I am the fan dancer...

Saturday officially started monsoon season here with steady rain all day, cancelling plans to spend the weekend camping on an island beach and touring a salt farm on said island.  Hopefully the opportunity will come to go to that or any of the many islands South Korea has to offer.  Plan B for the rainy weekend was to meet my friend Kevin for a free concert of traditional Korean music in a park/pavilion type place. 

He had seen a sign for the concert a week earlier, but wasn't completely sure of what to expect since his Korean language skills are getting better but still far from fluent.  Well it turns out he read most of the sign right and the show started with Korean drums....

I wish I could of gotten closer to get a better shot of the instruments, they were really cool.    The sound echos a little in the video but they were really good, right on beat.  All the grannies in the front row were really getting into it!

Next up was a female fan dancer dressed in a 한복, or hanbok, which is a traditional gown (I don't know too much about the meaning behind the dancing and the clothing but it was really pretty).  Unfortunately I didn't have my good camera so the pictures are blurry...

I should mention that Kevin and I were the only foreigners in the place, or the only westerners at least.  I arrived a few minutes late and I guess at the beginning before the drums started, the announcer had Kevin stand up and introduce himself.  Then when the dancer finished Kevin was called up to take a picture with her.  That was just the beginning...

Next, some of the instruments were brought back out on stage.  Kevin and I were called up along with 4 others from the audience.  Kevin got one of the bigger drums and I had the loud, clangy sounding instrument that was somewhat similar to a cymbal.  The announcer taught us a series of beats, then taught the audience a chant and then we all played and sang together. 

After that the dancer came back out and did another routine in a different outfit, even more beautiful than before.  And following that, Kev and I were once again called up to the front (everyone was enjoying the hell out of these foreigners).  This time we each got a fan in one hand and bells with ribbons for the other hand.  The dancer had several layers of robes on and next thing I know I'm wearing one...

When we finished learning all the steps and performed the routine one last time the audience voted.  Kevin and I did not realize we were in the dance contest until everyone cheered the most for me and I was given my prize- a paper fan!

A disappointing rainy weekend turned into a great experience!

The Little Ones

Just a few pics of my youngest students...  What they call kindergarten (or how I see it written alot 'kinder garden') is ages ranging from 4-7 years old.  Then elementary school starts at age 8, middle school starts at age 13, then highschool from 16 to 18-19.  Also, all males must enter the military after highschool.

These 2 will start giggling at anything- so cute!

Then there is my elementary student 'Oliver'-  he is a little terror.  Class was over and he was actually doing his assignment which is unusual for him.  He had his phone up to his ear like he was talking to someone but I don't think he really was.  He just started spurting out "you crazy" in English so I started recording.  The other students thought it was the funniest thing ever so I think he just kept going...

So I finally crawled out from underneath my rock...

Whatta ya know, it's springtime!!!  Sorry I've been missing in action for a bit, but things were tough here in Korea and I was feeling pretty lonely and down.  The stomach flu is awful no matter what country you are in, and breaking a tooth isn't much better either.  I have a new crown now to replace the broken tooth and only a small scar on my face above my lip that is fading.  I really don't feel like telling the story of how I broke my tooth so hopefully this picture will suffice.

I miss friends and family, but I am starting to get out more and meet people.  For example, I have met a woman who runs her own skincare shop.  She is in her 50s and has donned herself as my Korean mother.  Besides getting facials from her as a customer, she has taken me out to lunch, given me a book of survival Korean language phrases and taken me hiking for a day.

The hike starts out on a road with some art galleries, a museum, tea shops and small eateries.

Maybe a half mile or so up the trail is the first temple.

An elaborate ceiling

 

It was foggy and misty that day...this is a view of the city below in the distance.  The morning rain left the air cool and fresh, smelling wonderful for the day so I didn't mind missing the views due to fog.  I will go again (only $1.20 bus ride to the base of the mountain and endless trails).

So as I was saying, Spring is finally here and helping me sprout up from feeling so isolated.  Cherry blossoms are everywhere!  Here are some views of my walk to work everyday.

There are carpets of purple wildflowers everywhere right now.

The front gate of one of the wealthier homes

The crazy castle structure in the left background is one of the kindergarten schools I go to twice a week to read to 5-7 year olds.  Veggies growing in the foreground, the school has its own garden as well...

The building in the distance is a hospital.

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The only downside to these beautiful blossoms is that I am, of course, allergic to them :)

What a muffin!

so I went to one of the many many coffee shops in my town and ordered a muffin with my latte.  at coffee shops here you order at the counter and then sit down for them to bring your coffee over.  well koreans don't exactly have dessert items on menus or even as an option at restaurants.  if going out you usually visit several places- for example meet up and have drinks, go somewhere for dinner, have more drinks (drinking is very important here, ironically the beer/alcohol doesn't taste very good at all), then go somewhere for coffee or tea.  i learned that my simple poppy seed muffin order really means dessert.  it was toasted for me and adorned with chocolate syrup and whipcream! (Monkey not included)

Views of Hwasun

Gwangju is the 6 largest city in South Korean, but Hwasun is its bustling little suburb where I live and teach.

 The one small park in town, will hopefully be a nice green lawn come spring. The brown structure in the center is a small stage/amphitheatre.  The tall buildings are housing complexes.

 The building on the right with the red signs is the Post Office.

 Green crosses mean hospitals, medical clinics.

 A roundabout in town with some mountains in the back and more housing to the right.

 America finds it way in.  In the bigger city (Gwangju), so far I've seen Pizza Hut, Pappa John's, McD's, Burger King, Outback Steakhouse, TGIF, Baskin Robins, and Dunkin Donuts.  Ok, so I am pretty happy about the donuts, but you can keep the rest.

 Some older structures are still hanging on, barely.

 Again, I look forward to spring and some greenery.

This...well...

My first Korean haircut...

...went rather well considering the limited ability to communicate.  My hairdresser was incredibly stylish and perfectly groomed from head to toe so I was pretty sure he was gonna make my hair look good no matter what he did.  I'm learning that status, and one's appearance, is a top priority in this rapidly growing and modernizing society of South Korea.  I'm feeling like an oddball for so many reasons here, and coming directly from the mountains, my wardrobe is not quite up to par with the fashionable Koreans.  Well, at least now I have my hair trimmed up and looking nice.  The next step will be a dye job- yep, its time to give in.  My boss pointed out the other day that he is 49 and I am so much younger but have so much gray hair when he has so little, and asked why that is.  How do you answer that?

Koreans can be pretty blunt-haha.  A typical conversation usually starts with these questions (at least I've been asked repeatedly):

-How old are you?
-Are you married?
-Why are you single?
-What's your blood type?
-Do you like to drink alcohol?

Oh well, everyday is an adventure.  I look forward to a better understanding of ways here, and better communication skills.  I will be taking Korean language classes starting in March!

Haircut prices are a steal here!  $13, or 13,000 won, got me a shampoo/scalp massage, hot tea, cut, blow dry, and style.  No tipping here either.

안녕하세요 Hello, are you at peace?

Well hello everyone!  Its been one month so far that I have survived here in Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, South Korea.  I have lots of little tidbits and observations to share along with some stories so far.  First, I will start with some photos...

My studio apartment

 not a good shot, but bead is to the right, kitchen area and desk behind and left, the sliding doors open to laundry area and balcony windows

 this is the bathroom, which is better than most because my shower area is actually seperate from the sink area, most have a shower head right in the sink and toilet area with no shower curtain so that everything gets wet when showering (surprisingly the showerhead is tall enough for me to get under!)

 ah the washing machine, cute isn't it!  cold water only and no dryer, environmentally conscious without even trying

 Ok, so open window and look left...

 ...then straight ahead...

...then right....

then down, to the play area...

I am on the 4th floor of my building with 13 floors.  I live in what is essentially a suburb of the city of Gwangju (population 1.5 million).  From what I've seen thus far, Koreans don't sprawl out into the rural areas with neighborhoods filled with individual houses.  My town is mostly residential with large building living complexes and lots of schools.  Most complexes have their own little convenient store, a barbershop, maybe a dry cleaners, etc.  Then there are tons of restaurants and various markets and shopping around, and of course bars because Koreans LOVE to drink.  Its all very condensed and efficient.  Then you hop on a city bus (powered by natural gas) that runs about every 25 minutes and you are quickly brought to Gwangju.  The stereotype that Asians are bad drivers holds very very true here.  After a few rides with my coworker and employers I am glad to be riding in the large bus.  As a pedestrian you really have to watch out for motorcycle delivery guys.  When you get into the shopping/eating areas the streets are small and mostly car free which is nice, but the motorcylce guys are everywhere!


I know there isn't much here yet, but there will be more to come and better pics!  Leave a comment at the bottom here and/or ask me questions!  Also check out my 'Engrish' page on the left under pages.