This is the last part of my thoughts that I jotted down as I was traveling around Kyoto and Osaka.
Osaka Musings 5/3
- It's so hot.
- Eating alone is getting easier, but I'm about to go on a ferris wheel alone. Is that too sad? Should I jump out at the peak?
-What was Osaka thinking when they decided to build a ferris wheel on top of a tall building? Hello?! Earthquakes?!
-The waitress at the restaurant said that I was beautiful. It has to be true right?! I mean, people don't tip here so she's not fishing for one, heeeeee.
-It's a nice night for a date on the ferris wheel - SIGH SIGH SIGH
-I bet people do it during the ride. It lasts for at least 10 minutes (depending on the guy, they would still have about 7 minutes to enjoy the view)
Osaka Day 2 - 5/4
-I love doing everything at my own pace. This is the best part of travelling alone.
-It's been Day 5 in Japan and I still managed not to use a squatter. Way to go, Linda. How did I do this? Just use the baby changing/handicapped stalls.
-Huge shopping urge: REFRAIN!
-Walking is fun when there is something to look at. I've been walking a lot and I'm happy that I never take the same way down even if I don't know where the path will lead me.
-Yay! I found Hanamaru.
-I just saw the cutest and hottest train driver in Osaka. Should I pretend to be lost?
-I am enjoying travelling by myself more than I thought I would. Why? I get to decide the time. I can climb all the way to Osaka Castle and sit by the water for as long as I want. I don't need to strike up a conversation. I don't need to worry about if the other person wants to leave or is bored of the current location. I don't even need to think.
-I must come back to Osaka/Kyoto during Cherry Blossom season with my boyfriend or Terry.
Osaka Day 3 - Last day
-This is the first time since summer that I'm wearing a skirt without leggings. It's so hot/ My hair is frizzy and I want ice cream all the time.
-Black sesame ice cream: I <3 you
-Taking sticker pictures alone is the best. I love being the center of attention (sometimes).
-I'm on the airplane now heading back to Seoul. The turbulence is CRAZY. I'm so scared right now. I think I developed a small fear to fly since from my Cambodia to Seoul flight back in February. I'm starting to freak out a little and this is the part of my trip that I really don't want to be alone. Plane is shaking like a mother...
Well, obviously...I made it.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Teacher's Day
This past Saturday (5/15) was Teacher's Day. This day is a much bigger holiday than America, where I think we only have Teacher's Appreciation Day. Students give flowers and candy and sing you the Teacher's Song in Korean. Well, because I don't work Saturdays, I missed out on some fun. I did get a very nice letter from a Grade 4 student though. My students are very low-leveled, so I am very surprised a letter consisting of more than 1 sentence was actually written by one of my students. Here goes...
To Linda,
Hello, I'm 4-1 Bonseok. I like English Because it's very excitment. I don't have to ten years old teacher. And I send letter to you. You teached very funny and very good. I every day study to English. You always teached good, OK? Bye-bye Linda teacher. See you. Kevin is my English name.
Okay, Bonseok..I will teached good!^^
I'm very impressed. I've been here 2 years and there is no way I can even write a couple of sentences in Korean.
To Linda,
Hello, I'm 4-1 Bonseok. I like English Because it's very excitment. I don't have to ten years old teacher. And I send letter to you. You teached very funny and very good. I every day study to English. You always teached good, OK? Bye-bye Linda teacher. See you. Kevin is my English name.
Okay, Bonseok..I will teached good!^^
I'm very impressed. I've been here 2 years and there is no way I can even write a couple of sentences in Korean.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Japan Musings - Part 2
Busy busy...one more work day, then the weekend!
5/2 - Nara (city about 40 minutes away from Kyoto) - It's hot today in Nara. I'm sitting in a park under the shade. My feet hurts and the train station is a bit of walk. I ate too much. If someone was with me, I could have shared my food and tried more things. So many things to eat!!!
-Allergies are really getting to me.
-There's a man smoking near me. I'm going to stop writing now because the smell is making my allergies worse. I really like how people really smoke only in smoking areas. In Korea, people smoke everywhere, especially when they are walking along in front of you. The air is so much cleaner in Japan. I love not smelling cigarettes everywhere!
-It's really hot today. I'm sweating a little. I longed for warmer weather in Korea, but now I'm a bit scared. It's really uncomfortable and it's making me moody too. I feel fatter when it's hot too.
- I met an old man on the train today. He asked me for directions and he ended up talking to me half of the train ride back to Kyoto. He was really cute. He had a book and he was asking me for the correct pronunciation of some words he didn't know. I took the local train home because there were seats and my feet were begging to for me to sit down. It took almost half an hour longer, but I was so tired, I slept most of the way back.
-Wow, English level is really low in Japan. I had trouble with ordering an iced latte at Doutor. I had to repeat it a few times. Thank goodness for Konglish in Korea or the language barrier would be huge. Is there Japlish? Japanlish? Ha, whatever.
-This is my 4th time in Japan, yet I only know how to say 'hi' 'bye' 'thank you' 'yes' in Japanese.
-I'm eating now. The waiter just taught me how to eat cold soba noodles - dip it in the soy sauce, not pour it over.
5/3 - Last day in Kyoto
-Wow. AMAZING! I just rode a bike around Kyoto. I hope I never forget this feeling. Feeling of freedom and carelessness. The morning wind in my hair is awesome. Riding across the stream is fun, but I'm only a few feet away from death. Well, not death, but total embarrassment if I fall over...there's no rails!
-My feet can't touch the ground when I stop my bike. I think I can ride for hours.
-People leave their bikes everywhere without locking it. No matter how safe the country is, I still have an American mindset. In my mind, the bike would not be there when I come back from wherever I went. People don't commit petty crimes here and I love that.
-I love riding my bike along the sidewalk without needing to worry about motorcycles and even cars up in my business! When will Korea enforce harsher rules on motorcycles and cars on the sidewalk. It's madness!
-I'm at Kinkaku Temple now - AHHH! Loads of Chinese tour buses. So annoying. Mandarin is rather annoying and loud.
-Bye Kyoto. You were AMAZING! I'll be back!
5/2 - Nara (city about 40 minutes away from Kyoto) - It's hot today in Nara. I'm sitting in a park under the shade. My feet hurts and the train station is a bit of walk. I ate too much. If someone was with me, I could have shared my food and tried more things. So many things to eat!!!
-Allergies are really getting to me.
-There's a man smoking near me. I'm going to stop writing now because the smell is making my allergies worse. I really like how people really smoke only in smoking areas. In Korea, people smoke everywhere, especially when they are walking along in front of you. The air is so much cleaner in Japan. I love not smelling cigarettes everywhere!
-It's really hot today. I'm sweating a little. I longed for warmer weather in Korea, but now I'm a bit scared. It's really uncomfortable and it's making me moody too. I feel fatter when it's hot too.
- I met an old man on the train today. He asked me for directions and he ended up talking to me half of the train ride back to Kyoto. He was really cute. He had a book and he was asking me for the correct pronunciation of some words he didn't know. I took the local train home because there were seats and my feet were begging to for me to sit down. It took almost half an hour longer, but I was so tired, I slept most of the way back.
-Wow, English level is really low in Japan. I had trouble with ordering an iced latte at Doutor. I had to repeat it a few times. Thank goodness for Konglish in Korea or the language barrier would be huge. Is there Japlish? Japanlish? Ha, whatever.
-This is my 4th time in Japan, yet I only know how to say 'hi' 'bye' 'thank you' 'yes' in Japanese.
-I'm eating now. The waiter just taught me how to eat cold soba noodles - dip it in the soy sauce, not pour it over.
5/3 - Last day in Kyoto
-Wow. AMAZING! I just rode a bike around Kyoto. I hope I never forget this feeling. Feeling of freedom and carelessness. The morning wind in my hair is awesome. Riding across the stream is fun, but I'm only a few feet away from death. Well, not death, but total embarrassment if I fall over...there's no rails!
-My feet can't touch the ground when I stop my bike. I think I can ride for hours.
-People leave their bikes everywhere without locking it. No matter how safe the country is, I still have an American mindset. In my mind, the bike would not be there when I come back from wherever I went. People don't commit petty crimes here and I love that.
-I love riding my bike along the sidewalk without needing to worry about motorcycles and even cars up in my business! When will Korea enforce harsher rules on motorcycles and cars on the sidewalk. It's madness!
-I'm at Kinkaku Temple now - AHHH! Loads of Chinese tour buses. So annoying. Mandarin is rather annoying and loud.
-Bye Kyoto. You were AMAZING! I'll be back!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
어 머 니, 사 랑 해 요!
Translation: Mom, I love you!
This Sunday is Mother's Day. In Korea, Koreans celebrate Mother and Father's Day together, so it's just Parent's Day. Children buy their parents carnations, which is sold on every corner on every street as well as supermarkets. They are usually sold in pretty baskets.
It's not very often I tell my mom that I love her. Our family don't use the 'love' word often. Maybe because we're Chinese and we're not really the touchy feely kind of people. My mom and I talk on the phone about once a month, sometimes once every two months if I'm too lazy to call. I better get my act together and act more like a grateful loving daughter. She really is the best mom and she's been through more than most mothers I know. I need to tell her how much I appreciate all that she has done for me. Being a mother is the hardest job in the world if it's done correctly (I should know. I'm Ellie's mommy...ha...just kidding...sooo not the same)
This picture shows my relationship with my momma. She's doing something annoying and me not amused.
She's nuts! You have to be her daughter to understand the embarrassment me and Terry feel when momma poses for a picture. I have so many more hilarious pictures. Maybe I should make a album of my mom's pictures on facebook one day.
Well, for my Culture Class with 1st graders, we made Parent's Day Card together. I think it was a great success. They turned out so well and they learned how to write and say "Happy Parent's Day' and "I love you." Very simple, but they're only in the first grade (actually, in the US, they would only be in kindergarten because Koreans are 1 when they are born...they really need to change their age system). This class is tough because there are only so many creative and fun activities I can try to think of that they can do with their VERY VERY limited English skills. Also, since they are only 5-6 years old, just simple cutting, coloring, gluing activities can turn into a huge mess, especially when they are given English instructions. A few weeks ago, an activity required for them to trace their hand on a piece of paper and to cut it out...well, turns out, they are not entirely ready for that yet, so I had 20-23 kids complaining in Korean for my help all at once.
To make the cards prettier, I pre-cut over 60 paper cuts for them to make their cards 3-D. I was prepared this time by cutting the cups, which took me awhile, so I can avoid having them use scissors.
This Sunday is Mother's Day. In Korea, Koreans celebrate Mother and Father's Day together, so it's just Parent's Day. Children buy their parents carnations, which is sold on every corner on every street as well as supermarkets. They are usually sold in pretty baskets.
It's not very often I tell my mom that I love her. Our family don't use the 'love' word often. Maybe because we're Chinese and we're not really the touchy feely kind of people. My mom and I talk on the phone about once a month, sometimes once every two months if I'm too lazy to call. I better get my act together and act more like a grateful loving daughter. She really is the best mom and she's been through more than most mothers I know. I need to tell her how much I appreciate all that she has done for me. Being a mother is the hardest job in the world if it's done correctly (I should know. I'm Ellie's mommy...ha...just kidding...sooo not the same)
This picture shows my relationship with my momma. She's doing something annoying and me not amused.
She's nuts! You have to be her daughter to understand the embarrassment me and Terry feel when momma poses for a picture. I have so many more hilarious pictures. Maybe I should make a album of my mom's pictures on facebook one day.
Well, for my Culture Class with 1st graders, we made Parent's Day Card together. I think it was a great success. They turned out so well and they learned how to write and say "Happy Parent's Day' and "I love you." Very simple, but they're only in the first grade (actually, in the US, they would only be in kindergarten because Koreans are 1 when they are born...they really need to change their age system). This class is tough because there are only so many creative and fun activities I can try to think of that they can do with their VERY VERY limited English skills. Also, since they are only 5-6 years old, just simple cutting, coloring, gluing activities can turn into a huge mess, especially when they are given English instructions. A few weeks ago, an activity required for them to trace their hand on a piece of paper and to cut it out...well, turns out, they are not entirely ready for that yet, so I had 20-23 kids complaining in Korean for my help all at once.
To make the cards prettier, I pre-cut over 60 paper cuts for them to make their cards 3-D. I was prepared this time by cutting the cups, which took me awhile, so I can avoid having them use scissors.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Musings - Part 1
I better write in this blog since memories of my trip to Japan are still fresh in my head. I know if I wait to blog about it, then I'll end up not blogging at all (ahem...example: Cambodia). Well, because I traveled alone, I was able to just think. I wrote down notes of what I was thinking about at that moment while I was walking around and sightseeing. Most of the times, I just took out my notebook, sat on a bench and wrote. I wrote while sitting on the train/bus too. Actually...everywhere...I would just stop to write. It's enjoyable to write when the views around me were so breathtaking. Well, here are just random thoughts...
Night 1: Arriving in Kyoto
-I'm eating alone now. I made my way from Osaka to Kyoto. I hope I can find my way to the hostel.
-Ha. I said 'yes' is Korean to the waitress. It's funny how I said it in Korean instead of English. When I need to reply to something, Korean words come to my mind.
-I love saying 'Arigato gozamus.'
-It started to rain when I was searching for the hostel. I thought I was lost and I got really nervous because taxi starts at like $7.00. I was so happy to see the "Ayado" sigh.
Day 1: Kyoto
-I want to live here.
-I can't get a decent picture of myself at this park (Maruyama Park). My face looks huge.
-I can always expect positive answers from Japanese people when I ask them to take a picture for me. They do it so kindly and ask if the picture is okay before leaving.
-Wow, fresh air. No one is smoking. No one is making hacking noise or getting ready to spit on the ground. Love it!
-Pigeons are cooing very loudly. Terry would be terrified right now. I wish she was here.
-Wah. I almost fell. Pretty embarrassing.
-I'm sitting on a bench eating icecream alone and I feel totally fine. In Korea, I would be pitied on right now.
-(Trying to find Nishiki Market - Doutor Cafe) Okay, I'm lost. Well, I'm in the vincinity of the market, I just can't find it quite yet. But being in Japan, you can always find something to do while looking for your destination.
-Hm. Should I get food at Doutor or wait for dinner?
- I feel like I'm spending a lot of money. It's only Day 1.
-I feel proud. I love looking at my map and looking for particular streets, then seeing the street signs that matches what I'm looking for. Yay for being dependent on myself!
Night 1: Arriving in Kyoto
-I'm eating alone now. I made my way from Osaka to Kyoto. I hope I can find my way to the hostel.
-Ha. I said 'yes' is Korean to the waitress. It's funny how I said it in Korean instead of English. When I need to reply to something, Korean words come to my mind.
-I love saying 'Arigato gozamus.'
-It started to rain when I was searching for the hostel. I thought I was lost and I got really nervous because taxi starts at like $7.00. I was so happy to see the "Ayado" sigh.
Day 1: Kyoto
-I want to live here.
-I can't get a decent picture of myself at this park (Maruyama Park). My face looks huge.
-I can always expect positive answers from Japanese people when I ask them to take a picture for me. They do it so kindly and ask if the picture is okay before leaving.
-Wow, fresh air. No one is smoking. No one is making hacking noise or getting ready to spit on the ground. Love it!
-Pigeons are cooing very loudly. Terry would be terrified right now. I wish she was here.
-Wah. I almost fell. Pretty embarrassing.
-I'm sitting on a bench eating icecream alone and I feel totally fine. In Korea, I would be pitied on right now.
-(Trying to find Nishiki Market - Doutor Cafe) Okay, I'm lost. Well, I'm in the vincinity of the market, I just can't find it quite yet. But being in Japan, you can always find something to do while looking for your destination.
-Hm. Should I get food at Doutor or wait for dinner?
- I feel like I'm spending a lot of money. It's only Day 1.
-I feel proud. I love looking at my map and looking for particular streets, then seeing the street signs that matches what I'm looking for. Yay for being dependent on myself!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Love fools
Being single in Korea is looked upon as strange. One of the first questions that Koreans ask you when they first meet you is if you have a significant other. If you reply no, they would suddenly feel sorry for you like your dog just died. Koreans just don't do things alone. If I tell someone that I went shopping alone, they would offer to go with me next time like I have no friends. Koreans can't seem to understand that sometimes people just want to be alone. I'm not saying all Koreans do that, but I feel like most do. Let's talk about some of the special holidays for couples in Korea that someone made up to torture single people.
February 14th: Well, everyone knows about Valentine's Day. Koreans celebrate that day too, but it's not too big of a deal. Unlike America, the girl gives the guy a gift and gets nothing in return. The stores would have a special corner for Valentine Day's gifts, but that's about it...nothing too fancy.
March 14th: White Day is a much bigger deal that V-day. It's the guy's turn to buy the gift this time. I went to the Department store the day before White Day and I saw many guys shopping for pretty gifts. I saw a guy buying flowers and he was holding a huge Gucci shopping bag. Lucky girl. The bakeries, convenience stores, flower shops, etc. are decked out in decorations and there is no way anyone can avoid that day. In E-mart, I would pass by stalls and stalls of candy, chocolate, and cakes just for White Day.
April 14th: Black Day. This is the day for all the sad single people. Single people are supposed to dress in black and eat Jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles).
November 11: Peppero Day. Peppero are pocky sticks, except they call it Peppero in Korea. 11/11 looks like sticks, so I guess some genius from the Peppero company thought he can make money from this day and of course it worked because Koreans love overly cutesy things. I'll let the pictures do the explaining of how crazy ridiculous this day is. (I do enjoy getting boxes of peppero from my kids though).
Yes, those are Peppero boxes in shapes of hearts.
February 14th: Well, everyone knows about Valentine's Day. Koreans celebrate that day too, but it's not too big of a deal. Unlike America, the girl gives the guy a gift and gets nothing in return. The stores would have a special corner for Valentine Day's gifts, but that's about it...nothing too fancy.
March 14th: White Day is a much bigger deal that V-day. It's the guy's turn to buy the gift this time. I went to the Department store the day before White Day and I saw many guys shopping for pretty gifts. I saw a guy buying flowers and he was holding a huge Gucci shopping bag. Lucky girl. The bakeries, convenience stores, flower shops, etc. are decked out in decorations and there is no way anyone can avoid that day. In E-mart, I would pass by stalls and stalls of candy, chocolate, and cakes just for White Day.
April 14th: Black Day. This is the day for all the sad single people. Single people are supposed to dress in black and eat Jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles).
November 11: Peppero Day. Peppero are pocky sticks, except they call it Peppero in Korea. 11/11 looks like sticks, so I guess some genius from the Peppero company thought he can make money from this day and of course it worked because Koreans love overly cutesy things. I'll let the pictures do the explaining of how crazy ridiculous this day is. (I do enjoy getting boxes of peppero from my kids though).
Yes, those are Peppero boxes in shapes of hearts.
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