2013 Fall Conference | Saying Our Goodbyes Until the Next Conference

After last night's formal dinner, where Mrs. Shim gave her final address of the conference, we were on our own. Some folks left that evening, while most of us waited until the next morning/noon/afternoon to be on our way. 

I woke up too late to say goodbye to some of my friends, but made it in time for another delicious breakfast downstairs. During this brief moment, I managed to catch up with a handful of other ETAs. It was interesting hearing about the different experiences each of us has had and made since leaving for our assigned cities, schools, homestays. 

Here we were again about to leave each other, only to come back together in a few months (Thanksgiving Dinner with the Ambassador is just this next November, actually). 

ETAs waiting for our bus to arrive

Apparently, the bus we were waiting for was the one parked 10 feet away from us the entire time

Waiting for the KTX to take me back to Busan!

Here's some signage for you

The train was 15 minutes late

My bags

The three bags containing special bread/pancakes from Gyeongju

Arriving in Busan and being welcomed by this sign proclaiming the awesome fun to be had in the Philippines. I'll take that as a sign...

Until next time, fellow ETAs. I'm going home!

2013 Fall Conference | Enjoying a Serene and Sunny Afternoon On My Own

Welcome to day #3 of Fall Conference!

I woke up this morning motivated by the free breakfast the hotel would be serving downstairs. Most of the ETAs were hurriedly chomping away before taking off for a whole-day tour around Gyeongju's historic sites. Since I had already inadvertently gone on practically the same tour during Chuseok with my Korean family, I opted out of this experience and spent the day relaxing, reading, and wandering around the vicinity of the Commodore. 

But before all of that, I took a post-breakfast nap. Invigorated and feeling quite serene, especially with the absence of the other ETAs, I took my bag, stuffed my book of "50 Great Short Stories" inside, and walked out back. 

This is what my afternoon looked like: 

Decided to eat lunch here. Loved the view and the background noise of children laughing, parents calling out after them, and of just one very peaceful Sunday!

Super filling lunch. I made sure to eat slow and to savor every bite. 

This store, and this light - that is all.

If my sister had been on this walk with me, she might have asked me to take her photo by these steps.

South Korea, You are so beautiful!

Families spending time together, a wonderful picture on any day!

I was definitely not envious of these little kids on their mini motorized vehicles.

Sometimes, I forget South Korea has all four seasons. And then I look down and remember.

Everything was beautiful...

Favorite store of the day. I could have bought this whole store - it was that charming! Because I'm thrifty, I only ended up buying a watch.

A shop owner in the middle of a paint job? 

The columns and the shadows made me pause here before going on

I'm not sure what this building is, but it's impressive enough

View of the lake from the ground

Beautiful area where seemingly every family in the area were hanging out at this Sunday afternoon

Making my way back to the hotel

The pool was a yucky green, but I went up the steps anyway and imagined what it would have looked like if the water was fresh and clean.

Back on the fifth floor, still very quiet before the arrival of the rest of my cohort

I returned to the hotel only because it was getting chilly and my light sweater was not enough to carry me through a longer walk. After returning, I may or may not have taken a post-walk nap.

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.