Homework Gems

Here are some favorites from a recent assignment in one of my basic classes.

"I hate swimming, because I have bad-looking body line."

"I like golf, because it is high class sports."

"...but I don't like hockey. I scary the hockey ball."

"I hate basketball. Because basketball is I don't game rule."

"Ice is slid so dislike ski."

"I like watching baseball...baseball player very handsome. But I hate I playing baseball. Because baseball is very very difficult exercise."

"I hate karate. I hurt when someone was hitted me."

"Soccer seems like a drama."

Culture Shock

"Sorry...but he is my 오빠 (older brother; senior), so..."

After living here for over a year, the culture can still surprise me. Or in this case, it can really frustrate me. Even after spending time, activities and exam questions on the topic of plagiarism, it is still popping up in our composition classes. A guy in Ashley's class copied the journals of a girl in my class. Her reason that she let him? He's her senior, so she had to give it to him when he asked.

A few days ago some students asked Ashley and I if we had culture shock. I said I did a little bit at first, but not anymore...I'm wondering if I spoke too soon.
There are times when I'm left thoroughly confused. I'm unable to understand why even though the professor (who should demand a higher level of respect in this culture) said not to, they still did it. I'm confused because the older student should have been setting a better example in this Confucian system. I'm particularly confused at why the Confucian system is held in higher esteem (in this situation) than honesty at a Christian university...

Sir

A student called me sir today and it kind of shocked me. I mean, I'm the same age as him. I'm more used to professor, teacher, or more often just my name. Don't get me wrong, it's definitely weird when middle aged students call me professor and bow to me. But most of the time it's just a sign of my position here and they don't have the English skills to be comfortable saying anything else. But sir?! This wasn't someone in a store being polite, this was a student that I've seen multiple times a week for months now. I told him not to call me that, and laughing, he asked if it made me feel old. I told him it did, but he said it's a position/title thing. I think he'll just do it on purpose now. I hope he doesn't tell his friends...

Fireworks Festival

This past weekend was the Fireworks Festival. Long story short, I went both nights (they were different shows). Friday we scored VIP seats, and I sat next to the president of Dordt of all people. It's a small world, eh? The next night we knew we weren't going to have good seats, so we took what we could get...which ended up being a spot on the street.
First stop: Street food dinner


The crowd starts to take over the street

Better than the street, but behind trees

What Alvin and I sat behind for most of the show.

"Why would you want to watch this on a 2 inch screen?!"-Alvin

I gave my camera to Ashley since she was standing in a better spot (and she's taller than me).


Overall it was well worth the crushing crowds, packed subway, and long wait. I do love fireworks! I also got interviewed by Korean TV on both nights. A few students have said they saw me on TV, so I'm pretty much a foreign star...or something.

Seafood Festival at Jagalchi

This weekend is the Jagalchi Festival. The Jagalchi Market is a famous seafood market here in Busan which is known throughout Korea. So there's lots of fresh stuff to be consumed, especially sushi. So what happens when a bunch of waygukins (foreigners) attend a festival? Well, besides receiving the usual stares (some even stopping mid-stride for a better look), there were other interesting moments.

Alvin, Ashley, Jay (a student) and I went to the festival last night for dinner. As soon as we sat down at one of the outdoor tents to eat sushi, two guys with a video camera showed up. We had seen them earlier and Ashley said she wanted to be on TV, so we made her do the interview. The best part was when they didn't like her first comment, so they told her what to say. After our food came, they stuck around for awhile to film us eating. A couple students said they saw us on the news last night, so I guess we're famous. Those guys left and all of a sudden there's an ajuma (older lady), leaning over our table, going a mile a minute in Korean, all the while grabbing my hand, and stroking Ashley's arm. Apparently her son is in the US, but she can't go visit him, so she was thanking us?? As if this wasn't strange enough, she decides to touch my nose, apparently saying she thought it was cute. About 5 minutes later, she's back, repeating all of this, including touching my nose again...that's twice in 2 weeks that a random Asian has violated what the West would consider my personal space.

Anyways, later on we continued to receive stares, witnessed the worse ajushi (older man) fight I've seen here, saw fireworks, and ate more food.

I wish more students apologized like this.

A Teacher (by students)

For a recent quiz I had students pick a job and talk about responsibilities. Quite enlightening to see what students thought about being a teacher.

-He/she doesn't have to hit students.
-He has to love his students.
-A teacher doesn't have to teach false.
-A teacher has to teach easily for students.
-A teacher has to study for teach.
-A teacher doesn't have to angry. (sometimes, it's necessary...)
-A teacher has to knowledge.
-A teacher has to good speech.
-A teacher doesn't have two jobs in Korea.
-He/she doesn't have to tired.
-He/she has to take care of students


Another student obviously couldn't figure out how to spell "professor" as these were scribbled all over:
prre
profassor
professor(!!!!)
proffesor
prof
profase
profesor
proff
praffesor
-They finally went with "profesor." So close...