ROBOTS, SEAN, ROBOTS!!

We went on a field trip to Otokki Space centre.
It was...odd. (The most memorable part was my nausea on the bus and the way several kids threw up...and worse.)

The one good thing, for me at any rate, was this statuary garden of robots. It was all very Ghibli and I loved it. (Naturally we walked right through it towards the slides which we proceeded not to take the children on. =.=)

House of Sharing

A little while back Helen invited me along on a tour group she'd signed up for.

The House of Sharing is southeeast of Seoul in Gyeonggi province. The establishment has had a troubled history in Seoul and had to move several times before they gathered funds to build the current complex they use in the countryside in 1995. Along with residences, there is a museum, several art installations, memorials, a reconstruction of a comfort station (a much more spacious, well lit and hygienic one according to the survivors who viewed it) and meeting rooms. Due to the age of the residences it is a lot like a nursing home but what it specifically is, is a safehouse for former comfort women.

I had heard the term 'comfort woman' before but I misunderstood the details. I thought it was simply a euphemism for prostitute coined during the Second World War but it's actually more complex and bluntly horrible.

A 'comfort woman' is a female (A large percent could not really be called adults) who were abducted and/or tricked to leave home for work before being forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military in 'Comfort Stations'. They were held as prisoners mostly in tiny dark little cells, abused, assaulted and many of them simply died.

Many of the specifics are now lost ot us for several reasons.

The first, is that when the war began to draw to a close the official in charge did what many were doing at the time and destroyed the paper trail. (Putting aside the fact that a paper trail existed for military brothels filled with slaves for the moment.)

The next is that a great many of these women disappeared. Some died of disease or the primitive forced abortions. Others were absorbed into the country where they had been transported. Some have been discovered, unable to speak their mother tongue after more than sixty years elsewhere isolated from their country.

It seems to have been determined that this official sanctioned version of rape began in 1932 in response to reports of Japanes soldiers raping women. In my opinion such logic can only be obscene arrogance or complete insanity.

It may be a mixture of both. As of now, the Japanese government refuses to issue an official apology or acknowledgement. [I'm glad to note that the Irish government gave one to the victims of the Magdalene Laundries. See, Japan. Is that so hard?]

Every Wednesday at 12:00pm since January 8th 1992 the survivors and their supporters gather outside the  embassy to protest. Their response is to close all the doors, windows and blinds to block out the elderly Korean ladies. (It is officially the longest running protest in the world.)

We were brought by bus out to the house. The group watched a video, had a discussion and went to the museum. One of the main guides was an American girl. She could be a bit leading attempting to get her audience to give her specific answers, especially considering that the group was composed of intelligent adults that came there willingly. The evidence speaks for itself so it was a bit unnecessary. However she was very passionate and outraged about her cause.

We saw maps of movements (most women to transported to different countries to help prevent escape), reconstructions of 'comfort stations' and much of artwork (Art Therapy is big here) before talking to the survivors. There were also 'relics' from deceased survivors.

Very few of these women have families of any sort, those opportunities having being robbed from them. They are addressed by the respectful 'Halmoni' which means Grandmother

The truth is that many of these women understandably did not wish to speak out about their experiences. It take a certain kind of spine to out yourself through more heartache and suffering. They felt, naturally enough, ashamed and traumatised. Talking to one of the residents, it seemed to me that she only 'came out' as a survivor because she had no choice. She was getting too old and sick to live alone and had to deal with both the government and her church trying to find a relative to live with or else why she seemed to have none.

Helen felt embarrassed when she asked the Halmoni what she did for Seollnal and got the response 'Nothing. Everyone went home so we were alone.'
I had to point out that she had beat me to the punch as I was about to ask that. 'What did you do last weekend?' is a simple enough question afterall.
We weren't actually allowed, and we were warned pretty strictly about this, to ask them anything about their experiences and you know what that's fine. Why would they want to talk about those things with every gawker passing through especially when we'd already been given a pretty thorough rundown a half hour before.
That being said I nearly leaned over to give the guy next to me a clip around the ear when he did just that. (There were a good few stupid questions that day.) The Halmoni did give an answer as well as a deflection. She said she didn't like Japanese and didn't want to talk about them. Who can blame her?

Of the survivors that have come out with their stories only about half a dozen remain. (It's undeniable that the Japanese government is simply waiting for these elderly ladies to die.) There are those biding their time and then there are assholes like Toru Hashimoto. Way to go Toru, way to make your country proud.

The House of Sharing continues their weekly protests and accepts visitors year round.

Suddenly Tap-dance!!

There's a newly opened cutting edge mall close to where I live.

When I say mall, I mean MALL. It's an American style shopping mall. A good deal fancier perhaps than where I normally shop myself but it's stuffed with familiar outlets for international brands, restaurants, an arcade and of course a cinema.

The main entrance opens into a rather large open area where they hold events. (They had auditions for a reality show here once. Korean Idol of something like that)

There are some bands that play locally (including the worst one in all Asia) and thes guys put on a fairly good show. I like the tap-dancing. ;P

Advanced Vocabulary

Science class packets come with all the appropriate paraphenalia and two flashcards.

But sometimes I must question the vocabulary words chosen for six year old EFL students.

 

Taekwondo

I'm not the sporty type.....at all.

 

Nevertheless, when Stephanie and Helen found a Taekwondo place I went "Ooh, me too."

 

Here we are a few weeks into our white belt.  My dobok makes me look fat(ter). :C

Master Yu, our main teacher is in the middle. Master Kim, beside Helen, took on a lot of our basic training.

 

Poor guys, putting up with us.





 

Despite all of the muscle pain (watching me climb stairs must have been prime entertainment material) it was a lot of fun.

I really enjoyed it. When you nail a kick on the target it can be oddly satisfying.

 

I learned a lot about the philosophy, manners and the masters were always particular about correcting our technique.

We're pretty sure they went easy on us because we're weak little foreigners. (Me in particular. Helen, however, must have some Glaswegian brawler in her.)
"Aoife! Why you so tired?"
"I'm old and weak."

So I explain to Master Kim whois only about 18 and can do pretty amazing flying spin kicks in the air.

I do admittedly lack a certain fighting spirit. When we started to learn sparring or break boards I was wimpy and sissy about it. Basically Scooby Doo.

My yellow streak aside, let me say "Do it, do it, do it"
Taekwondo is great! A large portion of it is simply fitness (Needs work) and balance.

Some of the stances I found difficult because I have no muscle strength At. All. My mantra is always "Needs more training. Needs lots more training."

Despite all that I did manage to get a belt.

Why am I in the middle? The test is super formal and intimidating. I mixed up all my blocks and I took this test with a chesty cough, which I managed to surpress but I was still very short of breath. Boo my luck.

On the plus side I broke this with my kick. Not very impressive by comparative standards but pretty damn good for me.

Unfortunately, the girls were leaving then. First Stephanie left, then Helen did leaving me alone at training. Bwaaaaaaahh. TT_TT.

It's a lot more fun training with others. But not long before I ended my classes for my return home I got my next belt! :)
Personally I don't think I should have gotten it since I messed up a good few times but I did so yayss. (Behold how articulate I am.)

Green belt ahoy. This calls for more training. You don't get that black belt by standing still.

Free Dance Lessons

 

I'll give you one guess as to where I found this stand with handy-dandy flashing lights to guide your dancing feet.

 

 

Only one thing to do then....

 

 

Puppies!!!

Everyone loves puppies. (If you don't then you're either allergic or simply wrong.)

Unless you're a child,  or as comparatively mature as one, you understand that adorable and affectionate as one may be they are still living things with wants and needs.  A crucial couple that might be an issue with city dwellers here is exercise space and companionship. Dogs are social animals and keeping them shut up in your apartment all day can't be good for them. On that note handbags can't be healthy either.

[On an aside: While I understand certain breeds may need a coat for the harsh winter, I don't think hot pink blusher really suits a pomeranian. Also, Lady I don't care how far you're going there's no need to push your springer spaniel around in a baby buggy.]

One way city-dwellers address this or merely fulfil their need to play with some dogs is to visit a dog cafe.

I went with some others to visit cafe pawz in Gangnam.

This was a pretty good establishment. It is attahed to a training school and a veterinarian service. They also sell actual puppies, snacks, toys and embarrassing costumes to force your handbag dog into. (I'm sure that Golden retriever was wearing an expression of utmost relief.)

You certainly do not visit places for this for the food. (It's pretty unimpressive anyway.) You're either there to socialize your own dog or to play with others. I would point out that not buying anything is unlikely to make you popular with the staff. There is no entrance fee so even if you don't want something, you should still buy something for the sake of civility. I mean, these people are constantly on poop patrol. (Thank the gods) Respect is due!

The cafe keeps their own dogs too. The bigger breeds mostly belong to the cafe but a couple come from outside.

You can buy treatsand feed the dogs. It's not too surprising to see the smaller breeds on the table. No very hygienic but you don't come here to eat yourself.

Well, I enjoyed it.  It was certainly something I'd never seen before.

Okay, Okay. A cat cafe too.

Eviction, sort of.

For reasons which I shall sensibly not discuss here, we had to leave out staffroom for a new one.

Here is the old room looking quite desolate as the desks have been moved downstairs to our new room. Farewell, mildly draughty but roomy retreat.

Behold downstairs. (Karen, you look quite smug an comfortable there) Mine is the desk with the pink basket and red blanket on it.  Sure, it looks tidy and is a lot warmer but it is a great deal smaller.

The problem there is that there isn't room for everyone so a lot of the Korean teachers have been given desks in their homerooms. It's dreadfully unsociable and sometimes we hardly see some of the others. Boo.

On the bright side, it's a lot warmer which is pretty damn significant at this time of the year.

Let the Lawyers out of the kennels...

Welcome to Lotte World!! The happiest place on, on...................oh dear.

This seems like something that won't end well.

Buena Vista's gonna sue somebody.

Lotte World. Where copyright goes to die..................and be flogged afterwards.

No Pictures Darling, No Pictures

It's no secret as to how I feel about having my photo taken.

A very public part of me wants to simply avoid it altogether, make them more flattering or at least make it more bearable on my large yet terribly fragile vanity...somehow.

Nevertheless, it happens and thankfully not all the photos are used.
(Although there is one of me sweating horribly in a wool jumper in a newsletter somewhere for the children to go: 'That's Aoife-teacher! She's always shouting.')
At least Helen and Seth got the benefit of airbrushing on their brochure shots. (Not that I am in any way implying that they are anything less than perfect.)

I hesitate to post pictures of the children on the internet, naturally enough, although other TEFL teachers have no problems but I just don't feel comfortable putting them on my facebook.
Maybe it's partially cultural where there is an element in current training where they tell you never to be completely alone with a kid, never so much as touch their shoulder and don't give too much eye-contact etc etc etc.

But these photos come from the website so they're already on the internet - ahahahahaha!

This is me with my 6 year old homeroom - Brown class. This was Science where 'the kids' had to make a rubber band powered school bus.
It's one of the classes otherwise known as 'Aoife-teacher makes eight school buses.'

Please note how there's always one kid taking the time to throw up gangsigns.

This is an hour later doing another Science class with my 7 year old homeroom - U.C. Berkeley.
I...can't really remember what it is that we were doing. I think it was an optical illusion and not a very good one IMHO.

 That's both classes with Alex and I at Everland. Note how high I apparantly look. Mostly, I'm just exhausted.

This is the entire group in Everland. It was after I was pulling several kids away from the fountain and a certain dip. At least it wasn't raining. This is also the day before I flew out to Kyoto and I hadn't packed at this point.

 Finally, Halloween. Lots of princesses, ninjas and plenty of Batman. We felt very safe there. As you see I did not dress up. How dare you accuse me of being a killjoy! I don't need ridiculously difficult to obtain Halloween props! I'm terrifying enough on my own!!
(Besides I had plenty of crying children hanging out of me all day.)