Mama Mia

The weekend between Christmas and New Year made up most of my party needs. I meet my friend from Scotland who actually went to the same high school as me! She used to live and teach in South Korea but left literally as soon as I got here (not deliberately I assure you, just unfortunate timing) She then went travelling and now teaches in Hong Kong. I was supposed to go to Hong Kong during Chuseok but due to a typhoon warning for Hong Kong at that exact time and not realising how hard it would be to get to the airport etc.in the craziness of the holidays I didn’t go. So it was great to eventually see her!

First of all I went to the place we were staying to meet a couple of Kerry’s friends and was so glad I had people to actually arrive to the theatre with. I’m pretty good at directions but it is always nicer to have people to journey with.  We got to the theatre JUST in time with a few minutes to go, so a mixture of alcohol, being completely rushed and only having my mobile phone as a camera is the pathetic excuse for the blurriness and poor quality of the pictures that follow….

So we went to the Blue Square Theatre in Itaewon for the touring production of Mama Mia from the U.K.  and what a laugh it was! I haven’t been to the theatre since I have been in Seoul which is terrible because I studied theatre at university and I go to the theatre quite often at home. (Turns out one of the guys on my course actually part of the production crew!)

Set List

Program

 Going to the theatre is one of those things where you don’t go for ages and then when you go you think, ‘Why haven’t I been for so long!!!!!’.  I absolutely love musicals; my favourite has to be The Phantom of the Opera.

Anyway the Blue Square Theatre was really good and I will definitely be going back. I am all for amateur dramatics and all the fun and talent involved but personally I will always favour a professional and traditional kind of theatrical production. The terrifying height of our seats reminded me of the steep drop in the King’s Theatre Edinburgh though, I love how walking to your seat makes you imagine yourself falling over the tiny balcony wall about a million foot onto the stage below but once seated my brain stops imagining my theatre related death.

This is the web address for the theatre if you fancy attending a show sometime…

The Blue Square Theater Itaewon

Some of the performers have been in from soaps and things shown  in the U.K. which are pretty popular and the jokes were really funny too although I think a lot of them weren’t tailored for the Koreans as me and my pals were all cackling like witches and the rest of the audience was pretty much silent.  Also knowing all the words to all the songs made it pretty hard not to sing along so we did and screamed at the line ‘When I called you last night from Glasgow’ - Whoop whoop, mon the Scotland!

So the end of the show came, the bows were finished and we were obviously gagging for an encore… And they DID NOT disappoint. Cue Abba’s greatest hits blasting through the theatre, the cast out in their sparkly 80’s spandex, overzealous dancers and the main characters belting out such historic lyrics as ‘You're a teaser, you turn 'em on, Leave them burning and then you're gone. Looking out for another, anyone will do, You're in the mood for a dance, And when you get the chance...’ A- MAZ –IN!!

During this everyone and I’m talking everyone was out of their seats dancing and when the final curtain call finally came people were clapping, screaming and wolf whistling (me). It defo set us up for a night out on the sexy streets of Hongdae.

Then we headed to one of the main streets trying to find the rest of the group who didn’t come to see the musical, got lost, found them after like half an hour at a small back street bar that is a western style bar. First thing you do as a girl is go to the bathroom, as I entered the cubicle thought I had double vision. There were two toilet pans, TWO in the same cubicle. I dunno if this was a stroke of genius or not. I mean how many times have you seen or heard two or more girls crammed into a cubicle on a night out? (I really need to do a post on the unique bathrooms I have encountered in South Korea so far. Seriously, there are no words for some of the sights I’ve seen or the etiquette involved when using said bathrooms.)

I do wish I remembered the name of the place though as the food was absolutely amazing!! I have been missing food from home so much and this really was good, not like some of the interpretations of ‘western food’ I’ve encountered over here -BOKE. I was starving so order macaroni cheese (which I never eat back home) and French fries. It was bloody tremendous! Then after this, some vodka and some shots we headed out to find a place to party.

Sorry about being so vague about names of places that we stopped at, I’m sure I will go back at some point and find out.

Next we went to a nightclub called Gogo’s 2! It’s a small basement establishment. Once in it was a dark hole blasting cheesy American chart music. The perfect place to boogie the night away! I love that all Korean clubs have lockers as well as a cloakroom, it’s so handy. And that’s where we boogied away the rest of the night. Drinking, taking pictures and most important getting sweaty and burning calories on the dance floor. It’s defo not a good night out unless I’ve spent the majority of it dancing like a cross between Beyonce and …Umm, Miley Cyrus at the MTV awards, haha!

I love this picture so much but had to block out my face as I literally look melted, lol

I think at the end of the night the boys went to a lovely establishment called ‘Sexy bar’ whilst the girls went home to rest their weary heads after eating the spiciest kebab street food thing ever. Never again, I don’t like street food anyway and this grim snack just confirmed it even more.

Next day we all woke up early and bleary eyed with my companions making their way to Pohang and me to Icheon. My journey was considerable shorter thank goodness as I can stand being in transit, I get so sick. I had such a good weekend with a lovely bunch of really good friends. I really hope to meet a group of cracking people like them when I move to Seoul in about 5 weeks, so excited!!!

So January has been a bit rubbish, I've been feeling a bit sick for a few months but didn't think much of it until a few weeks ago I got really ill. I hate going to the doctor so the other day my Korean friend dragged me there and I'm so glad she did. Turns out I have sinusitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, a fever and an ear infection. So hopefully it'll clear up now i have medicine. I am living on sweets and cans of Hot 6ix (Korean Red Bull) To try and give me enough energy to get through the next few  days until vacation time for the Lunar New Year - yey!! Xx

Christmas and New Year over here ...

So I wasn't sure how Christmas ad New year would go over here and even though I was aware that it wasn't much of a big deal it was still really different from what I expected.
South Korea was traditionally a Buddhist country but over the centuries the Christian and Catholic communities have grown immensity, especially during the 1970's and 80's and now surpass Buddhism as the countries main religions.
Anyway obviously people take their religious events and put their own spin on it.
In the U.K. Christmas is a mix of the religious element and a lot about family, celebrations, decorations and gifts. It's generally a time when people are supposed to be super happy and I must admit I usually am!
I think my mum was really worried about me being away from home for the first time at Christmas and made a great effort to send me over nice wrapped gifts and Skype on Christmas Day. Also one of my friends from Scotland sent me some lovely gifts too.
Other than this tho, Christmas could not have been more different...

Some of my xmas pressies that were sent over from Scotland! 

My mum sent me a kindle. I didn't have one in the U.K. because I love real books, I'm not one for technology at all so I asked for the simplest model. There is no point in buying lots of books over here that can't take home so it makes reading new books very convenient. It's still not the same as the real deal though. #bookwormforlife

I was actually moaning so much to my friends about my hands being cold because I had to take my gloves off to touch my phone constantly. Then my my mum sent me these wee belters, no cold hands for me anymore. Must be fate.

This absolutely gorgeous little bag was sent to me by my soul sister from Scotland. She knows me so well!! I love leopard print and leather, together this is defo a winner!

And my 'hideous' cat bag that I bought myself at Dongdaemun night market. The fact that everyone else thought it was horrible made me love it even more....

In Korea they have a holiday very early on in Autumn called Chuseok which is pretty much their Christmas. It is a massive occasion where everything is shut down, people visit family and make massive traditional meals and give some form of gifts.
However December the 25th  is considered a 'couples' holiday with everyone going about holding hands looking lovingly into their partners eyes. Shops and restaurants are open to browse or eat or anything you fancy. It really is just a day like any other with the exception of most of the people walking about in twosomes.

This year I finished work at half ten on Christmas eve and only had one day off so I decided to do nothing that night, Then on Christmas Day I made an alternative holiday dinner as naebody I know has an oven and you can't just nip to Asda for a cooked chicken! SO I made some extremely festive pasta and garlic bread for myself and Harmeet the other female foreign teacher at my school. It was the best meal I've made here so far but was a far cry from the mouth watering feasts of a traditional British Christmas dinner. Harmeet however did bring a bottle of Strawberry wine which was definitely the highlight.

Not very traditional but it was nice and I learned not to let Harmeet take photos for me, ㅋㅋㅋ

It didn't help that my pals from home were putting up cracking Xmas party pics left right and centre. As with everything over here it is what you make it and I must admit I didn't make one bit of effort if I'm honest. I know people over here that had a great time but hey ho, there's always next year eh, although I think next year I might consider flying home for good old Jesus's birthday.

The fact that New Year was during the week it made it quite hard to do anything decent as I live quite a bit out from Seoul and not near any other biggish town.So I just went to the local bar with my fellow English teachers and a couple of my Korean friends. It was a good night, we stayed out till about 5am with my best friend over here chatting about everything. She is Korean and married with two children so we have pretty different lives but we have lots in common at the same time. She really is my rock and I feel lucky to be going into 2014 with such a wonderful friend.

Justine brought her tiny little poodle to the bar to say hi! He is 5 years old!!

My Chingus (friends)

Lemon SOJU!!!!!

My best!!!!!! <3

But enough moaning from me, I did enough partying the weekend in between these to make up for both Christmas and New year but that will have to be another post.

Hope you are having a great 2014 so far! Xx

What a difference a year makes....

I had a different blog last year and this was my New year post ...








1st January 2013 -
Happy New Year






So my laptop died and
then when I got a new battery and charger it got a virus! Whaaaa, so I am
undertaking the mammoth task of moving all my photos and documents onto my new
christmas external hard drive and then re-setting it back to factory
settings!!!



Fresh start for the new year and not just for my laptop, for me too :)



Every year I do the whole New Year
Resolution thing, which is usually the same, eat healthy, exercise, bla, bla,
bla but as I was waiting for the counting down from 2012 into 2013 my heart was
racing, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders and wanted to cry with relief ...

For the first time ever I felt like this transition into the future actually
means something, it's a brand new chapter of my life, a blank canvas to make my
mark on the world, to achieve dreams and build on the amazing relationships
that already exist in my life and to make new ones.



2012 was a really tough year for me, it was hard emotionally and mentally. And
this is where the dark place ends, here on this page as 2013 is going to be
about following my heart and gut instinct and leaving the past behind.



I want to enjoy every minute of life this year and make it as colorful and
creative as possible, it is going to be a tough year but in an extremely
positive way!

It will be spent working very hard to reach my goals that may take longer than
a year I know this however I believe in myself
100%.
With that determination and the help and
support of my wonderful family and friends
who have shown me how very important and reliable they are this year I know I can
do it!



So ching ching! Here's to life! May this truly be a Happy New Year and the
start to some wonderful journeys ...







And it was ... This year has been uplifting. I have learned so much, I have been so happy, I have cried, I have made lots of new friends and I have grown up. Coming to South Korea was the best decision I have ever made. I am becoming the person that I know I want to be....HAPPY!
























So here’s is 2014 may it bring everyone the happiness they
deserve, after all the best thing you can wear is a smile Xx

Jingle Bell Rock

This is just a little picture post from the festive period at school!

Christmas is nowhere near as big over here as it is back home. When I asked the kids what they did for Christmas Day there were a lot of different answers, some kids stayed at home with family however others went shopping, to the cinema or even to an amusement park. They also ate pizza, hamurgers and many an ice-cream cake (I hate ice cream – all ice cream so much this gives me the boke.)

It was really different, I tried make the best of it all the same but I think for 2014 I may be heading home for my favourite time of year, unless I get a boyfriend, then I might just stay put, lol! J

Christmas stationery for a dollar! Love it!

My desk at work, some paper decorations that I made everyone for their desk and also some Christmas pom pom clips that I made for all the girls in work with their initial on ... they really liked them! 

My mum sent me this mini stocking that she knitted with hairband, teddy and candy canes inside along with my other presents. isn't it the cutest!

Santa pictures that we made in class, a card one of the kids wrote to his parents, sook and some of the things the boss bought us. We all got a Santa pen and a hairband. Mine are the little Santa clasps, I love them!

My wee cuties got to write Christmas wishes on decorations and put them on the tree, there were a lot of requests for LEGO!!

My Christmas make-up and nails that I painted, not too much for me but the kids made me feel like I was someone from Panem...

           I hope you had a lovely Christmas whatever you did and wherever you are in the world Xx

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! From Katrina in Korea

메리 크리스마스

Cold uh

It’s December and it is bloody freezing! Luckily I am used to this as Scotland isn’t exactly the most tropical of places. It’s about minus -2 here at the moment. I take no joy in the cold whatsoever, I would much rather be too hot than too cold. The good thing is that even though it is cold and snowy the sky is usually blue so it’s nice change to the grey winter skies of home.

I also love the fact that when some people come over to work in SK it is the first time they have ever seen snow in real life!!

Our boss treated us to lunch the other day to welcome our new foreign teacher and also say goodbye to one of the Korean teachers.  We ate pork galbi at a traditional Korean restaurant. When you first walk in the door you have to take your shoes off (Korean custom) then you all sit on the floor around a large table with grills integrated into the table top. It’s a really interesting and tasty way to eat. There are always tons of sides and courses so most of the time there is always loads of food left.

I wish I had taken better pictures of the table but I will next time...

Pork Galbi and sides

Welcoming our new teacher Harmeet

Saying goodbye to Michelle *cry

Me, Joy and JY being daft

About fifteen minutes into lunch the first snow of the year fell. One of the foreign teachers I work with hails from San Diego, California. Dubbed the Golden State you may be able to guess what kind weather he is used to! He has however been to Switzerland therefore experienced some form of snow but the other day was the first time he has ever seen snow falling from the sky. He was so fascinated and excited it was rather fun to watch. The little things eh!

Snow starting to fall outside the restaurant 

Cameron's first snow fall experience!

The walk home that night. Luckily my mum posted me out my Dr.Marten boots so I was prepared for it!

It has been snow, snow, snow, non-stop at the moment so I imagine it will be a white Christmas this year.

  

Annyeonghaseyo

So from the title of my blog you might’ve guessed it - I’m Katrina and I’m in Korea :D

 I’m sure when most of you hear ‘South Korea’ you instantly think of PSY and his viral video for ‘Gangnam Style’. And you wouldn’t be wrong, it is a world full of crazy and random people, outfits, mannerisms and so many misinterpreted English sayings that we foreigners like to call it  ‘Konglish’.

So if the notorious Psy and ‘Gangnam Style’ have previously sparked your curiosity to find out more about a country that in the last five decades has risen from poverty to become to become one of the world’s wealthiest countries,. Leading the way  in education, technology and culture then please read on. I can bet you one million won there is a lot more to this fascinating place than you would initially presume ….

I am originally from Scotland and visited Seoul in South Korea in 2009 with my university. I had no idea what to expect as I had never even heard of the place before. I was so apprehensive about my first trip outside of Europe but once I got over my initial homesickness and culture shock I  completely fell in love with SK. I only spent one month in Seoul but by the end of it I really didn’t want to go home. Fast forward 4 years later and I eventually came back to live and work as an English teacher and I have to say it is the best decision I have ever made in my life.

In the past ten months that I have been here I feel like I have grew dramatically as a person, young woman and adult. I have learned so much, met amazing people, made friends for life and had some fantastic experiences.

First ever Korean photo booth experience - I am now addicted!
One of the best nights and memories of my journey so far...

It was my intention to start this blog when I got here but everything has been so overwhelming and wonderful that the time has flew by so fast .I just never got round to it. So here it is a blog of things I have done so far and the things I want to do in this wonderful country in the future.

Also some general mince that I like to talk too, enjoy!