*Happy New Year!!*
Tomorrow, February 12th, 2021, happens to be the lunar new year 설날 (Seollal) celebrated in Korea. This is a time for family, tteokguk (rice cake soup), and ancestral rituals. Children will traditionally perform 세배 (sae bae), which is a bow to pay their respects to their elders, and receive money and wisdom. Arirang TV made informative videos about this holiday over the past few years.:
Seollal (2 minute video)
Seollal 2 (25 minute video)
Cheers to the year…
It was around this hour, a year ago, that I was jetting over the western USA, Pacific Ocean, to land approximately 13 hours later at Incheon International Airport in South Korea.
Since my flight was early in the morning, and my mom (Mama) had many unavoidable meetings that day, we decided it best that my dad (Papa) drive me to the airport, and Mama go back to sleep. I left for Korea excited for the big challenges I had ahead of me, and all of my hopes for new adventures. Coronavirus was still “just like the flu”, barely reaching out of China. Mama had given me a handful of masks she had left over from her chemo treatments only 4 years prior. I arrived on February 12th, and enjoyed mask-less walks about Seoul and it’s satellite cities, stopping only for temperature checks at my hotel, until February 18th when news hit about Daegu’s outbreak. This was the same day EPIK orientation was beginning. Reality started kicking in as all of us new EPIK teachers lined up to get our temperatures read.. a practice that is still followed in all public establishments.
Soooo…
It has been a year filled with MANY masks, delicious foods, few travel adventures outside of Daegu, many repetitive walks within Daegu, and building friendships.
I began studying Korean in January of this year, and hired a remote personal tutor. I hope to, at least, be able to speak to a one year old by the end of 2021. I just need to find a one year old willing to let me test out my communication skills.
I have renewed my contract, and will be working a second year with my same two schools. Although 2021 has started out with high numbers of daily Coronavirus cases in Korea (currently fluctuating between 300 & 600), I have hopes the school year will feel more normal, and travel within South Korea, and other Asian countries will be more feasible. At this time, social distancing restrictions have been tightened, putting a serious damper on Seollal traditions, and winter vacations.
When I left for Korea last year, I knew I wanted to work at least two years to gain real experience. None of us imagined the impact COVID-19 would have on international travel a year later. Around September, I had to accept that going home for winter vacation would not be a reasonable choice even though I had almost a month of vacation. As a precaution to prevent the viral spread, the Korean government had made a temporary update, removing the multi-entry capabilities from our visas, unless we completed a form, and received approval. In addition, I would have voluntarily quarantined myself in a hotel (or somewhere isolated away from friends and family) upon arrival in the USA, even if it were not mandatory, to ensure I did not have the virus and contaminate anyone (-14~15 days). Upon return to Daegu, I would have mandatory quarantine for another 14-15 days. This quarantine period must be vacation days, and not work days. This would leave me a mere day to spend quality time with family, including the time to hop on the plane and return to Korea. As hard as it has been to accept not seeing my family and friends back home for such a long time, I am so grateful for social media, where I can reach out to them whenever I want. It is not the same as a hug, or sitting on a couch together to watch a movie over a homemade dinner. Nor is it the same as playing Splendor or Settlers of Catan into the late hours of the night over the Kinton dining table… but it is a reality that many people around the world have had to wrap their heads around. My family accepted my decision with great understanding, and I thank them for that.
I’m going to end this post with some memories from the past 365 days, as I have something in my eye that is making it very watery and hard to read, type or think. Totally not crying, at all.
Belle, out and about
Mostly Daegu, with a hint of Seoul, Pohang and Gangneung here
Mask’d looks
Dress ’em up or down, silly or serious.. and Baby Yoda can come along!
Grub
So much Korean BBQ and mandu this year! Christmas pizza.. fudge I made and gifted to my schools’ teachers… and noodles!
366 days…
Last pictures from when I said farewell to Grandma. Mama had asked me to take a picture of our three hands, commemorating 3 generations of teachers.
Thank you for always taking the time to read my posts, friends. May you continue to feel loved, find light in each day, and finally reunite freely with friends and family before 2021 ends!
A Girl And Her Pez 