I Have Arrived to a Happy Apocalypse
Friday, February 27, 2015 at 07:59AM Dearest Friends-
Welcome to a record of my thoughts during this experience. I want to share what it is like to be me here, so this is all uncensored. This is my experience on the real, with all the good and all the bad. I hope that you can feel like you are actually there with me, instead of feeling like you are just watching a record of glamorized memories.
Day One Has Happened and It Was A Happy Apocalypse.
I feel overwhelmed, joyous, and truly alive. I have aged like a good Manchengo in one week.
My nickname is Squid because one the first day of class I walked in munching on a bag of dried squid. Not the plastic bag, but the squid inside it. Apparently, Koreans don't even like doing that, but I do. And so I'm Squid. Yo, what's up?
Here I am, in South Korea. I have arrived into a blissful Apocalypse of sorts. This means that the day that I flew in, the air pollution in my 'hood Dang dong went from 100 to 900 milligrams of dust particles in the air ala Yellow Dust from China. For those of you who are not privy to the ailments of other countries, this means that sand blows in from China to South Korea and makes the air unbreathable. So my first experience in this country was one of wearing a mask with a former teacher, Stephanie. For those who know me, know that I enjoyed this kind of authenticity.
Despite these shenangigans, I was able to retain a modocrum of positivity. My apartment was adorably decorated in pink when I arrived- the lighting is fluorescent, as in all of Korea, so I am in the process of find a lamp that will make it cozy. The goal is to find a lamp that has warm lighting that points down and radiates the coziness of hugs.
Squid was nervous and exhausted and exhilarated her first day of school. Below is how I was feeling- I am a bit of teddy bear, coming apart at the seams. The stuffing is pouring out but the bear is still squeezable, I hope.
My private school is amazingly warm in spirit and I have been given the gift of designing my own lesson plans. In addition, I am the new drama teacher, and I am dying to see how I can communicate without the comfort of words. Below is a video of the wonderful Suzy directing a musical performance to precede THE JUNGLE BOOK. I get joy out of watching her quirky intensity and the devotion of the kids.
The first day of my arrival, I was given wash cloths for my apartment, Italian Panettone bread, and a peace sign with Military Soup from the adorable Vicky. Military Soup is SPAM and vegetables in a mystery spicy broth. The Koreans eat together in a way that is different from ours. They seem to really share the food, slurping and enjoying as they pass 20 plates around the table. Our eating is like Show-'n-Tell. Their eating is a performance.
I sign off with these little memories and a great deal of warmth to all those I miss.
Here is what Korea looked like from the plane in first view. Asiana Air provided us with 3 meals, a soft blanket, soft slippers, a soft pillow, and unlimited alcohol. So I greeted this view in what one may call "a happy stupor."
Lesson of the Week: Always remember what first love is like.
In nostalgic exhaustion,
Squid
Reader Comments (4)
The blog is off to a great start. I love the tone of joyous positivity. I look forward to learning more about what life is actually like in Korea while laughing along with Sabina!
Yay hooray and all things pink and squid.
SABIBISQUID, I love your haircut!! I'm so happy you arrived safely and are being welcome so warmly. Please msg me your new address and I will start figuring out how many stamps it will take write to you. I know you're going to do great things there. They are lucky to have you.
If you would like to write me, the best address to use is that of my school:
Feinschule English Academy
978-1 Bungi, 2nd Floor
Dang_dong, Gunpo si
Gyeonggido, South Korea
435-010