A day at sea

It finally arrived!  The long anticipated day out on the Koreana, Yeosu' s biggest tall ship. And we couldn't have asked for a nicer day! The weather was absolutely beautiful- warm and sunny, and being in the water gave us a nice breeze that kept it from feeling too hot.

The Koreana

We set sail in the morning with about 35 of us foreigners, plus the captain and crew, who of course had to get a photo taken with us and their ship before we left. I'm actually quite glad that Stuart, (who organized this trip) didn't go for the full 50 people the ship could hold because I feel like that would've made the ship overly crowded.

We sailed around on the bay just outside of Yeosu and enjoyed the weather and scenery.

 

Around lunch time we stopped at one of Yeosu's many islands for about an hour,  and we wandered around the island for a bit, while others jumped off the back of the ship and took a swim.
Apparently the village on this island has a famous makgeolli (rice wine) factory, which we were supposed to be able to go see,  but the owner wasn't answering his phone, so that was cancelled. Nonetheless, a rather large number of bottles of makgeolli were loaded onto the ship anyway.

Just as we were about to leave the island, a bunch of Koreans wearing bright blue shirts came up to our ship and started talking to the captain.

Turns out they were from NBC, a Korean TV station, and they wanted to take some pictures and video footage  us and the ship.  So we delayed our departure for a bit and had our pictures taken while having to  say things like "I love Yeosu" and "Fighting". Then they had to film people jumping off the ship onto the water and others climbing up to the crowsnest.

When we got underway again, we sailed by another island, whose rock face is apparently a famous view in Yeosu.

After that, the crew put the one front sail up again and turned off the boat's motor. Since it wasn't really that windy,  we didn't really go anywhere fast at all. Well actually, I think we sat in about the same spot for at least an hour or so. Not that there was anything wrong with that mind you.

During this time, it got really quiet, as a lot of people fell asleep (or passed out, depending on the person and what they'd been drinking). We also had a paper passed around for those of us who live in Yeosu, as the captain apparently said that he'd register those of us who were interested in a sailing class for free! So we of course jumped at the chance, and we'll have to see if it comes to anything.

We pulled back into the harbor around 5:30, and everyone started to take account of how tanned or burned they got over the course of the day. I of course got a bit of a lovely tan! As we de-boarded the boat, the captain shook our hands, gave hugs and had photo ops.

All in all, I thought it was a wonderful day- I got to spend time with my friends, met some new people and enjoyed a beautiful day out on the water.

We were also informed earlier today that the captain is planning another outing sometime in the near future that will be an overnight trip and will cost significantly less (only 10,000₩) on the condition that we all make or bring a food dish from our countries. Hmmm....we'll have to see about that one... He must've really liked us to be offering to do this...

If you're interested in seeing more pictures from this particular outing, you can see them in the album I created on Facebook here.

Random things my students/co-workers/friends say

So, I've decided to make a post that I might keep updating, (depending how I feel) about the random amusing things that I get to hear in Korea.

My friends:
"You're so calm - like a Buddha!"
"It's so relaxing being around you."
"Mandy, you're so refreshing - even though you can be quiet, you always come up with thoughtful contributions to the conversation that make it feel like it pulls everything together."
"I feel like I can be myself around you; that I don't have to be anyone else"
"I wish I was a mermaid! Wait, how do mermaids have sex?"
"Look! A whale!" Others: "are you sure it wasn't garbage?" 1st one: "I know what I saw, and I saw what I know!"


Co-teachers:
"Amanda, you don't need to diet, but we do!" *ahem - never thought I needed to - and umm...sure you do...*
"I don't like kids - I only like babies"
"Amanda, your body hair (arms) has turned white."
"The other teachers want to be close to you, but they're scared to talk to you (in English)"
"Do you think I should have another baby? I want your opinion."
"Your lunch is so little!'
"The principal decided that the Friday after the last day of the semester, all of the teachers will go on a hiking trip together." Me: 'YES!!!' Her: "But I don't really want to go because I don't like hiking, but I have to because the principal decided it.  And I think all the other teachers really want to go hiking with you."
"When do you get paid? You should treat us for dinner."
"Amanda, your skin color changed.  I understand that westerners like that, but for Koreans, we don't. We like white skin. I don't understand why foreigners do tanning."
"After the open class, I told the homeroom teachers we taught the whole lesson in English.  They didn't like that."
"Oh! You're eating a lot today! Good! Good job!"
"Why do you look so happy? It was only a twenty minute break."
"Do you need to know Korean?"
Me: "I saw a mouse today" Co-teacher: "Did you say hello to it?  I think you like all animals"
"You eat so little and sleep so little, but you have so much voice! You must be Superman!"
"I like making you draw things, because I can't!"
"Why are you always so happy on Mondays? I hate Mondays. I always think wow when I see you so happy."
"I think you need an oxygen mask."
"You don't like shopping? Usually women do though...guys must really like you."



Other staff:
After trying unsuccessfully to talk to me by using Google Translate: "Google shit!"
"You went to Odongdo? Next time, you go with us - we your guides!"
"Amanda - we be your Korean teachers! You be our English teacher! Call?"
"You don't want to drink soju or beer? Are you Christian? I think you don't want to drink beer because you're Christian."  uhh...but that's not the reason why though...
"Amanda, call me oppa." Other guy: "Oppa? You mean 'appa'! *laughs* Amanda, you call him appa, and me oppa."
"Went to a beach on the weekend - there were foreigners there, wearing bikinis *scandalized look* and then some of them took off the tops of their bikinis. Why???"
After a workshop on the topic of Canada Day - "Amanda, your country, my style."
After refusing a car ride home, "You like walking???"
"Your face turned so red! You look like an apple!"
"Here Amanda, ice coffee. DRINK!!!!!!!!"
"Thank you equals ice-cream."
"Amanda, let's go hiking in Seongsan park" (funny because you can't really hike in this park - walk maybe...)
"You're big!" Me: "I'm big?!" "Ah, no! I meant you're tall!"
"You look similar to Lady Gaga."
"Why are you always outside? Are you lonely?"


Students:
"Are all foreigners skinny?"
"Can you Korean?" Me: 'A little bit...' "OK, Start!" Me: '안녕하세요...' *They all jump back with amazed expressions, say "Wow!" and all start talking at once.
"Are you 220 cm tall?"
"Have you ever been in a Miss Korea...oh...Miss Canada contest? No? Why not?"
A group of grade 5 girls hanging out at lunch time: two of them are play fighting - the girls watching say "They're lesbians!" Girls fighting come and hug me, saying "Amanda! She hit me! We're fighters!"
This one doesn't have to do with anything they said - but what they did - a lot of the younger girls like to hold my hands and start bouncing.  The other day, one grade four grabbed my hand and wouldn't let the others anywhere near me,  and then started rubbing her cheek on my arm.
One of my grade 3 girls notices I have a bandaid on my wrist - grabs my hand, starts rubbing my arm and blows on my bandaid.
"Your eyes are so shiny!"
"Amanda, we're doing Gangnam style in the elevator!" - student gets down on all fours to demonstrate and starts waving his butt around.
"I'm a girl!" - this from a male student, who followed this statement up with a very good impression of a female runway model
"They have man-man love."
"Oh! Eyes blue!?"
"You're prettier than Angelina Jolie"
"What are you talking about???"
"She will study her boyfriend."
"Amanda, you're so short!"
"He likes you!"
"How old are you? Really? You're so young!" (from a 11 year old)
"Amanda, spelling, hell..."
"What is English for..." (gesturing to her breast area)
"Amanda teacher, you smell beautiful."
After summer vacation - "Amanda, your eyes are blue??!" yep, still the same color, no need to be so shocked
"You should use tape..." (on my arms to get rid of the hair...)
"How many boyfriends do you have?" - not 'do you have one' but how many LOL
"Amanda teacher, married?" me: no...pause..."Oh.  Boyfriend?" me: no....longer pause "Oh...lover??"  Why do my grade 3s know the word lover??!
"Amanda - that boy...*points to another teacher* you love? *does the whole heart sign thing*" Me: "Uhh..no..."  A few minutes later - same thing repeated, but this time I answer, "I'm too old..." Student: "Oooohhhh!" and nods like this explains everything
"I love you Amanda!"
"Phone number? phone number? phone nuuummmmbbberrrrrr....."
"Amanda sem - you are Cinderella!"
"Amanda teacher - son of a bitch meaning is what?"
"Fur!"
The DAY after a student told me her name - "Why do you always forget my name? Finally you remember my name."
Me: "What do firefighters do?" Student: "They put out!"
"Where are your lenses? You look more beautiful with them."
Teaching students the phrase "Yes, I'd love to."  A couple students get too excited, and come out with, "Yes, I love you!"

Last weekend's long weekend!

Before I start this post, I feel like I should apologize for not updating my blog lately! However, in my defence it has been rather busy for me lately - our school is holding open classes for the parents to come watch later this week, so we have to plan extra special lessons for that, and I think all of the teachers at school are crazy stressed out about it.  Not to mention being ridiculously tired - why do they have to start building/banging at 6:30 until 8 am ON THE WEEKEND???

For this post, I'll talk about last weekend, which was a long weekend!!!  Four days off - it was excellent. And I was finally not sick anymore!
I started off the weekend by going to Odongdo (a little island in Yeosu) with a friend of mine.  It was a lovely day and Odongdo is absolutely beautiful! I can probably see myself going back there a few times! 
You can see some of the pictures that I took in this photo album (Click here).
Oh, and they have a water fountain there that they time to music - it was kind of cool - I took a video - See it here:

I also tried out some street food (for the FIRST time in Korea) and it was DELICIOUS!!! What did I have, you may ask - well, I had a waffle that was filled with whipped cream that was drizzled with honey. Yum! (And yes, I can feel your shock from here that I ate something with whipped cream - but it didn't taste like whipped cream - it's difficult to describe, but it was more fluid and not as fluffy - does that make sense???)

On the Friday I visited Manseongni Black Sand Beach, which is apparently a famous beach in Yeosu.  It was my first visit to a beach here - unfortunately it ended up being rather hazy that day (but I went again this weekend and it was a beautiful clear day and you could see the islands all the way across the water.  Getting there is kind of scary though.  On part of the bus ride there, you go through a tunnel which looks like it is only one lane of traffic, but nope, both directions of traffic go through it!  So when vehicles come from the other direction, the bus either has to pull into a tiny little offshoot or back up into one.  Not to mention there are NO lights in this tunnel at all other than the vehicle headlights - sketchy!  Here's a couple pictures from the beach - these are from last Friday - which wasn't a holiday for everyone, which is why the beach was so quiet.

The only other interesting things I can really say about my long weekend was that I visited a market and bought some peas - and the ahjummas kept trying to convince me to buy some weird lettuce too, but all I wanted was my peas!  Then I wandered down to a fruit shop where I got myself some grapes and got a baker's half dozen bananas as a service! Score!! 'Free' fruit! Who wouldn't love that?!