Much has happened since the last post, so here we go.
Orientation
I arrived in the Incheon International Airport on September 25 at 7:30 and I was in the taxi cab to the orientation in Seoul by 8:00 and arrived at the university where the university was being held by around 9:30. I think I was among the last to arrive. Registering went smoothly; they even took my temperature to make sure I didn’t have swine flu and apparently I was fine because I was then checked in.
My roommate was a girl named Hannah and she was an awesome roommate. We’re both relatively laid back and excited for this experience. Also, her parents are Korean, so she can speak and read it. For those days I had a ready-made guide which was sweet.
The next day, September 26, orientation began. We had breakfast around 8 (cafeteria dorm style) and the opening ceremonies were 10. That day we saw a traditional Korean drum performance and listened to 2 or 3 lectures. One was on teaching strategies and culture shock from a man who has been a teacher in Korea for a few years and another was on Korean history by a Korean man who speaks English and teaches Korean. That night we had a mandatory 90 minute Korean survival class. We went over a lot really quickly, so I have great notes, but not a lot of retention.
The 3rd day we went on a few field trips. The first was to the Kyungbokgung Palace, which was where in the days of Korean dynasties and monarchies, the Korean king lived there. It was beautiful. It’s several buildings in this huge court yard. The detail on the buildings was amazing and they were just absolutely amazing.
Afterwards, we drove to Insadong, a district with a lot of shops & restaurants. I had cold buckwheat noodles; it was clear noodles in a very watery sauce. It was absolutely delicious and very cheap considering the quality, but apparently we were paying for the atmosphere because roughly $5 for an amazing, huge bowl of soup is comparatively expensive to other restaurants. Then we walked around Insadong where there are a ton of street vendors selling Korean nicknacks and foods, including boiled silk worm. And I will say, I did eat a silk worm. A single, tiny silk worm. It was alright, but the whole time I couldn’t get the thought out of my head that there’s a worm in my mouth. There were also people in different shops making a honey snack. They take a brick of honey, put it in confectionary sugar and stretch it, fold it, and restretch it until this single brick becomes a few thousand strands of honey. The strands then wrap up either almonds or some other type of nut and are sold. We bought a box of them and they were pretty good. We bought them because in order to attract tourists, the place has a poem that the 4 people who work there say about the food and they do it in both English and Korean. When they saw us looking at them, they switched to English (we clearly weren’t Korean) and they even threw in a few English expressions like “oh my god!”
Afterwards, we went back to the university for dinner, but Hannah and a third friend, Jake, and I went out to eat. We got what is essentially a hashbrown meets pancake meets pizza. It’s a potato dish like a hash brown cooked with a ton of vegetables or whatever you want in it really, that’s completely flat and looks like a pizza. In order to eat it, one must pick at it with chopsticks. It’s a very communal food, as is a lot of Korean food (which makes the swine flu masks seem ridiculous).
After dinner we went to see NANTA. NANTA is a famous Korean show and is the longest running Korean show – it’s about 12 years running. It’s a play that focuses on drums. The plot isn’t that great, but it’s a musical with drums instead of music. It takes place in the kitchen of a restaurant and every type of kitchen utensil is turned into a drum. There’s a lot of physical comedy, almost no speaking and the drumming is absolutely amazing. Unfortunately, I was exhausted from jet lag and from 2 overly packed days and fell asleep for about 5 minutes during it (during a quiet part) but I did enjoy it a lot.
Day 4 was a fun filled day packed with 6 lectures. The lectures were all very interesting and informative, but there were six 1-hour long lectures. It was a bit too much intake by the end of it and it was ironic that a lot of them were stressing how students will only be able to intake so much in a day, so don’t over pack them with information and lectures. My favorite one was by a teacher from Ontario who lives in South Korea with his wife. His lecture focused on class room management and he did it well and gave a lot of good advice on how to subtly manage a classroom without screaming or losing control. There was another really good one by a South African teacher who has been in Korea for a few years on classroom activities and games. She gave us a lot of ideas for games and how to manage the games effectively. After lunch we had 3 more lectures and that was over by 5:40. Around 6 we went over to a buffet restaurant for dinner. It was pretty good. It was mainly sea food, so I was nervous there wouldn’t be anything I’d be able to eat, but the food was wonderful and there were plenty of vegetables and rice dishes. The food here is amazing and so healthy.
After the dinner a few of us went out. I think almost everyone went out, but I was only out with around 12 people (out of 150.) We first stopped at a cocktail street vendor. I kid you not. There are no laws against public drinking here apparently and we all bought drinks in a plastic bag with a straw. I had a June Bug, which wasn’t terribly strong. Afterwards, we went to a karaoke bar, kinda. I don’t know how to spell the name for them, but instead of a bar, each group of people gets their own separate room with microphones, a song book and a karaoke machine hooked up to a television, where you pay for the room by the hour. These are apparently very big in South Korea and are sometimes a place where patrons bring prostitutes because of the privacy. Interesting thought, eh? Hannah and I left to karaoke bar at around midnight and then I repacked up everything for the next day, when we would leave.
Getting Set Up
The next day, we had our closing ceremony, lunch and then waited for our transportation to our cities. The whole time I just couldn’t wait to get to my apartment. The van to Incheon got there at 2PM and the 5 of us going split between the van and a car. We got to the Incheon Public Office of Education (POE) at around 4 and met with the coordinator who went over our contracts with us. We then met our co-teachers. I actually met my co-teacher’s assistant because my co-teacher was in a class. The co-teacher’s assistant, Son-Nee, is in her 40s and very nice.
After meeting and sorting out things with our contracts, other co-teacher, Mr. Woo, drove Son-Nee and I off. We first went to dinner and it was absolutely delicious. We got there, had to take our shoes off and sit on a pillow at a table low to the ground – the traditional Korean way. We had festival style food. Each of us got a bowl of rice with sesame oil at the bottom. Then, there were so many different dishes of different vegetables (and a small dish of tiny deep fired octopus legs) in front of us. With our chopsticks, the three of us picked a bunch of vegetables and put them in the dish. I tried pretty much everything, including an octopus leg which really wasn’t that bad. Afterwards, me each spooned in some hot pepper sauce into our bowls then mixed it all together. It was delicious. The food here in general has been amazing and very spicy. Hot peppers are put in everything here and I’m getting used to it.
Following dinner, the three of us drove to MacArthur Park. South Korean generally really like MacArthur and have been shocked whenever I’ve mentioned that I know who he is. He was a famous American general and more Koreans know about him than Americans. MacArthur was a general during both WWII and the Korean War. He signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender and Japan’s loss helped Korea not be a colony of Japan and then in leading the Americans in the Korean War (starting with the Incheon Landing) he helped to get the North Koreans out of South Korea. South Koreans seem very appreciative of both, to the point where there’s a HUGE monument to MacArthur in Incheon near my apartment. It’s huge and very beautiful. But, yeah, both my co-teachers and my assistant teacher were surprised that I knew all of that because apparently with their experiences with Americans, the Americans tend not to know about this.
After the MacArthur Monument, Son-Nee and Mr. Woo took me grocery shopping. The grocery store was a larger, more organized WalMart for all intents and purposes. Every floor is like a new store. I got some basic groceries and got a feel of Korean cooking.I got some spinach and broccoli and Son-Nee then insisted that I get sesame seed oil, sugar and salt because that is how those vegetables are cooked. So, I did.
Next, the three of us went to my apartment. When we entered my apartment building, I was at first a little worried. It didn’t seem bad, but it didn’t seem great and I was afraid of what my apartment would look like if the hall way was like this. Then, the door was opened and I was amazed. Everything looked so new and beautiful. It’s a small apartment. It’s one room with a kitchen in the corner, my bed in another and my desk and television in a third. But it’s definitely definitely large enough for me and it’s so nice with an awesome view. My school provided me with all of my utensils, including chopsticks which I’m getting progressively better at. There is a built-in closet with several compartments and there are stairs on the side which lead to a platform that’s about below the ceiling – I’m using that to store my suitcases. It’s just such a great apartment and the pictures of it and of my view at night are on facebook, so I recommend checking that out.
After Son-Nee and Mr. Woo left, I unpacked everything. Everything. I went through my entire suitcase and put every article of clothing, book, piece of important paper, the knitting project Kayla gave me, my pens and notebooks away. It took about 1.5 to 2 hours and was totally worth it. I hate living out of suitcases and I did that in Brazil for 3 months. It’s weird to think I’m unpacked for the year. It feels as though I’ll have to repack really soon, but in reality I won’t for a long while; such a good feeling.
I unpacked, made a lesson plan that was basically an elaborate introduction, in case I needed to do something the next day. Then, I went to sleep at around midnight after showering.
Beginning Work
Now, we get to today. Today I woke up at 7, did crunches, wrote e-mails and made breakfast. At 8:10 I met Son-Nee and then we went down stairs and Mr. Woo drove us to school. What will be happening soon enough is I’ll be walking the 20 minute walk to school and back, but today I got a free ride. We got there at around 8:20 and had lots of time as teachers don’t have to be in until 8:40. While waiting, Son-Nee showed me my desk and my own computer in the English room. That’s basically where the 3 English teachers (myself included) and Son-Nee can prepare lessons and materials and where we go in between classes and during breaks.
At 8:40 my other co-teacher, Sophie, arrived. I really like her. Her English is really good and she’s really really sweet, as are Mr. Woo and Son-Nee. I followed her today. Classes begin at 9, but we didn’t have a class until the second period at 9:50. The classes are 40 minutes long in this elementary school with a 10 minute break in between. Sophie, Son-Nee and I then walked to the first 5th grade class which definitely has some behavioral disorders, but nothing too serious yet *knock on wood.* They were so surprised to see me as I’m clearly not a Korean. I did a brief introduction where I said my name, where I was from and answered any questions. In every question I was asked how old I was. In the 2nd and 3rd classes in was pretty much the same thing, but each class got progressively better. *knock on wood again.* This upcoming week starting tomorrow is the Korean Thanksgiving, so I read a description the teacher wrote up on the history of American Thanksgiving. Then, they did an activity about food. It was good to observe and get to see how the kids act and interact.
After the 3rd class we had lunch. It was rice and there was cucumbers cooked with red peppers and radishes cooked with red peppers (notice a trend?) and rice paste balls with sesame oil and sugar in the middle. It was absolutely delicious.
After lunch we didn’t have any more classes. I will have about 22 classes a week, but this week is the holiday week, so I only had 3 today. I was done teaching by 12:10 and didn’t start until 9:50. After lunch, Sophie, Mr. Woo and I went to the bank and I set up my bank account. Afterwards, she started working on getting me Internet and cable. I shouldn’t get it until about 2ish weeks from now until after I receive my Alien Registration Card, but Sophie felt bad that I wouldn’t have it for the long weekend, so she spent a good amount of time finagling something. She’s really awesome.
After we got back from the bank, there was an hour left to the day. Teachers can’t leave until 4:40, which I’m okay with. I looked through the English text books for the grades I’ll be working with (4th, 5th and 6th) and checked my e-mail and went on facebook for a little while. At 4:40, Mr. Woo dropped Son-Nee off at the plastic surgeons to get plastic surgery to get rid of the wrinkles around her eyes. Plastic surgery is very common, simple and relatively cheap in South Korea and it is extremely common. She was excited about it, so I’m happy for it. Koreans, like many Asians, are renowned for the value they put on appearance (aka vanity.) Next, Mr. Woo dropped me off at my apartment and explained the route there. He was very helpful.
After returning to my apartment, I changed into jeans and walked around my neighborhood a little. Only a little because I was paranoid about getting lost. I can’t read any of the signs at all (except for the European or American stores that are around here), so I had to remember landmarks. I wound up getting pretty much everything I was looking for: coffee, tea and small presents for Sophie, Son-Nee and Mr. Woo. I bought them all little baggies of cookies from a bakery; they’ve been so helpful and gone so much out of their way for me, it’s the least I can do.
Tomorrow morning Sophie is coming over to take me for my medical check up. Following that at 11 she will be with me in my apartment while my Internet and cable are being installed. I believe immediately after I will be getting lunch with Mr. Woo. They’re so helpful and amazing.
I also found out that this weekend I may be going to Seoul again. My friend, Casey, is studying abroad there and it’s only an hour train ride away. I hope it works out; I want to travel in South Korea as much as possible. If not this weekend though, sometime in the very near future I’m sure I’ll be visiting her and vice versa.
So, that’s it for now. I’m sorry for not updating previously, but as you can probably see, I haven’t really had time. I’ve been waking up at 7 or 7:30 every morning and going to bed, exhausted every night. Tonight I got back to my apartment at around 6 or 7 after walking around and while I’ve loved being busy every day, all day and I hope that this trend continues, it was nice to have a night to myself and to have the hour and a half it took to write this entry. I’ve been so happy with my experiences so far and I’m sure they’ll continue to be awesome.
