Korean Baseball Game | Cheerleader Edition

This past June, we were able to go to one more Korean baseball game. Thankfully, Jeff has a lot of friends and was able to ask his friend, Crystal, to get us tickets on the Lotte Giants side. We were so close to the cheerleaders this time. We were only two rows behind the stage, so if we turned around, we could see everything up close and personal! It was the last time that we would ever go to a Korean baseball game, so we wanted to make sure this one was the best!

Lotte Giants Hype Man!

Look at all the guys staring and filming.

Oh snap.

Meow Meow

I know there are heaps of cheerleader pics, but I was completely in awe. I can't believe that they even had them. It's such a weird concept. I think it actually added something special and maybe they should add them to American baseball games. Every time the hype man and the girls came out, the crowd went wild. Since we were in front of the stage, we had to turn around. If you faced the field, all you see is a sea of smiling faces. What's even more amazing is that the women turn into fangirls and get more excited than the guys. It's pretty awesome.

We even had a chance to see a guy propose to his girlfriend. Of course, she accepted and the whole thing was really sweet. She was crying and when she said yes, he kept kissing her. It's pretty cool that he proposed to her at a game and I'm sure it's something they will always remember.

At the end of the game, they passed around the trash bags and Crystal was able to make mine into a bow. At first, I had no idea what she was doing. When I finally realized she was making a bow, I freaked out. I always see the girls with them and I get so jealous. I was excited to be able to have my very own trash bag bow! It was the real Korean baseball game experience. 

When we left and were walking toward the subway, a guy started walking toward us. I saw that he had a snake around his neck and started to run in the opposite direction. Then I remembered who I was married to and walked toward the guy. Markus loves all animals and as soon as he saw that snake his face lit up. The guy immediately put the snake on him and Markus was so happy. Then the guy tried to put it on me and I screamed. I think it wasn't the best of ways to end such an awesome day, but it definitely was unique. I'm so thankful for Jeff and Crystal. Because of them, Markus and I were able to experience something unforgettable!

Eats with Jeff #10: Baseball Stadium Food

When you go to a Korean baseball game, you can bring in any food that you want.  It's pretty amazing what you can bring. Before the game, masses of people go to Homeplus, a Korean version of Walmart. We've also gone to Homeplus and the amount of people is overwhelming. Everyone is clamoring to get pizzas, chicken and more. It's incredible seeing people walk into the stadium with boxes and coolers stuffed with food and drinks. I don't know where they put the food, because the aisles are tiny and there isn't much leg room. Some people get creative. I saw one group put their cooler in a seat, which meant they bought a ticket just for the food!

I'm so excited for fried chicken!

Kimbap

Never buy fried chicken from the ahjummas on the street!

Dried Squid!

Look at that delicious fried goodness.

We tried to be creative with the food that we brought to the games. Some things you can get in America, but some you can't. I do think we went a bit overboard because we just kept eating and eating. Although, it was nothing compared to what I saw other Koreans eat. Games usually run for three to four hours, so Koreans come prepared. They bring enough food to feed a classroom of kids. In some cases, they bring enough to share with people around them. We had a few guys feeding me all sorts of things. It's not unusual to make friends with those seated around you. I love that about Korean people. They are always ready to share a shot of soju or a chicken wing. It's great part of their culture and made the experience that much better!

I can't believe we brought a whole pizza!

Blood Sausage and Liver

Someone is excited!

Goodbye Korea Series | My Favorite Preschool Class

Last week was the end of regular classes, which meant the end of my preschool classes. When I first arrived two years ago, I was worried the most about preschool. I used to think I wasn't good with kids. They always sort of freaked me out and then add the language barrier to that, I was terrified. I can still remember the first time I walked into a preschool class. As soon as I saw those cute and adorable faces, all my worries started to fade. Preschool is still a tough class to teach, but they became my favorite.

One class in particular became my favorite. The kids in my Thursday class were the funniest, brightest and sweetest. If I was having a bad day, the minute I saw their faces, my day would instantly get better. They would always run up to me and give me hugs and kisses. Sometimes in class I would sing little songs to myself and they would mimic me. Actually, they copied everything I did. I'll miss their silly dances and funny faces. It's going to be hard to spend Thursdays without them.

Cute Pose #1

Cute Pose #2

Cute Pose #3

So adorable!

I can't... so cute!!

My favorite preschool kids!

Goodbye Korea Series | Jenny and Seung-Ah

My time in Korea would not have been the same if it weren't for these two lovely ladies. They became my family when I was here.  Most Korean co-teachers do what is expected of them, but never more than that. They do the bare minimum and in most cases, let you figure everything out on your own.  Moving to Korea is daunting enough and if you don't have good co-teachers, your experience will suffer. Jenny and Seung-Ah unnie went above and beyond and not only for me, but Markus too. They never made it feel like I was inconveniencing them, it was more than just a work expectation, it was a real friendship. 

The first day we arrived in Busan, Jenny was there to pick us up. Usually, it's one co-teacher for each person, but Jenny was the only came. Without hesitation, she did everything that his co-teacher would've done. Markus felt so bad that she had to take care of him, but she never seemed to care. Throughout our year and a half together, she always asked about Markus and always helped him. She's that incredible.

I'll always remember that first day with Jenny, because something memorable happened. Our apartment wasn't ready, so she had to take us to a love motel. A love motel is basically a place that people go to get it on. It's not as seedy as it sounds and it's actually really cheap accommodation. The one we stayed at wasn't bad and it was in a really good neighborhood. After we checked in, she and the male accountant helped us to our room. In Korea, everything is connected by remote, so she showed us how it worked. She turned on the lights, the a/c and finally, the TV. Now keep in mind, this is a love motel, so there are some questionable things. When the TV finally turned on, it was on an inappropriate channel. She freaked out and then switched to another inappropriate channel. She finally gave up and just turned it off. In the end, we all laughed about the situation. Even though it was a bit awkward, it definitley was an unforgettable bonding moment.

Seung-Ah unnie was also an incredible co-teacher. When Jenny would take care of the big stuff, she took care of the rest. Markus and I could always count on her. There were many times that I was sick and she would take me to the hospital. I've heard of many people going alone and trying to figure it out. I never had to worry, because she always took care of me. It wasn't just the times that I was sick, but it was any time I needed help.

On our second day in Korea, Seung-Ah unnie took us shopping for the house. Again, most co-teachers wouldn't spend a Sunday afternoon helping you buy stuff, but she did. She was incredibly helpful. I'm sure she had better things to do than listen to Markus and I try to figure things out, but she was incredibly patient. After working a few months together, she even let me start calling her unnie, which means older sister. She really became the older sister I never had.

Even though both Jenny and Seung-Ah unnie transferred to new schools, they still made time to see us. We didn't meet for a while, but I couldn't imagine leaving Korea without seeing them. They mean so much to us. Whenever I think of Korea, I will always think of them. They are the reason that I loved this place so much. It's because of them that this place felt like home and not a pit stop in my life. They were such a huge blessing for Markus and I and we will miss them so much!

Turning Japanese | Five Novels about Japan

I'm an avid reader and if I'm not too busy with creative projects or planning trips, I'm reading. Most of the time, reading is how I relax. I love the feeling of being able to forget all my stress and escape into another world. I noticed recently that most of the books I've been reading lately were somehow related to Japan. I think I subconsciously chose those books with the intention of hyping myself up for my trip. I wanted to share these books and a few other favorites. Even if you can't travel to Japan, you can still experience Japanese culture through these novels!

1. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
I feel a bit silly having this on the list because by now, everyone has at least heard of this book or film. This was probably one of the first books I read that was set in Japan. If you've never heard of the novel, it's the story of a young geisha in Kyoto during World War II. Before reading this book, I didn't know much about the world of the geisha. I knew it was very secretive and a very special. I always wondered what it was like to be a geisha. It's actually quite an interesting story and although it's not my favorite, it showed me a world that would've always been a mystery.

2. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
This novel is set in Tokyo and is a coming of age story of a young Japanese man named Toru Watanabe. I really loved the story and read it in two days. I really liked the tone of Norwegian Wood. I tend to read a lot of coming of age novels and really enjoyed reading about Toru's troubles with two very different women in his life. It was interesting reading about what relationships are like in Japan. Even though we come from different cultures, one thing will always be the same, the endless search for love and a connection with another.

3. Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
I know it's very strange that I have such a violent book on a list about traveling to Japan, but I think it deserves to be noted. Back when I read Hunger Games, Markus told me that it was just a tamer version of Battle Royale. I didn't believe him, but after reading it, the similarities were uncanny. There is no doubt that this book is violent and to a certain degree, soul crushing. It doesn't waste any time and gets right into the battle. It's pretty intense and I would probably never read it again. Despite all of this, it's such a Japanese book. It has that sort of signature style that you would expect from a Japanese film or anime.

4. Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
Just a few weeks ago, I finished reading my second Murakami novel. As I stated before, I really enjoyed Norwegian Wood and Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is one of his most popular. When Markus asked me to describe this book to him, it was a bit hard. I basically said, "It's about this guy that loses his cat and his wife and he has a lot of weird dreams." It wasn't my favorite book by Murikami but it when it was good, it was good. While I was reading this book, I was also planning our Japan trip. As I continued to read, I started to feel excited because I knew that soon I would be visiting the places that he was describing.

5. A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
This is the latest book I've read and it's quite good. The concept is quite interesting and really unique. Ruth in British Columbia finds a diary on the beach and features the world of sixteen year old Nao from Tokyo. I enjoyed Nao's story more than Ruth's because Nao felt so real. I could imagine her pain and her struggles. I could empathize with her constant loneliness and bullying from her classmates. It's an amazing book because of this. Also, there is so much about Japanese pop-culture and history. It's a story that connects the past, the present and the future. I loved this book and was the the perfect book to read before a trip to Japan.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my top five Japanese novels. Were there any novels that I left out or ones that I should read? I love to hear from my readers, so please leave me a comment! 

The Lost Land of Yehey Trailer

For the past two years or so, Markus and I have been working on a collaboration project together. In those two years, this project has had many faces. It began as a grandiose story, but was then boiled down to a simple children's book. We thought that was the best way to tell the story, but we realized that it lost a lot of it's charm and epic scale. So we were unsure of how to proceed and were really trying to choose the right medium. We even toyed around with turning it into a graphic novel or online comic. After many brainstorming meetings and hitting the wall over and over, it finally dawned on us, an animated adventure web series. The workload would be heavy, but it's the only way to give the story the respect it deserves.

After we finally decided on creating an animated series, Markus started working on the trailer. He's been diligently working on it in his spare time for the past three months. We've titled our project, "The Lost Land of Yehey". It's an animated, action-adventure web series that tells the story of a young boy and girl that are in search for the fabled Lost Land of Yehey, a place where dreams and impossibilities become reality. When the two young protagonists stumble upon their grandfather's old journal, chronicling his adventures in the search for Yehey, they decide to continue his search and embark on an adventure that will change the world forever.

It's been an amazing journey watching the world that we created together come to life, and I can't wait to see how it will grow. So far It's truly been a labor of love, and sometimes frustration. However I'm so excited to share this with you, and I hope that you are able to join us on this journey to "The Lost Land of Yehey".

Goodbye Korea Series | Emilio & Gina

I think this post will be the beginning of all my goodbye posts to my dear friends in Korea. We have 23 days left and every day my heart breaks a little bit more. I cannot believe how fast the past few months have gone. It only felt like yesterday when we had six months and now it's less than that. In the coming days, we'll be meeting with our friends that we've made in Korea. Some we will see again and others, who knows when we will meet again. Recently, Markus and I were able to meet with Emilio & Gina. We don't have many couple friends in Korea, so the few that we do have, we really appreciate. They have similar tastes to Markus and I and it's always fun meeting up with them.

Emilio was in our EPIK orientation class all the way back in August of 2011. We haven't kept in touch with many people from orientation, but Emilio is one of the few that we make the effort to see. He and Markus have so much in common. This last time we met, they spent the whole time talking to each other about anime and kaiju movies. Markus doesn't have any geeky friends here besides Emilio, so when they get together he gets very excited. Gina came about a year ago and she's really incredible. Every time we meet, it's like seeing an old friend. Even though we haven't known each other long, Gina is the type of person that you instantly feel comfortable with. She's one of the kindest people I've ever met and she's a perfect match for Emilio.
 

Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict

Breakfast Burger

We hadn't seen Emilio or Gina for months. It's sad, but it happens. Life takes over and then you before you know it, months have passed. We were determined to see each other before we left. After going back and forth for a bit, we finally agreed on a date. Gina recommended Bruns Week, an amazing brunch place in Nampodong and we readily agreed. Markus and I will never say no to brunch. It's like a rule, who doesn't like brunch? The food was amazing. I can't even describe how good. It's been ages since I've had brunch and it felt like coming home. Everything was really exquisite and the restaurant was really classy. It felt a bit like some of the restaurants back home.

After we ate at Bruns Week, we weren't ready to say goodbye, so we headed to another cafe. We spent a couple hours chatting and people watching. It was really strange, but everyone in this cafe was a bit off in some way. The girls at the table next to us were taking a nap, a girl across the way was straightening her hair, and a guy at another table had a mini-projector and was watching a movie. After we finished at the cafe, we still weren't ready to part, so we went to the thrift store area of Nampodong. It was like heaven for me. There was store after store of amazing vintage clothes. I can't believe it took me two years to find this place, but in all honesty, it's for the best. I'm sure I would have spent all money and then where would I be? Broke, but with lots of cool clothes.

When we were finally ready to say goodbye, we had spent almost eight hours together. I think we all knew it was our last time and we just weren't ready. Even though, I don't know when we'll see Emilio and Gina again but we're very thankful for their friendship. I know that once we meet again, it'll be like no time passed and we'll just pick up right where we left off!

Seung Ah Unnie's Korean Wedding | Busan, South Korea

Markus and I have been lucky enough to attend three Korean weddings in our two years in Korea. Three of my dearest unnie's have gotten married while we've been here. Korean weddings are completely different from American weddings. It's almost shocking how different.  At the first wedding we attended, I was overwhelmed and really confused. By this third one, Markus and I were pros. We knew all the tricks and it made for an enjoyable wedding experience. Despite the differences, there are still some really amazing things about Korean weddings and I'm thankful that I had the chance to witness real Korean weddings.

One of the biggest differences in Korean weddings is the venue. The wedding and reception is in the same place. Basically throughout Korea they have these nondescript office buildings and inside them are wedding halls. I once asked my co-teacher if Koreans got married in churches and she said that some did, but they were poor. Many Koreans look down on the couple if they don't get married in a wedding hall. It's sort of sad in a way because all the weddings I've been to have looked exactly the same. There is nothing unique or different, the only difference is the bride and groom.

One thing that I don't like about Korean weddings is the lack of reverence for the bride and groom. Everyone sort of stands outside the seating area and just talks loudly while the ceremony is happening. Everyone comes and pays their respects and then they just do their own thing.  It's a bit strange, but it's completely normal. At this wedding, there were so many people, the most I've ever seen. They were all talking so loudly and blocking the view that I couldn't see much. I got a bit annoyed and gave up. Instead of trying to fight for a view, Markus and I headed to the buffet.

The best part about Korean weddings is the food.  Traditionally, everyone gives a monetary present ranging from 30,000 won to 50,000 won ($30-$50) depending on how close you are to the bride or groom. Once you arrive at the wedding and hand over your present, they give you a ticket for the lunch buffet. After you've seen the bride and said your greetings, you can stay and watch the ceremony or head to the buffet. Since this was our third wedding, we knew the score. Almost 50% of the guests will go straight to the buffet. After Markus and I watched a little bit of the ceremony we quickly headed to the buffet to try and avoid large crowds. When we arrived we were shocked to see the place was full and that everyone had the same idea. The food at this buffet was quite exceptional and really delicious.

After attending three Korean weddings, I can say that I truly do miss weddings back home. I miss the sweetness and elegance of the wedding ceremony. I miss being able to dance and have a great time at the reception. Weddings in Korea are so rushed and for some people it's only an hour or two out of your day. I can't wait for some of my friends to get married so I can experience an American wedding again, it's been way too long.