For a small country Korea has a lot of people all following the same trend. One of the biggest trends in Korea are smart phones - big smart phones. I'm not talking about big like a wallet. I'm talking about greeting card big. I have even seen some as big as a man's hand.
When I first got my new phone I didn't know where to put it because it felt so big compared to my simple but reliable phone I had in the states. I quickly discovered that my smart phone is in fact small and compact. Some of the phones I see on the bus are too big to fit in pockets and are even made bigger by the cute cases with animal ears on them.
My phone came with a free white plastic case and I cringed inside because I knew that it was only a matter of time before the case was gray. Over a month ago I began my exploration for a new phone case by visiting the many phone case stores around the city. These stores are covered wall to wall with bright colored cases. Some have ears and others have covers to protect the screens. Each time I came into a store I'd look for my phone model and either give up or show someone my phone. Sometimes they would show me to a small section that held 5 cases that all had cats on them and I'd leave disappointed.
Two weekends ago I walked into a new store and showed them my phone and the lady took me up the stairs into a small room with only one wall covered in cases. Once again there were only about six cases for my phone but finally I was able to find one that didn't have cats on it!
What have I learned? When the Koreans move onto bigger and better things - they don't stock the past!
Blessings friends.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Friday, February 8, 2013
Souvenir 12.28
At the end of December Ulsan experienced an unexpected and uncommon snow storm.
It was the last day of school before winter break and I had no classes that day but a nice long day of desk warming ahead of me. I had been filling my bag full of distractions when I got a call from my boss.
"Did you get the message?" Soon-Ha
"No, what message?"
"The school is starting late because of snow." Soon-Ha
"It's snowing?! What time do I need to be there?"
"10a.m."
I set my bag aside, quickly threw on my warm clothes and headed outside with my camera. I was shocked but pleasantly surprised when I saw the fluffy thick snowflakes falling from the sky. I walked around my area for a half an hour and then decided it was time to get on the bus. I figured an hour was more then enough time to get to school on the bus, and I thought that if I got to school early I'd walk to a nearby coffee shop and buy a hot chocolate to celebrate real winter.
My bus stop was crowded with late starters and a large wave of people pushed their way onto the bus I needed. I found a standing spot by a handle and held on as the bus slowly inched its way forward. I quickly began to regret my decision to take the bus as it slid down the hill at an ants pace. At the next stop more people piled on and I was pushed along towards the middle of the bus. Once again the bus slowly coasted on the slush and let in more people. With each stop the bus made, the farther back I moved to allow more people in. A few people would get out of the bus and people would push for the empty seats they had abandoned. After standing for a half an hour (and only driving by 3 stops) a seat opened up in the very back and an Adjuma (an elderly women) grabbed my hand and made me sit by her. I smiled my thanks and she spoke to me in Korean with a smile on her face. The bus continued to slide around the road and I decided to make myself comfortable by taking off my hat and scarf since I was 3 stops away from school and I knew we wouldn't be there any time soon. More people continued to get on the bus. Everyone's shoulders were touching and I wondered why the bus driver even bothered to open the bus doors. But some how more people filtered through and the windows were so fogged up that no one could see a thing outside.
I started to kakoa talk (a free messaging system similar to instant message) my Co-Teacher explaining that the bus was very slow and that I would be late. She was understanding and sent me such cute messages making sure I was safe in the snow. The bus suddenly stopped and people who were by a window tried to clear off the fog to see outside. From my high position in my seat I could see that a bus in front of us was stuck. After waiting for ten minutes the bus driver decided to open the bus doors and people started to file out. I was hot and had spent the majority of the bus ride wishing I had walked to school instead so I jumped out of my seat quicker then anyone else.
The cool snowy air was refreshing and I followed a line of brave Koreans to the sidewalk. I walked past five cars, two buses, and a news truck that were all stuck on the ice that had formed a thick layer over the road. Many of the people walking on the sidewalk were dressed in fancy clothes and wearing heels. Some even carried umbrellas to avoid the snow. I kakoa talked my Co-Teacher again telling her I was walking to school. She sent me a cartoon of two little animals holding cheer pompoms and yelling, "Go, go!" Everyone continued to slip and slide along the sidewalk and I was able to pass many people walking because of my winter boots and (I'd like to think) my pro-ice walking ability.
I've always liked the long sidewalk that follows the hills between my part of town and my school. There are some large gardens below, hiking paths above, and trees lining the sidewalk. With the snow steadily falling everything seemed even prettier.
I was having a great time despite my unanswered question of why the city didn't have salt trucks on the road making sure ice didn't form when my Ipod shuttled to "Beautiful Things" by Gungor. I turned my music up and soaked in the wonder of the moment.
"You make beautiful things, You make beautiful things out of dust".
The snow melted on my face and it felt like a piece of home.
"You are making me new".
I didn't even mind the slow people in dress shoes that I had to pass.
No cars passed the entire mile walk and this waygook (foreigner) hummed along to the song the whole way to school (which took me playing the song three times).
I made it to school close to 11am refreshed but tired. Thankfully I didn't have anything to do besides sit at my desk and eat lunch. It was a perfect kind of day.
It was the last day of school before winter break and I had no classes that day but a nice long day of desk warming ahead of me. I had been filling my bag full of distractions when I got a call from my boss.
"Did you get the message?" Soon-Ha
"No, what message?"
"The school is starting late because of snow." Soon-Ha
"It's snowing?! What time do I need to be there?"
"10a.m."
I set my bag aside, quickly threw on my warm clothes and headed outside with my camera. I was shocked but pleasantly surprised when I saw the fluffy thick snowflakes falling from the sky. I walked around my area for a half an hour and then decided it was time to get on the bus. I figured an hour was more then enough time to get to school on the bus, and I thought that if I got to school early I'd walk to a nearby coffee shop and buy a hot chocolate to celebrate real winter.
My bus stop was crowded with late starters and a large wave of people pushed their way onto the bus I needed. I found a standing spot by a handle and held on as the bus slowly inched its way forward. I quickly began to regret my decision to take the bus as it slid down the hill at an ants pace. At the next stop more people piled on and I was pushed along towards the middle of the bus. Once again the bus slowly coasted on the slush and let in more people. With each stop the bus made, the farther back I moved to allow more people in. A few people would get out of the bus and people would push for the empty seats they had abandoned. After standing for a half an hour (and only driving by 3 stops) a seat opened up in the very back and an Adjuma (an elderly women) grabbed my hand and made me sit by her. I smiled my thanks and she spoke to me in Korean with a smile on her face. The bus continued to slide around the road and I decided to make myself comfortable by taking off my hat and scarf since I was 3 stops away from school and I knew we wouldn't be there any time soon. More people continued to get on the bus. Everyone's shoulders were touching and I wondered why the bus driver even bothered to open the bus doors. But some how more people filtered through and the windows were so fogged up that no one could see a thing outside.
I started to kakoa talk (a free messaging system similar to instant message) my Co-Teacher explaining that the bus was very slow and that I would be late. She was understanding and sent me such cute messages making sure I was safe in the snow. The bus suddenly stopped and people who were by a window tried to clear off the fog to see outside. From my high position in my seat I could see that a bus in front of us was stuck. After waiting for ten minutes the bus driver decided to open the bus doors and people started to file out. I was hot and had spent the majority of the bus ride wishing I had walked to school instead so I jumped out of my seat quicker then anyone else.
The cool snowy air was refreshing and I followed a line of brave Koreans to the sidewalk. I walked past five cars, two buses, and a news truck that were all stuck on the ice that had formed a thick layer over the road. Many of the people walking on the sidewalk were dressed in fancy clothes and wearing heels. Some even carried umbrellas to avoid the snow. I kakoa talked my Co-Teacher again telling her I was walking to school. She sent me a cartoon of two little animals holding cheer pompoms and yelling, "Go, go!" Everyone continued to slip and slide along the sidewalk and I was able to pass many people walking because of my winter boots and (I'd like to think) my pro-ice walking ability.
I've always liked the long sidewalk that follows the hills between my part of town and my school. There are some large gardens below, hiking paths above, and trees lining the sidewalk. With the snow steadily falling everything seemed even prettier.
I was having a great time despite my unanswered question of why the city didn't have salt trucks on the road making sure ice didn't form when my Ipod shuttled to "Beautiful Things" by Gungor. I turned my music up and soaked in the wonder of the moment.
"You make beautiful things, You make beautiful things out of dust".
The snow melted on my face and it felt like a piece of home.
"You are making me new".
I didn't even mind the slow people in dress shoes that I had to pass.
No cars passed the entire mile walk and this waygook (foreigner) hummed along to the song the whole way to school (which took me playing the song three times).
I made it to school close to 11am refreshed but tired. Thankfully I didn't have anything to do besides sit at my desk and eat lunch. It was a perfect kind of day.
Monday, February 4, 2013
4.
Today marks my 4th month in Ulsan, South Korea. Some days it seems like I have been here a lot longer then 4 months, other days I feel like a new baby still.
School is in full swing again and I'm hoping that with my regular schedule back I'll be able to write a little more. These stories I'm recording are the best kind of souvenirs after all.
While on vacation I went to an eye clinic with my neighbor Jihea. I had been hearing over and over again about how Korea has great deals on eye wear and decided it was time to get new glasses and try contacts again.
I'm not sure if I would've been able to get my eyes checked without Jihea because no one spoke English to me (but then I did bring a translator so they were off the hook). First they had me look at this small computer and a picture of a sail boat slowly became clearer. Then began the ever boring part: one or two (that was in English). A few times I had to look at colors and say what one was more vivid or what lines that were in a circle were bolder. After about twenty minutes I was done with the check up and the hard part began - putting in the contacts. They had a short video for me to watch about how to put them in and take them out. Thankfully I got them in with little trouble (compared to last time I tried contacts). I then was brought around to the other side of the store where they had cases and cases of glasses ranging from 20,000 to 40,000 won. I started trying on some of the 20,000 glasses but quickly saw a major problem - all of the adult glasses were WAY to big for me. I kept smiling at Jihea not fully knowing how I was going to explain that I'd like to try on kid glasses (in Korea it is a HUGE compliment if they tell you that you have a small face because they think small faces are pretty). I really didn't want to point out my small face because it still embarrasses me when I am told I have a small face, I can't help it! But thankfully she agreed that the glasses were too big for my face. I explained to her that my mom buys kid glasses back home. So she waved down a lady about our age and together the three of us looked through the kids glasses. They both laughed with me as some of those glasses were still too big for me.
In the end I settled on a pair that I'm not in LOVE with, but they definitely are Korea worthy! I was able to get scratch resistant and non-glare lenses at a great prince too. The best part of the trip was after I picked the frames and lenses out they told us to get some coffee and wait for the glasses to be ready. We had just sat down with our coffee when they gave me my new glasses. I walked out of the store an hour and a half after arriving with a new pair of glasses, contacts for 6 months, and a bunch of free things. Talk about service!
When I told Jihea that in America I would've had to go back to the store a few days later for my glasses and contacts she just smiled and told me, "Korean's are fast because we don't like to wait."
It has been so nice to not wear glasses and I am SO excited to start sunglass shopping. Bless friends.
School is in full swing again and I'm hoping that with my regular schedule back I'll be able to write a little more. These stories I'm recording are the best kind of souvenirs after all.
While on vacation I went to an eye clinic with my neighbor Jihea. I had been hearing over and over again about how Korea has great deals on eye wear and decided it was time to get new glasses and try contacts again.
I'm not sure if I would've been able to get my eyes checked without Jihea because no one spoke English to me (but then I did bring a translator so they were off the hook). First they had me look at this small computer and a picture of a sail boat slowly became clearer. Then began the ever boring part: one or two (that was in English). A few times I had to look at colors and say what one was more vivid or what lines that were in a circle were bolder. After about twenty minutes I was done with the check up and the hard part began - putting in the contacts. They had a short video for me to watch about how to put them in and take them out. Thankfully I got them in with little trouble (compared to last time I tried contacts). I then was brought around to the other side of the store where they had cases and cases of glasses ranging from 20,000 to 40,000 won. I started trying on some of the 20,000 glasses but quickly saw a major problem - all of the adult glasses were WAY to big for me. I kept smiling at Jihea not fully knowing how I was going to explain that I'd like to try on kid glasses (in Korea it is a HUGE compliment if they tell you that you have a small face because they think small faces are pretty). I really didn't want to point out my small face because it still embarrasses me when I am told I have a small face, I can't help it! But thankfully she agreed that the glasses were too big for my face. I explained to her that my mom buys kid glasses back home. So she waved down a lady about our age and together the three of us looked through the kids glasses. They both laughed with me as some of those glasses were still too big for me.
In the end I settled on a pair that I'm not in LOVE with, but they definitely are Korea worthy! I was able to get scratch resistant and non-glare lenses at a great prince too. The best part of the trip was after I picked the frames and lenses out they told us to get some coffee and wait for the glasses to be ready. We had just sat down with our coffee when they gave me my new glasses. I walked out of the store an hour and a half after arriving with a new pair of glasses, contacts for 6 months, and a bunch of free things. Talk about service!
When I told Jihea that in America I would've had to go back to the store a few days later for my glasses and contacts she just smiled and told me, "Korean's are fast because we don't like to wait."
I love the black case they gave me to hold my contacts and a small bottle of cleaner in.
It has been so nice to not wear glasses and I am SO excited to start sunglass shopping. Bless friends.
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