Hello everyone, sorry its been a little while since I've updated I've been busy with work and then ended up getting sick, which I'm actually still getting over! Let me also say real quick that getting sick over here really makes me miss my American drugs!! haha No I'm not talking street drugs or anything crazy, I'm talking that good but kind of gross tasting liquid stuff that is in all the stores back home; Theraflu, NyQuil/Dayquil, Robitussin, etc. I'm not sure if they have that kind of stuff over here but I haven't seen it yet and between Logan being sick a couple of weeks ago and now me we've used up all the liquid night time medicine that we brought over. Luckily my mom is not one to let a good sale pass her up, esp when it's, as she says, "cheap as dirt!" haha so we should have more meds on the way when she sends us a nice little package soon!
Ok enough of that, I'm here to continue where I left off of last time. So when I last wrote I ended with mentioning that I got to experience a nice little thing called a war drill. Now when you hear war drill what comes to mind? Honestly with me I think it's going to be like an earthquake drill back home, you know you hide under desk and hope nothing heavy falls on it! That's actually not the case at all. See the other week I was lining my class up to leave, around 2pm, to go down to the buses like normal but when we started to walk by the other classes one of the other teachers stopped and told me that it was a war drill right now so we had to wait to leave. Ummmm a what?? ok?? So I took the class back and sat them down and then went to ask if I had heard her right. Yup turns out I did. I also found out that South Korea has war drills every month on the 15th but that it was on a different date this month because of a holiday being on the 15th of the month. Any time there's a war drill every single car or bus or bike on the road has to stop and either pull over to the side of the road or if you're in the middle lane stop and turn off your car. No one is allowed to move and there are police at about all the intersections to make sure of that. Like I said earlier when I heard the words war drill just having all forms of transportation stop was the last thing I think I expected to see. It was definitely weird too, looking out the window and not seeing anyone moving at all, kind of erie.
One thing I've been told a couple of times since moving here is that if the Koreans aren't worried/panicked there's no reason for you to be. I figure that makes since and I have yet to see or hear any Koreans look or act worried about any kind of threat from the North and I feel completely safe where we're at. It kind of makes you stop and think though about the safety of America, I think we take it for granted sometimes. I mean I know that America is not the safest place on earth by any means. We have tons of violence that we commit against each other everyday and we have terrorists that don't like us very much. When was the last time though that we had a war drill back in the states because there was someone right next door to us that hated us so much they thought everything would be better without us there. I know you might not agree with me and that you might think that America is hated so much we should be constantly worried, and that's fine and also the beauty of being an American, you can think what you want. There are places in the world though that war drills and war are such a constant they don't know anything else. There are children growing up knowing what to look for on the ground so they don't get blown up and that are able to sleep with gun fire because they know if it's just a little crack it's not close enough to be worried about.
Ok before my mom starts freaking out reading this thinking we're in a horrible place I'll get back on track to South Korea. Let me be clear also, we are no where close to being in a place like the above. Yes we are some what close to North Korea but as I said the Koreans have assured me that there is no reason to not feel safe. I really do like it over here and really do feel safe I just wanted to maybe get you to stop and think about everything for a second. Also maybe stop and appreciate those Americans that help keep us safe and that sadly do know what war sounds like.
Ok now for a little side note about absolutely nothing to do with war drills. Walking around in Korea I've found that there are some smells you come across that make you want to run away screaming and buy a ticket to any place besides that area you were just in!! Now I'm not talking like living in Missouri and you happen to drive by the sulfur plants in K.C. and maybe drive just a little bit faster to get by the rotten egg smell. No I'm talking a smell that makes you want to gag and toss whatever food you had in your stomach right then and there! Imagine baby poop, vomit, and rotting food all mixed together!! Oh my gosh just typing it brings back bad memories...blahhh! I've encountered this smell a couple times since being here and it is definitely one thing I could go without. Logan says that's just Asia but I'm thinking it has something to do with the fact that they just put all their trash out on the street in little bags and also all uneaten food out in seperate bags so its just sitting out in the sunn rotting away. Yumm I know right! haha They actually then have people that come around with carts and pick it all up, when I don't know because I never see them but it's always gone within a day or two and that's all that matters to me! Ok now that I vented about that as well I think I'm out of things to share for this round. Hope you all are having a good weekend and of course like always lots of love to you all!! :)
Friday, August 26, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
South Korea so far
Ok like I promised, I am back to update more on what I've actually been up to since being here. I will be the first one to tell you that the first day after we got here and went out to walk around I almost went back to the room to cry! haha It was such a culture shock, I mean we go out and I can't read anything that's around us on buildings or signs, the food looks completely weird, and it kind of smelled funny!! Luckily that feeling really only lasted half that day and now I'm feeling much better about it all. So after spending the weekend getting moved in and settled I then started training/following Lauren around at school that Monday. The training was pretty easy and the kids were super friendly right away which made me feel a little tiny bit less nervous. At the end of the week, Friday Lauren invited us to go out for Galbi with her and a friend. Turns out Galbi, Korean BBQ, is awesome and I think one of my favorite things to eat here so far! It's so much fun too! The table has a big hole cut out of it and they bring over burning coals in like a cauldron type thing that fits in the whole. Then they lay a grate over it and bring out the raw meat, some seasoning, onions, and kimchi (pickled cabbage usually, not that great) and you cook everything yourself over the fire! Super fun and great to just relax with some friends and some beer while grilling! After the Galbi we then met up with a couple other foreign teachers over here and enjoyed a couple of beers before heading to what was called a room cafe, no that is not the technical name but that's the only thing in English on the sign. I have never been a fan of karaoke but this place was awesome! You get your own personal room with big plush couches and chairs, a big screen tv, crazy lights, and a ton of songs to choose from and of course microphones!! I had a blast! I even got dragged up to help sing girls just want to have fun and I think because we weren't in a huge bar I wasn't as mortified! haha I'm definitely making that a must for anyone that comes over to visit us!
Ok enough about that one night! After that weekend I actually ended up having a week off for summer vacation. We didn't end up doing anything partly because of lack of funds and partly because it's rainy season here and poured almost everyday except maybe 2! It was nice in a way because we were able to get more familiar with our area and all but also sucked because that meant I had a week off after only training for one week! What if I forgot everything? What if the kids forgot me or changed their minds about me?
By the time that next Monday rolled around I was freaking out on the inside for sure on the way to school!! Luckily I had Logan to walk me to school and tell me the whole way I was going to be ok and if I needed to cry he even pointed out the bathroom for me! haha That first day ended and I found that I only really wanted to cry a couple of times the whole day but never did so I called it a success. The kids remembered me for the most part and I remembered things once I started working. As the week continued it got better and better and I never cried once! I'm proud of myself on that one for sure considering how out of place I felt for awhile! My day consists of several different classes for either an hour or 30 mins. If I have an hour class I'm the art teacher, luckily we have the art projects already mapped out in a book they give you with supplies, and then the half hour I spend doing a class called Potato Pals. Potato Pals is with our 2 youngest classes, the youngest being about 3 or 4 and the second classes being about 5. They get a simple book that repeats basic sentences about things they do using potatoes as the characters. Our book right now is called In the Evening, so it says things like in the evening i come home, in the evening I do my homework, in the evening I walk the do and so on. This is BY FAR my least favorite class! The kids are so young they don't have a long attention span and they're constantly wanting to talk in Korean. This is definitely where I've learned the power of bribing with stickers, haha they LOVE them! Hey if it works why change it! These kids are at the school from 9:30-2:30 then in the afternoon we have elementary kids that come over. These classes aren't too hard except they like to talk so much its hard to get them to focus on work sometimes. The classes are 40mins each and I end up with 4 of them in the afternoon. Each class has its own English book that they work on and I go over with them, not too hard at all. I get a about 4 breaks the whole day where I'm able to relax or catch up on class work and I leave work at 6:30 M-Th and on Fri at 2:30!
Well it's getting late here and I have to get up early so I'm going to finish this up. Now that I'm getting used to it all its definitely not too bad at all and the kids are really starting to adjust to me and like me more so that makes it all even better! We haven't really done a ton more in the way of going out yet because we still haven't gotten paid and its been so rainy. We did make it out this past weekend to a pretty awesome place but honestly I think I'm going to have to save that for the next blog, I'm just getting to tired!!
I hope you're all doing well and I will write again soon about our latest going out event and to inform you all about War Drills! Yes I did just say war drills but before you freak out mom no we're not under attack and I promise its super safe here!! If the Koreans aren't freaking out no reason for us to! ;)
Love to you all!
Shawna
Ok enough about that one night! After that weekend I actually ended up having a week off for summer vacation. We didn't end up doing anything partly because of lack of funds and partly because it's rainy season here and poured almost everyday except maybe 2! It was nice in a way because we were able to get more familiar with our area and all but also sucked because that meant I had a week off after only training for one week! What if I forgot everything? What if the kids forgot me or changed their minds about me?
By the time that next Monday rolled around I was freaking out on the inside for sure on the way to school!! Luckily I had Logan to walk me to school and tell me the whole way I was going to be ok and if I needed to cry he even pointed out the bathroom for me! haha That first day ended and I found that I only really wanted to cry a couple of times the whole day but never did so I called it a success. The kids remembered me for the most part and I remembered things once I started working. As the week continued it got better and better and I never cried once! I'm proud of myself on that one for sure considering how out of place I felt for awhile! My day consists of several different classes for either an hour or 30 mins. If I have an hour class I'm the art teacher, luckily we have the art projects already mapped out in a book they give you with supplies, and then the half hour I spend doing a class called Potato Pals. Potato Pals is with our 2 youngest classes, the youngest being about 3 or 4 and the second classes being about 5. They get a simple book that repeats basic sentences about things they do using potatoes as the characters. Our book right now is called In the Evening, so it says things like in the evening i come home, in the evening I do my homework, in the evening I walk the do and so on. This is BY FAR my least favorite class! The kids are so young they don't have a long attention span and they're constantly wanting to talk in Korean. This is definitely where I've learned the power of bribing with stickers, haha they LOVE them! Hey if it works why change it! These kids are at the school from 9:30-2:30 then in the afternoon we have elementary kids that come over. These classes aren't too hard except they like to talk so much its hard to get them to focus on work sometimes. The classes are 40mins each and I end up with 4 of them in the afternoon. Each class has its own English book that they work on and I go over with them, not too hard at all. I get a about 4 breaks the whole day where I'm able to relax or catch up on class work and I leave work at 6:30 M-Th and on Fri at 2:30!
Well it's getting late here and I have to get up early so I'm going to finish this up. Now that I'm getting used to it all its definitely not too bad at all and the kids are really starting to adjust to me and like me more so that makes it all even better! We haven't really done a ton more in the way of going out yet because we still haven't gotten paid and its been so rainy. We did make it out this past weekend to a pretty awesome place but honestly I think I'm going to have to save that for the next blog, I'm just getting to tired!!
I hope you're all doing well and I will write again soon about our latest going out event and to inform you all about War Drills! Yes I did just say war drills but before you freak out mom no we're not under attack and I promise its super safe here!! If the Koreans aren't freaking out no reason for us to! ;)
Love to you all!
Shawna
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Why Pushing Play?
Ok so this is it I'm finally starting a blog! I know it's taken me long enough, after all we have been in Korea a whole month tomorrow!! Wow, a whole month....it really does not feel like it! I kind of feel like its really only been a couple of weeks and it makes me wonder how fast the rest of the time will go. Also I can't wait to see where all Logan and I will travel to in the rest of our time here in South Korea and what kind of adventures we will have together! I guess I should maybe back up just a little and explain how it is a girl from Missouri wound up to be living in South Korea just in case any of you don't know. I was born and raised in Missouri and PROUD to be a midwest girl, if you've never lived in the midwest you just wont get it but the people are just different. You can ask just about anyone from there that's spent time other places, they will tell you the same, people are different and the way of living is different. Not that there is anything wrong with other places but I know that that is where I want to raise a family. Ok ok I know you get it I like the midwest, haha I'll move on! After going to college in a small town up by the Iowa boarder I actually moved down to Florida. I know, why would someone that loves the midwest so much move there? Well it's simple really. When I was in my Jr year of college my mom married this wonderful man, Dale, and moved down there. I'll tell you all this right now, besides being a proud midwesterner I'm a HUGE momma's girl! I don't think I ever realized it either until she moved away. I love her so much she has always been there for me no matter what and I know she always will be! Hey she even came up to visit me when I was still in school and came out with my friends and I, yes my mom is cool! haha
Anyway, after college I wanted to be closer to her again so I packed up and moved to Fl also. I will admit now that I do like Florida for the most part and it was even better because one of my great friends, Jessi, moved down with me! So after moving to FL the only jobs I could find were serving jobs because I just didn't have the experience I needed for anything else out there. I started working at 2 different restaurants about a month after moving and continued working the 2 for year. After that I was lucky and got hired at the Ronald McDonald House in Jacksonville and I do mean lucky! When I first interviewed I was only 24 which would of made the youngest one working there and also unable to drive the van that we use to transport families that have no vehicle around. Well thanks to the very wonderful words of a friend that my mom and I new that worked there already they decided to hire me!! I was soooo happy I can't even describe! I remember walking out of there after they offered it to me wanting to scream and jump up and down, even if it was just part time and at nights it would allow me to get rid of one serving job!! I worked there for a little over a year and I LOVED IT!! Sure it was hard at times and sometime completely and totally sucked, esp when you spend time getting close to a family and a little kid and then they leave only to later pass away from whatever horrible disease they may of had. Even though that part sucked I will tell you right now if you're ever feeling down about your self or life go by your local Ronald House and volunteer. I'm serious, the energy and amazing spirit of these children that most likely are dealing with something you've never dealt with will put your life in perspective. I met some of the most AMAZING families there and I'm happy to say that I still keep in touch with some them as well.
Ok so I'm sure you're know all to the point of that's great Shawna but how did this get you to South Korea?! haha Sorry I tend to start typing sometimes and the next thing I know I've wrote a short story! Anyway, after about a year (around mid April) of working at RMHC I was really starting to get unhappy, not from the job don't get me wrong I loved the job I just wasn't happy with where I was at in life. Back in Oct. I had started dating this amazing guy (Logan) that I had been pretty good friends with for over a year and that was going great but otherwise I just felt like I was in rut. If I were honest with myself to I'd felt like that just about since I graduated from college. I mean come I had NO DESIRE to move to FL and continue to serve, I hated serving!! My job at RMH was great but even that too was still only a few hours a night M-F. I had to either move up there or find a new job! Well one day I saw on facebook that an old friend from church back in MO was asking if anyone was interested in teaching English in South Korea. I've always wanted to travel but really thought nothing would come of it if I just asked what the details were. Honestly I figured she'd give me the bare details, I'd say oh that's cool and nothing else would come it.....man was I wrong!! The next day I had an email from her saying "you would be perfect for the job here is all the info send me your resume and I'll get back in contact with you" You see she was already over there and her contract was ending and so she was having to find a replacement and her boss really wanted to hire someone she knew instead of bringing in a completely new person! Of course because I'm a momma's girl I had to talk to my mom and Dale right away and see what they thought and I'm pretty sure stunned is no where close to the right wording! haha I mean if you know me you'll know that I really like being around my friends and family and that just moving away to FL when I only knew my mom and family down there was a HUGE step for me, now here I was talking about picking up and moving half way across the world where I would know no one!! Yeah stunned is definitely not the right word. I of course talked to Logan about it as well and his first words were "well I go where you go so I'll of course come with if you want me to" omg yeah I pretty much awwwed out loud when he told me that and of course I said good because I would love for to come with! After talking to him about it and my mom and Dale everyone pretty much agreed that if I were offered the job yeah it would suck and I would miss friends and family but I would be INSANE not to take the opportunity! A couple of days after that Lauren (old friend whose spot I would be taking) got in touch with me and told me that Grace, boss lady, would like to offer me the job!! I'm really not sure how to describe the feeling I had when I read that email, I was excited and nervous as all hell too. It didn't even sink in until we were at the airport leaving either, I'm not going to get into that though because otherwise I'll be sitting here trying to type while crying! I had asked about and gotten the job all literally within 1 week....1 week. That's one week to think about it, inform loved ones about the possibility and decide to move half way across the world for a year!! I remember thinking did I really just decide this all within a week?!?! But at the same time when I went back to the restaurant to work the day after getting it I knew that I had made the right decision I could not wait for my last day there! I loved the people I worked with but I was just so tired of dealing with everything else and waiting on people that I was ready to snap at just about every table that had even just a minor problem....not a good idea and luckily I never did!
Anyway, now to why I named this Pushing Play. Like I said before, I had felt like I was in rut for awhile but in April of 2011 I stepped out of my box and excepted a job that I feel like is going to help me grow even more as a person. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my friends from college but I have always been so envious of them because of the things they were doing with their lives and how not in a rut they seem. Even if not true it was a feeling I hated. Now I feel like I'm finally doing something with my life, I'm no longer on pause waiting hoping that the right job just comes along or that the right guy comes along and sees me for who I really am or that you know maybe some day I'll be able to travel like I've always wanted. I have a wonderful guy that has helped encourage me to do the things I've always wanted to do and always had faith in me even when I wasn't sure I could do something. With the faith he and my family and friends had in me I was able to see the faith I have in myself and except this huge offer for a job and finally take a step in a direction I knew I would love. Time to stop talking about how I want to travel and I want a different job it was time to do it! I finally "Pushed Play" on my life again and I couldn't be happier that I did!
Now I'm sure most of you are like wow that's great Shawna nice little story but we want to hear about what you've been up to since then. Well sadly Logan is sick so I'm going to spend some time with him and besides I think I've wrote enough for my first blog don't you?! Besides, maybe this way it will get you to come back next time so you can read about what we've been up to since being over here!
Love to you all, esp those that have always believed in me, and I promise to post again soon and maybe even pictures eventually once I get the hang of this thing!
Love
Shawna
Anyway, after college I wanted to be closer to her again so I packed up and moved to Fl also. I will admit now that I do like Florida for the most part and it was even better because one of my great friends, Jessi, moved down with me! So after moving to FL the only jobs I could find were serving jobs because I just didn't have the experience I needed for anything else out there. I started working at 2 different restaurants about a month after moving and continued working the 2 for year. After that I was lucky and got hired at the Ronald McDonald House in Jacksonville and I do mean lucky! When I first interviewed I was only 24 which would of made the youngest one working there and also unable to drive the van that we use to transport families that have no vehicle around. Well thanks to the very wonderful words of a friend that my mom and I new that worked there already they decided to hire me!! I was soooo happy I can't even describe! I remember walking out of there after they offered it to me wanting to scream and jump up and down, even if it was just part time and at nights it would allow me to get rid of one serving job!! I worked there for a little over a year and I LOVED IT!! Sure it was hard at times and sometime completely and totally sucked, esp when you spend time getting close to a family and a little kid and then they leave only to later pass away from whatever horrible disease they may of had. Even though that part sucked I will tell you right now if you're ever feeling down about your self or life go by your local Ronald House and volunteer. I'm serious, the energy and amazing spirit of these children that most likely are dealing with something you've never dealt with will put your life in perspective. I met some of the most AMAZING families there and I'm happy to say that I still keep in touch with some them as well.
Ok so I'm sure you're know all to the point of that's great Shawna but how did this get you to South Korea?! haha Sorry I tend to start typing sometimes and the next thing I know I've wrote a short story! Anyway, after about a year (around mid April) of working at RMHC I was really starting to get unhappy, not from the job don't get me wrong I loved the job I just wasn't happy with where I was at in life. Back in Oct. I had started dating this amazing guy (Logan) that I had been pretty good friends with for over a year and that was going great but otherwise I just felt like I was in rut. If I were honest with myself to I'd felt like that just about since I graduated from college. I mean come I had NO DESIRE to move to FL and continue to serve, I hated serving!! My job at RMH was great but even that too was still only a few hours a night M-F. I had to either move up there or find a new job! Well one day I saw on facebook that an old friend from church back in MO was asking if anyone was interested in teaching English in South Korea. I've always wanted to travel but really thought nothing would come of it if I just asked what the details were. Honestly I figured she'd give me the bare details, I'd say oh that's cool and nothing else would come it.....man was I wrong!! The next day I had an email from her saying "you would be perfect for the job here is all the info send me your resume and I'll get back in contact with you" You see she was already over there and her contract was ending and so she was having to find a replacement and her boss really wanted to hire someone she knew instead of bringing in a completely new person! Of course because I'm a momma's girl I had to talk to my mom and Dale right away and see what they thought and I'm pretty sure stunned is no where close to the right wording! haha I mean if you know me you'll know that I really like being around my friends and family and that just moving away to FL when I only knew my mom and family down there was a HUGE step for me, now here I was talking about picking up and moving half way across the world where I would know no one!! Yeah stunned is definitely not the right word. I of course talked to Logan about it as well and his first words were "well I go where you go so I'll of course come with if you want me to" omg yeah I pretty much awwwed out loud when he told me that and of course I said good because I would love for to come with! After talking to him about it and my mom and Dale everyone pretty much agreed that if I were offered the job yeah it would suck and I would miss friends and family but I would be INSANE not to take the opportunity! A couple of days after that Lauren (old friend whose spot I would be taking) got in touch with me and told me that Grace, boss lady, would like to offer me the job!! I'm really not sure how to describe the feeling I had when I read that email, I was excited and nervous as all hell too. It didn't even sink in until we were at the airport leaving either, I'm not going to get into that though because otherwise I'll be sitting here trying to type while crying! I had asked about and gotten the job all literally within 1 week....1 week. That's one week to think about it, inform loved ones about the possibility and decide to move half way across the world for a year!! I remember thinking did I really just decide this all within a week?!?! But at the same time when I went back to the restaurant to work the day after getting it I knew that I had made the right decision I could not wait for my last day there! I loved the people I worked with but I was just so tired of dealing with everything else and waiting on people that I was ready to snap at just about every table that had even just a minor problem....not a good idea and luckily I never did!
Anyway, now to why I named this Pushing Play. Like I said before, I had felt like I was in rut for awhile but in April of 2011 I stepped out of my box and excepted a job that I feel like is going to help me grow even more as a person. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my friends from college but I have always been so envious of them because of the things they were doing with their lives and how not in a rut they seem. Even if not true it was a feeling I hated. Now I feel like I'm finally doing something with my life, I'm no longer on pause waiting hoping that the right job just comes along or that the right guy comes along and sees me for who I really am or that you know maybe some day I'll be able to travel like I've always wanted. I have a wonderful guy that has helped encourage me to do the things I've always wanted to do and always had faith in me even when I wasn't sure I could do something. With the faith he and my family and friends had in me I was able to see the faith I have in myself and except this huge offer for a job and finally take a step in a direction I knew I would love. Time to stop talking about how I want to travel and I want a different job it was time to do it! I finally "Pushed Play" on my life again and I couldn't be happier that I did!
Now I'm sure most of you are like wow that's great Shawna nice little story but we want to hear about what you've been up to since then. Well sadly Logan is sick so I'm going to spend some time with him and besides I think I've wrote enough for my first blog don't you?! Besides, maybe this way it will get you to come back next time so you can read about what we've been up to since being over here!
Love to you all, esp those that have always believed in me, and I promise to post again soon and maybe even pictures eventually once I get the hang of this thing!
Love
Shawna
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