This past weekend was MudFest!!!! I wanted to go ever since I first heard about it back in January. As the date approached I started thinking that maybe I shouldn't go because I don't even like to get dirty! I knew that if I missed out I would have a lingering feeling of wondering what I missed so I sucked it up and signed up to go with WinK travel group. The weekend before MudFest, I went on my first speed date ever. It was a very interesting experience. There were 25 women and 25 men between the ages of 21-39. I was a little intimidated by the age range but I slowly realized it wouldn't make a difference...if there's a connection, there is a connection. The women all sat at the tables while the men moved down the line every 3 minutes (it was supposed to be 5 minutes). It was very little time to really get to know someone beyond the basic information like their name, age, occupation, and what they do for fun. It was very much like an interview. By the time I would hear something interesting from a guy, I would hear ding ding ding from the bell letting the men know it's time to switch partners. We had to choose 7 people that we liked at the end of the night. After 3 days we got an email with our matches...I had 1 match which was kind of sad but better than 0. So, we met up at the MudFest (even though we hung out already after the speed date before we were even told that we were a match lol)!
In the midst of my explorations, I was given news by a friend on July 1st about Incheon cancelling their contracts with new Guest English Teachers that were accepted for the Fall intake. There was a new superintendent voted in that decided to make major budget cuts. I thought that it wouldn't affect me because I am not a new teacher here and I am not specifically with EPIK. I was WRONG! So, the news spread like wildfire and other teachers started asking about how it would affect teachers that want to renew their contracts. The answer was very vague and has us all waiting to find out if they will allow renewals or not. The latest news today is that there will be NO renewals of middle and high school teachers but elementary school teachers (that's me) will have to wait until the Office of Education reviews the evaluations/surveys that our co-teachers filled out this week. Hopefully, I will hear a more decisive answer about my status...despite all the teachers being gone for summer vacation. SMH...they really know how to time it. With this situation, I canceled my flight home for summer vacation, put my studio redecoration on hold, and I'm trying to save money. I also broke my USB with a lot of my design work on it so I have to try to figure out how to update my portfolio and website without it. I will be job hunting once again, probably during my vacation time. *tear*
If I can get things accomplished and have money left over for a vacation, maybe I will go to Taiwan. MAYBE? I have so much to think about but first things first...Summer Camp. Summer Camp is next week and I am doing the Amazing Race theme. There is a lot to prepare for (especially by myself) so this weekend I may not have a lot of time for myself and having fun. Work, work, work!
If I do have any time this weekend, I may catch a local film festival,
Bucheon Film Festival (PIFAN) or Seoul Cartoon and Animation Festival (SICAF). It can't be all work right?
Soooo...I'M BACK!!! Here is my update on what's been happening these past 2 months:
1. My open class was a success and I told my school that I would like to renew my contract for another year.
Since leaving Jeju, I had to concentrate on preparing for my open class (even with my phone drama). I treated it as a very serious matter that showcases and tests my growth and talent as an Guest English Teacher. My co-teacher did not feel as stressed about it but seeing how frantic I was, she rehearsed many times with me so I could feel more secure. At first, my co-teachers had a nonchalant attitude and were suggesting really boring ideas for open class. They didn't seem to understand how it would reflect me as a teacher. I wanted the class (or at least my part) to be really creative, fun and great practice using the language. At first, I wanted to have a 6th grade class but my head co-teacher said that I would have to teach with her so we would have to do it with one of her 5th grade classes. Then, I imagined us working together on the plan but she told me, "I'm doing a treasure hunt for my part. You should think about your part." Ummm...what? So with our divided structure, I came up with a hidden picture puzzle idea that I thought was cool and have never seen done before. The problem grew where my co-teacher kept changing her idea and it felt like our parts were competing. She kept suggesting ways to make my part more "simple" aka boring. Overall, I stood strong on my plan and we pulled it together to have a successful class!
2. I was the topic of teacher gossip?!
So for open class, I bought a new dress that was really pretty but also really flowy and short. I thought by Korean standards it would be okay because other teachers wear short skirts and dresses. The culture here is also pretty shocking because most women wear really really short outfits. I wanted to buy a dress for the special occasion so I knew if I bought one at any of the Korean shops it would be short. Anyway, the next week I wore another dress that I brought from America and is a little short but not that bad. Unfortunately, that day my co-teacher came to me and told me that the 4th grade head teacher was complaining to her that I need to change/re-evaluate my dress code. Whaaaat? Later that day, I saw that teacher in the cafeteria and she pointed to my dress and said, "Be careful!" Then, she whispered to another teacher...right in front of me...RUDE! I told her my dress was fingertip length but of course she didn't understand me. I came to the conclusion, that I can not dress like the Koreans because when I do it it's wrong. Whenever I wear dresses, I wear leggings or stretch pants under them like I did in the winter (BUT IT'S SUMMER).
3. Busan with Anakaren
Korean Memorial Day was Friday, June 6th so we had a long weekend. Anakaren and I went to Busan on Friday morning by bus. I researched and booked everything but I failed to consider the fact that there may be traffic. What should have been a 4 hour bus ride turned into an almost 7 hour trip. Every time I took a nap, I woke up thinking, "Are we there yet?!" Finally, we got there to enjoy what was left of the beautiful day. It was a little chilly by the beach but it was so nice to see the sunset and the energy of the city was so cool. Anakaren looked up an "American" style sushi place that was great. Unfortunately, my phone died so I was not able to take any pictures our first day. The sushi guy was fun and we met and talked to such a nice couple at the Thursday Party bar. The hotel we were staying at, Queen's Hotel in Seomyeon, was great too and very comfortable. It was convenient to get around the city but it was far from the beach. I was wired after spending so much time on the bus earlier so I was ready to hang out all night but Anakaren wanted to sleep...whomp whomp. The next day, I really wanted to go to Taejongdae. It was majestical and beautiful and worth the hour wait for the trolley up the mountain. The breeze was so strong and intimidating that I decided not to stand on the cliff edge (because it would blow my dress up). I felt a little off on my own at this point. Going back to the beach was a nightmare though, because the bus took a long time to pick us up and then it was stuck in traffic for an hour. Ahhhh! Again, we caught the sunset on the beach and walked around more to see the sand creations. Waiting for and being trapped on the bus so long did put a damper on the day and I did feel tired. We had some good eating at Sharky's and I was ready for bed! Anakaren and I got temporary tattoos that looked really realistic but mine wore off in a day (they were definitely NOT Henna).
Anakaren
We went back to the hotel pretty early and it was a wrap for me...but if I was with someone that really wanted to go out and "party" I would have gotten my butt up and found the energy. Our last day, I really wanted to eat an American breakfast before I left. I Googled for a place near the hotel. I walked and walked and walked by myself to find it. I never did...so I was left frustrated and hungry. Ana wanted to go eat Korean food and I sat with her but it was not anything I wanted so I got even more frustrated. We took the express train back which was super quick and Anakaren and I split up when we got back to Seoul (or on the train since we sat apart)...I was on a mission to get some good food before I went back home. It was a nice trip away despite the transportation issues but a lot of time I felt like I was by myself. Of course, I get a little jealous when I come back and look on Facebook to see a lot of other teachers I know went to Busan together the same weekend (for the Sun and Fun Festival) and it looked liked they all had a ball *together*...booo!
4. Tours and Shows
I made a decision when I decided to renew that I would make the most of my experience in Korea for the time I have left. I had been mostly sitting in the house every weekend for the past 8 months and every now and then I would find something to do with Anakaren or by myself but for the most part it had been lonely and bored. I decided to change that so after coming back from Busan, I booked a couple of trips with the tour groups in and around Seoul. I also booked performance art shows to see in Seoul. June became a very busy month. I went with the Seoul Expat group to see the "magical" sea parting at Muchangpo Beach. Later, we went to Daecheon Beach. I met so many great people on that trip that I have been able to hang out with other places. I went with Adventure Korea on an overnight trip to Pyeongchang. I went with Adventure Korea once before when I played paintball in March. I did not meet that many people there and experienced a more cliquey, couple atmosphere but it was still okay. The activities were more fun than the people for that trip...we went water rafting, zip-lining, free falling and caving. I went with SeoulMate on a tour of Ihwa village in Seoul and later with my new friends, Soozie and Sung, to party in Hongdae. It was one of the funnest times I have had in Korea so far.
Hongdae Congo Drummers
I also took a self tour around Chinatown, went to a swing dance class with Swingade, to see A Midsummer Night's Dream, an acoustic set at BitterSweet Sounds Cafe, a performance art show called the Original Drawing Show, a b-boy show called B-Boy Marionette, and a B-Boy Dance competition called R16. The winners of a season of America's Best Dance Crew even competed (Super Cr3w) at R16...but the winners of the battle ended being none other than Korea's group, Gamblerz Crew.
This past weekend was MudFest!!!! I wanted to go ever since I first heard about it back in January. As the date approached I started thinking that maybe I shouldn't go because I don't even like to get dirty! I knew that if I missed out I would have a lingering feeling of wondering what I missed so I sucked it up and signed up to go with WinK travel group. The weekend before MudFest, I went on my first speed date ever. It was a very interesting experience. There were 25 women and 25 men between the ages of 21-39. I was a little intimidated by the age range but I slowly realized it wouldn't make a difference...if there's a connection, there is a connection. The women all sat at the tables while the men moved down the line every 3 minutes (it was supposed to be 5 minutes). It was very little time to really get to know someone beyond the basic information like their name, age, occupation, and what they do for fun. It was very much like an interview. By the time I would hear something interesting from a guy, I would hear ding ding ding from the bell letting the men know it's time to switch partners. We had to choose 7 people that we liked at the end of the night. After 3 days we got an email with our matches...I had 1 match which was kind of sad but better than 0. So, we met up at the MudFest (even though we hung out already after the speed date before we were even told that we were a match lol)! 
In the midst of my explorations, I was given news by a friend on July 1st about Incheon cancelling their contracts with new Guest English Teachers that were accepted for the Fall intake. There was a new superintendent voted in that decided to make major budget cuts. I thought that it wouldn't affect me because I am not a new teacher here and I am not specifically with EPIK. I was WRONG! So, the news spread like wildfire and other teachers started asking about how it would affect teachers that want to renew their contracts. The answer was very vague and has us all waiting to find out if they will allow renewals or not. The latest news today is that there will be NO renewals of middle and high school teachers but elementary school teachers (that's me) will have to wait until the Office of Education reviews the evaluations/surveys that our co-teachers filled out this week. Hopefully, I will hear a more decisive answer about my status...despite all the teachers being gone for summer vacation. SMH...they really know how to time it. With this situation, I canceled my flight home for summer vacation, put my studio redecoration on hold, and I'm trying to save money. I also broke my USB with a lot of my design work on it so I have to try to figure out how to update my portfolio and website without it. I will be job hunting once again, probably during my vacation time. *tear*
If I can get things accomplished and have money left over for a vacation, maybe I will go to Taiwan. MAYBE? I have so much to think about but first things first...Summer Camp. Summer Camp is next week and I am doing the Amazing Race theme. There is a lot to prepare for (especially by myself) so this weekend I may not have a lot of time for myself and having fun. Work, work, work!
