"The best way to prepare for life is to begin to live."

Oh my goodness gracious, I don't even know where to start. This week has been filled with so many changes and new experiences, and I feel a little overwhelmed. To start, my stomach is really struggling. I have heard from co-workers that most people have a hard time adjusting to the food, but knowing that does not make it less miserable. I went almost three days only eating a few pieces of bread. I am slowly eating more, but Korean food is still not sitting well with me. It's okay though! If that's my biggest problem, I will most definitely survive:)

Yesterday five of my co-workers and I went to Seoul for the day. It took about 40 minutes to get there by bus, and an hour back by subway. I have a feeling that figuring out the bus/subway system will take me a long time to since everything is in Korean. On one hand it feels like so much time is wasted every day just because of the language barrier. If I could read or speak Korean, most adventures would take is 15 min instead of an hour, or 30 minutes instead of two hours. On the other hand, it's all part of the adventure. Due to my inability to speak Korean, I have spent a lot of time acting things out and using gestures to ask questions. Along the way, I have met a lot of wonderful people, and ended up in some pretty amazing places; even when they were not the intended destination. Life is about the journey not the destination, right?

Because I am not really a big city kind of girl, I felt very disappointed with Seoul at first. Seoul is one of the biggest cities in the world, and that is exactly how it felt: at first. I stepped off the bus and literally could not walk because I was surrounded by hundreds, maybe thousands, of Koreans. Talk about culture shock. I don't remember the last time I was in an area with that many people in general, let alone being with that many people and being part of the minority. However, after a lot of staring at the large map in the subway station, a lot of walking, some wrong turns and some sketchy areas, we ended up in Insadong: the Art district. It was wonderful an quaint-for being right in the middle of the city. It is the home of art galleries and traditional tea houses. I sipped my first cup of Korean tea while getting to know my new co-workers. Then we walked from cute store to cute store admiring the art and the fabulous pottery. I bought my first pair of chopsticks.

Saturday evening we headed to Itaewon: the foreign district. That is where the American military base is so it is the home of many foreigners. It surprisingly felt very refreshing to be in a place that felt a little like home. It seemed so silly to me that I was so relieved, because I have only been here for one week. I don't think I was aware of how much I was being affected by cultural changes this past week.

Most Exciting News Yet (probably not for you, but for me): As of today I am completely moved out of the Love Motel and in to my very own apartment. For the first time I feel a little more settled, and I feel like I finally have a place to call home. All of the teacher's apartments are completely different so I had no idea what to expect. I really lucked out- and I absolutely love my place. Unfortunately, not everyone feels the same way about their apartments so I feel very lucky. I will post pictures as soon as I get the chance!:)

I really hope that wherever you all are you are taking the time to just love everyone around you, whether it's someone dear to your heart or a complete stranger. This past week I have been forced to let go of the reigns and give them to God; through him I have been helped and loved by so many wonderful strangers. I never would have made it through this last week without Him. I just pray that when you meet someone on the street this week that seems lost, doesn't speak English, or needs help from someone, that you open your heart and be the love that they need in that moment. I have never felt more strongly about this than I do now. I love you all and miss you every day.

XOXOXO,
Shauna

Noraebong-The Great Korean Pastime

Picture this: you are walking in to a fancy hotel. Let's say, the St. Paul Hotel. Everything is marble. There are fancy statues, flowers, and weird expensive looking things all around you. The The first thing you do is goto the front desk to get a room. You decide between a single room or a suit and then you pay for the room. Lastly, they ask you if you are interested in any room service before you go to your room. Then you take all of your stuff, your friends/family, and you head to your room. You walk down a long hallway; different rooms are on both sides of you. You walk in to your room- but there is no bed. Instead there are couches, and tables, and the biggest TV screen you have ever seen. Even though it looked exactly like you were at a fancy hotel-you are really at a Noraebong- the greatest invention ever made. The "room service you ordered" is delivered (snacks and drinks), and you and your friends officially have your own private karaoke room. There are tambourines and microphones and a huge book of songs. You make your own play list and then you sing and dance the night away- absolutely fantastic.

Noraebong is a very popular venue that is open all night long, and it is extremely fun. You can get a small room for just a few people or you can get a large room and invite all your friends. I was introduced to Noraebong last Thursday night when I went with three other girls- and I am no hooked. On Friday night we had our first work party, where we all went to dinner and then to Noraebong afterward- our supervisors and directors included. There is really something at Noraebong for everyone- it is fantastic.

LCI Kids Club

I am working at a private English school called LCI Kids Club. Because I live in Suji, one of the two wealthiest suburbs of Seoul, most kids go to English school along with their regular Korean school. And, most of their parents are very very wealthy. Korean school does not start until age 8, so the younger kids just go to English school, and the school aged children go to regular Korean school for the first half of the day and then come to English school until 7. Then, most of the kids usually go straight from English school to tutoring, instrumental lessons, taekwondo, or more schooling of some kind. I know of some girls at school that go to both Korean school and English school during the week, and then math school on the weekends- not kidding at all. The kids here don't really have a clue what it means to just play outside or have friends outside of school.

I was informed today that do to complaints from the mothers- coloring (or drawing pretty pictures) has been banned during the school day-even for the babies (that's what we call the youngest age- 5 years old-really 4 in our years-they turn one here when they are born) UNLESS it is during their 15 minutes of play time a day. The reason for this is that the parents are not paying money to have their children go to art school- they are paying for them to get an education and learn English. Did I mention that they are only 5 years old

(or 4- whatever floats your boat) ?

The hallway at school

The staff room

I start teaching on my own on Monday. I know it will just take time to get used to my schedule- but right now it seems very overwhelming. So overwhelming, in fact, that I will not really be able to tell you exactly what I am doing until next week. I need to figure it out for myself before I can pass along any information. As for what I do know- I will teach a 6-1 kindergarten class. That means they are 6 years old (or 5, got it yet?) and in their first year of English. My class just started learning English 6 months ago (but don't worry-they can almost all read and write). For the upper level classes I will teach two different level reading classes, a social studies class, a writing class, and something else that I don't really understand yet. It's crazy. The kids are way more advanced than I ever imagined they would be, and the amount of work I will have is way more than I anticipated. But all it takes is one little Korean boy named Hoony to give you a huge hug and say "Hi, Teacher Shauna! I feel happy today," and nothing else matters. I have already fallen in love with the kids, and I have only been at the school for three days. This is going to be a great year.

My very own classroom!

Health Check!

For those of you who do not know, the Swine Flu is South Korea's biggest fear. The reason I have not been able to spend time at the school yet is because the parents will not send there kids to school without knowing we have had a sufficient amount of rest and a health check.

Also, for those of you who do not know, I have been battling a bad cough for about two months now. I thought it was getting better- but it has not gone away yet. Not good- especially here. I did not sleep a whole lot last night, because I was so worried about my health check today. I have been trying to get rest and drink lots of water- but it hasn't really been helping.

Scotty, an administrative person from the school, (they all use American names at the school, just like we would use Spanish names in Spanish class) picked us up from the hotel this morning to bring us to the hospital. It was the most difficult ride of my life; trying so hard not to cough even though I needed to so badly. When we got to the hospital we parked in the parking ramp where cars were packed so tightly that it is very common for a person to have to physically move someone else's car when they get out of an appointment in order to get their own car out.

We walked in to this large room where people were being shuffled around like cattle. There was a large middle area with chairs and small numbered rooms all around the outside of the room. We were quickly brought in to a room and told to take off our clothes- the door was wide open- and the people were standing in front of us wanting to help is change. Excuse me lady, I am 22 years old and know how to change my own clothes. That is what I wanted to say. We changed in to these hospital outfits-feeling very exposed- where we then had go and walk around with about 100 other Korean people. Everything was so quick- going from machine to machine checking blood pressure, height, weight, eyes, hearing, chest, teeth, blood samples..and the dreaded urine sample.

Reader discretion advised: details may be gross: I had to walk out in to the main area of the hospital where we had to pee in a cup in a public restroom. After I did my thing, I personally had to poor my own urine in to separate vials-gross. Then with my 3 vials of urine- had to walk out in front of everyone in my weird hospital outfit, holding my own pee for everyone in the hospital to see- disgusting.

When the check was over I walked back to the room to change where a lady just took my shirt right off of me and I had to walk around topless until she could get me my clothes. Apparently there is no such thing as privacy when it comes to the health care system here. Christine and I had to just laugh at the whole thing, otherwise we would have felt completely violated. Lets just say- I'm glad that's over. The test results will come back in ten days- cross your fingers I am healthy enough (according to their standards) to teach.

Welcome to the Love Motel

The hotel Christine and I are staying in for a week is called a Love Motel. They are all over Korea, and you pay for the rooms by the hour. Basically, they are used for prostitution- nice, I know. Christine and I are the only two people who have been in the hotel for at least one complete night. People come in and out, take showers, make lots of noise (no explanation necessary), and then leave. It really could not be more gross and creepy. I am still waiting to see the same people come in and out at night and then again in the morning- I don't think it will happen.

Suji is a suburb of Seoul, but please do not get it confused with suburbs like Eagan, Minnesota. I will eventually walk to school along an eight lane highway. Sky scrapers with neon writing covering their walls fill every nook and cranny- urban life at it's best. We have learned that owning a single family home is unheard of in SoKo- that is why there are so many people. People are literally jam-packed in to this country in skyscraper buildings. Every business, store, restaurant etc. generally has its own level in a building. Buildings are stacked together with different businesses and there is no rhyme or reason as to why they all share the same building. You will see a building with one level as a mall, one level as a doctors office, once level as a school, one level as a plastic surgery center, and the next as an animal shelter. Crazy.

Yesterday afternoon, Christine and I ran in to John Hokkanen, a guy from Minnesota, right on the street. I grew up playing sports with his sister, and our families are good friends. What are the odds? He was very helpful; showing us a place for us to get food on our own. He even wrote down what to say since we are still unable to get food without any assistance. I am sure we will meet up with him again.

We went to school for the first time, but only for about ten minutes. I have already fallen in love with the school, and the kids. Tomorrow, Thursday and Friday we will shadow other teachers, and Monday we will start teaching on our own.

I have quickly become aware of the necessity to add hand exercises in to my daily routine. I do not think I will survive without them. Picture yourself writing a long essay or taking the ACT's, and getting a hand cramp. Yup- that is what happens every single time I eat with chopsticks. I need to strengthen my hands so they are able to survive the long treacherous meals of eating a couple pieces of white rice at a time (this is due to a combination of the fact that I am horrible with chopsticks and people here take really small bites).

I can't wait to show you pictures of the school and all of the small children I will be teaching:)

Something Smells Fishy

Yesterday (Sunday) was our first real experience with the food. London and Britney have been just wonderful; showing us around, helping us find food (otherwise we would starve), and helping us find some necessities. They brought me and Christine to a Galbi, a very traditional style Korean restaurant where there is a grill in the middle of the table and you cook your own food.

We took off our shoes, and sat on mats on a wooden floor. In front of us was a wooden table with a grill in the middle. Every Korean meal is served with lots of side dishes, Kimchi being the most well-known/popular. They brought us bowls of lettuce, garlic, onions, and about ten dishes I could not identify. We ordered beef (bulgogi, I think) and cooked it right on the grill in front of us, along with the garlic and onions. They don't serve any plates so we made lettuce wraps of the meat plus all of the veggies and interesting concoctions on our table. It was absolutely delicious. Due to the lack of plates and the use of chopsticks- I have a feeling I will be eating much slower, taking smaller bites and eventually giving up out of frustration.

After lunch we went to London's apartment for the first time. It was so refreshing to know eventually I will feel settled in to this place and be able to make it feel like home. The four of us girls spent the afternoon talking and getting to know each other.

Last night we went to a place for dinner where we literally took the owners hand, brought her on to the street and showed her a picture of what we wanted. It turned out to be very delicious, but looked like something that could have come out of a cow's butt. Picture Below.

Today Christine and I will meet at school at 3 to meet all the kids and the teachers. London and Britney are at work today so will be unable to help us get food until after work. Unfortunately, we are not able to survive on our own yet- so lunch might be difficult.

Other then the ridiculous fishy smells I get overwhelmed by around every corner, everything is going great!

Missing everyone from home!!

Love, love, love,
Shauna

I made it!!

After 2 hours in the Minneapolis airport, 4 hours to San Francisco, a 5 hour layover, a 13 hour flight to Incheon airport, and a two hour shuttle ride...I am officially in Suji, South Korea!

I could probably go on forever telling you about what went wrong during the long trip over here, and what I didn't like about the trip. But the one thing I have learned about traveling is that at the end of the day- none of it matters. Tomorrow will always be a new day.

The flight over here really helped remind me why I travel and why I think it's important. Seeing new places is fun and exciting. Eating new foods, and learning new customs- all fun. But the real reason I travel is for the people. I sat next to a Korean couple on the flight- I don't speak ANY Korean and only the husband was able to speak broken English, but they were determined to talk to me, learn about me, and give me advice about going to Korea! With gestures, pointing at things, and using basic words I was able to learn all about their lives and tell them about my life. They helped me learn basic Korean phrases, and the woman told her husband to tell me I had great pronunciation (even though I already forgot everything).

I will be staying in a hotel for a week, and I do not get Internet there. My friend Christine is in the same hotel, just a floor below me. I will not have access to skype until next week when I move in to my apartment. I will go to school tomorrow (Monday) and meet the teachers, and I will start shadowing classes on Wednesday.

Two other teachers from Minnesota, London and Britney, met us at our hotel last night and helped us get some food. We ate a spicy ramen type dish. Very tasty- VERY spicy. We haven't really eaten anything else because we don't know how. Hopefully that will change..

I am so excited to be in this new place, with new people and new experiences. I have already seen the way Gods love extends across the globe in so many different ways- I feel so faithful and so blessed.

xoxo,
Shauna