I have returned to the world of the working (sort of). After only teaching one day last week, I now only have had to teach two days this week (Monday & Tuesday) as it is exam week in South Korea. Although I don't teach nor do I moderate exams, I still have to be at school. I am being paid to read things online & eat lunch - two things I'm extremely good at. Actually in the next month I don't teach a full week at all, I think I'm going to have a tough time adjusting to teaching five straight days.
Chuseok vacation was really good. I did America proud on Korean Thanksgiving - I drank, ate, and laid around like a true patriot. I also went rafting and ate at Dunkin' Donuts (a highlight of my week).
Thanks to my friends in Yeongdong, I have found the most trash-tastic venue to drink at. The 7-11 and yes, I do mean the local convenience store. In Korea, all 7-11's have plastic tables & chairs outside where you can spend hours drinking cheap beer & eating food, both of which you can buy and prepare at the 7-11. So, basically you go in, buy 40's and cups, go outside, finish one, go inside buy another & some snacks (normally microwable dumplings or chips), and repeat the process until either the drunk Koreans start becoming creep, it gets too cold & I turn blue, or the 7-11 runs out of beer. This needs to start happening in the US.
That is the only interesting thing that happened to me in the last week. I just found out that tomorrow all the High School teachers will leave school early to go on a hike together before we eat, I'm not too sure how I feel about that. Miss Jung (Korean Mom) said it'll be fun, so I'll trust her.
Next week I get to go on the middle school field trip which I'm sure will be me having to take a lot of pictures with students & being incredibly confused as to what is going on around me. But, that is basically my life, I hardly ever know what is going on around me. I just follow when I'm told to.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Happy Chuseok
Today is Chuseok (Korean T-giving), so I have four days off of work. Everyone goes to their eldest relatives house & they make a ton of food which they then offer to the graves of their relatives as offerings.
It is only day 2 of my 6 day break and it feels really good. I am going to spend the next six days with other NETs (specifically my two favorite people that I met at orientation). I'm assuming their will be a lot of binge drinking, eating, movie watching, and then Friday/Saturday we are meeting up with a big group to go rafting in a city near my town.
I know I've only been teaching for a month, but it is physically and mentally exhausting. Planning & teaching is a lot of work. Not to mention, it is hard to be constantly nice & cheerful for more than 40 hours a week. I will say that all my years of waiting tables and being fake nice for hours on end is finally being put to use.
I have a very monotonous routine during the week. Wake up, walk to school, teach, eat lunch, teach more, walk home, watch movies online, eat dinner, bed. My life is boring during the week, but I have had some interesting weekends.
I spent most of last weekend with my Korean mom, Miss Jung. We went on a long hike Friday after school, 2.4 km straight up hill and then 2.4 straight down. I was exhausted & super sweaty towards the end while Miss Jung seemed fine. I've come to the conclusion Koreans don't sweat much or at all. It is probably why deodorant is not widely available and why Koreans can wear long sleeves & pants when it is SUPER hot outside.
Saturday I went to Miss Jung's mentor's house up in the mountains. I'm still not sure what the whole mentor-student relationship is, I think the idea of it is not easily translated into English. My co-teacher goes there every other weekend to visit her & she told me she wants to retire to the area (completely understandable, it is GORGEOUS).
Mentor (I don't know her real name) is a tiny sixty year old Korean woman who lives up in the mountains with her driver/right hand man. She has been living on this property for ten years and she recently just started farming the area, the eight years before she meditated all day long. Miss Jung told me that Mentor "meets" people when she meditates - apparently she always meets with Buddha, frequently meets with Jesus, and sometimes meets with E.T. (like Spielberg style E.T.). When E.T. comes, he leaves marks on her arms that disappear after a couple of days. As many of you know, my emotions are written all over my face and it was hard for me to contain myself when I heard E.T., it was the highlight of my weekend.
Besides learning about E.T. I picked & sorted peppers with a bunch of Korean people for three hours, ate a lot of delicious food, and played with a German Shepherd puppy (made me miss my puppy). I was invited back whenever I want to go because according to Mentor I bring good luck to the house as the price of peppers went up twice the cost of last year after I had some dream about ticks. I'm still confused about how my dream brought them luck, I just go with what people say and nod/smile a lot.
I'll probably go back since I like the food & the dog so much and I want to hear more about E.T. You know me, the crazier people are the more I enjoy them.
Cheers!
It is only day 2 of my 6 day break and it feels really good. I am going to spend the next six days with other NETs (specifically my two favorite people that I met at orientation). I'm assuming their will be a lot of binge drinking, eating, movie watching, and then Friday/Saturday we are meeting up with a big group to go rafting in a city near my town.
I know I've only been teaching for a month, but it is physically and mentally exhausting. Planning & teaching is a lot of work. Not to mention, it is hard to be constantly nice & cheerful for more than 40 hours a week. I will say that all my years of waiting tables and being fake nice for hours on end is finally being put to use.
I have a very monotonous routine during the week. Wake up, walk to school, teach, eat lunch, teach more, walk home, watch movies online, eat dinner, bed. My life is boring during the week, but I have had some interesting weekends.
I spent most of last weekend with my Korean mom, Miss Jung. We went on a long hike Friday after school, 2.4 km straight up hill and then 2.4 straight down. I was exhausted & super sweaty towards the end while Miss Jung seemed fine. I've come to the conclusion Koreans don't sweat much or at all. It is probably why deodorant is not widely available and why Koreans can wear long sleeves & pants when it is SUPER hot outside.
Saturday I went to Miss Jung's mentor's house up in the mountains. I'm still not sure what the whole mentor-student relationship is, I think the idea of it is not easily translated into English. My co-teacher goes there every other weekend to visit her & she told me she wants to retire to the area (completely understandable, it is GORGEOUS).
Mentor (I don't know her real name) is a tiny sixty year old Korean woman who lives up in the mountains with her driver/right hand man. She has been living on this property for ten years and she recently just started farming the area, the eight years before she meditated all day long. Miss Jung told me that Mentor "meets" people when she meditates - apparently she always meets with Buddha, frequently meets with Jesus, and sometimes meets with E.T. (like Spielberg style E.T.). When E.T. comes, he leaves marks on her arms that disappear after a couple of days. As many of you know, my emotions are written all over my face and it was hard for me to contain myself when I heard E.T., it was the highlight of my weekend.
Besides learning about E.T. I picked & sorted peppers with a bunch of Korean people for three hours, ate a lot of delicious food, and played with a German Shepherd puppy (made me miss my puppy). I was invited back whenever I want to go because according to Mentor I bring good luck to the house as the price of peppers went up twice the cost of last year after I had some dream about ticks. I'm still confused about how my dream brought them luck, I just go with what people say and nod/smile a lot.
I'll probably go back since I like the food & the dog so much and I want to hear more about E.T. You know me, the crazier people are the more I enjoy them.
Cheers!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
I wish they had Homecoming in High School
I now have internet in my apartment! I have no idea how I survived so long with out it. I am WAY too addicted to technology. However even with my internet, I don't know how often I'll write. I'll try to do it at least once a week in an attempt to cut down on the length of my entries.
Anyways, I LOVE HIGH SCHOOL. It is the best two days of my work week. My reasons:
(1) The students are not ever disruptive during class, they are SUPER engaged, and so friendly. I walk down the halls and have pleasant conversations with my students. I don't know if they are still fascinated by my " new foreign-ness" or if they actually do love me.
(2) The school lunch is 284985329 better than at the Middle School, they have a nutrionist on the payroll to plan out the meals everyday. The food is organic & amazing, the only exception is the days they serve mini hot dogs with sardines, it seems to happen more often than it should. They always serve rice, two main dishes, kimchi, and SOUP.
(3) My Co-Teacher AKA my Korean Mom. She leaves chocolate on my desk daily & I'm not talking about Korean chocolate, I'm talking American chocolate. She is like my own candy dispenser. In addition to candy, she gives me gum, crackers, and KOREAN BLUEBERRIES (which are much better than North American ones). Last week she arranged a special dinner for me with world famous Pyeongchang beef and some speciality pear wine that her mentor made for her. It was AMAZING - the beef never gets frozen & it is SO tender. I've never had better beef or pear wine (granted, I've never had pear wine before). This woman makes my week better, I adore her (however she does not compare to my mother at all - shes DA BEST).
(4) The High School staff treat me like a person, not a child - I'll go into that more next time.
Basically, life is going well. I'm slowly getting into a routine during the week & I am planning on traveling almost every weekend. I get a very good chance next week as it is Korean Thanksgiving and I get six days off! I'll post pictures soon.
Anyways, I LOVE HIGH SCHOOL. It is the best two days of my work week. My reasons:
(1) The students are not ever disruptive during class, they are SUPER engaged, and so friendly. I walk down the halls and have pleasant conversations with my students. I don't know if they are still fascinated by my " new foreign-ness" or if they actually do love me.
(2) The school lunch is 284985329 better than at the Middle School, they have a nutrionist on the payroll to plan out the meals everyday. The food is organic & amazing, the only exception is the days they serve mini hot dogs with sardines, it seems to happen more often than it should. They always serve rice, two main dishes, kimchi, and SOUP.
(3) My Co-Teacher AKA my Korean Mom. She leaves chocolate on my desk daily & I'm not talking about Korean chocolate, I'm talking American chocolate. She is like my own candy dispenser. In addition to candy, she gives me gum, crackers, and KOREAN BLUEBERRIES (which are much better than North American ones). Last week she arranged a special dinner for me with world famous Pyeongchang beef and some speciality pear wine that her mentor made for her. It was AMAZING - the beef never gets frozen & it is SO tender. I've never had better beef or pear wine (granted, I've never had pear wine before). This woman makes my week better, I adore her (however she does not compare to my mother at all - shes DA BEST).
(4) The High School staff treat me like a person, not a child - I'll go into that more next time.
Basically, life is going well. I'm slowly getting into a routine during the week & I am planning on traveling almost every weekend. I get a very good chance next week as it is Korean Thanksgiving and I get six days off! I'll post pictures soon.
Monday, September 13, 2010
I feel the love.
As I promised last week - welcome dinners & Love.
I was lucky enough to have two Welcome dinners the first week I was here, one for each school. They weren’t solely for me; they were for all the new faculty & the faculty who are leaving.
Side note – in Korea teachers switch schools at least every five years and Principals every four years. I still can’t decide if this system is good or bad, I’m having an ongoing debate in my head about it.
Anyways, the dinner was AMAZING. I think the restaurant is considered “THE” fancy restaurant of Pyeongchang City. I went on Tuesday and then again on Thursday. The meal consisted of duck, ham, and chicken, as well as a plethora of side dishes (Kimchi, tofu, beans, HOT peppers etc.), a cold noodle dish or rice & soup. One interesting thing about Korea is at most restaurants you cook the food yourself at the table, they bring you a wok/grill thing and you cook at your own pace at the table. They usually will bring the side dishes right away and then you eat those as you wait for the main course to be complete. All of the food is laid out on the table & you don’t really have a plate, you just eat from all the wok or from the dishes, everyone eats out of the same containers (I’ve stopped thinking about the germs).
I also learned the CORRECT way to pour and receive Soju (Korean alcohol – similar to vodka but it tastes better). You are supposed to finish your glass, offer it to another person, pour the bottle with two hands, wait until they finish (they can sip it or shoot it) and then they pour one back for you. Korean men LOVE Soju, the women don’t drink much in public. All of my male coworkers were running around the room carrying bottles of Soju and pouring for anyone that had finished their drink. I think I made a lot of friends with my ability to take lots of shots, especially with the lunch ladies, they LOVE me now.
Now, the LOVE
The Love Motel was one of the more hilarious experiences of my time so far. It isn't fair to call it a motel as it is nicer than most hotels in America. You can rent them overnight for about $35-$50, and from the outside they all appear lavishly decorated. By lavish, I mean horribly tacky.
I had to go with my head co-teacher to Wonju City (county seat of Pyeongchang County) to get my Alien Registration Card that enables me to work here. It was my first business trip, ever. Moreover, the trip itself is a prime example of how I have no idea what is going on around me & just follow whoever like Mary's Little Lamb.
My "business trip" was full of surprise. Surprise number 1 was finding out that I'd be spending the night after we finished. I figured I'd stay with her as she lives in the city. Nope. Surprise number 2 came after dinner when she led me down the street full of motels and finally into one that reminded me of a very low grade Caesar's Palace.
After she checked me in (courtesy of Pyeongchang Middle School) I had about 50 more surprises, it was like Christmas in September. The surprises are also some of the reasons it is called a love motel (I'll post pictures of everything later)
#3 - a TV with channels in English
#4 - my own computer with Internet
#5 - free mini bar (only had juice & cookies)
#6 - the TWO complimentary pairs of slippers
#7 - stocked tolietries, with both men's and women's items
#8 - the two pressed, freshly packaged robes
#9 (my favorite) - a sealed package on the bed containing 2 toothbrushes, toothpaste, 2 razors, 2 condoms, and lubricant
The room had other sweet electronic features that made up the other +40 surprises, but the "Love Motel Gift Bag" could not be topped.
Interesting things about Korea:
- You should never write anyone’s name in red as they think this means they will die
- For high tech this country is with some things (car elevators for parking garages) their bathrooms are severely lacking. Most places have Eastern toilets. If they do have a Western toilet, they don’t usually have toilet paper. The toilets don’t flush automatically, they use bar soap, and no hand dryers/paper towels. Yes, I’ve put a lot of thought into the bathrooms here.
- Schools have cleaning time everyday for twenty minutes during which the students have to clean the school
(sweep, empty trash, mop, etc.) It is my favorite time of day.
- Love Motels
- Adding the E sound onto the end of English words that have no E's. Example - Lunch is pronounced as Lunchie
- Being asked within the first five minutes of meeting someone if I'm religious
I’m sure this list will get longer and longer as I notice more and more things.
Next time - my triumphant return to high school (if they had Prom or Homecoming, I'd be the EMPRESS hands-down) my new best friend, meeting the other NETs, and Korean beef
I was lucky enough to have two Welcome dinners the first week I was here, one for each school. They weren’t solely for me; they were for all the new faculty & the faculty who are leaving.
Side note – in Korea teachers switch schools at least every five years and Principals every four years. I still can’t decide if this system is good or bad, I’m having an ongoing debate in my head about it.
Anyways, the dinner was AMAZING. I think the restaurant is considered “THE” fancy restaurant of Pyeongchang City. I went on Tuesday and then again on Thursday. The meal consisted of duck, ham, and chicken, as well as a plethora of side dishes (Kimchi, tofu, beans, HOT peppers etc.), a cold noodle dish or rice & soup. One interesting thing about Korea is at most restaurants you cook the food yourself at the table, they bring you a wok/grill thing and you cook at your own pace at the table. They usually will bring the side dishes right away and then you eat those as you wait for the main course to be complete. All of the food is laid out on the table & you don’t really have a plate, you just eat from all the wok or from the dishes, everyone eats out of the same containers (I’ve stopped thinking about the germs).
I also learned the CORRECT way to pour and receive Soju (Korean alcohol – similar to vodka but it tastes better). You are supposed to finish your glass, offer it to another person, pour the bottle with two hands, wait until they finish (they can sip it or shoot it) and then they pour one back for you. Korean men LOVE Soju, the women don’t drink much in public. All of my male coworkers were running around the room carrying bottles of Soju and pouring for anyone that had finished their drink. I think I made a lot of friends with my ability to take lots of shots, especially with the lunch ladies, they LOVE me now.
Now, the LOVE
The Love Motel was one of the more hilarious experiences of my time so far. It isn't fair to call it a motel as it is nicer than most hotels in America. You can rent them overnight for about $35-$50, and from the outside they all appear lavishly decorated. By lavish, I mean horribly tacky.
I had to go with my head co-teacher to Wonju City (county seat of Pyeongchang County) to get my Alien Registration Card that enables me to work here. It was my first business trip, ever. Moreover, the trip itself is a prime example of how I have no idea what is going on around me & just follow whoever like Mary's Little Lamb.
My "business trip" was full of surprise. Surprise number 1 was finding out that I'd be spending the night after we finished. I figured I'd stay with her as she lives in the city. Nope. Surprise number 2 came after dinner when she led me down the street full of motels and finally into one that reminded me of a very low grade Caesar's Palace.
After she checked me in (courtesy of Pyeongchang Middle School) I had about 50 more surprises, it was like Christmas in September. The surprises are also some of the reasons it is called a love motel (I'll post pictures of everything later)
#3 - a TV with channels in English
#4 - my own computer with Internet
#5 - free mini bar (only had juice & cookies)
#6 - the TWO complimentary pairs of slippers
#7 - stocked tolietries, with both men's and women's items
#8 - the two pressed, freshly packaged robes
#9 (my favorite) - a sealed package on the bed containing 2 toothbrushes, toothpaste, 2 razors, 2 condoms, and lubricant
The room had other sweet electronic features that made up the other +40 surprises, but the "Love Motel Gift Bag" could not be topped.
Interesting things about Korea:
- You should never write anyone’s name in red as they think this means they will die
- For high tech this country is with some things (car elevators for parking garages) their bathrooms are severely lacking. Most places have Eastern toilets. If they do have a Western toilet, they don’t usually have toilet paper. The toilets don’t flush automatically, they use bar soap, and no hand dryers/paper towels. Yes, I’ve put a lot of thought into the bathrooms here.
- Schools have cleaning time everyday for twenty minutes during which the students have to clean the school
(sweep, empty trash, mop, etc.) It is my favorite time of day.
- Love Motels
- Adding the E sound onto the end of English words that have no E's. Example - Lunch is pronounced as Lunchie
- Being asked within the first five minutes of meeting someone if I'm religious
I’m sure this list will get longer and longer as I notice more and more things.
Next time - my triumphant return to high school (if they had Prom or Homecoming, I'd be the EMPRESS hands-down) my new best friend, meeting the other NETs, and Korean beef
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Kate Teacher
Alexis nicely informed me that I haven’t written on this thing in awhile. So, I’ll just give a short update as I have to run off to school in a few minutes.
I’ve started teaching as of last Monday (30th of August) and have been kept really busy doing that. Last week was mainly introductions to the students, letting them get to know me, me figuring out the electronic equipment, eating lunch in the cafeteria (amazing food) etc. This week started “real” teaching, which is a work in progress. Monday was rough, Tuesday was better, and I think by Friday I might enjoy it. The only problem is my throat is killing me by the end of the day (I’ve been shouting at Middle Schoolers, A LOT).
I teach 4 classes a day – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday at the Middle School (Grades 7-9) and Thursday, Friday at the High School (Grades 10 and 11). I have to be at school from 8:30-4:30 every day, which is nothing compared to the students. High School students are at school from 8:00 A.M. – 9:30 or 10:00 P.M., they have nine hours of classes a day and then mandatory student time. It sounds horrible.
The Middle School has a set curriculum that I have to teach to, so I’ve been busy reading their textbook and making lesson plans that incorporate the text book with some fun. I personally find the text book to be redundant and horrible. It is not cohesive & the actors they have for some of the videos make me laugh. I’m trying hard to make it a little fun for them.
The High School gave me free reign to do whatever I want as they want their students to have some fun during the day. My co-teachers told me as long as the students have fun & speak during class they don’t care what I teach them. So if you have any suggestions what 15 and 16 year old Korean kids want to learn about, please share them!
So, yeah, I’m keeping busy. I was at school until 9 P.M. last night as the school is preparing for the English Festival. I still have no idea what the English Festival is, but I was told I’m to help with it. Helping apparently means teaching the lyrics and choreographing a dance to “Summer Nights”. I’m just hoping I don’t have to perform with the students.
I met the other NET (Native English Teachers) in my city yesterday and all of us that live in the county are going out to dinner tonight to get to know each other. I’m looking forward to the break from my school-dinner-sleep routine that I’ve made.
That’s all for now, I have to be on my way. It isn’t a long walk, but I get distracted by stores I’ve never seen & things on the street.
Next time – my two Welcome dinners, Love Motel, and more about teaching.
Hope all is well!
I’ve started teaching as of last Monday (30th of August) and have been kept really busy doing that. Last week was mainly introductions to the students, letting them get to know me, me figuring out the electronic equipment, eating lunch in the cafeteria (amazing food) etc. This week started “real” teaching, which is a work in progress. Monday was rough, Tuesday was better, and I think by Friday I might enjoy it. The only problem is my throat is killing me by the end of the day (I’ve been shouting at Middle Schoolers, A LOT).
I teach 4 classes a day – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday at the Middle School (Grades 7-9) and Thursday, Friday at the High School (Grades 10 and 11). I have to be at school from 8:30-4:30 every day, which is nothing compared to the students. High School students are at school from 8:00 A.M. – 9:30 or 10:00 P.M., they have nine hours of classes a day and then mandatory student time. It sounds horrible.
The Middle School has a set curriculum that I have to teach to, so I’ve been busy reading their textbook and making lesson plans that incorporate the text book with some fun. I personally find the text book to be redundant and horrible. It is not cohesive & the actors they have for some of the videos make me laugh. I’m trying hard to make it a little fun for them.
The High School gave me free reign to do whatever I want as they want their students to have some fun during the day. My co-teachers told me as long as the students have fun & speak during class they don’t care what I teach them. So if you have any suggestions what 15 and 16 year old Korean kids want to learn about, please share them!
So, yeah, I’m keeping busy. I was at school until 9 P.M. last night as the school is preparing for the English Festival. I still have no idea what the English Festival is, but I was told I’m to help with it. Helping apparently means teaching the lyrics and choreographing a dance to “Summer Nights”. I’m just hoping I don’t have to perform with the students.
I met the other NET (Native English Teachers) in my city yesterday and all of us that live in the county are going out to dinner tonight to get to know each other. I’m looking forward to the break from my school-dinner-sleep routine that I’ve made.
That’s all for now, I have to be on my way. It isn’t a long walk, but I get distracted by stores I’ve never seen & things on the street.
Next time – my two Welcome dinners, Love Motel, and more about teaching.
Hope all is well!
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