Inktober

Day 1: The Artist's Climb

When I made the decision to do Inktober this year, I really wasn't sure if I would (a) be able to draw a picture every day and (b) produce anything to be proud of. I've never really challenged my artistic abilities. I've drawn things here and there for fun or for other people, but usually I just try to recreate a cartoon image. Here, at times I was trying to combine elements from different sources, attempting to draw 2D based on 3D models, and at times trying to pull something out of thin air (although I think those were the worst). Definitely not my comfort zone.

Day 3: Web Connections; inspired by the Magic School Bus

Day 4; a combination of three model images

 And yet each day, somehow I was able to put to paper an impression of what I wanted (or almost).

Day 7; based off a 3D artwork

Day 9: Broken Telephone; 3D model

A few days in, I started following the official prompt list as an inspiration point (designated by the # in the photos). I liked the challenge of creating an image that fit a given word. At times, I chose to draw something that obviously fit, while at other points, I tried to stretch the understanding of the given prompt.

Day 10: Cottage Dock

Day 14; I tried drawing two different trees before doing this one

I think the hardest part for me was the lack of eraser. I'm so used to sketching and then erasing, perfecting each line multiple times until it looks exactly the way I want it. With ink though... Every line was permanent.

Day15: Dog Days; I wished for a hammock

I may not be heading toward fame with my artwork (Ha!) but after this month, I'm a lot more comfortable with ink between my figures. There were still days when I didn't want to post what I drew, embarrassed or unhappy with the final result. But inktober is all about trying, I think. My favourite for the month was early on (Day 12; prompt: worried) because I was able to include so much detail and shading. Inspired by the White Rabbit, here it is:

Worried about being late?

My second favourite, was in an inversed style (lines white, main black) is currently my most liked photo on instagram with nearly 140 likes as I write this. I think that is in part due to fandom appeal. Inspired by my favourite childhood tv show (Digimon), the image also appropriately fits the prompt "escape:"

Day 18: Digivice with Crest of Light

Inktober is almost over and hopefully I'll be able to squeeze in the last couple of drawings before the end of the month. I'm on my way to Hanoi, Vietnam today for my vacation week and I've left my notebook behind. Haha. Still, I am proud of what I've accomplished in the last 29 days.

I'm looking forward to seeing a new country and having new adventures.

Love and Hugs

Language Learning, The Inner Battle

Learning Korean is making me a better English Teacher.

This might seem like a strange statement if you've never tried to learn an additional language, but if you're familiar with the feeling of helplessness that comes from the early stages of trying to communicate when you know nothing, then you probably know what I'm taking about.

The many books I have collected (so far) to teach me Korean things...

As I work to improve my Korean, I think I'm understanding what some of my students feel when they are sitting in the classroom and the teacher expects them to speak English. When I encounter situations where I have to listen and speak, I get anxious and nervous and fumbling through the simple sentences and words that I know I know. I've read that listening and speaking are generally the first skills picked up when learning a new language, but for me I'm more comfortable reading and writing. I have more time to think it through.

A foreign block of text can be overwhelming.

I must have gone through a similar process when learning French in elementary school, but I don't remember what it was like anymore. As a 6 or 7 year old, I doubt I analyzed my use of French vocabulary and grammar. Ha! The transition from non-speaking to speaking is all a blur... I do, however, remember not knowing the words and at times French-ifying an English word so that it sounded like it belonged in my sentences... Alas, that only got me so far.

As an adult learning a new language, I now find myself questioning how I managed to learn both English and French in the first place... Past-me, why do you make it seem so easy? Le sigh.

Here's a brief glimpse of the thoughts that swirl through my head when I encounter a situation in Korean.

My Inner Thought Battle:

• There is that moment when someone says something to me and my brain scrambles to make sense of it. 
• 
  
• If I manage to understand, I feel a brief moment of elation--YES!--and then I realize they want a response. 
• 
  
• My brain stalls. Which words do I use? What grammar do I use? If I say it this way will it make sense?
• 
  
• Wait. How much time has passed now? Ahhhhh! They're staring at me. I think they've waited too long... they probably think I don't know. 
• 
  
• If I answer now, will it be awkward? What was I going to say again? 

Following these thoughts, I either freeze up or fumble through a sentence, feeling slightly defeated. The worst part is that despite the fact that I might have understood and that I do know what I want to say, I can't always articulate that to the other person. 

I wonder how many of my students are stuck in similar situations in class...  In my own classroom, is there too much emphasis on oral production and not enough on inner cognition? How many of my students feel the pressure of needing to answer quickly and then, as a result, feel like they can't think and put their ideas into the right words?

In practice, the exercises are short and controlled.

Now, as I stand before my students, sometimes I feel like I can hear those same thoughts screaming through their heads. There is that moment when their eyes widen and I can almost see the debate raging: do they have time to try and figure out what is being asked and response? Or should they glance to a friend, relying on a quick translation?

For me, this is an important reminder. Some of my students are so quick to respond that I sometimes forget English is their second (or third) language. And yet others are still fine tuning their listening and production skills. I need to be mindful of the inner battles raging within my students so that I can create a safe space where they feel comfortable relying on and improving their own skills. Am I talking too fast? Have I introduced words that they don't know yet? What supports can I put in place to help decrease confounding stress?

As I push forward in my own Korean studies, I hope that I can learn more about how I can help my students with their English. I hope that my revelation has been able to help someone else, too.

Love and Hugs.

Update

Plumb tuckered out. But still alive. ㅎ

That describes how I feel at this moment in time.

I decided to take an additional basic qualification course this semester so that I could teach English to Intermediate level students. With my residence and day school duties, I know that I have to balance, but I knew I would still be able to manage. What I didn't consider was my current Korean class (+homework) and that I would be taking a swim qualification course so that I could supervise students at our pool. With everything colliding at once, I feel like a rag-doll pulled in all directions. And every time my butt finds a chair, I tend to flop to one side or the other. I dream of sleep. ㅋㅋ.

I haven't had much opportunity to do any new hiking, too, and now's the perfect time for it--not too hot and not too cold. Sadness!

Chère famille, I'm still alive and despite being tired I am well. I send you my love and hugs.

Please enjoy this picture of the "Loner Tree" (왕따 나무; Wang-dda Na-mu) that I visited briefly with my friend at the end of September.

The end.

For now.

Pokemon Go in Sokcho

We had our first break last week for Chuseok (추석) last week and unlike last year, I opted to leave the island. One of my friends and I talked about going toward the east coast of mainland Korea since last April. We were originally thinking of camping, but with a lack of vehicle, it is kind of hard getting to any of the camping locations. So instead we decided we would head to the small coastal city of Sokcho (속초) for a couple days.

The bus was pretty comfy in comparison to the buses I've been on in N.A.

We drove through beautiful scenery as we crossed the country.

The town is not only on the sea, but also next to a chain of mountains. Even the bus trip to the city was stunning as we wove between and under. There are a couple lakes in and beside the town, too, making some stunning views.

I walked around this lake my first morning. I love seeing the mountains in the distance. 

Same lake as above, the next day. Such a stark difference.

We really didn't know what we were supposed to be doing. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Being by the water, we saw so many seafood restaurants. As my friend had a seafood allergy, we didn't try any--and honestly we struggled a bit finding non-seafood restaurants. Plus, with the Chuseok holiday, a lot of restaurants and shops were closed at different times, making it even harder. ㅎㅎ But we did find things in the end.

We found these boats in a side lot. I thought they looked cool, despite being out of the water.

Heading toward the Expo-area. (Different lake from earlier pictures).

Heading down to the beach! Want to ride in a boat? 

Beach Selfie!

We stayed at the beach a couple hours until it got dark and got to see fireworks. People were setting them off up and down the beach. There were also lanterns for sale and you could write something on the thin material before releasing them into the sky. It was so pretty! (Although I wondered where the lanterns would end up landing later...).

Make a wish!

My friend, Gym Battling

Pokemon Go...

Sokcho is also the only place in South Korea that you can play the popular Pokemon Go, which has released in many countries around the world over the course of the summer. But not in Korea. Despite the fact that Korea is one of the leading gaming countries, Pokemon Go is currently in compatible because the game functions using Google Maps. A very basic form of Google Maps does exist in Korea--enough to give you a rough transit route--but not enough for the game. South Korea is still technically at war with the North, so no one knows if the government will agree to give Google what it needs to make fully working maps. Also, Naver and Daum are two Korean companies that currently monopolize the map software for the peninsula. If Google were to be added, they could also take a hit financially...

Me as a Gym Leader

How the game looks in Sokcho.

So how does Sokcho work? I don't know. It's a glitch, but one that has boosted tourism to the already popular tourist town. (For a while, you could also play in Ulsan, but I heard recently that it doesn't work as well anymore). Unlike when I opened the game in Canada, there are no streets marked. It's like your floating in a sea with random stops and gyms floating in the distance.

In some ways, it was really funny. While walking around, my friend and I saw so many people playing. Groups of friends and foreigners, yes, but also families and couples. We even saw a girl in Hanbok (한복, traditional Korean clothing) playing with her boyfriend. Near the beach, there were four Pokestops in close proximity. If you stood in the right spot, you could access three of them at the same time. People brought chairs and blankets and then camped out, setting up lures to attract more pokemon.

People crowding around the Pokestops near the beach.

Because Sokcho is the only place in Korea where you can play the game, I can see why people want to spend their vacations playing, making the most of the opportunity. But, I couldn't help feel a little sad and hollow at the thought of coming to such a beautiful town and spending all your time glued to a screen. There is so much more to see and do. My friend isn't much of a hiker, but just outside of Sokcho you can go to Seoraksan (설악산), which is one of the more popular mountains in the country. There is also a waterpark nearby (alas, no swimsuit this time), and a number of museums, too.

I'm glad I went, and I hope that I can go again to do more of the things just outside of the city. Three days was not long enough. ㅎㅎ.

And now... back to school, I suppose.

Love and Hugs

A Day in Busan

One of the first things we did in Busan was teach this Korean
 할머니 (grandmother) the purpose of a selfie-stick. 

I almost called this post, "Busan, Round 2" but I thought this title was more accurate since my friend and I were only in Busan for a day--not even 24 hours if you want to be more exact. We landed at 10 in the morning and were gone just after 9 the next day.

We bought the tickets last week on a whim and then planned out a rough itinerary the night before thanks to a quick google search. Both of us were keen to see anything and we knew would have fun because we were travelling together. Still, I did not expect our day to be so full and so... productive. I think that's the only word for it.

So, here are a couple more things that you can do in Busan. (Click for what I talked about last time)

Meeting up with Changho to start our adventure!

Markets: 국제시장 & 부평깡통시장!
Like many airports, Gimhae is not in central Busan and it takes a while to get into the city. So, we decided to head to Gukje Market (국제시장) first--arriving just in time to explore a bit and grab some food. If you have the time, it's a lot of fun perusing what you can get at a Korean market.

Welcome to the visual chaos at the threshold.

From food to clothes to odds and ends, there are all sorts of things available. Some joke that you can get everything except for a husband or wife at some of the big markets around the country. Plus, you can find some delicious food to munch on while you explore (like Hoddeok/호뗙 a sweet fried rice cake, sorta, and ddeokbboki/떡뽁이 spicy rice cakes). We weren't as hungry as we thought we might be so we didn't actually eat a lot at the market and soon moved on.

Get your ddeokbboki/떡뽁이and extras here! 

That's a lot of
ice cream...

Nampo (남포) & Yongdusan Park (용두산 공원)

Who doesn't want a picture with a giant
pikachu doll?

Changho said that the market was for "older" people (and it's true we saw a lot of middle aged women and older buying things for their homes and such), so he urged us onward to the "young" area. If you've been to Seoul, think Hongdae/Shinchon (홍대/신촌). There were a lot of restaurants and bars as well as the necessary cute knickknack shops. Naturally, we explored a couple.

Our exploration led to the foot of an escalator leading up to Yongdusan. Yes, an escalator. It went up to the park but then you had to walk back down the stairs. ㅎㅎ. You can pay to go up the tower on the top of the mountain (very small mountain, I should qualify ㅋㅋㅋㅋ) and I think it was under 10,000 KRW, but as we were there in the middle of the day and it was cloudy, we decided not to. Night scapes are sometimes better from city towers. It was a relaxing space and we saw many ahjussis (아저씨) sleeping on benches. There was also an outdoor platform that looked like it was for concerts. Très cute.

Riding up the escalator because we can.  

At the top of the mountain.

Dala 100% Chocolate: Bingsu 
Address: 부산광역시 부산진구 전포대로209번길 18
*We were near Seomyeon station (서면역), but I don't know if that was the closest subway station*
In the hot humid weather, nothing is better than enjoying a delicious, cold, bingsu with friends. Especially when there is a giant dinosaur egg sitting on top.

bingsu bingsu bingsu

If you don't know what a Bingsu is, it is a shaved ice dessert, so similar in some ways to ice cream. I think typically they are made with flakes of condensed milk, but you can also find them made with ice. Usually a scoop of ice cream is added on top along with other toppings depending on your flavour of choice.

I'm not really a fan of chocolate and ice cream things--I just find they are too rich for me--but this treat was too cool to not try at least once. They cave you a small meat tenderizer (yeah... weird... but still) that you used like a hammer to bash the dino egg. Inside was a... a secret. You could order all sorts of other chocolaty treats if you didn't feel like bingsu. Choices for everyone!

Haeundae* (해운대)
Let's go to the beach!

Walking along the beach feels so nice!

Beach season is "officially" closed, but there were still a few people out swimming in the water. In the heat, I wished I had brought a swimsuit for a dip, too. Wading felt so good! But you had to be careful where you stepped. There were a number of jellyfish washed up onto the sand. I don't much about jellyfish, but I didn't want to get hurt by mistake--even though I really wanted to touch one.

Diana playing in the sand. 

Centum City, Spaland (신세계 스파랜드)
And last, but not least... Diana's favourite part of our trip: Spaland. This Jjimjilbang (찜질방) is located inside a mall. There is a discounted price if you go after 8pm, so we ate dinner and killed some time before going in. Some of us could easily have spent a full day here... sleeping. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ.

Wearing my lamb ears!

After you pay, they give you a wrist band and you then use this to monitor your tab inside the spa (so food and spa treatments). There were multiple sauna rooms ranging in temperatures. My friend said he saw a negative one, but the coldest I saw was 14 degrees. The hottest was in the 60s. I don't really like hot rooms, so I didn't try any, but both Diana and Changho explored a few. I enjoyed the footbath area as well as the really comfortable chairs in the lounge room. (They also have a room for sleeping).

And then of course, there are also the baths. Various temperatures are again available and there are also numerous shower and wash stations. They even provide some soap and shampoo if you didn't bring your own!

We stayed until almost midnight (when they close) and then made our way across the city to beds. Well... I went to bed. Diana had slept at Spaland and had energy to spare. I did not. ㅎㅎ

Definitely a good day in Busan and I hope to go back for more adventures in the future!

Love and Hugs.