2013 Fall Conference | Bibimbap, Workshops, Photo Shoot, Girlfriends

Welcome to Day #2 of Fall Conference!

It's a funny thing to be on the other side of the camera during these gatherings. This might not seem like a big deal, but, internally, I am straining against the intense desire to grab a camera (mine or someone else's!) and compose the images myself. 

Here is one that I did not have anything to do with (save for the post-processing): 

GROUP PHOTO OF OUR FULBRIGHT KOREA ETAS

Photo credit: Vincent Flores, English Program Manager at Fulbright Korea

Enjoying a delicious lunch of bibimbap with these ladies! 

My bowl: the beginning of something great

After lunch, a few of us braved the cold Gyeongju afternoon and took a brief walk before our workshops

Business men

Afternoon workshops in full swing

Andrew, our Program Coordinator handing out our mysterious letters

We received these envelopes bearing our names. 

Inside were the Statement of Purpose letters we had written as part of our application. We took a few minutes to quietly read these, refresh ourselves on what we ourselves had written about what we hoped we would accomplish should we be given the opportunity and the privilege of serving as ETAs and cultural ambassadors in South Korea.

The soft crinkling of paper; surprised exclamations; amused giggled; feet shifting; someone coughing; Andrew grinning at the success of his reflective exercise.

After this and a few more activities, we headed outside for a group photo shoot. Since I wasn't in charge of taking the main photos, I decided to take photos of the subjects, as well as the photographer. What else would I be doing?!

My fellow ETAs

I wonder what these two were talking about as they climbed this flight of stairs

Our photographer, Mrs. Shim, Liam, and Andrew

Dispersing after the group photo shoot

Jean and I both went up the elevator and crashed on our respective beds. 

She crashed first, allowing me to take a photo that then reminded me of a similar one I took of her crashing in bed while in Seoul.

We were on our own for dinner. This is me wandering around outside the Commodore with a group of girls, searching for food in the cold, cold night.

After dinner, Jean and I hung out in the room, later joined by our other wonderful ETA friends!

Gabrielle entertained us for the majority of our time together. This may or may not have included a sock puppet show - among other antics!

Laughing while lounging in bed = a great way to end the evening. Tomorrow, we have the whole day to spend however we like in Gyeongju!

Stay tuned for the very exciting things a still-sick Mimi will do come Sunday!

2013 Fall Conference at the Commodore Hotel in Gyeongju, South Korea

I fell ill just in time for Fall Conference. 

During our grant year, all Fulbright Korea ETAs will attend two conferences - one in the Fall and one in the Spring. The Fall Conference snuck up on me, calling us for a reunion only two months after we had left each others' company at Jungwon University in Goesan. 

HOW I ALMOST MISSED FALL CONFERENCE

I was feeling under the weather just the day before, and seriously wondered whether or not I would even be able to physically get up to take the train to Gyeongju the next day. 

I laid in bed with a fever and chills, unable to really rest from the intermittent alarms I had set to wake me up every thirty minutes, and mentally packing my bags for the conference. Two hours before my train would leave, I finally heaved myself up from bed, shuffled to the bathroom, forced a brunch in my system, and packed my things before hailing a taxi from Yeongdo to Busan Station. Once I got there, I stumbled into two other ETAs who were about to board the same train as me. 

HOW PEOPLE APPARENTLY IDENTIFY ME IN A CROWD

One of them was able to quickly spot me using my hair, of all things. 

ME: How did you - I had my back to you!

ANNA: Oh, easy. I saw your hair. 

ME: ...So?

ANNA: Your long, and shiny hair! 

ME: Oh...

ANNA: - and I thought, that's Mimi!

ME: Well! I'm glad you found me because I don't know where to go from here...

She pointed me to the appropriate gate. We boarded different cars. My bags thankfully fit in the bins. The train ride was only 25 minutes long. Hugging myself in my seat, I nearly fell asleep and missed my stop. We arrived safely, greeted by Liam at the station in a crisp suit with a bright blue collared shirt underneath (Mrs. Shim's entourage, on top of their professional game!).  

Conference Room we used for the whole 4-day weekend at the Commodore

As always, we hit the ground running with a packed itinerary for Day 1 prepared by Andrew, our Program Coordinator

My roommates for the conference are Tara and Jean, the same sweet ladies I roomed with during our trip to Seoul! This is Tara unpacking her bags after our arrival.

We had a fantastic view of trees, mountains, and a lake! The room had three separate beds, and were very comfortable

View of the hotel grounds from our window on the fifth floor

HOW I PUSHED THROUGH 'TIL SLEEP OVERTOOK ME
I plodded through the different activities, excited by the chatter of fellow ETAs around me, and energized by the delicious snacks they provided just outside the conference room. At the end of it all though, I just wanted to lay in bed and rest. The following day, I was to lead a small-talk discussion on the general topic of "How to Wake Your Students Up in the Classroom" (when they are sleepy after lunchtime, bored out of their minds, or just generally apathetic about life). I worked on my presentation before succumbing to the deliciously warm folds of my pillows and blanket lulling me, hugging me to sleep.

Celebrating My Korean Sister's 16th Birthday in the Midst of Her Midterms

Last night, I went to bed hours before my Korean sister did. 

Already feeling under the weather, Juhyeon had to stay up until 4 or 5 in the morning to study for her midterms - ones which last for three days and test her on every subject she is taking (so, about 10 subjects total). Needless to say, as her sister and *ahem* teacher, I felt a bit guilty as I quietly tiptoed to my room. My guilt was definitely not assuaged by the fact that, because all of my first grade high school students would be preoccupied taking their midterms, I had no classes to teach and had three days off work.

The worst of it [for Juhyeon] was that the following day was her 16th birthday. Because she would be at school until at least 9:00 p.m. that day, I wasn't sure how the family would celebrate, so I just laid low. 

And by "laid low" I mean I hopped on a bus and stumbled around Lotte Department Store looking for a suitable gift to give to my sister later that night. I must have visited 20 stores total, tried on over 20 different outfits (we're not the same size, but close enough), and took the escalator at nearly every floor level. At the end of nearly four hours at the mall and with the aid of every store clerk ever, I finally had a complete outfit for Juyheon. 

Exhausted, I went home. This is what met me when I arrived: 

THE CELEBRATION

Korean dad setting the table for a special celebratory meal in the middle of the living room.

I absolutely love seeing how involved dad is in the household! Whenever he is home, he is either enjoying mom's cooking noisily, folding laundry with her, massaging her shoulders, or reclining on the couch with one of his daughters using him as a pillow while they watch a show together. 

Korean dad lighting his daughter's candles

A very rare picture with mom looking on, as opposed to her usual bustling back and forth between the kitchen and the living room.

Do not be fooled. This ice cream cake is 0% cake, and 100% ice cream.

Juhyeon blowing out her candles. She couldn't blow all of them out, so Seoyeon swooped in at the last second and finished the job, effectively reminding me so much of Emily and her impatient habit of blowing out other people's birthday candles. Hahaha

We sang the Happy Birthday song in both English and Korean, and, after, we spoke a blessing over Juhyeon before digging in.

Seoyeon bought her sister a new EXO album, which was probably the highlight of Juhyeon's celebration. They know each other very well...

For a couple of hours, we all lounged about the living room, eating, talking, watching a fascinating show about extreme makeovers (via plastic surgery), and listening to K-Pop trivia from Juyheon and Seoyeon. As if operating by an internal clock, the two girls slowly got up and shuffled off to their various study spots, not to be seen by me again for the next 12 hours as they immersed themselves in books and under the glare of red-eye-inducing lamp lights.

Even more amazing to me: mom stayed up with them - especially Juhyeon - doing various housework and preparing for the next day by ironing out her daughters' school uniforms and cooking their breakfast hours in advance.

Dedication. Sacrifice. Family.

I appreciated how simple Juhyeon's birthday celebration was. It was simple yet very comfortable and intimate, my kind of atmosphere. It felt familiar, like I had been celebrating her birthday with this family for many years.

The UW Ranked #25 in World University Rankings 2013-2014

This morning, I was pleased to see that the University of Washington was ranked #25 in the world in this year's World University Rankings by the Times Higher Education! The rankings are based on each world class university's teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook. Not bad, UW, not bad at all, especially considering that we're #4 among U.S. public institutions! Wohoo!

UW Logo

OTHER STATS

• #25 in life sciences
• #18 in physical sciences
• #12 in clinical, pre-clinical, and health

Feelings of pride and nostalgia washed over me as I fell prey to reminiscing about my undergraduate years as a Husky.

This evening, I shared the news with my host parents, who knows next to nothing about my [university] life in America. (To their credit, they can now distinguish between Washington state and Washington D.C.).

My host dad was impressed and high-fived me over the dinner table. He then set about pecking at his own phone screen, and eventually produced the same website I was on.

A moment later, he leaned over to me and, with a happy grimace, scrolled from the UW's 25th spot, to Seoul National University's #44th spot on the list. The happy part of his face was proud that my school was ranked 25th (this was clear), but the grimace on his face was produced upon discovering that the highest-ranking Korean school was #44 on the list: Seoul National University.

SNU's ranking is not bad at all, especially considering how the other SKY schools did in comparison.

• Yonsei University - #190
• Korea University - not on the list

Host dad pointed out Yonsei to me, and couldn't stop laughing at how far down the list it was. He translated our conversation to host mom, who was busy preparing more food just a few steps away. There were more high-fives, grimaces, and laughter as the three of us pondered the meaning of this list, of such lists in general.

As I continued to chew my food, different thoughts swirled in my head. including visions of my students studying and striving to enter the best universities in Korea, and ones of my own application for graduate schools in America.

HAHA! But Seriously Though...How Are You Holding Up With the Break Up?

PREVIOUSLY ON FACEBOOK....

Sister: HAHHAHAH. 

          You're too funny man

          but seriously though...how are you holding up with the break up?

Me:     I have no idea!

          I am fine on the outside

          But I feel like I'm not letting myself feel a lot of things right now.

Sister: You look great on the outside

Me:     Why, thank you 

Sister: Everyone thinks so too

Only a sister could laugh at your jokes one second and then call you out on - no, blow right through - your cover the next.

ENTER G-DRAGON IN "CROOKED"

Photo creds: kppopstarz.com

My day yesterday started out innocuously enough. There I was at work, searching Youtube for a catchy song to help wake my students up at the beginning of class when I stumbled upon this song: "Crooked" by South Korea's G-Dragon. 

It was all over for me the moment I clicked on that iconic red-and-white Youtube play button. I sat in the English teachers' office, transfixed and absolutely terrified in a beautiful and painful and powerful and devastating and drawn-out kind of way. 

I had no idea what the song was about (and neither did it occur to me to look up the lyrics - hello), but the crazy, careless, concentrated, and dazed energy of the song (combined with the violent and hopeless intensity of the actual music video) resonated with me. Surprising, especially since I don't even like this type of music and am only just beginning to appreciate K-Pop.

My chest felt like it was going to burst with so much pent-up emotion and energy so I screamed (on the inside). 

On the outside, I was still calmly sitting in the teachers' office, legs crossed, posture erect, fingers poised on the keyboards,  - completely sober, emotionally-speaking. But the scream inside was so physical, so visceral, and so drunk with the explosive and the indescribable that I had to literally take my ear phones off and check myself.

I didn't actually scream, right? Right. 

And the other teachers didn't hear a thing?  

Silence, except for the constant though irregular hum of keyboards. Okay. Outside everything was okay. 

Inside, I was a picture of G-Dragon walking, running, stumbling around the streets of London, wishing I could wreak havoc like he could, pick fights with strangers like he did, and growl at the world like he growled at the camera.

Unfortunately, while it may be somewhat permissible (some may argue even endearing) for G-Dragon to try and find some emotional comfort by peeing on walls and playing with his rocking horse all day (because he's G-Dragon and he can do whatever he wants), my process has to look a bit different from his since 1) I am not a K-Pop superstar 2) I don't own a rocking horse 3) I don't fancy peeing on walls standing up (or otherwise).

Oh, and I'm a Fulbright Scholar teaching high school English to over 300 young women in South Korea.

My process is different but, really, quite simple: to nap (aka to avoid feeling anything by knocking myself out through sheer mental and physical exhaustion), and to keep calm (and not miss a beat in being awesome).

I was doing phenomenally until I saw this video. And realized it had been exactly a month since the break up.

I have said this before and I will say it again: Someday, I will have a much more grand [love] story to tell - not just to other people, but to myself. I am in the process of completely re-writing the script and, honestly, it's not going so well with all the napping that I'm doing.

This is me processing now, and I appreciate you for bearing with me.

I am being transparent about this area in my, yes, personal life because, apparently "everyone" is under the impression that I look good on the outside (which is basically true but...), but this has been a tough year for me, regardless of what the year may look like on social media. I knew this going into my grant year. I just didn't know I would have to do the processing through lesson plans and K-Pop songs.

MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU
Did you watch the music video? What do you think of it?
How do you deal with your emotions? Does the way you deal differ depending on whether or not you're in a private or public sphere?

How would you complete this statement: "Keep calm and __________" that applies specifically to what you need to hear right now?

Exploring A Small Section of Seomyeon, Busan with My Fellow ETAs

On our third weekend in Busan, some of the ETAs decided to spend an afternoon together. I spent an hour and a half getting lost on my way to Seomyeon, and was thankful to find Monica, Anna, and Ray patiently waiting for me at the station. 

This is our afternoon together:

What better way to announce the dynamic-ness of Busan than to have large, imposing signs like these everywhere?

I almost got hit by multiple cars taking this picture, so appreciate it for the miracle that it is.

I am still not quite sure how to make this subway station map beneficial to me, but it looks very organized and helpful, doesn't it?

We spent some time at a PC-bang (?), where we sang songs and played racing and fighting games - most of which I lost.

Seomyeon is bigger and more overwhelming than Nampo

There are also a ridiculous number of clothing stores underground that I must go and explore another time!

Afternoon light

We wandered around for a bit before settling inside a restaurant, where we shared a big meal together. It was delicious and filling! Monica and Anna gave Ray and me some random knowledge about ETA-related business in South Korea in general and Busan in particular.

All the lights

After dinner, the rest talked of doing more things together (perhaps seeing a movie, or getting dessert!), but I wistfully informed them of my 9:30 p.m. curfew, and, (judging from how lost I had gotten on the way from Yeongdo to Seomyeon), I had to make every allowance to head back as early as possible. Like 7:30 or 8:00 p.m. early. 

They wondered that I would keep such an early curfew; I agreed that it was early, and also expressed that keeping it was one of the ways I was establishing jeong with my Korean family. They understood. In no time, the four of us were back underground, and the three of them shepherded me to the appropriate subway line, gave me hugs, and promised we would all meet up again. 

My Students Learning About the 50 U.S. States Through Song & Games

Top: Class 1-7. Bottom: Class 1-8

On my first year living and studying in the United States, my 5th grade teacher (Mrs. Neil) taught the class the "50 Nifty United States" song. Memorize the song, and you memorize the names of all 50 states. This was a difficult song for me to master, but it was catchy enough, and we persisted for some time until we reached the point where each student was prepared to do a state report.                                                                  Mine was on the state of Arizona. The report I had to do for Arizona asked me to conduct internet research for the first time. The process of creating this report forever endeared me to the state - one which, even now, I have not traveled to. Nevertheless, the revelations and suffering I endured to create and write up my state report gave me a kind of special stake on this state unknown to me. I became invested through my various interactions with the U.S. states in general and with Arizona in particular.                                                                 My goal this semester is not only to teach English, but also to help my students understand their personal and/or cultural stakes when it comes to their ties with the U.S. My goal is that, one way or another, they will find a reason for learning English so uniquely personal that they will take away something that will similarly linger with them for years to come.

I recognize that, because of their currently limited language ability, I will not be able to have too deep of discussions on U.S. history, politics, and/or culture with my students. However, I can offer basic knowledge (on U.S. geography, for instance), and hopefully pave the way for the future educational and cultural journeys they will take as global citizens. 

Students asked to number from 1 to 10 and write out the U.S. states in alphabetical order. Spelling must be correct to get full points.

Students may or may not be given to cheating during this exercise. 

I started this mini unit on U.S. Geography last week. I have been giving them five states to learn/memorize each week, thus the 10 states the students are writing on the board for the second week.

MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU
Do you have a favorite teacher? Who? What kind of impact have they left on you? Is there a particular lesson they or any other teacher gave that you still remember to this day? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.