Octopus

 

Rice Cake Soup - Traditional New Years Food

I don't know.

I had a very special New Years this year, that I celebrated with my host family.  I went over to their house just in time for a traditional Korean New Years lunch, which, of course, involved kimchi, rice cakes, and some sort of onion, noodle, i'm not so sure dish.  Nothing too out of the ordinary.



We planned on going ice-skating afterwards, but it turned out that the rink was already jam-packed with ice-skaters, so that didn't end up happening.  But hey - when one door closes, another one opens, right?  Right.  Instead, we decided to go to an open air fish market and pick out our dinner for the night.  Sushi and octopus were on the menu!!  Let's just say that I didn't know what I was getting myself into.

The sushi was delicious, and typical.  The octopus, however, was a completely different story.  My host mom set the plate of raw octopus tentacles out on the table, and to my surprise, and slight horror, they were still moving!  I'm sorry, what?!  They were suctioning themselves to the plate and squirming around.  Apparently, after you cut the head off of an octopus, the nerves still cause the legs to twitch for a while.  Didn't know that.

I watches my host parents and kids eat a few bites before I got up the courage to pick up my chopsticks.  As I was mentally preparing myself to put on of the tnetacles in my mouth, little Charles issued a quick warning to me: "Teacher, be careful.  You could die.  Chew many times.  Or it stuck in throat and you die."

Ok.  Just... ok.

So, at that point, I put the octopus tentacle back down on my plate, and tried to remember why these things were eaten in the first place.  But with enough prompting from my host mom, I finally worked up the courage to try it.  Within about two seconds of putting it into my mouth, it suctioned to my tongue.  I let out a slight yelp because, to be honest, it hurt!  The suction cups may be small, but don't be fooled - they're strong and they pinch!  So then I chewed, and chewed, and chewed, and chewed, and chewed, and chewed some more.   

When it was all said and done, I must admit, it was tasty!  At least, the dipping sauce was tasty.  It had a kind of sesame, soy sauce, peanut butter taste to it.  And the texture wasn't all that bad.

At least, not  until my host mom took the rest of the octopus out of the oven.  I was surprised to find that I was much more of a fan of raw octopus, than of its cooked coutnerpart.  To finish off our meal, my host mom took the octopus heads out of the oven, where they had been baking for a while.  She used her food scissors to cut one of them open so that I could take a look inside.  As she cut, the ink spilled out.  Once again, I'm wondering if this is actually safe to eat.  She reassured me that this was the best part.  The most delicious.  Octopus brain was a bit of a delicacy, according to her. 


Octopus Heads

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree.  I tried one, and it was... very... mushy.  It reminded me of something that I've had before, but I still can't quite put my finger on it.  Let's just say the texture left a lot to be desired.  But I suppose it's a good thing that I didn't want to guzzle down too many, as she later told me that if you consume too much of the ink, you will get a stomach ache. 

I think that was the most exciting New Years dinner I've ever experienced.  Ever.

While minding my own business...

So, in light of the fact that I haven't posted anything for the last 7 months, I now have a lot of stories to catch you up on!  And lets face it... nothing exciting happened today.  So here's a short story from March?  April?  Um... I'm not sure.  I know it was after February.  Anyway, here you go!

One day in March (or April), I rode my bike to the gym.  While riding, I had to stop at a traffic light.  (Traffic here is not well organized - I literally almost got run over by a motorcycle one day while rounding a corner ...on the sidewalk!)  Anyway...so I was stopped at an intersection.  There was a Korean woman standing next to me, talking on her cell phone.  Maybe in her late thirties, early to mid forties.  More or less, I have no idea.  It's pretty hard to judge a Korean woman's age for me.  Regardless, she ended her phone conversation and peered over at me.  "Oh, pretty girl!" she exclaimed.  Alright.  So that's a weird thing to say to a stranger.  I said hello.  She asked me where I was going.  Also weird.  I told her I was going to the gym.  She asked where.  Um...what?  I told her the neighborhood.  I don't know why.  It felt rude not to answer her.  But it was weird that she was asking  The light turned green and I started pedaling away.  Saved by the light!  Except not.  She started running alongside me.  "What's your naaammme?!?!?!?!" she shouts.  I looked over at her and told her my name.  Then I pedaled faster.  At that point she finally gave up and stopped running.  Well, she didn't really have a choice because she was quite out of breath from laughing uncontrollably.  I have no idea what provoked that encounter.  No idea why she had a laughing fit at the end.  Just... literally no idea.

On a similarly strange note:  I was walking home from a friend's house the other day and was once again impeded by the terrible traffic.  I was walking on the sidewalk in front of City Hall and had a car swerve directly in front of me and then stop.  I hardly glanced up because I'm pretty used to ridiculous driving like that now.  But as it turns out, the woman driving got out of her car and said, "Excuse me," in perfect English. That got my attention.  Supposedly there was a foreigner festival happening 5 or 10 minutes down the road and she was one of the coordinators for the event.  She invited me to come along and experience some traditional Korean foods and try on some clothing.  I thought it was polite.  Maybe a bit desperate.  Then she said I should get in her car.  Now, I know Korea is supposed to be safe.  And I know she was a woman.  But I distinctly remember being told to never get in a car with a stranger when I was little.  I turned her down, and she looked legitimately crushed.  She gave me her business card, though, and told me if I changed my mind, I should call her and she would come pick me up from wherever I was.  

I must say, I this culture can be very hard for me to read!

Back in the Swing of Things

I'm now 3 days back into the swing of things since Summer Break ended.  Well, 2 or 3 depending on if you count yesterday, when no students showed up because of the Typhoon.

I had my first 2nd grade class today since being back.  We were working on making our first phonics book, Zac the Rat, and one of the little girls finished early.  She asked if she could color on the back - absolutely, if that means you'll happily and quietly sit still, you can do anything you want!  This is what she drew.  I figured it was too cute not to share!  She kept pointing at her drawing and then at me to make sure I understood.  I had been a little unsure at first, given the number of people with yellow hair in my school... or in Korea in general.   

Straight chaos!

I found this gem on Facebook.

Also, I figured I should update you on the Typhoon Bolaven damage now that the storm has come and gone.  These pictures are not my own, both borrowed from foreign friends who are also teaching in the area.  They capture the essence of the storm perfectly.  I took a brief video of the view out my window while at work, but I'm still working on getting it uploaded to my blog.

My coteacher asked me today if I stayed home last night because of the storm.  Um... no. It was a little windy, but that didn't stop me from going out for pizza.  Both her and the students were quite concerned, "But teacher, in Korea, some trees fell down!"  Right.  And that was more or less the extent of, "one of the worst typhoons to ever hit the Korean peninsula." [Quoted from The Korea Herald.]  I did read that there were a few causalities and structural damage further south in the country where the storm hit the strongest -down near Jeju, the island just off the southern tip of the peninsula.  And that's certainly tragic.  But mind you, I'm nowhere near that.  Something tells me they wouldn't know what to do with themselves during one of the more intense WI thunderstorms.

Typhoon Bolaven

So, I'm writing this post as I sit at my desk at work.  No, Dad, I'm not being a slacker.  I'm just trying to make the best use of my time while I sit here in an empty classroom. 

Gee, Jenny.  Why are you sitting in an empty classroom?

Well, you see, the students didn't come to school today.

That's nice.  Why?

Well, there's a hurricane, you see.

Then why are you at school?

Well, I don't know.  I'm just supposed to be here.

But you said you were in an empty

classroom.  Where's your coteacher?

She's at home.

Wait... what?

She left early so she could drive home before the brunt of it hit this area.  Technically you have to use vacation time for that (some vacation!).  But you see, having just come back from my two week summer vacation, I'm fresh out of vacation time.  So here I sit, in a school that's empty except for about five other teachers and the vice principal during what is supposedly the worst typhoon to hit Korea in almost a decade.

   

Speaking of my vice principal, he just came on the PA system and made an announcement.  In Korean.  Of course, I have no idea what he said.  Just going to hope that it wasn't anything too urgent, and that if it was, one of the remaining teachers in the school would let in on the secret. 

All that being said, as I look out my window, my view is...well...boring.  The windows have been rattling just a little.  But otherwise it's just an overcast, windy day.  With a sprinkling of rain here and there.  I must say, I'm a bit disappointed. 

Looking out the window at my apartment, however is a different story!  Actually, you can't look out my window. 

Once again... Why?

I covered my entire window in newspaper.

And you did this because?

It was suggested by a lot of Koreans to help protect my apartment.

Newspapers are going to protect your apartment? 

Right.  I know it sounds crazy.  I think the plywood boards put up by people in Florida every hurricane season makes a bit more sense.  But nonetheless, people here swear by it.  A few of them say that taping newspaper to your window, and then spraying them with water, makes the windows super strong.

...And you believe this?

Most definitely not.  But I'm not going to rule out what some of the other Koreans hypothesized.  They said the benefit is that if your window breaks, the wet newspaper helps prevent the glass from shattering everywhere.  I suppose their other suggestion, putting duct tape X's or boxes across my windows would have been easier.  But I came across newspaper first. 

Ok, well, I suppose, 'Better safe than sorry!'

Yeah, I felt pretty good about when I finally finished the job around midnight last night.  But then about five minutes later I realized the water would dry up quickly.  Huh.  I suppose this sort of window treatment only works if you are home to maintain it and continue spraying water on it.  (By the way, spraying water proved quite difficult, given that I don't have a spray bottle.  I do, however, have an iron that has a misting function.  Excellent, except that more water leaks out the bottom than sprays through the nozzle part.  I ended up just getting a rag and wiping down all the places I could reach.  Needless to say, the top of my wall of windows was a bit neglected.  Still, I figured getting what I could reach was better than nothing.)



My apartment window before
I attacked it with newspaper.

After.  Obviously.

  

The duct tape X window treatment.
Would have been a lot less work.  But hey, you live and you learn!

A Few Quick Links About the Storm

http://m.koreaherald.com/view.htm?20120827000205

I don't understand the way they stated the wind speeds, but I did get a kick out of this quote: "[the strong winds] can move not just people but big rocks!"

http://www.france24.com/en/20120828-risky-rescue-bid-fishermen-typhoon-hits-skorea 

Unfortunatley for the people of North Korea, it looks like

they will be seeing a bit more typhoon action than us in the South.



Fan Mail

 

I just finished up a two week long English Camp for twenty third graders.  On the last day, one of the girls gave me this letter.


I have a feeling google translate was involved.  ;)

Direct Quotes:

To Jennifer Tudrinerme

Teacher Goodbye that English camp student possiblitiy present hereupon is teacher the paragraph in the thing which will know and writes the compiler my English capability to become insufficient.  Next vice in order to write with capability will end pavorto.  If also, there is a part which is incorrect to see as it is Jennifer Teacher me teacher was teacher there to be a blue fun the English camp which does to do freezing fun there was also teacher and Jennifer Teacher camped teacher and English increased a little grateful and happy is late plentifully but new next Jennifer teacher last goodbye orgin three.

2012 January 10th, Present Raising

My Interpretation:
To Jennifer Teacher,

English camp is over, so I am writing you a letter.  I am using Google Translate because I am not fluent in English yet.  I am sorry if there is a part that doesn't make sense.  English camp was fun.  It was cold outside. (?)  Thank you for teaching more English.  I am happy.  I am now done with third grade. 

2012 January 10th

In conclusion:
So, more or less, I have no idea what she was trying to say.  But I think it's adorable that a third grader would put this much effort into writing a letter.  It's like pulling teeth in class to get them to write one sentence.  I'm game to hear any other interpretations you all might come up with!

My Washing Machine

So, my parents are coming to visit in a week!!!!  Which means it's time to get all my ducks in a row.  I told them that they didn't need to pack 10 days worth of clothes because they could just use my washing machine.  Most Korean washing machines are both a washer and dryer in one.  This is awesome and super convenient, except for the fact that I have no idea how to work mine.  Figuring out what was detergent and what was softener was difficult enough.  Instead of trying to decode it, I have just been line drying my clothing for the past three months.  With two extra people staying here, however, it's going to be a bit more cramped.  It's time to finally leave the stone ages and figure this technology stuff out.



Along comes one of my Korean friends to the rescue!  She was kind enough to translate every function for me.  It goes as followed:

Let's Have a Sleep Over!

So, I felt like I was back in middle school.  Except not.

Let's set the scene:
1. A sleepover.
2. A sleepover with a coworker
3. A sleepover with a 27 year old coworker.
4. A sleepover with a 27 year old coworker who lives with her parents.

Haha, it might sound a little strange, but I have a feeling that in Korea, everything was right on par.

First, most people here live with their parents until they are married...which usually happens sometimes in their late twenties or thirties.  Second, Gina isn't just my coworker, she's definitely a friend now.

It has been just the two of at school in the afternoons for the past three weeks.  The students have vacation right now, but many of them have signed up for a class or two in the mornings.  Gina and I both host a winter camp in the mornings just down the hall from each other.  Every day for lunch she has stopped down in my office and shared her sandwich or salad with me.  The afternoons are completely free for us, which gives us more than enough time to prepare for the next day, so she would usually stick around for an hour or two while we chatted and watched various youtube clips.

We've gotten pretty close, and this next week will seem lonely without her.  So when she invited me over for a sleepover, I had to laugh, but was completely game.

First we stopped by the store to pick up the fixings for kimbop, my favorite Korean dish, and of course ice-cream.  When we got to her place, her mom gave us a quick tutorial on how to make it, and we went to work.  She informed me that I am the first foreigner that her parents have ever met and interacted with, so she wasn't quite sure what to expect.  As soon as her dad stepped through the door, though, he was all smiles, and even said, "welcome to my home." Gina's jaw dropped, because she has never heard her dad speak English before.  She thinks he must have looked it up and practiced before leaving work for the day.

 

Her parents ate dinner with us, and then we proceeded to go on a walk and watch a movie.  Her sister is in Spain for the month, so I was able to stay in her room for the night.  The next day, her parents invited us to go mountain climbing with them, but she had plans later so had to turn them down.  I guess they go every weekend.  Pretty typical for that generation here.

For breakfast she requested that I make grilled cheese sandwiches... something she hasn't had since she stayed with a host family in Canada a few years back.  I introduced her to the idea of dipping the sandwiches in ketchup, and she fell in love.  We polished off breakfast with a bowl of ice-cream (we kind of forgot to eat it the night before when we watched the movie), and then parted ways.

Oh, and I almost forgot, she surprised me at the end with a gift.  A beautiful gold scarf!  Couldn't ask for a better coworker!