Thursday, March 20, 2008
I am Yoga Master
Oh yeah that's right - I did it - with out assistance off a wall or someone holding my legs - I stood on my head. Yup look at the white girl go - she is standing on her head. I am so cool!!!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Cultural Exchange
Sorry I have not been around in a while. School has started back, and I have been a bit busy getting things together. I have a post that I started sometime ago on my analysis of Korean fashion - I will get that up at some point perhaps with photos.
However, today's cultural moment has nothing to do with Koreans. It actually involves the other Native English teacher at my school Sarah. I may have mentioned Sarah to some of you before, but for others here is the story. Sarah is 25 and from Ireland. She lived in Korea before for a year two years ago - went back to Ireland - had a really hard time finding a teaching job - hated working in an office - so decided to come back to Korea. Which is very, very lucky for me because I think Sarah is great. She is a wonderful teacher and so easy to get along with. She has such good ideas and works with others ideas as well. This past week we started doing a morning announcements video broadcast for our school. In English of course. We will be doing this ever Tuesday through Friday for about 5 minutes during homeroom. We are having a blast!!! I could not imagine having a better co-worker. And what is even nicer it that although we get along very well, we both have our own interests and are not put off at not hanging out all that time. Many of the teachers have asked us if we go out together outside of school and are always surprised when we say no. Maybe once or twice a months we might see a movie together or have dinner. This past Tuesday we went to see the Reduced Shakespeare Company at the Sejong Centre but that is about it. We see each other at work and then do are own thing. A lovely arrangement.
Over that past few months, Sarah and I have had a few laughs over how and what each of us says. I have American words and phrases that she laughs at and I with her Irish. And these differences are expected - we grew up a really far way apart. However, there was one thing that really took me by surprise, and I must say I am very proud to have been part of a cultural first for Sarah. As I was eating an apple with peanut butter, Sarah mentioned that although they have peanut butter in Ireland, it really is not used much. So the idea that I was putting it on an apple was very strange to her, but this was not the shocker. I was mentioning other things peanut butter went with - and then she said something that made my head snap up:
"I have never had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich."
WHAT!?!!?!?! Never. Did you have a childhood? What do you people eat on that island?
After a few moments of puzzled staring, I asked her if she would like to try one and she said sure. So the next day I brought in a PBJ sandwich (strawberry jelly of course) for her to try. Her first words were "HHmm it is sweet. Pretty good" Well dah!!
See I knew I came to Korea for a reason. I just never knew it was to share PBJ with Ireland.
However, today's cultural moment has nothing to do with Koreans. It actually involves the other Native English teacher at my school Sarah. I may have mentioned Sarah to some of you before, but for others here is the story. Sarah is 25 and from Ireland. She lived in Korea before for a year two years ago - went back to Ireland - had a really hard time finding a teaching job - hated working in an office - so decided to come back to Korea. Which is very, very lucky for me because I think Sarah is great. She is a wonderful teacher and so easy to get along with. She has such good ideas and works with others ideas as well. This past week we started doing a morning announcements video broadcast for our school. In English of course. We will be doing this ever Tuesday through Friday for about 5 minutes during homeroom. We are having a blast!!! I could not imagine having a better co-worker. And what is even nicer it that although we get along very well, we both have our own interests and are not put off at not hanging out all that time. Many of the teachers have asked us if we go out together outside of school and are always surprised when we say no. Maybe once or twice a months we might see a movie together or have dinner. This past Tuesday we went to see the Reduced Shakespeare Company at the Sejong Centre but that is about it. We see each other at work and then do are own thing. A lovely arrangement.
Over that past few months, Sarah and I have had a few laughs over how and what each of us says. I have American words and phrases that she laughs at and I with her Irish. And these differences are expected - we grew up a really far way apart. However, there was one thing that really took me by surprise, and I must say I am very proud to have been part of a cultural first for Sarah. As I was eating an apple with peanut butter, Sarah mentioned that although they have peanut butter in Ireland, it really is not used much. So the idea that I was putting it on an apple was very strange to her, but this was not the shocker. I was mentioning other things peanut butter went with - and then she said something that made my head snap up:
"I have never had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich."
WHAT!?!!?!?! Never. Did you have a childhood? What do you people eat on that island?
After a few moments of puzzled staring, I asked her if she would like to try one and she said sure. So the next day I brought in a PBJ sandwich (strawberry jelly of course) for her to try. Her first words were "HHmm it is sweet. Pretty good" Well dah!!
See I knew I came to Korea for a reason. I just never knew it was to share PBJ with Ireland.
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