Yutnori

Today was the final day of mid-term tests at our high school. (At first, I typed MY but then changed it to OUR....VERY Korean, everything is OURS, not MINE.) After lunch, the teachers had some fun and games in the school gym, playing traditional Korean games. I played yutnori (pronounced YUNORI). There are two teams, each divided into groups of four. I ended up being dragged into it as well. There are four wooden sticks of varying shapes; some are rounded, others are flattened on one side. Teams face each other across a mat. Each person takes turns to toss the sticks onto a mat in front of them. I just did my own thing for my first two turns, and managed to score for the team, bringing the score up from where it had been straggling. But after that, someone decided to show me how I should actually do it. And that's when my sticks started rolling off the mat, thus meaning no score. But, I'm happy to say that we won the first round :). We played 3 rounds, thus allowing everyone an opportunity to play. At the end of the 3rd round, it was 4:30 and time for me to go home.


Yay! It's weekend!

She's back!

Well, I'm back after a long absence of three weeks. Life has suddenly become very busy here in Korea. Last year, someone asked me whether the Koreans were slave-driving me yet. I laughed in reply and boasted of how much free time I had.

Hello 2010! I now also teach supplementary classes at middle school as well as evening classes (Mondays through Wednesdays) to parents and other adults. I also have a professional group, consisting of a bank manager and a dentist, with whom I meet on Wednesdays and Thursdays. (Yes, on a Wednesday, AFTER my other evening class!) The first two weeks saw me walking around like a zombie. But in this, the third week, my body has finally adjusted to the new schedule. Hence, me finally having time (and energy) to update my blog!

Korean classes are also going well. But between 5 evening classes, 4 nights a week, and Korean class every Saturday, I now only have Sundays to myself. So I jealously guard my Sundays. A Sunday is now my only time to rest and catch up on household chores. I even manage to squeeze in some time for a new hobby I just started.... painting! Who would have thought? I've never regarded myself as an artist. But at least I can do abstract stuff and call it art! So I am now slowly but surely decorating my apartment with art by moi!

Spring has also finally made an appearance, with beautiful flowering cherry blossom trees everywhere. Pictures of these natural wonders have always drawn me to Asia. I get a thrill every time I look at these trees. Sometimes, I cannot believe that I am here in Asia, and able to see and touch these very trees and their delicate blossoms, of which I dreamed for years and years.

Cherry blossom tree with a Korean ancestral home in the background.

Giant cherry blossom tree at Gunwi High School.

Awesome sight of a 'Spring shower' sky.

Cherry blossom tree lined avenue.

It rained cherry blossom petals!

And then, of course, Saturdays in Daegu are a treat. I get to satisfy the city-girl in me. Saturdays start off with an hour-long bus ride into Daegu, followed by breakfast at Starbucks with friends, prior to Korean class. I have met a wonderful group of like-minded crazies, and we have so much fun together, learning a new language! Class is usually followed by lunch together with whoever happens to be available. We try out a new restaurant every Saturday! This is usually followed by some form of shopping or another (shoes, or new jeans, or luxury groceries - imported from the Western World - [this includes avocado pears and South African wines at exorbitant prices, but what's a girl to do?], or just hobby supplies). And before we know it, it's the end of the day! So much socialising and shopping to do, not enough time!

Friendships and relationships are still progressing very nicely. I have more students wanting to practice their English, so I spend my lunch breaks walking outside with them, and talking in the fresh Spring air. One girl has even planned topics for me! Her topic for today was, 'Nicknames'! At my high school, they also started an English radio broadcast programme. I coach the students' with their enunciation etc, and thus can still wear my Speech and Drama Teacher hat!

I have also gained many new friends through my evening classes. The downside of this, however, is all the dinner invitations!!

So, I am happy to report that all's well here in the Land of the Morning Calm.

Till next time!

Happy April Fools' Day!

I must admit that the Koreans really do some great things! I appreciate how they make the most of special days. Today, our high school students had prepared fake chalk on the chalk rail, so teachers had to carry chalk with them to class. The kids also coated the door handles with glue, and one class of boys reversed their classroom by turning their chairs round to face the back! They even placed the teachers' lectern at the back of the room. I can't remember us school kids playing cute tricks like that when I was at school!

And then, tonight, I met some of my students' parents. They want to learn English. I am grateful for the opportunity to teach adults. In my opinion, it can only add to my teaching experience. It will be very interesting, since they are at beginner level. Then again, I am in the same boat as they are when it comes to Korean. So here's hoping it will be an equal exchange. My Korean course is proving to be very handy!

One Year in Korea

Today marks my one-year anniversary in Korea. I feel happy, settled and am enjoying great relationships with my Korean students and colleagues. I have also started Korean classes, and have loads of help and advice from my Korean pals (친구 = cheen-goo = friends). Even my high school principal has come on board with my learning! He checked my homework, and even sent me a bilingual email, to further motivate me to study hard!

I was pleasantly surprised a couple of days ago, when one of the admin ladies came into the teachers' office with a newspaper clipping with a photograph of me! How did this happen?! What are the chances of them actually catching it? Very very sharp eyes, I tell you!

Newspaper clipping of Bernice and I writing our hopes for 2010.

Common Colds, Jabs in the Bum, and Yellow Chinese dust

Well, it's that time of year again. Spring.... Change of season.... Allergic rhinitis time. The time of year when I am most susceptible to throat, ear and chest infections. I know my body's responses to these seasonal mishaps so well, that I am able to diagnose myself very accurately by now. Usually, I can go to the doctor and inform him/her of my symptoms and request a script for antibiotics, and before I know it, all's well. So imagine my huge surprise when I fell sick as a dog after my birthday weekend in Busan, barely managed to drag myself to the doctor on Monday, only to be told that I had a COMMON COLD! How's that for taking the wind out of one's sails! I got a jab in the bum, and meds for 3 days.

I still felt ridiculously ill the following day, so stayed at home. I must say, I have NEVER been that sick from a COMMON COLD. It took all week and into the start of the following week before I began to feel like myself again.

Another wonderful characteristic of Spring in Korea is the Yellow Dust which blankets the Korean peninsula. This Yellow Dust blows in from China and Mongolia (the Gobi Desert). This year, the highest levels ever were recorded on Saturday and Sunday (2684 micrograms per cubic metre). I was in Daegu for the start of my Korean language course at the YMCA. I couldn't understand why my nose was burning so terribly and the sky was overcast with an eerie blanket of what looked like highveld rain clouds. Meanwhile it was the dust, which kept many Koreans indoors for fear of respiratory problems, and apparently drivers and pedestrians who were out and about complained that the dust clouded their visibility.

Busan Birthday 'B'arty

So the big celebration has finally come and gone :) And it was a wonderful one.

On Saturday morning, Bernice and I made our way to Busan, on the South Coast of South Korea. Busan is the second largest city in Korea, after Seoul. And it is also very foreigner-friendly. The closest comparison I can make is... think of Seoul as Johannesburg, and Busan as Cape Town. Almost every sign/notice was in both Korean AND English. And for a change, we saw more than just Korean-made cars! There were BMW's, Chevrolets, VW's, etc. In my neck of the woods (Daegu and surrounding areas, all you see are Hyundai and Kia!)

After checking into our motel, we took a 5min stroll and were at Haeundae Beach, the most popular beach in Korea among tourists. It's like a cross between Camps Bay and the Durban Promenade.

Slaves to fashion: high heels at the beach!

Busan Aquarium

We visited Busan Aquarium, which is not very big, although it took us a good 3 hours to see everything, including a ride in a glass-bottomed boat in the shark tank. All the displays were clearly marked and all the sea creatures appeared to be healthy and well-taken care of. All the tanks contained crystal-clear water. The water in the shark tank looked so inviting, that I was sorely tempted to accidentally fall in, just to be closer to my beloved sharks :) I must say, that this was the most number of sharks I've ever seen in a shark tank... there were at least 10 big sharks, besides the smaller sand sharks.

View from the glass-bottomed boat.

My First Birthday in Korea

Hi again!

Well, not my FIRST birthday, obviously! But you know what I mean.

I woke up to snow this morning. It caught me by total surprise, as I had no idea that it had snowed. I sat down in the lounge, ready to get a grip on world news from the BBC, with my bowl of Rice Krispies (smuggled into Korea in my suitcase on my return from the USA!) and just HAPPENED to glance out of the window, and hey presto! The sight took my breath away! What a wonderful birthday prezzie :)

And so it is, that I have finally reached the wonderful age of 37. This is the age that I always kept in the back of my mind, since I first heard my mother, aunts and older cousins talking about how a woman changes when she turns 37. What wonderful things did they say to each other? (Obviously these things were not meant for the ears of a certain little mouse!)

Things to do when you turn 37 .......

1. Lie about your age: from now, until at least, your 50-60s, you will always be 36 years old!

2. Crow's feet begin to show at 37. (I have to admit that I actually checked for crow's feet a month or two ago! Not that I could find any!)

How one is supposed to remain 36 with ever-increasing crow's feet is beyond me! Oh, now I remember!

3. Nivea. Nivea is the answer! You know the THICK Nivea cream? That one!

Thankfully, although I have always kept these pearls of feminine wisdom in the back of my mind for such a time as this, i.e. TODAY and forever.... I am happy to say that I have never had a problem divulging my age to anyone, and after reaching this milestone today, I still don't have a problem being honest about my age. Living in Korea, though, already has me accustomed to aging myself even further. Last year, I was already 37. So, here in Korea I have turned 38 today, based on the lunar calendar.

This weekend, some friends and I will be heading to Busan, on the south coast of Korea, to celebrate this momentous feminine coming-of-age. More news on that next week!

Thanks to everyone for all the birthday wishes! I am surrounded by wonderful people :)

To being 36 forever!

A