learning – Places And Spaces To Be In

Reflecting on #happyarvedays

Reflecting on my #happyarvedays

If you don’t follow me on Instagram, I began and finished my #happyarvedays (the 100 Happy Days Challenge).

And that was about over a month ago.

Day 84: Happiness is a day filled with tiny successes.

It was pretty funny how it ended. It didn’t end in a bang as I thought it would. I thought I was going to be enlightened like Buddha or become closer to God (although it made me appreciate the power of prayer even more). Rather, it was just a normal day with a normal reason to smile. What got people noticing that it was finished wasn’t because they saw “Day 100”, but because of the fact that I wasn’t posting a photo on a daily basis anymore. It even resulted in my mom calling me several times in one night because she didn’t see me post anything online for the past couple days. My poor mama thought I was hurt. Sorry Mama for scaring you…

So, it’s done. What now?

Day 98: Ever since @kitsu has introduced me to Korean music in junior high, it has been my dream to go to a Korean concert. Well, today, that dream has been fulfilled. Happiness is when you’re patient enough to wait for something – even if it takes years!

Well, something I didn’t expect was motivating others to also do their own Happy Days Challenge. The kids from my church back at home are now several day’s into their own challenges. Even my own dad has stated that he’s going to begin doing the challenge when the new year begins. It’s pretty amazing to know that you’ve sparked a little inspiration for others to do something like this.

Otherwise, when it comes to it, the lessons I’ve learned are the following:

Happiness comes in different sizes. Don’t always look for the big things.
Don’t expect yourself to be happy all the time. It’s “OK” if you have a downer day. Just make sure that you’ve got something to smile about.
I’m very fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful people – family, friends, and students alike. Without them, I wouldn’t have had a reason to smile.
Lastly, as I stated on Day 100: “…do not rely on just happiness to make you happy. There are other factors that come into play, such as love towards others and self-love. If you don’t have that balance, then it’s pointless to seek happiness.”

Day 100: These 100 days of seeking those moments that made me happy were such a challenge, especially on difficult days. So today’s happiness is: do not rely on just happiness to make you happy. There are other factors that come into play, such as love towards others and self-love. If you don’t have that balance, then it’s pointless to seek happiness.

So there you have it. I’m glad that I finished it and learned more things about myself. So what’s the next challenge for me? Nothing plan so far. I’ll keep you guys posted.

With love from the land of the kimchi,

– A

Breakfast for one

Sabbath morning.

I forced myself to sleep in some more, even though my body woke me up around 6AM – the usual time I would get up during the week. This time around, my body is sore from the workout I had this past week, especially from yesterday’s workout when my friend helped me pump some steel. I made a promise to myself to care better for myself by exercising, sleeping more, and eating better. Especially breakfast.

On the breakfast menu:

Chicken (simmered in doengjang) sandwich
Coffee
Cucumbers

-A

P.S. Because I live alone, I’m still learning how to cook for one. It’s been a challenge, but a good learning experience. For those living alone too, how do you do it?

Teaching English in South Korea

It’s been about ten months since I began teaching English here in South Korea. The experience in the classroom was initially very intimidating. Although I was trained, I was nervous and somewhat dreading that first term of teaching. Eventually, I got over the nervousness and improved on my teaching style. This is thanks to my coworkers and students who were willing to teach me and were very patient with me.

If you are interested in teaching English here in South Korea or just simply need another source of inspiration when it comes to teaching, here are some tips from me to you:

Understand the basics of the Korean language. Although you can get away with not speaking the language when teaching them English, I found it much more effective to be aware of the basics of the Hangul pronunciation and sentence structure. Being aware of that allowed me to better help my students pronounce their words much better than when I didn’t know. I am able to also explain to them that there is a difference between “fun” and “funny” (they use the same word in their language. My students tended to confuse them both often).
Understand how sounds are being formed in your mouth. If you are able to show and explain how to do this right, it makes pronunciation much more easier for them. for example, in Korean, they have no differentiation between “R” and “L” as in their alphabet, it is represented by the same symbol. Note that for the “L” pronunciation, the tip of the tongue toes to the roof of the mouth, whereas for “R,” the tongue touches nothing.
Grammar matters. Know the basics so you can explain well. Plus, students tend to hunt you down with a grammar question.
Don’t be afraid to correct your students when they speak. Even if they’re mid-sentence. Be proactive in their learning so it would let them know that they are being looked after.
Be patient. Not only with your students but also with yourself. You’ll learn the ropes of teaching soon enough as you continue to teach. But if you’ve already been teaching for a while, remember to be patient and forgiving with yourself. Not only will your students appreciate you for your patience, you will also appreciate yourself for doing so.
Be brave. Don’t be scared when your students speak in Korean and you have no idea what they’re saying. They’re just helping each other clarify things – especially when you cannot.
Smile. Show them that you’re enjoying spending time with the class and the work you’re doing. If you look like you’re enjoying yourself, your students can relax and enjoy too. (They are nervous themselves!).
Pray for them and their success. And let them know that you’re doing so!

Hope these tips are helpful to you! Have something to share? Let me know!
– A

Nicknames

For the past 24 years of my life, I’ve received nicknames from family, friends, and schoolmates. Some of them are unique whereas others are just… random with no connection to who I am. These nicknames do reveal something about myself as an individual. Well, some do at least.

Dimple. Since my birth, this name has always been a part of my identity. How did I get the name? I was told that when I was born, I had about 18 dimples on my face (I must’ve been one chubby baby). Thus the name stuck with me. It was so that I didn’t even know what my real name was until I entered elementary school. Although I knew that Dimple was just my nickname, I never used my real name until my family emigrated to the U.S. Then, I became Arve. I’ve always thought that this nickname was my Philippine identity, whereas the name I now go with is my American me.
Harajuku Girl. Back in high school, when I was part of the show choir, my friend Vallene Karamoy (now Mrs. Hasibuan) and I spent so much time together. It got to the point that our show choir leaders noticed. Apparently, we’d always be walking into our rehearsal room together and would always be spotted together around school. Our leaders dubbed us as the Harajuku Girls for our “twin-like” and inseparable habit. And also because we were both Asians…
Agave. The most randomest nickname of all. This came from my best friend’s ex. Apparently, my name reminded him of “agave.” Go figure. Because of that, my best friend, Nadinne, became Nektar – dubbing her and I as “Agave and Nektar”.

Have a nickname? What is the story behind it? Share with me!

– A

Lesson’s from July 2016

Self-improvement and continuous growth from personal experiences is what I’ve been seeking ever since… forever. This past month was a bit more special when it comes to self-taught lessons.

When the new term began, many things were flung my way. Longer working hours, more job-related responsibilities, and making some tough life decisions. This past month has definitely been a rollercoaster and I’m fortunate to have family and friends here and back home who were willing to be a listening ear to this gal. I mean, I am human and do constant need of advice from my peers…

So here are the following lessons I’ve learned this month.

Work-life balance is definitely a huge deal for me. Before the beginning of this term, my working schedule was tolerable. But now… let’s just say that it’s been quite tough. During the lectures I’ve attended in college, my professors have repeatedly emphasized the importance of a work-life balance. It is a very important aspect that organizations should respect towards their employees. I never realized just how true those lessons were until I now live such an unbalanced life-style. As much as I love teaching my students and seeing them improve on their conversational skills, I’d like to have a life separate from work. Not live and breathe for work. Because of the working culture here in Korea, I can see and understand why this culture became so. South Korea is a country that quickly turned its economy around after several tough years. The importance of hard-work and supporting self can still be witnessed to this day. But this recipe isn’t for me.
Time is currency. Spend it wisely. Because I now work longer hours, spending time on the WHAT is important. I had to revisit what things were important to me and came out with the following: health, sleep, and sanity. In addition, I’ve become much more selective of WHO I spend my time with. So… note that if I spend time with you outside of work, just know that you must be pretty darn special...
Invest on having a special skill. This past month, I’ve been teaching English 1:1 to a lady who has an age in which many normally retire. But since she has a special skill, she’s still working and is in demand for it. She’s loving it and traveling around the world with it. Life goals can I say?
Have a hobby and keep it. Back to the same woman I’ve been teaching 1:1 to – she doesn’t just focus on her specialty, she also has a couple of hobbies; learning English and memorizing and writing poetry. She’s the type of woman I’d like to be when I’m older. Unfortunately, since I’m still learning how to balance my life and am lacking inspiration, I haven’t had the chance to be very creative (specifically the YouTube aspect…)

So there it is – the four lessons I’ve learned this past month. What lessons have you been learning yourself?

-A

So I’ve been traveling…

… a lot recently. Even though that’s been the case, I haven’t placed much effort into sharing videos on my YouTube channel of the Places and Spaces I’ve been to. However, I definitely have been consistent about my #happyarvedays challenge on Instagram. (I have just accomplished Day 54! Go check it out!).

Otherwise, here’s a pictorial essay of my recent adventures. I hope this satiates your curiosity for the time being of what I’ve been up to.

banpo bridge, seoul

buddhas birthday

we wrote our prayers and wishes

they’re pretty cool

buskers at hongdae, seoul.

lantern festival, seoul.

hello seoul.

hello gokseong.

springtime.

forgotten.

touristy.

PUC reunion.

hello spring.

hello nami island in spring.

hello mudeungsan national park.

brunch cafe ean, busan.

i like hanging out with silly people.

gyeonggi english village.

hello mudeungsan.

hello suncheon.

hello busan.

detective conan and i.

never again.

spotted in gwangju.

hello suncheon

hello suncheon.

firsts.

hello busan.

pyromaniac.

hello momo’s cafe.

#squadgoals.

pg-20.

shaved melons and “last” hangouts.

alone in damyang.

a bamboo growth spurt.

with much love – A

Much love and blessings to you,

Learning 한굴 (Korean)

안넹하세요! It’s been a while since I’ve shared about how my life has been here in South Korea. Well, it’s been a busy past two months and we’re wrapping up the current term while looking forward to the short break.

Since the beginning of this term, I’ve been putting more effort into learning Korean. So when I sent a message to 아리 (Ari) about helping me, I was very lucky that she said “Yes”. 소비 (Sophy), 아리’s best friend, has joined us. Both ladies were actually my former students. Thus begins an exchange program where they both co-teach me how to read and speak, and I help them improve their conversational skills.

This experience has been teaching me the following:

Pronunciation is IMPORTANT. You are one sound away from saying “a three-wheeled bicycle” (세발자전거) to a very bad word…
Grammar is quite different between 한굴 and English. For example, “할아버지다 오레산 키쿤나무” reads out to be “grandfather is older than tall tree” when in reality it means the reverse: “Tall tree is older than grandfather.” So one moment as I pull out my “Korean for Beginners” and review things…

We’ve been meeting once a week and I’m enjoying the laughter and stories we’ve been sharing between us.

Learning from a textbook and a children’s picture book.

So here’s to my slow, yet steady, learning.

-A

P.S. I’ve accomplished Day 36/100! Check out my Instagram of what those 36 moments and things are.

#happyarvedays

I’ve accomplished 17 days out of the 100 Happy Days Challenge.

Day 1: Happiness is… smiling big because you’re surrounded by one of your favorite things: flowers.

This challenge was the rage a couple years ago and was begun by the 100happydays foundation. Their goal is to make the world a happier place. The foundation claims that 71% of those participating in this challenge failed to accomplish it, due to time. In a world that is fast-paced and quick to look for the next, up and coming thing, it’s no wonder why such a small percentage were able to accomplish the challenge.

The foundation challenged the internet world with one question:

Can you be happy for 100 days in a row?

Like the 71%, I started to do this challenge about two years ago, and failed on the 46th day.

So, for the past 17 – going on 18 – days, I’ve been challenging myself to find the things and moments that make me happy. It doesn’t matter whether they are big or small, pertaining to one’s self or towards others, as long as it makes you happy in a healthy and positive way. I say healthy because there are many things that could make us happy. However, such happiness is bad especially for our mental, physical, and spiritual health. I seek to find things that invigorate me positively and healthily in those three aspects.

Day 11: Happiness is when you successfully get your students to enjoy the class material you’ve planned.

Day 17: Happiness is having a brother and (future) sister whom I could talk to.

So here’s to restarting the #100happydayschallenge.

-A

P.S. Check out my #happyarvedays on Instagram! I hope it makes you smile!

Entering that seventh month of teaching…

I can’t believe that it’s been seven months since I began teaching here in South Korea. As cliche as it sounds, time does fly!

Whilst reviewing my notes and doing my preparations for my adult classes tomorrow, I came across the notes I wrote down for myself during my training. One note that stood out the most was a verse from Philippians:

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. – Philippians 4:6

I remember how nervous I was when I was writing these notes down! I wanted do well on my mock-teaching and the real teaching that came after that. Now, I barely even need these sticky notes. Experience, Time, and several awesome people have been my teachers these past months. As always, I’m filled with gratitude for them.

So as this new term begins, here’s to new lessons and improving myself.

Teaching Style

Screen Shot 2016-02-08 at 9.59.36 PM I never saw of myself as an educator. I never imagined finding myself teaching English, especially in another country. Luckily, by divine providence and by fate, I’m surrounded by some amazing people whom I am able to learn from. These past two terms (four months) are memorable.

In the institute that I’m currently teaching at, there are four foreign teachers teaching the adult English classes: Chad, Maddy, Patricia, and I. We assist three Korean teachers (Henry, Jessica, and Nina) when it comes to teaching the Juniors (ages 8-14) in the afternoon.

Although I have definitely learned something through my Korean co-teachers, most of the lessons I’ve learned are from my foreign co-teachers:

From left to right: Maddy, Chad, and Bruce – a student and friend

Chad: his teaching style is to be aware of the student’s strengths and weaknesses. His “be a friend” approach is very admirable as it is very intimidating for me. Since many of my students are way older than me (think mom, dad, grandparent status…), I tend to hide behind the Korean respect hierarchy. His approach, from what I’ve noticed, has allowed his students to be comfortable and open around him. I often envy the laughter that comes out of his class.
Patricia: love this lady and her “take it easy” approach. Her constant reminders to relax and not overthink things reminds me that “Hey, I already have the materials to teach, in my hands.” Also, her presence and beginning the day with a word of prayer has helped further established God’s presence in my life and in the workplace. Lastly, her hugs are amazing – especially in this country where hugs are seen as kind of… awkward…
Maddy, probably asking “why”.
Maddy: this girl puts me to shame. She is an educator who doesn’t want to settle. Her favorite question is “Why?”. I’ve adopted that three letter word into my vocabulary – much to the disappointment of many of my students. My students think they’re off the hook after answering my question in a sentence or two? Not so quick… Aside from that, her constant desire to learn and prep-work (which Patricia often teases her for giving herself more work than necessary), encourages me to do the same. With her example, I’m able to find ways to make the learning environment for my students more enjoyable.

I’m truly grateful to have these three people around. Sadly, this is Chad and Patricia’s last term in Sangmu Gwangju branch. I’ve gotten quite fond of them and wish they’d stay longer, but they have their own things to do and places to explore. With them leaving, I’m even more grateful that Maddy and I are placed in the same institute. At least there is one constant person, ya know?

But with new faces about to come to the Institute, at least it will encourage me to learn some more and not settle.