It's fall!!

Oct. 27th, 2012
Fall colors around my school....

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Well.. it's fall here in Korea and it's beautiful!! It's warm-ish during the day but is getting colder at night. It really is a lot like Iowa weather. So I guess that is good in the sense that I'm used to it. Bad in that I kind of hate Iowa winters, but oh well I guess I'll deal with it!

I was super bored on Friday after school, since I get done teaching at 3:10 but don't leave until 5, so I took a small hike up the mountain behind my school. I didn't want to search for a trail or get too lost, so I just took the road! I grabbed my camera and my music and started off! I walked by the new middle school being built, some cows - who 'moo-ed' at me as I walked by (I guess their cows are like dogs here!? haha) rice fields (of course) and also grave sites. I am learning that in the country rice fields and cemeteries are EVERYWHERE!.. literally. It was a beautiful day, so it was nice to hike around and be outside in nature. As I was walking back down the road a couple of cars passed and one was my principal. Again, I'm sure he thinks I am beyond crazy. First laying down outside of school and then now hiking on the road up a mountain. Come to find out he was 'worried about me'. Or so he told my co-scholar. I will have to attempt to be super 'normal' from now on!

playground outside Kam Mul shool

standing inside the front door looking out. - there are mountains there somewhere but
the fog is hiding them.

rice. I think the rice is gone and this is the plant part
that is left over. maybe they feed it to livestock?

hiking up the mountain behind my school.

rice field that hasn't been harvested.

dragon fly. he was a good little model. 

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Hiking with Alina up in --  Songnisan National Park -- 속리산국립공원

Oct. 28, 2012

Alina and on off-roading. I love going off the beaten path.

So, there are tons and tons of festivals and things to do here in Korea in the fall. I haven't been to too many festivals, since I haven't gotten out of my city all that much. But I have done a little hiking. Alina (my friend from So. Cal) and I went to Songnisan National Park on Sunday, Oct. 28th. We took at bus, it's about a 1.5 - 2 hour ride to the park. We did a little hiking, not the 'big one' to the peak but we wondered around aimlessly. We stumbled upon a Temple and a massive gold statue of I guess Buddha?!

oh hello statue. you are ginormous. people would take their shoes
off and go up to it and throw money to it. we didn't.

Our beautiful hike -- or more like walk. There wasn't too much incline which was perfect! I love being outdoors but getting a crazy work out in. Not quite my thing. I would rather enjoy myself...... and that I did. I was continuously taking pictures and couldn't help but smile the whole time. It was just what I needed. A day out of the city away from cars, and exhaust and noise and people..... oh wait....

.... so much for getting away from people. I guess EVERYONE else had the same idea - come to the mountain. So there were of course hoards and hoards of Koreans. Now when I say hoards I mean it. I was the only white female ALL day. I heard English twice. Once I guess it was a British guy (or so Alina says) and the other time an Asian American guy. That's it. That is all the English I heard. So basically.... I stuck out! and we stuck out because we were speaking English. At first it was fun and I am kind of used to people staring so it really wasn't a big deal. But then after a while..

I just wanted to yell, 'YES I AM AMERICAN AND YES I AM SPEAKING ENGLISH... STOP STARRING AT ME PLEASE!!'

That clearly would have just drawn more attention to myself. So instead I embraced it and had Alina take this video ------- (sorry I didn't upload a very good quality one -- but I didn't want to wait days for it to upload. So hopefully you get the idea. Lots of Koreans -- most of them staring at me. The one I said 'hello' to said 'very beautiful' (in korean maybe) not sure.

red bean, walnut, cake-y awesome-ness. if you come to Korea
these are a MUST!!!

Yup. Now you see.. stares, glares, half smiles, turn around to look... even a couple of 'Hello's'. I mean sometimes it is kind of nice living the life of a 'celebrity' but man I don't know how real celebrities do it. I sort of in some weird way feel for them! So, besides all the stares, it was a fantastic day. We got red bean pastry things from a street vender! -- they were the BEST I have had in Korea. We also got bibinbap from a lady who really really wanted us to eat at her restaurant! -- so we did.

oh and this gem of a 'squatty potty'.... literally a hole in the ground. but a bit classier. 

I have potential...

My crisis. I want to be great like all my friends. My friends seem to be doing so much and I feel like I am still trying to find my place and figure out where I really am and what I am doing. I feel that I'll never be able to do as much as they have already accomplished!


For example:

My photography friend, Tim Dodd, from Cedar Falls, has been telling a story through his pictures. The story is of his close friend Taylor and his girlfriend Danielle. Taylor is now a quad amputee because of the war. Tim is helping tell his story of how his life has so drastically changed. I knew their story was pretty big but it hit me when I saw some of his photographs on Pinterest the other day! How cool right?

Here is his blog - READ IT! But I'll warn you - it's a tear jerker! (it got me)

http://timdoddphotography.com/blog/some-things-are-worth-holding-onto

This morning I have been sitting here through the tears from reading this story, thinking 'what am I doing here?' What is my purpose? How can I help people? How can I inspire others? I want to use my talents in art and photography to tell people's stories, to inspire those around me to do and be better! I can do it, why haven't I? I want to be someone. I want to DO something. I want to help people and be an inspiration. I can't help but be a little jealous of what Tim is getting to do. To tell a story through his photographs. To big a part of something greater! I don't just want to ride through life. I want to feel like and know I have helped others and truly made a difference in their lives. I want to learn about people, make friends with them and share their stories through my photographs! There is a quote I read once about how we fear - because we know our potential is great. I am afraid to start, to do, to be because I fear I can. I fear my great potential. What if I can't handle it? But I can. It might be a little difficult, but I know I can do it. I can spread love and joy in people. I know it.

I see what my friends are doing. My friend Jace is making videos with his friend Devin. Devin makes Youtube videos of people doing crazy, awesome, cool things. 

Here is one an example... 'camera warfare.'

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYZmFo3_F1g&list=UUwgURKfUA7e0Z7_qE3TvBFQ&index=10&feature=plcp 

It's a pretty cool concept and an awesome juxtaposition. (or maybe I just like it because there are lots of cameras!)

I have many other friends who have successful photography businesses. Friends who travels all over the world taking pictures. Kelly, my roommate, is an actress preforming in plays all over the West Coast. I have so many friends doing amazing things, using their talents, and making a difference. Why can't I? Instead I run. I leave the country and seek adventure to stray from having to start to make a name for myself with photography, or to have to start a 'real' job or a family. I just run away, it seems easier to me. But I envy my friends who stay in one place, have the same friends, building lasting relationships with them, making a name for themselves and doing what they love and what they are good at.

When asked by a close friend why I travel so much, I couldn't really give him a straight answer. Why do I travel around the world? What is my purpose or goal? What am I trying to find? Myself. Am I trying to find myself? Trying to figure out who I am in this big ole world? Or is it so I can attempt to be something? To show people I am 'doing something with my life.' That I'm not a failure?! I am not for sure the real reason. I have been pondering this off and on for quite some time. Maybe one day I'll figure it out. I mean I guess my parents keep saying it's because I'm searching for a boyfriend. Maybe that's it? But I do know when I find a guy I can literally say I have searched the world to find you!

I'm just going through a mid 20's crisis. It's finally hitting me that I'm getting older and should be 'settled' or graduated (as my parents would say). But I don't care about graduating. I feel there is so much more to life then a piece of paper saying I successfully paid thousands of dollars to a University. (but don't worry I am going to graduate. so I can say I'm finished and say that I accomplished something!) But what to do after I have that paper. Where to go and who to be? I am not a 9 to 5 type of girl. I will never be. I can't do the same thing everyday. I know I can't. I get bored. As my dad knows.. I start a project and will rarely finish it. I get excited to help him with something but after an hour (or let's be honest probably more like 20 minutes.. or maybe 5) I am ready to move on to the next thing. I can't sit still for anything... oh wait except to work on a tedious art project made up of millions of tiny dots. Why? I don't know, but for some reason art can hold my attention for long periods of time.

I guess to conclude the rambling. I have decided I want to be something great. I want to be great like my amazing friends and be able to have something to show for my life. I want to make a difference and not float by. I guess I am just scared there is nothing out there for me to do.. that I will truly love and be excited to wake up to do every morning (or the later-ish morning or afternoon!) I want to be a part of something larger and great. I want to feel like I accomplished great things! That I made a difference and was just plain freaking awesome. I want to be that person.. that people can look up to or admire. Not only because of my crazy adventures but also because of the type of person I hope to become and be. I want to be loving and kind, understanding,  sympathetic, openminded, willing to help whenever and where ever I am called.

I can and will be awesome. I have friends and family members who are amazing examples and awesome support. I just have to believe.. 'like the movie Space Jam.' I've got to be like MJ -- believe I can fly... and not worry about the heights.. just fly and go higher and higher! I have the potential. I can. I will. Period. (hold me to this my friends!)



Later today... I was talking to my friend Jace (mentioned above) and he told me this -- 


"But it's cool to think they (the kids) will always remember you, and that you are having a significant impact on their lives, no matter how small it may feel."

I hadn't told him about my 'mid-20's' crisis.. he just said that. I sat back and thought about it. Yes, they will remember me and yes, I will impact them in someway. I would prefer it be for the better! All of my past teachers have had an impact on me in many different ways. So why didn't I think I would be to these little Korean kids? I want to a positive example to my students, showing them love and giving them the attention they want and need, while also teaching them English. I can/will/have photographed them and video-taped them, in hopes to share my experience and their stories with others around the world. I am doing something with my life. I am. I just had to realize it. It get's overwhelming at times or sometimes I think 'I am not doing any good here. They don't care.' But the days when they tell you they love you, or bring you candy, or give you a hug, or grab your hand, or speak English to you, or say a full sentence.. I know I must be doing something right! 

Maybe I'm not launching my photography business, or starting a family (like a lot of my friends) but I am doing. I am making a difference. I am learning and growing and expanding my horizons as well as the children's. I love what I am doing.. somedays it really is the worst, but overall I love the kids and love seeing them have fun and attempt to speak English. :) I only hope to continue to make a huge impact on them and even if it is small I at least want it to be for the better! Maybe this isn't my huge calling in life, maybe I won't be a teacher for forever.. but it's what I'm doing now and if nothing else it's a learning experience and a stepping stone to the future!

Kam Mul school play

Oct. 23, 2012.

or I guess maybe a mini production rather...

fourth graders.

So, Monday I don't teach (when do I find out.. oh after my first graders have been there 20 minutes - they get pulled out and then no one else shows up!) Turns out they were all practicing for a school play that was happening on Tuesday. (so I didn't teach Tuesday either)...

kindergartners. :)

Anyway, the play started around 9 am. I get to the gym and a lot of parents are there and are all dressed up in elaborate costumes -- looking identical to all their classmates. The show lasts for a couple of hours. They did everything from singing to dancing to drumming to talent show to acting out Cinderella, which was the only part I could fully understand since they did it in English. Each grade came out on stage twice I believe -- each time in a whole new outfit. I wonder how they got all the costumes? or if they reuse them? Who really knows.

(just a cute little video of the cute little kindergartners :)

Silly Billy as the evil Step Mother.

The cutest was when the little kids did Korean Pop (a.k.a. K-Pop) style dancing. They got out there and did a bunch of pop-y little dance moves. There were a couple of skits, one sort of about Christmas maybe.. I think there was a Santa involved. The 2nd and 3rd graders played some cross between a flute and a recorder. Some more dancing and talking and acting. I really had no idea what to expect and had no idea it was going to last for hours!! Through out I would gaze about the room and start photographing the crowd.... so many cute little kids :) In the middle of the show a few families got up and did a talent show type performance. They sang and danced and then one of them won. No idea what was going on. The 3rd graders did Cinderella (like mentioned above). It was all in English and they did such a great job. I understood everything (or well at least most of it). Which is guess isn't too hard since I know the story! My favorite was that my student Billy (he's one of my better students and I have nicknamed him Silly Billy) was the step mother. Yup, he played a girl. He wore a super long curly brown wig -- quite funny but also cute! It ended with a drumming/percussion performance by the 4th, 5th and 6th graders. Come to find out they had been practicing for this production for a month or two... hints why I had been hearing drumming, and recorders being practiced quite often - It all made sense now!

the drummers..

flute/recorder things.

Overall, I was very impressed! It really was a production! I didn't have a hand in it what-so-ever. I don't know if that is because they hate me or if it's because they didn't want to bother me with such a task. However, I am happy I was able to be there for it and watch it, photograph and video tape it!

(relay race) 3rd grader - Sarah.

After the production was lunch. Then we all went back to the gym and played games, relay races, and watch a guy do some magic tricks and light some things on fire. He was alright, I don't think Korean's quite understand magic tricks. I love magic but here it's just really bad. You can see what they are doing most of the time! But all in all it was a great afternoon. I got to speak with a lady (who baby is pictured to the right - asked 'how old is he?' -- oh 'SHE is 6 months.' I felt like an idiot!) who's husband is from the states. So her English was really good! I got to participate in tug-of-war and was a question for a trivia game. This is how that went down..... 'blah blah korean korean korean korean Klistin (how they say my name) korean California.' I was like what is going on. So I had to stand up and then they all ran around and picked if it was true or false. Then they asked me 'where are you from?' I said Iowa. So it was false. I about had a heart attack when they said my name though, had no idea what was going on. Thank goodness it was just about where I was from!

my mentor teacher holding the cloth tube thing all the kids and parents had to crawl through.

the kids/parents had to try to pop the balloon by hugging each other. that was pretty entertaining.

they had the kindergartners run across
this stretched out cloth while the rest of the
school kids and parents held on to it.

Someone asked me if we had something similar. I said um, no but kind of. I think it was almost a cross between our Christmas play and then a PTO carnival. That's about the closest I can come to, but it was all in one day -- on a Tuesday. It was surprising to see how many parents cold make it. Maybe they took off work? Who really knows. It was fun to be a part of, but man that was almost too many events for me in one day and I only photographed it!

Chuseok 추석 (Korean Thanksgiving)

Sept. 28 - Oct. 3rd.

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Anna's aunt preparing the 'chuseok' food.

Chuseok  추석 is very much like our Thanksgiving... lots of food, family time and sleeping. However, it's different in that it's also like Memorial Day - where you pay a visit to the grave sites where your ancestors (mostly grandparents) are buried. You also don't just leave flowers and stand there looking at the grave, like what I had experienced in America, instead there are more rituals, which will later be described!










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Anna.. showing me how it's done. (flour then batter, then into
the frying pan!) She was a good teacher, although her
grandmother and aunt might not have thought so.
They are super particular about the way the food should look!

So what did I do for Chuseok? Well, my roommate, Anna, from when I lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico attending UNM is Korean and lives in Incheon (which is about 30 minutes from Seoul). She invited me to her house for the festivities! I heard that you should never pass up on this offer, so of course I didn't. Not only because I knew food would be involved but also because I wanted to see what rituals they performed and also meet her family! Buuutttt traffic on Chuseok is horrendous and it's also nearly impossible to get bus/train/plane tickets anywhere. I had to get mine the week before, so I headed out on Friday night straight from the bus that brought me back from school, since I had all my things with me! I finally made it to Anna's family's apartment around 11:30 that night! They of course wanted to feed me, so I sat down and we ate some fruit. Her dad knew some English but her mom didn't know any. They just kept telling me how much I was like Anna and my character was so good. Anna also told me they kept commenting on how 'flat' her face looked compared to mine! They really love the big nose here.

yes I was using chopsticks to pick up
the slippery shrimp! ... only dropped
a couple.. few.. maybe 10!

The next day, I woke up to the sound of someone pounding on my door. I managed to get up to open it and Anna's mom was standing there saying, 'breakfast'. I went out to see basically 'dinner' on the table. There was meat, and rice, kimchi and soup. Where was the fruit, the cereal, the bread? Nope. none of it! I sat down thinking oh lordy please help my western stomach be able to eat all of this 2 minutes after waking up. I handled it ok. I took as little kimchi as possible and ate more rice than anything. The rest of the day was spent preparing the food for Chuseok. I helped make some patties of something and some fried squash and fried shrimp. It was all traditional Korean food. I had seen most of it, but some things were different. I would list them out, but 1. I don't know the name 2. I don't know the spelling and 3. I frankly can't really remember and besides what does it matter?! It was food and it was good! (for the most part) :)

fryin the shrimp... like bubba gump would do.

The rest of the day was spent napping and then we went out to eat at Mr. Pizza. Anna was already sick of the food we had made, since we had been snacking on it all day, so we decided a change would be nice! We went out with one of her friends and got tons of pizza and salad and fruit and pasta and yogurt with honey for dessert. Now that's more my style!

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Chuseok Ceremony.

the table set for the ancestor ceremony

table and alter like place in Anna's house

The next day we got up kind of early and had to do the 'chuseok ceremony.' I of course had no idea what was going on, but I am a pretty good follower, so that's what I did. We all sat down on the floor, with the table of food for the ancestors in front of us. Anna's dad read some things from a book, they sang some Korean hymn like song, and then her dad and his brother started pouring tea for the ancestors. They would pour the tea set the cup down and then move on to the next one. There were 5 place settings. After that they poured the tea into a large bowl and refiled the cups. Chopsticks and spoons were also placed on top of the food. Between each cup they poured Anna's dad bowed twice. Then we all started to bow. We stood up and first the men had to bow and then we all did. We would stand up and then go to a kneeling position with our heads on the floor. Then stand up and repeat. It ended with a bow (where you lower your head and look at the floor). Then we cleaned up the food.. well most of it and the rest we ate. Again.. meat, kimchi, rice, fried shrimp. But of course the one thing I wanted that was on the table but that they weren't serving was the delicious looking apples and pears. I finally built up the courage to ask if I could eat one of them. They of course let me and my tummy was then satisfied. 

persimmon (the orange one) or kam (korean)

I even got to try a new fruit, called Kam (감). It's Orange on the inside and outside. It has a thin peal that you can't eat? Maybe not. I don't know they peeled it. And then the inside is sort of like a peach. I was just reading up and it looks like some people call it the Korean Mango. I had no idea what it was so Anna got out her smart phone and translated it and when she told me it was called persimmon, I still had no idea! So much for that translation. Oh well I learned of a new delicious fruit, so I was happy. And calling it kam is easier for me now anyway, much shorter than the English word!

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Visiting the grave sites.

bowing at the grave sites.

We packed up and headed to the grave sites. On the car ride there her dad informed me that the place we were going was the 'Lee mountain.' He told me it was their family mountain. His lineage is also traced back to one of the leaders in Korea, which Anna says he is very proud of. We also talked about golf, which he is fond of. I told him to come to America and we will play since in Korea it's around 200 dollars to play a round! Moral of that story, I won't be golfing in Korea! We arrived and I had to pee. (TMI maybe?) There was no toilet in site, but don't worry we went around a small building and popped a squat. Funny thing is Koreans are so used to that since there are still squatter toilets a lot of places! I however am not as used to it, but I am learning! 

Anna's 할머니 (halmeoni) - grandma

Anna's family!

cigarette stuck in the grave mound.

We then hiked up a small hill to find the grave sites. We did more filling of cups and presenting the food and bowing. The only difference from the morning ceremony was we were outside at the grave site and that her dad would light a cigarette and stick it into the ground! It's really difficult to describe all of this especially since I had no idea what was going on, or being said, or even in some cases what I was being fed. I pretty much just did exactly what Anna did or what she told me to do! We packed up, walked down the mountain, and headed to her mom's family's grave site. This was different than her dads since her family was buried in a huge Catholic cemetery. So there was less space, more graves and a lot more people. I got many stares, which Anna noticed and pointed out. Since I guess I am getting used to people always starring! She said it was because Chuseok is such a traditional ceremony so they were probably confused why a foreigner was doing it! We did the same sort of thing. Her mom had brought a little different food for her side. Maybe because it was their favorite? I am not for sure. One of the items was dried squid. You'll have to check out the picture. I was offered but turned it down. I am not for sure my stomach is quite ready for that!

Catholic cemetery, Anna's mom's parents. 

dried squid.... no thanks.  (at least not yet!) - but I'll photograph it!!

face masks.. her brother applied mine - after Anna insisted.
if felt like weird ice cream clay stuff.

That night her parents dropped us off so we could get some food (non-traditional Chuseok food). We chose pap-bing-su (ice cream, fruit, red bean, ice, and a milky substance = best thing in Korea!) and a waffle! Delicious!! We then went back to her house and made some ja-jam-young (noodles with a black bean sauce) and don-caught-su (fried pork cutlet).

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Chuseok - a little more American style...







The next day we slept in and then headed to Rachel and Eric's apartment in Itaewon (Seoul). The sun was shining, we were listening to American music (I guess the army base has it's one radio station) and were driving in her cute little car.

just shoving cars out of the way.... no big deal.

---- speaking of cars.... Anna's car was parked in an underground parking garage near her apartments, of course that's normal since space is so limited in Korea. Well, it's also so limited that people have to double park! Soooo we get down to where her car is and there is a car parked right behind her and a car parked perpendicular right in front of her. No way for her to get out, right? NOPE! There is.. all you do is push the car that is perpendicular to your car, since they leave it in neutral. I have never laughed so hard in my life. Seeing my tiny little roommate walk up to a car, like it was no big deal, and push it out of the way like a little toy car! My dad has decided he will come to Korea and attempt to rearrange all the cars in the parking lot! HILARIOUS! I mean I always knew space was limited but really? I guess they also will leave the keys in the car sometimes as well so you can just move it out of the way if need be. Gotta love their honesty here.


So after shoving a car, we drove off and headed for the massive city of Seoul. We arrived at their apartment and were welcomed by Eric and Rachel and Lucy and Mae! I hadn't seen them since we got off the plane! So, it was sooo nice to see them again and Anna hadn't seen them since New Mexico. Such a crazy thing that all of us were together in Korea. We had all met in Albuquerque and are now all living in Korea. It's sometime hard to wrap my head around things like this!

eating some lunch... they had whatever they wanted
while I was babysitting! Anything to keep them happy :)

We played with the girls and of course talked with Rachel and Eric. Anna spoke Korean to Eric and Rachel and I chatted and caught up! Anna left that afternoon and I went with them to a friends house for dinner. They had a legit 2 story house. Not an apartment.. a REAL house with a yard and a trampoline! We ate grilled chicken and veggies and coconut rice. Best meal in Korea, quite possibly! Then for dessert we had Rachel's homemade pumpkin spice cookies!



I slept so well that night in the same bed I slept in when I stayed with them in New Mexico! It was amazing. The rest of the time there I spent playing with the girls and hanging out. We made awesome food.. my favorite being homemade whole wheat pancakes with strawberries on top! We also played outside and went on a couple of walks. I got to meet a couple of Rachel's friends, which was fun as well! 

Gangnam baby!!

One night we went into Gangnam (you know the place in the song Gangnam Style)! Yup, it's pretty fancy, with lots of fancy people. We stopped by Cold Stone of course for Rachel and got her some ice cream. When we were headed back a Korean guy stopped me and tried chatting with me in English. He said, 'My English is not good. But I want to take you out.' haha I look over at Rachel and her friend and they are snickering. Thanks for the help guys. So I told him, 'Sorry I don't live here.' He didn't really know what I was saying. But he told me, 'You are my style.' So of course I was trying to be funny and said you mean like Gangnam Style. haha

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Everland/Caribbean Bay.

Caribbean Bay entrance.

The next day we headed off to Everland, which is the large theme park in Korea. I decided to go to Caribbean Bay, the water park. I just wanted some sun and to be in my swimsuit one last time before winter! So I parted ways from Rachel and Eric and met back up with them later. Turns out most of the water park area was closed but there was a lazy river and a sauna type pool, which was perfect. Relaxing in the sun was what I had been wanting. Of course I was probably the only one with out a huge hat, or wearing some sort of clothing to block out the sun, but I didn't care. I found a sunny spot on the lazy river and I grabbed onto the wall and laid there! And if you close your eyes you can't see all the people staring at you and when you can't understand the language you don't know what they are saying! I was exhausted by the end of the day and slept well that night! I was happy that I got a slight tan.

gift from Rachel for watching the girls
while she went to Costco
SOOO AWESOME! I had been
missing Avos!

Thursday, I headed home. I got up and packed and ate some lunch and was out by about 2. Rachel's friend helped me try to figure out how to get home, which was nice since I had no idea. Turns out her directions were great and I made it to the bus station with no problem and got back to Cheongju around 5 ish. It was a great week but I was ready to be home and in my own space and relax! I am so glad Anna and Eric and Rachel are here in Korea with me! It's like I have family here :)