Roller Coaster of Love/Hate

I must say, living here in Korea is really like riding this roller coaster of emotion that takes you to exciting heights, where you're exploring and learning new things, and meeting interesting people that are fun to get to know, but also whips you to the ground with the force of feeling completed alienated in a strange land with strange people. One minute you're having the time and experience of your life, and the next you're counting the seconds until February 26, 2010. No matter how I am ever feeling, the one constant is that things are always interesting.

This past Wednesday was my school's foundation day, which is an official holiday that both the students and teachers observe. To celebrate this holiday, all the teachers, including my Principal and Vice Principal, arranged to get a couple condo rooms in Haeundae for Tuesday night, where we would all stay and enjoy a night of drinking and games. Or so I was told. One thing I've learned during my time here in Korea is that you can never really know what to expect from anything. So basically I had no idea what we were going to do. What I did know, was that I didn't have a choice on whether to go or not. You go to these things, no ifs ands or buts. I honestly wasn't looking forward to it. Here was my first official day off and I didn't have a choice in what I got to do with it. Oh well, you have to go with the flow here or else you'll go insane trying to fight against the established "system" they have in place.

We arrived in Haeundae on Tuesday night at a very nice-looking condo complex right on the water. When we got up to the 18th floor, where are our rooms were, I was pretty shocked to see that the two rooms we reserved were pretty small and had NO furniture. Save for the low-to-the-ground tables, there was nothing but hardwood floors, a sink, a fridge and a nice view. Immediately I knew that meant we were all going to be sleeping on the hard floor. Fantastic.

When we sat down for dinner, on the ground of course, I was presented with two different kinds of raw fish. Awesome. The best part was when my co-teacher gave me this look of like, "Oh well." Sometimes she can be the coolest person, and other times like this she really pisses me off. Anyway, I chowed down on some rice cakes, sipped soju and sat there as everyone enjoyed their fish and spoke in Korean. The night had barely begun and I was already so done with the little teacher overnight outing. Eventually one of the teacher's husbands showed up with pork, so I was happy to finally be able to eat something hearty. The pork had no flavor whatsoever though. I wouldn't describe it as disgusting, just very dissatisfying. At this point I was really letting myself get pulled into a rut. I already didn't really want to be there, I was upset at my co-teacher, I wanted to eat real food on a table and I wanted to know what the heck everyone around me was talking about! Worst of all, I just kept thinking about how uncomfortable it was going to be sleeping on that floor.

After the meal, we moved the party into the other condo room to play some sort of Korean game. I didn't bother to ask the name of the game, because I really didn't care. We were split up into three teams, and there was some sort of board with each team having a different peg that one member of the teams moved around. We would throw these three wooden sticks up into the air and depending on how they landed, your team would move on the board. I honestly couldn't figure out how this thing was played to save my life. I just sat there, watched and threw the sticks when it was my turn. It really was amazing to see how excited and animated they would get playing this game. They actually got so loud that the people below us complained and a staff member had to come tell us to keep it down. It wasn't long after this that they decided to pack the game up and move on with the night.

The next activity was pool at a nearby billiards. This is where the night actually started to get a little better. Finally, a game I was familiar with and a chance to get me away from thinking about that hard floor I was supposed to sleep on later. I did finally start enjoying myself when we were playing pool, I think mainly for the aforementioned reasons. We stayed there for maybe an hour, hour and a half. After we were done playing pool, it was time to clubbin'! Yes, that's right. My Principal (In his 50s) and Vice Principal (In his 60s) wanted to go to a club. So we walked to this club that was actually right across the street from the billiards we were at, but were denied entry. The club only let younger people in, which meant the older teachers that were with us couldn't go. Talk about a burn! Especially since it was my Principal and Vice Principal that wanted to go!

To scratch their club itch, we all hopped into taxis and went to another club that didn't discriminate against our vintage friends. It's funny, because the club we ended up going to was the Starbox, which is right across the street from Brent's place. It's a place that we've passed by many times and have joked about as we passed by. Now here I was getting ready to rock that joint with my co-workers. When we got in, it was extremely loud, as any typical club is. As I expected it would be, the place was completely empty. It was Tuesday night for crying out loud. There honestly were about 40 people total in this huge complex. I must say however, they really put a lot into the entertainment for us 40. You'd think they would bring it down a few notches for a Tuesday night, but they sure didn't. There were several different live DJs and bands, complete with a moving stage and everything.  Now, getting me to dance isn't that difficult, but usually does require some alcohol and guarantee of being in the middle of the pack and not on the outside edges of the dance floor. This wasn't the case that night though. You start feeling really good about your dance skills when you see a bunch of middle-aged Koreans trying to keep rhythm to upbeat dance music. I rocked that dance floor, believe it.

We left the club around 2 a.m. and started heading back to the condo where the hard floor awaited me. When we got back there was a contingent of teachers that still wanted to hang out and drink, but I was having none of it. I just wanted to try and sleep and get the night over with. I had already decided that I was bailing on this party early the next day, so the quicker that day came, the better. I excused myself to the other room and was extremely relieved to find that there were comforters and pillows for us to sleep on. The floor was still really hard, but the comforter gave me at least a little cushion, and the pillow was a total bonus. When I laid down to hit the hay, another teacher took the comforter next to me and was ready to sleep too. Or so I thought. Turns out it was question and answer time for me. Usually I don't mind these question and answer sessions I have with Koreans, because I love getting to talk about how awesome my country is, but I really just wanted to sleep at that point. Eventually another teacher joined in the Q&A and the conversation was official. It's funny, because during this zero-dark-thirty conversation, they both revealed their fear of visiting the U.S. I was shocked when they explained to me that they were afraid they would be shot if they went to the U.S. I tried to tell them that it was safe and they would be fine, but they were convinced. They even asked me if I own a gun! They told me that every American T.V. show they watch, the characters have guns and someone gets shot. I had to laugh at how serious they were about this. They truly believe that all us Americans own guns and shoot each other at will, and if they came to the U.S. they would be shot too. Oh television.

The next morning I was awakened by the footsteps and loud voices of my fellow teachers, Vice Principal and Principal, who walked around the room and talked as if there weren't people sleeping on the ground! I looked around and saw that it was me and one other teacher still sleeping, so I just stayed there. Eventually, they left and I fell back asleep for a little bit, until they returned, again acting as if we weren't even there trying to sleep. I had so had it with this little trip. Though the majority of them continued to hang out on Wednesday, I couldn't have been happier to get out of there that morning. Like I mentioned before, I really let myself get into a rut, and this was definitely a low point. I just missed "normal" so much.

By the time Thursday came around, I was feeling a lot better. Usually all it takes is some time and a little venting to get back on track, and that was the case here. I do think it's easier to deal with the tough times if you accept they're going to come, and know they will pass soon enough. My classes on Thursday were great and I even got invited to go back to my co-teacher's friend's house for another dinner that night. Of course I went and it was another awesome meal. We even sat a table this time! She really is a nice lady and a great cook. When I left her house that night, she gave me a bunch of goodies, that randomly included three brand new pairs of ankle-high Nike socks. By the end of Thursday, my rut was totally gone. I was even pretty excited for school the next day, because I got to teach the kids about famous American landmarks. Like I said, I really enjoy talking about America. It's so much fun and I love how interested everyone is.

Speaking of my students, they have all officially chosen their English names and I proudly present their choices below. Please note that the names with stars next to them were chosen either before I was their teacher or on their own, and not from the list I provided them. Some aren't even English, so I have no idea where they got it from. Congratulations to all of you whose names made the grade.

3rd Grade

1st Class 2nd Class

Jewelry* Sandy Jany* Elizabeth

Amy Lucky* Justin Emily

Lauren Gary Henny* Amy

Sunny* Lina* Kevin Laurie

Daniel Minkey* Daniel Lisa

Michael Jessica Brent Jana

Sam Angela* Angel* Alyssa

Daniel Sarah Jason Alice*

Jana Tino* Tony Sally*

Lisa Thomas Ann* Jessica

Lia* John Alex Lindsey

4th Grade

1st Class 2nd Class

Hannah Kevin Mary Daniel

Kara* Paul Jene* Mark

Hailey Ben Anna* James

Sally* James Sky* Mack*

Zia* Brian Amy Jay*

Andy Caitlin Alyssa Brian

Ilene* Adam Melissa Tuffy*

Kelly Bill Loody* Mick*

Amy Roy Lisa Chuck

5th Grade

1st Class 2nd Class

Jenny James Kelly Luke

Mary David Emma Gary

Iris* Adam Pearl* Paul

Ann* Justin Lisa Mary

Brooke Judy* Katie Western*

Andrew Mary Jen Troy

Charles Rachel Jenny Jackie*

Sally* Andy Amy Roger*

Krista* Jerry Monica* Jim

Emily Chris Ann* Roy

6th Grade

1st Class 2nd Class

Kevin Brent Mike Tom

Jenny Roy Ashley Paul

Jeannie* Troy Sandy James

Sunny* Paul Bonnie* Mark

Tony Lucky* Tony Mo*

Jamie Rodney* Lucy* Phil*

Sara Ray* Stacy* Roy

Mary Jerrod* Anna* Yan*

Sam Kevin Amy Kevin

Julie* Luke Irene* Tim

Selena* Rooney* Sally* Robin*

Jessica Mark Mamie* Alex