On my morning walk, new flowers bloomed, but still I decided to go off the beaten path a bit. Not really; I don't think any path here is unbeaten. But beside the point. The point is I took a walk beyond my neighborhood and found two posters that almost broke my heart. The first one was for the Incheon Jazz festival. I couldn't figure out where or when, so I'm not sure I'll be able to go. I'm not even sure where exactly the poster is, or even if I can rememberwhere it is, if I can drag a Korean with me to translate. The other poster was for the Incheon Dance Festival. The same situation applies. Sigh. Perhaps next year. On the plus side, I really love living in a city that has a Dance Festival and a Jazz Festival. I wonder what other festivals are out there. To top it off I saw a poster for the Incheon philharmonic. Incheon even has a philharmonic. Wow. I think I did choose correctly.
When I got to work, I tried to get my boss, Mr. Lee to read something for the lesson. The man can't read. So I made up some worksheets with the alphabet, vowels, consonants, and blends for homework. He told the head teacher he didn't want to study anymore. I am going to have to revise my lesson plan again. Regular classes in the school went great, and only 3 students didn't do their homework. I was pretty happy. The snack today was dokbuki. It is a rice-cake smothered in spicy sauce, but it was too spicy even for me. I left work pretty hungry. Fortunately there are tons of street vendors that have a ton of different foods. I choose some fried vegetables (It wasn't that virtuous though, they were breaded beyond recognition, but still pretty tasty)
And so it goes.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
By the way and a day in Seoul
By the way, Saturday afternoon is probably not the best time to get some quiet blogging done. It is when all the middle and high school students are in the PC room, playing very loud games. I'm not sure what the game was, but it invloved lots of explosions. When I left to go home it was raining. I got wet. As soon as I got home, I took a warm shower and felt much better. I did a load of wash, hung it up, and tried to watch some game show on TV. I figured out how to turn it on, but I only get one channel, and it is in Korean. I gave up after about 10 minutes, then laid down, but only for a minute. I woke up again at 1am. I didn't want to mess up my sleep clock too much, so I drank some milk, read a bit and went back to sleep.
When I woke up I felt pretty good. My clothes were semi-dry but they were clean. I took a walk again by the riverside. The rain always softens things. The hibiscus are in bloom now; red, pink, white, and purple flowers bigger than my hand. The flopsy yellow flowers survived, and a few more yellow flowers decided to open up. It was a nice walk. I think that on Monday I'll start doing some of the exercise stations along the walkway.
After my walk, I got dressed and found the bus to Seoul station. There I met up with Kristin, my neighbor from KC. She had been homesick, but now is ok. We went to Kyobo bookstore, and I found a book for Mr. Lee (the school's owner)-- we then went to the stationary section. Korea has to be the cute paper/card/sticker capital of the universe. I found a great accordion folder- you know the kind that are always brown and ugly back in the States- with tons of bright blue flowers, and another one with geisha girls serving tea. Kristin found stickers that were pictures of vintage fabric swatches. There was so much it was almost overwhelming. I also found some room stickers that I think I'll have to use for my apartment. They are like the stickers you get at the stationary store only much much much larger. (think big enough to put on a wall) I decided my entrance way needs a garden, and the stickers of poppies and hibiscus are perfect.
We went for coffee after shopping. Although we didn't do that much, it was still really nice to visit and watch all the people go by. One guy had neon lime green tennis shoes. I decided that I loved those shoes. All kinds of people passed by our sidewalk table. The young, the old, the fashionable, the crazy, the worried, the lovers. Sometimes I think if you sit long enough in an outdoor cafe, the whole world will pass by on the sidewalk.
And so it goes.
When I woke up I felt pretty good. My clothes were semi-dry but they were clean. I took a walk again by the riverside. The rain always softens things. The hibiscus are in bloom now; red, pink, white, and purple flowers bigger than my hand. The flopsy yellow flowers survived, and a few more yellow flowers decided to open up. It was a nice walk. I think that on Monday I'll start doing some of the exercise stations along the walkway.
After my walk, I got dressed and found the bus to Seoul station. There I met up with Kristin, my neighbor from KC. She had been homesick, but now is ok. We went to Kyobo bookstore, and I found a book for Mr. Lee (the school's owner)-- we then went to the stationary section. Korea has to be the cute paper/card/sticker capital of the universe. I found a great accordion folder- you know the kind that are always brown and ugly back in the States- with tons of bright blue flowers, and another one with geisha girls serving tea. Kristin found stickers that were pictures of vintage fabric swatches. There was so much it was almost overwhelming. I also found some room stickers that I think I'll have to use for my apartment. They are like the stickers you get at the stationary store only much much much larger. (think big enough to put on a wall) I decided my entrance way needs a garden, and the stickers of poppies and hibiscus are perfect.
We went for coffee after shopping. Although we didn't do that much, it was still really nice to visit and watch all the people go by. One guy had neon lime green tennis shoes. I decided that I loved those shoes. All kinds of people passed by our sidewalk table. The young, the old, the fashionable, the crazy, the worried, the lovers. Sometimes I think if you sit long enough in an outdoor cafe, the whole world will pass by on the sidewalk.
And so it goes.
Friday, July 11, 2008
TGIF revisited
Actually it is Saturday afternoon right now. I am free until Monday. Yeah!
Friday was a pretty good day. I woke up early again, but not as early as Thursday. I took a walk on the riverside, and the rather attractive man I saw yesterday greeted me today. On the walk I noticed the church of "light and salt" and I have to admit to being rather amused at the contrast. I also noticed the police box at the end of the river walk. It has a picture of a cute chipmunk in the police uniform with bodybuilder muscles and some kind of assault rifle. I was rather amused again at the even larger contrast.
On the way home I went to the hospital to donate my bodily fluids and they recognised me right away. I'm glad, because it dawned on me on the way that if they didn't know who I was, I had no way to explain it. I left, bodily fluids lighter, with a spring in my step. Right at the entrance to the apartment I ran into my co-worker, Steve the New Yorker, and we set off to e-mart to do a bit of shopping. It was still closed, so we got some pizza bread (very delicious and still warm from the oven) and waited. In many of the stores the associates bow to the customers that come in at opening, but they didn't bow to us. I got my cleaning supplies and an ironing board, but I couldn't find one that stood up. This one is only about 5 inches off the floor when undone. I think that is just the way they are made here. Everything is so space saving. My co-worker bought a cactus, and let me name her Gertrude.
I went into work a bit early to write some quizzes for my classes, and while I was there the owner of the school asked if I could teach him English. I said yes, of course. So now when I go to Seoul on Sunday I will have to find a very easy book. The man is actually quite nice, from what little I've observed, but he doesn't speak any English at all. The day went by smoothly enough except for the fact that 1/2 my students didn't do their homework. Urg. I told them that next time they would have to face the head teacher. I am so mean.
After work the school's owner took us all out to dinner. The place was supposed to be about 40 minutes away, but even at 8:40pm the traffic was still pretty intense. The ride was fun, and I really enjoyed my Korean co-teachers, but the conversation kept drifting to food, and eating. We were a bit hungry. When we finally arrived it was so worth it. The place was really nice, and we got a room to our selves. It was shasimi, and it was wonderful. Steve, the New Yorker, ate the sea slug, but I passed. After the third course I no longer felt hungry. As much as I love Korean/Japanese food, I was still grateful to see the watermelon because it meant that the meal was over. We continued to sit and drink and play drinking games so we didn't get back to Incheon until 1am, and then continued to drink beer.
Needless to say, I didn't wake up early on Saturday morning. I was still able to get out of bed, get dressed and get back to the school for training on time, so I shouldn't complain. I finally met Sunny, and I liked her as much in person as I did over the phone. The school bought lunch, but I couldn't eat very much. I actually still feel full from the night before. Training was pretty standard, but I managed to learn a few things. I like their website, and the fact that teachers are able to find the e-homework scores for our students very easily.
After training, Steve the New Yorker came by and helped me figure out my washing machine, and my TV, and helped me move some of the furniture around. The apartment is going to be so cool once I replace the unfortunate pink.
Sunday I go to Seoul and meet Kristen, who is homesick.
And so it goes.
Friday was a pretty good day. I woke up early again, but not as early as Thursday. I took a walk on the riverside, and the rather attractive man I saw yesterday greeted me today. On the walk I noticed the church of "light and salt" and I have to admit to being rather amused at the contrast. I also noticed the police box at the end of the river walk. It has a picture of a cute chipmunk in the police uniform with bodybuilder muscles and some kind of assault rifle. I was rather amused again at the even larger contrast.
On the way home I went to the hospital to donate my bodily fluids and they recognised me right away. I'm glad, because it dawned on me on the way that if they didn't know who I was, I had no way to explain it. I left, bodily fluids lighter, with a spring in my step. Right at the entrance to the apartment I ran into my co-worker, Steve the New Yorker, and we set off to e-mart to do a bit of shopping. It was still closed, so we got some pizza bread (very delicious and still warm from the oven) and waited. In many of the stores the associates bow to the customers that come in at opening, but they didn't bow to us. I got my cleaning supplies and an ironing board, but I couldn't find one that stood up. This one is only about 5 inches off the floor when undone. I think that is just the way they are made here. Everything is so space saving. My co-worker bought a cactus, and let me name her Gertrude.
I went into work a bit early to write some quizzes for my classes, and while I was there the owner of the school asked if I could teach him English. I said yes, of course. So now when I go to Seoul on Sunday I will have to find a very easy book. The man is actually quite nice, from what little I've observed, but he doesn't speak any English at all. The day went by smoothly enough except for the fact that 1/2 my students didn't do their homework. Urg. I told them that next time they would have to face the head teacher. I am so mean.
After work the school's owner took us all out to dinner. The place was supposed to be about 40 minutes away, but even at 8:40pm the traffic was still pretty intense. The ride was fun, and I really enjoyed my Korean co-teachers, but the conversation kept drifting to food, and eating. We were a bit hungry. When we finally arrived it was so worth it. The place was really nice, and we got a room to our selves. It was shasimi, and it was wonderful. Steve, the New Yorker, ate the sea slug, but I passed. After the third course I no longer felt hungry. As much as I love Korean/Japanese food, I was still grateful to see the watermelon because it meant that the meal was over. We continued to sit and drink and play drinking games so we didn't get back to Incheon until 1am, and then continued to drink beer.
Needless to say, I didn't wake up early on Saturday morning. I was still able to get out of bed, get dressed and get back to the school for training on time, so I shouldn't complain. I finally met Sunny, and I liked her as much in person as I did over the phone. The school bought lunch, but I couldn't eat very much. I actually still feel full from the night before. Training was pretty standard, but I managed to learn a few things. I like their website, and the fact that teachers are able to find the e-homework scores for our students very easily.
After training, Steve the New Yorker came by and helped me figure out my washing machine, and my TV, and helped me move some of the furniture around. The apartment is going to be so cool once I replace the unfortunate pink.
Sunday I go to Seoul and meet Kristen, who is homesick.
And so it goes.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
An interesting day
I guess "interesting day" goes without saying when you live in Korea. But today was special. I woke up again at 5:30 - a truly ungodly hour. I really need to get a shade for my window. I decided to take a walk, and found a lovely area by a stream that was almost but not quite big enough to be a river. I enjoyed my walk in the early morning, there were yellow floppsy flowers all along the bank, and some of my favorite purple trumpet flowers too. I did feel a bit like a drudge though, because in Korea, you dress up even if you are just exercising. All the older women who were walking for exercise in the area wore cute little exercise outfits, a sun shade visor and white gloves. I just wore a t-shirt and pj bottoms. The walk still felt good. I went home, took a shower and then read a book to wait for 11am because I still don't know how to turn on the tv. I had to go to school early, because today we went to the immigration office to get our Alien Registration cards. We thought we had everything; photos, application, visa, transcripts. But. We didn't have our health check. The manager thought that we didn't need it for the ARC and we could do it later.
No.
So we went to the hospital from the immigration office, signed up for the health check, and proceed to go. First we had lunch though. It was the standard Korean fast food, bimbim bap, which is a mix of vegtables, hot sause and rice. It tastes much better than it sounds. At the hospital they drew blood, checked my teeth and eyes, and height and weight, and asked if I had any diseases, and took an X-ray. They also wanted a urine sample, and unfortunately I had just gone to the bathroom, so I couldn't give them one. (they were very nice, and tomorrow morning I have to go in and give them the bodily fluids I withheld today) We also had to get blood pressure and pulse readings. My co-teacher had a bit of high blood pressure, so the nurse kept making him re-take the test. (by the way, they said mine was excellent, but I can't remember what it was) Finally they realized it was just for immigration, and that they didn't have to start treatment, so the let us go. I think that the whole ordeal made the guy even more nervous than he ordinarily is.
Needless to say, we were late getting into the office. Fortunately, we didn't have classes for another hour, so I had time to prepare. Today is a fairly easy day; most of my students are pretty good and are the highest level in our school so far. I quite like them.
The day went fast, but I was very tired. I'm also pretty grateful because the boss re-payed the health check fee the same day, and when he found out I liked dumplings he changed the snack order for me. Kinda cool if you want my opinion.
I will go back to the hospital tomorrow (it is very close to my apartment so it shouldn't be a problem, plus I've been waking up early for a while now.) We go back next week, and then the next day we will go back to immigration.
And so it goes.
No.
So we went to the hospital from the immigration office, signed up for the health check, and proceed to go. First we had lunch though. It was the standard Korean fast food, bimbim bap, which is a mix of vegtables, hot sause and rice. It tastes much better than it sounds. At the hospital they drew blood, checked my teeth and eyes, and height and weight, and asked if I had any diseases, and took an X-ray. They also wanted a urine sample, and unfortunately I had just gone to the bathroom, so I couldn't give them one. (they were very nice, and tomorrow morning I have to go in and give them the bodily fluids I withheld today) We also had to get blood pressure and pulse readings. My co-teacher had a bit of high blood pressure, so the nurse kept making him re-take the test. (by the way, they said mine was excellent, but I can't remember what it was) Finally they realized it was just for immigration, and that they didn't have to start treatment, so the let us go. I think that the whole ordeal made the guy even more nervous than he ordinarily is.
Needless to say, we were late getting into the office. Fortunately, we didn't have classes for another hour, so I had time to prepare. Today is a fairly easy day; most of my students are pretty good and are the highest level in our school so far. I quite like them.
The day went fast, but I was very tired. I'm also pretty grateful because the boss re-payed the health check fee the same day, and when he found out I liked dumplings he changed the snack order for me. Kinda cool if you want my opinion.
I will go back to the hospital tomorrow (it is very close to my apartment so it shouldn't be a problem, plus I've been waking up early for a while now.) We go back next week, and then the next day we will go back to immigration.
And so it goes.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
What it is like
Left Aunt MG's at 5:45 am. It is a beautiful time of the morning, but I would have rather been in bed and missed it. The country side was foggy and we saw one deer by the side of a corn field. The corn is really getting high, miles and miles of green. At the airport I hug everyone, and go to the gate. This time everything goes smoothly, and I get through security with no problems. Then I arrive in Chicago, rush rush rush, but it is ok, because the people at the gate are good, and I go through security fast. I'm surprised how good it goes. I don't sleep on the plane, so I arrive a bit groggy. The movie sucked, but for some reason I couldn't get comfortable so I just dozed on and off. I'm glad the school booked me on Korean Air. The service was excellent and it made the 14 hour flight bearable.
I arrived a bit early, but there was no one to meet me. I had a bit of a panic attack. Actually I got a latte, and waited half an hour. Then I got nervous. I went to information, and they called my school for me. Well. They couldn't pick me up. So I got a taxi. 50,000 won latter (about $55.00) I arrived at the e-mart. I had forgotten about the kamikaze taxi drivers. He was actually pretty nice and called to make sure someone was there to pick me up. My new boss, was there. I felt a bit put out, and I had thought I would be working with Sunny directly. Then we went to my apartment. They had left me a towel, toothpaste and toilet paper. I revised my negative impression. Plus the apartment although small, is way cute. Too bad they put pink on the bedding, but that can be changed with my first paycheck. They also didn't have a TV or phone. This was Sunday night. I took a quick walk around the neighborhood, and it looks like a good one. There is an e-mart (a big grocery/home goods/electronic store like Walmart only nicer) a dozen places to do computer stuff (they call them PC bangs here) and about all the kinds of food you could want. They even have traditional Thai massage. I will have to ask and see if it is real massage or special massage for business men. I buy some canned coffee and a bottle of orange juice for the morning and go home. I don't unpack.
My apartment window doesn't have a shade. At 6:30 I was up and couldn't get back to sleep. I got some coffee, and unpacked everything, and put it away. I started a list of all the things I'm going to need to be happy, and took another walk around the neighbor hood. This one was a bit longer, and I found more things, mostly shops and restaurants.
I had to go in early Monday. Usually I'm supposed to start at 1, but Monday, I started at 11. The boss bought us lunch, and I had my first kim'chi of the trip. I wasn't bad.
I like my co-workers. Sae-min is experienced, and she is quite friendly. This is Fiona's first teaching job, and she is very nervous. I hope I can help her, I like her. The other foreign teacher is from NY, a fact he mentions quite often, despite the fact his accent is strong enough to leave no doubt.
The first day was a bit hectic, mostly because I didn't know where anything was. Neither did the other teachers. The school opened on Monday, so everyone was a bit stressed, but I eventually found everything I needed, or at least was assured they would arrive soon. It is kind of exciting to open up a school.
Tuesday I found out I have to work until 10, but actually it is a bit easier. On Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays I have 6 classes in a row. Each 50 minutes long. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I only have 5 classes and I have a break in the middle of the schedule. Actually 5 classes is a lot, and 6 is even more, but I'm glad to be busy. I like the curriculum, and I understand most of the rules. They make you turn in a detailed lesson plan, but you only copy from the lesson plan provided, so it is more like paperwork. But I know that many other teachers are lazy, and this way they know you are at least familiar with what you are going to teach.
My students are great. The classes are still very small, sometimes I only have two students in a class and in three classes I only have one student. I know that as the months go by, the school will fill up, but it is kinda nice right now. I know I've only had a few classes with them so far, but they seem bright and willing to work. A few of them are really eager and fun to work with.
Today (Wednesday, my boss brought me a TV, but I don't have a way to turn it on. He has also brought a snack for us every evening. He brings Kimbab, a Korean take on the California roll, and I'm afraid soon I'll be tired of them, but the thought is nice. I will have to ask the manager to help me with my washing machine, because I still haven't figured out how it works. However, I am adapting quite well. At least I think I am.
Tomorrow we go to immigration to get my ARC (Alien Registration Card) Once I have that, I can get a phone line, and see a doctor or dentist. I'll have to wait until payday anyway, but it will be nice to have.
And that is what it is like so far.
I arrived a bit early, but there was no one to meet me. I had a bit of a panic attack. Actually I got a latte, and waited half an hour. Then I got nervous. I went to information, and they called my school for me. Well. They couldn't pick me up. So I got a taxi. 50,000 won latter (about $55.00) I arrived at the e-mart. I had forgotten about the kamikaze taxi drivers. He was actually pretty nice and called to make sure someone was there to pick me up. My new boss, was there. I felt a bit put out, and I had thought I would be working with Sunny directly. Then we went to my apartment. They had left me a towel, toothpaste and toilet paper. I revised my negative impression. Plus the apartment although small, is way cute. Too bad they put pink on the bedding, but that can be changed with my first paycheck. They also didn't have a TV or phone. This was Sunday night. I took a quick walk around the neighborhood, and it looks like a good one. There is an e-mart (a big grocery/home goods/electronic store like Walmart only nicer) a dozen places to do computer stuff (they call them PC bangs here) and about all the kinds of food you could want. They even have traditional Thai massage. I will have to ask and see if it is real massage or special massage for business men. I buy some canned coffee and a bottle of orange juice for the morning and go home. I don't unpack.
My apartment window doesn't have a shade. At 6:30 I was up and couldn't get back to sleep. I got some coffee, and unpacked everything, and put it away. I started a list of all the things I'm going to need to be happy, and took another walk around the neighbor hood. This one was a bit longer, and I found more things, mostly shops and restaurants.
I had to go in early Monday. Usually I'm supposed to start at 1, but Monday, I started at 11. The boss bought us lunch, and I had my first kim'chi of the trip. I wasn't bad.
I like my co-workers. Sae-min is experienced, and she is quite friendly. This is Fiona's first teaching job, and she is very nervous. I hope I can help her, I like her. The other foreign teacher is from NY, a fact he mentions quite often, despite the fact his accent is strong enough to leave no doubt.
The first day was a bit hectic, mostly because I didn't know where anything was. Neither did the other teachers. The school opened on Monday, so everyone was a bit stressed, but I eventually found everything I needed, or at least was assured they would arrive soon. It is kind of exciting to open up a school.
Tuesday I found out I have to work until 10, but actually it is a bit easier. On Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays I have 6 classes in a row. Each 50 minutes long. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I only have 5 classes and I have a break in the middle of the schedule. Actually 5 classes is a lot, and 6 is even more, but I'm glad to be busy. I like the curriculum, and I understand most of the rules. They make you turn in a detailed lesson plan, but you only copy from the lesson plan provided, so it is more like paperwork. But I know that many other teachers are lazy, and this way they know you are at least familiar with what you are going to teach.
My students are great. The classes are still very small, sometimes I only have two students in a class and in three classes I only have one student. I know that as the months go by, the school will fill up, but it is kinda nice right now. I know I've only had a few classes with them so far, but they seem bright and willing to work. A few of them are really eager and fun to work with.
Today (Wednesday, my boss brought me a TV, but I don't have a way to turn it on. He has also brought a snack for us every evening. He brings Kimbab, a Korean take on the California roll, and I'm afraid soon I'll be tired of them, but the thought is nice. I will have to ask the manager to help me with my washing machine, because I still haven't figured out how it works. However, I am adapting quite well. At least I think I am.
Tomorrow we go to immigration to get my ARC (Alien Registration Card) Once I have that, I can get a phone line, and see a doctor or dentist. I'll have to wait until payday anyway, but it will be nice to have.
And that is what it is like so far.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Arrival
I arrived Sunday night. It is Monday now. I can't think straight. I promise a good post tomorrow, or maybe Wednesday.
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