Lonely Nights

What do I do when I'm at home? I get home usually by 5PM from school. Other than surf the internet for hours until my shoulders stiffen.

• Clean my apartment. I don't know where all the dust comes from, but it exists.
• Bathroom duties. Nature calls.
• Prepare dinner. It could take up to an hour, if I don't have my ingredients pre-made.
• Prepare for the following day's classes. I review the lessons for the next day or create PowerPoint from pre-made lessons.
• Wash my laundry. Usually by the end of the week I do it.
• Wash the dishes. I like to save money on the water bill.
• Organize my finances. I scribble in all my daily expenses in my money planner, to remind me how much I am spending.
• Write. I like to reflect on my time being spent or how I will spend it.
• Read. I have a collection of free e-books I got from bloggers to unpublished authors.
• Visit Icheon's E-Mart. I've vacated that place too many times in the past 3-weeks. The commute is 45-minutes both ways, that doesn't even include the wait time.

Here's what I did while waiting for the ground-pork to defrost and rice to soak:

I made my own pre-made chopped garlic. I bought a bag of garlic bulbs for 1200 won and they were going to become rotten by next week if I didn't use them, so I decided to chop them. Luckily I just finished a jar of grape jam so I reused it. Thankfully, I don't reek of garlic. (Tip: Wash your hands with a silver spoon and it will rid the garlicky smell.)

As I said earlier, preparing dinner could take up to an hour, that is if I don't have my vegetables already pre-cut and frozen.

[Sliced green onion, shredded cabbage, and diced carrots with a few bulbs of garlic.]

Tonight's menu: Ground-pork with cabbage, carrots, and green onion. (Seasoned with garlic, sprinkled with ginger powder, dashed of salt and pepper, and kicked with oyster sauce. Over cooked it, but it was good.)

잘 먹을께요!

Would you like some more?

Happy (early) Lunar New Year!

It seems like the only thing I have been celebrating are the numerous New Years. The Hmong New Year, the Solar New Year, and now the Lunar New Year.

For those of you who don't know: Yes, Hmong people celebrate their own New Year, there's no designated date. It's usually held between October through December, depending on the clan or head family member. It is universally recognized as "Hmong New Year" in English or "Lwn Qaib Noj Peb Cauj" in Hmong (literally, "The Thirty-First" or "Swinging Chicken" or "Eat-the-swinging-chicken-on-the-31st" [I made that up]. Click on the link to get the full scoop on the Swinging-Chicken event from Ze Moua.)

The Principal of my school asked me when the New Year in Laos was held, I assumed he meant the Hmong people, so I told him in November. He, along with the Vice Principal and other teachers, quickly spoke in Korean puzzled. Honestly, I was too, but it's what II'm familiar with. I would have done a quick Google-search for him, but with no wi-fi or 3G available for my convenience. I wasn't confused by the date or from ignorance, it was because I haven't learned the Korean words for "harvest season".

I was able to attend the Minnesota Hmong New Year held at the River Centre and wear my traditional Hmong clothes.

[With my cousin, Padra Lee, at the 2011 MN River Center Hmong New Year.]

At the time, I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't attend the Hmong New Year held at the Metrodome, until I saw this:

[December 2010, Metrodome ceiling collapsed due to heavy snow.]

And then this occurred:

[General Vang Pao passed away on January 6, 2011, from pneumonia.]

I spent the Solar New Year with my college friend family. Her name is Shin, and I met her in class on accident. I had been practicing my Korean during class, she noticed the Hangul I wrote and told me I spelled, "teacher" wrong. We've been friends since. Her parents and sister drove early in the morning to pick me up from my town and we spent the day together. I ate a lot! They had asked me where I wanted to go, I had no idea. So we took a trip to E-Mart and stocked my pantry. Every now and then, Shin's Mom and I will text each other in complete Korean. I don't know how I do it or what I'm saying or how I'm saying it, but it's helping a lot with my Korean language ability. We have a good laugh when she calls, because I am definitely worse at speaking.

[Shin Hyong and I on my 21st birthday in Minneapolis.]

Lunar New Year, also known as "Seol or Gujeong"(click to read askakorean's point of view) in Korea is a three-day national holiday, which it also falls right before the weekend this year, so it's a 5-day weekend for (almost) everyone or a 9-day vacation if people request Monday and Tuesday off and leave the weekend before to paradise. Bus drivers, sales associates, movie theater workers, coffee baristas, and non-government workers are most likely working. Lunar New Year is equivalent to Christmas time in the states. Seriously. I haven't been in such panic or worry about what to do with the holidays since 2009's Christmas. Christmas in Korea is equivalent to Valentine's day, it sucks.

I have been in "worry-mode" since the weekend, because I don't know what to do with myself over the next 5-day holiday break. I've learned the term, 심심 (shim-shim), from everyone asking in Korean if I'll be bored or lonely during Seol. Yes, I will be 심심, however I am determined to not stay home. Because I'm gaining weight from sitting around my laptop and cooking random dishes. I need a new hobby. (I stepped on the scale and it said I've gained 10kg. That's fucking 20-pounds! 3 weeks of winter camp, 1 week of sickness, and 3 weeks of carpooling can make a 5-foot tall girl gain 20-pounds. Unbelievable!) My worries have gone down since the weekend. I'm living day-by-day. I have a list of things to do and see in Seoul. I don't expect to be spending a lot of money, since a lot of the things I will do are free, except for meals.

(In Jeonju, during a hanok stay in February 2009 with the CIEE Program.)

새해복 많이 받으세요! Nyob Zoo Xyoo Tshiab! Happy New Year, Everyone!

*Update: Turns out the scale in my apartment was broke by 10kgs, so I didn't gain any weight. ^^

Mental Low

Waking up this morning, I sure as hell was not feeling like P.Diddy, maybe more like Ke$ha (a hot mess). My nose was (and still is) congested with snot and my throat was dry and itchy. I have diagnosed myself as literally, "worried sick". Thank God there weren't any classes being held today, just a field trip to the hot springs. Great timing.

Kate and I on our way to Termeden in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do

There were about 32 students and 6 adults in total. I was told to bring a swimsuit, t-shirt, and shorts. I made the assumption that it wasn't a bath house (찜질방) so I didn't need to worry about nudity. As soon as I entered the women's locker room, my female students were stripping naked in front of me. I kept looking around for the co-teachers to follow their lead, but they were no where to be found. Let me just make note, I have been to a bath house before, however with friends (which I thought was awkward), but this time it's with my students. Talk about building relationships, just throw me in a bath house locker room with them! It makes it all easier. So I waited by pacing throughout the locker room (walking the opposite direction every time a naked Korean stood before me). Then I realized, the faster I put on my swimsuit the less nudity I would see. (Durr...)

Termeden Hot Springs is a wonder. This was the first hot springs I have ever visited and I must say it made a huge impression on me. My co-teachers later mentioned that Caribbean Bay is much larger. (WTF?-STFU!-moment.) There is an indoor pool with outdoor facilities, too. I was awed by the outdoor hot spring and heated-pool area, I later discovered an outdoor-sauna-hut. (Saunas = Love!) It was freezing cold outside, but it didn't matter, I was soaking like ramen-noodles in Lemon Tea. (Can your insides cook if you stay in the hot water for too long? I felt like mine were.) My male students enjoyed their time torturing me with water splashing at my face. It wasn't until after lunch, when two co-teachers and I escaped from the students. I was able to breathe for most of the day and forget my worries and my sickness, until we departed. The silent-mofo returned.

I'm asked every day if the students are good, behavior-wise. I wonder every time, "Were they ever bad?" Other than splashing water in the hot spring today, I wouldn't even fine them for that offense. Honestly, I would chaperon 32 Korean students than supervise 5 kids at Oxford Swimming Pool, only because 5/5 would most likely drown from diving or crossing into the 6-feet end, which I sure as hell wouldn't even cross into. It's funny, too, that the school would have me chaperon at a swimming pool (or put in charge of the first-grader), because I can't even swim. Which I later found out that the water at Termeden is only 3-feet deep and life jackets for kids are free.

Now Playing: BoA - "I See Me"

What's been worrying me?

- Time to find in order to wire money home.

- Broken glass frames.

- Lesson plans gone bad.

My solutions:

- The money will be there and bills will be paid, even if they're late.

- I am not blind.

- The lesson never went wrong, just not the way I had planned.

Let there be bread (or rice, in my case).

My Grandpa's 72....

...actually I've been telling that to everyone for about 10 years. He turns 83 years young this January 20th. I can't believe he still carries my rice-sack (50-lbs) cousins on his back.

2011 Adventures

My D-Day app says, "IPO DAY 34".

Rather than counting down my days here, in South Korea, I'm counting them. What have I done since I've landed? Well, not blogging, that's for sure. But I have been posting videos on Facebook and YouTube. Here's a recap for readers and not viewers, starting with the earliest to the latest.

Day 1 - Went to Hell and back in a day.

Day 3 - Tour of the English classroom and the first day I officially met the entire town.

Day 5 - In the 'Hood

(I still don't know how to take out the trash.)

Day 11: Christmas with K.will (Korean solo artist)

Week 4: Ipo's English Winter Camp

A month has gone by and I have accomplished a lot more since my first day here, more than I would have imagined or anyone would have after viewing my first video. I'm actually really happy that I did record it, because my family and friends, even people I don't know, have motivated and encouraged me to be strong. I'm just thankful to have running water, a blanket, and toilet paper. Yes, the mold is still here in my apartment. No I didn't throw out the random condiments in my refrigerator out (I even drank all the instant coffee mixes leftover). And I still have recycling piling before my eyes, because I haven't gotten around to asking some body how to do it. But I have met many people within the past month that has made me more comfortable living in Korea.

A Bucketful of Lists

In the following week to come before I depart for my year journey to the Hermit Kingdom (South Korea/Republic of Korea/ROK), I'm preparing myself from the future homesickness I will endure. I still have many tasks to accomplish before I can comfortably leave Minnesota. I have yet to tell my Grandparents. Fortunately, my Grandmother on my Mom's side, knew before she had passed away yesterday evening (my Grandfather passed away in 1995). This unexpectedness has my mind boggling that anything can happen in the following year.

I don't know the exact way to translate my message in Hmong to my paternal Grandparents that I am leaving in a few weeks, although I have the feeling that possibly one of my Aunts have already told them. How would I say it? Casually? Enthusiastically? Sadly? The Hmong language really can't be expressed with emotions, I have realized, unless it's about love and hate, both consisting of many tears and lots of yelling. Why does this matter anyway? Due to my family circumstances that have happened in 2010, I want them to know that I am not running away from the situation or neglecting my obligations as a daughter, whatever that may mean. I'm simply living out my life in the world as an educator.

I am on a time crunch. I have to make a quick run to the bank to copy and notorize my diploma (again) and drive across the street to the MN Secretary of State office to apostille the notorized diploma copy. Then, head to wash the family's laundry (I can't help being so available to my family). Hit 2PM (no pun intended), my eldest sister, Mom, and I are headed to Chicago for my 10AM interview with the Korean Consulate.

My packing list is all over the place. I absolutely am packing a bottle of Smirnoff, cans of Dr. Pepper, and couple of Saigon-wiches. Something has to relieve my stress that I will endure the minute I land on Incheon's landing strip.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Status Update: Waiting Hurts My Ass

Last Monday, I sent all of my documents that I have acquired throughout the month of October to my recruiter's office in Seoul. FedEx's tracking system reported that my recruiter, Scott, received the package. Scott is usually responsive, so I had assumed he would e-mail that he had gotten everything.

Thus far, I haven't done shit for the past week, other than go to work and the chiropractor to make the days go by faster.

Status update from Scottie:

your case no rpoblem

we are waiting your visa issue number

it takes 10-14days

i will le tyou know as soon as I get

thank hyou

Actually, I am lying when I say that I haven't done "shit" the past week. I've been visiting bookstores to find any book on travelling or English grammar. Out of all books, I did picked up Eat, Shoots & Leaves. Reading the book made me irritated because the author's tone itself sounded irritated toward people who just don't know or understand the English grammar (I even heard her British accent while reading), so I've decided to stop reading it and exchanging it for a reference book. I point this out, because obviously from Scott's e-mail, he needs a little help too. But I'm not going to be the one to point his errors out, not until my ass is in my apartment in Yeoju come this December.