Sam in Japan: Enjoy yellow things

So I started off in the dressing room.

I walked along the streets and met some old Japanese ladies that told me to enter their "shop". They said they could do something really special. Little did I know, they were sorceresses and sourercesses. They were bitter and wanted to rob me of my youth in order that they themselves, would retain a modicum of it. 

I was turned into a child's plaything to be dangled off a key chain or bag. Such an ironic situation; robbed of youth to be used by youth and subsequently destroyed by youth since I hold no real importance.  I was changed into something that provides ephemeral delight until dirtied.

But I wasn't the only one...There were others like me.

I sold my soul and started smoking

Make me look more sick!!

Insurance fraud...maybe. I'm not really sure what's going on under the surface, but the second day of my hospital experience is like this...

(this took place all in Korean with a few English words mixed in, but I'll write most of it in English here)

게장님 (Gah-jang-nim): You need to say your body hurts everywhere when the insurance guy comes. Do you understand? No Korean, just English!

ME: Yea I got it.

게장님: Ok. You should also get a needle in your arm and a drip to help you with you pain.

Me: But I don't like needles and I don't need a drip for my pain. The pills are fine.

게장님: Yes, the pills are fine, but with a drip you won't need to take the pills. And it will look better if you have a drip when the insurance guy comes. You need to be hurt. You need to look hurt.

Me: I am hurt! I have bruises, isn't that enough. I hate needles.

3 minutes later... I acquiesce unwillingly. Next, the nurse comes in with the needle. There is a shocked, sad look on my face to give away my unwilling participation and my moral defeat. I whine while she sticks me with the needle.

Nurse: Oh, I can't seem to find the vein

Me: WAAAhhhh... why? 왜애애애애애.

Nurse: Let me try one more time.

Me: OWWWWW

Nurse: Well, that's not working. Hrm.

The nurse calls another nurse in and 게장님 is laughing at this whole ordeal even though it's his fault.

Other nurse: Oh let me see.

Me: No, the other lady stuck me two times in this arm. Try the other arm damn it!

Other nurse: Ok, hrm. I can't really see a good vein, but let's try this one.

Me: AHHHHHH

Other nurse: There. I got it. Does it hurt? Oh, start the drip.

Me: Ahhh, it hurts. Why is there a little blood coming back into the tube?

They have already left and set the drip in motion. I don't move my arm and ponder why I am doing this. My moral conscience comes back after the drip is done. The nurse pulls the main needle out of my arm and leaves the other one in. 10 minutes later, I get angry at my decision and say "enough is enough". I rip out the remaining needle and throw it in a paper cup.

10 minutes later...

The nurse comes back in brandishing the needle I pulled out. And without words shows it to me. I just nod and say, "Yes, I did it. 주사 싫어요!" And the problem is solved. She tries one last attempt and comes in with a needle to help the pain my hip; a pain I don't have. I just say again, "주사 싫어요!" The matter is now fully settled.

Sometimes you just have to do the right thing. Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to lie down in my private room where I must rest for 5 more days with my computer and guitar to keep me company. Remember...do the right thing ;)

Sneaking out of the hospital

So I got hit by a taxi while riding my bike...I'm in the hospital overnight for a time undetermined at the moment so I have to amuse myself somehow, right?

Luckily, Sacheon is small and it is very convenient to stop by the hospital, which is right near the intercity bus terminal. Yuri and Seb came to my room and had dinner with me; an assortment of friend chicken, noodles, and fried rice. MMMmmm. I wanted to get outside so we decided to take a walk. I undressed from my flashy hospital attire. And since there was no one on watch we slipped out the back door.

Just as we came out we see other friends eating dinner (Sacheon is really small and foreigners really stand out). I told them I'd be back. I walked to a motel to check out a room with a jacuzzi inside. It's only 55,000won a night! Jacuzzi with a TV in the bathroom, a huge bed with another huge big screen TV to match and hilarious people on the walls dressed as if they were going to a masquerade ball. Realizing I couldn't actually spend the night outside of the hospital, I left the motel to wander back to the restaurant right next to my "hotelospital".

My friends were still there eating and drinking makkolli to excess (since it was homemade). I chitchatted and ate some food. We finished around 11pm and I wanted to show them my humble abode in the "hotelospital".

We snuck up the stairs where I slipped out previously only to find it locked! The panic I felt. I had to hobble down the stairs again to find the front door also locked! SHIT. Am I going to have to call the hospital to tell them to let me in? Then I saw an elevator. #2 here we come. I thought I had been successful, only to find that the entrance from the elevator was barred. The nurse had to open it with her key. Hoping she didn't notice me, the patient, among the pack of other foreigners I darted for my room, 200.

No one noticed....

I made a friend

From one of the cutest, sweetest female teachers I work with

배소윤

(04/22(금)PM01:12)

---------------------------

I thougt you're so very cute~~~

Anyway sorry/ samantha~ I like you! you know?? ㅋㅋ

She was just expressing her love for me. I replied by holding a heart above my head and standing up at my desk where she could then see me. We laughed and laughed...

I love cheesiness!

My friends

As I teach in a Middle School, I found this bit of gossip extremely interesting from one of my friends (who remains to be unnamed)

Here's how the convo went...

Anonymous: met a new girl this past weekend!

we held hands and stuff
Me: That's super cute

Anyonymous:i know right. i love middle school love. maybe...ill kiss her this weekend!

Me: I knew you were the "Wham Bam Hold a Hand" kinda man!

Don't we all want middle school love?

I want respect!

Setting: Nara Deer Park, Nara, Japan

Time: During winter break (Jan 29 - Feb 6)

Weather: Kind of cold

Walking down the sidewalk I noticed a deer standing there. In this place, deer roam free and although they are wild, they aren't that dangerous unless you are an old lady with a bag full of money that they deer may want to rip out of your hand (see picture above). If anything, they are nice so they can get some food from you. Strolling along, I saw this deer bow. He bent his head down as I walked by and we made eye contact. WEIRD! I thought I was going crazy, but I read later on in a pamphlet that the deer learned to bow. People don't understand how, but my guess is that they were watching other people in Japan. They were probably thinking, if I show this person some respect, they'll give me food. And it worked...

well...sort of. I didn't have any food on me so this one had to settle with eating steel.

My kids are great

Korean Teacher asking her students if they want class in the afternoon:

"Here's the option girls, English class with Samantha or a free period where you can sing and prepare for your chorus competition."

Students after moments of pondering with me not in the room:

"Class with Samantha Teacher!"

Damn I feel good! ^_^

School Festival

It was my school's festival and what a grand affair! I happily watched my girls dancing to their favorite pop groups, became engrossed in the remix of fairy tales acted out on stage, and happily viewed all my students artwork on display in the hallways and staircases.

I readily embraced my 'free hug'

I bought kimchi

I posed with Korean girls posing as Japanese girls

Korean Testing Madness

It is that time of year again when the nation's high school students shout, chant and cheer for their seniors who are taking the state-administered college entrance exam.

On the morning of the College Scholastic Ability Test, the exam takers were the nation's top priority.
Public transportation ran more frequently and most workplaces, including banks and even the stock exchange, delayed their opening hours as the students had to be at their designated test centers no later than ten past eight.
All flight landings and takeoffs were also prohibited during the listening parts of the exam.

And after pouring all their knowledge onto test papers for more than 9 hours the exam takers say they are happy that the exam is now over.

Attention USA...step your game up!

3 things that made me laugh today

1. Playing volleyball with my co-teachers because my elementary kids had a performance in another school.

2. My yoga teacher trying to hug me.

3. A man almost running into me on my bike. (yes, you read it right...the man almost ran into me!)

**a bonus: my yoga teacher thinking it was hilarious when he squirt me in the eye with the juice from an orange peal. Good thing my glasses got most of it or he would have felt more than juice on his face when I punched him!!

^_^

The little things in life...

How to be civilized when drinking

Everything is social here. And let's just forget about the idea of "personal space". Maybe no one hugs when they say hello, but that doesn't mean there is no body contact.

It's custom for one person to pay when you invite people out to dinner in Korea. It's an honor to pay. So, my spanish friend, Jose, decided that it was his turn. It was a mixed group of Americans, Frenchies, Koreans, and our sole Spain native.

Dinner is done. Now, for the good stuff.

막걸리 (makkolli-rice alcohol),

맥주 (maek ju-beer),

소주 (soju- distilled rice and other grains)

In the morning you will be asking yourself , 왜왜왜, why why why. In the moment you will be shoving a bottle in someone else's hand, making sure they pour for you. It's not cool to pour your own drink .

막걸리랑 관리인

관리인: ohh 사만다가....막걸리 ?

Me: 네. 맛있어요.

관리인: 밥 먹었어요?

Me: 안니오

관리인: 식당에 같이 가요

Me: ummm, ok

우리는 식당에 갔고 한국어 이야기가 말했어요.

4am calls

No, it's not a booty call. It's the best time to practice your English.

Dongha: "SamanDa-ya, are you sleeping?"

SamaDa: "Yes, Dongha. It's 4 am in the morning."

Dongha: "Oh, I'm sorry. I am in Jinju. I am little drunk."

SamanDa: "Dongha, you are speaking perfect English. How is this possible?"

Dongha: "I am little drunk."

Now my anger for being woken up has turned into amusement at the revelation that alcohol does wonders for language

Dongha: "When do you come to Muse?"

SamanDa: "Dongha. It's 4 am. You called to ask me when I'm coming to your bar?!"

Dongha: "I'm sorry. I'll speak to you tomorrow."

SamanDa: "Ok. Bye."

Philippines

Now you're looking at a certified scuba diver. Sexy right?!
I made a discovery dive to see if I would be comfortable breathing underwater. As it turns out not only was I comfortable, I was amazed. There is a whole other world under the sea. I saw so many Nemos. Finding Nemo did not lie...at all. It was so wonderful to witness.

After the two discovery dives, I decided to get certified. That meant that I had to hit the books. I had to study, watch videos, and take some tests. It was the last thing I expected to do on vacation-to study, but it was worth it. 3 days of training and 5 tests later I got certified.

Bus ride

Don't you miss the days when you could sit on peoples' laps and it was ok. Well, I still have those days. I take a bus with all the teachers and students to have lunch at an elementary school. All students and teachers were present and when this happens, there's not enough room for each person to get their own seat.

I've seen students double up. I decided that I would do this with my co-teacher. I made her sit down and then I sat on top of her. It was wonderful! I wasn't sure if I'd be too heavy so I shifted some of the weight to my feet and thighs. It hurt too much, so after 3 minutes I let loose. She didn't seem to mind. Actually, I think she embraced it too. She wrapped her hands around my waist and let her hands rest in my lap.

So beautiful... try (but at your own risk...)

Rock Climbing: Yeongo Waterfall

Karaoke Live

So, I sang in front of 5,000+ people in Sacheon. It was for the marathon runners. There was a total 10,000 people running. Half of them started the race before we went on.

Let's just say the experience was interesting. I'll say that I'm glad to know fear on all levels and say that I have lived after :)

After two words my mouth went completely dry, my hands were shaking, and I forgot some words. Billie Jean wasn't the best...but by the fourth song, La Bamba, I felt a little better.

The following are some pics of the band and our fans...check it out. Really rock and roll ^^

Band Practice

So, I'm in a band.