I get such a kick out of overhearing two little Korean girls giggling and whispering in the bathroom stalls. It reminds me of my childhood, sharing very important secrets with my precious girlfriends. I can't understand what the girls are talking about, but I'm sure that it's serious business, considering they're in the stall together. My biggest question is "How do they both fit in there at the same time?"
Side note: One of the teachers in my office noted today that I was looking very fashionable these days. She thought that I had become more concerned about my outfits. Sadly enough, I've been wearing the same clothes throughout the winter, it's just that now I'm only wearing 3 layers instead of the previous 4 or 5, thus you can now see what I am wearing. (There was a point during the winter when I seriously asked myself why I bother to get dressed each morning since I wore my coat all day long. I could have come to school in my pjs and no one would have noticed!!!)
~Jen
P.S. After having neglected our photos page for over three months, I finally posted links to the pictures we have posted on Facebook. There are quite a few new albums for your viewing pleasure if you haven't yet seen them online! We'll try to be a bit quicker in posting them next time!!
We just thought we'd post a quick blog. We're at the airport in Seoul (stealing an internet signal from the First Class lounge....) on our way to Canada for just over a week.
An early start time today coupled with a LONG flight home will ensure that I am thoroughly exhausted when we set foot on the ground in Canada (we get to fly into the Waterloo airport - so exciting!!) But, we're excited to be coming home for a visit. It will be great to see our friends and family and to be there for my sister's wedding.
I'm also hoping that I can strap my cross country skis on my feet and get out for an hour or two some afternoon. I'm so excited about snow!!
So, we'll see some of you very soon - our Korea peeps, well, we'll see you when we get back!
I'm out.
~Jen
Jen and I really enjoy our life here in Korea. We have a lot of great friends, we have good working environments, there's a lot to do and see around here, and we've enjoyed learning about the Korean language and culture.
One thing that Korea doesn't do quite so well yet is market itself. Its tourism industry is very much underdeveloped. There is, as I've already said, lots to see and do, but it's just not well advertised. Through a lot of word of mouth and a lot of exploring, we and our friends have all kept busy schedules here in Korea.
When we had originally thought about moving abroad and had suggested Japan as a possible destination, almost everyone we told was so excited for us and wanted to come and visit. But after a long series of events that saw us ending up in Korea, it seems as if our final destination wasn't nearly as exciting. And I guess we fell folly to the same marketing as well. We thought Japan would be a great place to be (and not having yet visited, we don't have any first hand experience to draw upon to verify or refute that), but after having spent the past 6 months here in Seoul, we can't imagine being anywhere else.
Why is it that everyone loves Japan? Why do they want so much to visit Japan? What makes it so special? A lot of people have visited the small island country and brought home many positive experiences. Indeed, that is one of the primary goals of the Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) program that Jen and I had originally applied to - to learn about Japan and to spread it's culture around the world once we returned home. Japan is a known quantity. Lots of visitors and a lots of good stories that inspire others to want to visit. Importantly, Japan also has a very well developed tourist industry and makes traveling there easy.
So, if we were in Japan, would we actually have more visitors than we have here in Korea? Incidentally, we haven't yet had anyone visit us, and I think that it will remain that way for our entire stay. It's such a far distance and costs so much that it's not an easy trip to manage. But I digress... Back to the question. More visitors in Japan than Korea? I don't know. Japan is still a costly and time consuming trip. I think that people were just more excited about Japan and made grand plans with their small talk like most people are apt to do when they are excited.
Whether or not our home makes a difference as to how many visitors we get doesn't really matter though. It's purely theoretical. We're here in Korea and not in Japan. I guess the point I'm trying to get across is that although many people wouldn't consider Korea as a top travel destination, it definitely has it's hidden gems.
Life's been good and we're both glad that we had the opportunity to live here.
Now, is anyone going to come and visit us when we're in Dubai...
While Jeff and I are trying to prepare for job interviews, Sara has taken the opportunity to interview me about life. I had posted about being interviewed our blog a couple of weeks ago. Here are the questions that Sara asked me.
1. What was something you found different about China (as compared to Korea)?
We were only there for a week, but we couldn't believe how cheap it was to eat out. It cost us $5 for both of us to eat (like crazy including tea and HUGE bottles of beer! Jeff was an eating monster - and even then we could barely finish our meals most of the time - though I usually was able to finish the beer....) All the food was so delicious too... mmmm!!! It's so much more expensive to eat out (even Korean food) in Korea. A (Korean) meal here will cost us about $10 or more for both of us depending on what we eat...
The other thing that I noticed was different is that Chinese people (at least the ones we met in Beijing) don't seem to bow as much as Koreans. I was bowing more than they were!
2. What was the best moment of your trip to China?
Walking along the Great Wall the second time was amazing. The first time we walked "along" the Great Wall we walked up the mountain for 45 minutes and then walked back down for 45 minutes. We didn't even make it to the top! The part of the wall we walked along the first time overlooked a highway. The second time we hiked 10 kilometers over four hours along a part of the wall that was 3 hours outside of Beijing and in the middle of nowhere. The scenery was amazing! That part of the wall was definitely how we pictured the Great Wall to be (well, aside from me picturing a wall made of china plates and cups as seen in an old McDonald's commercial...) I'm amazed at the time and effort that went into building the Great Wall (3000km over 300 years... that's dedication!) We'll be sure to post a couple of the hundreds of pictures of the Great Wall soon.
3. If you could eat only three foods (choosing just one would be too difficult!) and one drink for the rest of your life, what would they be?
This is hard!!!
Jen
Food: Chocolate, perogies, Thai food (does this count!?!) maybe green curry....
Drink: Black tea with milk (yum!)
Jeff
Food: Pad thai, home made butter tarts (no raisins), channa masala
Drink: Freshly squeezed orange juice with lots of pulp
4. Who taught you how to knit and why?
I really have no idea. I think that I most likely originally learned as a Brownie or Girl Guide... maybe so I could earn a badge (I'll have to check my badges when I get home to see if I have a knitting one...) but I can't remember. Over the years I've tried to learn as much as possible from others (friends of my mom, and my own friends). With the dawn of the internet I have been able to continue to learn new techniques and improve my knitting as I search for patterns and help online.
5. Where will you be five years from now?
Geeze... um.... Jeff's answer:
Two kids, a dog, a Volkswagon, and a white picket fence... "How else would you answer that?" he asks. That wouldn't be my answer.
Maybe working in Waterloo? At education related jobs that are fulfilling and meaningful. Jobs we are passionate about. Maybe with a kid... and a cat? With one car - being able to bike or walk or take public transit (!!) to work... living in a house (or an apartment... or a condo... I don't mind living in a small space, I actually kind of like it...) As long as the place we're living has no mold and sunbeams galore I'll be happy.
Although I love having some security in knowing what is going to happen in 5 years, I also find that it is fun to see what will happen. We have plans, dreams, and ideas as to where we'll be in the next five years, but we're open and flexible to whatever might happen in the future.
Thanks for the questions Sara!
So last weekend we hit up one of the local aquariums. And by local, I mean an hour subway ride away. But hey, it's still in Seoul. Anyway, this place was truly unique. I'll start off by saying that this aquarium also had an artistic side to it and not only was it showcasing the sea life itself, but also some of the, well, containers of that sea life.
Exhibit A. Ok, it's a little hard to see the actual fish in this photo, but trust me, they are there, swimming right next to Ariel and Sebastian (the characters from The Little Mermaid). So the aquarium had a little section that wanted to challenge the notion that fish should be kept in conventional fish bowls. Certainly not all of the aquarium's wildlife were kept in such unique structures (most, in fact were in the usual mundane aquariums that we expect to see). But there were some who had different homes. In the end, I don't think that the inhabitants really would know the difference, so... why not? At times it seemed a little off-kilter and bizarre, but since then I've come to appreciate this section of the aquarium more and it is quickly becoming one of my favourite parts of the visit. It's something distinct that really sets it apart from the rest of the aquariums that I've seen. Oh, I should also point out, if it wasn't enough that these fish are housed in a vending machine "fish bowl," that this vending machine is, indeed, a functioning vending machine that guests can use to purchase beverages. Yes... yes, we're in Korea, folks.
Is that shortbread?
Can someone tell me why there are fake cookies glued to the wall of an aquarium?
Thanks for posing, Vanessa!!
So unlike the vending machine, you can actually see the inhabitant of this display (well, sort of). I hope, also unlike the vending machine, that this is not a functioning house for this little crab!!
See the little ducky. That's where the water is.
Here is Jen being a tour guide again. I think she's got a new career ahead of her - well, unless her customers start catching on that she's just making everything up!! Notice the expression on Sue's face. She has that are-you-crazy-what-are-you-talking-about kinda look. Jen, it doesn't look good. Remember, she was a tour guide herself in the past. She knows when you're making things up! Alison is busy taking pictures of Jen's so-called evolution fish!
Not sure if bats are typical at an aquarium... but I wasn't complaining. They were cool.
And of course, what outing isn't complete without the random crazy photo of Jen and myself. "The shark's eating us!!!!"
There you have it. Hope you enjoyed it.
The Coex Aquarium.
I just spent the past 45 minutes writing about our adventures with our landlords (complete with Korean characters and everything!), and for some reason it has disappeared! Oh the joys of technology!!!
I'll make this one short... Last night our landlords showed up to fix our dripping pipe under the kitchen sink. This is just one of the numerous times that we have had our landlords in our apartment, helping us with something... usually it's the hot water. They arrived, he with a paper bag of tools to fix the leak, and she with her usual enthusiasm. He got right down to work, she came and joined us on the floor. We were watching a movie (Beowulf) and had set ourselves upon the floor (sadly it's more comfortable than our couch!) in front of my computer. I had my knitting out and she was so intrigued. I brought out my socks, mittens, scarves, and hats that I have finished since arriving here... she was amazed. It's funny, I get so much attention from the ajumas (grandmothers) of Korea when I bring out my knitting. If I'm on the subway, the ajumas will invite me to sit in the seats designated for the elderly, disabled or pregnant. They watch, enthralled, as I knit socks, mittens, or hats, it's pretty cool! Well, our landlady LOVED my knitted items.
After the drip was fixed our landlords told us how old they were (I think they were really just fishing to find out how old we are!) He is "seven zero" (minus a year because he's Korean - you are a year old when you are born here) and she is "six two". Both of them work out - he can do 70 push ups and 50 sit ups. She works out at the gym... at the end of the conversation we even got to feel our landlord's arm muscles... madness I tell you!! All of this conversation happened in broken English and Korean, but we were able to understand the gist of it.
I must say that living here certainly doesn't leave us bored... it's not very often you get to check out your landlord's pipes!
I will leave you with a bit more Korean culture.... this gem was introduced to me by some grade 5 students. I kind of like it, but I have no idea what it's about! Enjoy....
~Jen
Only in Korea can you go to a cafe to pay money to have little fish nibble at your toes. Last weekend we decided to take the proverbial plunge and try out this Korean phenomenon. For about eight dollars you get a snack (nachos, a muffin, dried squid or some oranges), a drink (beer, wine, juice, or a smoothie), and unlimited access to the fish pond. It's a great deal!
Sara was a little aprehensive. The look on her face embodies my sentiments when we first sat down at the pool preparing to put our feet in the water. We started by putting just our heels in the water, and then gently (for me it took about 10 minutes, Kelly was in within 2 minutes) lowered our feet (one at a time) into the water.
When Jeff arrived he dove in with both feet immediately. He also monopolized the fish that were in the pool. They seemed to like him much better than the rest of us. It was only when he finally took his feet out that the fish looked to us for some more food. When we were finished with the fish, we had an aromatherapy foot bath - hot water and lavender - followed by a nice lathering of cream for our now uber soft feet!
We thought that a video would best embody the phenomenon that is Doctor Fish.
We got "shh"ed in the bookstore today. Well, I guess not "shhh"ed, but told that we were being too loud, and could we please keep it down. We weren't that loud, but I guess by Korean standards we were a little above the normal noise level.
We were laughing with Sue (one of our Korean friends, my ex-coteacher) and Vanessa over this book.
The book was apparently very controversial when it first came out in Korea. It has many "inappropriate" words, and helps foreigners learn how to speak Korean for important situations such as when to tell some one off, or how to pick up and take someone home from the bar. Let me just say that it was hilarious and quite entertaining. They also have the book available for Japanese and Chinese if you are learning those languages.
I can't believe they told us to be quiet!!!
~Jen
No, there is no earthquake, do not worry! It is just the title of the Carol King song that I am currently listening to - I felt it was somewhat appropriate for some reason....
As I sit here in my office thinking about what I am going to post about this time I cannot help but think about the fact that our time in Korea has almost hit the six month point. We have almost spent six months living here, working here, and exploring here. We have spent six months as a married couple. During this time I have had the opportunity to learn more about myself (I always find that this happens when I travel because I become so much more aware of my own culture when I am faced with things that do not always mesh with my own culture). Jeff and I have discussed our future (and by future I mean what we will be doing in September) and we have talked about where we will end up (when we finish traveling).
Our next adventure will take place during the week of the Lunar New Year (also known as Chinese New Year or Tet if you are Vietnamese! - February 2nd - 9th) We are heading off to China - Beijing. A three day tour begins our adventure followed by 3 days of us staying in a hostel (very close to Tiennamen Square) and exploring the city on our own. I am very exited.
A week after we return from China we are heading home to Canada. As the 16th approaches I am getting more and more excited about going home for a short visit. I am looking forward to eating some foods that I miss and seeing friends and family. It will be an EXTREMELY busy and hectic trip, but I am excited. I am also quite excited that we get to fly into the Waterloo airport!
February is a travel month for us, it is also the month that marks our halfway point in Korea. I cannot believe that the time has passed by so quickly!!
~Jen
P.S. For some reason whenever I try to put an apostrophe in this post the website directs me to a find box. You will notice that there are no apostrophes in this blog - it was quite a feat!
Okay, I'll be the first to admit that we have been TOTALLY SLACKING on this website since the new year began. We have good excuses though... but they're still just excuses....
Since the new year began:
*We have been without internet for a week
*We have been without hot water for more than 3 days (December 31st - January 4th)
*Jeff has gotten sick and thus his normal food consumption has been drastically reduced... he is eating so little now, our food bill has been cut by at least 3/4!
*We have no hot water again - it just started this morning and we can't seem to get it back
*We have been working SUPER hard at camps and have been trying to figure out what the heck we are going to do with ourselves come September, which is quickly approaching!
My newly acquired knowledge is as follows:
*When it gets cold in Korea you are supposed to turn on your hot water and let it run all night so that the pipes don't freeze. We've been letting ours drip (it's so painful to let this happen... so bad for the environment!), but last night we were so tired that we forgot to turn on our tap, hence the frozen pipes today. We've been hoping that the heat fan that we've been blasting towards the pipes (which are hidden in our walls) is going to help, we feel really bad about telling our landlords that we have no hot water again!)
We have been busy, and the busyness is not slowing down. For the next week I have "camp", then I have classes for a week - Jeff has two more weeks of "camp". Our current camp is really just extra classes that we are teaching. I have 2 classes of kids and one class with moms - bonus - we get our afternoons off!
After camp/classes comes Lunar New Year (also known as Chinese New Year or Tet if you're Vietnamese!) We are heading on our week long "honeymoon" to China (I'm hoping we can get another honeymoon to a warmer place booked for our next trip...). It will be cold - I don't know what the heck we were thinking!!! Our other friends are taking their holidays in Thailand, Vietnam, Bali, Hawaii... us, we're going to Beijing - it's freaking freezing there! When we get back from China we spend a week teaching and then have 2 more weeks off. We are heading to Canada for my sister's wedding! Ye Haw! (Yet another cold destination.... again, what were we thinking!!! I'm freezing in Korea, why would we choose to go somewhere cold during the Lunar New Year!!!
So we will be busy.
But, we will try to check in with you every so often. If you don't hear from us for awhile it's not because we don't like you or we're trying to avoid you (at least that's the case for most of you!!!), it's because life has suddenly made us busy.
Okay, I'm off! We'll be sure to keep you informed of our trips (I'm super excited about both of them.... looking forward to seeing the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiennamen Square, and the Terracotta Warriors in China, as well as our friends and family in Canada when we fly in for our brief and crazy visit!
~Jen
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