Teaching English in South korea

Korean food is so much better than Chinese or Japanese food but nobody knows this

Americans and Canadians sometimes don't like each other much

Asian people are obsessed with appearance.

Getting cosmetic surgery is like going to the dentist in Korea.

Korea is the only country to go receiving aid and assistance from other countries to giving it.

Sometimes sterotypes about other countries are so true.

No matter how much you hate something if you eat it enough you grow to like it. Kimchi.

Asian people are all descended from Mongolia.

All Koreans/Asians are born with a huge blue/black bruise on the lower back that goes away over time, called the Mongolian Blue Spot.

Korean men are the tallest of the Asian race.

Japan still has an Emperor.

Asian students are the hardest working in the world.

Korea has the highest average IQ in the world and the 2nd highest suicide rate.

The Swastica is originally a sign for Buddhism and in still used in Korean.
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I look Russian.

If it's there, try it once.

I have the ability to spend extremely long amounts of time on my own, happily.

I really love cheesy pop music.

I love hiking.

English is a strange, difficult language.

The song 'You raised me up' is HUGE over here.

I had to go back into school today to see the Principal as he was not there yesterday. I had a mini meeting with him, the VP two chief teachers and my co-teacher. The Principal said I was the best native teacher they ever had. Sweet but that's not really hard,,as the last two were apparently not great. They bought me a beautiful, laquerwear jewelry box. Really pretty.

My Vice Principal (50 and a smooth ballad singer in Noreabang whom all the femaile teachers love) said if he wasn't married I'd be the girl for him. He also insisted we get a photo together and called himself my ' namchachingu' 'boyfriend'. I love him.

The Principal suggested I look for a husband when I get home. Nice.

I shed a tear while walking out the gate for the last time!

Mum and dad visiting

The Police calling to my house

The student writing on the board "Teacher, your forking ash hall"

Temple Stay and meditating with Buddhist monks up a mountain at 4am

Seeing my favourite boy band 2pm in concert, twice!

Admitting that I like a boyband at 30 years of age

Being stopped in the street and told that I was beautiful at least once a week

Dancing like a maniac in Kpop dance class and not caring that I was 5 steps behind everyone

Entering three 10k races and running alongside with the old men who encouraged me in my last hard K

Viewing my niece's christening online through a web-cam in the church and getting a 'shout-out from the priest

Being told at least once every single day that my eyes were big or beautiful or just plain scary

Watching the sun rise on New Years Day

Climbing the Great Wall of China

Being in Bangkok alone with no luggage and a split front tooth - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger!

The hilarious comments from students every single day

Everything about Tokyo

Doing weekly drills in case of a North Korean invasion

When North Korea attacked x2 and the young soldiers/marines were killed

Saying 'hi' at least and I mean literally 200 times per day and trying not to get sick of it

Hearing 'nice to meet you' every day 200 times from the same students everyday

Hearing 'I'm fine thank you, and you? 200 times a day even when i didn't ask

Turning 30 and the momentous events and party my friends (some of only a few months or a year) organised for me

Freaking out that I was turning 30 and being reminded that I was '31' in korean age

The feeling of being on a beach with 300000 other people. Honestly.

As I write I'm waiting nervously to do my leaving speech in front of 50 odd teachers in the teacher office. I doing this entirely in Korean. I have practiced it do death but I'm still nervous.

I'm very sad to leave here - I have been here for 2 years and can't express how much I have enjoyed it. I have made such good friends in teachers as well as students. Hopefully a couple I will see again. Although it has been frustrating at times it has been hilarious and such an unbelievable experience to have met and taught these kids.

My last week was very sad, many students were very sweet to me and said they would miss me and got very upset. I got a few notes in their funny English which is always sweet. Many want to come to America/England/Iceland/Island with me (sometimes this saddens me and I think I'm not a very good teacher cause after 2 years they still don't know where I'm from!!). Many classes did a formal bow to me which made me emotional! One 1st Grade girl even cried and she has only known me for 3 weeks!! I had dinner three nights in a row with different sets of teachers and got some really nice gifts including two from administration girls who I only ever speak to in broken ridiculous Korean. It was very sweet.

I brought in cake for the teachers today - as you do and I went in to give the print man a slice of cake as he has often been good to me by putting a rush job on 250 worksheets! I can be very last minute sometimes! Anyway he is known as a bit of a drinker as you may remember one Friday afternoon I went into his room and him and the janitor were sitting drinking Soju and smoking - they asked me to join them as it was 3pm. So today I told him I was leaving and he asked me to join him for a bev!! I respectfully declined again. How sweet though!

Right must go and practice this speech for the 100th time. eek

• Soju - Korean strong alcohol that is about 2 pounds a small bottle.

So as you all know after two fantastic years I'm heading home so I'm going to try and do some 'closing' blogs, so keep posted.

This one: the best things about Korea

1. Convenience = you can get anything anytime of night
2. Cheap food and drink+ I can eat and drink very well for many hours at traditional Korean places for between £8-£15 unreal
3. Noreabangs = Singing rooms, the most fun ever - private rooms were you and your friends can sing you heart out with no audience, more fun than you can ever imagine.
4. DVD Rooms = Private rooms were you can choose and DVD and watch is big screen with you friends or special friend
5. Jimjilbangs = clothed or naked - great hang out/chill out places thats are great for you skin. You can sleep overnight too if there is nowhere else to. So cheap. I stayed overnight in one in Seoul Airport - slept on a sofa with a blanket,got up showered etc and went to check in desk. Easy and cheap £11 overnight.
6. Makeoli = traditional Korean rice wine £1 a bottle and so delicious
7. Korean food
8. Mountains everywhere
9. Beautiful scenery
10. Fresh, cheap, fish - so many different kinds.
11. Cheap, clean, efficient public transport
Bullett Trains
12. Being a celebrity foreigner and getting free stuff and 'service' food and drink from other customers and owners in restaurants.
13. People can be so kind and friendly
14. Kids are unbelievably cute
15. Love motels = cheap accomodations that are on every corner
16. Cheap gas and electricity
17. PC Rooms = internet cafes everywhere
18. Amazing festivals all the time
19. Koreans spontaniety
20. Koreans ability to have fun and enjoy themselves
21. Kindness from strangers
22. Koreans support of sports teams
23. As proved in this blog the random things that happen on a daily basis
24 Covenience!!
25. Every day is a novelty and something surprises and interests me every single day. Sometime even stepping outside the door to go to the shop can be fun!
26. It's my Korea and despite the 24 things in the other list I love it!!!!