One of the reasons I haven't been posting much lately is I've felt really isolated. I don't want anyone to think I'm depressed over this, I'm not. I just haven't felt like I've found many of my kind of people here in S. Korea. So, I guess this post is really more about the fact that I miss the people I love to be around.
South Korea is a lovely country. Its countrymen are by and large generous, hospitable people. I find that they are stand offish with strangers and reluctant to befriend you or make commitments to you of time. This has made getting to know South Koreans a bit difficult. Thus, my pool of South Korean friends is limited to non-existent.
Then there is the population of foreigners here. They come from all areas of English speakers; America, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, and even India. For the most part, they are genuinely good people. They are kind, generous, open and fun to hang out with. Most of them are also pretty into the late night party scene, which is great for them, but not really my thing. I miss having a circle of friends to talk with, go to a play with, and explore something with. So, to all my lovely and wonderful friends in Washington, Idaho, and dotted about the globe, I miss you tons, even if you don't get a post on Facebook saying so. I genuinely long for some good company here, which I have found in my two good friends, but I need more of them. I will work on getting out more.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
H is for Hagwons
First, I know it's been a while, sorry. These have been floating around my head for a bit, just haven't felt motivated to put them on the blog...so here goes.
I work at a hagwon here in South Korea. For those of you who don't know what they are, they are traditionally after school academies to help students further their interests in science, math, language, etc. From what I understand from people I've talked to who grew up in S. Korea, hagwons were scarce until recently. They were only an option for those who wanted to advance a bit in certain areas.
This seems to be in contrast to their current usage here in S. Korea. Now, some hogwans still offer assistance further skills in a specific subject areas, but there are also English language hagwons everywhere I turn here in Pohang. I imagine it is the same with most cities here in S. Korea. most of my students in my afternoon classes attend at least 2 hagwons each day after school. Plus they have a sport and a musical instrument that they play.
This means that S. Korean children of the middle and upper class spend about 12-14 hours a day in education related activities before going home. Then they have to do homework. I wonder if any of them get to sleep even 8 hours a night. which brings me to the point of why I wanted to talk about hagwons.
Hagwons originally started as a good idea, extra support for children who needed or wanted it. Now it seems to be an extended day care service for busy parents who want trophy children. The sad part is that, at least at the hagwon I work at, the system of education seems to be rote memorization and regurgitation on tests. There is little room to teach critical thinking or intsill a love of learning.
So, you end up with worn out children, who have nervous breakdowns before their time. It's just not a good way to handle education. It pisses me off that a clueless Obama is heralding the S. Korean education system as an example to the US. The US is already well on its way to becoming like S. Korea with No Child Left Behind (NCLB).
I work at a hagwon here in South Korea. For those of you who don't know what they are, they are traditionally after school academies to help students further their interests in science, math, language, etc. From what I understand from people I've talked to who grew up in S. Korea, hagwons were scarce until recently. They were only an option for those who wanted to advance a bit in certain areas.
This seems to be in contrast to their current usage here in S. Korea. Now, some hogwans still offer assistance further skills in a specific subject areas, but there are also English language hagwons everywhere I turn here in Pohang. I imagine it is the same with most cities here in S. Korea. most of my students in my afternoon classes attend at least 2 hagwons each day after school. Plus they have a sport and a musical instrument that they play.
This means that S. Korean children of the middle and upper class spend about 12-14 hours a day in education related activities before going home. Then they have to do homework. I wonder if any of them get to sleep even 8 hours a night. which brings me to the point of why I wanted to talk about hagwons.
Hagwons originally started as a good idea, extra support for children who needed or wanted it. Now it seems to be an extended day care service for busy parents who want trophy children. The sad part is that, at least at the hagwon I work at, the system of education seems to be rote memorization and regurgitation on tests. There is little room to teach critical thinking or intsill a love of learning.
So, you end up with worn out children, who have nervous breakdowns before their time. It's just not a good way to handle education. It pisses me off that a clueless Obama is heralding the S. Korean education system as an example to the US. The US is already well on its way to becoming like S. Korea with No Child Left Behind (NCLB).
Monday, January 10, 2011
G is for Garbage and Gifts
I have found that South Korea is a place of diverse feelings for me. I've really had a hate-love relationship with it since I got here. I hate the banking system here, the doctors, and the cold here. I love the culture, language, most of the food, the experience of being in a new place, teaching, and the new friends I have met here. How can one place hold such difficult and wonderful things all at once?
Perhaps a better question is how humanity is so like that, full of horror and miracles, cruelty and compassion, and dispair and hope. These things are almost always tied up in us; so closely knit together that from one moment to the next they seem to blend together. I will perhaps save further discussion of South Korean banking and humanity for another day, but today, I feel I could tackle garbage and gifts here in South Korea.
While most of developed South Korea seems a very organized and efficient waste reclaimation machine, my neighborhood is a bit different. Is there trash pick up here? Yes! Is there recycling? Absolutely! In Daegu, at the Costco, at my work, and in downtown Pohang there are recycle bins and garbages fairly regularly on the streets and in other places. The trouble comes with the odd garbage piles strewn about my neighborhood, which is newly developing.
In my neighborhood, the rubbish heaps mount high and the litter that is blown about is like wind strewn garbage-fetti. One factor that leads to this is the wind itself. Often people will put out neatly tied bags of refuse, only for it to fall victim to a dog, then the remaining contents get flung about by the impressive amount of wind that blows here in Jangsongdong. Koreans also seem to value the very new. To this end, much furniture also lies abandoned in lots around my apartment building. Once you look up past this refuse, you can see the beautiful trees and mountains that line the outskirts of my town. They are remarkable.
The really great part of this odd mix of refuse is that sometimes people throw out highly usable items, like my new couch. I have, more than once, thought that for as much garbage as I've walked through and past in South Korea, I've had as many gifts. I had a dream before I left for my new life here. In my dream there was a cupboard at my school where everything I needed to start my new life was held, and all I had to do was reach in and I would pull out anything I needed.
When I arrived at my apartment here, I had all that I needed. In my apartment was furniture, cooking utensils, some food, and toilet paper. I can't believe how good that felt. I thought, wow, this new life is so amazing. Already my dreams are coming true. So, I do need to thank the teacher who lived here before me and some other amazing people for lugging the furniture I now have up to my apartment. I think there are moments here when I let the challenges overshadow my joys.
So, to help me stay focused and to share some of the things I feel are so lovely about South Korea, here is a list of the things that I love about it so far:
Perhaps a better question is how humanity is so like that, full of horror and miracles, cruelty and compassion, and dispair and hope. These things are almost always tied up in us; so closely knit together that from one moment to the next they seem to blend together. I will perhaps save further discussion of South Korean banking and humanity for another day, but today, I feel I could tackle garbage and gifts here in South Korea.
While most of developed South Korea seems a very organized and efficient waste reclaimation machine, my neighborhood is a bit different. Is there trash pick up here? Yes! Is there recycling? Absolutely! In Daegu, at the Costco, at my work, and in downtown Pohang there are recycle bins and garbages fairly regularly on the streets and in other places. The trouble comes with the odd garbage piles strewn about my neighborhood, which is newly developing.
The really great part of this odd mix of refuse is that sometimes people throw out highly usable items, like my new couch. I have, more than once, thought that for as much garbage as I've walked through and past in South Korea, I've had as many gifts. I had a dream before I left for my new life here. In my dream there was a cupboard at my school where everything I needed to start my new life was held, and all I had to do was reach in and I would pull out anything I needed.
When I arrived at my apartment here, I had all that I needed. In my apartment was furniture, cooking utensils, some food, and toilet paper. I can't believe how good that felt. I thought, wow, this new life is so amazing. Already my dreams are coming true. So, I do need to thank the teacher who lived here before me and some other amazing people for lugging the furniture I now have up to my apartment. I think there are moments here when I let the challenges overshadow my joys.
So, to help me stay focused and to share some of the things I feel are so lovely about South Korea, here is a list of the things that I love about it so far:
- Bulgogi
- Galbi
- Ori (duck--which is so much more delicious here)
- Ori Gui
- Ori kebabs
- Cheesey rice (dak bokke with cheese)
- Heated flooring
- Hanbocks
- Nice co-workers
- Mandu
- Duck bone soup
- Je Yu Dop Bop
- Lam Yen (ramen)
- Korean (the language)
- My students
- Giant vegetables (which are so much more delicious here)
- Jukdo market
- Yogurt
- Bananas
- Asian pears (which are so much more delicious here)
- Korean apples (which are so much more delicious here)
- New friends
- Feeling more grateful for the things I love about the States
- Writing a blog
- Learning more about myself
- Seeing the world through the lense of another culture
- Making money
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