Wait till I Can Speak Korean... And I ain't Telling no one :)

So I like to consider myself a very observant person, and I also I find Korean people to be vary expressive with their emotions in terms of body language and facial expression. Today was one of those days where you keep hearing you name, but you don't get a translation at school. I hope they are saying good things, but who knew that there is so much happening at an Elementary school. I have heard a couple of fights, and I only wish I could understand was going on? I'm like just give me a little time, I'm about to learn some Korean and start interpreting everything. I already can guess a lot of stuff that is going on based on facials expression.I just love how my vice-principal will say my name and then say something else, but I can never get a translation from anyone. That's ok. Wait till I speak Korean, and I ain't telling no one, and I am going to be all in the business. :)

Hair Did

I knew the day would come, when I would have to do something with my hair in Korea, but I was dreading it. I just honestly didn't know where i was going to go. But I had to ask some sorors, cuz it was getting rough, and they were dropping those subtle hints, like i know where you can get your hair done. lol. So a trusted soror told me about Ms. Chong shop at family hair care.
So I wen to the shop in Itaewon (westerners hotspot) and it was a nice quaint shop. I really liked it. To my surprise there was a woman of African descent there who spoke Korean. Her accent sounded like she might have been from London or the Caribbean. I am not quite sure. So I was the lone customer at first. Ms. Chong felt through my hair and was like umm, you want motions? I was like ok. ok.

Then she called the woman of African descent, was called over to do my hair. I was like man this is tight. Then i noticed everyone was watching, and there was a whole of talk in Korean going on. They obviously done perms here before, the the crowd dissipated. Then next thing you know another client comes in to get her hair braided. She says hi to everyone, and then as she sitting under the dryer and I'm still in the middle of my perm, when suddenly the other client whispers loudly so Tasha does Perms now? I'm like WTF? We are not serious. So this explains the crowd, I must be one of her first heads. I was like damn. The last thing you want to hear is that your some one's first perm. Then I saw the finished product and i was extremely happy. I must admit that they can't get all the credit, it was in part due to the fabulous cut that my four club's mom gave me a couple of years ago. I can honestly say that was the best cut anyone has ever given me in my life. But man my hair was off the chain. After tasha permed it, Ms. Chong blow dried and flat ironed it. I mean my hair was just blowing in the wind. Also, the customer service was off the chain. I am going back in two weeks to get braids, and probably a mani and a pedi. I will be a regular there and proudly spread the word, because I even got a nice massage of my neck and shoulder. My hair is even surviving working out everyday. I don't know what to say. :) I just hope that I can find someone as good as them in America. :) I am so excited that I found someone on my first try, at a reasonable price. :)

Split Personality

I know people say I'm crazy, but I'm really not. I promise, but in Korea, I have recently notice that I have inner voice that tells me things in my head. It seems to be pretty helpful at least, i think its what keeps me sane. :) For example the other day my principal told me I need to lose 10 kg, so she wants me to walk to work everyday, instead of taking the subway. The inner voice is trick please, I hope she don't see me getting on the subway everyday. The outward reaction ok sure I will do, and I smile politely. A little boy attempts to play handball in the middle of my English class: First reaction what the hell is wrong with you? Are we serious? Don't make me Shank you. The inner voice says: Brianne he is just a child, enrolled in classes 14 hours a day. Give him a break. Simply ask him to stop. A drunk Korean man sits next to me on the subway, when there are hella open sits, and tried to touch my leg. First reactions. I will knock you the f out. I am twice your size. Choke him. Inner voice: Brianne making a fist is a assault in Korea. We don't do Korean prisons, so simply do a reactive karate chop and give him the stank eye and move on. Just wait to you learn some harsh Korean words.
I mean I could go on and on and on. I find that my inner voice comes out a lot these days in the company of fellow westerners or Koreans. Its interesting cuz I had noticed it a few times before in America, but I am starting to realize how smart the voice is. I didn't nearly give her enough credit. I just hope she doesn't get tired of me.

Miss Sanford

So today another Native English teacher, came to our school to give a class for the Korean teachers on Teach English. So I went to observe, just in case there were any tips I could pick up as well. The teacher was really cool he was a nice-red haired kid from Washington or shoot was it Portland. Dang it was one of the two. So as soon as it was over, my co-teacher was like he is very good. he lives and your building. Let me introduce you. I was like ok sure. Then she whispers I wonder does he have a girlfriend. So I am just cheezing, trying to hide my laugh. I just said i don't know, good question.
You see this story is part of a pattern I notice. I think I figured out that it must be strange to be 23, which in Korea is 24 pushing 25, and be single. One of the co-teachers here is barely a year older than me and has 2 kids, who might i add are so adorable. I remember on day at early afternoon coffee time it was me, the otter English teacher and our co-teachers and they were asking me about boyfriend. I was like I don't have one. Then, the other co-teacher was like do you remember when we went to immigration there was the is tall man like a movie star who came and said hi to you. I didn't not expect him to say hi to us at all. She was like do you have is number? You should call him. In true Brianne fashion I couldn't hold in the laughter.I was like no, but i know him on facebook. She was like yes you should get in contact with him. I'm like first off he was cool and all, but i think he was pushing the other side of 30. Secondly, dude I'm just here for a year enjoying myself. I am not looking for anything.
Then my other co-teacher asked me why am I a single. I sigh. The number of thoughts that run through my head are insane. I'm like man you know the plight of trying to find a quality male in America. Its like getting Sarah Palin to answer questions at a Vice-Presidential Debate You've worked a miracle if you get and credible answer. I mean I told her I'm happy, and I'm doing okay, but she just like no single people are lonely. lol. Then there the other side, I just got stuff to do. I have no clue where I will be a year from now could be Korea could be Thailand, could be Texas, could be DC. I am just doing me right now, no responsibilities and love it.
I feel like pretty soon I am going to have to make up someone, so they won't be so worried about me. Sigh. But I know till I leave every western man, my co-teachers see will be a potential suitor for me. Or maybe, that's my problem, maybe I need to get on the prowl like my co-teachers do for me, but I am hoping that if I slowly introduce them to Beyonce and Destiny's Chidren, they will see the single independent woman is the trend. You know survivor, Irreplacable, and Independent Women is my ish. Sidnote new Beyonce Nov. 18.

Over Comitted

As I am sure all you know this word has been the story of my life. The lord blessed me to be good at a lot of different things, so I took him up on all of them. :) I think this is why its so hard for me to decide what i want to do in my lifetime, I have been a state qualifying athlete, a writer for the LA Times, a Attraction Manager for the NBA, worked at museums, the State Department, been involved in campus groups etc. Often all at one time lol. Then of course I have to maintain my people responsibilities. Often times I have been so busy I didn't have time to think. It was just go go go. The other problem I have found is that when I'm not over committed i tend to waste my time. I know you see me on gchat all the time during them office hours. But its also very stressful, but somehow i think i enjoy it. So I thought once I came to Korea, I would have all the free time in the world. Of course not. Brianne you just love to be overcommitted.
So here I am on the crazy peninsula of Korea, chilling sometimes during the day, but yet Over committed. Lets take this past weekend Friday after work I was supposed to go to a birthday party Saturday took a four hour ride to Daegu came back on Sunday, Sunday went to the Korean version of Disneyland with my coteacher, and I was supposed to attend a Delta gems program as well that day. I just don't understand how does this always happen to me. I got weekly baseball games. Lol. But that's part of spending time with my Korean family so I love it. I just don't know what to say. I mean I don't even know where to cut back cuz i love it all, and it would actually be better if i got back on my efficiency tip,but you know I'm still dealing with that laziness from senioritis. I guess my life is not meant to slow down. So once again its reminiscent of my college days, I sit at one job, doing the work for another. I guess somethings will never change. :)

Blessed

The more i spent time with other English teachers i realize how blessed my situation is. I hear a lot of stories about people who have bad schools/co-teachers, but mine is great. I mean of course sometimes they maybe a little overprotective, but I can't think of another problem I would rather have. Overprotect me shoot. Here I have two Korean families who have adopted me. I have amazing sorors who check up on me regularly. I haven't experienced a lot of problems because of my race. My teaching schedule is often chain. Most of my students aren't to crazy so its really cool and chill. I actually need to stop wasting the free time i have. lol. My living environment is cool, I live in the center of the city so its perfect. I can eat Korean food, I mean i actually enjoy it. Don't let me get kimbop or bogulgi so samngipyong. I will tear that up. I live off some tofu, rice, and seaweed. It's all gravy baby. I hope the rest of the year will be as bright, but its just crazy to me. Just the little things I'm starting to notice when I see how much other English teacher are struggling. This also one of my many confirmation that I made the right decision. Cuz the lord is truly blessing me. I called my American Bank yesterday because I overdrafted, so I wanted to tell them i can't pay them till the 24, and they were straight like its ok, just pay us as soon as you can. I was like excuse me? Wells Fargo is quick to cut folks off. lol. Is this my wells Fells Fargo, who charged me like $800 in overdraft fees check was like a day late. Now they got compassion. All I can say is Thank You Jesus. :)

Finding My Passion

The goal of becoming complete, also is what i hope will help lead me to figure out my passion career wise. I know that I want to help people. I also know that I want to do it on a global scale. I'm reading this book called don't waste your life by, and it talks about evangelizing the work and life of Jesus Christ and then you will find your passion. I was getting nervous about that point, because I'm worried that means that I need to pick up a career in pastoral services and etc and you know one of my motto's is don't talk about politics and religion with close friends. Because of what the mainstream Media has turned "Christians" into, but I realize now that 1. I cannot Deny my God or what he does for me, because it may make other uncomfortable. 2. I am a Christian, and I should do what I can to put forth the right image to the world. As I journey to walk closer with God, I also believe that my career does not have to be in pastoral services, but that if i find that right career that involves help people, my life will be an example of my walk with God. I need to start writing down the dreams and visions i have more often. :) But when i was on the bus to Daegu this weekend it reminded me, i was thinking what if the bus got in an accident, and it came down to me saving a person, the question that first came to me is what would i tell them, and the first thing was something along the lines of Do you believe in God, if not please remember this moment, and believe then it was tell my family and friends that i love them. It then brought me back to a moment where I in another dream, as I thought about the possibility of a career abroad or just not in Texas (i guess that's still technically abroad). I feel like my parents know that my life was not for me or them, but for others. I think at that moment there are two realizations 1. I have to realize how much my life is for God 2. I am called to Serve, so how will I serve?

I fill like the only time I am fearless is when i am working for other people. The recent events with the stock market and the Elections, I have found so inspiring, because it reminds me of my mission when I first enter college. To change the world by becoming a lawyer and letting the entire world hear my opinion. Sometimes I wonder what happen to that girl. But I know it was actually going to what was supposed to be the center of progressivism and realized just how high, and big the ignorance of the world had come, but I'm not that girl anymore I'm stronger. I now regret that I let that and the other perils of life distract me from paying greater attention in classroom, but I can't go back, so I will move forward with a renewed vision.

Of course I am still not sure, but I know that that my majors where chosen for a purpose, and I will have to look greater inwards and have long talks what God, but I know I am called to Serve. And I will Serve? I will serve not only him, by living a life where people will seek to worship the God I worship, but doing his works. I am 23, I can't live comfortably anymore. It's scary, but i have faith in him, that I can do it. Today is a new day.

You are so Strong

I learned a couple of things since my stay in Korea. Some i already knew, but i felt like it would be different in Korea. One I attract a lot of dependent/negative people sometimes. I am not so sure what that says about me. I don't know if that is because of some sort of comforting affect i have or whether its some sort of other action. But it really makes me think about the sermon last week in church having authority over what you allow into your life. I have got to take control of that, but at the same time i feel this need to help people. It so strange that I want to help people, but I'm not complete myself. I think I'm moving steps closer to be complete, but its a long tough journey. It so much easier to be incomplete, but I don't want that life. Its also interesting that I have been here five weeks and so many people have talked to me, and told that think that I am so strong. I always have to do a double take, because sometimes it is the last thing that I feel. Don't get me wrong I have completely enjoyed my stay in Korea, but I often question my decisions and I feel like i am not living up to what i should be doing. I feel like I'm no different that anybody else, but giving a lot of resources and taking people up on them. Now I don't always know what this opportunities lead to, but I feel like God has a plan, and they will lead to something. Really I keep thinking about that comment "I am strong." It just seems so crazy to me, I just do what i gotta do. The craziest thing is that I feel like these are people who barely know me, and it is if they see a light in me, I can't see." Now that gives me so much joy and hope, because that can only come from one place.

Don't Ask Don't Tell...

So I believe I told you all earlier that my policy for eating food with my Korean Co-teacher is Don't Ask Don't Tell. I thought it was the perfect plan, because another English teacher informed me that you will never get dog, because it is to expensive, especially in today's economy. So i was like, "YES!!!!!!!! SCORE!!!!!!!!!! Also, since I have eaten in the school Cafeteria everyday now, I felt like I had gotten a good handle on about everything, they have to offer. Sidenote: The cooks are off the chain.

Well, yesterday,would be the day that I find the flaw in my policy. So, I was having lunch while at the table with the Principal, the other native English teacher, and my co-teacher. When we were having a bomb lunch, and I saw an item that looked familiar. It was in very sweet sauce, so I dove in head first. As soon as I took a bite i froze. The other native English teacher saw me and starts to laugh a little, so I realized the look on my face. I straightened it up quickly looking around to make sure no one else was paying attention. Then I decided to take a closer look at what I had eaten. Then I realized it was some type of dried fish with the eyeballs in them. I was like damn, damn, damn. I quickly fixed my fast again and pushed it to the side. For a moment, I just told myself I could pretend it didn't happen, but forget it.

Now everyday I take a closer look at what I am eating. The next day I could have sworn a saw some eyeballs in my soup, like with the optical nerve and everything. (Thanks to that USC GE requirements I can identify all parts of the eye.)I don't know if I am just paranoid, because of the day before. But I am keeping my eyes wide open from now, and amending my don't ask don't tell policy.

Be Patient with me Please

So incredibly enough, I've been here a little over a month, and I am loaded with things to do. I do not know how I always find a way to over book myself. But I have tons of stories to post I'm working on them now. So I will be posting real soon. I hope I can get some good post time in this weekend. I am going to force myself to do i.


Talk to you soon.

Hood-Winked

Man, I knew it would happen. In this Confucius based society, and after seven days six nights of orientation on how to teach and adapt to the Korean culture I knew I was bound to break some rule. It happened at the closing lunch at orientation. :( All the English teachers were seated by their school districts, and then we were informed that our district supervisor would come sit with us soon, so we needed to leave one seat open. Of course, it would be the seat next to me. We are sort of nervous, as we learned earlier how important it is to show respect to our supervisor in and out of the workplace. For example, even if you and your supervisor go out for dinner, and they buy you an alcoholic beverage, you are supposed to turn away from them as not to drink in front of them. You are not supposed to eat until they begin eating or finish until they finish. Our table had it all planned out. When our supervisor arrived we would all stand up and bow. We were anxiously waiting. Then we became distracted by the beautiful Korean dancing. My sorority sister next to me got up to take pictures of the wonderful performance. So as we were dazed by the performance, I suddenly realize someone has sat in my sorority sisters seat. My instant reaction, was to protect my sorority sisters space. So, I kindly told the person, someone was seen there and then it hit me, as I caught my co-workers glance, I bet this is our district supervisor. So I was stuck. She looked confused. I just kind of stuttered and then looked for help. Then she asked me the seat is occupied, and I was like yes. So she got up and move to the other seat next to me. :( I was like damn I just kicked the District supervisor out of her chair. I was like hell of a way to make a first impression Brianne. Really I just could have moved my sorority sisters person to the chair next to me. But in the words of my friend Papa Chengo. There is nothing you can do about it now. :)

"Racial Discrimination"

I was sitting down before dinner with my co-teacher, and we were discussing my future life in Korea, and she tells me when she found out I was coming to Korea she looked up to words, "racial discrimination." I wasn't really surprised, I heard stories from friends who had travel to the area before, because in general the only depiction of black people they say, maybe what has been presented to them by the American media. (But that's a whole different story.) She told me to not let this discourage me, because some Koreans (like all people) are just ignorant, and to talk to her if I feel down. She then said see, maybe if I come to your country, maybe people won't like me. :)

This incident was very endearing to me, because it is only a glimpse into how amazing the heart of my Korean co-teacher is. She is not ashamed of me, but instead ready to build a partnership where we can learn form each other. She knows I'm from America, but what she doesn't realize is I am from America! I honestly didn't know, how real I wanted to be with my co-teacher about America, because she has so much excitement about my country. If she gets the chance to visit I want her to be free of any preconceptions from me.

But on my blog I can tell the truth. :) With my teacher doesn't realize is yes if she came to visit some people might not like her, but hell they wouldn't like me either. Yes I've noticed the stares from a few, but I've gotten worse stairs from people at home. You see my co-teacher was trying to brace me, for the trouble I might face because of the color of my skin, but she didn't know America had already done. I could be proven wrong, but I am almost positive there is not a Korean can do to me that one of my fellow Americans have not already done. I do believe that racism has gotten better in America, but the truth is it still exist. I write this not to throw a pity party for myself, but as the possibility of a Black president looms near I don't won't conservatives (like I've hear on CNN) to use this event to say that racism is dead.

Even if we look at the coverage of his campaign, we can see racism, maybe not as overt but its still there. For example, it is because of America's history of the one drop rule that we often ignore is mixed heritage, and that heritage doesn't make him any less of a black man, but it just more evidence of that covert racism in our society. Once again, I could go on for day about that, but that's not what this post is about. So for now Ill rest, and maybe as the relationship of me and my co-teacher progress how will explain to her, how a transatlantic trade hundreds of years ago, has left my people foreigners even a land that used to be our home.

Grapes of Wrath

So of course I try to always be on my toes so as not to be the rude American, but last week I found out that there are some things that are just universal. I spent the past weekend at my wonderful co-teachers house, and she offered me a nice bowl of grapes with a plate. Little did she know grapes are like my favorite fruit, so I dove into them as soon as she left. I took my first bite into the bunch of grapes, then I realized there were seeds. I was looking for a napkin, trash can or somewhere to dispose of the seeds, but I found no where. I saw the plate and was very tempted, but I kept think how rude it would be in America to spit seeds into some one's very nice plate. So, I continued to eat the grapes crunch after crunch. :/ When suddenly my co-teacher stopped what she was doing, and looked at me a little confused, and asked me ""so you eat the seeds?" Without flinch I was like yeah, it adds flavor, to embarrassed to say I thought it was common Korean culture. So here would be my first reminder, even thought we are different, some things are just universal. Like no one eats the grape seeds. :) Reminder number two, I need to let go of some of pride, it can lead to an upset belly.


N.A.N.D.I.

So What is this....

Have you ever wanted the whole world to hear your story, just because you thought you had so much to offer? Well, I do, so I decided to start this blog. Basically I am a recent grad, who is taking a year to figure out a lot of things about life, by teaching English as a Foreign Language in Seoul, Korea. I think I can say I have had an interesting life to say the least. I grew up on a farm, have had over 22 jobs, and was an army brat for a small time as well. I have created this blog so friends and family can get regular updates on my life in career, and also because I don't get the chance to write for the school paper anymore, I want people to hear my random babbling, just so I know I'm not crazy. I just hope you all can enjoy the ride with me.


N.A.N.D.I