For Dad

This post and video are both for you dad...my number 1 blog fan. If it wasn't for you, I probably would've given up on this blog months ago. But you called me out on being a slacker...I was guilted into updating it even when I didn't feel like it. And I'm glad I stuck with it!!

Also, if it wasn't for you, who knows what kind of food I would be cooking here?? As I have said many times before, being a vegetarian in Korea is not easy. I've learned a great deal from watching you cook and eating your amazing food (note - my dad is not at all a vegetarian). So thanks dad!!!! I Love you!!

Faking It

Here is a video that Frances made of me teaching. She spent a day with me and filmed my kindergarten classes. When I first watched it all I could think was, 'does my voice really sound like that? So fake and annoying and such a weak attempt at enthusiasm!' Anyway, then we made another video (which will soon be posted) outside of school and I thought my voice sounded normal. Haha. So anyway, here is a bit of insight into how I spend my weekdays.

Halloween

This post is a bit overdue but here are some photos from Halloween. It's not a huge holiday in Korea, but some people celebrate it... mostly foreigners. English private schools usually have special Halloween events and the kids get dressed up.

Sam and I went out with a couple of her friends and I was a biker/tattooed badass. She was Lara Croft. We felt a bit like celebrities being out in Itaewon, with how many people wanted to take pictures with us. Well, at least reality show celebrities. It was a decent night out but it definitely doesn't compare to a Halloween night in Canada (or America I am sure). All of the bars in Itaewon had generic Halloween themed parties, but something was missing. Maybe it was the authenticity.

The highlight of the day was definitely seeing the kids dressed up. I don't bring my camera to school often but I knew this would be worth it. All of the girls in my class dressed up as princesses...as did the majority of the girls in the other classes. The boys were a little bit more creative. Check them out below! ^^

Sam and I

xTuffx

Mickey (who in the meantime quit the school), Caleb and Bosco

Annie and Sean the Knight

Jerry

Singing Halloween tunes

Boys being cuties

Pooh Class

Plastic

Here is an article that will give you some insight on the plastic surgery craze that is occurring in Korea. The more I read about it, the more fascinated I become...I can't help it!

Thick Thighs

"Asian girls are so tiny" is a generalization that I have heard many times and thought to be true myself. And yeah, maybe they are, but it doesn't always come naturally. The rest of what I have to say is in reference to Korean girls because I am not sure of others, but it likely applies.

Korean girls are generally small. They have a small frame and are fairly short. But if they are skinny it is usually due to a conscious effort on their part. It is in terms of what they eat and drink more than how often they work out. I am not completely criticizing this because I am attracted to slim and toned healthy bodies. Also, I am a small girl myself and I work for it - at the gym and I watch what I eat. I haven't always been in the shape I am in now, so I know it takes a lot of effort. But the difference is that I like that my body is toned, and I think girls with muscle look great. That doesn't seem to be the case with most Koreans.

So if you see skinny and small Korean or Asian girls don't think that it comes super easy to them. There is sooo much pressure in this part of the world, even more than in the west, I think. At least it's a lot more forward and accepted here. From bleaching skin, to plastic surgery, to other crazy beauty solutions (that I might do a blog post on), Korea's got it all!

Anyway, this post was inspired by this video that was brought to my attention. I find it completely ridiculous and offensive! And sad, really. I am not too familiar with many aspects of Korean media - I don't watch TV or read magazines or anything - but I think this is a pretty good representation because Arirang is a major TV network. Enjoy!