The following are some excerpts from letters written by Sarah Wrightly to her family and friends. Sarah is in Korea teaching English. This is her first experience out of her native country of Canada. (Unfortunately, Sarah didn't have any pictures for us, so we poached some from other sources :) Enjoy !
A golden smile in a pit of torture
"Hi friends:
Well, I had to do it… I had to go to the dentist. I had a cavity fall out and without realizing it part of my tooth along with it! So now I have a gold inlay in one of my back teeth! Man - million dollar mouth or what. My dentist was brutal! Pushing my eyes, moving my head ... crazy!As for my weekend we had to work on Saturday. It wasn't that bad, not many kids showed up! Then on Sunday we went to Myeong-dong which is 'shoppers paradise' there were so many people and a lot of the clothing shops are the same. So Cheri, CJ and I got back on the subway and headed to Sodaemun Prison History hall. Oh my God! I have wondered since I've gotten here why the Koreans seem to hate the Japanese. Now I know. The brutal, brutal punishment that was put upon these people in their own country was just astounding. Walking through the actual corridor of the cellblocks gave me the worst goose bumps I think I have ever had. In the main hall they had life size mannequins that portrayed actual scenes of what would happen to the prisoners when they got captured. What really got to me was the building called Underground cell. Built in 1916 by the Japanese to imprison female inmates. There was a heroine of the independence movement named Ryu Gwan-sun who was 16 and tortured for 2 years, but died when she was 18 because of the treatment brought to her. She has a nickname here in Korea, and I'm sure that it's flower of Korea hoping that someday all flowers will bloom in peace everywhere. We are going to go and visit her statue in Pyeongchon Which is only 2 subway stops away. It was quite an adventure. One I will never forget.
By the way, I have just learned that wearing tank tops isn’t the thing. We westerners try to get color and the Koreans are trying to get white! Umbrellas for the sun and everything! I had a woman start petting my arm saying 'beautiful white skin beautiful.' "
A walk in the park but don’t park where I walk
"Dear everyone:
Well I wouldn't say that I have survived the dentist. My final trip is tomorrow. The person who made the inlay didn't make it right and I have to go back. My boss Mr. Song came out of his office after my supervisor told him about my multiple visits. All he said was to “Take it easy!” One of the few English phrases he knows! Well tomorrow we are off to the zoo! Funny I thought I worked in one! It should be quite a day... Zoo, dentist and getting together with friends at night. I also bought some paint to paint the trim in my apartment, which is way cool. The paint is kind of a bluey green. Better than gray! Cheri teacher and I are gonna head back to Pundang and go to a memorial sight for "the flower of Korea" the girl we read about at the prison. Also we are gonna go to Anyang again and I think I will buy a hanbok (traditional Korean outfit) this time. People are bad ass drivers here!!!! My friend Cheri teacher had to move OFF the SIDEWALK and let a guy park! Can you believe it? We tried a traditional tea house the other night. Whatever we ordered it was nasty. They give you cold rice water to start. Then your hot gritty tea with seeds and something unexplainable. We have also decided to bottle some of the smells of Korea. Because we can't explain it unless you live here."
You oughta be in pictures – or not
"Hi everyone:
First of all, yesterday’s zoo trip was good. I think all the kids really enjoyed the dolphin/seal show! As we were waiting for all the groups to meet up before going to the buses, a couple of kids decided to stand near the water wheel that wasn't moving. Well, one kid who happens to be in my class went for a swim! I had already told them to stay away from it and was on my way over again to yell at him. What a sight. This is the same little boy who every morning when we get our classes together for the hokey pokey flits around the room and I'm sure we'll see his name in Broadway show lights! Thus being given the nickname feather boa boy.
In the morning when I had gotten up I was not well and thinking to myself about Montezumas' revenge...or uncooked food from the night before. Well I thought I was fine, but the pics from the zoo show that I wasn't. Just wait till you see! Oh man. Not a fun ride home!
My tooth is all better! I pray I won't have to go back EVER! All shiny and golden!
Last night we went to a kalbi place and had bbq beef. Not as good as the last place we went to but alright. I love the food here and am becoming quite a BBQ connoisseur. Tonight it's off to the Ritz Carleton in Seoul for dinner. Not sure what it will be like. I'm sure I'll enjoy myself though.
I bought my first plant today. Very pretty twisted bamboo. Complete with vase and stand. CHEAP! Like 5 bucks!
Oh my goodness, I almost forgot as I was sitting in the dentist chair the Korean Music had finished and what comes over the speaker but Willie Nelson. I almost died! Here I was going through torture and he plays Willie! Talk about crazy!
Well the children here have been getting some bad western culture. Such as learning to give the finger. In Cheri teacher’s class of 5 year olds, Martin will not take out his books, and if asked by her, will 'flip the bird'! They did not learn this from me! Also occasionally you will hear Buck because they can't pronounce their “b” “p” “r” “l” and “t” and “f”.
Well I guess that's all my news for now! Except for the sweet flavour of strawberry Soju we have discovered at a local restaurant. Very good ~ but not all the time!!! "
Up the creek, with a different paddle
"Hi friends:
Well, first of all, I am now a master painter! I just today finished the trim in my apartment. It is a peacock blue. The other colors I had to choose from were mint green or baby pink. I think I made the right choice! Better than dirty gray!
Well the children’s fashions here are still blowing me away! Today a kid came in with hounds tooth pants and I'm sure you older generation know what I'm talkin' about! HaHa! Then another boy in peachy pink cords! As if...crazy!
My dinner at the Ritz was different...I hate being waited on like that! I had Chicken stuffed with vegetables and Mozzarella cheese. For dessert I think I must have pointed to the wrong thing on the menu because I ended up with ice cream puffs with glazed almonds with chocolate swirls instead of chocolate mousse with orange sauce. We took the bus home and let me tell you! They are insane. I don't know how the Koreans can sleep on a bus but I guess sooo much rocking puts them to sleep.
This week and next are the end of a session for our kids. So they have what is called activity day. This Month it's cooking! Can you imagine? All the kids do is sit and watch us teachers make it… then they eat it! Talk about wild!
Oh on the week-end I went to park/resort with Amy, CJ and Cheri teacher. I got a little fried – water, sun no sunblock = lobster. It was across the Han River from Olympic Stadium. We took Cheri teacher, who happens to be afraid of water, on the swan paddleboats. Well what a sight! Amy stayed ashore and CJ and I did the paddling up front with Cheri in the back holding on for dear life. Any time a motorboat went by making waves, I started rocking the boat. I know I'll have my day when she drags me to Seoul Tower. Also played bumper swans with some Korean gents who thought it was hilarious to see white girls doing the paddling. It was a good day!
I am looking into a trek through Malaysia for my summer holiday! Jo was telling me that it is very good! Riding through the jungle on elephants...my dream come true! Down the river on a raft."
Keeping clean is tiring work
"Hi everyone:
School’s been about the same – work. I love my kids. Jenny, my favorite student gave me a great laugh the
We went out for a barbecue the other night. Amy, Myung-Ho (Amy’s boyfriend) Christina, CJ, Chad and myself. I think I ate another cow. But it was very tasty!! The dust seems to have settled – you can’t imagine what that was like – so much dust that the airport had to close… imagine a blizzard – now imagine it was dust. I have washed my floors here more times than I ever have in my life. Surprise, Surprise!! Anyway, thank goodness that season is done… next? Monsoon?"other day. She has a broken arm and always sits beside me in class. She is 6 going on 60!! I asked her if I could take her back to Canada. Well she did not know what to think. She just couldn't possibly leave her horse and pet chicken. So I told her she would have to stay here in Korea to look after them. 'OK Sarah,' she said, 'but you know what, you are cute too!' I couldn't help but laugh. She kisses me and pinches my cheeks. I adore her!