Sunday, November 22, 2009

fall

Its really unnerving how much Korea revolves around the seasons, especially coming from a place that doesn't have four seasons. It makes things change very fast; clothing, fruit, and basically everything else is super seasonal here. I can't believe that I've seen 3 out of 4 of the seasons already. Time has been passing much too quickly. I'm almost at month 8. They have started to talk about hiring for next year at my school, it makes me a little sad to feel so replaceable. I wonder if I made any impact on my students lives, or how much exactly they've learned from me as their teacher. As of now, I'm not resigning at my current school.. but I do feel strongly in my heart that I will come back to Korea after a little(OK a long) holiday.

In early fall I went to a salmon festival with a bunch of friends in YangYang, about an hour north. It was the best festival that I've been to so far. Usually Korean festivals are pretty much all the same and there isn't much to do with the theme. But salmon fest went all out. I did bare handed salmon fishing, the got a print made of my fish and had fancy calligraphy added to it. After that I had my fish cleaned and cooked some of it and boxed the rest.

Salmon waiting to be caught. Being caught.









Print making, Koreans are so meticulous even when pressing a dead fish to paper. Fins were spread wide apart, mouth propped open and eye ball wiped for a clear and impressive image.








Bean bag toss game, also known as
pitch the bean bag at your unwary
friends while they're aiming at the fish's hole. Salmon fest food.









My prize! coughdidn'tcatchitallbymyselfcoughfishareslipperycough.


I ate salmon for the rest of the week too, I never realized what big fish they are. Also at salmon fest there were many tasty salmon themed foods and art and crafts. I bought the most amazing kite ever that would occasionally dive bomb onto some unsuspecting ajushi(the slightly less intimidating male version of an ajuma).



Halloween was great. It was super fun with the kinderkids. My babies looked soooooo adorable.

My kinders. Us Fairies~








PK6(my older babies) were also dressed up a little.



We took them around the neighborhood for trick or treating and had a halloween party with pin the steak on dracula, bobbing for satsumas, and mummy wrap relay. Then Steph and I had a dance party.
I went as a fairy for school and out about friday night for open mic. Played my first show with the band I'm in, "the ofs."

I think we were really good. I also didn't do so bad solo, getting more comfortable playing. For halloween night I went as an undead girl scout.

Had a ton of jagermeister and drank lots of soju on the corner with my pals. Danced all night and that kind of stuff. I was really feeling a strong longing for New Orleans though because no one does halloween like home.

Fall is coming to an end. It was magnificent but much too short, just like summer. The leaves were really something. I'm still knocked back by the absolutely breathtaking beauty of this country.





































Its already snowed here, still have my bangshuah which means that my first or next love will be forever according to Korean tradition.

kangnam(first snow).







Bangshuah



Its been getting frosty and freezing at night, also very cold during the day. It gets dark so early now, gone are the long sunset bike rides that I used to be able to enjoy after work.











I don't think I'm going to be a a big fan of the winter. Except for winter break, I am a fan of that. I'm going to Taiwan!!!!!!! I can't wait! My first adventure into another part of Asia. Dec 30-Jan 5!

Life in Korea has been pretty relaxed; spinning around mostly on work, friends and music. I also read a lot and go hiking or exploring on my bike whenever the weather is nice. I played another open mic with "the ofs." Again we were amazing. Its a great feeling to be a part of a musical escapade with talented and decent folks.

We are going "on tour" next month to Chuncheon(capital of Gangwon-do[my providence]) for a big open mic event. Its maybe 2 or 3 hours away.