I am not too far removed from American pop culture to make a good Kanye reference whenever an opportunity presents itself. Which is pretty often, seeing that he never seems to stop talking. But how can you blame him? If I was the self-appointed "voice of our generation" I guess I would take full advantage of it too.
This week at school I am actually teaching the little Asian children all about American pop culture, particularly pop music and it's origins with the Jackson 5. I don't know exactly how accurate it is to say the Jackson 5 began the American pop music movement, but if I (the native, American - not Native American - English teacher says it, it's as true if it was written in the Holy Book by God himself). Anyways, this week my lesson is actually crafted around the ever changing face of Michael Jackson and his impact on the American pop culture music scene. After a perry glorious slide show depicting the evolution of his face, in which students point out that he is "No more black! White woman now!", I explain the trajectory of his life, omitting a few hairy details. Students are then left to unscramble a list of 17 English sentences about his life and put them in chronological order.
I pretty much have free range over what I teach my students. I have no text book to guide me, and my co-teacher and the other English teachers at my school have absolutely no care as to what I am teaching. I have yet to be evaluated, or even watched for more than 2 minutes. For all they know I could be informing all the students how to make bombs or the best way to build a sand castle.
Next week. Next week.
This past Saturday I had the pleasure to travel down to the coastal city of Mokpo ... a port city (I think that's true) on the very southwest corner of the Korean peninsula. I had a fabulous time exploring the city with other ETA friends, it was great to get away from Hwasun for a day. I met up with a friend in Gwangju ... the closest and largest city in my province, and from there we took a 50 minute bus ride to Mokpo. South Korean public transportation is insanely amazing (besides the fact that it is all in Korean - that has proven to be a little difficult to maneuver around). It is so readily available and can take you pretty much anywhere you want to go, within South Korea of course. Sadly, no day trips to Russia. My friend and I did, however, once again get reprimanded by an old Korean lady for speaking too much English on the bus. We first considered holding our conversation in either Arabic or Swahili, but soon realized that neither of us spoke those languages. So we went with English, our third choice. It is definitely not the first time I have been somewhat shunned for speaking English, and it probably won't be the last.
Anyways, Saturday afternoon was spent enjoying the company of other American friends, walking up and down the boardwalk (I'm not exactly sure if that's what you call it in Korea, but it was a walk-way made of boards, so boardwalk it is), renting and riding a 4 person bicycle, "eye shopping", and gorging ourselves at an all-you-can-eat American style buffet. By far the most money I have spent on a meal in probably the last 2 years, but absolutely worth it. I was seriously considering trying to shove 3 or 4 pieces of cheesecake and a bowl full of guacamole in my backpack. Next time: Tupperware.
Mokpo was a delightful city, very open, easily accessible, clean, and had many options for fun. (Not that the local Hwasun toilet shop isn't a barrel of excitement) I must admit that I developed a little jealousy as I saw many other of my ETA friends in Mokpo, surrounded by other ETAs and in such a nice, accommodating city. The grass does always seem greener on the other side of the Korean sidewalk.
I arrived back in Hwasun late Saturday night to find my youngest host-sister, Eun Su, preparing for the upcoming school elections. I don't exactly remember if I have mentioned in this blog that she is running for school president (and I'm too lazy to go back and read my posts again), so I'm mentioning it again. My youngest host-sister, Eun Su, is running for school president. A fairly big deal - it's pretty much the most important and exciting thing a second grade student at Hwasun High School can do next Saturday morning at 9:00 am. I'm just saying.
Well, I'm now living in campaign head quarters, surrounded by politically active women - just one more thing Bill Clinton and I have in common. (I'm secretly hoping for a large, campaign bus to roll up in the driveway with some catchy slogan like "CHANGE" or "HOPE" painted on the side, so we can finally start meeting the good folks of Hwasun and encourage them to get out and vote."
Anyways, the Hwasun school election is no little thing. My host-mom and Eun Su have been prepping for this for the past 2 weeks - going over her speech, making up cheers, and designing posters. A couple days ago Eun Su asked me why Obama won our presidential election. Confused, I answered, "Because he had the most votes, duh." Not exactly what she was looking for, Eun Su asked what his famous campaign slogan was that won him so many votes. I told her "Yes, We Can" was fairly popular, and what do you know - I wake up Sunday morning to find about 50 fancy posters splattered with "Yes, We Cans" all over. I guess if you're going to take campaigning advice from a politician, it might as well be a successful one.
So in addition to hanging her posters all throughout school, Eun Su has started to go to school an hour early and stand at the school's gate to yell her campaign cheers and slogans as all the students walk in for the day. It is absolutely adorable and I can tell she really wants to be president of her school. As a teacher (wow, that sounds weird) I am to remain impartial, and am not allowed to vote. I actually have her one and only opponent in one of my classes as well.
The election is this Saturday ... I'll make sure to keep you posted on "Election 09: Hwasun High School".
Today, I signed up for my high school's new Sports Dance club. (actually pronounced, in Korean, sports-uh dance-uh club-uh ... although to be fair, dance is actually spelled "danse". I am starting classes next week every Tuesday and Thursday evening, for one hour. I have absolutely no idea what this entails, but I was told to wear sneakers and be prepared for some sporty dancing with my fellow teachers and some students.
In an effort to fully embrace Hwasun and Korea, I considered joining the local gym (yes, a gym) only to take an ajumma (old Korean lady) jazzercize class. When I learned that this would most likely cause me to pay a fairly expensive membership fee - only to be able to wear a leotard and dance to what I hoped to be once popular Korean 80s songs - I decided to choose the cheaper option (yup ... still cheap ... even in Korea) and sports-uh danse-uh at my high school.
Although I'm assuming it will be me, about 3 students, and a room full of my 40+ fellow teachers, I'm hoping its enjoyable and gives me another way to better connect with my students and teachers. I'm fairly fluent in the language of dance, so communication shouldn't be a problem.
Side note: I learned last week that my high school (like most others, I believe) has an annual talent show in November. Without asking, two of my fellow teachers assumed I would be dancing (why then think this, I have absolutely no idea) for everyone. Upon informing me of the talent show, they asked me what type of dancing I would be doing. I hope interpretative ribbon is acceptable.
Maybe it's because of my sweet dance moves, but since being in Hwasun I have been proposed to twice already. Fairly flattering, kind of creepy ... and both from male students under the age of 16. After some serious consideration, I have decided to turn them both down. Our future goals and plans seem to differ too much. Them with their hopes of owning their own Play Station, and my goal of not being a creep. It is, however, nice to know that my options are always open.
In addition to the sidewalk proposals, I have noticed how incredibly common it is for Koreans (of all ages) to hold hands with one another. In a country that is somewhat of a "step behind" the modern concept of dating and individual freedom, public affection among members of the same sex is extremely popular. It is considered almost taboo to have a boyfriend or girlfriend while in high school - some schools don't even allow it. Interaction between members of the opposite sex is almost nonexistent, at least at Hwasun high school. The boys and girls are almost always segregated (by their own doing) in the classroom (girls hardly ever sit by boys), in the cafeteria (always all girl or all boy lunch tables) and during free time (girls always huddled together, boys always hitting each other in a circle) ... though same sex affection is extremely prominent. It's kind of nice to see a pair of 12 year old boys walking down the sidewalk, holding hands and thinking absolutely nothing of it ... or a mother and her older daughter walking hand in hand down the street. Where I would normally consider holding hands to be something done with a member of the opposite sex to whom you are attracted, not so much over here. Touche Korea.
That's all the 411 in Korea right now. Or should I say 114 - everything is upside down, it seems.
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