22 months

It happened. Not much to say. Attended my first dream concert, went crazy over B1A4. Started Korean classes, don't feel like I'm learbjngb much I can apply in everyday life but I'll stick with it for now. I want to travel around Korea more, but also currently planning summer vacation abroad. Maybe the Philippines and Singapore 

21 months

21 months!!! i can't think of anything to write about, either because i've done nothing worth writing about, or i can't remember exactly.
most recently i can talk about the weather, it's warmer, much much warmer, so last sunday i headed out with a friend and we watched a soccer game at world cup stadium. school is going well, i have a new co teacher but she's only staying until july. i think i'm going to stay in korea during the summer holidays since i haven't really traveled within korea yet, and i don't want to try it rush it all in at the end of my contract. that's it, lame, but i didn't want to skip a month cause then i'd be down hill from there.
EDIT: I forgot to mention that during May a Thai friend who did an exchange year at my high school came to visit me in Seoul.

K-Live

As further proof that technology really is a  marvelous thing, I've just attended my very first holographic concert. This event is calle K-Live and gives audiences the opportunity to see their favorite idols in a concert setting, when otherwise they might not be able to attend an actual concert. The performers on this night where members of the YG agencie, Big Bang, 2ne1, and Psy. 

First things first, the location: the K-live stage is located on the 9th floor of the Lotte Fitin Shopping Center which can be teacher by subway (lines 4, 2, & 5) and is connected through an underground path way or exit 12. Once on level 9, guests are immediately greeted by a pretty impressive display of kpop realia. The lobby layout is open and guests are free to browse around the merchandise area, while listening to the latest kpop tunes. There are also plenty of photo taking opportunities, which only add to the experience and make it that much more memorable, since taking pictures of the actual show is not allowed. To further the experience we were given light sticks to use during the show, and returned at the end. 

Once it is time for the show to start, guests are led inside by a group of boys, and are greeted inside by a DJ who does his best to get the crowd energized. The stage area is open, there are no chairs or seat assignments. It is big enough for you to jump or dance along to your favorite songs, and the light show and sound quality really does make you feel like it's a real concert. Prior to going I was worried it would be a bit awkward and cheesy, but honestly if you go in with a good attitude and willing to let loose there is no reason why you wouldn't enjoy yourself. Even though they're holographic, the artists still engaged with the crowd and gave fan service like they would at an actual show. Like I stated previously, there where there YG performs this time, and if I remember correctly each one got to sing about 2 or 3 songs. 

I definitely think this is a good opportunity to see their idols, because sometimes it is really difficult to obtain tickets to a real concert, or concert dates in Seoul May not match the dates a foreign fan is in Korea so he/she could purchase tickets to K-live on a date and time that best suits them. 

I was gifted tickets by the KTO so I'm not 100% sure of the price, but I think it's around 30,000 won which I think it's a lite but expensive since the concert only lasts about an hour. Tickets to see an actual Big Bang concert for two hours are about 100,000 krw. 

Cambodia in pictures

A few pictures from my trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia during February 2014.

Angkor Wat, floating village, pub street.

Thailand in pictures

A few pictures from my trip to Thailand during February 2014.

Bangkok, Koh Phi Phi, Ao Nang Beach

20 months

I spent the weekend pondering wether I'm going to stay in Korea a third year or not, and this morning when asked by my co teacher what I'm going to do, I told her yes, I will stay. It definitely wasn't as easy to say yes to another year in Seoul, as it was when I signed on to a second year. I definitely miss my family a whole lot, but I don't feel like my job here is done yet. I am entirely too attached to my students, and leaving halfway through the school year just doesn't feel right. Granted, I'll be leaving halfway through the school year next year, but it will be a different set of kids, my sixth graders now are the ones I started out with when I first arrived, and it will mean so much to see them graduate.

I feel bittersweet, but I'm definitely glad to have this decision behind me and to have made it with the support of my family and friends back home. This Monday I will have an open class for the principal, VP and head teacher and they will have the final say on my renewal, but I've been told the odds of them saying no to me are pretty slim.

I can't think of anything else to update on for this month, because this has been a pretty big decision and  has taken up a lot of space in my mind and heart recently.

3rd KTO supporters welcome dinner & Kaboom show

The third season of the Korean Tourism Organization Performance Supporters kicked off last night with it's welcome dinner and a viewing of the variety show, Kaboom. This is my second season as a supporter, and I was once again blown away by the quality of food that we were treated to. The dinner this time was held at VIPS buffet in the Jongno area of Seoul. The variety and quality of food was more than what I tend to expect from mid prized buffets. During the dinner I saw some familiar faces from the events I attended last season, and I also had the opportunity to meet new supporters and talk about some of the events we are looking forward to this year.

After dinner we were asked to exit the dining area, and move to the fourth floor for the opening ceremony and start of the show. The lobby of the theater got a little bit packed with so many people arriving at the same exact time, but I guess this wouldn't be much of an issue during a regular night. Upon entering the theater we were given a gift bag from the KTO and shown to our seats. The opening ceremony consisted of an awards ceremony for the top supporters from the last season. I believe there were ten of them, and they each got to take a picture on the stage and where given a prize. I'm not sure as to what else the opening ceremony consisted of because it was conducted in Korean. I understand that Korean is the official language of the organization, but considering the majority of the attendees were foreigners I did feel like perhaps translating some of it would have made us feel more involved instead of just clapping and cheering whenever others did.

After the opening ceremony the show got started. I don't think this show is meant to have any type of specific story line or flow as the segments where all completely different from each other, and I wasn't able to figure out how they connected with each other. The variety show included a magician solo act, a magician act with two people that told the story of two lovers gone awry, a b-boy act consisting of members from the Morning of Owl crew, an act with three girls playing traditional Korean instruments, and my favorite, the closing act was I think five people wearing body suits that lit up and combined a pretty impressive choreography with a captivating light show. The show wrapped up with all performers coming on stage and taking a final vow.
Overall, I was confused by the direction this show was taking, but I was definitely blown away by the last performance and would go back for them alone.

The show theater and VIPS restaurant are in the same building, and can be easily reached from Exit 15 of Jongno 3ga subway station. Upon exiting continue straight and make the fourth left (at the busiest intersection). The theater is on the left hand side.

table setting at VIPS buffet

fried chicken, noodles, ribs.. yum yum

salad bar area

before the start of the show