Admittedly my English language television options are limited, but my newest obsession is a show on Nickelodeon where an awkward, slightly chubs kid of the day counts down the top pop songs (in Korean) by singing and dancing to each one. It appears that the ability to sing on key is not a prerequisite for casting. Nor a sense of rhythm.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Back in Korea...
So last week was my my big vacation which I spent in Japan visiting Tokyo and Kyoto. I had a great time despite some pretty oppressive heat. I'll post pictures once I figure out the best/fastest way to upload large numbers of pictures to my blog (tech friends: Heather/April this question is pretty much going out to you). Anyhow, I'm back to the rain and the grind in Seoul and so as such, have prepared a little photo montage. Now Ara, this is not to poke fun at or in any way stereotype Koreans or Korean culture, it's just the things that have made me smile.
1. A clothing store window near my house... So let's just ignore the fact that the mannequin is on the toilet for a moment to notice that the mannequin is also smoking a cigarette and that a urinal apparently makes a great vase.
2. The "ajumma workout": buying in bulk.
3. My "vacation present" from my boss. Well, I'd rather have this than the pine flavored toothpaste I got for Christmas.
4. Coiffing. James got a perm, Julie, a super curly perm and Eric 2 went from highlights to all over color. They are all 5.
1. A clothing store window near my house... So let's just ignore the fact that the mannequin is on the toilet for a moment to notice that the mannequin is also smoking a cigarette and that a urinal apparently makes a great vase.
2. The "ajumma workout": buying in bulk.
3. My "vacation present" from my boss. Well, I'd rather have this than the pine flavored toothpaste I got for Christmas.
4. Coiffing. James got a perm, Julie, a super curly perm and Eric 2 went from highlights to all over color. They are all 5.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
So I realize I'm not a poet..
Why I Love Korean Public Transportation
A haiku by Kerissa Barron
classical music
T-money, air conditioned
hot Belgian waffles
A haiku by Kerissa Barron
classical music
T-money, air conditioned
hot Belgian waffles
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Top Ten
During my skype session with Ara, she mentioned that my posting schedule has been well, a bit sporadic (her words, not mine). My apologies to my 3 readers but something about sweating the equivalent of my own body weight (and considering I just ate an omelet the size of a small Korean child, that's a lot) everyday leaves me a bit zapped of energy by the time I get home. It's not even very hot here (temperature wise) but this humidity thing is intense. Compounding the already incredibly sticky (literally) situation is the previously mentioned cheapness of our school and the fact that our academy is located above a jinjilbang (steam sauna). It's like the perfect storm. However the wind picked up tonight so here I give you my last two weeks in summary, albeit Dave Letterman style--
My Top Ten of the last two weeks
1. One of the Korean teachers went and saw the new Tom Cruise movie "Knight and Day". When I asked her how the movie was she responded that "it was bad." When I asked her why, she told me "because Cameron Diaz looked old". In a related story, I'll give it #8 on my list, I was making a comment to one of the teachers about how well behaved one of the little boys is. She told me that actually he used to be very badly behaved but his mother told him that if he was bad his teachers would get gray hair and wrinkles. Now, he is the best student in the class. Hmm, maybe instead of time outs or writing sentences I just won't wear makeup?
2.
So maybe I'm a coward but as much as I love to eat anything and everything, I've never exactly enjoyed looking my meal in the face...or in this case watching its body ongulate as it was fried alive in spicy sauce. Additionally, watching a friendly ajumma wielding scissors (the culinary weapon of choice here), decapitating both octupi Marie Antoinette style, dramatically spraying ink into the sauce (which she made sure to tell me was good for me, they always do that), was enough to make me question the morality of eating animals, well at least for about 30 seconds. However, after a moment of silence for the departed, I decided it was now my duty to an eat an obscene amount of food, you know, in order to honor the animal's sacrifice and all that...
3.
I have made it my personal mission over the past few weeks to find the best macarons in Seoul. I am not talking about macaroons. If you don't know the difference, I don't know why you're reading this as you're clearly not my friend and have nothing in common with me. Extensive research is still necessary and will undoubtedly be conducted, but taking an early lead...Sinsegae Department store.
4.
We got a new Native (English) teacher last week. One of the Korean teachers asked me what I thought of her. I said that seemed really nice and easy to get along with. Her response, "But you know she's a vegetarian..."
5.
This week the target conversation for my Bear class:
6. Over the past few weeks I have learned to read and write Korean. This should probably be higher on the list but whatever, now you see where my true priorities lie.
7. In one of my more advanced classes all I do for 40 minutes is explain difficult vocabulary words to them. Last week, the day the AC was broken, I had to explain the word "humidity". Oh the irony...
8. See #1
9. One of the little girls in Red Star gave me a gift. Two tree clips (literally hair clips that look like trees) with rhinestones. I wear them more than I'd like to admit.
10. Ah, I've made it! Hmm, sneaking ninja style with my Red Trinity (my most advanced class) out of the back stairwell so I could take them to a Ttoekbokki shop today for snacks was pretty fun. Oh, and for people who say that I'm being paid to teach not eat rice cake, we spoke English the entire time.
My Top Ten of the last two weeks
1. One of the Korean teachers went and saw the new Tom Cruise movie "Knight and Day". When I asked her how the movie was she responded that "it was bad." When I asked her why, she told me "because Cameron Diaz looked old". In a related story, I'll give it #8 on my list, I was making a comment to one of the teachers about how well behaved one of the little boys is. She told me that actually he used to be very badly behaved but his mother told him that if he was bad his teachers would get gray hair and wrinkles. Now, he is the best student in the class. Hmm, maybe instead of time outs or writing sentences I just won't wear makeup?
2.
So maybe I'm a coward but as much as I love to eat anything and everything, I've never exactly enjoyed looking my meal in the face...or in this case watching its body ongulate as it was fried alive in spicy sauce. Additionally, watching a friendly ajumma wielding scissors (the culinary weapon of choice here), decapitating both octupi Marie Antoinette style, dramatically spraying ink into the sauce (which she made sure to tell me was good for me, they always do that), was enough to make me question the morality of eating animals, well at least for about 30 seconds. However, after a moment of silence for the departed, I decided it was now my duty to an eat an obscene amount of food, you know, in order to honor the animal's sacrifice and all that...
3.
I have made it my personal mission over the past few weeks to find the best macarons in Seoul. I am not talking about macaroons. If you don't know the difference, I don't know why you're reading this as you're clearly not my friend and have nothing in common with me. Extensive research is still necessary and will undoubtedly be conducted, but taking an early lead...Sinsegae Department store.
4.
We got a new Native (English) teacher last week. One of the Korean teachers asked me what I thought of her. I said that seemed really nice and easy to get along with. Her response, "But you know she's a vegetarian..."
5.
This week the target conversation for my Bear class:
- I want to eat you
- No, I'm too small.
6. Over the past few weeks I have learned to read and write Korean. This should probably be higher on the list but whatever, now you see where my true priorities lie.
7. In one of my more advanced classes all I do for 40 minutes is explain difficult vocabulary words to them. Last week, the day the AC was broken, I had to explain the word "humidity". Oh the irony...
8. See #1
9. One of the little girls in Red Star gave me a gift. Two tree clips (literally hair clips that look like trees) with rhinestones. I wear them more than I'd like to admit.
10. Ah, I've made it! Hmm, sneaking ninja style with my Red Trinity (my most advanced class) out of the back stairwell so I could take them to a Ttoekbokki shop today for snacks was pretty fun. Oh, and for people who say that I'm being paid to teach not eat rice cake, we spoke English the entire time.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Thank god for teachers' pets...
My favorite journal entry this week brought to you by Rose-Kim
In case you can't read the text:
"A woman was an English teacher.
She was eating breakfast regularly.
She was arriving at Guro Wonderland.
She teached for everyone very happily and kindly so everyone could understand easily and completely.
She was always teaching happily, too.
Always...smile, happy, kind, complete.
She was...she was! Kerissa teacher."
Saturday, June 12, 2010
절묘한 고통...
While I've never considered myself a masochist (I can't be on diet, I shun exercise, I don't enjoy working very hard academically, at work, etc. etc.), living here has made me realize that while self-denial (or really control) is not in my nature, I am still a glutton for punishment...at least when it comes to spicy food. As anyone, even remotely familiar with Korean cuisine knows, there is no lack of fiery foods here...and well, I've become an addict. Like seriously. In spite of the fact that just looking at many of these foods makes my stomach lining start to ache, I also get a little excited and cannot help but to abandon caution and proceed to slurp my jiggae (stew) or happily pop chili chicken into my mouth. Tonight's dinner failed to dissappoint. Kimchi Sundobu so hot it made my eyes sweat. I actually got a little embarassed because I felt like my face must be bright red but one quick check in the bathroom mirror confirmed that I was at least still semi-normal colored (though my lips quite swollen and a massively runny nose). Sorry for no picture (I forgot my phone) but just think about what red molten lava in a searingly hot stone pot would look like and I think you have a pretty good idea...
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