What is my purpose in Korea?

5 weeks. I have been in Korea 5 weeks... Wow where has the time gone? It feels like yesterday that I was packing frantically to fit my life into two suitcases. Now, I feel like I am still trying to fill those two suitcases by establishing my life here.

The lifestyle here in Korea among foreigners is very unique. We all have finished college and have a degree of sorts. We are teachers and work full-time jobs. However, many refer to this job as fun and not work, which I would agree with. Sometimes teaching these children and living in Korea feel like college with money (an interesting analogy I heard.) 

I have found that this job does not seem like work, but pure fun. Yes, I do have to discipline the kids and grade a few worksheets. The curriculum at my school is already planned out for me so the planning is minimal and I am able to spend my time thinking of ways to make the lesson more fun for my kindergarten class. I think many people would say you should have fun and enjoy your job, which in this case I do. However, I am missing teaching music terribly. We do have music class once a week and I look forward to is with every time. Singing silly songs and playing rhythm instruments make me smile and the kids love it too.

To fill this musical void, I have been attending concerts in the area. A nice benefit of living in Korea is that there are classical music concerts almost every weekend and they are often FREE! I am so thankful that the Koreans appreciate the arts, and make it accessible to all people of all incomes. Last weekend following a concert, a Korean man approached me and asked me about the concert. He asked if I knew anyone performing, and I said I no, I was just there to enjoy the music. Next, I informed him that I studied music in college and enjoy concerts like this very much. He seemed so pleased to hear that I had studied music. He proceeded to give me his business card, told me he was the orchestra director in Masan (neighboring town), and said I should email him. I am not sure what will come of this, but I am hoping it will lead me to opportunities to be involved more musically here in Korea.

Overall, school is going well and I truly love these cute kids. They like to be silly and laugh just like me... YAY! Also, this weekend I bought a guitar from a girl who was selling her. I have gained one musical outlet and I couldn't be happier. Also, if anyone feels so inspired to write me a letter, I would LOVE the mail and definitely write back. My address is:

Britta Fitzer

642-832 Gyeongsan Namdo, Changwon-si, Sangnam dong

10-3 Sangwan Building 4F

Poly Language Institute

It is written a little backwards from American addresses with the state, city, neighborhood first, THEN the physical building address.

If you have any questions about life here please write a comment and I would be more than happy to respond. Thanks for taking a couple minutes out of your life to read about my day!

Love,

Britta

Finding Community

Since I have been in Changwon many foreigners have told me the foreign community is very close here and they were right. It has been so nice to have people who I can meet easily and be able to make new friends. What started all of this is my co-workers. I have been SO blessed to have 6 co-workers to start my friends circle. I ask them questions all the time about the city, getting places, and other Korean life things. Through them I was able to meet some of their friends AND then I found out that Facebook is where many connections are made.

In the states I used Facebook to connect, but mainly with those whom I already knew. However, when in Changwon, foreigners use Facebook to connect with those they know and don't know. There are at least 4 or 5 groups I have joined targeted at people living in my city and area. One for sports and activities, another for expats, one for shopping and swapping items, and the list continues. At first I found this to be quite odd, but now I realized that it is how people meet new people in Changwon. Yes I have gone places and met new people there, but where did I hear about these people and events... Facebook. Wow! I never thought it would play an even larger role in my life, but now it does.

Now that I have built a small friend base I am able to do more things! This past week was such a blast for me, because I met lots of new people and felt like I actually had a social life here... YAY!! 

Tuesday night I went for a night hike with some ladies. It was fun to see another part of the city I hadn't been to before and to get some exercise. We did a shorter hike of about 2 hours round trip and it was so much fun. We had great conversations about traveling the world, teaching, and life. I am excited because this same group of ladies is going to go hiking this week again and I plan on going!

Wednesday I met LOTS of new faces and played games. There is a cafe where many foreigners meet to play board games and card games once a week. I figured I would go and again, meet some new people. I learned two new card games that night: Set and Halli Galli (spelling?). Apparently I chose a good night to attend as well, because there were about 30 people there and we filled the entire cafe.

Thursday I went to play ultimate frisbee with some people and had a blast. This is the second time I played with them and it was great. I had never played or tried to play ultimate frisbee before, but I really enjoy it and more group associated exercise, which I LOVE!! 

Friday night I had quite the evening with some Europeans. A German, French, and two Russians. I found out that Changwon has a Philharmonic orchestra and they concerts are almost always free. Friday they played a lovely set of romantic music including: Tschaikovsky's Overture to Romeo and Juliet, Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, and Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet. Hearing an orchestra again made me feel like I was back at Concordia listening to lovely concerts. Following the concert we went to get some dinner and coffee. Finally we ended up at one of the foreigner bars just sitting, drinking, and talking. A simply splendid night!

Saturday I traveled with about a dozen people to Jinju for their lantern festival. It had been going on for two weeks now and I was very excited to go. Numerous people told me it was beautiful and that I must see it. We took an hour bus ride there and spent the day walking around and learning about the lanterns and the city of Jinju. There is a fortress there that is famous, because a battle against the Japanese in 1592 was fought here. The Koreans defeated the Japanese after 6 days. This is considered to be the establishment of Korea's military defense system. All over this fortress and along the river were large extravagant lanterns. Some I would almost call them sculptures, but lanterns none the less. Once night fell seeing them lit up was a lovely sight. It was like they came to life and sparkled in the night. 

These are the lanterns on the river.

While in Jinju, I met two Koreans who were friends with other people in the group I was with. I was so happy to finally meet some Koreans and talk to them, because it is hard to meet some willing to speak English and not be shy. You find that many Koreans will not use their English skills even when they have them. Most of the time their English skills are very good but you don't get the chance to find out because they are worried they will speak incorrectly. The two guys we met are just about to finish college. They were so nice and helpful taking us around the festival.

My life continues to grow each day I am here and now I beginning to feel like Changwon is a place I will call home. I am still working and praying to find out what God has in store for me here, but I know he will make his plans clear sometime... I just need to be patient.

Chuseok and Church

Recently I had a 5 day break from school for Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving. I found out that this is one of the biggest Korean holidays and nearly everyone will spend it with their families. Koreans get together to celebrate their ancestors during this holiday. Families will visit the graves/tombs of their deceased family members and bow to them giving thanks for their lives. It didn't know a lot about this holiday until I read my students journals, where they discussed their Chuseok traditions.

Since I haven't been here long I was worried that this could be a very boring break from school, however I was able to find things to do. I made friends with some Russian girls studying Korean at the university in town and went out with them. I had a good time getting more acquainted with Changwon and meeting new people. Saturday (Sept. 29) I took a bus to Busan, which is the nearest large city in Korea. Here I met up with another teacher from the states, Callie. We spent the day exploring Busan and especially the beach. Haeundae beach is very popular and a lovely beach. It sits on the far west side of the city and is a huge attraction for Koreans and foreigners alike. Even though it was the end of September, I should have brought my swimsuit, because it was a beautiful day to be sitting in the sand. Callie and I also went to a couple other areas of town and met many new people. It was so nice to have a mini getaway and for a good price. I can buy a bus ticket to Busan for $3.25 and then ride the subway for about 97cents a ride. Have I mentioned how much I love public transportation here?

Once I was back in Changwon, I met up with a guy from the neighboring city of Masan. He showed me a great little island to go hiking at called Juh Doh. While taking the bus there, the scenery reminded me of driving to my grandparents house north of Puget Sound in Washington. It felt like a little taste of home and I loved it. The day of hiking was so beautiful and exhausting, but definitely worth it.

The other days of break I used to explore Changwon, meet some new people, and do laundry for the first time. I was a little worried about using my washing machine with buttons all in Korean. However, after watching a few YouTube videos and reading a couple websites I was able to wash my clothes on a standard cold wash cycle. 

I have been able to attend church twice now since I have been in Korea. I have attended a church called Hanbit International Christian Fellowship. They are a satellite congregation of Korean church in town and were very welcoming. The congregation frequently does things together and it seems like a very nice community. However, the service/worship style is not quite what I am used to and I have found it hard to focus the while at church there. Worship begins with almost 30 of standing and singing, which is nice because I love the music but it does get long standing and singing for that time straight through. Then there is a reading and then the message. I don't know about anyone else, but growing up as a Midwest Lutheran, I am used to sermons being 10-15 minutes in length. At this church it is normal to have a sermon be 30-45 minutes in length. AH! Also, the sermons are not written with anecdotes or stories I can relate to, they are taking the reading of the day verse by verse and reiterating it. 

It is hard to tell if God is calling me to worship here or challenging me to try and embrace another worship style. What I do know is that it is something that will take a lot of getting used to. I am happy to say that they are in need of musicians to help with worship and I volunteered my talents. FINALLY, a musical outlet that I have been looking for. I will be able to play piano and sing with their worship band, which will be a joy. I am thinking this will also make worship more exciting and engaging by being a part of the music.

On the whole life is going really well here in Changwon. I am excited to have started building a friend base and to know that it will only grow from here on out. I am also looking forward to traveling around Korea and Southeast Asia more! All in all, it finally hit me what a blessing this is to be living and teaching in another country! I was sitting in my apartment and the light bulb went off, Britta you have been provided with an awesome opportunity to use the gifts God has given you and share them with the people of Korea. How amazing!

You know you're in Korea when...

I am going to devote this blog post to some Korean cultural aspects of my life here. Some seem silly and others not but I hope this helps give you a small taste of my life on a day to day basis.

Food.
        Spicy food: Eating spicy food is an everyday part of life. Koreans use red pepper and red pepper paste in many dishes and you simply cannot avoid it. For someone like me who does not do well with spicy this has been difficult, however, I just gather up so courage and go for it. I figure the Koreans do it all the time and I should try to adjust. 

       Rice: Rice is a staple food here in Korea as it is in many parts all over the world. It is actually funny to think it is not a staple dish in the USA, but I guess we missed the bandwagon on that one.


Public transportation.
        Koreans have an extremely well developed public transit system. Taking buses, taxis, and subways is a normal part of everyday life. It is also easy accessible and affordable for all. I myself have utilized all of those forms of transportation in my 2 and a half weeks here.

Bathrooms.
       All bathrooms in Korean homes have one drain in the middle of bathroom floor for all of the water to drain.... from your shower! That's right folks, the water from your shower isn't contained in a bathtub but rather it flows freely on the floor to the drain. I am still having trouble getting used to the fact that I must wear flip-flops after I shower and squeegee the floor too. Also, Koreans don't flush toilet paper, rather you place your used tissue into a trash bin the in bathroom. I am not sure why, but I suppose in an effort to keep drains cleaner?

Greeting people.
      Upon entering most business establishments you can expect to be greeted with a hello and a slight bow of the head. At first it is a little shocking but now I have become used to it and like it. How nice that when you enter somewhere to do business they welcome you.

Convenience stores.
      On any given corner you can find a convenience store for your on the go needs. The common ones are 7-eleven, GS 25, and Family mart. Any one on choir tour can tell you that we prefer GS 25 but they are all kept very nice and clean, unlike some in the USA.

Staring.
     Koreans may just decide to stare at you and you just have to deal with it. I have found it is not an insult or that you are so repulsing they can only look at you, but rather the fact that Koreans as a whole look very similar. Where as Westerners do not all look the same and Koreans are just "checking you out."

Cell Phones.
    If you thought Americans loved their phones and technology.... Koreans are 100x worse than Americans. It is common to see people walking with headphones in their ears and staring at their phones. Just oblivious to the fact that they might run into someone, because they are absorbed in their phones.

Coffee shops and French Pastries.
    Koreans have a strange obsession with espresso drinks and french pastries. These little shops are all over and Koreans will always be there. The only downside of this to an American is that finding actually brewed coffee is near impossible. However, these pastries are quite delicious and very affordable.



These are just a few of the things I have noticed and I know there are many more. I hoped you enjoyed a little taste of Korean life.

Love,
Britta