I was thinking that when I go to Korea, I will know a grand total of two people in the entire country. Neither of whom I've seen in about five years.
But then I thought about how those two people, along with a few other people I know who have lived in Korea, have promised that they'll help introduce me and get in touch with people. And I realized that with all these friends-of-a-friend connections, there could be hundreds of people in South Korea who haven't met me yet but will be able to help make me feel welcomed.
(Also, I realized I had the Korea-arrival date wrong. So the countdown stalled for a few days there...)
Monday, June 24, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
61 Days Til Korea | Kimbap
When I get to Korea, I want to be able to use Korean ingredients to make Korean food. For one, I've heard western food is super expensive. And for two, only eating and making American food while living in Korea would just be super lame.
So I've been practicing staple Korean dishes every so often over these last few months, as best as I can with the ingredients I can find in grocery stores here. So I've attempted bibimbap a few times, I've made a few various Korean side dish recipes, but mostly I've made fancied-up ramen with peanut butter and kimchi in it. I don't care if that's not actually Korean at all. It's ridiculously delicious. And I probably eat it at least three times a week now.
But today, when I was grocery shopping, I noticed seaweed sushi wrappers. And I thought, "Kimbap!" And so I bought them. And made kimbap. At one in the morning. Because that's the sort of thing I do.
It turned out... ok. I looked up a few recipes, but the gist I got was that you can pretty much put whatever in it. So I used tuna, carrots, spinach and eggs. It was pretty bland, though. I threw some seasonings here and there, like soy sauce, green onions, sesame oil and a few other things, but I wasn't really sure how much of each thing should go in, and with what part of the filling. But at least it looks pretty. At least I'd say so. For my first time. I've never even seen it in real life before. So I'm satisfied.
So I've been practicing staple Korean dishes every so often over these last few months, as best as I can with the ingredients I can find in grocery stores here. So I've attempted bibimbap a few times, I've made a few various Korean side dish recipes, but mostly I've made fancied-up ramen with peanut butter and kimchi in it. I don't care if that's not actually Korean at all. It's ridiculously delicious. And I probably eat it at least three times a week now.
But today, when I was grocery shopping, I noticed seaweed sushi wrappers. And I thought, "Kimbap!" And so I bought them. And made kimbap. At one in the morning. Because that's the sort of thing I do.
It turned out... ok. I looked up a few recipes, but the gist I got was that you can pretty much put whatever in it. So I used tuna, carrots, spinach and eggs. It was pretty bland, though. I threw some seasonings here and there, like soy sauce, green onions, sesame oil and a few other things, but I wasn't really sure how much of each thing should go in, and with what part of the filling. But at least it looks pretty. At least I'd say so. For my first time. I've never even seen it in real life before. So I'm satisfied.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
65 Days Til Korea | 한국 and 천국
I was thinking about how I'm so excited and so dedicated to going to this place where I've never been, that I've only read about. And then I thought, shouldn't I feel this way about heaven, too?
나는 한국 가고싶어요. 나는 천국 가고싶어요.
나는 한국 가고싶어요. 나는 천국 가고싶어요.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
70 Days Til Korea | 30 Second Book Review - "An Object of Beauty"
An Object of Beauty, Steve Martin, 2010
This book had no plot, and I absolutely loved it.
A meandering journey through the young adulthood of Lacey Yeager, a fledgling NYC art dealer.
Defining quote: "I did think it symptomatic that her life fell naturally into states of intrigue, while I was always moving in a world where nothing changed."
You'll like it if you like:
- Stories more about people than about the things they do.
- The business of art
- Urban life
You'll hate it if you like:
- A strongly defined story arc
- Boring people
Friday, June 7, 2013
72 Days Til Korea
I'm not worried anymore!
I woke up with an email that said said, "Sure, you can come do your practicum with us!"
And then I checked my mailbox and found my FBI background check!
The next few weeks will probably be a little bit difficult, though. In addition to my regular full-time job, I'll be doing 10 hours a week working with this ESL class, plus my regular 4 hours of one-on-one ESL tutoring. And then I'll have to somehow fit a trip to Washington, D.C., in there to get these documents certified quickly. But it will all be worth it!
I woke up with an email that said said, "Sure, you can come do your practicum with us!"
And then I checked my mailbox and found my FBI background check!
The next few weeks will probably be a little bit difficult, though. In addition to my regular full-time job, I'll be doing 10 hours a week working with this ESL class, plus my regular 4 hours of one-on-one ESL tutoring. And then I'll have to somehow fit a trip to Washington, D.C., in there to get these documents certified quickly. But it will all be worth it!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
73 Days Til Korea
I'm starting to worry.
I'm starting to worry that I'm never going to get my FBI background check back in time. That I filled out the forms wrong and I'll have to start over. That by the time I send all my documentation to Korea, there will be no more positions left, and I'll have to try again for February. And that I'll have to find a job in the meantime, after my current job is over in August. And somewhere to live.
I'm also starting to worry that, even if I get all my paperwork collected and sent, I still won't be able to finish my teaching certifications. I've gotten my basic TESOL certificate, but I'm still working on the required in-class practicum. And by "working on," I mean, "trying to find a teacher who will let me work with their class." I've contacted all the organizations that run ESL classes in the area, and I keep being turned down. For good reasons, like their teachers don't meet the qualifications I need, their programs take a break over the summer, or they have someone else already working with them on a similar practicum. But it's still frustrating. There's still one organization that hasn't given me a final answer yet, though, so there is some hope...
When I was in college, I decided I was going to spend a semester in Rome. It was a great plan. The program was run through a different school, but they were open to other students like me joining them. So I applied, was accepted, told all my friends I was going to Rome... and then was told by my own school that none of my financial aid would transfer. That kind of killed those plans. I considered officially transferring schools for just the semester so I could get financial aid, or even transferring permanently (it had been my very close second choice school all along), but neither of those options were really a good idea. So I never went to Rome. But I'm worried that this plan to go to Korea will end up like that.
I'm starting to worry that I'm never going to get my FBI background check back in time. That I filled out the forms wrong and I'll have to start over. That by the time I send all my documentation to Korea, there will be no more positions left, and I'll have to try again for February. And that I'll have to find a job in the meantime, after my current job is over in August. And somewhere to live.
I'm also starting to worry that, even if I get all my paperwork collected and sent, I still won't be able to finish my teaching certifications. I've gotten my basic TESOL certificate, but I'm still working on the required in-class practicum. And by "working on," I mean, "trying to find a teacher who will let me work with their class." I've contacted all the organizations that run ESL classes in the area, and I keep being turned down. For good reasons, like their teachers don't meet the qualifications I need, their programs take a break over the summer, or they have someone else already working with them on a similar practicum. But it's still frustrating. There's still one organization that hasn't given me a final answer yet, though, so there is some hope...
When I was in college, I decided I was going to spend a semester in Rome. It was a great plan. The program was run through a different school, but they were open to other students like me joining them. So I applied, was accepted, told all my friends I was going to Rome... and then was told by my own school that none of my financial aid would transfer. That kind of killed those plans. I considered officially transferring schools for just the semester so I could get financial aid, or even transferring permanently (it had been my very close second choice school all along), but neither of those options were really a good idea. So I never went to Rome. But I'm worried that this plan to go to Korea will end up like that.
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