I will start off by saying I am in no way an expert, but I have gathered some interesting info through a couple of experiences. First, I would like to say that birth control is offered over the counter for about 7,000 won. With the current exchange rate it is about 5.50 US. I think this is interesting given the fact that in the US you have to be prescribed birth control. For a country that seems to be downlow about sex they seem to have the best ways of handling it. You want to get down in private love motel, want to not have a baby go to pharmacy and pick up birth control, very easy and simple. Just dont talk about.
Second, I would like to say that the medicine here is 4,000 won and is very easy to get. You go to the pharmacist, if they speak English tell them what you have and they bring you medicine. Done. No long draw out wait at the doctor's office with a 30 dollar co-pay for him to get you a prescription. No waiting room full of sick people that are probably making your situation worst. No a simple transaction.
In the event you do not have and English speaking pharmacist have a Korean friend or co-worker write the symptons down on the paper. They will still try with all thier might to explain how to take and how many times a day.
If all else fails, role play. Koreans like a good game of act it out. I play it with my students all the time.
I would like to say I have not idea what I took. I am not even sure I took the medicine the right way, but I am not sick. I took this silver packet of balls that smelled like incenses. I throught it was tea but the Korean teachers laughted when I got back to the office and put it in a cup. "NO teacher. Just take the balls like pills and drink water. I felt like I licked a stick of incense for a week but I got better.
There really isn't to much damage I could to do to myself with the medicine I took. From what I understand it was herbal and the medicine that was mecidine was in a much lower dosage that we use in the States.
I have to say I like the Korean healthcare system. There is not as much drama as healthcare is in the US.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Glamorous (Black Baywatch in Korea)
It has been a while and alot has happen. The title of this post should make sense in a couple of minutes. In Korea it is considered bad form to should your bare arms. You can wear street walker shorts and thunder cat boots(lace up boots to you thigh for those that have not taken ho-ism 101) . To conform to these rules I wear a v neck shirt that cover my arms, but allows me to use the many tank tops I have brought. I final wear this oufit to work and everyone down stairs in the teacher lounge said "Oh, so nice". I figured I was good. I get up to the 3rd floor with the students who have begun to stare at me more than usual. I think nothing of it I change my hair every two days maybe they got confused. The day goes by and I start hearing the word glamorous. "Oh, so glamorous". The little boys start bringing me things. They batting they little eyes at me. It just started getting weird. I 'm walking towards Kristina teacher and her eyes get huge and she says , " Wow, Karolynn-teacher so glamorous". By this time I am getting kind-of weired out. After class Kristina teacher catches me in the elevator and she is still on this "oh so glamorous". Now she is saying why feeling on my arms and just looking at me in admiration. Finally she says, " Karolynn teacher, so glamorous. You can see you bounce all the way down the hall" and then she just looks at my chest. I felt so akward. So now I am think my new nickname should be the black baywatch.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Updating
Sorry it has taken me so long to update. First, I would like to say I am not starving anymore. I have found more food I will eat. Teaching is getting better. My students are great.
I have started walking around alot more, which has helped me get more comfrontable with Korea. There is not much to say right now. It is late and I have assignments due. Will go into more detail on the weekend about surrounding areas.
I have started walking around alot more, which has helped me get more comfrontable with Korea. There is not much to say right now. It is late and I have assignments due. Will go into more detail on the weekend about surrounding areas.
Monday, March 16, 2009
It has been a full week and then some
Children away from home
Let me first say, " I have a new found respect for teachers". I have wanted to do everything under the sun to my 80 kids. I have some that I just love and look forward to seeing. Then I have others that I want to just back hand or piston whip because some of these kids think they hard. If I had to pick a favorite class it would be my HI KIDS 1-5 (This means they are 7-8 years old and have some back round in English). I have a girl names Sarah 1 who I just love. She is the funniest of my students and always tries to be like me. For instance, I had a bobby on my shirt and she takes it and tries to braid her hair while she is standing in line. I t was the custest thing to me because half my kids still run up and touch me and look at thier hand for a few minutes trying to figure out what's going on. It still shcoks me that there are kids in this world that believe my skin color can come off, or that we are all from Africa. The story the kids believe right know is I am Obama's sister, since there can only be a handful of black people in the world. I can get made because they are so innocent about it. Honestly confused.
I do have a couple of children in my class that I really just want to have the hand of Jesus come over before I get me a paddle. I might have to call Phoenix and get prayer over the phone for some of these children.
My son and shopping
Well it was my son's birthday this weekend. It was hard to handle here. I was truly having a hard time. He told me he was turning 5 and was having a great time with Grandma Mimi. I was happy to hear him happy. He is a great little guy. My friend Hana helped my spirts by taking me late night shopping. 1:30 in the morning to be exact .
Let me be the first to say my original reports about the shopping was wrong. Real shoppers come out at night. These people shop until 5 in the morning. Shopping in the daytime sucks. They dont have the good stuff out and the vendors ain't thinking about your little money. Thier big money is midnight. Whole families be out shopping. I got the cutiest LV for about 35 cuz the lady liked my hair. I even found a big girl shop. I brought this cocoa colored sweater that was the business. I was super excited.
Cooking
I have final cooked something on my hot plate. Jerk pork. Now I am not exactly sure what pafrt of the pig I ate. Truth be told I am still praying it really was pork. Put Jerk seasoning on it and it is the business. It cooks really fast being cut so thin. I was hungry and 7 minutes later I was straight.
Showering
There is no medium, there is no in between, it is scolding hot or cold. You get a brief minute where the water is now, then Baam, scolding hot, painfully hot water. I have been playing with this water thing for about week and can't find a middle ground. I miss bath tubs. They have public baths, but you have to be naked. Bucking naking. In a room full of people you dont know being stared at because you dont look like anything they have ever seen. My chest is big in the States, in Korea I am asked how I stand up straight. Now being naked and being stared at is just not high on my list, so I will be bathless until I figure and alternative out.
That is it for me. I have homework and I have a crappy illness. From what I understand it has to do with yellow dust season. It is all the pollution from China blowing over into Korea. I have to buy a mask. At least that is what I have been advised to do. Love and blessings.
Let me first say, " I have a new found respect for teachers". I have wanted to do everything under the sun to my 80 kids. I have some that I just love and look forward to seeing. Then I have others that I want to just back hand or piston whip because some of these kids think they hard. If I had to pick a favorite class it would be my HI KIDS 1-5 (This means they are 7-8 years old and have some back round in English). I have a girl names Sarah 1 who I just love. She is the funniest of my students and always tries to be like me. For instance, I had a bobby on my shirt and she takes it and tries to braid her hair while she is standing in line. I t was the custest thing to me because half my kids still run up and touch me and look at thier hand for a few minutes trying to figure out what's going on. It still shcoks me that there are kids in this world that believe my skin color can come off, or that we are all from Africa. The story the kids believe right know is I am Obama's sister, since there can only be a handful of black people in the world. I can get made because they are so innocent about it. Honestly confused.
I do have a couple of children in my class that I really just want to have the hand of Jesus come over before I get me a paddle. I might have to call Phoenix and get prayer over the phone for some of these children.
My son and shopping
Well it was my son's birthday this weekend. It was hard to handle here. I was truly having a hard time. He told me he was turning 5 and was having a great time with Grandma Mimi. I was happy to hear him happy. He is a great little guy. My friend Hana helped my spirts by taking me late night shopping. 1:30 in the morning to be exact .
Let me be the first to say my original reports about the shopping was wrong. Real shoppers come out at night. These people shop until 5 in the morning. Shopping in the daytime sucks. They dont have the good stuff out and the vendors ain't thinking about your little money. Thier big money is midnight. Whole families be out shopping. I got the cutiest LV for about 35 cuz the lady liked my hair. I even found a big girl shop. I brought this cocoa colored sweater that was the business. I was super excited.
Cooking
I have final cooked something on my hot plate. Jerk pork. Now I am not exactly sure what pafrt of the pig I ate. Truth be told I am still praying it really was pork. Put Jerk seasoning on it and it is the business. It cooks really fast being cut so thin. I was hungry and 7 minutes later I was straight.
Showering
There is no medium, there is no in between, it is scolding hot or cold. You get a brief minute where the water is now, then Baam, scolding hot, painfully hot water. I have been playing with this water thing for about week and can't find a middle ground. I miss bath tubs. They have public baths, but you have to be naked. Bucking naking. In a room full of people you dont know being stared at because you dont look like anything they have ever seen. My chest is big in the States, in Korea I am asked how I stand up straight. Now being naked and being stared at is just not high on my list, so I will be bathless until I figure and alternative out.
That is it for me. I have homework and I have a crappy illness. From what I understand it has to do with yellow dust season. It is all the pollution from China blowing over into Korea. I have to buy a mask. At least that is what I have been advised to do. Love and blessings.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Teaching and additional info
I made it. My first week of teaching is over. Well, it went better than expected. Most of my classes have kids that are great. My first day was a little rough. I had some kids scared to death for the first 10 minutes. After I offered them a stamp for a response the kids were cool. The school gives the kids a stamp book and when they fill it up they get gift cards and other prizes. It works. You take a stamp from these kids, it is the end of the world.
I will say my only beef may have been a translation issue. Now a teacher who shall remain nameless, walked around me to another teaacher that had been teacher for 3 years and asked him to enlighten my on the workings of level 3 kids class, because I didnt know what I was doing. Now being a nice guy he tried to difuse the situation by saying she didnt speak English that well and meant nothing by it. This still did not stop me from wanting to catch her in the parking lot. I got over it and now just play music to avoid the miss understanding.
Apartment
For those that have space issues: Do not read this section. I live in a room the size of my dad's walk-in closet. It is maybe 400 sq ft. My shower is over my toilet and my kitchen consist of a hot plate on a counter, a sink, and a fridge on the side. There is no stove. Let's just say I have learned the beauty of a good McDonald's or KFC run.
I would also like it to be said that I had a not so clean person living here before me. My bathroom was orange. It was the scariest truck stop looking bathroom I had every seen. I almost passed out I was scared. I called Jacob (foreigner teacher liason) and told him "I will not set foot in that bathroom". He was a nice guy and had cleaning ladies clean the whole room and the school paid for me to stay in the hotel another night.
Black Folks
Aparently, Asia is the land of Africans. I have ran into more West Africans here then I have in the States. They kind-of scary. They look at you like they want to hit on you, and then they girl up and send they boy over or they just keep walking by hoping that you will speak to them. I don't do sissie's, if you cant hit on me, you scary and not my type.
I have found an honorary sister, Hana. Hana is a Korean girl that has been around black folks for a little bit of time (she dated a brother). Now she has read some of the best black novels. She has one of the best selections of black authors I have seen for a non black person. Langston Hughes, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Jerome Dickey, Maya Angelou, the list just keeps going. She has read these books and has some interesting views about these books. She has been mad cool so far. Special shot out to her moms for paying for the best sushi ever. It was a great meal. Hana wanted to serve live octopus and it died the morning we were supposed to eat it. Her mom felt bad and paid for all 9 or 10 of us to eat at this fancy sushi place. It was the business.
Shopping
Eel is the business here. I have seen more eel skin stuff. It is the business. I am having snake skin shoes custom made in April. I am super excited. I might have some boots made too. Korea is not the place for big girls unless u plan on getting stuff made. It is not as cheap as China. China is still holding the title for the best prices. No offense but Koreans are snobby. A selling point, it is made in Korea, not China. Look here. It is Asia. It really isnt that much better. I think Koreans are the white people of Asia. The problem is Korea is really dirty (streetwise). They are the cleanest people in thier space, but they have the dirtiest looking neighborhoods. Can you say Nogales or any other scary part of Mexico?
The bootlegs aren't that good. So far, I found better quality and deals in the Fashion Distict in LA. I have only been two places so the score card for goods is not out but so far Korea is rating poor.
Well that is all for me. I am good. Havent found a food I like yet. Korean food alright but I might die of hunger if i dont find something I really want. Had some Mexican food. Note: this is Korea not Mexico. It was good for people who don't live in little Mexico (Phoenix). Let me stop, the food was good. Not what I am used too. Love and blessings.
I will say my only beef may have been a translation issue. Now a teacher who shall remain nameless, walked around me to another teaacher that had been teacher for 3 years and asked him to enlighten my on the workings of level 3 kids class, because I didnt know what I was doing. Now being a nice guy he tried to difuse the situation by saying she didnt speak English that well and meant nothing by it. This still did not stop me from wanting to catch her in the parking lot. I got over it and now just play music to avoid the miss understanding.
Apartment
For those that have space issues: Do not read this section. I live in a room the size of my dad's walk-in closet. It is maybe 400 sq ft. My shower is over my toilet and my kitchen consist of a hot plate on a counter, a sink, and a fridge on the side. There is no stove. Let's just say I have learned the beauty of a good McDonald's or KFC run.
I would also like it to be said that I had a not so clean person living here before me. My bathroom was orange. It was the scariest truck stop looking bathroom I had every seen. I almost passed out I was scared. I called Jacob (foreigner teacher liason) and told him "I will not set foot in that bathroom". He was a nice guy and had cleaning ladies clean the whole room and the school paid for me to stay in the hotel another night.
Black Folks
Aparently, Asia is the land of Africans. I have ran into more West Africans here then I have in the States. They kind-of scary. They look at you like they want to hit on you, and then they girl up and send they boy over or they just keep walking by hoping that you will speak to them. I don't do sissie's, if you cant hit on me, you scary and not my type.
I have found an honorary sister, Hana. Hana is a Korean girl that has been around black folks for a little bit of time (she dated a brother). Now she has read some of the best black novels. She has one of the best selections of black authors I have seen for a non black person. Langston Hughes, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Jerome Dickey, Maya Angelou, the list just keeps going. She has read these books and has some interesting views about these books. She has been mad cool so far. Special shot out to her moms for paying for the best sushi ever. It was a great meal. Hana wanted to serve live octopus and it died the morning we were supposed to eat it. Her mom felt bad and paid for all 9 or 10 of us to eat at this fancy sushi place. It was the business.
Shopping
Eel is the business here. I have seen more eel skin stuff. It is the business. I am having snake skin shoes custom made in April. I am super excited. I might have some boots made too. Korea is not the place for big girls unless u plan on getting stuff made. It is not as cheap as China. China is still holding the title for the best prices. No offense but Koreans are snobby. A selling point, it is made in Korea, not China. Look here. It is Asia. It really isnt that much better. I think Koreans are the white people of Asia. The problem is Korea is really dirty (streetwise). They are the cleanest people in thier space, but they have the dirtiest looking neighborhoods. Can you say Nogales or any other scary part of Mexico?
The bootlegs aren't that good. So far, I found better quality and deals in the Fashion Distict in LA. I have only been two places so the score card for goods is not out but so far Korea is rating poor.
Well that is all for me. I am good. Havent found a food I like yet. Korean food alright but I might die of hunger if i dont find something I really want. Had some Mexican food. Note: this is Korea not Mexico. It was good for people who don't live in little Mexico (Phoenix). Let me stop, the food was good. Not what I am used too. Love and blessings.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Love Motel & JOB so far
Let me first start off by saying I have the most interesting luck. Let's start with where I am staying. I am staying at a "Love Motel". To clear this up right now, this is not a "streetwalker, pimp n ho, sidewalk hostess" kind of place. This is one of the cleaniness placed I have every stayed. In Korea, people stay with there parent until they are married or can find an apartment. Korea has limited space, so when that feeling is strong and it's grown folks time, they go and rent a room. I will say they have the most g-rated porn I have ever seen. I am not professing to be no porn expert, maybe a little bit of a freak, by Bambi couldn't get off watching this. It is so confusing that you end up watching for a little bit before you release this is an attempt at porn or even a odd fetish. I was turned on the TV and out of no where is this happy orange haired Korean chick. I figured change the channel when I unpack. 20 minutes go by and the pecky orange hair chick was topless pouring gitts on herself. Turned to next challenge and no it is a young couple grinding like nobody business. This seemed like a little more of a normal situation, wrong. These fools are just going through the motions. Nothing. I mean if there wasn't a boob and a moan every now and then I would be even more confused. This is all before I find out this is a "Love Motel".
On to the job. They have decided that my personally is suited to 5-6 uear old kids. Now I now me. I am hard on everybody, especially my kid. Now I am not sure if they really throught this out, but I am going to teach Englishee cause that what I get paid to do. the catch to all this is these are kids that have never left home, dont speak any English, and have never seen a foreigner (black people are included in this category). That is not exactly what I was told, but it could be worst.
I miss my son. The kids did a play in the training and I fell out crying. I told the kids it was because it was so beautiful. I mad it out the room before the kids could notice but one followed me to the bathroom. So now I am the big pregnant lady that crys at plays. WTF. Oh well.
In the end I am in Korea.
I have not gone shopping yet, which is a record for. I keep seeing all these great bags and shoes and I have no time to go yet. Sucky. More to come when it is not 1:20 in the morning surrounded by dudes playing video games (PC Bong, for those of you curious)
On to the job. They have decided that my personally is suited to 5-6 uear old kids. Now I now me. I am hard on everybody, especially my kid. Now I am not sure if they really throught this out, but I am going to teach Englishee cause that what I get paid to do. the catch to all this is these are kids that have never left home, dont speak any English, and have never seen a foreigner (black people are included in this category). That is not exactly what I was told, but it could be worst.
I miss my son. The kids did a play in the training and I fell out crying. I told the kids it was because it was so beautiful. I mad it out the room before the kids could notice but one followed me to the bathroom. So now I am the big pregnant lady that crys at plays. WTF. Oh well.
In the end I am in Korea.
I have not gone shopping yet, which is a record for. I keep seeing all these great bags and shoes and I have no time to go yet. Sucky. More to come when it is not 1:20 in the morning surrounded by dudes playing video games (PC Bong, for those of you curious)
Thursday, February 12, 2009
It's go time.
I promised my family and friends that I would keep them updated about my up and coming trip. For those of you that know me I leave for Korea February 19th. I am at that moment in the pre-game (pre-trip) where the nerves are getting limited. I am not on my last nerve but the few left are getting mighty short. I dont want to start off with negative thoughts. I am super excited about the trip. I am looking forward to teaching, to the food, and the amazing shopping.
I am sad to believing my son. My son and his father are being really supportive. My son is learning Korean in the car when he is with me and he has helped me pack (his stuff). I dont think he understands how long, but he understands he gets to visit. I have had lots of support from my family and friends and look forward to updating them.
Back to the go time part of the blog. I am not finished packing. I am still weeding out clothes and shoes, appliances, furniture, etc. I have lost all sleep and I have the start of a wicked cold. In the end I wouldn't change it for the world because when it is all done I am in Korea.
I get to throw the deuces to my job tomorrow. For people that know of my job in the fifth ring of hell (also known as reverse mortgage counseling), they know my boss lives right upstairs. There is a small voice in the back of my head that says right before I leave for my flight; go upstairs and donkey punk that fool and say "You know why"! Trust me ya'll. He had it coming. The good person inside me says," that fool aint worth a case". In the end, I am going to Korea.
Part of me is just ready to go. I told my friend, it would easier to set my apart ablaze and collect the insurance money, then I could stop packing. Again for those that know me and my fire starting rants, this statement should not be a surprised. For new comers, "I was just playing. Unless one of ya'll know somebody. Nah, for real. JUST PLAYING."
I am nervous and not sure what to take. Big girl shopping has gotten better in the US, but in other countries it is desert storm with no sign of water. I can have stuff made, but I own nice healthy size clothes. I dress my booty off. So with that said I am having trouble parting with my clothes, purses, and shoes. Not material issues, worried about lack of options. I have gotten it down to two suitcase and might need a third. I think I am doing good, considering the fact I owned 3 to 4 months of clothes and shoes before packing.
I leave in less than seven days, it's go time.
I am sad to believing my son. My son and his father are being really supportive. My son is learning Korean in the car when he is with me and he has helped me pack (his stuff). I dont think he understands how long, but he understands he gets to visit. I have had lots of support from my family and friends and look forward to updating them.
Back to the go time part of the blog. I am not finished packing. I am still weeding out clothes and shoes, appliances, furniture, etc. I have lost all sleep and I have the start of a wicked cold. In the end I wouldn't change it for the world because when it is all done I am in Korea.
I get to throw the deuces to my job tomorrow. For people that know of my job in the fifth ring of hell (also known as reverse mortgage counseling), they know my boss lives right upstairs. There is a small voice in the back of my head that says right before I leave for my flight; go upstairs and donkey punk that fool and say "You know why"! Trust me ya'll. He had it coming. The good person inside me says," that fool aint worth a case". In the end, I am going to Korea.
Part of me is just ready to go. I told my friend, it would easier to set my apart ablaze and collect the insurance money, then I could stop packing. Again for those that know me and my fire starting rants, this statement should not be a surprised. For new comers, "I was just playing. Unless one of ya'll know somebody. Nah, for real. JUST PLAYING."
I am nervous and not sure what to take. Big girl shopping has gotten better in the US, but in other countries it is desert storm with no sign of water. I can have stuff made, but I own nice healthy size clothes. I dress my booty off. So with that said I am having trouble parting with my clothes, purses, and shoes. Not material issues, worried about lack of options. I have gotten it down to two suitcase and might need a third. I think I am doing good, considering the fact I owned 3 to 4 months of clothes and shoes before packing.
I leave in less than seven days, it's go time.
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