Thursday, January 24, 2013

The Twitter World Speaks Up About North Korea....Sort Of...

So the world recently heard that North Korea was planning on testing a missile that would reach all the way to the United States. Hmmmm, and just how do you think Americans responded? By  doing what we do best, taking to twitter, of course. There, some "genius" came up with the title:
 #PeopleToSacrificeToNorthKorea. Look at some of these...uhhh...gems from the cyber world. Here are 12 people that you really should know...

the choice man...
the realist..
the man who hates musicals...


the guilty until proven innocent...
the man who clearly prefers English..
the girl who knows "aint nobody got time for that"..
the fashionista...
Mr. Shakespeare..
the one who likes simplicity..
the harsh lad..
the man who prefers documentaries..

and in case you lost all faith in humanity, this kind hearted twitter altruist...



Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Belated Meme Monday


So obviously it's not monday and I wasn't going to bother with this, but given that this is the last week of winter camp, I thought it was essential!


When my co-teacher sees a girl harmlessly flirting and she overreacts like they have just said...

















 When my co-teacher called me "colored".....
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When I try on Korean clothing and it fits!


When my students asked me if I was sure the rock candy would grow after I messed up the recipe..
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Saving my students from impending death, while trying to teach them rugby skills..
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Me trying to make conversation with the handsome new teacher
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The difference between me and my co-teacher in dealing with discipline...

Co-Teacher:
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Me:
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Sunday, January 20, 2013

5 months in Korea and my 5 year plan!


Wow! I have been in Korea for 5 months, today! That's almost half a year, more than half a baby, longer than Kim Kardashian's marriage to Kris Humphries.

So what have I done to date?
1. I've been to the Phillippines
2. Joined a rugby team
3. Seen Psy in concert
4. Learned how to order food in Korean
5.Survived my first semester as a teacher
6.Owned Seoul's night life
7. Single handedly rid of a cock roach infestation
8. Got my first freelance offer for sports writing
9. Planned my first big vacation to Southeast Asia

and perhaps the most important.....
10. Developed my 5 year plan

a) Do another year of ESL teaching either in Korea or a country with the potential to save more money.
b) apply for a PGCE secondary education in the UK to start focusing on British curriculum. England? Scotland? Wales?
c) Get at least 2 full years of experience working in a UK school
d) Apply for my PHD

This leaves me with tons of options in the teaching realm, but ultimately means that I am certain teaching will be a life long career for me. What can I say, I guess I miss my crazy students from the UK "bruvs" and "bloods" and all. I dont think that ESL is something I want to do for the rest of my life, but it is a great stepping stone and I am really enjoying my experience so far!

Friday, January 18, 2013

10 Things I Would Transport to Seoul



1.Aussie Hair Curl & Shine or Garnier Fructis Frizz Control
I have basically been shelling out about $20.00 a fortnight to keep my hair even marginally manageable since I've been here. Sure you can find products marked as "ethnic" but none of them really seem to suit my hair or manage frizz the way that these two did. The next time I go on a trip I will bring one suitcase strictly for hair products :)




2.Haggis- I miss Haggis so much and often when I'm sitting around drinking  whisky I sometimes think, wow I wish I had some Haggis, neeps and tatties. There really is nothing like it. Perhaps I will try to figure out a way to make my own



3.Victorias Secret Bras- I never really saw myself as a label whore before, but I miss VS! Bra sizes in Korea are actually getting bigger with the influx of Western teachers and the popularity of breast augmentation here in Seoul. Yet, I find the quality just isn't the same. I'd even settle for an Ann Summers at the moment!



4. Jeans for "shapely" butts! Okay, to be fair, I was warned that "shapely" women may have trouble finding jeans when they arrived. So why didn't I stock up like a mad women? Because I am a bleeding optimist! The first few weeks, I found a few pairs of stretch skinny jeans at forever21 that fit me perfectly;  but as the seasons and styles change it s getting a bit harder to fit my lady lumps into Korean style jeans.


5.French Onion Dip- I have searched far and wide for this stuff! Really it is probably better that I haven't found it, or I would have a one way ticket to Obese city. Many American products are available on the U.S military base, but it's a bit of a hassle to contact an army friend everytime you need something. For french onion dip...I might make an exception!



6.The Globe Bar in Edinburgh- Okay, so this isn't really a product, but it is my favorite little sports bar in the world. In addition to being the sponsor of my old rugby team, it was literally just around the corner from my flat. There are no shortage of sports pubs here in Seoul and many of them show the rugby matches as well as being frequented by local sports teams. still I dearly miss this bar, it's prices and the local characters that inhabit the place. If laying on my death bed I was asked "where do you want to go?" would my lips utter "the Globe bar?" Okay, maybe not, but it would be a close 2nd!

7.Bed Sheets- $50.00 for a fitted style double bed sheet? That's right. Bed sheets are a luxury in Korea, and as a result, they are often very, very pricey. I scan the sale racks at E-Mart, regularly snatching up whatever deals I can find. So far, I have added Nemo, Pororo and ugly Hawaiian print to my collection.


8. Homestyle Mac and Cheese- South Korea will never be the Mecca of cheesy goodness in the way that Wisconsin is, but is it really too much to ask for some mac and cheese? I have been in and out of Western style restaurants and I still can't find a delicious version of my favorite comfort food! My weekends have been reduced to crafting mac and cheese concoctions with whatever I can find at Happy Food Imports. So far, pretty decent, but I still miss that Wisconsin style!


9. HBO shows "Game of Thrones" and "Girls." Although it is easy to watch these online, I would be really interested to see what Koreans would make of them. My co-teacher and I have had numerous conversation about my favorite movies and shows. So far I think my co-teacher is convinced that I only watch ESPN and shows about drug addiction...what a shining example I am for the students. Although, on second thought,would either of these shows give me a better representation?





10. My best friend Felicia. Again, Felicia really isn't a thing, she's a person but she's definitely my better half. She is 80% of all my crazy travel stories, a member of "The Yanks" and the better half of Fushe & Moom. I met her in 2009 and was basically inseperable from her until I left Edinburgh last January. I looked up Kilts with her in Scotland, ran from stalkers in Morocco, had food mishaps in France, drank too much port with her in Portugal, she helped me chase a mugger in spain, got blazed with her in Amsterdam and made poor life decisions with her in England. She has been a huge part of my travel experience so far and hopefully will be again in the near future.


P.S It should be noted that my mother would be included on this list, but she hates traveling. Therefore I have decided she can stay put :)

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

How Korea Has Changed Me

1. I am always bowing- When you greet someone or meet someone for the first time, you bow and say hello. In school I am constantly bowing, the deeper the bow the greater the respect. In fact, last week I got nervous when I saw the principal, went to bow and smashed my head on the wall. I will probably bow a bit even when I'm not in Korea, just as a habit now. My students are bowing machines, if they see me at school or on the street they stop whatever they are doing, respectfully bow and go on their merry way. It took some getting used to, but now it's normal for me.

2. I accept things from my co-teachers with two hands. Out of habit, if someone hands me a paper I will extend one hand to take it. Not in Korea, I put both hands on the document/gift/payslip and bow my head. I have found myself grabbing samples in the grocery store with two hands, it looks silly, but its a bit programed in me now.

3.I brush my teeth at random intervals of the day, this may have something to do with the amount of spicy, pungent Kimchi I consume. I still haven't been able to bring myself to floss in public, like many Koreans, but I join my fellow teachers and my students, right after lunch for a personal grooming session.

4. I stand up for myself much more that I used to. I was never a push over, but Korea has taught me to pick and choose my battles and to develop a backbone when I need to. I even confront  Ahjussi's who violently shove me on the subway! I can take a little pushing, but occasionally someone steps out of line and I have to put them back in check. My students taught me how to say "do you want to die" when someone is behaving horribly and so far it has served me nicely.

5. I get shit done! I did a lot of winging and complaining before (which I still do) when something goes wrong. But in Korea, I have to be prepared for anything to happen and when it does I put on my big girl pants and fix it. I feel I was very dependent before on my parents or the people I was living with in Scotland, but now that I live alone, I really had to grow up! For example- my shower pipe tubing burst in my bathroom the other day ( I admit I cried a little bit) but in the end, I found some silicone sealant and fixed it on my own. It may not seem like a big deal, but for me it was a bit of a symbol that I can take care of myself and problems when they arise.

6. I throw up the peace sign like it's my job. At home we had a joke about asian tourists and their love for the peace sign, but I never knew how true it was until I started living in Korea. 90% of my photos feature the peace sign. I have no shame.

7. I enjoy spending time alone. I always used to feel bored when I was by myself. Korea is my first time truly living on my own without family or a flatmate/roomate. It is scary sometimes when I hear strange noises and I can't just run into Felicia's room for a complaining session, but I am starting to really value the peace that comes from solitude. I am getting to know myself, on my own terms, and I think that's really important!

8. I accept challenges. Anyone who knows me, knows there isn't much that I am afraid of, but Korea is a whole new territory for me. I am constantly being exposed to opinions I will NEVER agree with, foods I am terrified of and traditions I just don't understand. When traveling, a person will encounter a certain amount of adversity as is, but living here has been a wonderful challenge. I have become more patient, accepting and understanding of things that I don't comprehend or always agree with and it has really made me a better person.

9.No drama (well almost). I used to be eager to help people solve their issues or to comment on situations that were none of my business. I never had the intention of creating issues, but sometimes that backfired. The ESL teaching community here is much smaller than you would know. I have taken a step back and realized that I don't always need to have an opinion. There are times to pick and choose your battles and more often than not, I don't get involved. This has made me happier, healthier and just overall contributed to my positive experience here in Korea.

10. I have learned to love myself. Being in Korea, I stand out on a daily basis. Not just because I am not Korean, but because I am not a typical ideal of beauty here. I am bigger, I have muscles, thighs and a  butt. I see constant comparisons to K-Pop stars and my student's ideals of thin beauty. I expected this to negatively affect the way I see myself, but instead I am taking comfort in the fact that I am different. This is the most confident I have ever felt in my entire life and my sense of harmony shows on the outside. I smile more,  glow and I genuinely feel good about who I am for the first time in a very long time.


Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Maggie Moo's Travel Playlist


Some old, some new, some downright embarrassing, but all of them are getting me through the next month, while I wait for the big trip! February 11th vacay! Can't wait!

"If I Could Go"- Angie Martinez
 If I can choose a place to go it's gotta be far away.
 From here we could crossover like Hardaway
Somewhere outside the states where tomorrow's like today.

"So Good"- B.O.B
Suffering from first class cabin fever,
five hour layovers from Norway to Egypt. 
I'm too the point like the Pyramids of Giza
still lean to the left like the tower out in Pisa.

"Let's Go" -Calvin Harris and Ne-Yo
it's all about what you're doing, 
it's all about where you're going. 
No matter where you've been, let's go!

"Tokyo (Vampires and Wolves)"-  The Wombats
If you love me let me go
Back to that bar in Tokyo
Where the demons from my past
Leave me in peace
I'll be animating every night
The grass will be greener on the other side



"Frankie's Gun"- The Felice Brothers
My car goes-Chicago
Every weekend to pick up some cargo
I think I know the bloody way by now, Frankie
And turn the god damn radio down, thank you
Pull over-Count the money
But don't count the thirty in the glove box buddy



"Golden Girl"- Frank Ocean Ft. Tyler the Creator
Two mopeds racin through the forest
Making dirt clouds on a path, on a path
I'm my best on this island, I'm a mess in America
My flight left last night
But, I know I'm not goin back home


"I Was Here"- Beyonce
I was hereI lived, I lovedI was hereI did, I've done, everything that I wantedAnd it was more than I thought it would be

"Mountains"- Biffy Clyro
Took a bite out of a mountain range
Thought my teeth would break the mountain dead
Let's go, I wanna go all the way to the horizon

"Young Forever"- Jay-Z Ft. Mr. Hudson
So we live a life like a video
When the sun is always out and you never get old
And the champagne’s always cold
And the music is always good
And the pretty girls just happen to stop by in the hood


"Summer Sucks" (Cruel Summer Remix)- BLESTeNation
Now we all know summertime is a bummer with no duckets.
The one time you can just sit...Right there.
No school to not go to and skip.


"California"- The Kooks (Mason Jennings Cover)
I miss the ocean when I go sleep
Oh man, it's gonna break my heart

"Seaside"-The Kooks
Do you want to go to the seaside?
I'm not trying to say that everybody wants to go
I fell in love at the seaside
I handled my charm with time and slight of hand



"Wagon Wheel"-Old Crow Medicine Show
So rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama anyway you feel
Hey mama rock me
Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Rock me mama like a south-bound train


"Jackson"- Johnny Cash & June Carter
We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout,
We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went out.
I'm goin' to Jackson, I'm gonna mess around,
Yeah, I'm goin' to Jackson,
Look out Jackson town.



Honorable Mention: UB40 Red, Red Wine...but the truth is that song is on every playlist I make!

Monday, January 7, 2013

Another Manic Meme Monday


When one of my students says something sassy in English....



When my co-teacher tries to set me up with one of the weird teachers...



When my co-teacher told me they leave the windows open in the winter to "get rid of germs"


When I see my kids putting sugar on garlic bread.....


When Korean women judge me for wearing sweatpants & air force ones in a fashionable store...


When one of my students tells me I look like Beyonce....
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