Hwangeum Matiz!!! Ouch!!!

No this post isn't something about Germany, though now looking at the title my own first assumption would be that it is. There are so many quirky things about Korea, but the one that I really love is this interactive game that I now love to play with my boyfriend.

Walking together one day I saw one of those new stretched out looking buggies. You know... The ones that volkswagon decided to make to appeal more to men, because they felt their traditional looking ones were too hmmm... "girlie"?  Yeah. I sort of don't care for the new look. But anyways back to my story and reason for this post.

Stretched out Beetle. Horrible.

True buggy

Now there are virtually NO volkswagon beetles in Korea. In fact anything other than Hyundai, Kia, and the occasional Toyota, along with a variation of completely foreign vehicles which I cannot even name because even google doesn't hold the answers for when I search it, any American vehicle is a rare sight. So when I saw this stretched out ugly black buggy backing up in front of us, I instinctively threw my hand out and punched my boyfriend's arm "BLACK PUNCH BUGGY!!!!" Man it felt so good too. Haha.



But after I had my small moment of victory from winning at this old traditional but quirky American game of our own, I saw my boyfriend looking at me with the most puzzled look.  Always have to remind myself "Dorothy you're not in Kansas anymore." After I explained my reason for whipping my hand out at him and shouting like a mad woman in utter chaos after doing so, I sulked thinking it was something that we wouldn't be able to share in playing much, because of the lack of buggies in Korea, even horrible stretched out ones.

"Hey, we have something like that too." My eyes lit up to these words. He went on and explained to me that instead of a buggy, they have these vehicles called Matiz. They're these really tiny funky looking cars that look like they belong with the smart car family.... Almost. The game is played by hitting the other person (or people) your with ONLY when you see a Gold one. Upon seeing this vehicle and hitting the person, you say "Hwan-Geum Matiz" (황금 마팆) literal translation is "Golden Matiz".

Golden Matiz model 

Since being introduced to this game, it's become our favorite couple prank on each other. Sometimes we even hit each other saying "Hwangeum Matiz" and really there is no such thing. We do it just because. So for any future visits to Korea or if you are already here and want to keep the punch buggy  game alive, just make a small adjustment to your game and keep your eyes out for this funny looking little car.There's plenty of them. :D

Korean Motels- Hotels (Vlog #19)

With my hefty work days, my required 15 hours under the TALK program fill up pretty fast leaving me with four day weekends. You can imagine that I'd been to quiet a few motels as each weekend I've made strides to travel and explore this land. Okay.... So what...? You sleep in a lot of motels. Well the thing is that staying in a motel here is actually a rather different kind of experience than any motel stay back in the USA.

Here guests are accommodated with the whole standard bed, bathroom, television, and night stand... I've yet to find a bible. But what is beyond the standards is what left me to believe that my very first motel room was essentially already occupied. Hair brushes, lotions, full bars of soap, large shampoo and conditioner containers, bathroom shoes and the regular sized tube of toothpaste left within the room. Did the hotel master make a mistake?

Answer is: no.

Korean Students vs. The Clap Challenge Game

Super duper UBER BUSY!!!! It's been a little bit since one of us chicks has dropped in a post. A little bit more activity and additional sneak peaks going on at our Facebook page at Facebook.com/JustHatchedinKorea . Just so you know....and... uhh I'm secretly hoping you "like" us! Hehehe. Nothing wrong with being honest about it. ;D

I got the opportunity to record one of my many classes doing an activity. The name of the game? "The Clap Challenge" and my does it wear it out. :D  This is my 6th grade class 2 trying their efforts to complete the game. Don't worry.... Nobody died. Just by the end of it, the students felt like they were going to. ㅋㅋㅋ. 

It can be pretty tough sometimes being a new teacher. Trial and error, and man when error hits, it's like a slam in the face by a crate of rotten eggs, sticky, stinky, no fun, and hard to clean up. I'm serious about practicing efficient teaching so my students can get an optimal learning experience from me. But sometimes no matter how hard you try to create a good lesson plan, the students just might not get it. So my best advice is to also remain calm and cool, and be prepared to rebound with something new. This isn't teaching advice people.... But life advice too. It's one of the many things I've learned since being in Korea.

Okay so now that Jazz is done blabbering about teacher stuff.... she gives you this cute little film. ;D Enjoy!

Green Tea Latte Review (Vlog #18)

I'm always out exploring new coffees, lattes, cappuccinos, mocha lattes, mocha-latte-cappuccino-macchiatos.... o.0 Yeah. You get the drift. Here though I decided to bring the fun home and try some instant green tea latte right in my very home, made by Barista master Jazz! (Not Really)

Very similar to making instant coffee or even more so like hot cocoa, you just add in the green mix to some hot water, or as I prefer... MILK! And enjoy it. I suggest 1 packet for the small instant coffee sized mugs and 2 packets for the standard American sized mugs, like the one featured in the film.

This will certainly be one of the many things I will miss when I return to the states this August to finish my education. But fret not sweeties.... I shall return to Korea soon enough following May. :)

Check the video here

Drama Fever Baby (Vlog #17)

So here in my new apartment I have this wonderful edition to my living space that was here when I arrived back in early March. I meant to share this video a while back when I first got here in my Gimje home. However, I believe that with the struggles of first learning how to be a better teacher for my students and also keeping myself active by traveling on the weekends I forgot about it until just now, seeing it in my video's file. None the less not much has changed since, except my hair is shorter now from a nice trim. So onward with the long overdue expired >>>>video <<<< shall we?!

Home Sweet Home (Jazz) [VLOG #12]

Well this will be the last Just Hatched home editin from Jazz's end. We are officially settled into our new homes! Kimmi in the rustle bustle "it" city of our Provence Jeollabuk-do, Jeonju and Jazz nestled in the busy little down town area of Gimje. We haven't gotten to see each other since our last orientation at Jeonbuk university. :( So now I feel that these updates are not just for our families, friends, and other various audiences, but for one another too. Kimmers I miss you!!!

So here is the final Just Hatched home edition vlog of Jazz's small quiet super cozy n' Cute place. Hope you enjoy! ㅇ(^ㅊ^)ㅇ

Noraebong Adventure Time! [VIDEO BLOG #9]

Okay okay... so what the heck is noraebong?! Well, its this uber awesome thing where a person and their friends go into this really awesome room and there's a disco ball, flashing lights, loud music and just a GOOD 'OL TIME! Hehehe... NOOOOO not a night club! (You dirty minded kids you...) I'm talking about a Karaoke room. ~Awwwweeee yeeeaahhh....

I LOVE THESE THINGS! And Korea is the most serious place and all business when it comes to it's people enjoying their musical outlet. Whether those air pipes have some years of rust from smoking or packed with power, everyone has at one time or another gone to a Noraebong *노래방*. Here my love of music can never be stifled AGAIN! MWAHHAHAHA!!!!

Learning Hangul *Korean Alphabet*

Here I have a website that I want to share with the rest of you... This is what I used to help jump start my own language reading and writing comprehension even before taking a class course in it. I strongly suggest this site above any other.  For those curious and passionate ones who want to start reading Hangul, the Korean alphabet. Korean is a phonic language just like English, which also makes it the easiest Asiatic language to learn. With only about 10 to 12 more letters than the English alphabet, learning how to read simple words and phrases in Hangul are literally just moments away. Give it a try! 

Link to site