A Day At Work

So I thought I would share my day with you. Not that it was particularly spectacular, but maybe by writing it down I will discover the beauty in a 'normal' day. I began my day very slowly. I could not get up this morning...I was still tired from the day before. I had to get up early and take a trip to the hospital to get my health card so I could get my alien card later this month. (I kinda think it's cool I'm going to have an alien card.) So, yesterday was a long day. This morning I think I pushed snooze five times. I am the kind of person who thinks that I will get up early and accomplish all my goals I neglected the night before. Never mind the many years I have spent being a night owl...and suddenly this morning of all mornings,  I'm going to be the early bird!! I can't tell you how many times I've thought I would actually do that. Ha.

So the morning was draggy. But I did think to myself, "Man, I'm in Korea." It still surprises me. I have dreamed of being brave enough to live in another country...oh, so many times. But I never thought it would actually happen...especially after college. I chose a school (good school) that was too expensive and ended up with many loans. One of the big regrets in my life. If I could turn back time, I would have changed that. But, then again, I wouldn't be in Korea if I didn't have loans. That was one of the factors. By the end of the year, I won't have my loans paid off...but I will have a new beginning. So, I guess, out of something I greatly regret, a great adventure is born. If something that was once considered bad, suddenly helps you find something good...was it ever really bad?

So, anyways, I'm walking to school and stop by the coffee shop. That has already become a staple. I hope not to do this every morning...but the smell of coffee has always drawn me in....than the beautiful artsy, relaxing atmosphere makes me want to stay forever. I like to sit and look over my lesson plans for the day. (One of those morning goals I thought I would accomplish.)

After my mini break, I head to school...usually before the boss or manager. They both are usually late. And the biggest shocker of all...I'm the first one there. I give myself a couple of weeks, then that will change as well. I like to sit in my little corner in front of the door and look over the books again. Or daydream. Guess which one I do the most? I like the quiet. There is noise every way...which I like. But it distracts me...which happens quite easily. It's nice to drink in the silence.

The manager, Liz, arrives and we go in. The first hour is planning hour. I write the homework in my lesson plan folders and make copies I need for class. This is the hour that I say a quick prayer, especially if I have the young 3-4 year olds. I already dread them and I've only had that class three times. It's usually every other day. They are so very hard to handle!! And it's the first class. But today I didn't have them. (That's tomorrow's worry/prayer/blessing)

The classes I had are a blur already. I do remember the boss stepping into my classes more than usual. But she means well, even though I feel like what little control I have is taken out of my hands. What she's really doing is making sure the kids are listening and doing as they are told. This is good, since I'm new and don't know what exactly is wrong yet. Except for the obvious things. For example, I learned today they are not supposed to have snacks. I'm personally okay with that, I mean these kids are coming from their main school. I remember I was always starving after school, and mom would always have a snack. But I don't make the rules...but if they sneak something in, I will look the other way...

I do remember one kid, Harry. He is soft spoken and is always ready and listening. I like him. I gave them a spelling test and he only missed one. Poor thing started crying because he missed one. Oh, man, I wanted to hold him. All my 'good jobs' and pats on the back didn't console him. He reminded me of, well, me. I remember being like that when I was little. I would study until I had my notes memorized. And spelling tests especially worried me. I would make my mom drill me until I had them perfectly. I was never a good speller, so I really stressed about it. Poor Harry...I understand completely.

After class, I sometimes have a chance to sit down with Liz, the manager, and Lee, the bus driver. He drives some of our students home and other students at other schools. Lee can't speak English and I can't speak Korean so Liz usually has to translate. Both of us want the other to learn the other language. I want to learn, but I'm giving myself a month to settle first. Lee is Buddhist and is very devout. He goes to temple every morning. He loves to talk religion. He says he has studied other religions and started telling me about what he knew about Christianity. It was mainly Catholicism. He wasn't trying to argue, just have a philosophical conversation. Of course, it was hard because of the language barrier. But even speaking Korean, I like the way he talks. He has much to say and speaks with a poetic rhythm. I like to listen to his voice. He ended up reading my palm. Apparently I'm going to have a long life. But he said the same thing about Liz and himself, so I'm not sure if I believe him. I told him I wanted to go with him to his temple sometime and he was excited about that. I hope that happens. I want to see and experience everything that I possibly can! I will only be here for a short time...with these people for such a short time...and may never see them again. That thought makes me want to never sleep!!

But one day at a time, right??

First Weekend in Busan

So originally I thought the first weekend would be me alone in my apartment still unpacking. Well, that's what I'm doing right now on Sunday (actually I'm updating my blog and trying to get these videos to work. haha) but Saturday some very nice foreign teachers took me out on the town!! (Not town, obviously, but BIGGEST city I've ever lived in!!) Two of the teachers work at a hagwon right across from mine...so that's how we met. And I'm am oh, so very grateful. I hope to meet more! ( just haven't figured that out yet....I found some places online, but they seem sketchy)

They took me to one hot spot: Shinsegae, biggest mall in the world!!! To me, it was like a ritzy mall in the Palm Beaches, just Korean style. The mall has an ice rink and golf range! Crazy! We ate in the mall, I don't remember what I had...I just pointed at a picture, but it was really, really good. I like the food thus far, just haven't tried anything too crazy. One step at a time...maybe that can be for next weekend!

We, then, walked to the beach. I have done alot of walking since I've gotten here and I really like it. Sometimes, it's just best to walk and see what you discover. There is something new just around the corner. The economy here is booming...at least in the city. There are little stores everywhere!! And coffee shops on every corner (I think I'm in heaven)...at night every store has lit up signs...I can't wait to go out at night and see what I discover!!

It was so warm and sunny, the perfect day to walk to the beach!! The beach was pretty, but there were big city building surrounding it, which is something I'm not used to at all. Still, I got the chance to see little kids play, people of all ages flying kites, and actually groups of foreigners!! Now, here is something that surprised me! I really wanted to go up to them and see where they were from and if they were teachers too (which is the most likely explanation...or engineers), but the teachers in my group didn't really want to talk to them. And the groups didn't really want to talk to us. It was weird, but then I realized why did I want to talk to them? Just because they were foreigners? Yes, of course, duh. But I wouldn't do that at home now would I?

So, I didn't talk to them. But I think I will next time. Yeah, I'm in another country, and I just arrived so I'm still excited. I really, really, really want to meet people now. And I'm going to use that to my advantage for right now. I'm curious to know everyone's stories. I can't wait to go back to the beach.

We then walked down the beach and down a street and discovered a carnival going on! Yay, something I know! There was a huge ferris wheel, cotton candy and everything! We didn't actually go on any rides...super, duper tired, but it was f un to watch the kids and just discover something new!!!

Training Day

So, Monday was my only training day...and man was it overwhelming!!! I just wasn't getting it at all, but I think it was because I was so very tired. As it turns out, it wasn't that confusing. Yes, there are many things I still have to learn, but the main thing at this school is to get the kids to talk in English. The lessons are guidelines to that communication. The books give you words and themes and I have to get them to talk. Like I said before, it's not necessary that they don't know English, it's that they are not comfortable speaking in English. That makes sense to me. I remember learning Spanish. Reading and writing was the easy part, but the speaking wasn't. I dreaded to speaking tests, and sadly my classes didn't do enough of those. Maybe that's what public school is like here. These kids go to other schools, sometimes it's the same one as other students, sometimes it's differnt. One of my students in a higher level explained it to me: They are go to some form of public school, than they go to private, hagwons, for more education on different subjects. Each hagwon is for something different. Mine is English. There are other hagwons for math,science, etc. So some of these kids go to school all day and into the night. I already feel bad assigning homework. But that is the culture here and they are used to it. The kids seems happy. I am still learning, so I may not be explaining this correctly, but that is what I know thus far.


There is a video on facebook if you want to check it out!! Again, I apologize...it's just not working on here! :)

Now, excuse the way I look...I was still oh, so very tired. But it was crazy how the second day went! I did great! And the kids told the school manager they really liked me! I think they like my energy. It's funny because I was over energetic simply to try to keep myself awake and to cover up my mistakes. The kids are really good kids, but they are also kids. They have been in school all day, and now they are with me. I really got to be as eneregetic as I possibly can!

I start work at 1:30, then usually will be having classes from 2:30-8:30. As far as I can tell, I will have about 6 classes everyday. I am the only foreign teacher now, so I get all of the conversation classes and I think some of the reading classes. Toward the end of the week, I did begin to get a little lonely. There are people everywhere and really sweet kids, but there is a distinct language barrier. Even between me and the school manager, Liz. I can talk to her pretty well, but still there is a line. I think with time, I will find other ways to communicate, but for now, it's weird.

But over all, I adjusted so well!! I'm still surprised by it. I mean, I made mistakes in assigning homework. And believe me, the kids quickly corrected me. They know when their schedule or homework is different. They also corrected me when I did the class differently than the way they are used to. Haha. They better get used to that, I've never been one to stick to a schedule...

After the second day, I finally could breathe, and sleep, and smile...

YAY!!!

The plane...and My Love Motel

So I made it through my first week in Busan!! I must admit, it started out rough...simply because I was sooo exhausted!! First, let's talk about the plane. It was the biggest plane I've ever been on. (Yes, I haven't traveled extensively, but that's changing now! :)) There were many kids on the flight, so not much sleep at all. I probably wouldn't have been able to sleep because my sit was so cramped. The flight attendants made it so much better!! They were so kind and fed us all the way there! They were constantly working, bringing us drinks and snacks and slippers...and all the time their makeup and hair were perfect. I mean absolutely perfect. One hour after I get ready in the morning I already looked frazzled...but even after more than fourteen hours of travel these girls looked like they just woke up! I was very impressed. :)

So I finally arrive in Seoul, Korea, than my next step is to get my bags, get on a bus to the domestic airport and fly to Busan. Now I was worried about this the whole flight. I was going to be tired, surrounded by people and signs I didn't understand and a flight I couldn't miss because than I would be stranded in a very large, strange city with no contacts. Surprisingly, I made it just fine without any problem. People are friendly and want to help...especially a lots little American like me.

When I got there I had dinner with the school manager, Liz, and her friend Brian. Liz's English is very good. We understood each other very well (sigh of relief), although I'm still wondering if I said some really stupid things because I was so tired. I think I rambled on a little, but I don't think she understood everything I said. Her friend Brian was very nice, but did not talk very much with me. I know he understood English more than he would say. I'm slowly discovering this to be true about many Koreans. It's not that they don't understand, it's that they feel very uncomfortable speaking English.

Next I finally made it to my motel, well I nicknamed it 'love motel.' And it was exactly how it sounds. You know, here in America, those lovely little motels all over our country that are used for...well...not exactly a motel suitable for family vacation? That's what this hotel was...literally...Liz was joking about it later on. It just happened to be the closest motel to the school. The school is surrounded by shopping areas...businesses...other private schools...and apartments. A nicer hotel was too far away. The hotel, or motel, wasn't anything I pictured, but honestly, I was too tired to care. I would only be there for three nights...so I didn't care. There is a video on my facebook if you would like to see what it looked like. Honestly, it wasn't bad....I couldn't sleep a wink...but really it was because everything was new...not really because of the hotel.

More later!!!