A snowy Valentine

The view outside our apartment.

This morning Aaron, his dad, Pat, (they are here for two weeks--we feel lucky to have so many visitors) and I woke up to a legitimate snowstorm outside our window.  I was practically jumping up and down as this was more snow than I've seen since we came to Busan.  It rarely snows here and it has NEVER snowed this much!  So, like true Minnesotans we didn't stay inside and watch movies all day...no!  We layered up and went outside to enjoy the day!  We headed north of Busan to our favorite temple to show Aaron's dad and Pat as well as enjoy the snow covered pines and mountains.  Despite my chilly toes, it had to be one of the best days I've had in Korea.  Enjoy these great shots by Aaron!

How many birds can you see?

Snowy Buddha.

When in Korea, do as the Koreans do. We all decided to use
umbrellas in the snow. I used to laugh at this idea,
but it really does make a lot of sense.

Malaysia Bound!

Tomorrow Aaron and I are off for another adventure, but this time it involves 90 degrees and humidity!  We're headed to the island of Borneo to adventure through some of the oldest and most diverse rainforest left in the world, see some huge caves (as seen in the BBC Planet Earth series) and hopefully befriend some orangutans and sea turtles.  I feel grateful to have my in-house scientist on the trip to explain everything! :)  Then, we will end our trip in Kuala Lampur to celebrate the Lunar New Year which is an incredibly important holiday in Asia.  We will give a long update after we return on February 5.  Peace and love to you all!

Confucianism...a winning system?

I can’t help but comment on Nicholas Kristof’s column this week.  Read it or if you’d rather not, it’s about how an international study last month showed that China, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea performed the best in math, science and reading.  The US came in 15^th in reading, 23^rd in science and 31^st in math. 

He goes on to talk about how Confucianism is the winner.  It’s a system that praises education and respects teachers as equivalents to doctors, lawyers, and businessmen.  I've experienced here as store employees and waiters call you 선생님 (seon-saeng-nim which means “teacher” in Korean) even if you aren’t one as it’s their equivalent to “sir or ma'am.”  Teachers and education are important in this culture. 

And now having lived and taught in this system for almost 2 years now, I’ve experienced Confucianism first hand.  I appreciate how diligent the majority of my students are everyday.  I’m amazed by how if I give them a break time, they use it to study.  I am continually in awe by the inherent respect they have for me as a teacher whether it’s carrying my computer and supplies to the classroom, cleaning the board and sweeping the classroom floor, bowing and apologizing to me if I’ve disciplined them in class, or giving me gifts for no reason at all.  Education is truly “steeped” into the culture as Kristof says and with that comes respect for all involved in the educational system. 

However, when tea is steeped too long it becomes quite bitter.  And although you may still be getting the necessary nutrients from it, it’s not nearly as satisfying—thus the Confucian education system.  After teaching here and immersing myself in this culture, I’ve seen how bitter it can be.

During the last week of school before vacation I asked my students if they had any plans over break.  I did not have one student tell me they were going to go on vacation, go to a movie with friends or sleep in (a few said play computer games but that’s about it).  The only thing my students said they were going to do was go to academy and study.  Really.  Study.  During school breaks they go to their academies all day.  These academies are after school schools that almost ALL Korean students go to and their parents pay big money to send them to.  Some are math specific, others specific to English, science, computer programming and some touch on all subjects.  During the school year my students attend their respective academies immediately after their regular school day and don’t get home until 10pm.  And then, during their break they have to go too?  Contrary to my fellow Korean teachers’ reactions, I reacted quite disappointed.  I encouraged my students to take a break!  Play with your friends!  Go skin your knee or something!  Spend some time doing something for yourself during your break from school.  These poor students never have a chance to be kids!

Kristof also mentioned “Many Chinese complain scathingly that their system kills independent thought and creativity, and they envy the American system for nurturing self-reliance.” Common sense is lost in this “study study study” culture as well.  There is no room for experiencing life and making mistakes, therefore, gaining common sense. Both Aaron and I have experienced certain instances when our friends or colleagues are so hooked into the system, that they can’t question something when it’s blatantly wrong or could be done in a better way.  Also, there isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t worry about my students who may not get the best test scores but have personalities that are bigger than a metaphorical A+!  Everything is black and white, which leaves no room for questioning or thinking about how things could be done differently or how people can have a wide variety of interests and strengths. 

In my classes I really try to encourage my students to think critically and creatively.  And it’s difficult for them!  But, when I hear my students’ minds gingerly stepping outside of their memorized boxes, it’s one of the greatest moments of my day.  Yes, I’m American and that’s the educational style I’m used to, but I’ve learned how preciously effective our system is and how we need to appreciate and nurture it much more than we do.   Here in East Asia, education is everything, and I think the US really needs to learn something from that.  But in the US, education isn’t absolutely everything, and I think East Asia could learn a little something from us too.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas in Korea is a bit different from that back home.  It's considered a "couples" holiday almost comparable to Valentine's Day.  You spend Christmas Eve with your sweetie, exchange gifts, and eat Christmas cake that can be purchased at your local Baskin Robbins, Paris Baguette, Dunkin' Donuts or local bakery.  So on Christmas Eve we just had a date night, went to a part of town with Christmas decorations, wandered the streets with hot coffee in hand, and enjoyed a "couples" Christmas.


But it's always during the holidays when I long for home and the family, food, snow, traditions, and quirks that go along with it the most.  We certainly did our best to make Korea feel like home this year.  Whether it was making homemade decorations, cookies, cinnamon rolls or getting together with friends---Christmas came to Korea.  And evidently, so did Santa, as in true Runestad Christmas tradition fashion, he forgot something in our window sill---his bottle of soju. 

We baked peanut butter reindeer cookies for
our colleagues.  

The white elephant gift I received after my
jar of dill pickles was stolen from me.  Found out later that night that
 I definitely wasn't used to eating
 these cheesy balls of MSG and fake flavor anymore. 

On Christmas day, Aaron and I helped put on a program at a local orphanage.
We were in charge of the snowflake making/decorating station.  This adorable little lady
wanted a snowflake beard...

and decided he should have one too.

Sharing his snowflake making skillz.

But the snowflake making didn't stop there.  We finished Christmas Day with
a gathering of friends and food and Aaron continued to perfect
his snowflake making skillz into the wee hours of the morning.

The holiday season also signals an end to the school year.  Although the official school year is over, we each have 3 weeks of English camp starting Monday that we'll be running at our schools.  It's a much more laid back and fun way to connect with our students and teach English.  Jake will be joining the second and third week of mine when he comes to visit.  I look forward to putting him to work (the theme of the second week is "English through Music" on purpose) as well as showing him around.  Let's hope Pyongyang doesn't do anything to hinder that...

North Korean defectors

Here's a video worth watching to get a glimpse about defectors from North Korea called Learning Liberty.  SBS Dateline is a documentary program out of Australia.  Check out some of their other work as well---it's outstanding.


In regards to the drills coming up at the beginning of this week, I'm not sure what to say.  The South claims that it's doing normal, routine drills which are in no way provocative, but as I'm sure you've read in countless articles, the North is threatening all out war.  I really don't think the second Korean War will break out as North Korea has to know that it will clearly lose any war it starts (it's bombastic rhetoric can't win wars).  But who knows as that country is so eerily unpredictable.  


However, that being said, there's no sense of panic or fear where we are. So please try not to worry too much (and watch the American news with a grain of salt).  


  

Chilled to the bone

It's that time of year again when it's frigid outside AND in.  It's 27 degrees (F) today, not freezing cold by Midwest standards, but cold enough to shut the windows in our houses, work places, and cars. But, as I sit in the teachers' room or wander into the hallway, bathroom, and classrooms, I find that the windows are open everywhere.  This is one part of Korean culture I will never never EVER understand.  And yes, I'm going to take this chance to complain because I can't exactly complain to anyone here at school.


On one hand, I know they are conserving energy by not heating the school hallways, bathrooms (yes, that cold air gives you a little thrill when you squat), and cafeteria.  But, when I finally get myself into a supposedly warmer room, I find the windows wide open.  I've been told it's for ventilation purposes, but I would rather be warm than taking breaths of cold, "fresh" air. I'm all for conserving energy, lowering the thermostat, wearing more clothing, but isn't it counterintuitive when you open the windows and have the heat on?  I could wear the same outfit to school everyday because no one sees my clothes as I'm bundled up in a scarf and coat everyday.  I'm actually astounded as to how many expensive coats my teachers sport everyday.  They are clearly used to this idea of being cold all of the time and have turned it into a new way to make a fashion statement.  


But although people seem used to this always being cold, they don't hold back from complaining.  I can tell the students are freezing in their classrooms and the teachers are clearly just as cold. I can't imagine a somewhat warm room with continual freezing gusts of wind rushing into the classroom is an environment conducive to learning.


However, I will stop my rant to rave about the floor heating we have in our apartment.  It's truly one of my favorite parts of Korea.  After school, I thaw out my arms and legs and lay on the warm floor, with the doors and windows closed of course.  It's one of my favorite moments of the day.  

Konglish

Here's some more Konglish for your reading pleasure.  

Actually it's a delicious dish.

Not sure if I'd get my hair cut there.

And this place sells women's clothing.