#epikteacher

[justanotherexpatinkorea]

홍성역사인물축제  Hongseong Hero Festival

This troupe performed old agricultural songs, sort of “whistle while you work” tunes, traditional Korean style.

[justanotherexpatinkorea]

Corona Virus 2020 // 신종 코로나 바이러스 2020

Feb 2020~

Travelling through airports, you can feel an underlying current of tension. A sneeze, a cough - corona? It’s not impossible. Especially in this region of the world. Thanks to the weather differences between Korea and Vietnam/Thailand, I actually came down with some seasonal allergies during my vacation. So funnily enough, I was that coughing/sneezing person everyone was looking at out of the corner of their eyes.

When I finally got home, I had an urgent message from my co-teacher. She told me I could not return to school for two more weeks. Because I had travelled to countries with confirmed cases of coronavirus (and gone through three international airports where people from all over the world pass through, carrying who knows-what in their micro-biomes) they were asking me to undergo two weeks of self-quarantine. Stay home and avoid contact with other people. (After than more than a week of chilling alone at home, I can be fairly certain I don’t have it. No worries.)

The most ironic part: during the time I was abroad on vacation, the situation in Korea became much more severe. We have now shot up to the second largest number of coronavirus patients- second only to China. 4,000 and counting - it will only climb higher. l It probably would’ve been safer for me to stay on vacation.

So how serious is the coronavirus here?

Fortunately or unfortunately, Korea can trace about 60% of the cases back to one source. The Shincheonji Church of Jesus (actually cult, not church). Members of the large religious origination travelled abroad, went to church services, infected each other, and spread it to others in the city of Daegu in the south-east. The largest concentration of cases are in that area. The government has been doing it’s best to track down, test, and quarantine other potential patients.

There are PSA posters everywhere, hand sanitiser dispensers in spaces like supermarkets. Sales of masks have been restricted due to demand. Before, you could buy them at any convenience store. But now, you have to go somewhere like a bank or post office, and each person can only buy five at a time.

The new school year in Korea tarts in the first week of March.  The start day was originally pushed back one week — then two, then three. In Japan, all public schools are closed until spring break. I wonder if something like that could happen here, too. But it’s hard to say how much worse it will or won’t get yet. 

It’s interesting to be able to experience the corona phenomenon from this perspective. The social, economic, and political implications are so different here compared to the US. Of course I’m concerned about how it’s unfolding back home. But on the ground, I have to approach this situation from the Korean perspective, understanding the ways it affects Korea. 

[justanotherexpatinkorea]

End of Winter Vacation 2020: Thailand - Bangkok (2/2) // 겨울 방학 마무리 2020: 태국 - 방콕 (2/2)

Feb. 20 ~ 24, 2020

We wrapped up our vacation once more in Bangkok. We spent our last day walking around the IconSiam Shopping Mall. I normally wouldn’t have gone to a place like that on my own. But thanks to Hyeonhui’s insightful trip research, we spent the entire day there. Food, using up the last of our Thai baht, people watching. After the sun went down we sat out on the veranda, soaking up the perfect evening air, watching the bartenders mix drinks while they danced along to the live music. A great way to wind down.

In Thailand, I discovered my love of mango sticky rice. I’ve always enjoyed a good mango. I mean, they’re the most delicious of all the fruits. But slap a perfectly ripe, peeled mango on top of some specially prepared sticky rice, drizzled with that slightly salty coconut milk sauce. Perfection. If anything, that will be the food I miss most.

[justanotherexpatinkorea]

Winter Vacation 2020: Thailand - Ayutthaya // 겨울 방학 2020: 태국 - 아유타야

Feb. 20 ~ 24, 2020

For the second part of our Thailand trip, we made our way to Ayutthaya. This city to the north of Bangkok is littered with ancient temple complexes. In contrast to the glittering temples in Bangkok, the structures in Ayutthaya are often composed of red and earth-toned stones. This ancient capital city was destroyed by the Burmese in the 18th century, so many are falling apart and crumbling. Yet of course, they towering pagodas still cut a striking image.

We originally intended to ride bikes around the city and hit up the different temples. But we ended up hiring a tuk-tuk for the afternoon. A good choice, considering the intense heat and my propensity for getting lost. Tuk-tuks are like motorised open-air auto-rickshaws, and are as easy to catch as any taxi. Our taxi driver was a woman, not a common sight. She gave us great service, and showed us more than we would’ve been able to had we tried to do it on our own.

A lot of these photos aren’t mine. Photo credit to my friend Hyeonhui!

[justanotherexpatinkorea]

Winter Vacation 2020: Thailand - Bangkok (1/2) // 겨울 방학 2020: 태국 - 방콕(1/2)

Feb. 20 ~ 24, 2020

Thailand! For the second half of my vacation, I hopped a plane over to Thailand, where I met my friend Hyeonhui. I wasn’t alone anymore; now I had a struggle-buddy for my travels! Leaving the airport, we were immediately hit by the mid 80’s heat — just my style. We hopped in a cab and made our way to our Airbnb. We were stuck in a bit of traffic on our way, so I was staring out the window taking in the cityscape, pink and yellow and green taxis, open-window buses, groups of school kids in uniforms walking down the street. But when I heard something all too similar to the sound of flowing water I looked over at Hyeonhui. “Is he peeing?” she typed into her keypad and showed me. I could only nod in agreement and stifle a laugh while (I can only imagine) our taxi driver relieve himself into a plastic bottle. Welcome to Thailand~

If I thought temples were ubiquitous in Korea or Vietnam, then Thailand proved me wrong. Walking the streets of Bankgok, you can hardly go 20 feet without a temple being right in front of you or at least within eyesight.

We spend our time in the capital city walking around to different temples as well as the Grand Palace. Across Asia, the architecture in has a similar basic underlying structure. But the aesthetic, building materials, and methods vary between countries. The results are splendidly unique and beautiful structures that lend a distinct flavour to that particular country. In Thailand I was struck by how shiny everything was. Roof tiles are made of reflective ceramic tiles. Pillars and vertical surfaces are encrusted with yet more pieces of ceramic, glass, and mirrored materials. The word that comes to mind is “bedazzled.” The sun never seems to stop shining there, so the temples and palaces simply shimmer in the blazing sunlight. I can see functionally similar structures here in Korea. But Thailand has it’s own thing going on that can’t be found anywhere else.

A lot of these photos aren’t mine. Photo credit to my friend Hyeonhui! 

[justanotherexpatinkorea]

Winter Vacation 2020: Vietnam - Ninh Bình (1/2) // 겨울 방학 2020: 베트남 - 닌빈 (1/2)

Feb. 14 ~ 20 2020

After Hanoi I made my way south to the Ninh Binh area. My accommodations there were in Trang An.

Trang An is best known for the UNESCO heritage site - Trang An Landscape Complex. You can take boat tours through a network of rivers that flow through beautiful limestone cliffs. On the tour you pass through low-hanging caves and stop at riverside temples. Luckily I went early in the morning and avoided the insane afternoon rush - our boat was alone for most of the trip. I love everything cities have to offer, but the peace and quite of nature will always get me. When I need to recharge, a natural landscape will win every time.

Without a phone or Google Maps, I had to rely on the help of locals to get around. I’m kind of glad I didn’t have my phone, to be honest. It forces you to look up and look around. And the Vietnamese people I met were more than kind in helping my find my way.

My first day in Ninh Binh, I realised I needed warmer clothes. (Overall, it's warmer than Michigan back home, but the northern part of Vietnam can be a little chilly in the winter.) My hostel owner suggested I hop on one of the motorbikes she had on hand for her guests. I could run into town about 20 minutes away and buy a sweater or something. So with no form of ID or driving qualifications whatsoever, I sped off in what seemed like the correct direction and promptly got lost. I asked for directions a few times, but never did find the supermarket that was my original target. I ended up snagging the only sweater that would fit my tall, gangly-armed Caucasian frame  at a boutique-y resale shop and set off back to the hostel.

After the sun went down, I knew I was getting close but couldn’t make out which way to turn for the last leg. Things always look different in the dark, and I knew it was useless going any further. I stopped at a house on the side of the road and using the few Vietnamese phrases I’d written in my notebook to tell them I was lost, and could I possible use their phone? The young teen girl who cam out obliged, and my Airbnb host graciously came to collect me.

The girl invited me to wait inside their home. I sat at their kitchen table watching a Vietnamese-dubbed Korean drama with her and her grandpa. I let my eyes wander over the family photos that lined the walls - wedding and military service portraits, baby pics, school graduation shots. If I’d had Google to show me the way home I never would have had the chance to experience the hospitality and kindness of these people. And for that I am grateful.

Photos:

1~2) My hostel in Ninh Binh

3~5) roadside pagoda I stumbled on while riding my bike 

6~8) some ducks and water buffalo just hanging out

9~11) Trang An boat tour

[justanotherexpatinkorea]

Winter Vacation 2020: Vietnam - Hanoi // 겨울 방학 2020: 베트남 - 하노이

Feb. 14 ~ 20, 2020

This year, I met a few bumps along the way during my vacation. But I realize that I’m privileged to the ability, resources, and time to travel. So I tried not to let those hiccups get in the way of a good time.

I set out for Vietnam alone, on Valentine’s Day. At the airline check-in counter I was informed that I had made a mistake on my visa pre-apprival form. So after missing my intended flight and a bit of a panic trying to navigate emergency Vietnam visa services, I doled out the extra $200 bucks and managed to get on the next plane. My first couple days I was in Hanoi, staying at an Airbnb in the city. Exhausted after more than 24 hours of no sleep and navigating international airports on my own, I took the host’s recommendation and ate a delicious meal at a local restaurant.

The cuisine there features a lot of fresh herbs, my favourite being marjoram. I don’t think I’d ever eaten fresh marjoram before, and the flavor won me over 100%. My second day in Hanoi, I took a food tour in the Old Quarter. Food is a great way to orient oneself to a new culture, and it’s near impossible to walk away unsatisfied. If anything, I would move to Vietnam for the food.

Buildings in Hanoi:

1 & 2) Temple of Literature / Văn Miếu: 11th century, Temple of Confucius, housed Vietnam’s first university

3)  Quan Thanh Temple / Đền Quán Thánh:  11th century Taoist Temple

4) Thang Long Imperial Citadel / Hoàng thành Thăng Long: 11th century royal palace complex - thanks to the French, a lot if it was torn down in the 1800’s but has since been rebuilt

5) Tran Quod Pagoda / Chùa Trấn Quốc: beautiful pagoda on the West Lake in Hanoi

6) Haon Kiem Lake / Hồ Hoàn Kiếm: small lake in center of Hanoi & Turtle Tower /Tháp Rùa: structure in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake

Unfortunately I lost my phone on the second day ( and all the pictures that were on it). I actually did bring a pocket-sized digital camera with me, but the photos didn’t come out that great. So I gave up and simply decided to take it in and appreciate each moment without the barrier of a camera lens.

Therefore,  most of these photos here aren’t mine - I’ve simply pulled them off the internet so you can see what i’m talking about ^^

[justanotherexpatinkorea]

Day Trip to Gangnam // 강남 당일치기 여행

Jan. 30 2020

I’ve been so lucky to make a lot of great Korean friends - one of my best friends here is Hyeonhui. We made a spontaneous trip to Gangnam one afternoon at her suggestion. We went to an art museum to see an exhibit on Toulouse Lautrec, stopped at an ear-piercing shop to get my second holes pierced (because why not?), did some window shopping, and I tried Auntie Anne’s pretzels for the first time in my life(!) at the Gangnam Bus Terminal. Sometimes a cream cheese-filled pretzel stick is all you really need.