crunch time

There are a little over 50 days left in my contract here. Well I suppose technically, if I had not extended my contract I would be going home in less than a month now. It's bittersweet, and it's also crunch time (for me and my students).
I realize I haven't written much about them lately. I don't really know why either, because they are quite dear to me.

I have actually started this program where I start calling some of them once a week and talk to them on the phone for a little bit. They really are adorable.
My essay students have been under a lot of pressure lately unfortunately, which in turn kind of means I am under a bit of pressure as well. They have the same amount of days left in my contract to take their foreign language high school test. So there's plenty of grading to keep me busy.

Besides that my speaking classes are cute. One of my students told me if she were given 10 million dollars she would buy an island, and then buy me so that we could play together on the island. Then, to top it off, she said that if I was ever for sale to be sure to let her know. I haven't really told any of them that I am leaving soon, except the essay students, and I'm kind of sad to go too. At the same time though, I am really excited about going back home and seeing all my family and friends that I have missed so dearly.

Now, outside of school hasn't been as busy. I have been saving money for my upcoming trip to Tokyo. I did get to go to a Korean Wedding a few weeks ago though. It kind of blew my mind. I mean, in the States, we make really big deals out of weddings, and there are many components to them (the ritual, rite, and reception). That's all rolled into one here though. There are round tables set up all around a large hall, with a cat-walk down the middle. The actual 'marriage' takes about 15 minutes I would estimate, and then everyone just eats. The bride and groom, who were in the western styled wedding dress and tux for the ceremony, change into their hanbok (traditional Korean dress, think Kimono if you are unsure or google it). They come back out and go around with their parents and bow to all the tables and thank everyone for coming. Oh yeah, and before the wedding the bride sits in the room where you can snap photos with her. The groom sees her in her dress long before the wedding too because they take their wedding photos together. Actually, the whole process is a bit honky because they take their wedding photos before the guy even proposed to his girlfriend. But, hey, it's a different culture.

Besides that I've just been hanging out in Olympic Park a lot lately. Although, to be honest, it's getting a little too chilly. I hate how fall is short-lived. :(

This entry is a little short and hastily written. I apologize, and to make up for it I'm going to share some K-pop videos with you.
This one is called, 'Juliette' by 'ShiNee' (said, 'shiny' like, "Wow, what a shiny car!" ) I think it might be a tribute to Michael Jackson, but with these guys I'm never really sure.


And if that wasn't enough for you, Heartbreaker by a guy named 'G-dragon'. He just went solo. A Korean Kanye perhaps....guess we'll just have to wait and see, but I'm not going to hold my breath.


My students love these guys too....but even they agree that the g-dragon guys video is weird.

All that glitters is not gold, jade glitters too

Chuseok (or Korea's Thanksgiving Holiday), is a day which everyone goes to their parents' house, has a nice dinner, and celebrates family unity. What is funny is that Chuseok felt more like a real holiday to me than let's say Christmas or my Thanksgiving Day. This just proves to show, when you're alone (or semi-alone) for the holidays, the day does not matter so much as what is closed and how many people are on the street. Yes, this may make me appear slightly jaded, but lately I don't think that is such a bad thing. Being jaded usually means you are realistic, and who ever said it does not pay to be realistic? I used to think that Holidays were characterized by the company you spent it with, but if that were the case then how come every day when I was home with my parents it was not a 'holiday'? The feelings partially have to do with those around you, but they mostly have to do with the societal behaviors on a particular day. The stores are closed, people are either inside or spending their leisure time outside, and the only take-out you can get is Chinese food. So, if next year we chose to hold Thanksgiving on October 23rd instead, would it not feel like Thanksgiving? Family is exceedingly important, yet we only choose to truly appreciate them on certain days of the year when there's nothing else to do [or shop for]. Having these large, commercial national holidays might not be instilling the right values, but I suppose they do give everyone equal opportunity to cherish their families on the same day.