Hi, My Name is Mimi and (Apparently) I am Aladdin's Girlfriend

Today at school, my students grilled me with questions after my self-introduction.

Students: Teacher, Teacher! Do you have a boyfriend? 
Me: Do I have a boyfriend?
Students: Yes
Me: What do you think?
Students: Ah, yes! Yes! Very very have a boyfriend!
[Whole class laughs and I smile]
[They take my smile as a "Yes" and cheer wildly, applauding me on the edge of their seats]
[I correct them, and the cheerful, applauding smiles turn into the most mournful of faces]
Students: Ooo....
Me: [strategically flipping to the next PPP slide] but, Hey! Look - A picture of Exo!
[Students instantly forget their sadness for my single status and scream their heads off in unison]

As far as I can tell, the "hottest" boy group in Korea. School girls will scream in delight if I as much as post one 

[Students whispering. And then...]
Student 1: Teacher, Teacher!
Me: Yes?
Student 1: Teacher, you look like [something unintelligible to me]
Me: [squinting my eyes into a question mark] Who? I look like who?
Student: You! Your face..like [something unintelligible again]
Student 2: [nudging Student 1 and looking up at me] Ah! Yes, Teacher, your face is [unintelligible again]
Me: ...Ah. ha ha ha... Uhm. Huh...?
Student 2: You know Aladdin?
Me: ...Yes?
Student 2: You are Aladdin's girlfriend!
Me: Ohhhh! Jasmine! You mean Jasmine! 
Students: Jazhmeen. beautiful! Arabia! You are Arabia!
Me: Arabian, huh! You think so! 
Students: Yes!
Me: Why? 
Student2: [without hesitation] Small head - no, small face! - and big eyes! Big, big eyes!
Student 1: And long hair

Me: [recognizing their compliment] Ahh! Thank you.

Artwork above created by Finnish graphic design student Jirka Vaatainen.

HOW I AM PROCESSING THIS ON MULTIPLE LEVELS

This is the third time I have been compared to Jasmine from Aladdin.
As a teacher, I am flattered that my students are grasping to connect with me in whatever way they can! As an English major, I have already half-analyzed how the princess brand has and continues to help reinforce female gender norms across cultures. As a CHID major, I am troubled that Western ideals of beauty are so idealized by young women here that even my younger host sister talks about getting plastic surgery to "correct" various physical features, including her eyes. It's as if to compliment me on my "big eyes" they have to uncompliment themselves on their own naturally-given eyes.

Yet another part of me just really wants to ask out loud:

"Aint nobody ever seen or head about no Pocahontas or Mulan 'round here??!" 

If I have to be compared to a Disney princess, I'd rather it be to one of these two women because they kick so much butt! Definitely more my style.

MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU
What do you think of the Disney Princesses? Did you grow up especially favoring one of them? What made that princess so appealing to you? I have asked this previously but, again, what is your definition of beauty? What characteristics strike you as being beautiful and remarkable? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.

Delicious Food & Drinks Overload AND Finally Teaching Tomorrow

My host mom got wind that I love chicken, and so decided to surprise me with this chicken curry for breakfast! I feel so incredibly spoiled here. Why are they so nice?!

Sookhee's all-in-one tea set at work

I'm not the only one who takes food photos!

When I got to school, Sookhee, my Fulbright c0-teacher, made me tea using her beautiful tea glass and cup. The tea came in the form of flower blossoms. I was mesmerized just looking at the whole simple tea-making process.

Having been schooled in the basics of the Korean Tea Ceremony reminded me to cradle the cup of tea in my hands and just slowly inhale in the aroma of an all-natural, healthy, calming drink.

This was about the only variation in my schedule from the past two days. Still no observing or teaching because my classes keep getting cancelled for one reason or another.


Sookhee comforted me by saying that tomorrow I teach!

This evening, the sound of ridiculously infectious laughter drew me out of the room. It was my host sisters and host mom laughing to the point of crying because they had accidentally created a super portion of patbingsu for dessert!

I had no idea why this was funny, but I laughed along with them. The bowl looked absolutely mouth-watering.

Patbingsu is a shaved ice dessert in Korea, especially popular during the hot and humid season. There is a variety of sliced fruit, red beans, and scoops of ice cream layered on top of shaved ice!

I absolutely love capturing my host family smiling or laughing. My host mom was still tickled, and giggling off to the side as she plopped this bowl of many wonderful things on our short living room table. 

Lots of laughter, Google translating back and forth, and eating. This was a very good Jeong-building night. 

But, seriously though, I can't wait to teach tomorrow!

The Desk Warming Saga Continues: No Observations & No Teaching

Brace yourselves for the mundane details of my everyday life here in Korea. (You know you like reading about it).

Last night, in the middle of shoveling food in my mouth, I told my host mom that I would be happy if she served me the same rice and special egg omelet side dish combo for breakfast every day. And, of course, I woke up for my second day of school with just this very thing on the table - plus more side dishes! 

When I went to deposit my shoes in "my" cubby (aka Andrea's old shoe cubby), I noticed that they had replaced the name placard bearing her name to one with mine. Just this tiny gesture made me feel a little bit more like a part of the school.

The day passed without anyone showing any willingness to let me observe their classes. Like the day before, I spent over six hours loitering about the Teachers' Office, mustering up all sorts of energy and mental exercises to stay awake.

Although I had done nothing particularly taxing, I was exhausted when I got home. I walked zombie-like back to our apartment, and slowly sank down on a chair in my bedroom not understanding what to do next.

Before I could formulate a decisive thought, Seoyeon, my younger host sister, knocked lightly on my door and came in bearing this super tasty drink. The concrete cement that my face had turned into over the course of the day warmed at the thoughtful gesture, and cracked into a slight smile seeing the cute, color-coordinated tray.

Enjoying this milk + strawberry yogurt drink constitutes my last memory before I passed out for another three-hour nap.

When I woke up, I waded through the contents of both suitcases and gave everything its temporary home. I got to the bottom of one suitcase, and found this letter embedded there. I was ecstatic! And then I choked up seeing the careful cursive of my mother's handwriting. I didn't touch the letter - letting it rest where it was - as I kept my hands moving, folding clothes, patting the creases out of my blazers, and lining up the seams of pants and jeans.

And then - as if meeting her for a few brief seconds - I took the envelope, held it up to the light, and savored the feel of its unopened contents. I've been trying to convince myself that I am not homesick but this letter slowly cracked that facade; slowly, because I am still in a whole lot of denial about just how much I miss my family.

First Day at Yeongdo Girls' High School | Observation Day

Today is Observation Day, so I am to head to my school and do just that: observe classes in progress. I am not to teach. However, I have been trained to expect any and all kinds of schedule changes, so I prepared my gifts for my Fulbright co-teacher, principal, and vice-principal, polished up my First Day lesson plan, and dressed for business. 

And luckily so. 

The view of the school grounds from the main entrance. There are trees, then mountains, then the ocean.

HECK YES #1: MY SCHOOL IS A MERE 10-MINUTE WALK FROM OUR APARTMENT

I walked to school with Juhyeon, my host sister (who also just happens to be one of my first year students). It has been very sunny and hot in Busan so I was soaked in just the 10-minute walk. There were students and teachers by the school gates so I copied my host sister as she gave courteous bows to every teacher we passed. One teacher was helping direct traffic, and the others were there, apparently, to check students' uniforms, shoes (sneakers), and faces (no make-up). 

HECK YES #2: MY OFFICE HAS A LEGIT VIEW OF THE OCEAN

I headed to the fourth floor, just like my Fulbright co-teacher had instructed me the day before, and met her in an air-conditioned room overlooking trees, mountains, and the ocean. 

INTRODUCING MYSELF TO THE TEACHERS

She shuffled me to the first Teachers' Meeting of the semester, where I did not understand anything that was said, except for one part where I was very clearly asked to introduce myself. I was not told this would happen but, fortunately, the previous night, I had asked my host family to help me fine tune my introductory speech in Korean. My host father was all too happy to assist me in speaking Korean and affecting a Busan accent, so I ended up impressing many of the Korean teachers with my very simple and very basic self-introduction. 

I was shuffled back to my seat. 

My school is one of three high schools on the island. It is five stories high. I occupy a desk next to my Fulbright co-teacher on the fourth floor.

INTRODUCING MYSELF TO THE STUDENT BODY

After this, my Fulbright co-teacher took me by the elbow again and led me to the main auditorium, where the entire student body was in the process of lining up and quieting down. The principal gave what I presumed to be a welcome address, and then called me on stage to give my self-introduction again. 

I said the same speech over again (though, this time, with many of the honorifics removed), much to the amazement of the students, who cheered and clapped at the end. 

PRESENTING MY GIFTS TO THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, V-PRINCIPAL, & CO-TEACHER

I brought UW cards with me to Korea, and used a handful of
them for my homestay and my school - an opportunity to show
some Husky pride and tell them about my beautiful campus!

After I basically introduced myself to everyone, I gave my Fulbright co-teacher her gift bag and then found the principal and the vice principal to also give them their gift bags. They smiled and thanked me - meanwhile, I was just very relieved to have passed the gift-giving hurdle with both my homestay family and my school.

This all happened within the first hour of me arriving at the school! I thought the rest of the day would be similarly busy for me, but it wasn't.

HECK NO #1: DESK WARMING FOR THE REST OF THE DAY
Everyone else was busy running around, but my Fulbright co-teacher basically deposited me in the Teachers' Office on the fourth floor, and left me there for the whole day. I was given a desk right next to hers, and I prettified this space as much as I could with the little bit of teacher stuff I had brought along with me. I was issued a laptop and promised my own copy of the first-grade English textbook.

HECK NO #2: DID NOT GET TO OBSERVE ANY CLASSES ON "OBSERVATION DAY"
Later, when I asked my co-teacher if I could do some actual observing of classes, like, perhaps, her class - she looked horrified, then embarrassed. Sheepishly, she told me that the day was very hectic for her and that she didn't want me to see her classes the way they were that day.

I nodded and sank back in my seat, letting her save face and trying to mask my disappointment with a smile. I also tried very hard not to look like I was just surfing Facebook and checking my email the whole day, which was kind of hard - since that was exactly what I did...

My school entrance

Everyone was concerned about me getting home by myself, but I assured them that since there was only one road - one straight road, I may add - there was really no way for me to get lost. I found my way back to our apartment, and discovered that I literally live right behind the school. It just takes me 10 minutes to walk because I have to circle all around to the front gate.

Overall, I was pleased with how today went. My host mom greeted me warmly when I got home, and showed concern that I was perspiring. She drew close to me and, without warning, had her hand on my forehead and neck checking my body temperature. I assured her over and over that I was fine, and just needed to cool off.

I cooled off by taking a three-hour nap.

Presentation is Everything: The Night I Offered My Gifts to My Host Family

I joined my host family as they attended church today. The entire service was in Korean so I didn't understand anything, but I was able to read quickly enough in Hangul to sing along during worship! Towards the end, I heard the pastor say my name and felt my host mom gently grab my arm and prod me to stand up as he introduced me to the congregation. I waved and said hello (and barely contained the urge to kick myself for not bowing) and was welcomed by many [mostly old] smiling faces. 

PASTOR: I AM IN GREAT HANDS WITH HOST FAMILY

The pastor said something and my mother quietly laughed to herself. Later my sister would translate that my host mom had laughed because she was pleased but felt very shy when the pastor told everyone that I could not be in better hands, and that this family would take good care of me and feed me very well. I was relieved to hear this because I thought maybe the pastor had teased or shared a joke about me. Whew!

The front of the small Presbyterian Church

After church, I waited for my host sisters as they finished practicing for choir. I sat in the back of the church and leafed through a hymn book/ Bible. Meanwhile, a couple of men came up to me and conversed with me in English. They spoke fairly well but discounted my compliments at every turn.

I was able to identify Genesis 12:2, the same verse the family has hanging prominently in their living room.

Apparently, the church was serving Thai food (curry chicken) for lunch (which I was excited about) but, somewhere along the way, my host mom misunderstood and thought I would prefer fast food instead. And so it was that my host sisters and I, along with one of their friends, found ourselves lunching on burgers, fries, and lemonade. I intended to pay for our lunch, but my host sisters wouldn't let me, saying host mom had given them money to pay for everyone. (Seriously, when will they let me treat them?!)

INTRO TO K-POP CULTURE
We bused back home, and they spent a couple of hours flipping through TV channels educating me in all things K-Pop. All of the singers look the same to me, and I honestly can't distinguish between my sisters' crushes. They are obsessed with a boy group called Exo, and especially with a song called "Growl" (in English).

Sisters: So handsome!
Me: Ne (Yes), so handsome [insert forced smile here]
Sisters: Soooo handsome! 
Me: Ne,...but why do they look girly?
Sisters: [gasps of horror] NOOO! Not girly! Handsome! 
Me: Ah! Okay, okay! Yeah, I guess that one with the black hair is kind of cute.
Sisters: [smiles and vigorous nods of approval]

I was extremely tired so I kept nodding off. It took all I had not to head straight to my bedroom and lock myself in for a good solid hour of napping. Not long after though, the girls noticed and, out of the corner of my eye, I could see one nudge the other and nod over at me. I finally admitted that I may be a little bit tired, and was then freed from my K-Pop lessons for the day.

I napped for hours. When I got up, I began to wrap my gifts for my host family. When dinner came, and our conversations flowed freely, with energy and with much comedy, I decided that this would be as perfect a time as any to hand over my gifts.

A FAMILY THAT SHOPS TOGETHER...
However, there was an impromptu grocery shopping invite, so I waited until after we returned home.

This family shops together, even including my host dad!

Here is my family checking out a high-quality laundry detergent. 

The newness of our living arrangement makes the performance of even the most mundane of tasks exciting to me and, I could tell, to my host family. Like they did with the fried and BBQ chicken, my host sisters used me to throw more ice cream bars in the cart than usual. 

A drawing inside the card I gave them,written all in Korean (Thank you, Google Translate).

GIFT-GIVING & GREAT FIRST IMPRESSIONS...

When we got home, we continued our conversations while enjoying dessert my host mom had prepared in the living room. I brought out my gifts for them and handed a single bag containing gifts for each individual member of the family to host dad. They were all so surprised, and so appreciative, and grateful. It made my heart ache a little that I couldn't have given them more. 

They opened my card and read it together - smiling, nodding, oohing and aahing at the Korean I used. 

As if their many thanks weren't enough, my host sisters offered me their absolute favorite snacks to eat. I was already full so this was completely unnecessary, but I accepted anyway. 

Seoyeon's gifts for me.

As I was listening to host dad explain the stories behind the cute little figurines and vases they have displayed in a cabinet (and which I saw him dusting very carefully earlier that evening), host mom came up behind me and presented me with this: 

It is a one-of-a-kind handmade dinnerware, with the signature of a famous artist engraved on the bottom.

I didn't understand at first. I thought host mom was just letting me see more of the household decorations, but they thrust the set in my hands and said I could keep it and bring it with me back to America.

This thing is so beautiful! I can't imagine casually using it to hold my food during meals. The whole family helped me wrap it in bubble-wrap because I did not want to take any chances chipping or breaking it during my year here.

Host Dad: If you break, no replacement. Very unique. 

No pressure or anything.

I knew this before church today, but the pastor's words are definitely ringing true. I am pleased by my host family's gratitude but can't figure out how to react to their generosity. My gifts were very small, yet they have repaid me with somethings much bigger and of more value. I am overwhelmed by their love!

MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU
Have you ever received a gift so special that you wanted to display it (or, in my case, bubble wrap it) immediately? Was the gift special because it was expensive or did its worth stem from elsewhere?

What is the biggest gift you have ever given to someone you knew? To someone you didn't know? While giving comes fairly natural to me, receiving does not. Do you have any thoughts/tips on how to receive gifts graciously? Share your comments in the box below.

First Full Day With My Host Family: What I Expected They Would be Like and What They Are Actually Like, Getting a Cell Phone, Dining with the Relatives

This is Yeongdo, an island district of Busan, the second largest city in South Korea!

I can't believe I'm finally out here in "real" Korea! 

WHAT I EXPECTED MY HOST FAMILY TO BE LIKE

Meeting my host family last night assured me that prayers have been answered. During the car ride to Yeongdo, my Fulbright co-teacher asked me if I was nervous to meet them. Uncharacteristically, I wasn't, so I said: 

Me: No

Co-teacher: [smiles] Really?!

Me: Yeah. I'm not nervous! But maybe later I will be?

[after a pause]

Me: You said they were very pious earlier. 

Co-teacher: Right

Me: So, I know that they're Christian, but what exactly do you mean by "very pious"?

Co-teacher: Ah! Ahm, hmmm...maybe a little more strict? I don't know. They are very good Christian family

Me: Ah! 

[after another pause]

Me: How much English do they know?

Co-teacher: Hm, I don't think they speak very well

Me: Ah...

[and I sat back in my seat, thinking, worrying]

WHAT MY HOST FAMILY IS ACTUALLY LIKE

I need not have worried. My family welcomed me with so much warmth that all anxieties I had over x and y melted away within the first night we spent together. 

My host parents have already taken to calling me their "first daughter." Due to some interpretation errors, I initially thought that my host father was a farmer, but it turns out he's a businessman who works with agricultural products. My host mother is a housewife/homemaker just like I was informed. 

I have two younger host sisters - a 17-year-old first-grade high school student in the school where I will be teaching, and a 14-year-old first-grade middle school student. Both were shy at first, but have quickly taken to translating for both sides, putting every English word they have ever learned and retained into good use. This took considerable effort on their part. After a few sentences of successful translating, they would groan deeply and slump back into their chairs complaining of a headache. Oh, poor girls...

EATING HEALTHY WILL BE EASY HERE

I slept well last night, and woke up to a day that looked like this:

My host mom prepared these delicious sandwiches for breakfast. I was already too-happy to eat these, but then she also brought up a plateful of cherries and corn. There was also a glass of banana milk involved (basically milk with a whole banana blended into it).

I had hoped and prayed and made my request known to the Fulbright office that it was not necessary, but if there happened to be a Christian family in the area who could host me for the year, that this type of living arrangement might be best for me as far as settling in and helping me maintain my faith. Maintaining my faith while in Korea is extremely important to me, so I was very pleased to hear my Fulbright Co-teacher say that she had found a very nice family for me who were Christian and who ate very healthy.

HOW MY FULBRIGHT CO-TEACHER FOUND MY HOST FAMILY
Me: Wow, how did you find them?
Co-teacher: I posted flyers about...hmmm...a month ago. Nobody answered so I started to get worried. Luckily, before you got here, a student responded to the flyer and said her family could host an ETA. 
Me: Oh, wow! Close call. Thank you for arranging all this for me.
Co-teacher: No problem. It's my job.

So, it appears that the Fulbright office does not handle the homestay (like they had said during Orientation). I understand now why the OC Team had stressed the "It Depends" mantra so much, for everything.

It really does depend! On your co-teacher (whether they are going to put in the work reading and trying to meet your preferences), and on your potential, future homestay family (whether they are interested in hosting and actually step up to the plate).

Scriptures and the cross displayed quite prominently in the living room.

DIVINE APPOINTMENTS AND APARTMENTS
Things have aligned so well that I consider myself truly blessed to have this family!

I found out by talking to one of my host sisters that their family had just moved into this apartment - guess when? - a month ago.

A month ago right around the time my co-teacher posted flyers. A month ago when I had just barely arrived in Korea. Less than a month ago, my now-host sister saw the flyer at school and brought it home with her.

Host sister: [Laughing] My Dad say we moved to apartment for you. This apartment is for you!

If there ever was a truer statement...

After my very-healthy breakfast, I got up and walked around the apartment a bit.

The welcome bouquet my school had presented to me during  yesterday's Departure Ceremony. Those blue hydrangeas...

View of the apartment complex

In the afternoon, my sisters and I went to town to meet my Fulbright co-teacher. Our mission: to get me a cellphone.

On the back of the city bus with them. Host mom gave me her bus key to use

The department store we went to

The man who convinced my co-teacher, who then convinced me, to get a smartphone. 

NAVIGATING THE CELL PHONE PURCHASE
According to them, my iPhone 4S would not work in Korea. I had attended a workshop with a former ETA who said iPhone 4S AT&Ts should work with [device I couldn't remember]. I mentioned this to my co-teacher, and she then relayed the information to the clerk, but the clerk said that it was not possible. It did not help that I couldn't remember what the device was called.

Since there is wi-fi everywhere (my homestay has wi-fi galore!), I asked the clerk for the cheapest plan and most basic phone they had, intending to only have it at hand for emergencies. After nearly three hours of communicating and calculating various projected costs, he convinced me that getting the smartphone would actually ultimately be better for reasons x, y, z.

I am now the extremely reluctant owner of a second smartphone.

It's a pretty good deal, and my phone is a beautiful piece of technology, but I felt rushed and guilted into signing the contract on the spot, which is an awful feeling that's still sitting in the pit of my stomach.

PRO TIPS FOR FUTURE ETAs: 

• Go to the store having researched different phones and plans. Preferably not the day after arriving at the homestay.
• Talk to past and present ETAs about what phone arrangements/plans they had/are getting
• Do not sign a year-long contract if you have any reservations. It is okay! You can always return to a/the store another day, and you can always make it up to your co-teacher who will have traveled with you by buying them lunch.

The top of the mall had an amazing view of the ocean and Busan and Yeongdo connected by the bridge. They also had this neat cafe that ran out of ice so we couldn't order our patbingsu.

Very relaxing atmosphere

Bridge of Busan. I'm still a bit disoriented from basically everything so I have been taking pictures of even the most boring of maps and signage to help me visualize the space I'm at now.

Love locks. 

One word: rust.

Love notes?

Some serious lockage going on here.

All the keys are thrown in here

More signage

SPENDING TIME WITH MY CO-TEACHER AND HOST SISTERS
My co-teacher chilled with my host sisters and me until early evening - even treating us for lunch. I had the check in my hand and was about to wave the waiter over when she very deftly stole the bill from me and paid for everyone's meals. I was going to put up a fight, but I remembered that this might be a cultural point with her being the oldest in our group.

Later that night, my host family very eagerly introduced me to my host mother's side of the family over a delicious dinner.

During every meal, they remember that I prefer not to eat pork (for health reasons), and have taken special care to provide me with alternative dishes.

DINING WITH HOST MOM'S FAMILY & RELATIVES

I met a couple of host mom's nephews, both of whom were extremely shy around me. Host mom's older brothers, however, were not shy at all.

One of them asked me how old I thought he was. When I guessed 45, he burst out laughing and was clearly tickled that I thought he was much younger than his actual 60 years of age. And I wasn't even trying to flatter him...He really did just look that young! 

Host cousins and host sisters enjoyed the game I played with them over dinner, which was the "How Many of the 50 U.S. States Can You Name?" game. Collectively (including the adults), they named 15 states. Not bad!

After dinner, we went back to my host parents' apartment and had generous helpings of home-made patbingsu. I am in wonderland. 

Departure Ceremony | Saying Goodbye & Heading to Meet Our Homestays

The day has finally arrived! We packed up the last of our belongings, cleared our rooms, and headed for the designated areas, where Mrs. Shim and the OCs would say a few words before our departure. 

Mrs. Shim's Departing Address was held in the TKD room, after which we spent an hour or so saying goodbye to each other. The OCs gave us our settling-in allowance to help us pay for expenses right when we arrive at our placements, and envelopes containing copies of our contracts and of the letters we were to give to our homestay families.

This is my envelope. The first line reads "Busan," the second "Yeongdo Yeoja Kodeunghakgyo," my high school's name, and, of course, my name. 

Left: With Coco, this young woman has a vision! Top: With Elaine, OC and Renewee in Daegu (close to Busan), and Bottom Right: With Tara, my beautiful roommate who will also be in Daegu!

Silliness in front of the camera with the first male ETA I saw at the airport on the way to South Korea!

There was silliness and there was a bit of sadness, too. Way to make her cry, Ray...

After a bit of time together, we finally headed up to the 11th floor auditorium where the Departure Ceremony would take place. All the ETAs lined up in special order and created a horseshoe around the auditorium enclosing an audience of Korean school administrators among staff from KAEC and the State Department.

I was doing well, smiling and embracing the pained cheeks, until they called Busan, and then my name. For some reason, I nearly forgot how to step forward. And bow. These simple tasks suddenly became very hard to perform and I was shaking a bit from nerves when a woman ran up to me from the audience and handed me a beautiful bouquet of flowers! She quickly retreated back into the audience as more names were called.

Most of the ETAs received some sort of flower arrangement from a [couple of] school official(s). There were one or two Fulbright co-teachers who, upon hearing the name of their ETA called, shouted, ran up to the auditorium, gave their bouquet to the half-stunned ETA, and proceeded to shout, and give them hearty hugs and kisses.

It was hilarious! There was one man who even showered his ETA with party poppers! I was glad to see that teachers had a sense of humor, and even more so to experience a tiny break from the formality of the whole ceremony.

My bouquet resting alongside my blazer back in the TKD room. 

After the ceremony, we had a very special lunch in a part of Jungwon University we had never been to before. We sat with our school officials (mine was my Fulbright co-teacher, my school's principal, and a man who worked for the school and was the day's driver).

We were told that awkwardness from this point on should be expected. Knowing that this would be normal helped me enjoy my meal and even emboldened me to make conversation. My Fulbright co-teacher speaks very well in English, though I do have to slow down my speech a little (which I have to do anyway even with people back in the States).

My principal, however, hardly speaks any English and was quick to express to me her desire to see me grow in my Korean language ability so that we could talk and have conversations.

I could feel my list of priorities shifting already.

I was able to gauge many life-story-type information from both my co-teacher and my principal, but later switched to asking more business/school-type information as we left Goesan and headed for Busan.

My school had rented a very spacious van for the day, and so there was plenty of room for my belongings. 

As our conversations continued, I briefly glanced to my side of the window and saw Goesan grow smaller and smaller. My school officials were very nice and accommodating. Besides the flowers, they had prepared a bag of snacks in the car and offered me things to eat all throughout the ride.

I was so glad that we had our own van and did not have to use public transportation or, worse, lug all my bags using public transportation. As it was, the man who drove us today took care of all of my bags, and even offered to carry my bouquet for me. Like I said, they were super accommodating!

A view of Yeongdo, an island in southeastern Busan, from our car. I woke up just in time to take this photo.

The ride to Busan took approximately four hours with traffic. My co-teacher was kind enough to stay with me a while longer as I met up with my host family and gave them the letter from Mrs. Shim, describing various things about the living arrangement.

My host mom prepared snacks and drinks for us to enjoy in their living room. The house was immaculately clean. It was small, but well-organized. It was easy to see that this was a Christian household, judging from the big wooden cross hanging on their wall, as well as various Bible verses in cool frames.

My host mom and my co-teacher spoke in rapid-sounding Korean as I self-consciously ate and drank sitting on the floor with both feet tucked in under me. The girls were initially shy, but quickly warmed up to me as my co-teacher told them a little bit more about me and, I'm sure, the Fulbright program, etc. The women laughed, and I laughed along with them, not knowing what it was that was amusing.

By the time my co-teacher excused herself for the evening, I was no longer nervous to be left alone with my host family. The girls - my host sisters - do not speak English very well, but can still communicate with me through miming, acting, facial expressions, etc. This was enough for me to feel more at ease with them.

In no time, we were side-by-side on their tiny piano bench playing something very basic they wanted me to learn how to play.

The girls teaming up on the piano. This reminded me a bit of my sister Christy and me and how we basically did/do everything together.

The girls Romanized their names for me, and told me that, since I was now part of the family, I was now "Mimi Kim." 

Adorable.

I was very tired from a very long day, but I found the energy to talk with my host family pretty late into the night. There was host mom, host dad, and two younger host sisters - all telling me that I look beautiful, that they like my big eyes and "small head/face" (this is a compliment in Korea, apparently). Their energy and curiosity helped me mirror the same qualities and carry on disjointed, funny conversations about, basically, anything that came to mind.

Not an easy thing, but something which we accomplished with the help of the girls, who were good at translating back and forth.

My huge bed in what I suspect is my sisters' former bedroom

I went to bed feeling very pampered by my host family, and very blessed by God for preparing such a warm and welcoming family to host me for the year in Yeongdo.

The value that Koreans place not only on education but also on family is a huge plus in my book!