Sorry these posts are coming at the same time but after a few days of casual exploring I have located a cafe with wireless! Success! But the battery power on my computer is quickly dwindling so this is going to have to be a super, ultra fast update on the last few days.
Thursday was my first full day of teaching. The school runs on an even and odd day schedule (like our day 1 and day 2) so I had a whole new set of students than the day before. I was getting to be a pro at introducing myself and teaching a short lesson on Iowa, farms, farm animals, etc. Also come to find out when I arrive on Thursday that it is storybook day. Storybook day means that the regular workbooks are forgotten and certain pages in a designated story is the replacement for the 32 min. class time. The kids generally enjoy storybook days as well as the teachers. My first class of the day is called Pre-step 2. Pre-step basically means little to no English knowledge (aka the younger kids). They have a book that they use to sing along with a CD. It is the cutest thing in the universe!! Here's how one verse goes (it get stuck in your head so easily):
There was a music man,
He comes from down your way
And he can play
What can he play?
He's plays the
Pia-pia-piano, piano, piano
Pia-pia-piano, piano, piano.
Each verse one more instrument is added. Thursday we learned we added trombone so we spent the entire class period learning how to pronounce trombone, what a trombone is, and singing about the music man playing the trombone. It was priceless.
The job of the foreign teachers is mainly to work on pronunciation with the students. The Korean teachers will go over a lesson the day before with the students and the next day us foreign teachers will do the same lesson but work on correct pronunciation. There is a lot of listening and repeating that goes on during classes. Repetition, repetition, repetition. But I think it's an excellent way to learn English...it makes a lot of sense. Ah, I am running out of battery power so....
Friday was even better than Thursday. The other foreign teachers took me out to eat some traditional food. It was delicious (more to come on that I promise).
Saturday I spent the day exploring, settling into my apartment, and watching a lot of Korean TV. Good news, they air a lot of our crappy America reality TV shows. America's Next Top Model for example. Although I tend to like that one. But more good news....I saw a commercial for The Office!! YYYYYESS!!! A dream come true.
Sunday more exploring, a pleasant time reading in the university park watching a soccer game, and this great find of free wireless!
1%...got to go! Love and hugs everyone!!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
Arrival
YES! I've made it! Now, warning: My blogging may be few and far between since I do not have Internet at my apartment yet. For now I only have Internet at school….I hope you all will still be my friends.
The flight-
I was originally supposed to fly out of Moline. Moline to Chicago, Chicago to Seoul, Seoul to Ulsan = 30 some hours. Upon arrival at Moline, my parents and I were informed of several flight cancellations from Moline to Chicago earlier in the afternoon. Because of this my flight had already been delayed 5 hours with a high possibility of cancellation as well. Hmm rats. The woman at the desk suggested driving to Chicago instead of risking it and waiting in Moline. So without much of a choice, we rushed off to Chicago. It was a quick goodbye to the sibs and my dad as my mom and I rushed off to Rockford to catch the last bus leaving into O’Hare airport for the night.
I've discovered something about myself (and probably most people)...goodbyes wear me down. The first few goodbyes I do fine, in fact I'm probably insultingly cheery with people. But the more goodbyes I say, the more I have to fight to hold back tears. The last few goodbyes to my family....ridiculous waterfalls!!! I think I’m going to name that day Sobfest 2008. I don’t think I have ever seen my dad cry before so seeing the tears in his eyes as I pulled away from his hug still make me cry just thinking about it. As the bus to O’Hare pulled away in Rockford I was full out sobbing as I waved goodbye to my mom. It was violently storming the entire drive into Chicago but I was comforted as there was a nun seated across the aisle from me on the bus. :)
Waiting to board my flight to Seoul in Chicago was funny as I listened to two girls about my age sitting behind me (headed to Beijing for the Olympics) talk in valley-speak. Barf. I had to hold back a laugh when one says to the other, "I'm going to be so mad if my camera (digital) only holds like 6 pictures. The card that came with it says 16 MB. I think that's a lot." And the other replies, "Yeah, like my friend Mary had a card with like 16 MB and I think she said hers could hold like umm….1,000 pictures!" aaaaahahahaha...stupid girls.
The flight was long but good. I sat next to a very friendly Chinese American who was traveling to Beijing to watch the Olympics as well (I think many on my flight were headed to Beijing). Once in Seoul I had the challenge of switching airports before my next flight. Arriving at 5 a.m. Seoul time the airport was very quiet. But, wow, this airport was straight out of the Jetson's or something. Definitely felt like I was living in the future.
I stopped in the spotless bathroom to clean up (carrying my big bags was making me sweat like crazy) and was greeted by a woman who watched my every move as I washed my hair, brushed my teeth, splashed water on my face, and changed my clothes. I thought she was a bathroom attendant because she was just standing there for such a long time, but when I finished and began to put all my things back into my bags she smiled, said " Goodbye!" and walked out. So strange...
My journey in the future (aka Seoul) continued as I hopped on an express train (also freakishly spotless!) to Gimpo Airport. Thankful to get rid of my heavy backpack and suitcase I spent only a few hours waiting for my flight into Ulsan. A few chapters in my book and word finds later my gate area began to fill with people so when an announcement was given in Korean I automatically got up and followed the crowd to get in line. Much to my embarrassment the ticket-taker said, “ No, no, next flight.” I sat back down confused and panicked as I looked at the time on my Ipod. 9:40! My flight was supposed to leave at 9:50…what the heck? That HAD to be my flight! I jumped up to find someone to help me and my eye caught the digital clock on the wall…8:40. What a relief! My blasted Ipod was an hour off.
An hour later I boarded the correct flight to Ulsan. I was greeted by a very friendly man named Jason who, to my surprise, drove me straight to the school to meet the director and tour the building. I was feeling pretty gross, my eyes all bloodshot due to lack of sleep but I tried to forget all that and act friendly and confident as I was introduced to several key figures at E.L.C. (English Learning Center). I was asked if I felt like I could teach/introduce myself to my classes later in the day and I agreed. But first I was taken to two apartments just down the street and got to choose which one I’d like to live in for the year. The first one had clearly been occupied by a male and the second by a female. It was a no brainer, I chose the latter. The cleaner, more furnished (including a table and couch!), former female apartment. Stocked with all the basics I was pleasantly surprised as I pulled open the cupboards and cabinets. I unpacked in no time, showered and rest a bit before heading back to the school for a half day of teaching/introducing myself to my classes. The schedules, students, workbooks, native teachers, foreign teachers, classrooms, etc were all super overwhelming and are sort of a blur in my memory now. Somehow I managed to get through the evening. On my walked home I passed a supermarket and picked up some necessities (bread, jelly, fruit, and a much deserved ice cream cone). That night I slept like a baby until late into the next morning.
Since I don't have a camera yet (after my first paycheck people) I will try to describe my apartment....
You walk in the door. Ah -tsk-tsk, take off your shoes please (it's offensive in Korea to not). Directly to your left is my range stove (2 burners) that I still have not figured out how to work. Also on the your left is the sink, a few cupboards above the sink holding dishes, a few below holding cleaning supplies and a longer pantry like cupboard on the right of the sink. On your right from door is my bathroom. The bathroom (completely tiled) has a large mirror, a sink, a few cabinets, and a toilet. The shower head is connected to the sink faucet leaving a few feet between the sink and the wall to act as the shower. There is a drain on the floor under the sink. Quite nice actually because every time I shower I am actually mopping the floor of sorts. If you go straight three steps from the door and open another door you walk into my bed/everything room. On the left two steps is a small refrigerator, my (large) bed straight ahead, and on the right a stand alone closet thing and bookshelf. Take a few steps passed my bed and on the right is a small table with a TV on it. Across from the table this a coffee table and a cute little couch with pillows. Right behind the couch is a sliding glass door that leads into the porch area that has a washing machine and a few miscellaneous things. That's it, that's the tour.
The flight-
I was originally supposed to fly out of Moline. Moline to Chicago, Chicago to Seoul, Seoul to Ulsan = 30 some hours. Upon arrival at Moline, my parents and I were informed of several flight cancellations from Moline to Chicago earlier in the afternoon. Because of this my flight had already been delayed 5 hours with a high possibility of cancellation as well. Hmm rats. The woman at the desk suggested driving to Chicago instead of risking it and waiting in Moline. So without much of a choice, we rushed off to Chicago. It was a quick goodbye to the sibs and my dad as my mom and I rushed off to Rockford to catch the last bus leaving into O’Hare airport for the night.
I've discovered something about myself (and probably most people)...goodbyes wear me down. The first few goodbyes I do fine, in fact I'm probably insultingly cheery with people. But the more goodbyes I say, the more I have to fight to hold back tears. The last few goodbyes to my family....ridiculous waterfalls!!! I think I’m going to name that day Sobfest 2008. I don’t think I have ever seen my dad cry before so seeing the tears in his eyes as I pulled away from his hug still make me cry just thinking about it. As the bus to O’Hare pulled away in Rockford I was full out sobbing as I waved goodbye to my mom. It was violently storming the entire drive into Chicago but I was comforted as there was a nun seated across the aisle from me on the bus. :)
Waiting to board my flight to Seoul in Chicago was funny as I listened to two girls about my age sitting behind me (headed to Beijing for the Olympics) talk in valley-speak. Barf. I had to hold back a laugh when one says to the other, "I'm going to be so mad if my camera (digital) only holds like 6 pictures. The card that came with it says 16 MB. I think that's a lot." And the other replies, "Yeah, like my friend Mary had a card with like 16 MB and I think she said hers could hold like umm….1,000 pictures!" aaaaahahahaha...stupid girls.
The flight was long but good. I sat next to a very friendly Chinese American who was traveling to Beijing to watch the Olympics as well (I think many on my flight were headed to Beijing). Once in Seoul I had the challenge of switching airports before my next flight. Arriving at 5 a.m. Seoul time the airport was very quiet. But, wow, this airport was straight out of the Jetson's or something. Definitely felt like I was living in the future.
I stopped in the spotless bathroom to clean up (carrying my big bags was making me sweat like crazy) and was greeted by a woman who watched my every move as I washed my hair, brushed my teeth, splashed water on my face, and changed my clothes. I thought she was a bathroom attendant because she was just standing there for such a long time, but when I finished and began to put all my things back into my bags she smiled, said " Goodbye!" and walked out. So strange...
My journey in the future (aka Seoul) continued as I hopped on an express train (also freakishly spotless!) to Gimpo Airport. Thankful to get rid of my heavy backpack and suitcase I spent only a few hours waiting for my flight into Ulsan. A few chapters in my book and word finds later my gate area began to fill with people so when an announcement was given in Korean I automatically got up and followed the crowd to get in line. Much to my embarrassment the ticket-taker said, “ No, no, next flight.” I sat back down confused and panicked as I looked at the time on my Ipod. 9:40! My flight was supposed to leave at 9:50…what the heck? That HAD to be my flight! I jumped up to find someone to help me and my eye caught the digital clock on the wall…8:40. What a relief! My blasted Ipod was an hour off.
An hour later I boarded the correct flight to Ulsan. I was greeted by a very friendly man named Jason who, to my surprise, drove me straight to the school to meet the director and tour the building. I was feeling pretty gross, my eyes all bloodshot due to lack of sleep but I tried to forget all that and act friendly and confident as I was introduced to several key figures at E.L.C. (English Learning Center). I was asked if I felt like I could teach/introduce myself to my classes later in the day and I agreed. But first I was taken to two apartments just down the street and got to choose which one I’d like to live in for the year. The first one had clearly been occupied by a male and the second by a female. It was a no brainer, I chose the latter. The cleaner, more furnished (including a table and couch!), former female apartment. Stocked with all the basics I was pleasantly surprised as I pulled open the cupboards and cabinets. I unpacked in no time, showered and rest a bit before heading back to the school for a half day of teaching/introducing myself to my classes. The schedules, students, workbooks, native teachers, foreign teachers, classrooms, etc were all super overwhelming and are sort of a blur in my memory now. Somehow I managed to get through the evening. On my walked home I passed a supermarket and picked up some necessities (bread, jelly, fruit, and a much deserved ice cream cone). That night I slept like a baby until late into the next morning.
Since I don't have a camera yet (after my first paycheck people) I will try to describe my apartment....
You walk in the door. Ah -tsk-tsk, take off your shoes please (it's offensive in Korea to not). Directly to your left is my range stove (2 burners) that I still have not figured out how to work. Also on the your left is the sink, a few cupboards above the sink holding dishes, a few below holding cleaning supplies and a longer pantry like cupboard on the right of the sink. On your right from door is my bathroom. The bathroom (completely tiled) has a large mirror, a sink, a few cabinets, and a toilet. The shower head is connected to the sink faucet leaving a few feet between the sink and the wall to act as the shower. There is a drain on the floor under the sink. Quite nice actually because every time I shower I am actually mopping the floor of sorts. If you go straight three steps from the door and open another door you walk into my bed/everything room. On the left two steps is a small refrigerator, my (large) bed straight ahead, and on the right a stand alone closet thing and bookshelf. Take a few steps passed my bed and on the right is a small table with a TV on it. Across from the table this a coffee table and a cute little couch with pillows. Right behind the couch is a sliding glass door that leads into the porch area that has a washing machine and a few miscellaneous things. That's it, that's the tour.
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