Korean Acclimation

I working on a textbook when it occured to me that I've become acclimated to some of korean culture. So I thought I'd write some of the ways I've become accustomed to life in korea.

1. If I agree with something I say yes at least three times rather than once.
2. I find myself saying "I-go (아이고) in times of frustration.
3. I met new friends while naked in a hot tub at a bath house (jjimjilbang찜질방).
4. I find myself thinking that shiny ties and suits are cool rather than feminine.
5. I'm suprised when people speak English around me (even foreigners).
6. I want to say way-guk-in (외국인) when I see other foreigners.
7. I'm surprised when rice and kimchi aren't a part of the meal.
8. I get annoyed and amused at the bad korean pronunciation of foreigners.
9. I use nae (네) for numerous things (what, i'm listening, yes, no, ok, etc).
10. I unintentionally pick up the korean accent for everyday objects (tail-lay-bee-jon/television, etc).

Snow

Something happened the other day, that I just thought to myself that it might be fun to blog about. A memory to remember:) Well it's quite cold in Korea now that it's winter. I am a little happy about the temperature though because I am going shopping for some clothes and I think boots that should keep me a bit warmer than what I am now. This last weekend I went skiing with some friends. There's one incident that occurred that I really want to share with you. I was skiing down a mountain rather fast when a girl on a snowboard cut in front of me. She was stuck in between me and my ski's going down the hill with me. What I found funny was there her boyfriend was right next to her and I kind of stole her away down the mountain. We eventually ran into someone else (I wasn't quite mentally prepared to understand how to turn in that position). I apologized, but shared that story with my friends. One co-worker commented that my relationship with the girl started off a little to fast. I personally think that it just ended abruptly. At SEEC, the school where I work, it snowed and snowed and snowed. We shoveled the snow a couple of times and had fun playing in it. Chad and I played patty cake, we were like children :) Then we became a bit devious and covered a co-workers car in snow. That took some time and effort. The co-worker didn't quite have the strong reaction that we had been hoping for, but it was fun anyways. Our workplace bought up some zip-up vests to help cope with the cold. We soon discovered that they could be zipped up together to make one giant hoodie monster. The kids and teachers booth seemed to enjoy it. Lastly, I recently went bowling with my school. I had a great time, but didn't score well. I just recently resigned a contract for another year at SEEC. Some of my co-workers will be leaving to go back home and some will be staying for another year. I'm curious to see who stays and who ends up leaving. This year we will have more stay than there was staying last year, but still not everyone is resigning. Currently at work, we are creating and editing the textbooks that will be used next year at SEEC. Its exciting to be a part of a project which will directly impact our work life. What we do with this time, how we shape the book will be the book that we use. It makes a nice sense of ownership upon our lives here at SEEC that I really like. In some ways I am really fortunate to be here at SEEC. I am getting some great career opportunities that I wouldn't have gotten otherwise to do. I taught principals English, helped to certify teachers in English and now am be part of a process for future English teachers of Korea. To become an English teacher in Korea one must graduate from university, pass an exam and then go through and interview. I am now speaking about Koreans, not native speakers. I will be a part of a committee that interviews teachers who passed the exam. A week later I will help edit and exam for teachers that graduate university. I am quiet excited :).