Thursday, October 28, 2010

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Decisons, decisions, decisions... where do I go from here?

Now that i have celebrated my 6 months in Korea I am faced with a big DECISION... what do i do next? Honestly, I have some time to think this through and plan something but I'm FREAKING out... 6 months have flown by and now I have 6 more months to make very important decisions...

These are the options:

A.)Stay in Korea one more year save some money and have extra time to think/plan/organize my life.

B.)Move back home (South Carolina) try to find a job in... something. Live at home.

C.) Study for the GRE while I'm here take them in the summer, and apply for school. The thing about this one is that I am not sure what I want to go to school for and I am not willing to take out loans for something that I'm not 100% sure about. Don't get me wrong I love school I love learning but I don't want to be wasteful of my time and money. If yall can help me figure it out I would really appreciate it... and bake you some cookies ;)

D.) Move to another country and continue teaching ESL.

E.) HIDE UNDER A ROCK

HELP MEEEE!!

Bill Withers " Rosie"

A great friend told me that this song reminded her of me. :) good song right?

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Yes I'm a super hero




So I brought my guitar to work today because I am meet Tania for dinner before my lessons. The vice principle asks me if I'm taking lessons and I say yes... then she call me "the energizer" hahah... She proceeds to list off all of the things that I told them I've been doing. Korean lessons, Yoga, Guitar lessons, trips on the weekends... and the list goes on. Suddenly my extracurricular activities because a teacher's room discussion and I began to hear "Rosie (a bunch of korean words) rockband" as well as "Rosie Sansenginm wonder woman"... I don't know how all of this cam together but I guess they think I'm the wonder woman version of the energizer bunny that plays in a rock band??!! hmmmm If anything this 20 minute conversation with the teachers gave me a great idea for a H alloween costume!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Events and Randoms this month!


Hiking on a beautiful Saturday morning with NINA!!


Fireworks Festival... MOB of people trying to leave the train station to see the fireworks.. I on the other hand was trying to get the heck out of there... felt like all 24.5 million people that in Seoul were at this event. This is me trying to get out.


Moussa and Sydney's performance! GREAT GREAT JOB!


Sneak Peak: NEW fall trend the murse a.k.a the man-purse... Korean men are all over this FAD.


노래 with Brandon and the girls at Jacey's mom's restaurant!KARAOKE


Thrifting with Kathleen and Chris at the second hand market


My first Korean Fashion show experience...

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Attitude problem...

So today I had my first experience with a deliberately rude girl in one of my classrooms. So our 3rd grade class is out of control... let me specify not all of them are, about 40% of the kids "the cool kids" having been acting up. Must be all of the hormones and hair spray that have them out of control but I honestly can't tolerate it. This is the situation...

So the art teacher was in the class talking to the kids apparently they 70% of the class didn't complete a specific task that was needed in order to give them a "proper" midterm score. So she gave them time today... the last day to hand in the midterms grade to complete the task and they chose English class for this. Which is cool with me. She passed it out and as she is passing it out the English teacher tells me it's a "performance TEST"... well maybe 5 minutes later one of the girl students starts walking around class looking for answers from her fellow classmates. I ignored her because the English teacher didn't say anything. Next thing I know the Englsih teacher looks at me and points at her as if tell me to make her sit down. (she always does that expects me to read her mind) So I go over to the girl and ask her to sit down. She says "this not English test" well of course cause i know that now sit down... well next thing you know she yells No, leave me alone!" So what do I do? I say excuse me... grab the piece of paper and put it on her desk all the way on the other side of the room... she walks by me and and snarls a bad word in Korean. I was FUMING!!!I asked the Korean English teacher what exactly she said and she wouldn't tell me until I kept insisting... and even then I didn't get a straight answer. "She just said a bad word in Korean." Kids these days are on a whole different level even in a society where respecting your elders is probably the number one rule. So after class... she came down and gave me a VERY weak and probably not heart felt apology. I guess I have to take what I can get.

As I am writing this there are three students from that same 3rd grade class getting lectured and beat by a book because they probably did or said something disrespectful. And there are four 2nd grade students kneeling outside of the teachers office for fighting with a girl at lunch. *SIGH*

Whatever happened to the nice kids, the teacher's pets??!?!?!?

I always look on the bright side; atleast I'm not teaching in an American school, now that would be the death of me.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Learning to play the Ukuelele

Images of Korea


Peanut butter, fruit, and Ramyeon sandwich... the meal of Korean middle school boys


Summer camp kids!


My Saturday Korean class




Papinsu! Korean ice cream with mostly ice, fruit, beans, and a little milk




With the Reggae man at Reggae Chicken





6 monthaversary

So its been 6 months since I've been in Korea and It's been nothing short of an adventure. Everyday there is something new, something that I didn't expect to know, see, or hear. But to me that is the beauty of being in another country where the culture is very different to what I'm used to. There are certain things I admire about Korea: the way Koreans are very community oriented, how safe their country is, how inexpensive and delicious their food is, Shopping!!.. you get the point. I'm not going to hide it there are somethings that I do miss from home, eating tostones, getting a good haircut by a Dominican ;),driving, the variety of food, but most of all my family and friends. I miss their support and love. I only hope that they are missing me too.

Korean life has been good to me though, can't complain... I've been able to travel to different cities; Andong, Mokpo, Daegu, Jeju, to name a few. I've gotten the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. I've been able to travel to Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as go on various excursions. I thank god on a daily basis for these blessings, I am a very fortunate person to be able to have these experiences and its all thanks to him.

Korea has been a place of realization for me... I've come to learn who I want to be, it's here that I've realized that life doesn't have to be a planned out schedule and success isn't measured by other people's perception of what success is suppose to be . Success is following your personal legend in life a legend no one else can fill but you. I've been doing a lot of reading here in Korea one of my favorite authors is Paulo Coelho. His book The Alchemist, really helped me realize that nothing is impossible and I need to work hard, go through trials, fall down a couple of times and pick myself up in order to successfully realize my dreams and fulfill my personal goals.
It's a must read, I can't believe I hadn't read it before now. http://bookreviews.nabou.com/reviews/thealchemist.html

I started going to church on Sundays and doing bible study right after. I don't know about you but knowing more about God and connecting with him is good for my soul. Every Sunday when I leave church I feel light... nothing is weighing me down all of my worries, concerns, insecurities are gone and I love that feeling. :)

Yesterday I started my first guitar lesson... never ever did I think about playing the guitar but here I go... another challenge, wish me luck. And finally Korean lessons are still going with a bit of improvement but man this language is HARD!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010


"Meet me where the sky touches the sea. Wait for me where the world begins."
It is necessary to run risks, follow certain paths and abandon others. No one can make a choice without feeling fear. -- Paulo Coelho


Monday, August 30, 2010

My humble abode

I know this is a very overdue since I have been living in Korea now 4 months... but It's been a slow process getting my apartment together since I didn't spend much time in it for the first couple of months. But things are winding down now and I am actually becoming more of a home-body. I really enjoy being at home and in my little, puny, tinsy-weensy town of Yangsu-ri.

It's small town and I KNOW everyone knows who I am or knows of me since I am the only dark skinned person in this town. Needless to say I get a lot of stares but positive feedback. I really enjoy living here it's like I'm important or something hehehe :)

My apartment a small studio apartment but the biggest one in my villa has pink and white iridescent walls/ ceiling, a bathroom with a sink, shower head, and toilet. YEP no tub, and i can pretty much clean my bathroom while I shower... which is ok with me makes cleaning a lot easier on the weekends. I have one electric stove top it can get frustrating if I want to make multiple dishes, which is 90% of the time! but I deal. My coach an orange faux leather piece of wood is the hardest thing I've sat on... I prefer sitting on the floor because they heat up!!! I think that is by far the best thing about my apartment the heated floors oh and the humongous windows. Enough writing here are some pictures of my humble abodes I hope you enjoy. xoxo
rmi




Friday, July 2, 2010

Korea's Hues

Now that we are heading in to the much dreaded rainy season with approximately 2 weeks of non-stop rain, I have been referring to the pictures I've taken in the past two weeks as a reminder of how beautiful Korea can be. I must admit I wasn't a big fan of the brown, flowerless landscape when I first arrived in Korea. I was expecting something more... I don't know maybe some COLOR. Most of you know I am a lover of all things colorful and to see nothing but muted browns and grays was concerning.

See for me it was just a matter of time and patience, spring was on its way it just had a slow start. I have heard from foreign teachers and Koreans alike that this past winter was one of the worst on record... seemed like they'd have 6 months of continuous snowy and cold weather. Well thank GOD I wasn't here for that, winter is not my friend! yea I lived in Boston and pretty much grew up there but my Caribbean blood yearns for sunshine and a pleasant sea breeze.
Needless to say I am thankful for warm weather and the colorful flowers Korea has to offer this time of year. The monsoon I can do without but I can definitely handle it better than winter...

Here are pictures of the Dumulmori its location is in Yangsu-ri about a 5 minute walk from my house. The Dumulmori is where both the north and south Hangang Rivers meet. This place is so beautifully peaceful and colorful now that the water lilies and Lotus are blooming. It's also an incredible site in the fall (so I hear). Enjoy these pictures!! I am going to post some of the Semi-won next...

smile ^-^
Rosibelle









Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Did you just say DOG????!!! NO THANK YOU... I'll stick to DUCK with a C..K..

A couple of weeks ago Inge and I were invited out to eat with our fellow teachers to celebrate or NOT (cause we didn't win) teacher's sports day. The teachers in the school had a big volleyball tournament. It included elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools in our province,Yangpyeong. We loved the idea of leaving school early, watching the intensity of the game, and getting free,"expensive" food provided by the school. Before we left the school Helen, my co teacher told me that we were going to have eel for dinner which I was ok with since I regularly eat eel sushi and enjoy it very much. I was kinda excited to see how they were going to prepare the eel. But what I didn't know was that I was in for a surprise. I will explain the 'surprise' in a bit...

As we walked into the school in Yanpyeong where the tournament was taking place all I could hear was grunting and yelling and the beat of a drum. I almost thought I was entering an African ritual dance, but instead i witnessed the not so thin elementary school teacher with daisy dukes on yelling over the net, and a cluster of teachers yelling and beating the drum as to motivate the stellar volleyball team. Unfortunately the drums or the yelling didn't work and they completely bombed the game... oh well that meant dinner was coming sooner than anticipated I was happy! As we packed up said our goodbyes to the teams still remaining Helen walks toward Inge and I, she tells me that there has been a mistake with what she had told me earlier that day. We weren't having eel we were having "dok and dok" (the 'G' in korean also makes a k sound sometimes I get confused) so we need to choose... I said duck sure that's fine I don't mind duck I've had it maybe twice in my life but thats ok with me. I also asked her why did u say it twice are they cooked 2 different ways??? she says No, NO, NO... "dok and dok" like quack quack! and woof, woof!

At this point my jaw dropped and I couldn't help but feel sick to my stomach. It was like... like.. me trying to have my dog Bella for dinner! After a few seconds and trying to wipe the look of my face I told her that Duck with 'u.c.k', the one that makes a quacking noise is what I prefer. She looked at me laughed and told me that she felt the same. At which point I was relieved to know that someone, a Korean felt the same. I am not trying to bash anyone for eating dog it's something that they've been doing for many years, and they actually raise them just for eating purposes... but you will NOT catch me taking a bite of it. It just goes against my moral beliefs... dogs for me are special they don't belong on my table with a bunch of sides and dipping sauce...

Smile ^-^
Rosibelle


The volleyball team


The D.O.G. side of the table... notice all the men apparently dog gives you stamina..


The D.U.C.K side of the table


Some of the teachers cooking their duck in the skillet


Our duck... it was good I made sure to ask a couple more times whether it was duck or dog. Didn't want to eat it by "accident".


Inge and i went on a walk and she took pics of me... she's a very good photographer!


P.E. teacher with his daisy dukes

Inge and I chatting away with the P.E. teacher


We took a stroll up a hill to a Buddhist temple with the principal, P.E. teacher and another elementary school teacher. The principal and P.E. teacher bowing

Followers