Cameras, Theme Parks, and Cartoons, Oh My!

I have heard a few complaints about the lack of photographs in this blog thus far. I feel your pain, reader, I do. Not enough to make a concerted effort to post any this time around, but I promise that I will definitely think about putting up some pictures the next time I write. 

Honestly, though, I'm a bit insulted. Is my writing not vivid enough for you? Do my words not paint a sharp enough picture of SoKo in your mind? Here's the deal: if a picture really is worth a thousand words (hey, Anon said it, not me), then the reverse must be true as well. Surely I have logged a couple thousand words at this point; it should be a few photos' worth. I don't have cameras in my eyes, people (would that I did...), and I frequently forget my camera on photo-op-perfect outings. So I'm sorry. 

The last week and a half have been been rather event-filled, so I'll try to fill you in on the highlights.

1. Lotte World

or South Korea's answer to Disneyland

Last Monday, Angela and I were told to arrive at school at 9:30am rather than our usual clock-in hour of 11:30am (those readers with real jobs may now take a 30 second reading break to shake their bitter fists in my general direction). In a gesture not unlike those of secret societies, we were told that we were taking the kindergarten on a field trip, but not how we were getting there, where we were going, or when we would return. Their last field trip, which I did not attend, had been a picnic in a park, so naturally I assumed something along the same lines was in order. 

I have got to stop assuming things. 

Turns out, we were headed to a magical land cryptically named "Lotte World." Now, Lotte World is not just your average amusement park. First of all, it is located in the middle of Seoul, a colossal city that really doesn't have any business sticking an amusement park right in its craw. How do you solve this problem? Build the amusement park inside of a mall. That's right. Lotte World is actually a part of a much bigger money vacuum, which should be (but is not) christened "Lotte Universe." Lotte World is located inside of an enormous building which also contains "Lotte Department Store," "Lotte Mart," a Lotte casino, and a Lotte hotel.  Why would you ever leave to breathe the sweet, fresh air of the outside world when you have all of this in one convenient place? 

I will admit that while Lotte World lacks the immensity of Disneyland as well as those time-honored cartoon characters from my childhood, it holds a certain charm all its own. It probably didn't hurt that I was wandering its fried food-scented paths with 40 starry eyed three to six-year-olds in tow, but I was just a little bit enchanted by the faux hot air balloons gliding on tracks across the ceiling, mechanical monkeys swinging from palm trees, and rides promising "good happy times." We rode through "The Adventures of Sindbad" and explored the Korean Folk Village. The kids had a blast, and I had to acknowledge that I had a pretty good time, too. 

That's the thing about amusement parks--at a distance it's easy to dismiss them as the artificial entertainment that they are, but once inside they can really suck you in. Damn you corporate bigwigs for forcing your fun upon me!

2. No Country for Old Sarcasm

One of the highlights of my teaching week involved a cartoon, a phrase that could possess two meanings, and four highly perplexed Korean students. 

While teaching a lesson to one of my favorite classes, we came to a crossroads. I know I probably shouldn't have favorites (doesn't that rule only apply when they're your own children? Well, I'm still a fake teacher at this point, anyway), but this class is hyperintelligent, speaks English well, and has a wicked sense of humor. However, humor comes in many shapes and sizes, which became especially apparent during this lesson. 

The cartoon we were reading was meant to demonstrate how to use the word "should," and involved a date between a well-meaning woman and a man full of regrets ("We should have made a reservation," "We should have picked a different movie"). At one point, it begins to drizzle, and the man says, "Oh great, now it's raining!" 

-Teacher, why "Oh great"?

-Well, he's being sarcastic. 

-Teacher, what is sarcastic?

Oh boy. How to explain, how to explain...

-Okay. Sarcasm is basically when you say one thing, but you mean the exact opposite. So when he says "Oh great, now it's raining," he actually means "Oh no! It's raining!" 

-Teacher, why?

-Well, it's funny. It's like a joke. 

-Teacher, not funny.

-It would be like if you said, "Oh, Teacher, I am sooo happy you gave us so much homework." Do you understand?

-Yes. But not funny, Teacher. Not funny.

I realized then and there that, while these students might now understand the definition of sarcasm, they may never understand the humor in it. Which is fine. Sarcasm may be a dominant feature of the humor of the Western world, but I can't say I've encountered any in South Korea. I lose a good percentage of my own comedic value over here, but luckily they think other things about me are funny. Like the way I speak. 

On a side note, I would like to add that this same class asked me today what my blood type was like it was no big deal. This may have made sense if we had been discussing medical terms in English, but we were, in fact, discussing crop circles. Truly. 

After the initial surprise wore off, I realized to my own shock and amusement that I have no idea what my blood type is. I turned the question back on them, and each of them rattled off their blood type like it was his or her last name. 

I have a lot to learn about South Korea.