Pottery & Random Things I've Noticed about South Korea

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Thank goodness I brought a box of cereal from home because that is what I had this morning for brekkie. We did pottery all day! We made a small cup, a mug, some molds, and worked on a pottery wheel. Have you guys ever used a pottery wheel? Whoa, baby. I was the only one who had never used one, so the TA helped me the whole time by guiding my hands and making a sweet bowl and some cup thing. And then he made us a vase. Working on the pottery wheel was awesome! I haven't worked with clay since middle school.

Tonight, we took the subway again to BNU and went to this adorable ice cream place. You climb up these metal steps and enter this ice cream tea party. They have fluffy, frilly, rose-covered rocking chairs and you just sit in them and order some ice cream. What we got was so good! It came on a tray: two bowls of delicious ice cream goodness and ...toast (you spread whipped cream on it like butter and just eat it)? These icy flakes (shaved ice) with strawberry ice cream and banana and fruit and then another bowl of more fruit and ice cream. Oh, my descriptions give no justice to the yum factor. Check it out for yourself...www.can-more.com.

Just some random things I've noticed...

-They love Hello Kitty. You know how we have decals on our cars? They have Hello Kitty ones. And Mickey Mouse is everywhere! Shirts, sweaters, shoes, bags, left and right, up and down... Mickey Mouse.

-Samsung, Hyundai, and LG are everywhere. Most people drive Hyundai cars. Samsung makes everything from phones to cars to apartment complexes. Korea pride up the wazoo. So much so that they don't use Google. They use Naver cuz they don't like it.

-There are so many people here that they build super-tall apartment buildings. Everyone here lives in apartment complexes. Only richie rich people live in actual houses because they are so expensive.

-And they're obsessed with their phones, but in different ways than us. My biggest pet peeve is when you are trying to have a ocnversation with someone and they get their phone and text or answer a call. If it's an emergency, okay, whatever, but it happens all too frequently, and I think it is just rude. When you are with someone, you should really BE with them.
Anyway, back home, you see people yapping on their cell phones all the time. Not so much here. They just take their phone EVERYWHERE and text. Even just to the dining center. And they constantly text and look at their phones when they should be paying attention to someone talking or literally when they are right in front of someone who is talking. It is an ironic touch to this formal, traditional country.

-Fashion: Minjee said the girls here wear long shirts with skinny jeans and necklaces. In the stores, I have noticed a lot of long, baggy shirts and graphic t-shirts are everywhere with English writing that is sometimes mis-spelled and makes no sense with the picture corresponding with it. I don't think they care. Just as long as it's English. haha. What I've noticed...people dress up just to walk around and the girls are either conservatively-dressed or wearing short shorts and high heels. Many of the guys wear a small bag across their shoulders.

-There is no physical affection here. Seriously, I crave a hug! haha. When people see each other, they don't hug hi and bye, they just squeal and squeeze each other's hands to say hello. The only way you can tell people are dating is if they are holding hands, and that does not happen until a few months into the relationship.

-After freshman year of college, it is mandatory for every single male here to serve 2 years in the army. Then, they come back and finish off college. College is a given here, too. You can't get a job without going to college.

-Yesterday, I saw my first fast food advertisements by the University. Whereas you see it all the time back home and in Europe, there are none here. And everyone here is so skinny. There is no such thing as a beer belly here. The Korean diet consists of some of the healthiest foods in the world, so no one is overweight. On the other hand, no one is tall, either.



On a more personal note, I have realized something else. One of the things on my list is teaching English in another country. And, during my summer months when I am not teaching, I plan on doing that. Just traveling and teaching English or building schools in Ethiopia or something. You know, making the world a better place. World peace kinda stuff.
But, I have learned that if I want to teach in Texas, it is worth a shot. The only thing stopping me from teaching in Texas is being placed in this new place and being away from everything and everyone I know back home. Many people come to South Korea to teach English (they pay the most and are so respected). I thought Texas was far...this (South Korea) is a 14-hour time difference and a 24 hour flight and waiting time period! Texas is only a 2-hour flight away AND they speak English! 😊 And perhaps they are more respected. I think I would be teaching a more Hispanic population there, and I know their culture respects teachers more than uhh...suburbia does? Plus, I could meet a mighty fine Southern gentleman! 😉
Okay, I am getting too far ahead of myself. But, really, after being here and so far away from everyone and experiencing this REALLY different language barrier, Texas seems like a walk in the park compared to here. Just a hop, skip, and a jump from home.
And if I don't just give it a try after graduation, then it will be even harder to try it when I am in a comfort zone bubble of teaching in Illinois.
Pus, it is not permanent. Nothing ever is. So, I can come back to Illinois if I don't like it.

Well, if ya made it this far, thanks for reading!
Kylie put some pictures up on Facebook, so just go to my profile and look at those if you want.
Miss you, whoever reads this. 😊

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Comments

[Ashley]

yay Texas!!! :)