Today was the first time I went to church in Korea. I went to the megachurch Onnuri (which has a daughter church in Irvine) since they have a pretty well-known English ministry. The service was surprisingly good, and also featured an acoustic guitarist, Trace Bundy, who was visiting Korea.
Here's one clip:
He can make even Backstreet Boys seem dignified and classy. Now that's talent. Unfortunately, people singing lyrics to the song reminded me of what the actual song sounds like.
He kind of reminded me of David Crowder Band, how they combine typical instruments and technology to make new and different sounds in their songs. In one of the songs he played for us, he used a guitar and a looping machine. He played different motifs to create a multi-layered song. It was awesome to see the way he used his own inventions for the guitar plus the looping machine and to see him play the guitar as a percussion and string instrument.
Not only was he a fantastic guitarist, but he also talked about his ministry through his guitar. He also said that if there is no love in what you do, it ultimately doesn't mean anything. Although he was blessed with his musical gifts, they would mean nothing to him if he didn't pursue music or God or anything else with love. He said "If I play the guitar and write my own songs, what can God say to me? 'Wow amazing, I could never do that.' That's ridiculous. I'd rather hear 'You loved me and loved others and did all that you could for me. You are my child. Welcome home.'" He was very humble and very passionate about using his gifts for God. I'd love to see him play again soon.
Susan
PS I got a haircut and a perm. I walked into the hair salon with my cousin expecting to just get a haircut. Somehow, I walked out of the salon with a haircut plus a perm. I told the hairdresser to do a "wave perm" and he heard "perm." And now I have a perm.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Costco
Costco is one of my favorite places in the world. I look forward to going to Costco every time I go back home (sad but true). Where else can you find unbeatable prices and free (and potentially unlimited) samples? Anyways, I went with my aunt to Costco in Seoul, which is humongous. Not only is it humongous (2 stories, parking garage with 3 levels above the actual Costco), but they have bulgogi (marinated beef) pizza. Only Korea would sell bulgogi pizza. I had to try one, and it wasn't that bad. In fact, it was pretty good, but I think I'll stick with good ol' pepperoni pizza. Also, Koreans eat hot dogs with a knife and fork. And they don't put condiments on their hot dogs. In fact, they mix all their condiments on a separate plate, mix them all up, then use their knife and fork to dip their hot dog piece into the condiment mix. I was eating my bulgogi pizza with my hands, and people kept staring at me. Well, I was staring right back at them with their fancy condiment plates.
Anyways, I have been working a bit on my project - English education in Korea. It's more on the symbolic value of English in Korean society and how English is used as a commodity taken from Western cultures to define and value Koreans. The more I interview and do research, the more I realize how deeply English is infused into Korean society. On the superficial level, everything must be written in English, from store names to senseless mottos on products. It doesn't matter if it doesn't make sense as long as you're using the English alphabet. On another level, everybody in Korea seems to be involved in some way with English education. Either you are a student, teacher, parent, policymaker, bookseller (English grammar books make up the biggest section), school administrator, politician, businessperson, or someone else associated directly or indirectly with English-education. The government, the mass media, and parents all work together to put an immense amount of pressure of the students, not just to excel in other subjects but also to excel in English (not the English language, but English exams). The more I stay here, the more I believe that Korean society revolves around English, but not as a language or means of communication. English has become a sort of symbol of intelligence and affluence for the Koreans. Crazy, isn't it?
Susan
Anyways, I have been working a bit on my project - English education in Korea. It's more on the symbolic value of English in Korean society and how English is used as a commodity taken from Western cultures to define and value Koreans. The more I interview and do research, the more I realize how deeply English is infused into Korean society. On the superficial level, everything must be written in English, from store names to senseless mottos on products. It doesn't matter if it doesn't make sense as long as you're using the English alphabet. On another level, everybody in Korea seems to be involved in some way with English education. Either you are a student, teacher, parent, policymaker, bookseller (English grammar books make up the biggest section), school administrator, politician, businessperson, or someone else associated directly or indirectly with English-education. The government, the mass media, and parents all work together to put an immense amount of pressure of the students, not just to excel in other subjects but also to excel in English (not the English language, but English exams). The more I stay here, the more I believe that Korean society revolves around English, but not as a language or means of communication. English has become a sort of symbol of intelligence and affluence for the Koreans. Crazy, isn't it?
Susan
Saturday, June 20, 2009
School in June
Although I officially ended my semester on May 8, I have attended classes at school...Korean school that is. Since I'm in Seoul to do a project on English education, I've visited a high school, a middle school, and a university to interview some people.
The high school I visited was an all-boys school, so it was a little weird that the only female in the room was me. Strange? Yes. Especially if you were me. Anyways, I had some good conversations with two high school students, and they were able to give me some really insightful comments about English in Korean society. (Of course, it helped that both boys studied abroad in English-speaking countries for 4-5 years and had a strong grasp of the English language. Most high school students, though, were too shy to say anything to me. Perhaps they were stunned by my awesomeness.) At the high school, I had to talk a bit about myself in front of a class so the students could hear a "native English speaker." It was a little weird, talking about my life. (I was born in California. I eat Korean food. Yes, there is Korean food in the US. I go to college in Massachusetts. No, I don't go to Harvard. You have never heard of my college, etc.) They were just tedious bits about my life, but they were interested in what I had to say (they were probably more interested in the fact that I was talking rather than what I was talking about).
The middle school was a bit different. The majority of the students were from families in the lower middle class, and you could definitely tell the differences between the two schools in terms of future goals, educational approaches, etc. The students were not as shy, and they talked to me, though in Korean. But the middle schoolers were nice, and it made to remember the good ol' days at my own middle school - awkwardly proportioned kids, weird boy-girl exchanges, the "I'm all that" attitude, etc. These students weren't able to tell me as much as the high school students, but it was still interesting to talk to them.
I also visited an all-women's university. I was easily the shabbiest looking person with my blue jeans and t-shirt. These girls all had high heels (as opposed to my Nike sneakers), oversized shiny bags, crazy accessories, and looking very chic in the Korean summer even though the university is located on top of a hill. (Hills aren't my friends in Nike sneakers, so I imagine that they still wouldn't be my friends in high heels.) Anyways, I didn't interview that many students since I was just following my cousin and to interview private tutors, but it was an experience to be surrounded only by girls after being surrounded only by boys.
After all the interviews with teachers and students, I appreciate my education in the US. Korean education is interesting, but only from the perspective of an outsider.
Susan
PS If you're really interested in English education in Korea, you can always read my report that I'm supposed to write by September. Who knows when the report will actually be written, though.
The high school I visited was an all-boys school, so it was a little weird that the only female in the room was me. Strange? Yes. Especially if you were me. Anyways, I had some good conversations with two high school students, and they were able to give me some really insightful comments about English in Korean society. (Of course, it helped that both boys studied abroad in English-speaking countries for 4-5 years and had a strong grasp of the English language. Most high school students, though, were too shy to say anything to me. Perhaps they were stunned by my awesomeness.) At the high school, I had to talk a bit about myself in front of a class so the students could hear a "native English speaker." It was a little weird, talking about my life. (I was born in California. I eat Korean food. Yes, there is Korean food in the US. I go to college in Massachusetts. No, I don't go to Harvard. You have never heard of my college, etc.) They were just tedious bits about my life, but they were interested in what I had to say (they were probably more interested in the fact that I was talking rather than what I was talking about).
The middle school was a bit different. The majority of the students were from families in the lower middle class, and you could definitely tell the differences between the two schools in terms of future goals, educational approaches, etc. The students were not as shy, and they talked to me, though in Korean. But the middle schoolers were nice, and it made to remember the good ol' days at my own middle school - awkwardly proportioned kids, weird boy-girl exchanges, the "I'm all that" attitude, etc. These students weren't able to tell me as much as the high school students, but it was still interesting to talk to them.
I also visited an all-women's university. I was easily the shabbiest looking person with my blue jeans and t-shirt. These girls all had high heels (as opposed to my Nike sneakers), oversized shiny bags, crazy accessories, and looking very chic in the Korean summer even though the university is located on top of a hill. (Hills aren't my friends in Nike sneakers, so I imagine that they still wouldn't be my friends in high heels.) Anyways, I didn't interview that many students since I was just following my cousin and to interview private tutors, but it was an experience to be surrounded only by girls after being surrounded only by boys.
After all the interviews with teachers and students, I appreciate my education in the US. Korean education is interesting, but only from the perspective of an outsider.
Susan
PS If you're really interested in English education in Korea, you can always read my report that I'm supposed to write by September. Who knows when the report will actually be written, though.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Weekend in the Countryside
Since my dad came with me to Seoul, we have been doing nothing but meeting relatives and eating. This weekend, my dad and I left the bustling city of Seoul to the Korean countryside with 10 other relatives to visit some hot springs. This weekend was a weekend of many firsts. It was the first time I saw my 7-year-old cousin, Jun-ho. On my last visit to Korea, he was still in the womb, and now he's a chatterbox. We called him 고추가루 (red pepper powder) because even though he's tiny, he still has a punch. He's learning English, so we "communicated" a bit in English. (Communication required his whispering to his older sister, her translating his Korean statements in English and whispering back to him, then his actual talking to me in English.) It was hilarious when Jun-ho criticized my uncle's English pronunciation, then looked away and remained silent when my uncle questioned his English. He's adorable, and even more so when he fed me food. He asked his mom if we could take some Korean bbq and rice back with us to the US (I don't know what the kid thinks Koreans in the US eat, but apparently anything but Korean food). It was also the first time I went to a public showering place, which was a shock to me. Men and women are separated, and you bathe naked with people all around you. Even though I'm a 20-year-old adult, my aunts all scrubbed me until I was red (but clean!). It must have been a funny sight to the other women: 3 women scrubbing another adult, who refused to let go of the towel. While I was being scrubbed till my skin turned red, a little girl was in the bathing pool and swimming. Like moving her arms and kicking her legs swimming, which was a welcome distraction to me. Anyways, I probably won't go to another public showering place ever again. It was also the first time I drank baek-sae-ju (alcohol), which was so much better than soju (I'm not a huge fan of soju). Korea has a strong drinking culture, and drinking with your relatives is natural and expected. It was also the first time I had some traditional Korean meals; it's too bad I don't remember any of the names. Anyways, this weekend was fun and I'm glad that I got to meet Red Pepper Powder and spend some time in the countryside.
In Seoul, I also tutor little kids but the kids are much different than the little terrors in Madrid. (They're actually not that bad, and I kind of miss crazy Bea and Mariana. Kind of.) I tutor rich elementary students whose parents are concerned for their kids' English education and want a native English speaker for their children's tutor. They are expecting me to turn their kids into native English speakers, which is unrealistic since I only have 2 months here. The kids, though, are very cute and really obedient (no screaming and climbing on my back).
There are some Japanese tourists next to me in Starbucks. I love how big Korean Starbucks are (this one is 3 stories tall) and how all the non-Koreans seem to gather in Starbucks. Hooray for wireless in Starbucks and its omnipresence in Seoul.
Susan
In Seoul, I also tutor little kids but the kids are much different than the little terrors in Madrid. (They're actually not that bad, and I kind of miss crazy Bea and Mariana. Kind of.) I tutor rich elementary students whose parents are concerned for their kids' English education and want a native English speaker for their children's tutor. They are expecting me to turn their kids into native English speakers, which is unrealistic since I only have 2 months here. The kids, though, are very cute and really obedient (no screaming and climbing on my back).
There are some Japanese tourists next to me in Starbucks. I love how big Korean Starbucks are (this one is 3 stories tall) and how all the non-Koreans seem to gather in Starbucks. Hooray for wireless in Starbucks and its omnipresence in Seoul.
Susan
Monday, June 8, 2009
First Update
In Seoul I am dependent on Starbucks for internet. Unlike my time in Europe, where I avoided Starbucks like the plague, here I colored all the subway stops that have at least one Starbucks nearby. Seoul is different from anything I've seen. First of all, the people are pretty homogenous (this is obvious, but it's the first time I've been in a place where there is so little ethnic diversity). Like most native Koreans, I can't help but look at anyone who is obviously not Korean because they stand out so much. This homogeneity is a problem for me since I look like a Korean (I technically am a Korean, but I certainly don't sound like one). So, when I open my mouth, people give me a puzzled look. In some ways, it would be easier if I was blond with blue eyes since then they would expect me not to speak perfect Korean. I think my Spanish pronunciation is better than my Korean pronunciation, so that gives you an idea how much I suck at Korean. Second, Seoul's huge! Madrid was tiny compared to Seoul, and I can't walk around like I did in Madrid since the places I need to go are so far apart. Third, Seoul is so advanced in terms of technology. For example, the people in Madrid's Metro read books to pass the time; the people in Seoul's subways watch TV on their phones (there's no phone service in Madrid's Metro). Of course, Spain's technology was a bit of a joke, but I'm astonished by some of the gadgets Koreans have. Fourth, English is really forced here. One example: I'm currently looking at an ad for a coffee shop that is entirely in English, including "Comming soon May." I love reading people's shirts (they probably think I'm a weirdo for staring intently at them) for the English phrases. I could go on about unique qualities about Seoul culture (man-bags...) but I'm tired :)
I haven't had the chance to fully explore Seoul, since my dad is with me for one more week. So, more updates later!
Susan
I haven't had the chance to fully explore Seoul, since my dad is with me for one more week. So, more updates later!
Susan
European Wrap-Up In Seoul! (specifically Starbucks)
Fact: I am horrible at updating. In fact, I've been in Seoul for about a week, and this is the first post of Susan's adventure in Seoul.
Anyways, before I talk about Seoul, I need some closure and will briefly reminisce about Paris, Morocco, Portugal, and Italy. Maybe one of these days I'll get to talking about my time in Seoul.
Paris: There's a reason why so many tourists come here - there are a lot of things to see! Since I had 5 days in Paris (it was the last city I visited during my spring break), I was able to enjoy Paris at a leisurely pace and not go through the frantic tourist mode. I enjoyed going to these touristy places, like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, since they've been idolized and I had a chance to be there! Eiffel Tower at night exceeded my expectations, though I was underwhelmed with the tiny and heavily guarded Mona Lisa. (I think the people taking pictures of the Mona Lisa were more fascinating than the actually work. No offense, Leonardo.) Paris was pretty clean (despite the large number of people and pigeons) and it was well suited for tourists on the hunt for awesome pictures. The city was like a urban garden and I'm glad I got a second chance to visit.
Morocco: I went to Morocco to visit my good friend, who was studying abroad in Rabat and had enough time to be my guide for 4 days. I went to Morocco right after I came back from Paris (I missed two days of school, but no one really cared including me). Jenny took me to Tangier (sketchy), Asilah (beautiful!), Fez (ugh...), and Meknes (good memories). Tangier is at the northern tip of Morocco and extremely close to Spain. It was sketchy (meaning that you shouldn't walk around by yourself if you are a single female tourist) but the older buildings gave the city a kind of charm. It was probably unsuited for me, since you needed four wheels to get around, and the only four wheels we had access to were taxis that liked to rip off tourists. Asilah was a small, gorgeous town on the western coast of Morocco. Jenny and I stayed there for a night, and it was wonderful to see the sunset on the Atlantic ocean with the breeze blowing in your face. Asilah has an annual music/arts festival in the summer (the town's busiest time of the year) but because we went in the spring, it was empty (it felt like we were the only tourists in the entire town). Since Asilah is relatively close to Spain, the people we met actually knew more Spanish than French. The medina of Asilah (the oldest part of the city, with walls surrounding it) was colorful and clean. I really liked the different mosaics on the walls of the white buildings, and the quiet gentleness of the medina. Fez's medina, though, was another story. I've never been hassled like that until I came to Fez. The venders in Fez really like to push themselves onto tourists, and I was exhausted from just walking around the medina. I didn't have really fond memories of Fez because of all the pushiness and the numerous times we were ripped off, but looking back on it, Fez as a city was pretty. To me, though, the people we encountered made it less attractive. The people of Meknes, though, were so nice! Jenny and I went to see Volubilis (a Roman ruin that's about 45 minutes outside of Meknes) late in the day, and went at a time when there weren't many taxis. Our taxi driver, who took us from Meknes to Volubilis, was worried about us because there were known to be a lot of muggers in the area after daylight. Being two foolish college girls, we thought it would be fine and told him in leave, but he actually waited for us. I'm so glad he stayed because when we were done with Volubilis, there was nothing except one mugger waiting for us. Who knows what would have happened if the taxi driver didn't stay with us till the end... I don't want to think about it, so I'll think about the lovely taxi driver :) I think I had a little crush on him because he was so nice (he also had a really nice smile). When he was done driving us around and waiting for us, he gave us a fee that was much lower than we expected. Of course, we paid what we thought was appropriate and I thank God that he was our taxi driver instead of some scumbag who likes to take advantage of tourists. I'm happy that I got to spend some time with Jenny, and I want to go to Morocco there again! (excluding Fez) In general, the people in Morocco were extremely nice to the point where it was almost suspicious (I'm not including the vendors, who I realize need to make a living but just rubbed me the wrong way) and the places I saw in Morocco were so lush and beautiful.
Portugal: I went to Portugal with the same group from the program that went to southern Spain in the beginning of the year. Portugal was beautiful, but it didn't have the Paris-refined beauty, which was fine with me. The coastal areas and the remains of a once-wealthy empire were the most attractive parts of Portugal. Portugal is one of the poorer countries in Western Europe, and you could see it in Lisbon (which was surprisingly tiny). There were a good number of shanty houses by the highways, and it had a much different feel than other European capitals. We also went to Cascais, a coastal and wealthy town. It was pretty and colorful, and besides the beach, there were many parades and dance shows (that day was a Portuguese holiday). Apparently, the little terror back in Madrid has a home in Cascais. We also went to Sintra, a foresty region, to see the National Palace (another wealthy area). Even though Portugal as a country is not very wealthy, we ended up visiting the most privileged areas of Portugal (i.e. the touristy places). They give you a different image than the rest of Portugal, and it's a little unfortunate that most tourists end up only seeing the cleanest and richest places.
Italy: I went to Italy with my sister and mother. We went to Rome, Florence, and Venice. Rome = chaos. Florence and Venice = chill and for that reason, more fun! I think Italy was the most beautiful country, considering the landscape and the cities. Granted, I had a chance to see more of Italy (since we traveled by train to the different cities), and I want to go back to see more!
All this traveling as a tourist gave me a different experience of Europe. In Spain, I lived there and had a permanent address, and rarely went to the touristy places. In Spain, people didn't see me as a tourist (they probably saw me as a Chinese immigrant). In these countries, though, I only went to the touristy areas. Being a tourist makes you deal with different attitudes from the people who actually live there.
Next up: Seoul updates!
Susan
Anyways, before I talk about Seoul, I need some closure and will briefly reminisce about Paris, Morocco, Portugal, and Italy. Maybe one of these days I'll get to talking about my time in Seoul.
Paris: There's a reason why so many tourists come here - there are a lot of things to see! Since I had 5 days in Paris (it was the last city I visited during my spring break), I was able to enjoy Paris at a leisurely pace and not go through the frantic tourist mode. I enjoyed going to these touristy places, like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, since they've been idolized and I had a chance to be there! Eiffel Tower at night exceeded my expectations, though I was underwhelmed with the tiny and heavily guarded Mona Lisa. (I think the people taking pictures of the Mona Lisa were more fascinating than the actually work. No offense, Leonardo.) Paris was pretty clean (despite the large number of people and pigeons) and it was well suited for tourists on the hunt for awesome pictures. The city was like a urban garden and I'm glad I got a second chance to visit.
Morocco: I went to Morocco to visit my good friend, who was studying abroad in Rabat and had enough time to be my guide for 4 days. I went to Morocco right after I came back from Paris (I missed two days of school, but no one really cared including me). Jenny took me to Tangier (sketchy), Asilah (beautiful!), Fez (ugh...), and Meknes (good memories). Tangier is at the northern tip of Morocco and extremely close to Spain. It was sketchy (meaning that you shouldn't walk around by yourself if you are a single female tourist) but the older buildings gave the city a kind of charm. It was probably unsuited for me, since you needed four wheels to get around, and the only four wheels we had access to were taxis that liked to rip off tourists. Asilah was a small, gorgeous town on the western coast of Morocco. Jenny and I stayed there for a night, and it was wonderful to see the sunset on the Atlantic ocean with the breeze blowing in your face. Asilah has an annual music/arts festival in the summer (the town's busiest time of the year) but because we went in the spring, it was empty (it felt like we were the only tourists in the entire town). Since Asilah is relatively close to Spain, the people we met actually knew more Spanish than French. The medina of Asilah (the oldest part of the city, with walls surrounding it) was colorful and clean. I really liked the different mosaics on the walls of the white buildings, and the quiet gentleness of the medina. Fez's medina, though, was another story. I've never been hassled like that until I came to Fez. The venders in Fez really like to push themselves onto tourists, and I was exhausted from just walking around the medina. I didn't have really fond memories of Fez because of all the pushiness and the numerous times we were ripped off, but looking back on it, Fez as a city was pretty. To me, though, the people we encountered made it less attractive. The people of Meknes, though, were so nice! Jenny and I went to see Volubilis (a Roman ruin that's about 45 minutes outside of Meknes) late in the day, and went at a time when there weren't many taxis. Our taxi driver, who took us from Meknes to Volubilis, was worried about us because there were known to be a lot of muggers in the area after daylight. Being two foolish college girls, we thought it would be fine and told him in leave, but he actually waited for us. I'm so glad he stayed because when we were done with Volubilis, there was nothing except one mugger waiting for us. Who knows what would have happened if the taxi driver didn't stay with us till the end... I don't want to think about it, so I'll think about the lovely taxi driver :) I think I had a little crush on him because he was so nice (he also had a really nice smile). When he was done driving us around and waiting for us, he gave us a fee that was much lower than we expected. Of course, we paid what we thought was appropriate and I thank God that he was our taxi driver instead of some scumbag who likes to take advantage of tourists. I'm happy that I got to spend some time with Jenny, and I want to go to Morocco there again! (excluding Fez) In general, the people in Morocco were extremely nice to the point where it was almost suspicious (I'm not including the vendors, who I realize need to make a living but just rubbed me the wrong way) and the places I saw in Morocco were so lush and beautiful.
Portugal: I went to Portugal with the same group from the program that went to southern Spain in the beginning of the year. Portugal was beautiful, but it didn't have the Paris-refined beauty, which was fine with me. The coastal areas and the remains of a once-wealthy empire were the most attractive parts of Portugal. Portugal is one of the poorer countries in Western Europe, and you could see it in Lisbon (which was surprisingly tiny). There were a good number of shanty houses by the highways, and it had a much different feel than other European capitals. We also went to Cascais, a coastal and wealthy town. It was pretty and colorful, and besides the beach, there were many parades and dance shows (that day was a Portuguese holiday). Apparently, the little terror back in Madrid has a home in Cascais. We also went to Sintra, a foresty region, to see the National Palace (another wealthy area). Even though Portugal as a country is not very wealthy, we ended up visiting the most privileged areas of Portugal (i.e. the touristy places). They give you a different image than the rest of Portugal, and it's a little unfortunate that most tourists end up only seeing the cleanest and richest places.
Italy: I went to Italy with my sister and mother. We went to Rome, Florence, and Venice. Rome = chaos. Florence and Venice = chill and for that reason, more fun! I think Italy was the most beautiful country, considering the landscape and the cities. Granted, I had a chance to see more of Italy (since we traveled by train to the different cities), and I want to go back to see more!
All this traveling as a tourist gave me a different experience of Europe. In Spain, I lived there and had a permanent address, and rarely went to the touristy places. In Spain, people didn't see me as a tourist (they probably saw me as a Chinese immigrant). In these countries, though, I only went to the touristy areas. Being a tourist makes you deal with different attitudes from the people who actually live there.
Next up: Seoul updates!
Susan
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