Dear Mama.... Love from Korea (Thanksgiving Week)

December 1, 2013

This was a very non-existent Thanksgiving. It was a nice treat that Thanksgiving was on final exam day at school so I had no classes, just English Ninja, my after school class. It was nice to have that break. I decided to treat myself by going to Krispy Kreme to get a dozen doughnuts. They accidentally gave me 2 dozen. I will be eating doughnuts everyday for the next week. When I saw all the good food people posted on Facebook, though, I did get jealous. Even some of the other English teachers had a get together and cooked food...I was not invited. But I was still thankful!

This weekend, I went with Anakaren to the European Christmas Market in Seoul. It was small but a nice start to the Christmas holiday. I plan on buying tickets to see The Nutcracker to help me get more into the Christmas spirit with no family here. Christmas in Korea is more of a holiday celebrated with friends and significant others, and not so much with family. It will be interesting to experience Christmas away from home and see how into it Korean people really get.

On a side note, there was a cool grocery store in Itaewon that had American food products. I bought a box of really expensive hamburger helper ($7). I was excited about it though and is was worth it!

Dear Mama.... Love from Korea (Busy Busy Busy November)

November 23, 2013

Woow...it's been a whole month since I have blogged! It has definitely been a very busy time for me. Since Halloween, I have been on lesson planning OVerLoAd. On November 4th, I also started going to a beginners Korean language class twice a week. I also got an annoying email from EPIK that same week saying I have an additional online orientation to complete. I started teaching my after school class, English Ninja, on November 5th and started teaching my additional class, English Playground, on November 11th. I was told that I would have an open class a week after English Ninja started. An open class is a frightening concept to me because its when the teachers (and principals) can come sit in on your class. To have an open class so soon after starting the program was worrying and stressing me out. Luckily, I was told that it would be pushed back a week and because of the school Spelling Bee it would have to be at the end of that week. The only additional stress was having to plan the word lists for the Spelling Bee. November 12th was the school talent show! It was nice to have a day to see the students do what they like to do and perform what they had been working so hard on in their classes.

The Spelling Bee was November 20th and 21st. It was chaotic the first day but better the second day. I felt so bad for the kids when they spelled a word completely wrong and I started thinking it was me. "Did I pronounce that correctly?" I especially had trouble understanding them when they said certain letters like V or X. They were not allowed to ask for the word in a sentence so I also felt bad if it was a word that sounded like another word, like "there" and "their" or "right" and "write."

 

The day of my open class, November 22, was actual not as bad as I thought it would be. Only one parent showed up and sat in on the class. I also had planned a pretty good lesson that all the students were able to enjoy and understand. I could finally breathe a little better once that was over!

The co-teacher I was having particular issues with also did me a huge favor. Back when I hurt my eye from the fireworks show, he filed a complaint with some organization. After giving him my doctors note and bankbook, that company, not only reimbursed my doctor's fee, but also gave me pain and suffering money! Needless to say, now I like my co-teacher because he's making me money. Although, it was very awkward that they interrupted the Spelling Bee for me to sign some papers from an official in order to receive the money.

My co-teachers also told me that the bank called the school to notify me that I won a contest for opening an account with them and have two free movie tickets waiting for me. Yay! Unfortunately, I am not off early enough to go to the bank to pick them up. It would be nice though, especially since going to the movies when I am bored is my thing. I went to see Thor just because there was nothing else to do and I wouldn't mind being able to go see the Hunger Games for free if I could get those tickets.

Sometimes my co-teachers actively care about my well-being but others times they really confuse me. Last week, my head co-teacher scheduled me to have 5 classes back to back so I would have to eat lunch last. When I got to the lunch room the food was gone and they were mopping and cleaning up. I asked my co-teachers what time does lunch end and they said they didn't know. I told them I had not eaten all day and lunch was over when I got there. All they said was "oh, really?" So the next time my schedule was like that I ran to lunch! I learned my lesson with that. They really don't notice things I say or do unless it's direct and in their face. I came to school wearing a wig one day and they said, "Oh...did you perm (curly perm) your hair?" lol Yes, a perm would make my hair 7 inches longer and thicker. 

On a side note, it has gotten freezing cold. I am so thankful that I got my package with my winter coat and sweaters just in time! Thanks Mom!!!

Dear Mama.... Love from Korea (Halloween Week)

November 1, 2013

It was Halloween on Thursday so you know I had to dress up! My first Halloween in Korea was cool. I went to the dollar store (Daiso) to get some more props for my costume and was so excited to dress up for school. All the students loved it! It was great when they could actually figure out what I was...not an angel but a fairy. I called myself Tinkerbell's friend. I guess I was missing a wand now that I think about it. I tried to plan a lesson that related to Halloween but it didn't mesh so well with the lesson from the book so I played a Halloween song in the beginning of class and gave everyone candy. The song was a song that I used to sing in Elementary school and they seemed to like it because they started singing it. I found out they are in love with Snickers, it's like a delicacy. Probably because it's so expensive here.

At lunch the principal saw me and thought I was an angel. "Angel because you're Angel (my middle name)." I just nodded and said yes. Another teacher said to me "You are a fairy right?" I was surprised and said, "How did you know?" He said, "I know fairy." I said, "Yes, but everyone else thought I was an angel." He said, "No, angel's have bigger wings." lol

After classes, students came knocking on the office door. When I opened it they said, "Trick or Treat!" I was so surprised that they knew what to say so I gave them all candy. This set off a chain reaction because kids started popping by every two minutes. Some didn't know what to say so I pretended I didn't know why they were there. I'm not Santa Clause...you have to say the phrase that pays. One boy came and said "Give Me Candy." I said I didn't have anymore lol.

After school, I met up with some friends and we went to the Mexican restaurant, Taco Cielo. They never had tacos before so it was nice but they did not understand that it isn't like Korean food that you share. You order your own but we ended up sharing two Chimichangas and one taco lol. Then we went to Noraebang!!! The next day, people were passing out Halloween party flyers and wearing Halloween make-up. It's funny that when I dressed up on the actual day people looked at me funny but when people are celebrating Halloween after it's over it's ok. lol

One cool thing about going back to Taco Cielo is that I was able to find something I was missing for a week...my notebook. I carry a mini notebook in my purse that I just jot random thoughts in. One day I couldn't find it and I couldn't remember if I left it at school or at the restaurant. I panicked a little because I remembered writing in it that my co-teacher was lacking. I just hoped that I didn't leave it at school and someone picked it up and read it and would start spreading rumors or something. So, when I went back to Taco Cielo I just figured I would ask the waitress just in case I left it there and they miraculously kept it. Then she pulled it out from behind the bar! AMAZING...I was thrilled (and I learned my lesson). That made my Halloween, which is funny because you're supposed to be scared on Halloween. My losing streak did not end there because on Friday, I left my bag on the bus with all my lesson plans and my fifth grade book. My co-teacher helped me by calling the bus company and they said they would hold it. After school I went to the area they told me to go to, which was an hour bus ride from school. When I got off the bus the only thing I saw was a Ferry Terminal. I asked at the front desk if they had a bag. No one knew what I was talking about so I called my co-teacher (Yay for being able to have talk service on my cell phone!). He talked with one of the staff and they drove me a little further down the street to the bus terminal. That staff member helped me find the right building and drove me back to the bus stop. It's great how helpful Koreans are and how they would hold onto something someone lost. If it was America, my stuff would be long gone because someone probably would've thrown it away if it wasn't valuable. I will try not to lose anything else!

Dear Mama.... Love from Korea (Unorganization)

October 29, 2013

On Tuesday, my co-teachers finally started to take it seriously that I do not have phone service on my cell phone (after a whole month). We go to KT after school to try to sign up for the prepaid SIM card plan. The sales associate quickly sets it up but doesn't really check to make sure the data is working. He just assures us that it will work so after we leave, I check to see if I can get on the internet or use my apps. Of course, it doesn't work and I already paid extra for the data plan. It is a waste. The next day my co-teacher works really hard to make phone calls and try to get the data to work on my phone. I appreciate that she did try her best with it, but in the end it just doesn't work with my foreign phone. I can only use talk and text minutes now but at least I have a phone number. The next step is to find an inexpensive used smartphone...not the easiest thing to do. Who knows when I will finally have a fully functioning phone with service.

This week was the first week I had a full class load everyday. I found out on Tuesday that I will have to come up with the syllabus for the two additional teaching hours I am supposed to work a week. I have to teach 22 hours a week but the regular classes I have scheduled are only 20 hours, so there is an additional 2 hours that I had to come up with a teaching plan. I still don't understand it and it's frustrating. Why can't they just add two more regular classes and call it a day. The 2 hour "special" class is split between a class called English Playground where we just play games and somehow teach English and a 20 minute class I give in the morning for my co-teachers. They expect me to continue with the English Playground class that was set up before, which I am not excited about at all. Seeing that I am taking it over from what's already been set up, they could have at least given me the same syllabus or at least some sort of guide or direction for it. Nooo, they want me to come up with it on my own in two days. Weird...so I just made stuff up. I will have to teach English Playground on Mondays to fifth graders in November and fourth graders in December. I start November 11th...I have no idea what I am supposed to teach my co-teachers on Mondays and Tuesdays? Sometimes I really wish it was a little more organized and structured...I like order.

I also had to sign a contract for my after school class that starts on Tuesday, November 5th. At least that is a little extra money. The scary thing is that the second week of my after school class will be open class, which is when parents come to sit in on the class. Ahhhhh...Stress!!!

Dear Mama.... Love from Korea (School Dinner)

October 28, 2013

I officially have one month down as a Guest English Teacher in South Korea!
It feels like it went by fast.

Monday was the first school dinner I have been to where the principals and teachers got together to have dinner outside of school. It was definitely an experience. It was a sit on the floor "Indian-style" type of restaurant in a neighborhood called Sorae. The menu was sushi but not the kind of sushi I am used to. I am used to seafood (crab, tuna, shrimp, salmon) or vegetables in a roll with rice or seaweed on the outside. They take it to a whole other level. They lay sliced raw fish on top of cellophane noodles, have a WHOLE cooked fish on the table that you pick the meat out of and lots of side dishes like oysters and kimchi. I tasted a few of the side dishes but not that raw fish! The also had raw squid with the legs still moving around on the plate. Heck No! Later they brought out fishy soup with the head and other chunks of the body in it. I mainly just waited around for them to bring the shrimp. When they finally did I was a little surprised that the heads were still on them but I worked my way around that because I was hungry by that point. The principal made a toast and in the middle asked if I am enjoying the food...I was put on the spot so I said, "SURE!" Everyone just laughed.

The youngest teacher stood up and made a toast and sang a short happy song. When he sat back down the principal pointed to me and my co-teacher told me that he said I was next. "Me? Next? What do you want me to do?" So my co-teacher said they'll give me a few minutes to think of a song and then I should stand up and sing. "Whaaaaat?" So I pulled out my one "parlor trick", which is the Korean song "That Man" (그남자 OST by Hyun Bin) I learned before leaving the U.S. I sang a little bit and everyone was like "Whoa!" They were all surprised that I knew a Korean song and at how well I pronounced the words. I felt proud of myself at that moment, like "Yes!" The principal walked around and did another toast and asked if I have had soju. I said no and the teachers replaced my shot glass of water with soju. When it was time to drink I tried to do it in one shot and everyone was like "Oh no!" but too me is what not a strong alcohol. It was fine. After dinner, a couple of people were already drunk. I so wish I had my camera that day. They were asking me to go to Round 2 but I did not know where I was and how to get home so I left when my co-teacher left. Plus, it was a school night...how do they do it? I did feel sort of bad because I don't want to be anti-social and they asked me to go.

When I left, my co-teacher put me on the bus back to my neighborhood. For some reason, that night the bus driver said something that made most of the people on the bus get off after only a few stops. He kept looking at me asking me something, which I assumed was, "What bus stop are you trying to get off at?" I tried to say the street names but he definitely did not understand me. Luckily, there was one other woman on the bus that spoke a little English and tried to help me tell him the bus stop. I could tell he was not happy and it seemed like he wanted us to get off so he could go home or something. So strange....but at least I got home!

Dear Mama.... Love from Korea (Seoul Adventures)

October 26, 2013

On Friday night I went with my friend to buy a Halloween costume in Gangnam, Seoul. Needless to say we got lost because, as usual, I did not know the right stop. Fortunantely, in Seoul more people are likely to speak English and we were able to ask for directions. I bought some white fairy wings and elf ears for cheap. I was very happy and it was cool to see Gangnam since Psy has created this grand image of it in my mind.

Saturday, October 26, I decided to venture out on my own again to Seoul. While most other expats were out partying at Halloween parties, I really wanted to buy a wool coat or something like that. I figured that I couldn't lose by going to Forever 21. But guess what?….I got lost…again! I got off at the wrong stop but I was determined to find Forever 21 so instead of trying to find the one in Shinsa dong (which I originally intended), I went to Myeongdong in the end. It took me three hours of riding the train around. My feet huuuuurrrrrrtttt! But once I saw Forever 21 it was like Ahh Haaa…seeing the golden arches or a pool in the middle of a desert. I was so happy and I found a cute coat for a good price. It was worth it but took all day. I did get to see some cool sights along the way (like the 2PM band display in Apgujeong Rodeo).

Dear Mama.... Love from Korea (Phone Woes & Field Trip Week)

October 21, 2013

On October 21st, I decided to take it upon myself to go back to the KT Olleh phone store in Hongdae, Seoul.  I thought I remembered everything about how to get there from the last time I went with my friend. That was a FAIL! I only ended up riding the train for two hours because I did not know which stop to get off at. I was so sure that there was an actual stop called Hongdae so I looked all over the map for it but could not find it. When I got home I looked it up and realized that there is no stop called Hongdae because Hongdae is a nickname for the area, the actual stop is called Hongik University. The one good thing about the week is that my co-teacher finished helping me set up internet banking. Of course, as usual, I learned that I had to go back to the bank to get a special card in order to use internet banking on my Mac but when will I ever have time to do that? The bank is only open Monday through Friday from 9am-4pm while I am working. I have to be satisfied using internet banking at school for now. I have to say that I really expected Korea to be more tech savvy and not have you rely so much on face to face interactions. It turns out that this is not that kind of country…you would rarely, if at all, see an automated check out line or kiosk.

This week was a more relaxed week because I did not have class until Thursday. The sixth grade and fourth grade classes had a field trip. I did a lot of lesson planning for the next week and my syllabus for my after school program but, of course, some of it became a waste of time because at the end of the day on Friday my co-teacher tells me that I will be teaching a different lesson for next week. AHHH!!! On Thursday and Friday I only had fifth grade classes and I planned, what I thought, would be a fun lesson. When I tried playing it with the first class, I quickly realized how complicated it was and, therefore, not fun. Good thing I had a back up lesson for the next classes which was way more fun. I also changed the seats of my fifth grade problem class so they all faced the front. That worked a lot better and I was able to directly see the students who were not paying attention. It was just so much manual labor switching the desks and chairs around….PHEW!

I also returned a too small coat I bought and I realized that sometimes it's convenient to be a waygook (foreigner) and act like I don't understand. I think they were trying to talk me out of the return but I just kept making a confused face, saying I don't understand lol and they gave up and processed the return. On Friday, my co-teacher also took me back to SK to try to set up my phone service but of course, they did not have a plan where I would be able to keep my phone, so she told me we would go to KT next week…yet another weekend of waiting to get phone service. At least I have internet at home!!!!!!!!!!!

On a side note, I discovered some new favorite spots in my neighborhood, Taco Cielo, Misoya, Papearl and Kyobo bookstore. I can get my Mexican food fix, yummy pork cutlet and art supplies. It's exciting how every week I keep discovering new things about the neighborhood I live in. I also signed up for Korean Lessons at Talk House near my apartment. They start November 4th!

Dear Mama.... Love from Korea (I Have Internet!!)

October 20, 2013

It was here all along…now life can begin! I HAVE INTERNET!!!!

So, I know I haven't written in a couple of weeks but, as you can guess, I discovered I have internet. Now I am sucked back into watching K-Dramas and surfing the web. Here is my long overdue update on life in Korea so far. Well, the day I got my ARC card was also the day I got my first bill but it was for internet. I was a little confused about it because I thought I did not have internet. My co-teacher never said that I had internet when I asked her about it. I assumed I would have WiFi if I had internet, but that's what I get for assuming. The previous English teacher left me some instructions and notes about the school and the apartment, which were really helpful so far. I decided to look back over it and realized that she wrote "all you have to do is plug in the internet and you're good to go." I sat thinking and thinking and thinking. "Why would they send a bill for the internet if there is no internet service and what did she mean by all I have to do is plug it in?" Finally, I started unplugging and plugging in different cords that were in this little black box (that looked like a modem) into my computer and Voila…Magic! I had internet all along and didn't know it. When Monday came, I brought the bill to school and suggested to my co-teachers that they should communicate with each other so everyone knows that the school provides internet for the English Teacher's apartment because some other co-teachers knew about it but my head co-teacher did not. They handled the bill and told me what the monthly cost would be to keep the internet. So one thing was off my list. Check!

That Sunday that I found out I had internet had been such a bad and unsuccessful day that, at the end of the day when I discovered I had internet, it made everything better. The list of problems included:

1. I pulled too hard on the window shade chain and the whole thing fell half way down,
2. Having to drag my laptop to the coffee shop up the street to use the internet and sitting in there for 5 hours to do my work,
3. Trying to set up internet banking, which didn't work because I have a Mac,
4. Trying to buy a coat online, but they don' t let you pay with a credit card (you have to transfer the money from your bank account using internet banking),
5. Shopping at the department store for a wool coat but all the coats are too small for me, and
6. Trying to set up my new printer but it doesn't work with a Mac because they only have drivers for Windows.

Discovering I had internet made all those clouds clear away.

Eventually some of these problems were solved…slowly…one by one, except for being able to use my printer and fixing the window shade. I also still have a lingering phone service issue but patience is a virtue! Two things I have learned is that it's a PC world here and Macs are not very welcome…Sorry Mac…and how lacking my co-teacher has been, therefore, I definitely have to rely more on myself to figure things out.