Life in Korea:

Lunar New Year

Last week was a very busy week in Korea for the whole country celebrated the Lunar New Year. This is pretty much like the New Year's Eve and New Year's Day celebrations as we know it: feasting, meeting relatives, and exchanging gifts, --kids get cash when they bow. But there were no firecrackers; no fireworks.

Lunar New Year is a 3-day holiday. People from the cities all head to their hometowns the day before the celebration. Traffic condition is at its worst during this time. All major thoroughfares are conjested. KTX fast trains, express buses and even the domestic flights are fully booked.

Seoul and major cities seemed like abandoned ghost towns after most people had gone. Yesterday and today, people all head back to the cities --traffic jams once again.

Very few people reported for work today. The streets are quiet and the inner city traffic is smooth. (I bet most people are still stuck on the expressways.)

But tomorrow the cities will be bustling with life again...

Demo-Teaching Workshop

My demo-teaching workshop last Thursday & Friday went splendidly well. I was accorded a warm reception and members of the audience participated enthusiastically. A total of 120 Korean English teachers sat in for the demo-presentation, including two American teachers. 

When I agreed to do the workshop, I thought that my audience would be in-service student-teachers. I was surprised to find out that my audience was composed of professional teachers from different schools in the district of Seoul.

Many of them are senior teachers with M.A. degrees and years of experience. Some even have received training abroad.

I was very impressed at their willingness to learn new ideas from someone of lower rank and status. I do not possess the qualification to speak before them but they focused on the 'credibility of my ideas' and not 'on the credibility of my person'. Truly the mark of a professional.

I gave them ideas; they taught me wisdom. It was a very fruitful experience.

Heat & Cupping therapy

Aside from acupunture, I am also having moxibustion and cupping therapy. These two treatment modalities are used in conjunction with acupuncture.

Moxibustion is commonly known as heat therapy. It is applied directly on the acu-point. It uses the 'moxa' or the wool of the mugwort leaf. This treatment aids the flow of 'Qi ',energy and 'Xue', blood. It leaves strong fumes that stick to my hair and clothing for an entire day.

Cupping therapy uses plastic or glass suction cups. The skin on the affected area is pricked. Vacuum, applied in the suction cups, will draw 'bad' blood from the tiny puncture holes on the skin. This treatment helps relieve pain but it leaves ugly markings on the skin which will eventually vanish in a couple of days.

January

1) My 10-year plan

Just before the close of 2005 my hubby calmly presented me with the gift that would allow me to retire at 45. Encouraged by my hubby's generosity, I decided to take Robert Kiyosaki's advice seriously and took the inital step to my financial independence.

2) 교육부: Demo-Teaching/Workshop

The d-day is fast approaching and I am beginning to feel the emotional pressure of the task. I do know what to do but of course I've got no clue how it's gonna turn out.  Hope for the best? No, that's an ill advice... "Prepare for the worst." That would certainly keep me focused...

Demo-Teaching Workshop

Event: Teacher-Training Workshop

Sponsor: Korea Ministry of Education

Presenter/Facilitator: Raquel V. Dery-Nam

Presentation: Demo-Teaching Workshop

Date: Jan 19th & 20th

Venue: Seoul Education Training Institute

Theme: Team-Teaching

Audience: 120 Korean English Teachers

2006 Plan

Plan 1: Build up asset column

Plan 2: Pursue academic goal