Well, I can’t believe it’s almost been a week since I posted…even though it seems like I’ve been here a long time, I guess time is moving quickly. Can’t take it for granted. And yes, it’s true! For about the last week a cool front has moved in and the weather has cooled down, and the humidity is not so unbearable. I do still seem to be perspiring quite a bit, my midwestern genes just aren’t used to it here.
So, once again, there’s alot to update. Last week I did my training for Pagoda. It went well, got lots of lesson planning and classroom information and tips. It really was helpful. Apparently they just started doing training in the spring, so we’re kinda lucky. Made a friend during training, but unfortunately we’re not teaching at the same location. She’s teaching at Jongo, while I’m at Kangnam, they’re about a half-hour away from each other on the Metro. But have gotten together with her a couple times anyways. She taught for a military school last year, so is showing me the ropes, giving me cultural information (good and bad, but all true none-the-less), and is helping me out alot. Had my first ‘night on the town’ Friday night. Went with Angela (the new friend) and her previous teaching friends to an excellent Thai restaurant for a birthday celebration. So far have had great Indian, Thai, Japanese (cheap sushi!!), and Mexican (Dos Tacos!!) food here. Only one traditional Korean meal where I sat on the floor and everything (did I blog about that already?)…but there’s so much international food here it’s amazing. And alot of American chains…had burger king for lunch. Maybe losing weight won’t be as easy as I thought. Anyways, after the Thai meal, we went to ‘bar’ and had some drinks…not cheap (see below). There ended up being a whole lot of foreigners there though (of which I am now one)…which is apparently really weird. It was kinda like going to a bar in Seattle, rather than Seoul. So I guess that was comforting, but kind of disappointing at the same time. Didn’t necessarily feel like a night in Seoul, but it was nice to get out, and to meet lots of friendly people (Aussie’s, Kiwi’s[that's New Zealander's FYI], Canadians, and some Americans too). It was good to get out, but kind of made me miss being around people I know well. The reality is definitely starting to sink in. It gets old being looked at everywhere you go…and apparently alot of Koreans think blonde’s are all Russian hookers. I know that sounds really bad, but it seems to be true to an extent. You can tell by facial expressions…especially when you’re all dressed up to go out, and people look disapprovingly at you. Hope this doesn’t make anyone freak out (mom), it’s just part of the reality of living in different country/culture/world. There are also alot of wonderfully nice people here, I have to learn to take the good with the bad, and I’m seeing more of the not so good; but hey, that’s one reason I did this, to open myself up to the world. But I might just dye my hair dark again so I don’t have to deal with it. I’m realizing(again), though, that you’ll be treated how you expect to be treated; so I’m trying to stay as positive as possible.
So I got my September teaching schedule. It’s a split shift, as they always are at the beginning. I have 5 classes, but teach @ 8 hours/day (three 100min. classes). It’s not bad for a split shift though. Start at 7am(!!) until @ 2pm, then have a 6 hour break, and one more 100 m. class at 8pm. But the night class is a redo of a morning class, so no new planning necessary. Within all that, it’s only 2 different levels, 2A & 2B, pretty easy classes. Not super beginning or super advanced, so communication is not that hard. I’m only doing conversation classes (SLE) for now, but will probably add on PIP (intensive English) classes after a couple months. Had my first day of teaching today, and I loved it. The students are great! Very nice, and participate well…although the noon class was kind of like pulling teeth. It seems the smaller the class the tougher it is. Still have my night class done. We have to turn in our monthly syllabus by the 3rd day of class, and do grades at the end of the 3rd week of class…it seems week 4 is a bit of a free-for-all. Since grades have been turned in, alot of students just don’t show up. Right now, it seems like the actual classroom teaching time will the easiest part of all of this. It’s everything else that’s challenging. Figuring out what to ask, even when you don’t know what to ask, in order to know what you need to know. Does that make sense? It goes back to being proactive, and luckily the newer teachers remember how it was when they got here, so they’ve all been real helpful. The students really are great too!
Received my alien registration card today!!! 
So that means my health care has kicked in, and I can get a cell phone. However, I really need to find a Korean speaker to go with me to get a phone, since not many phone places have English speakers, and I don’t wanna get taken advantage of. Was going to go this afternoon to get my phone, but alas, that didn’t happen. Since I’m not really doing the phone thing with anyone at home, it doesn’t matter much to you all, but it is a pain in the butt to not have one. Hopefully within a couple days. This should mean that once I get into my apt. I can get wireless asap too! I’m still planning on wednesday sometime for moving…and will definitely post pics soon after. I can’t wait to get out of this little luv motel room (oh, we’re not supposed to call it that, woops).
Yesterday went shopping in Itaewon again, with Angela. Got some work clothes ( and apparently a Lindsey Lohan dress, although it’s a shirt for me 
) She showed me the ‘foreign food mart’ that has lots of cheese, cereal, honey ($11), spaggetio’s, Betty Crocker icing, etc. etc…comfort food!! Not cheap, but very much desired, by me already. And there’s a great used book store that has tons of stuff. Now I just have to find a grocery around here. They’re in the basement of buildings and all kinds of weird places…so I have to ask about those.
There’s still the issue of having to use so much energy to get anything done, along with work…but I’m sure it’ll get easier. Still no headway on the language really, you’ll all have to push me on that issue. I don’t want to go home not having learned any, but am finding out how it’s easy to just ‘get by’ on minimal language, even tho it’s frustrating. Glad you’re all enjoying the pictures, it’s amazing what a good camera can do for a photographer, not to mention amazing scenery. Have got some great links to a local International Health Clinic, Tourist Agency for Foreigners, and more local websites too. We get a 5 day weekend at the end of September,already! for Chuseok. It’s a holiday that’s apparently a mixture of Thanksgiving and a harvest festival. Apparently there have been many papers written on it’s true meaning and origin. Basically families gather together and have a large feast, but also go visit and bow at the graves of ancestors. Might consider taking a little trip during that time, but don’t know if the funds will allow it so soon. And I guess we only get 1 day off for Christmas, December 25th, and that’s it. (I think only 1 for new years too) Welcome to Korea!! Okay, time to rest before the night class. Keep the comments coming if possible; I feel real lucky to have such support from so far away. And I should be seeing some of you soon on the internet!!
lotsa love,
annyonghi kyeseyo
Here are the proud big brothers with their new little sis…I know they’ll take good care of her~
) And the high expectations and sense of competitiveness is very apparent. Elementary through high school kids are busy about 15 hours a day, with school and additional classes of many different kinds. The expectations our students have of teachers is quite high as well, although we get a bit of a break because we’re foreigners, the korean teachers have it harder. You have to be on 100% every class of everyday, whether it’s 7am monday or 9pm friday night, you don’t get a break. The pace is very fast, go go go all the time. I guess I’m living in the LA of Korea. And they’re very proud people, proud of Korea; and like to keep the culture kind of closed. There are many reasons for this, mostly historical…they’ve been taken over and/or attacked for most of their history, and they have rapidly updated their economy, technology and culture. For this reason, you see the very modern and very traditional coexisting side by side. You see it in the architecture, and you feel it in the mentality. It’s very interesting, and difficult to deal with at times. But that’s exactly why I am here doing this…to truly experience how another culture lives. With this said, I’ve found the Korean people to be very nice and extremely hospitable. It’s hard to really express everything I’m feeling about the culture, and I’m very grateful to have this experience…but I thought I’d try to give some insight on how living here is for me. It’s really tough sometimes to be so far away from all the people I care about, especially with all that’s going on at home…the families growing quickly!! But this year will be over before I know it, so I’m making every effort appreciate my time here and take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.
