get into wet suit-check…go snorkeling-check…swallow a lot of water-check…great view of fish and coral reef – check… get into wetsuit again – check… lay on surfboard-check… swallow more water-check…break leash on surfboard -check…get more sunburn – check…get tossed off surfboard-check.. kick instructor – check check check…ride that baby in 7 times – BAM!

volcanoes – check. monkey forest – check. seeing monkeys humping – check.  insane balinese buffet – check. beach and cold drink- check.  arak – check. mingle with the locals – check. leave camera in a cab – check. burn the hell out of the backs of my knees – check. temple of holy water – check. snorkeling – tomorrow.  surfing – Friday. golden tan – working on it.  blocking out Korea – what’s Korea?

On Tuesday Sue Teacher snuck up next to me at the cross walk on our way to the school shuttle bus.  “No kids today.  Swine flu in Jeongia.”  My heart leaped for a moment but immediately I realized who I was dealing with.  “Don’t F*ck with me Sue.  That wouldn’t be funny.”   She’s one of the best practical jokesters I know.  Definitely got me out of the house for an “early” shuttle one morning.   Shame on your Sue, though it was April Fool’s Day.

“No. I wouldn’t joke about this, ” Sue insisted.  “C’mon Sue.  I don’t believe you.  You’re messing with me.”  “I’m not!!  I’m supposed to be riding the bus with the kids this morning but look I’m here.”  Suddenly I realized she was being completely serious.  There was a chance of a day without classes!! Woot woot!

Once we got to school we were told that no kids would be coming in so we were to do prepping and whatnot all day. 

Later that afternoon we had a meeting during which we were told that there were EIGHT cases of swine flu in Jeongia, the next town over from where we live.  All of the infected children attend the same elementary school and are being quarantined.  This way it could not be spread.  Unfortunately one of the eight is the one year old sibling and might not make it. 

I believe swine flu is only very serious for weak immune systems.  There are talks of a vaccine in Korea come September. Who know what to believe though, eh?

What happened next I didn’t see coming.  Ellie (vice director) and Mr. Kim (Hans – kind of like a principal I guess and liason to the owner Mr. Kim) told us that they’d like us to cancel our vacations out of the country and stay in Korea to reduce the spread of swine flu.  Luckily Sue Teacher has been in Korea over three years and is a wonderful mediator. 

Apparently airplanes are a big concern because of the enclosed conditions.  We responded that so are subways which is how most of us get around and for almost all locations we must pass through the Jeongia station. And don’t forget buses.

The school had called all the parents and said that if any kids were leaving Korea during our vacation (July 25 – Aug.2) that they were not to come back to school for an entire week afterwards to allow time for symptoms to show.  I couldn’t help using the logic I had picked up from many a science lab.  Would it not be necessary to ask everyone in the province of Bun Dang-Gu to stay home as well because you must remove all variables or you will not be successful.   

As we listened to all the talk of swine flu, security and money, I fiddled with the camera I had my hand to keep from making an outburst I would later regret.  I watched everyone’s faces intently and mouthed to Sue, “Help us!”

After it was clear we had arrived at a stalemate, Sue eloquently said that it wasn’t that we didn’t care or did not understand that concerns of the school.  Rather we did not see the logic behind the decision and we also needed more options.  I wish I could be so put together.  So calm and rational in such situations. 

Then Laura Teacher mentioned an idea about phone education. “It’s actually Sue’s idea…”  Sue then piped up with ‘so-and-so school’ does it, ‘so-and-so school’ being their biggest competitor.   Well played Sue Teachaaah.

Let me break it down.  Flu symptoms start to show within seven days.  In order to let flu symptoms manifest, none of us leaving the country would be allowed to return to teaching until seven days after we’d landed in Korea.  This includes just about everyone except Ana who is only going to Busan (Korean beach area).  Instead of closing school, all the kids who did not leave the country on vacation would come to school for a fun summer camp-ish week. For twenty minutes out of every day, each child would receive a phone call from their foreign teacher to practice their skills.

This boils down to each of us calling all 20 of our kids and talking to each of them for 20 minutes.  I’d like to hear my kids say something other than Aimee Teacher and I love you.  This outta be good.  Gotta get my cell fixed pronto!

Ellie was very keen on the idea and we have a feeling that she may convince Mr. Kim (Hans – whatever his name is) to go with it.  This way the children would be “safe” from us and they wouldn’t have to refund any tuition for closing the school.  I just hope we’re safe from the kids. 😉

Yesterday I met up with one of my Korean teacher friends Bella who said she heard on the news that there were three more cases in Jeongia.  This morining (Thursday) I received a text that said someone had been infected where we live in Migeum.   So much for an effective quarantine. 

It remains to be seen what’s going to happen for tomorrow and the days and weeks to come. Quite honestly I might feel safer OUT of Korea at this point. haha. 

To be updated… PROMISE!

Reporting live from swine flu country,

This is Aimee

PS my friends are off to Jeongia for brunch right now. I bet someone gets the sausage!  😉 

Too soon?  

And the North Koreans may be at it again… but I’m not gonna post every time they make a noise. That would be redudant.

Officials: N. Korea believed behind cyber attacks

By HYUNG-JIN KIM, Associated Press Writer Hyung-jin Kim, Associated Press Writer – Wed Jul 8, 7:53 am ET

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korean intelligence officials believe North Korea or pro-Pyongyang forces committed cyber attacks that paralyzed major South Korean and U.S. government Web sites, aides to two lawmakers said Wednesday.

The sites of 11 South Korean organizations, including the presidential Blue House and the Defense Ministry, went down or had access problems since late Tuesday, according to the state-run Korea Information Security Agency. Agency spokeswoman Ahn Jeong-eun said 11 U.S. sites suffered similar problems. She said the agency is investigating the case with police and prosecutors.

In the U.S., the Treasury Department, Secret Service, Federal Trade Commission and Transportation Department Web sites were all down at varying points over the July 4 holiday weekend and into this week, according to American officials inside and outside the government.

Others familiar with the U.S. outage, which is called a denial of service attack, said that the fact that the government Web sites were still being affected three days after it began signaled an unusually lengthy and sophisticated attack. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter.

The Korea Information Security Agency also attributed the attacks to denial of service.

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at Seoul’s University of North Korean Studies, said he doubts whether the impoverished North has the capability to knock down the Web sites.

But Hong Hyun-ik, an analyst at the Sejong Institute think tank, said the attack could have been done by either North Korea or China, saying he “heard North Korea has been working hard to hack into” South Korean networks.

On Wednesday, the National Intelligence Service told a group of South Korean lawmakers it believes that North Korea or North Korean sympathizers “were behind” the attacks, according to an aide to one of lawmakers who was briefed on the information.

An aide to another lawmaker who was briefed also said the NIS suspects North Korea or its followers were responsible.

The aides spoke on condition of anonymity and refused to allow the names of the lawmakers they work for to be published, citing the classified nature of the information.

Both aides said the information was delivered in writing to lawmakers who serve on the National Assembly’s intelligence committee.

The National Intelligence Service — South Korea’s main spy agency — declined to confirm the information.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said military intelligence officers were looking at the possibility that the attack may have been committed by North Korean hackers and pro-North Korea forces in South Korea. South Korea’s Defense Ministry said it could not confirm the report.

Earlier Wednesday, the NIS said in a statement that 12,000 computers in South Korea and 8,000 computers overseas had been infected and used for the cyber attack.

The agency said it believed the attack was “thoroughly” prepared and committed by hackers “at the level of a certain organization or state.” It said it was cooperating with the American investigators to examine the case.

South Korean media reported in May that North Korea was running a cyber warfare unit that tries to hack into U.S. and South Korean military networks to gather confidential information and disrupt service.

An initial investigation in South Korea found that many personal computers were infected with a virus program ordering them to visit major official Web sites in South Korea and the U.S. at the same time, Korean information agency official Shin Hwa-su said. There has been no immediate reports of similar cyber attack in other Asian countries.

Yonhap said that prosecutors have found some of the cyber attacks on the South Korean sites were accessed from overseas. Yonhap, citing an unnamed prosecution official, said the cyber attack used a method common to Chinese hackers.

Prosecutors were not immediately available for comment.

Shin, the Information Security Agency official, said the initial probe had not yet uncovered evidence about where the cyber outages originated. Police also said they had not discovered where the outages originated. Police officer Jeong Seok-hwa said that could take several days.

Some of the South Korean sites remained unstable or inaccessible Wednesday. The site of the presidential Blue House could be accessed, but those for the Defense Ministry, the ruling Grand National Party and the National Assembly could not.

Ahn said there were no immediate reports of financial damage or leaking of confidential national information. The alleged attacks appeared aimed only at paralyzing Web sites, she said.

South Korea’s Defense Ministry and Blue House said that there has been no leak of any documents.

___

Associated Press writers Jae-soon Chang and Wanjin Park in Seoul and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.

(This version CORRECTS to remove references to sympathizers in South Korea.)

hmmm they were probably missles

Happy 4th to all of you back home. 

Despite all the haters out there, I am proud to be American.

And trust me, once you leave the country and meet people from other places, America is NOT number one.

As a whole, to the world we’re a bit pompous and arrogant.  Ok, VERY pompous and arrogant.  I can certainly see some truth in that but the media has a large influence on how we are perceived.  Please don’t get me started on media misrepresentation. 

If we live in a bubble as Americans are not other countries in their own bubble as well? Every country has made sense of the world and has passed that on to its people.  Yes, the people of the world take vacations but we must look further than the tourist spots we frequent for the answers.

It is not until a person is immersed in a place without his fellow countrymen by his side that the realization starts to set in.  I work and interact with many people who speak English from all over the world and it has surprised me at what I ‘ve learned.  People of New Zealand. Africa. Scotland.  Ireland. Austrailia. England. Canada.  Yes even some Canadians just can’t stand us. 

I often get, “You’re the first American whom I’ve met that I actually like.”  And at work I’ve heard, “It’s ok if you say it but if an American says ‘America’ it irks me.”  Easy killer.

After having lived here in Korea for ten months now, I really do appreciate the diversity that Korea lacks.  I can’t wait to come home and people watch.  Thin ones. Fat ones. Ones that could stand to lose 20.   Ones that could stand to gain 10.  Straight hair. Afros.  Mullets.  Real curls.  Smart dresses.  Sloppy t-shirts.  Turtle necks.  Low cut frocks.  Nose rings. Combat boots.  Clean suits. Funky glasses. Straight. Gay. Metro. Sluts. Wimps. Atheltes. Nerds. Sex kittens. Your aunt Merna. Loud ones.  Conservatives. Liberals. Radicals.  And skintone ~ all sorts.  Over here its black hair, tidy outfit, just keep walking.  Well maybe i’m being a little unfair but I’m not far off my  mark.  Chuck taylors are in if you need a break from your stilettos. 

As annoying as it is to be reminded that everyone is to be treated equally, it is a concept we are very fortunate to have adopted.  Very fortunate. 

Even considering that I had to take a bunch of BS general education requirements to graduate college.   Frickin Womens Writers. At least I stopped hating women because of that class.  Wink wink.

God bless.

                                               Saska Richards, Texas

                                                  Andrea Dreste, Missouri

          Ana Diaz, Oklahoma           Hayley Field, California         …and of course Miss New Jersey!!

“Wild Thing

You make my heart sing

Oh

You make everything…

groovy”

Well Korea certainly has its way with the shady.  Here’s the Helen Doron website where I’m advertised as having 3 years teaching experience, a minor in education and a certification in education.  Oh haha. Silly silly Korea. 

홈교육프로그램교수진 소개         Justine   Country   South Africa University University of Cape Town Major Occupational Therapy Teaching Experience 3 years Etc     Justine does have a degree in occupational therapy but she’s just one week shy of her FIRST year of teaching.     Andrea   Country   U.S.A University Fontbonne University Major Elementary Education (Certified Teacher) Teaching Experience 3 years Etc     Andrea actually did teach back home so this could possibly be accurate.     Aimee   Country   U.S.A University The College of New Jersey (formerly Trenton State) Major Communications with minors in Education (Certified Teacher) Teaching Experience 3 years Etc Education is invaluable. Childhood is priceless. Thus I take my lessons seriously but design them to be animated. I’m not afraid to have a little fun. After all, who doesn’t like to laugh?     Then there’s me… I’m just now coming up on 9 months in Korea aka nine months of teaching. I did major in communications but my minor certainly wasn’t in education. Rather I did marketing and French.  If I was a certified teacher I could get a teaching job back home… Though I am Helen Doron certified.      Hayley Field   Country   U.S.A University California Politecnic State University Major BSc in Nutrition Teaching Experience 2 years Etc         Laura Brown   Country   Canada University University of Toronto Major Cinema Study/ German Language Teaching Experience 2 years / Daycare center teacher Etc         Sue Tiffin   Country   Canada University Ryerson University Major Journalism Teaching Experience 4 Years/ Head Teacher at Boston 어학원 Etc Head Teacher, 분당 보스턴 어학원 (2006년 ~ 2007년) ESL Teacher, Kennedy College, Ontario TESL certificate Writer, ReporterAlthough it is always motivating to see a student’s progress in mathematics or language, it is most inspiring to teach students about good social habits and having good character. Watching children learn about life lessons and interacting with each other using kind manners and selfless hearts is as important to me as the education they’ll receive from a book.         Matt   Country   Canada University Acadia University Major B.A. in History Teaching Experience 5 Years Etc My aim is to improve the student’s English levels at a consistent pace. If I notice that they have leveled off some, I try to change things up in order to get them moving forward again. I also try to ensure that they are having fun while learning.         Ana Maria   Country   U.S.A University Southwestern Oklahoma State University Major B.A. in Fine Art, M.A. in Art Education Teaching Experience 1 Year Etc My favorite teachers growing up where the kind of teachers who both disciplined the class and made learning as painless as possible, looking back I now know that they where teaching me skills I would need in and outside of the classroom. They also really cared about us as students with their patience and efforts. As an educator, I believe that we are to direct our students to help build their minds, character and interactions with one another. I believe that an educator’s job is to share our experience and knowledge of skills with the students and to take the time to understand what learning methods work best with them.           Eunice   Country   University University of the Visaya, Philippines Major BS Pharmacy Teaching Experience 9 years Etc         Hannah   Country   University Korea University Major English Education (Cambridge TESOL Certificate) Teaching Experience 5years Etc         Lynn   Country   University Ewha Woman’s University Major Elementary Education Teaching Experience 8 years Etc         Christy   Country   University Brigham Young University, Hawaii Major TESOL & EIL Teaching Experience 2years Etc         Sheena   Country   University Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Major English Language Education Teaching Experience 2years Etc         Esther   Country   University Ewha Woman’s University Major History Teaching Experience 1 year Etc         Sophia   Country   University Ewha Woman’s University Major English Education Teaching Experience 1 year Etc I would like to have a fun and exciting class with my students. I try to encourage them and elicit more output with motivating activities.         Mina   Country   University McMaster University Major Psychology / Tesol certified Teaching Experience 2 years Etc         Joy   Country   University Houghton College.BA/Washingto University. MA Major B.A. in English Literature, M.A. in Fine Arts Teaching Experience 2years Etc         Crystalina K.   Country   U.S.A.(Born in USA) University Mariana University of USA Major English interpretation & Tourism / Hotel management Teaching Experience 4 Years teaching experience(4years old~elementary,junior&senior high school students’ TOEFL class-sc Etc Through my teaching experience, I’ve learned many things like being patient and waiting for my students until they develop completely and overcome with their difficulties. I try to be more objective and teach my students that every student has potential and different gift in various field. My role as a teacher is helping them to bring up these. I always research more effective and creative ways to help my students.           김정숙 ( Bella )-유치부 Head teacher   중앙대학교 교육대학 유아교육과 학/석사 유치부 총괄’모든 아이는 성공하기 위해 태어난다’라는 말처럼 저는 헬렌도렌의 우리 아이들이 무한한 잠재적 능력을 가지고 있다고 믿습니다. 저는 우리 아이들이 타고난 능력을 모두 발휘 할 수 있는 현명함과 자신감을 가진 인재로 자라도록 하겠습니다.         조민영 (Michelle)-6세 담당   중앙대학교 교육대학 유아교육학과이 세상에는 여러가지 기쁨이 있지만 그 가운데서 가장 빛나는 기쁨은 아이들의 웃음이며 이런 우리 아이들의 웃음을 보는 것은 저의 즐거움입니다. 아이들의 웃음이 넘치는 헬렌도론이 되도록 하겠습니다.         김이정 (Cindy)-7세담당   중앙대학교 교육대학 유아교육학과사랑은 어떤 행복의 문도 열수 있는 열쇠입니다. 우리 아이들이 모든 사람들에게 사랑을 받고 사랑을 주는, 별처럼 밝게 빛나는 아이들로 자랄 수 있도록 하겠습니다.         홍인표 (Jack)- 5세 담당/Norwich   중앙대학교 교육대학 유아교육학과아이는 아이답게 자랄 수 있도록, 내가 지켜야 할 것은 지구와 이 세상에 있는 어린이입니다. 우리 헬렌도론 어린이들을 사랑하고 지키는 교사가 되겠습니다.           원광진   골프 KPGA Tour 프로 / 고려대 경영대학원 출강         윤지희   태권도         허현정   Music

I suppose living in Korea this article should be included in my blog.  That and the fact that the ex-President of Korea committed suicide last week.  Oh happy day.

Reports: NKorea prepares long-range missile launch

AP – A North Korean patrol boat inspects activity along the North Korean Sinuiju river bank, seen along the …

• Slideshow:North Korea
• Play Video Video:South Korea feels the tension as North Korea plans more tests AFP
• Play Video Video:South Korea worried about a new long-range missile AFP

By JAE-SOON CHANG, Associated Press Writer Jae-soon Chang, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 37 mins ago

SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea has transported its most advanced missile, believed to be capable of reaching Alaska, to a site where it could be ready for launch in a week or two, news reports said Monday.

The reclusive communist country was also reportedly strengthening its defenses and conducting amphibious assault exercises along its western shore, near disputed waters where deadly naval clashes with South Korea have occurred in the past.

With the launch, Pyongyang could also thumb its nose at U.N. Security Council attempts to rein it in after last week’s nuclear test and a series of short-range missile launches.

South Korean media have speculated that the North wants to time the launch for around June 16, when South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has a summit in Washington with President Barack Obama.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said the missile had been sent by train to the newly completed missile facility of Dongchang-ni, about 40 miles (60 kilometers) from the Chinese border.

Yonhap, quoting government sources, said the missile could be ready to launch in a week or two. South Korean defense and intelligence officials refused to comment.

U.S Defense Secretary Robert Gates, speaking at a news conference in the Philippines, said North Korea appears to be working on a long-range missile, but it’s not clear yet what they plan to do with it.

Lee, hosting a conference of Southeast Asian leaders, warned the North against any provocation.

“If North Korea turns its back on dialogue and peace and dares to carry out military threats and provocations, the Republic of Korea will never tolerate that,” Lee said in his regular radio address.

Adding to tensions this week, the trial starts Thursday in Pyongyang of two American journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, accused of entering the country illegally and engaging in “hostile acts.”

North Korea faced strong international criticism after its last long-range missile launch, on April 5. The North said the launch was of a rocket intended to put a satellite in orbit. That modified version of the Taepodong-2 rocket flew about 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers), crossing over Japan before crashing into the Pacific Ocean.

The North later threatened to conduct nuclear and long-range missile tests unless the Security Council apologized for criticizing the launch. On Friday, it warned it would take a further “self-defense” measure if the Security Council provokes it.

Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Monday the U.K. and other members of the council were drafting tough sanctions to rebuke North Korea over its “wrong, misguided, dangerous” nuclear test.

Officials say financial sanctions, a toughened arms embargo and searches of ships carrying suspected nuclear cargo could be included.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the progress of the Security Council response during a telephone conversation Sunday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Monday.

The North’s missile and nuclear programs have been considered a top regional security concern, though the regime is not yet believed to have mastered the technology to make a nuclear warhead small enough to mount on a missile.

In another sign that a new launch is in the works, the North has designated a large area off its west coast as a “no-sail” zone through the end of next month, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper said, citing unidentified intelligence officials.

Yonhap said North Korean troops conducted amphibious assault maneuvers along with west coast.

Experts said the North’s preparations were especially significant because it has never launched a long-range missile from the northwestern base.

Kim Tae-woo, vice president of Seoul’s state-run Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, said he thinks the North chose the site because of its proximity to China, making it more risky for the U.S. to strike.

The missile being prepared for launch is believed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of up to 4,000 miles (6,500 kilometers), the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported, citing an unnamed South Korean official.

That would put Alaska within striking range.

On Monday, the North again said it is being provoked by South Korea and the United States, saying the number of spy planes operating in its airspace has risen dramatically.

“The U.S. imperialists and the South Korean puppets perpetrated at least 200 cases of aerial espionage against the DPRK in May, or 30 cases more than those in the same month of last year,” it said in a report in its official Korean Central News Agency.

The DPRK is an abbreviation of North Korea’s official name.

___

Associated Press writers Siyoung Lee and Young-joon Ahn on Yeonpyeong island, Lara Jakes in Manila, Philippines, Steve Gutterman in Moscow and David Stringer in London contributed to this report.

亜がはあどへ,

亜歩いあうお永保愛h後愛へ追いhゴアへ

w後はおうぇいおてょんぁどいてょｈ

 亜sgリオアh後ウェg補遺和え尾ｐ儀う所会いじぇゴア所；絵wg所；愛d後はおぴへ語彙は尾ペイh後パイへ語ph；派wdkl；jhが；おい背；tごん；青印g簿；エア隠語；愛援護；和え印g　

亜うぇと,

Yeah…

Due to a time crunch here:s an email to me rents. 

Dear Mom and Dad,

I cannot put into words or how AMAZING Kyoto, Japan is.  I kept thinking if only mom could take some drugs and dad:s legs could handle the long flight, I firmly believe it is a place you should see in your lifetime.  There are over 1500 shrines and temples.  The streets are filled with shops and traditional restaurants but it comes off much more cultural than touristy.  I could picture both of you exploring Japan from one end to the other.  See Mt. Fuji and Hiroshiama. 

My goodness.  I spent a lot of time taking pictures to help preserve the memorie and certainly got a lot of practice with my photography.  It:s absolutely imperative that I educate myself on the features my little digital point and shoot.  One day I would love to get my hands on a camera that can really bring things to life. 

If I could be lucky enough to become　a travel writer /photographer as I spend time teaching and saving for my degree, how amazing that could be!!  And I could do it for always.  Boarding in 40 minutes.  I think this time I:m gonna have to send home cds of all the pictures because they are well worth it. 

Aimee

PS Elizabeth sent me some pictures!  She might weigh the same as me now. haha. Popping in about 4 days, eh?

PSS I met up with three different groups of people…I think traveling on my own is something everyone should try. 
— On Sat, 5/2/09, Zofia Fisher <zofiafisher@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Zofia Fisher <zofiafisher@yahoo.com>
Subject: JAPAN
To: aimeezfisher@yahoo.com
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2009, 10:21 PM

AIMEE,I’M GLAD YOU GOT SAFELY TO JAPAN.Enjoy your stay. Can’t wait to see the picks. Daddy and I had fun looking  at the pictures of the little kids from your school.I hope you found your accomodations without any major problems.Love, mom