Monday, February 25, 2008

한 국 사 랑

Above: Food from Seollal - New Year.
Above: My room now in the apartment. It's just a tiny room with a bed and a small desk...but it's mine.
Above: A pic from a street close to where I live.
Above: A pic from my neighborhood. In the background you can see a tower - that is the Namsan Tower/Seoul Tower. You can locate it on pretty much any map of Seoul.
Above: Chongyechon, a creek that runs through the city.
Above: more Chongyechon
Above: Chongyechon again
Above: Some friends made dinner and baked me a cake for my birthday....chocolate cake of course.
Above: The Koroot lunch ladies prepare food for Seollal - New Year.

한 국 사 랑
마 리 ㅣㅁ 니 다
I cannot claim that my Korean is great, or even good, by any means, but I’m picking up a few words here and there. I have a tutor that I see once a week. Her name is 휸 속 and she’s great. I’m hoping to be able to have basic conversations by the time my year in Korea is up – like “What’s your name?” and “Where are you from?”….and be able to answer properly…..instead of my current and constant 한 국 말 춭 맏 데 오 or 물 라 요.

My job is going great. I teach six classes (English) a day on Mondays through Thursdays and on Fridays I write curriculum and I teach two classes – Korean History and Science. There are ten (I believe) other teachers at my school, plus management and Korean staff. So far I can only say good things about my place of employment. My 학 ㅘㄴ also has a second branch in ㅏㅂ 구 중 which in just a short subway stop from where I work, which is in 강 남. My students are in 2nd through 6th grade and their English abilities are scattered all over the plane, but luckily they are placed in classes based on ability. …big sigh!

Being in 한 국 is great! I’m so happy here.

Det ar verkligen en upplevelse att vara har I Korea. Det gar inte riktigt att forklara, men att vara har har andrat mig. Jag tanker inte pa samma satt langre. Jag tror mina varderingar andras dagligen. Min syn pa livet ar batter kan jag saga. Min syn pa mig sjalv ar definitivt battre (trots tidigare blog om att inte vara vit sa fick inte jobbet.) Min syn pa Korea och Koreaner ar lite hit o dit….forstar inte riktigt, men lar mig dagligen. Men jag kan arligt saga att jag ar lycklig har. Jag trivs med mitt Koreanska liv och med mig sjalv…och kan man egentligen onska natt mer an sa?

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

2008-02-13

Here is a brief update:

I moved into an apartment....I have one roommate that's basically never home.

My birthday came and went...I did get a nice surprise party at Mike's Cabin in Sinchon with Cass and cake - unbeatable combination! Thanks everyone who showed up and thanks Daweon for putting in together! This was my first ever birthday in Korea.

I have no internet access at home yet, so I have to use PC Bangs (rooms) til the end of the month. I don't like PC Bangs, so until March, expect little change in the blog.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Birthday or Not Birthday? That is the question.

Tomorrow, February 5, is my legal birthday. It's the date that's in my passport and it's the date I have celebrated for as long as I can remember.... It's my birthday.

It is that simple.
It was that simple.

Until last year. Last year I visited the Daegu City Hall (the city I was supposedly found in) and there, for the first time in my life, they had a piece of original, dated and stamped, information about me....but it said my birth date was February 6. I know, I know, it's only one days difference. But still! Mentally it does something to you. It does. It really does. And only people who have shared this kind of experience can fully understand me here....for one should only have one birth date, and no one should ever change your birth date. Your date and time of birth should be one of the few set things in life....but alas, for some of us it is not. Oh, and yes I also have a Lunar birthdate of January 1. This whole two-birthdays-thing is new to me. Should i be happy? Should I be sad? Quite honestly, I feel neither of those. I just feel confused/baffled/stunned to silence....

At least now I know that I don't know.

I always knew that my name, Park Soo-Mi, and my date of birth, was given to me by the Temporary Reception Home (like a short-term orphanage) in Daegu...but here is the million dollar question: Is my birthdate on February 5, or February 6, or neither of those dates? The fact is that I will probably never know.....but I am OK with not knowing.....so, happy double birthday to me....