Immigrant Stories: How did you come to US?

lindsaysthingsandsuch:

• Recycling. You are required to separate plastic, glass, aluminum, paper, etc. and place them in their respective receptacles. And that, my friends, is a small, kind gesture to our planet.
• Sidewalk Arcade Prize Games. That is the only name I could think of. You know the claw machine? Or the try-to-push-the-prize-off-the-shelf machine? Well if you don’t, walk down the street in an area with nightlife and you’ll know what I’m describing. There is nothing like the instant gratification and small victory these games provide. Excitement increases with intoxication. Wonder how much the people who own these things make.
  
   
  Drawn like a moth to a flame.
  
  
• Kimchi. Delicious. Healthy. Versatile. As is most Korean food.
• Noraebang. Translated to English as “song/singing room”, this wonderful place is like having a karaoke bar restricted to you and your closest friends. Add booze, snacks, and you’ve got the best pre-game, post-game, or I’m-bored-and-have-nothing-else-to-do option out there. Each room is complete with multi-colored club lights, a giant HD flat screen, couches for lounging, and a music library that will make any American karaoke bar laughable. The beauty of this place is that you can go for fun or go to actually practice singing. Hence, everyone in Korea is good at singing.
  
   
  Serenade central.
   
• Nightlife. Bars, clubs - they don’t close. They just don’t. Maybe in America you’re ready to head home around 2am. Over here, it can be 4am and you think it’s still midnight. People don’t go home, which totally throws off your perception of time. I’ve seen the sunrise on this side of the earth more than the other (on which I spent 22 years). And let me tell you something - Koreans can DRINK. They may be passed out on a barstool but you best believe they still have a drink in their hand.
• American Films. I saw Les Miserables, The Hobbit, and Skyfall before you.
• LASIK. Cheaper ($1,000). Better technology. Amazing comfort and service (I waited in a massage chair with a cup of milk tea and a pastry). Free consultation and follow-ups. I mean. Come on, people. Oh, and everyone got to watch my surgery both on HDTV and through the glass walls of which the surgery room is composed.
  
  
  That’s my eye.
   
• Hangover Helpers. There are a couple Korean traditional soups that should do the trick. If not, head to a nearby hospital and, for a small price, they’ll hook you up to an IV, get some fluids/vitamins flowing through you, and send you on your revitalized way.
• Appearance. Everyone looks good. All the time. No excuses. I hate being so shallow, but you can’t help liking what’s nice on the eyes.
• Hangul. The Korean writing system was created by King Sejong hundreds of years ago with the intention of being easy to learn, read, and write. I challenge you to learn it. It took me under one hour.
  
  
  That’s my hangul handwriting.
   
  Stay tuned for Ten Things I Like About Korea, Vol. III.
  
  Kbye,
  
  Lindsay

mismatch-the-crux:

So I was talking to my boyfriend the other day about the whole Dokdo claiming-thing that Japan and Korea are fighting about.

Basically, from what I understand, Dokdo was originally Korea’s, but when Japan occupied Korea for a long time, they claimed the island for themselves.

Now, Japan and Korea are still fighting over who has rights to it— I believe it’s fairly Korea’s, since Japan has so much dang land and a huge ego to boot—

and recently Korea’s former President visited the island, which made Japan really angry and they threatened to bring the subject to an International Court.

At first I thought “Why don’t they? What have they got to lose? If it’s really Korea’s land, they should just tell the world that.”

But then my boyfriend brought up a good point indirectly. He told me that on the international maps, the island is actually labeled with its Japanese name… And it dawned on me.

The rest of the world would probably see Japan as more credible than Korea. The west, particularly, doesn’t seem to know all that much about Korea. What we do know is North Korea, and even then, not that much. Even with all the proof in the world, it’s possible that it wouldn’t be recognized or believed against Japan’s word.

Hm.

I do hope they get this stuff settled, tho. I also wish Japan would apologize for its war crimes against China and Korea, to name a few. Come on, guys! Be humble for once!

mismatch-the-crux:

So I’m a waygook in Korea and I’ve now gotten my third cold this year. For me, when I’m sick here, I tend to do as the Romans do and wear a facemask. The kids think it’s normal, but I get even more weird looks from the adults.

Are waygooks just not expected to wear facemasks when they’re sick? I’m not trying to be Korean, I’m just trying to minimalize risk for my students and for myself.

Ah well. Lately I can’t wear my sunglasses if I have a mask on or it makes it look like I’m going to rob someone sob

well, off to class~

live-your-best-life06:

Today I met my friend for dinner because I was going to babysit her daughter while she went to her lesson. She drove us… I know driving in Korea is a completely terrifying thing especially when a bus decides they want to drive in 2 lanes… Okay back to the point.

We had dinner at a restaurant in Haeundae and we had some delicious Dongas…that’s the fried pork cutlet I mentioned in my post about Saturday. The thing I love about Korean meals are the sides. The sides are just as important and delicious as the main part. The kimchi at this place was amazing! I literally finished my own bowl of kimchi first… So here’s the thing you have to understand Koreans love it when you as a foreigner like kimchi. The owner comes over and asks if I want more kimchi with a big grin on his face. Now instead of filling my small bowl with the same amount I got in the beginning he brings out the huge tube-ware of kimchi and gives me a ton… I then felt obligated to eat all of that kimchi… It was delicious but it was a little much.

Koreans love when you like their food and then they tend to over do it but it’s sweet. Restaurant owners are always kind and making sure your side dishes are full.

Our school moved our spring picnic from Friday to Thursday due to it raining on Friday… Kinda sucks… Field trips are exhausting and I teach until 6pm on Thursdays…

We have open class coming up… I’m nervous my kids aren’t doing that well… Hopefully everything goes smoothly..