Korean Job Discussion Forums

Boodleheimer · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:54 am Post subject: I just don't feel Halloween-y

or is it Halloweenish?

anyhow, i just don't feel it this year.

am i growing up or something?

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

You know, I saw three kids apparently trick-or-treating in their apartment complex, running around, screeching like banshees dressed in Dracula capes and masks.

I had to explain to some high school students in the same complex what the kids were doing.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

In my experience, you have to exert effort on your own part to get in the spirit of things that are special back home but not here. It takes some effort and a bit of planning, but is worth it.

If you put out some effort you can have a taste of the holidays at home and a bit of the holidays here; double your money. If you don't work at it, (I think) you lose out on the stuff from home and the stuff here.

Thanksgiving is little more than 3 weeks away now. Gotta get on your plans for a turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. If you don't do something, then Thanksgiving Day will come and you will slouch around work feeling all glum because no one knows it's a holiday and special and you will feel like kicking a dog.

Corky · Joined: 06 Jan 2004

I've never seen Halloween advertised here as much as it has been this year. It's interesting to watch it become part of their culture too.

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

I don't care what happens in schools during ESL class, but I'd be very unsupportive of efforts outside of schools to get Koreans to import yet another hyper-commercialised Western holiday. The costumes, the decorations, the begging for candy -- let that stay in the schools during ESL hour and keep it out of Korea proper.

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

I remember a Halloween when I was teaching in Mexico...the strange juxtaposition of U.S. traditions and modern movements with Mexican culture. We had a full-day part with costumes and a Day of the Dead altar contest. Later that afternoon, a contingent of our mothers (we were a Catholic school) led a march through town protesting the satanic connotations of Halloween. And...there were "real" fresh-cut Christmas trees for sale at the big box stores that day...in the middle of the freaking desert!

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

I painted my son's face. He wanted to be a tiger. My wife bought some face paint that can be pealed off. It looked great because it went on real thick, almost like a mask. Well, it looked pretty cool for about 5 minutes, and then he started complaining that his face was itchy. I was planning on having him trick or treat at our door a couple times. Laughing

Woland · Joined: 10 May 2006 Location: Seoul

You sure, OP? Cause that dog in your avatar is feeling hallowienerish. Smile

mithridates · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:53 am Post subject:

You know what, I just realized fifteen minutes ago that it was Hallowe'en. I guess I don't feel it either.

Tiberious aka Sparkles · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: I'm one cool cat!

Boodleheimer · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 3:25 pm Post subject: Re: I just don't feel Halloween-y

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

Art Bell is hosting his annual Ghost-to-Ghost radio program tonight. You can usually count on some really good spooky stories. You should be able to listen online through KFI AM 640's web site, if you're someplace where you can get online at that time. Should go a long way to helping you feel Halloweenish!

VanIslander · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 3:35 pm Post subject:

I spent Monday until midnight decorating my classroom (I usually go home at 8:20) and preparing for games and the like. The students had a Monster Drawing Contest and their pictures are very interesting. I told them that the winners from each class will get a bigger bag to get candy and chocolate put into and that the best pictures will be scary, interesting, well-done and different. And boy do I wish I had a scanner. They had only 50 minutes of class on Monday to do them and yet the skill and effort and originality (seems to me - cultural differences and references I'm probably missing) has been impressive.

The Halloween party yesterday felt very Halloweenish.

Just like Christmas will really feel like Xmas when the music starts being played a couple of weeks before the holiday and stories about it are covered in class.

Holidays are fun.

I guess i wouldn't feel it if I didn't do much in classes with it, but I do and it feels great. Like being a kid all over again. A lot of work to put together though. Am glad it's over.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994