What to do for Halloween???

New to Korea and/or worried about what to do for Halloween? I am here to help you figure it out. The most important things obviously, are costumes and parties. We'll tackle them both.

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How you know you're turning Korean

Disclaimer: Ok so I know it is impossible to "turn Korean", there are certain cultural aspects that I as a non-native Korean will never ever understand nor embrace. However, in my title I am referring to some of the more subtle characteristics I have picked up and not even noticed until another westerner points them to me. It comes with living in a place for a year and a half I guess. And when I leave and go back to the states, people are probably going to go WTF.

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Come visit me in Korea

Here is your chance. One of my favorite websites ever - eat your kimchi, just announced a competition that they are helping to promote.

Basically to summarize - take an awesome photo/blog about Korean food, win a prize. Grand prize - flight to Korea, and the other prizes are not so bad either.

Here Simon explains it in much more detail

Korean Food Blogging Contest

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The weekend before Chuseok is not the time to go shopping...

...And other things that have been irking me about Seoul.

Don't get me wrong, I love Korea. I really do. But since I got back from my trip (which made me a mean person I might add), I have been in an interesting mood. I can't motivate myself to do anything unless it is directly related to work or drinking. Korea enables my drinking habits...
But what that means is, if I wake up on a Saturday hung over, I won't even leave my house to get water or food, unless I am invited out...

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I'm back!!! with new responsibilities

check out the tan as I head in for my first day of work

I got back to Seoul about a week ago... Since this isn't a blog about SE Asia, I won't go into too much detail about it. Lets just say I had an amazing time. I met many wonderful people and discovered so much about myself. If you ever do have any questions about backpacking feel free to get in touch with me, and I will be sure to give you any help I can.

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Summer 2010 Begins + World Cup Fever

So I haven't even left on my trip yet, and so far my summer has been amazing. We kicked off the summer on the last day of the term with some barbecue and a going away party for a bunch of us teachers at Monkey Beach. The bbq restaurant was funny because we made someone chug a bottle of soju, much to the applause of us and many random koreans, and then Monkey beach is always - Monkey beach. It was very hard to say goodbye to all the awesome people that I may never see again.

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Spring term Ends... and I miss them already :(

Sometimes they make you go insane ;)

So I survived another term where the students ranked me up there again. While I am extremely sad to leave the kiddies and go on this trip, I absolutely know I need this break. I was getting tired, depressed, and cranky. Now I rejuvenate myself and return to be an even better teacher.

Anyways, here are the classes that brought me so much joy in my spring 2010 term.

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Journey to the Demilitarized Zone (aka the DMZ)

Statue by the pavilion

Sounds epic -but it really isn't

Anyways, so Korea as you know I've been in Korea for quite a while, but never gone to the DMZ, so when meetup offered the trip, I knew I had to jump on it, even though no one wanted to go with me :(. Luckily they had a pickup at Dobongsan station (only 3 stops from my house), because I once again went out the night before (but I did have a lot of self restraint even when Benguin tried to encourage shot-taking).

Background information: Korea is the only country in the world technically still at war. The Korean war, which "ended" in 1953, ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. In Korea, military service is mandatory for young men.

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Hero: the Beatles-Loving, Korean Kid-Singing, 3-year old Child Prodigy

So this is pretty old, but I am kind of in love with this kid now. I want him to be my son. It's ok since my secret plan is to adopt a k-baby anyways.

He's famous for singing Hey Jude, which if you don't already know is a world famous Beatles hit. This child prodigy was only 3 years old (at the time of the videos). His name is Ha Yeong Woong. He's also known as Hero

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The Big 5-0-0

Time flies when you are having fun. Today is my 500th day in Korea. I wouldn't even have noticed it except for the fact that I happened to look up at my blog-o-counter. It's also the 5 year anniversary week of my graduation from college - eek. Holy cow I've been here a long time.

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Quick Update: Travel - 40 days left

Travelling is on my mind. I have about 40 days before I embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

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Middle School Exams mean fun for everyone

One of the most bittersweet times for an employee at Chungdahm Hagwon is extensions. Extensions are the time during which middle school students begin studying intensively for their midterm exams. As a result they are permitted to miss academy for 2 weeks (3 if it is their last year in middle school) to study. It always seems to fall at awkward times.

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Magoksa Temple Stay with Adventure Korea

I decided that I wanted the experience of staying at a temple before I left Korea. Many companies organize temple stays, but I decided to do one with Adventure Korea . (I went on April 10, 2010 - and since I was the only Karamel colored person on the trip I've probably just given away my pseudo-anonymity) It was pretty easy to sign up for the trip, and then you have to make sure you pay* before all the seats are taken.

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Spring time... and festivities

Jinhae Cherry Blossom festival:

I took another trip with the Seoulite group. I decided I wanted to check out the cherry blossoms, and the city of Jinhae. Jinhae is a naval port city that hosts the most famous Cherry blossom festival in Korea (more here). Jinhae is famous for this festival, the turtle ship, and being the site of a famous korean drama, Romance.

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Evacuate the Dance floor...

I've been having a lot of good times lately.

Meetup/Hongdae Night:
So one interesting way to meet new people when you get over 21 and are no longer in college is to join groups that organize events, show up and hope that everyone is not crazy. I heard about the website meetup(www.meetup.com) back when I was moving home to Atlanta, and I went to a few events then. So I decided to join it when I came to Seoul. I've been to a few events since then, and yes, sometimes the people were absolutely weird. But then I joined this new group Seoulite run by Breda (blog here)

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Snow Boarding Korea

photo credit: visitkorea.or.kr

I went snowboarding for the first time in my life in Korea. I went with a meetup group and my friend J. We headed out early from Jamsil station so I crashed at her house the night before.

Now keep in mind I had never been snowboarding. One thing that sucked was that I couldn't take any classes in English but luckily my friend was there to help me out. The ski resort, Sung-woo, was pretty cool.

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New Term Again

modelling the hats I bought for my nieces - but this is normal in Korea (for adults to wear I mean)

It's my last term before my term break. I can't wait. As you may already know I'll be exploring SE Asia for 2.5 months. I'm ready to get away for a bit. The novelty of Korea has worn off. I want more. I kind of wish I'd taken one this term.

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Down to the Nitty-Gritty: Questions on Race, Money, Dating and Korean

Hi K
I dropped you a quick inquiry about teaching in Korea yesterday. Then I checked out your 2 "important posts", Why u chose Korea & How to Begin Teaching. Makes my initial vague probe null n void.

A couple of specific questions:

1) Any specific experience with racism and/or ignorance? Any impressions you can share?
I'm black. I've traveled extensively and in some places I've met people who've never seen a real live black person before, not even on tv. In some places I've met people who think black people are exactly as seen on tv. Mileage may vary. So, as an Af Am, I'm interested in your perspective.

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My Seoul Stalker Experience

True Story: Don't worry, in over a year before this I never experienced anything. Seoul is a pretty safe city. I was more shaken than anything
from my facebook note:

Monday, March 8, 2010 at 12:49pm
Yesterday, after Taekwondo class, I headed down to Ansan to pick up some goodies my oppa Ethan had brought me back from the states. I was waiting for the train at Samgakchi, when a man approached me. I believe he was African. His first comment was "Hi, i think I've seen you before". Me :"I guess it's possible". Him "do you live in Ansan". Me: "No" Him "well I've seen you before so I just wanted to introduce myself" I told him my name was Rachel (i don't know). Then the train was coming... safe, or so I thought.

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Review: Yaletown, A Love Affair

It's my first restaurant review. How exciting!!! As you can tell from the title, I am madly in-love with this place and I'll tell you why.


photo credit: http://3.bp.blogspot.com

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Question: Can anyone other than Westerners teach in Korea?

Here's another great question I recently got. I did my best to find out what I could. Hope it helps

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Fun times- Don't Miss Your Chance + Taco Bell in Korea :)

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More Questions: More about how to start, best places to pick, etc

How to become to TEFL teacher in South Korea

Hi,
I noticed you're teaching English in S. Korea. I'm interested in teaching abroad. I tried it once in S. America but the company wanted me to pay them a large initial fee and I thought it might be a scam. What company do you teach through and what qualifications are necessary to teach?
Are you enjoying your time there? I'll have to check out your blog to find out I guess. ;)
Thanks in advance for the insights.

Curious about South Korea

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Question: How do I even begin my search?

I apologize, I've been getting a decent amount of questions, I've been doing the research to make sure I give accurate information, and I am going in order of when I received them, so I will be answering many more on here soon.

Here's a few I just got

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2010 VDAY

This was hands down the best Vday I've had...

Handsomely dressed, he showed up at my door with roses and chocolate. I had no idea anything was even going on, I was still in my jammies, looking like a complete bum. And I had bought nothing for him. In Korea girls give the gift on V-day and boys reciprocate a month later (March 14th - white day). I fail miserably at assimilation apparently.

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Holy Mackerel: The Shocker of the Century (+ Korean Drama-Coffee Prince)

Well at least for me.

Can you guess which one is the girl? (read to the end to find out).

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South East Asia trip - Join me?

Click on the picture to enlarge

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Ask Karamel - Now Answering Questions too

I probably should create another blog for this, but that's a little presumptuous to believe I will suddenly be inundated with unbelievable amounts. I am flattered that I even got one, question that is. I thought the answer may be helpful to someone who came across my blog (For personal reasons on why I chose Korea, read here ). Anyways this questions are more specific to the process of how to begin.

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It's the start of a new decade

OMG I can't believe it. I not only survived a full year alone in a foreign country, but I decided to stay another. And despite many setbacks, I am happier than I've ever been.

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