Final Staff Dinner

On Friday, July 16 2010 there was an end-of-semester staff dinner. I surprised everyone by delivering a speech in Korean! It was the last time I was going to see many of the teachers ever again.

Welcome Dinner for Staff - 2010

On Friday, March 5 2010 there was a Welcome Dinner at school for the new teachers. The restaurant was on the same block of my apartment. It was a gal-bi (grilled beef/pork) restaurant. 

 

 Welcome speech

New teachers getting bouquets of flowers

...and the meat arrived

This was my dinner - tofu stew and rice

After dinner, the 6th grade teachers went to Bucheon to a bar

Head teacher let me choose the an-ju (food to eat when drinking)
I chose my fav - "dubu kimchi" (tofu)

Lee didn't come to dinner. He left school early because one of his friends' father passed away so he went to pay his respects. HOWEVER - he ended up drinking there and got very drunk. When he joined us at the bar he was loud and a bit irritating. I left around midnight and the rest of the teachers went to a norae-bang (karaoke bar/singing room) which I personally can't stand.

With a new teacher, Mi-na

   

Sunday Night at the Sauna

Last night, my friend Hye-jin (HJ) and I went to a "sauna" (pronounced sa-oon-na).  Last week we were chatting about saunas in Korea and decided to go to one together. Basically, it is a public bath house. HJ did some online research to find the perfect area for us to go to. We're both teacher's and the last thing we need is to see our students or their parents in our birthday suits!

HJ found a sauna quite near to her apartment, but far from mine. We arrived there at around 7:30pm (Sunday, February 28).

We paid our admission fee (6,000 Won / approx $6US) and we were given two towels each.  Then we entered another room where we have to put our shoes into a locker.

We found a locker where we kept our bags and clothes. We stripped down. Yes, everything - off. No underwear. No bra. Nothing. It was very empty when we got there and I was really relieved. I felt conscious when I saw one lady looking at me, but I tried to ignore her.

First, we paid money (15,000 Won each) to two ladies sitting in a room next to the showers. They are the ladies who SCRUB!! We entered the shower area. It's a large room that has showers where you can either sit or stand. You take a regular shower and wash your hair as well.

There are four large pools with different temperatures - warm, hot, cool and cold. After taking a shower, we went to these "pools" (like a hot tub) and sat there for a while. Remember, we were still in our birthday suit. WOW! Immediately I thought of my Korean friends / colleagues who told me they go to a sauna to relax.

A few minutes passed, and we went to an area where there were two beds covered in plastic. Two ladies, only wearing underwear (no bra) told us to lie down on our tummy (still naked).  They put on scrubbing gloves and started to scrub from my legs right up to my back. She hit me twice to tell me to flip over. She scrubbed every inch of me from head to toe. I'm a bit ticklish, but had to endure it! After the scrub, she soaped me down and then put hot towels on my back. To wash the scrub and soap off my body, she poured a bowl of water on me.

HJ and I headed back to the hot tub for a few minutes, and then went to the sauna room (sauna as we know it). We took one last shower and left to enter the locker room area.

 

In the locker room, they sell everything you need - sachets of soap, shampoo, cleansers, panties, bras, snacks and drinks. HJ (doesn't know why exactly) told me that people often eat a boiled egg after a shower or they drink iced coffee.  We had the iced coffee.  While the lady was making it for us, we applied oils and lotions and got dressed. We sat around chatting for a bit before it was time for us to leave.

We got a cab and went back to HJ's apartment where her husband and baby were waiting for us. By then, it was 9:30pm and we were going out for dinner! At dinner, HJ told me that she couldn't stop stroking her arms and I realized that sitting cross-legged on the floor, I was stroking my leg! My skin was silky smooth.

Of course, I do my own scrubs at home, but the pressure of someone else doing it for you is very different. The difference is definitely noticeable.

THIS is the secret to Korean's supple skin!

I've always been conscious to even get dressed in front of people, so for me to walk around in absolutely nothing in front of strangers is something quite unreal. And - being a foreigner, I stand out more! After a minute, it just doesn't matter!

HJ and I agreed that it should be a monthly outing for us!

Dinner was soon-du-bu (spicy tofu stew)

Absolutely delicious!

Baby Seo-jun - such a good boy!

    

Teacher's Farewell Dinner - 2010

On Friday, February 26 2010 we had a Farewell Dinner for all the teachers leaving the school. I've known some of them since my first day teaching in Korea so it was a bit sad saying good bye to some of them. The dinner was at Seafood Blue (buffet) in Bucheon.

 

With Joo-hye Park, one of the teachers leaving

 

Principal giving gifts to teacher's leaving

  

2009 6th Grade Teachers

  

 Some teacher friends

 

Pianist at restaurant

  

 

 

  

Candy Floss machine & Chocolate Fountain

  

Bucheon at night    

 

             

Saying "I'll pay" is like a sickness I have

Image taken from Google Images

According to this site, Going Dutch can be defined as:

Going Dutch is a slang term indicating that each person participating in a shared activity pays for himself or herself, rather than any one person.

This concept is not practiced in Korea and people often talk of "treating" each other. It is generally accepted that if Person A pays for a meal, Person B will pay for the next meal.

Alternatively, if people head to a bar after dinner, the next person may pick up the tab there. I have a few friends here who have a good understanding of this unspoken rule. I went out for dinner on Tuesday evening with my friend, Sarah. As we were heading out to pay, she said, "I'll treat you - it's my pay day today." Our next stop was a coffee shop, and I paid there.

This is basic reciprocation, not so?

Reciprocation can be defined as:

Return in the same manner something that was done or given.

Reciprocation is a big deal here in Korea. And I've been a doing this for as long as I can remember. My parents and brother do this too so I attribute it to my upbringing. It almost bothers me if someone does something for me or gives me something until I return the favour / gesture. Even if it's just buying them a small cake to say "Thank you". But not everyone thinks this way...

Last night I met a friend for dinner. Let's call her G. I haven't seen her in months because she's been in India. I've recovered from my irritation of her about a situation a few months ago.

Short version:

I asked G to go to the Pussycat Dolls concert with me. First she said she'd go but then said she couldn't because she didn't have money. I offered to buy a ticket for her [Don't ask me why. And they weren't cheap]. She accepted with delight, of course. I asked her to meet at a particular time so we could head to Seoul for the concert. We had to get there early to collect the tickets. I ended up waiting an hour for her and eventually called her to say I have to leave and be on my way without her. As a result, another friend scored the extra ticket [And no, he didn't pay for it, either]. G apologized for not making it in time - Well, what else could she do or say? She promised she'd "treat me to a meal next time"

So G has been in India for the past few months and she called desperately wanting to me last night because she's headed back to India this morning. We agreed to meet at Pizza Hut. After two hours of catching up, it was time to leave. And honestly I think it's by default that I said:

"I'll pay"

I think this was careless on my part, because when I went to pay the bill, it was much more than I expected. I don't know why I didn't look at the bill before blurting out those words. (Even though Going Dutch in Korea isn't common, it is quite acceptable amongst friends who are the same age. I've gone Dutch a couple of times with my Korean friends.) If I go out with someone and they offer to pay, I will always ask if I can please contribute something. And if they decline I thank them and it is accepted that I will pay the next time. To me, this is basic manners.

Well, G didn't put up an argument about me paying. And there won't be a next time (not in Korea anyway) as she's headed back to India. Don't get me wrong: I don't do things to expect anything in return, but this issue about paying for others - CONSTANTLY - has been gnawing a hole in my brain for months.

Image taken from Google Images

Like I said before, it's like default that I just offer to pay for people when I go out... even if I've been invited out! It's almost like a sickness I have. I can't control what I say. Another thing I find I do is that if I go shopping and someone is with me (although I much prefer shopping alone) if I'm stopping at the bakery or need to pick up milk or juice or anything from a store before heading home, I seem to ask - "Would you like anything?"

Why do I do this?

This has been going on since my university days. I was very fortunate to have parents who gave me enough spending money. I was never short of cash, and the "going out" I did was to coffee shops, movies or an occasional dinner. I had some friends who never declined an invitation to go out, but they never had money. The more I offered to pay for them, it was as if it was just an accepted thing. It was like I was a mother who adopted my friends.

I never gave it much thought. After all, what's a cup of coffee or a glass of juice going to cost? But... add it all up over time and well, if I didn't open my big mouth, I'd have saved a hell of a lot of money. And thinking of it now, it's really tiring being the one who always puts my hand in my pocket.

Even if you know the other person will pay, don't you think it's just courteous to at least offer a bit? Or even pretend like you're reaching for your purse?

People who eat to their hearts content and sit pretty when the bill arrives makes every single hair on my body stand up. This is one of my top pet peeves ever. Those who don't even make an effort to say, "Let me pay a bit" are rude. And rude people... well, I don' t want to use expletives on here, but I think you catch what I'm saying.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with paying for friends, but I do have a very big problem when it's done ALL the time and people just expect it of you and never offer to pay.

I know there are people who can relate to what I'm saying. Or, are you one of the people I'm talking about?

Think about it the next time you're out with a friend / friends.

I'd love to hear your opinion on this!

Staff Trip to the Korean Border

On Friday, November 13 2009 the staff went on a trip to the Korean border. It was a 2 hour bus ride and when we got there, we could look over into North Korea (I've been to the border before). Absolutely no photographs are allowed, and there are soldiers everywhere to ensure that visitors keep their cameras out of reach.

School principal speaking in the bus

With my colleague, Sun-hwa

Dinner was Galbi: Korean beef

This was MY dinner (I don't eat meat) Tofu stew & rice

Karaoke Time! (Which I DO NOT do...)

Dinner with Kim

I always say that Thursdays are to me what Mondays are to other people. On Thursdays I teach Grade 3, 4 & Kindergarten & after school, I teach a special class for an hour.

My special class is meant to end at 3:50pm, but I do have *special* children that need my help and attention, so sometimes I only get back to my desk around 4:20pm and home time is at 4:40pm. Of course, there have been many days where I've left work really late - once at midnight!

Today I left work at 5pm. I was planning on going to the gym. On my way home I called my friend, Kim - just to say hi. Anyways, we've been meaning to meet and catch up (last time we met was before I was in SA for the summer holiday).

So I abandoned gym to meet Kim for dinner. She said she'd like to see me to talk to me about something. I had a hunch.

So we met for dinner and after getting all the formalities out of the way (how's work ... how's your family?) , we got down to some juicy convo :)

Stay tuned!

Durban (4) Dinner at Jewel of India

On Thursday evening, we had dinner at the Jewel of India - a restaurant downstairs at our hotel. Deeeelicious!

End of Semester Staff Dinner

After the Art Museum, we went for dinner to Gwang-myeong.

Principal giving her speech

Love the way the salmon is rolled into a rose shape

6th Grade End of Semester Dinner

On Monday, July 13 2009 the 6th Grade staff had dinner to celebrate the end of the semester. We went to VIKINGS - a salad/seafood buffet in Bucheon.

Chef preparing hot meals

Sushi bar

Cheesecake

With the 2 head teachers

Friday night de-stress

I almost NEVER say *TGIF* but this week (Friday, May 29 2009) was long and stressful for me. After teaching 4th Graders for the entire day, my co-teacher and I had to go to an Open Class of another foreign teacher at a school in Do-chang Dong (Do-chang Elementary School).

After that, I met some of the 6th grade teachers and we had dinner at my favourite barley restaurant (bo-ri-bap). It was just 6 of us... (again, the single teachers!) I couldn't wait for this evening to de-stress and let go of the stresses of the week.

Hyeon-jeong, Hye-won and Joo-hye

After dinner, we went to Garten Beer~

With No-su

At Garten Beer, there are these 'coolers' in the table.

It ices up, and your drinks are *always* chilled.

Anju is the Korean name for food you have with drinks~
Sausage & potato wedges

Fruit salad

We got this pineapple for free

Seafood soup

There was this message board...you send a text message to a number, and within seconds,
it appears on this screen. Sending the text is free of charge.
We had fun sending messages to e'other ;)