Dynamic Korea

At the EPIK orientation the lecturers kept telling us that "Korea is dynamic," which basically means that growth and change have become a way of life here, as the country has developed and entered the global economy so quickly. The word 'dynamic' makes everything sound really fun and exciting, and sometimes it is, but - to rant for just a moment - it's also used as an excuse for what seems like last-minute planning and changes. A good, or at least not annoying, example of dynamic Korea is the rate of construction. When I first moved to Daegu and was learning my way around, there was a certain building on the corner of my alley that I always looked for, so I knew where to turn to find my studio. One morning I left for school and everything was quiet and normal. However, as I was walking home that day I thought for a moment that I had gone the wrong direction, because where the building used to be there was now just an empty lot and some people standing around watching a bulldozer scrape the bare ground. They flattened a multiple-story building in one day. They've already started construction on the new building that will take its place, and I have no doubt that it will be finished and in use by winter.

There have also been a few annoying examples of dynamic Korea: Like how I found out at 11pm Tuesday night that there was an essay contest re-scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, so every class period on Wednesday would be shortened, and there were also some classroom changes, so I actually wouldn't be teaching my third-period class at all. Or like Thursday, when I finished teaching my first class of the day and that co-teacher informed me that we had to hurry up, because now it was time to take yearbook pictures (I wouldn't have come to school in jeans and a ponytail had I been aware). I'm sure that some of this, or at least my impression of it, is due to my ignorance of the Korean language. There is a messenger system on every computer, and I get several messages every day, but they're all in Korean so I never even look at them. I'm not making excuses or asking for special treatment, but living and working in Korea is definitely a lesson in flexibility!

Anyway, it's almost time for another weekend. The weeks go so quickly here. I'm just so busy trying to keep my head above water every day as far as lesson planning and work go, that it's all over before I know it. I didn't end up traveling for the Chuseok holiday last weekend (I just waited too long to figure things out and make plans) but I did have a really nice weekend. I didn't have to work Friday or Monday, and I spent time with other people that were hanging around Daegu for the weekend. Hyun Joo and I had dinner Thursday night, and we also tried the 'Super Rider' 4D motion theater. It's just a little place downtown with a waiting room and a tiny theater. The only thing in the theater is a screen and little roller coaster-cart (not sure what they're called) for four people. For 3,000 won you can choose from eight or ten different 'rides,' sit in the cart, pull the bar down across your chest, put on special 4D glasses and enjoy the ride! It's very realistic - Hyun Joo and I chose one that simulated sledding through a steep mountain valley, and the cart actually bumps you and throws you around like it's really happening! We were all screaming and shrieking but it was really fun.

I also met up with one of my co-teachers, Bosun. On Friday we ate lunch at an Indian restaurant, and on Saturday night she introduced me to one of her friends and we had dinner and went to noraebong, or karaoke. At first I wasn't sure I would like it but it was really fun - instead of being on a stage like with karaoke, for noraebong you rent small private rooms for just you and your friends. The singing club was really nice - they all have couches and tambourines, and you can buy snacks and drinks. I went again last night with a bunch of other native teachers - there were nine of us so we got a bigger room that had 3 or 4 TV screens!

The next big event that's coming up is Halloween! Since it's on a Saturday this year I have to start looking for a costume because there's sure to be a lot of parties. I don't think it's really a big deal for Koreans, but of course there will be a lot of Westerners out. I might be tagging along with a group of people going to Seoul to party, which is really exciting! I haven't been out of Daegu since I got here and I really want to visit Seoul a few times this year.

Be sure to look at my pictures and keep in touch!