Am I in Korea or Montreal?

Below are a mix of me in Korea, and hilarious photos Josh e-mailed me of his apartment in Montreal. I take back everything I said about it being a bachelor's pad. I don't know what it is, but I can.. picture myself there!

Wow, my student Anny will be shocked when I tell her she's been to Canada!

(Care to insert a witty caption under this photo?)

Lovely little ones.

I am writing this because my middle of the night glass of green tea was a bad idea! I can't get back to sleep.

I love you because you are the "Juice Monster." You bring sticky bottles of sugar water to class everyday, and pour some into the cap to share with your classmates, maintaining your popularity. We have history, and I've been lucky enough to watch you grow up over the year- and develop your English. I love you because you rest your head against my arm during storytime. I know you're sensitive even though you put on an act in front of the other boys. And you never cease to stump me with the most clever hide and seek spots.

I didn't have a little sister until I met you. More than teacher and student, we are friends. I will miss treating you to ice cream, the pride I've felt strolling down the street with my little ballerina, a bright spot in everyone's day. I'm sorry I was too clumsy to master your dance moves. I hope you are always playful and quick to laugh.

You have served as an inspiration to me. You've come through hardships stronger than any adult I know, totally unconcerned with public perception. You say the most poignant things when I least expect it and you look at me like you see right through.

What is this, 1920?

Debate in my class yesterday. 16 year old boys.

What I asked them to argue-
Team 1: Women are not good candidates for the military service.
Team 2: Women are good candidates for the military service.

TEAM 2's Arguments -
Women can provide services like cooking for the soldiers, and perform first aid.
Women can distract the enemy with their beauty.
Equipment is lighter nowadays.
Women can use their intelligence to think tactically.

TEAM 1's Arguments-
Women are physically weaker than men.
Women are overly emotional.
Women might get raped or abused.
My favorite: Women have the ethical duty to bear children.

PS-

(What they were doing before class?)

Archives time!

HONG KONG

Oh man Hong Kong is gorgeous! I can't wait to inhale the fishy air and take photos. I'll be there for nearly a month. The friend I'm staying with lives an adventurous lifestyle, so expect beautiful photos and curious posts.

Since my year is coming to an end and I haven't yet had time to sum it up (I have some "interview-style" posts I want to type, etc.) I thought I'd refer you to my "all time favorite" posts. Or... the entertaining ones, anyway.

HOW TO PEE in Korea

****** English KEY PHRASES Koreans learn. So funny!

SUPERFICIALITY in Korea at its worst! Sunny (a Korean guy) talks about how his friend has oily skin and never changes his hat. Deplorable really. Check it out. PS- my voice isn't that annoying in real life.

"I won't touch your privacy." (My Korean company had learned that Canadian girls are independant.)

Do Asians think all blonds look identical?

Trip to Gangwon Province with Tae Hun's family

LUNAR NEW YEARS and DINNER in Korean homes.

E-mail from my first Korean friend, Chung Lim Jang.

Korean GOSSIP, social stories.

Ear Wax in Korea

The KINDNESS OF KOREANS (or my own desperation.) Fed for nothing at a restaurant.

Playing "Headbandz" with my students

Wandering in the traditional Korean Markets

Stay safe in Korea, for the women in the house

Dying Tae Hun's hair

.... I will add more later !! Now I must sleep.

Cheap restaurant in South Gate, Seoul, often used as a backdrop in Korean films

PS - Tae hun wants you all to tell him he's beautiful one last time.

Seoul <3

I've been busy. I will post tonight. I only have a few more weeks left in Korea, so some things need to be said before I go.

Gangnam, Seoul

Let's start with dessert first! Hwan, Min and I had a vanilla treat at Red Mango (a Korean frozen yogurt chain) in Gangnam. I have an interesting story about our internet experience, there!

We ordered Western-style food (pasta, nachos and chicken) but ate it communally, with the plates in the center of the table. This is one example of assimilation. Back home I was pretty squeemish about food-sharing.

We dined at "Captain Hook" restaurant in Gangnam, and later went to a Japanese oddang bar where we drank yogurt flavored soju, and shared oddang soup. Hwan (my old roommate) said he'd like to open an oddang bar in Montreal, Canada. I think it would go over well!

I've been going out a lot lately because I only have 4 weeks of teaching left and am trying to see friends as often as possible before I jet off to Hong Kong and Europe, in mid November.

Hiroko (Japanese) and Min (Korean.) I asked them to kiss for a photo tonight but Min said, "maybe in Japan! In Korea we can't kiss in public!" The younger generation is actually very affectionate . You often see teenagers hugging on the street, but Min is a pinch traditional.