so much. See below:
However our students only love Ed and I a little bit. I got two dinky packages and Ed didn't get any--sheesh!! All joking aside, this day is used as one illustration of Korea and its sometimes nonsensical thinking!

Ohhhhh Finally!!

There's a new song out (okay so maybe not so new--but its still being sung so that means very relevant!) that I'll admit has me hooked. It's title is Abracadabra by the Korean group Brown Eyed Girls. Now its gotten a double look because of the extremely sexy video (Brown Eyed Girls like to push the line a little bit). And the video did cause me to do a double take! Its a bit unusual for videos to go this far. Sometimes singers like to make references and do sexy dance moves to test the Korean censorship. They usually get out of it by using English words or 'emulating' western dances, then when they get in trouble, they claim "Oh I didn't know/understand" (yes, I'm referring to Rain and his 'magic stick' controversy).

Anyways, usually when a catchy song comes out, the kids all learn the dance and the song, then continually sing and dance like their idols until the new sensation comes out.

Well Ed and I were looking at the Brown Eyed Girls video the other day, and he happened to come across the second video that I've posted by the "Dirty Eyed Girls". I posted the second one because 1. I think its funny and 2. I have yet to come across a parody of another song this great from another set of Koreans! While the second video is just as suggestive and perhaps more controversial, I will say that I find it refreshing that Koreans are finally able to poke fun at themselves for their obsessive copying and do I dare say broach the subject of their men being possibly gay?? (ie: Korea doesn't have gays here, they have very metro men who are in touch with their feminine side; plus if you are gay you are either a foreigner or haven't eaten enough kim-chi).

Anyways, I'm not saying or implying in any way that these young men from the 2am/2pm K-Pop groups are gay...they just made a very happy video. And its finally nice to see something a bit different here. We don't get things like these videos everyday!

PS: I suggest watching the Brown Eyed Girls video first, then watching the Dirty Eyed Girls version. You'll 'get' their video much better if you do that.

Happy November!

November in Korea is a pretty awesome time. It finally starts getting cold. Which means we get to turn on our floors!!!

Yes, you read correctly. I said turn on the floors. Korea, being the progressive (or not) country that it is, has floor heating. If you have never experienced heated floors, well I feel sorry for you!
Gone on the frosty toes.
Hello nice and sweaty ones!

Seriously though, heated floors are the way to go. There is something about walking around our apartment and finding a heating pipe. You just stand on the 'warm spot' and let the heat flow up through your body. Its quite magical.

Plus heated floors mean that we actually get regulated shower water! During the summer, taking a shower means putting the water on the the lowest hot setting that we have, then playing a little dance where you can only stand under the water for about 30 seconds before it either gets waaaayyyy too hot or waaaayyyy too cold.

Heated floors means the water heater is working all the time, which in turn means that the water actually stays the temperature that you set at in the shower. Bliss!

Trying to Get by in Yeosu

You may remember a while back I posted a video of a few guys dancing and singing around a Korean town named Gumcheon (Kicking it in Gumcheon--youtube it).

Well now Yeosu has a song and video all of its own. It was made by two guys who live here, obviously, and well its another way to get a quick snap shot of what life is like in Yeosu. Plus you finally get to see the city!

Enjoy!

Whoo-hooo!! #100

So this is my 100th post! Usually not a big deal to big time bloggers, but for me, its a big deal. That means that there are 100 experiences on here that Ed and I have shared with you all. And trust me when I say that there are about 1000 more that we haven't written about.



Anyways, quick update: I still can't get the pictures to load, so you guys might be out of luck for our bigger albums. I'll upload some of the highlights, don't worry. Above and below are pictures from our trip to Boseong Tea Fields (world renowned).

I got the flu shot. I know not really huge news, however the process that it took to get one was amazing. Korea has been dealing with a shortage of flu shots (even the regular kind). I've been playing a "Yes we have it. No we don't" game with the local clinic. Fortunately my co-teacher, Mr. Joo rocks, and was able to get us two private shots (meaning instead of joining the cattle herd to get the shots--literally imagine a cattle herd and thats what it was like--he got us a private seating with 'saved' shots). I have to give a shout out to him. After we got the shots he turned and said to me "Now call your mother and tell her you won't get the flu." Haha!

Halloween is coming up. Yeosu's waygooks are getting costumed out. Yeosu's youth is getting more and more confused (although they definitely have the concept of "give me candy" down). I carved up a Jack o' Lantern with my extra class students yesterday, and well they loved it! It has been a hit with all the kids in every class thus far. I just wish I could afford to buy 22 pumpkins for every class, but well that might be too much!

Anyways thats about all the news on our end for now. Be sure to stay tuned for the Halloween photos and re-cap!

(seriously--this is how the dog was dressed up--we were stunned when we saw him. And yes that is a backpack on him, and shoes, and a diaper, and a hat, and dyed orange ears).

Frustrations

So I've been trying to update the blog with some pictures that we have taken (even pictures from the Europe trip). Thus far, I've experienced some difficulty trying to upload these things. Just thought I'd let you know that I haven't abandoned you all...I'm just having difficulties. I hope to have them worked out sooner rather than later, but I'm not sure if thats going to happen.

Please stay tuned...

Rain update..

RAIN. WAS. AWESOME. Yup, as far as concerts go, the boy sure put on a good show.

2 and 1/2 hours of non-stop dance and song. Of course, we couldn't understand really any of the songs (because they were in Korean) but we did recognize a few of them. The hords of girls that were there were very excited to see him (the girl next to me was shaking when he came on stage).

There were neat-o glow sticks, close seats, and surprisingly a fair amount of us waygooks. And Rain even took off his shirt!!!!! Overall I would rate this Korean experience a solid 8 (minus two points for lack of English songs and for the concert being 5 hours away--but I'm not holding a huge grudge). And just so you can see how awesome the concert really was, we will be posting a video that Ed made about the event!

K-Pop!!

Something pretty big is happening this Saturday.

Can you guess what it is?

I'll give you some hints:
1. We are going to Seoul.
2. It will be a first for both Ed and I.
3. Stephen Colbert
4. 'Biggest Korean Pop Star" EVER!!!
5. Time's Top 100: Are They Worthy


Did you guess?

Well if not, let me tell you! Ed and I are going to see RAIN (aka Bi) on Saturday!!!

I know, I know. You must be just as excited as we are, right? I mean come on: RAIN?!!!!?

Say what?
Wait a minute.
You don't know who or what Rain is??

Okay, I forgot. You're not in South Korea, so maybe you don't know Rain. Don't worry. I'll give you a quick bio (of course none of which is researched or cited--this is my own knowledge).

Basically in Korea you have something called K-Pop. These are young musical "geniuses" who hypnotize the Korean population with their catchy tunes, English catch phrases (remember "I want Nobody but you" by the Wondergirls??), and overall crazy, sexy, and surprisingly easy dance moves to emulate. Rain just happens to be one of the top Korean performers. He's considered an international star, and by all rights he is. Except he just can't seem to break 100% into the American music scene. However, he is still trying. Just in case you really want to know what kind of AWESOMENESS we will be seeing on Saturday, here is his video for Rainism:



Ed and I are super excited to be going to our first Korean K-Pop concert and way more excited that it is Rain that we will be able to see. Trust me when I say that there maybe lots of videos, pictures and overall joy from this event. And, of course, I will share it all with you!

Oh, and just in case you want to know why Steven Colbert is on the "hint list" here's why:

Updated Blog List

I've updated my blog list!!!

What that means is this:

If you scroll down on the right hand side you will notice that there are other people's blogs that I tend to frequent. Most are way better Korea information blogs than mine (since mostly family checks out my page--which I love). However if you are not family and you some how landed on my page two things:

1. Welcome. Hope you enjoy the blog.
2. Check out the other sites. (haha)

But in all seriousness. Eat your Kimchi is a great one because they have all these cool videos about Korea and well have their blog sh** together.

The others are mostly news blogs. You can read about how very little Korea cares about the problem in the north and how much more important K-Pop (celebrity culture) is to them.

Anyways, check them out if you have endless hours of free time to spend in front of the computer like me.

PS Happy October!!!

Yup its official. I'm a wuss...

First of all...this poor cow!

.....Food Poisoning??

Really?

Up until now, my stomach has been rock hard and accepting to most Korean offerings. But not any more. This weekend, the infection of my intestine decided to proceed, making my life awesome for a few days. Fever, chills, severe stomach cramps, and not to mention the other fun stuff you can imagine that goes along with intestine infection.

And I've decided, this is the worst pain in the world. Call me a wuss if you may; I say you've never really had food poisoning then. If you've had food poisoning, you know what I'm talking about; you would understand. If you haven't, pray you never do get it after eating that piece of chicken or meat.

Good news though, I'm on medication and will recover (thankfully--I know how worried you all are). And through out all of this, I did learn a great lesson: I've learned never to call in sick with 'food poisoning' again (which I kind of did for every job I've ever had in the states at least once) because that means you have to be out of commission for at least three days. Or on second thought....

Space Cadets!

Two weekends ago, a few friends, Ed and I went to a small island called Naro. While we mainly went there for its nice(ish) beach and good camping site, Naro had something entirely else to offer. KOREA'S SPACE CENTER!!

Naro's Beach

I do have to say, Korean Space Center does a much better job than Kennedy Space Center. Granted last time I was at Kennedy Space Center I was a sullen 20 year old on vacation with my parents, so I may not be the best judge (and it was eight years ago).But, I'm very impressed with Korean Space Center. Not only did it have realistic simulations, but plenty of buttons to press, which is always a plus in Ed and my museum book. And did I mention that it only cost 6 won (less than 5 bucks) for BOTH of us to get in?? Here are some of the highlights

Parabola microphone. I was actually talking to Ed here (he's at the opposite one and could hear me)Land Rover, with controls that worked! (did I mention they had a lot of buttons for us to push?)This screen. At least 10 minutes of enjoyment!

And Space Cadet Cut-Outs! Assa!!!

Just in case you missed the first one....

Update....

Hey All!

First of all I want to thank you for the great comments about our trip pictures! I'm glad that you've enjoyed looking at them (as we enjoyed taking them).

We have been settling back into the swing of things quite easily here. The biggest news I have is the mass hysteria Yeosu seems to be suffering from the Swine flu. Actually, the hysteria is all over the county, but it seems like in Yeosu at least, every conversation you may have eventually swings around to Swine flu!

At both of our schools, there is the "Swine Flu Defense Line" (as Ed likes to call it). They take the temperatures of all the students coming into the school and sometimes the teacher's temps too. Bottles of hand sanitizer have popped up all over the place (they were definitely not present in Korea before). If a student is even somewhat sick they think they have the "Virus". It would be kind of funny if it wasn't so tiring.

Anyways, other than that, not much has been happening. Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) is coming up in a few weeks, so the buzz has been about planning where to go (we have no idea yet).

Back to school, back to soccer playing, back to having fun!

Best of Photos...