Seoul Land

I love amusement parks. There's something about them that makes me feel young. I love riding roller coasters and eating all the delicious and overly priced snacks.

Korea has three major amusement parks, all different in their own ways. There's Lotte World, located in east Seoul, with characters that closely resemble those of Disney. Everland, located in Suwon, has a famous roller coaster named T-Express, that's not so scary but much talked about by students. Seoul Land is located in south Seoul and is the first amusement park of Korea.

The entrance to the amusement park is actually pretty far from the main gate. For just 800WON, you can ride the elephant trolley to take you to the rides.

The first stop is the Seoul Land zoo. Didn't go in there, but there's a huge tiger in the front that definitely captures your attention.

Once you enter the park, you will be greeted by a bunch of colorful buildings that are not actual buildings. It's really all for decoration, but it's pretty cute. What do you see in the back of this picture? EPCOT? NO WAY!

Koreans really don't care about copyright. This ball may not be as big as the real Epcot ball, but it sure sits in the middle of the park as if it was meant to be there.

 You're also greeted by these cute creatures that make you want to run up and kiss them back.

The roller coasters weren't very thrilling, but they did have rides that were. Not only does this ride swing you up and down, it also swings you back and forth.

I don't know why I found this so amusing. People were standing around this pool watching little kids be trapped in a bubble struggling to move.

Overall, Seoul Land was fun, as it does have its amusement park atmosphere. However, if I were to choose one of the three parks, I would definitely choose Lotte World over the other two.

How living in Korea can get you a step closer to becoming beautiful

Beauty is pain. Beauty is expensive. Beauty this, beauty that.

For the time I have been teaching in Korea, I have noticed that no Korean is fully satisfied with his/her looks. Everywhere you go you see advertisements for plastic surgery or dermatology. With the amount of beauty clinics you pass by, you're just as tempted as those Korean boys and girls.

Here are the list of steps you can take to become closer to beautiful:

1. Laser hair removal: Now I know this is every girl's dream in America. Guess what? Laser hair removal is actually affordable in Korea! Armpits are only $40-$80(USD) for full five sessions depending on what town you're in. Clinics even have deals where you can buy the whole armpit/bikini/upper lip hair removal package for under $350!

2. Mole removal: Here and there we are all blessed with unwanted freckles/moles. For under $10 each, you can remove them. I'm sure if you have multiple unwanted moles, they will definitely give you a better deal.

3. Lasik: As someone who has worn glasses pretty much all her life, I am one to be excited about this option. The one thing I long for is to be able to wake up and see the world without having to fumble around for my glasses. I know many co-workers in Korea that have gotten Lasik done on their eyes. The price range is anywhere from $1000 to $1500 for BOTH eyes. Don't let Americans fool you with that "per eye" deal. Since EVERYONE in Korea wears glasses, this country is the place to get Lasik.

4. Acne treatment: Koreans are into their skin. They do not mess around with pimples here. If you have what they call "crater skin," you should go check out one of thousands of dermatologists to clear you up. I'm not too sure about the price, but I'm sure it will be well worth it.

5.Plastic surgery: Ok, so this one is not for everyone. However, plastic surgery is not only for those full of themselves. I had friends who had scars from accidents and cancer treatments that longed to get rid of their scars. I for sure have asked around for a nose job after the shape had changed due to my septoplasty. Seoul has different areas where they specialize on different body parts. All I know is that plastic surgery is so common in Korea, it's almost a way of life here (cheap).

There are a million and one more options to beautify yourself in Korea. I have yet to research into this, but they even have "obese" clinics for those not so obese at all. Whatever it is, it's working because Koreans are so skinny.

In no way am I condoning anyone to do any of this. You should be comfortable with yourself and love yourself for who you are. These are just some options for those who truly feel they need it (and to advertise what Korea has got to offer).

Chungdahm Debate Competition

A lot of people back at home are curious about what I teach in Korea. Some think I teach them basic ABC's, while others think I'm just correcting their pronunciation. What I really teach my students in Korea is much more than that. Chungdahm students, for the most part, know enough English to be able to communicate. My job as a teacher is to use that and incorporate it into more complex skills.

Once a term, Chungdahm holds a debate competition for students in the highest level, usually students who are fluent in English. The debate topics are related to today's issues, which gives students a chance to further research and familiarize themselves with what's going on in the world.

This term, the topics were related to the ongoing issue of Korean high schools getting rid of native English teachers and the Stand Your Ground law, which is related to the recent case of Trayvon Martin.

As a judge, it was surprising to see how much work these students have put into this competition. Sure, the prizes may have had something to do with it, but these students seemed genuinely excited to be able to compete with other students similar to them.

For some students and teachers, it was their first time competing. As you can see in the picture above, almost everyone was anxious and nervous. However, once these students were in their debate mode, they all put their game faces on and competed like professionals.

Congratulations to both the Bundang teams and other teams who have competed. 

My day in Garosugil

Garosugil, located in east Seoul, is one of the trendiest streets in South Korea. This tree-lined street is full of boutiques, restaurants, and cafes.

I don't know how popular this street is during the winter time, but when it's warm out, it's swarmed by young hipsters.

Coffee shops like these are all over the place. They're perfect for catching up with friends, finishing that chapter you were working on, or even people watching.

Some have tables with digital screens where you can play games while enjoying your drink.

The shopping may not be as cheap as the underground subway shops, but they are very trendy and unique in style.

But don't expect your favorite store to stay open for business forever. Stores come and go on this street. There was a clothing shop that I loved going to, but turned into a Chanel makeup store (which I didn't mind too much!).

Another perk about this street: Forever 21! It's five stories tall, has a huge variety of clothing, AND it's definitely not as crowded as the one in Myeongdong.

I love going to Garosugil whenever I get a chance. It's a great place to check out whether you're just visiting Korea or working here.