3rd anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster April 16th

Here are just some of my students' artwork as a tribute to those lost in the Sewol ferry disaster on April 16th, 2014. I remember getting off of the airplane on that day and all of the monitors in Incheon airport had a huge ferryboat sinking. There was a huge rescue effort going on. I asked someone who spoke English and they explained what happened. 
I pray that all of the families find peace.

Work that runway, girl!

I auditioned for the first annual Seoul African fashion show this past Saturday.
And made it! YAY!
I have done runway shows in the past and WOWed them with my WONDERFULNESS and fierce walk.
Each of the models will be wearing two African outfits during the Seoul African festival. This festival is held every year and will have African vendors selling food, clothing and various handmade items. It is a great way for Korea to learn about the diversity of the African continent.
This is a non-paying gig but I am looking forward to doing something that I have always enjoyed - strutting my stuff on the catwalk, babeee!!

Work it, girl! do your thing on the runway! 

Burst of Spring's rainbow!

Spring is here!
There has been an explosion of GORGEOUS and VIBRANT colors throughout this country. Everywhere is just bursting with life and renewal.
It feels amazing.

Sing sweetly to me, Billy.

I walked into a coffee shop in Goheung today and found real albums! The owner said he bought them 20 years ago when he was in his twenties. He smiled as he saw the excitement in my eyes. Between Joplin or B Joel, I dusted off Billy and put him on the turntable. The familiar scratches sounded so sweet to me. I stood there, closed my eyes and sang an HONESTY duet. The owner continued to grin at seeing me enjoy something that was obviously close to his heart.

On a cool Spring Sunday evening, in a corner of a coffee shop in a seaside village in Asia, I have never felt so close to home.❤

Honesty

Billy Joel

If you search for tenderness
It isn't hard to find
You can have the love you need to live
But if you look for truthfulness
You might just as well be blind
It always seems to be so hard to give

Honesty is such a lonely word
Everyone is so untrue
Honesty is hardly ever heard
And mostly what I need from you

I can always find someone
To say they sympathize
If I wear my heart out on my sleeve
But I don't want some pretty face
To tell me pretty lies
All I want is someone to believe

Honesty is such a lonely word
Everyone is so untrue
Honesty is hardly ever heard
And mostly what I need from you

I can find a lover
I can find a friend
I can have security until the bitter end
Anyone can comfort me
With promises again
I know...

Bored on a budget

I have been trying to save money. So I've been taking long walks on the weekends, watching movies online and taking photos to stay busy...but...this is for the birds!!

I am bored and lonely. Sigh. I need a better paying job. Something will get better soon. I always have hope.❤

Soft porn

Dear Korea,
it is 6:30 on a Monday morning. The kiddies are up and getting dressed for school. Why are you still showing porn on the regular tv channels? WHEN is the cutoff time? There are soft, milky~white body parts that do NOT go well with breakfast!😲😑
Signed, 
Concerned Teacher

Picking up dinner

Dinner pickup.
I was able to get these pics in Jeju. I gotta work on my shutter speed. The swoop action is strong.

Take this medicine and get some rest, Teacher.

After a week of being sick, one of my students almost made me cry yesterday. She gave this to me before class and damn near almost had me burst into tears for 2 reasons.
First because of her sincere, sweet gesture to me. Second...because this was grade 6 Lesson 2~"I have a headache"! My student learned the lesson well! Tears of joy!❤

Are those worms on your plate?

Today at lunch one of the veggies looked like worms. No lie. I tried my best to eat it but my mind kept seeing spicy earth worms.
I couldn't do it!
😂😨

Mom makes 2 year old daughter chase her car as a joke.

WOW! 

I just saw the craziest sh@t in my 3 years here. 
A mother was parked near one corner, close to my bus stop. She had 3 children. 1 infant in the front seat (of course😑) and the 2 and 5 year old girls were outside the SUV. The mother was joking as the 2 little girls tried to get into the locked car. 

THAT is not the crazee part. 

The mother THEN JOKINGLY drives slowly to the other side of the block AND~wait for it~ as the 2 little girls run, sobbing after the SUV!!😲😨The smallest girl, about 2 years old, runs out into the street after the vehicle. The 5 year old girl stays on the edge of the sidewalk and eventually the 2 year old follows her back onto the sidewalk. Both continue to run after the mom's car, crying loudly. At the other corner the mother gets out the vehicle laughing. Hysterically. She gathers the 2 sobbing girls into her arms and continues to enjoy the laughter.😲 Then she calmly takes them into a pharmacy, still chuckling. 

I was standing at the bus stop, mouth WIDE OPEN, stunned. I've seen some crazeeee @ss sh@t here before but that woman made my palm itch. 

Wow, Korea. Just, wow.

Make america "great" again...except for my wife.

That trump moment. 
I saw a white guy with his Korean wife wearing this hat yesterday. I know them just in passing. I glanced at the hat and chit chatted with them for a few moments. I wanted to laugh in his face (and shake my head) knowing that his Asian wife does not fully understand that she is an exception to his views. 

So....u wanna "make America white again"? Where does your Asian wife fit in? Oh, just hide in Korea so u can avoid the racism against her, right? Must be nice to be able to have racist views and still be able to avoid it hurting someone u love.

Did u just block me?

The BLOCKed game is strong in Korean culture. On Monday you are conversing/texting with a Korean about plans to meet up. Tuesday~POOF! Gone! Ghosted. Like Houdini. Like you never existed. 
Grow up people. 

Newbies - watch your back

New teacher season again!
This post is for the Newbies to South Korea ~ 
There are lots of newbies here trying to navigate this new culture with rose colored glasses.


Here are just a few words of caution.
1) Koreans generally have beneficial relationships. Some may want to use you for free English lessons. They may always suggest meeting in a cafe for less than 1 hour. Some may want to show you off for a higher status. They will always want to take selfies with you. Some may want to satisfy a sexual fantasy. They will ask specific sexual questions and not be interested in getting to really know you.

2) Crimes with guns are low but sexual assault/rape is high. Be careful.

3) Religious cults love to approach and recruit foreigners for events and photo-ops. Just walk away. If they get aggressive and touch you, get loud and louder until they get their hands off of you. 

4) A common scam is to provoke a foreigner into a fight and then get bribe money to drop the case. Don't take the bait.

5) The fetish/Mandingo sexual game is real. Foreigners have a rep for being "easy" here so they come at us sideways sometimes. Shut it down quickly or they will persist. They know not to approach Koreans in that disrespectful manner. 

6) Every foreigner is NOT your friend. Remember that. You are not required to force any friendship with anyone here just because both of you are expats here. Be careful of the energy you keep around you. Everyone is not for everyone. 

7) Date a local or foreigner at your own risk. There are many people here with hidden agenda, just be aware and believe actions not words. 

8) Enjoy the beauty and general safety of this peaceful country.