Latest update!!

No class on Monday!!! haha So, I only teach two 4th grade classes and 2 5th grade classes on Thursday!!! Life is good!!!

The craziest week...OVER!!!!

Well...almost over! I've got to be a judge at a 4th grade speech contest here in 30 min. But, I thought I would go ahead and post since I have nothing to do. Well...I take that back. I have stuff to do, I just don't want to do it anymore. Like my *cough* TESOL *cough* haha But, I now only have 2 more units to complete!! I finished Unit 17 and turned that one in and Unit 18!!! Thanh is going to be so proud!! haha Anyways, had my first lesson for my adult classes this week. I was so stressed out! Freakin' out mostly. The beginner class went alright. I realized how beginner they really are. My intermediate class was much better. I actually could have a conversation with them. It was good!!

This week is the first time in two weeks that I met up with my dinner girls. We went to Hongdae which I had yet to visit. Hongdae is the place for night life. But, we just went there to eat. They made me choose since I had to come from a ways away, so we decided on western food and I spotted a burger place. So, we had to try it! It was called "Fresh Burger" I think. It was AMAZING!! I had a cheeseburger and onion rings! It was sooooo good! A bit on the pricey side, but well worth it! And they have Dr. Pepper. But I ended up getting a coke.

This weekend will consist of hanging out with Ronell today after school. Then Saturday working on finishing up my TESOL! Sunday possibly meeting a friend.

Next week is going to ROCK!!! I have class Monday, combined Adult class, then I'm off Tuesday and Wednesday, then class on Thursday, 5th grade speech contest, and then a mandatory Native English Speaking Teacher workshop on Friday which is basically us going sightseeing for the whole day. So I will only be at school for 2 days. haha I love it! Wednesday is Children's Day so we get off and our school decided to give us Tuesday off too. I can't complain!!

My parents are officially coming in September for like a week!! I'm super stoked!! They'll be here during Cheosok, so I have the WHOLE week off to spend with them! Then they're off to China for a few days...jealous!!!

Well that's all from me. Gotta go be a judge!!! haha Annyong!!!

OK...OK...OK....

Alright...I know I've been slacking in the whole...keeping people up to date thing. (Mom....don't be so pushy!!!!! haha) So, here goes. It's now been almost two months. I can't even believe it. It seems like I've been here for about 6. Yet, I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. The last time I wrote...I was sick. I'm no longer sick but have realized that my allergies are worse here than they are anywhere else. Just being outside for a few hours causes many horrible horrible things. haha So, rest assured family and friends...I will not be living here for the rest of my life. However, the thought of staying here for more than one year is picking up some ground. I'm actually enjoying myself. I'm enjoying my job. I'm enjoying life. Even though my heart misses you all...you'll just have to get over it....I kid I kid!

OK, so there have been a few additions to my daily life. I'm now teaching an Adult English conversational class at my school for the surrounding neighborhood. I'm responsible for the entire class. I have to make the level test, choose a textbook, and teach a beginner and intermediate class. The reason I agreed to this...MORE MONEY!!!! I'm getting a little over 600,000 won a month just for teaching the class. Life is good! There are 17 students. All but one is a mother of at least one student at my school. There are 7 people in the intermediate class and 10 people in the beginner class.

I've joined the teacher's volleyball team, which started it's first practice today. Let me tell you...Vice Principal Chang...who has to be about 60+ years old is one heck of a volleyball player. There are a couple of other guys on the team who are also pretty good and one other woman who is good. I wasn't sure what I was expecting from the teachers. But, I'm please to say they did not disappoint. I for one was afraid I would do the disappointing, but luckily I didn't do so bad. Apparently they were expecting me to be good....little do they know I'm not that great. Anyways...we had a tournament yesterday and we got 3rd place. We played two teams and about 5 games. My arms are still sore and a bit bruised. After the tournament all the players and some of the teachers that came to the game went out to dinner. I had a good time. Because Soju was involved there was a lot of laughter and loudness. And I got hit on by one of my co-workers. haha Totally awkward. He's 41, 5-2 classes homeroom teacher. And the vice principal was the one who translated what he said. haha Before we left he wanted to have another round with me. AHAHAHAHA I jetted out of there into the rain! lol

I'm almost done with my TESOL. I have about 2 1/2 units left!! Thanks to Thanh for reminding me everyday to work on it! haha Crazy boy! Anyways...I'm hoping to have it all done by Sunday. That is my goal. Saturday I will be working on it all day and Sunday. So wish me luck!!! I need to get that pay raise! With all the shopping I'm doing, I need more money. haha

Alright...I'm tired, so I'm going to bed...Nighty night!!!!

Quick note...

For those of you who can't figure out how to post a comment...there is a CBox on the right hand side. I would love to see who all is reading this. So, please feel free to leave a comment. It doesn't even have to be a full sentence. I'm getting quite used to understanding Korean short hand speech. haha You'll hear all about that in my next post! Until then...Annyong!!!!

Sick and tired...

So, this is not really a post. I came down with something on Wednesday and I'm just starting to get over it. So, I haven't been sleeping very well. I don't really have the energy to really think back on the week. So, we'll just say that is wasn't all that great. I did get to spend a couple days with my friend Tara and Mia. Two girls from orientation. We are eating dinner weekly along with another girl from orientation. These girls are great and we are definitely hanging out a lot more this week. So, other than that...my week was not so good.

P.S. please pray for my friend Emily and her family. For those of you who read my England blog...she lost her brother while we were in Italy. Well last Saturday she lost her father to a heart attack. So please keep her in your thoughts and prayers!

Month one...done!!!

It still blows my mind that I'm really here. Never in my life do I remember being surrounded by this many asian people. I know it sounds weird, but it's true. Back home I have like one Asian friend, who is brand new, and that's it. Here I'm surrounded by them and on the look out for caucasian people. Except for the fact that I can't speak or understand Korean, I feel like I still stand out among the crowd. Not necessarily in a bad way, just a weird way. I see the looks on people's faces when I don't speak to them when they ask me a question or when I'm on the phone speaking English. That always gets people staring. I thought I was prepared to deal with it, but apparently you can't really.

I have a couple more observations. The older population like their hiking. On Saturday and Sunday mornings you will see them congregate together on the subway in their matching outfits: hiking pants, The Red Face jackets, backpacks, hiking poles, hiking boots, and hats. For those of you who have seen "The Sandlot," when I refer to the ladies hats think "Smalls'" hat at the beginning of the movie with that visor times 5. Hahaha They are so cute! lol

There are couples EVERYWHERE!!! And you see them more so here than you do in the States. Which I find very weird. Maybe it's because there are so many more people here. But, I've been watching them and thinking silently to myself...I wish I had someone. But, that is beside the point. Guys here seem to be way more affectionate and loving to their significant other. They're always holding hands, always shopping together, and the guy for the most part are carrying the girls' purchases as well as even sometimes her purse. Now, that my friends is a man who is comfortable with his sexuality. However, most guys here carry bags anyways. And most of them do look like women's bags. But, hey...it's what they do.

This has been a much more difficult experience for me than England was. But, I'm coping and am enjoying myself for the most part. It's hard for me to make friends when I'm not surrounded by people who speak the same language. But, I'm trying to learn some Korean. I've bought a book called "Korean made easy for beginners" and it came with a CD and phrase book. So far I know the words for tree and meat in korean and can read them. haha Being able to read Korean I think will be helpful no matter what. Except for the part of not knowing what it is that I'm reading. haha But, I'm working on it!

Alright...that's all from me for the week. I've bought one movie, a CD, and rented a movie from iTunes thanks to all the iTunes gift cards I got from people before I left!!! Definitely one of the most amazing gifts ever!!!! Gives me something to do since I do not have cable!!!

Annyong!

P.S. Sanctuary Choir members!!! Thanks so much for the card!!!! I love it and it's sitting on top of my bookshelf for people to see if they ever come over. haha

Week three

Well...it's almost the end of week three. Let me just say that I've had a very emotional last couple days. Not with homesickness, but with things like being uncomfortable in my surrounds and dealing with the bluntness/rudness of a couple of my co-workers. I visited Yonsei Central Baptist Church with Yoo Yoon Sunday. They had an interpreter for English speakers that you listened to through a headset. So, that was good. The people I met were really nice. The church was HUGE! But, I think I will be visiting other churches. I was at that church from 10:45 A.M.-5:00 P.M. And yes, if it had been FBC, OKC I would have been fine, but this was just way too much of this place. They did have the a famous violinist Park, Ji Hae. She was really good.

This week has been full of ups and downs. Mostly ups after Tuesday. But, here are a few things I have noticed in the three weeks I have been here.

- There are those Koreans who think that if you aren't "Korean" you mean nothing.

- They smack their food and slurp their soup.

- They run a lot. Mostly to catch the subway. But, I've realized that's probably why a lot of them are so skinny. (Note to self: run more, it's what "true" Koreans do)

- 'Are you married?' and 'Do you have a boyfriend?' are the most common questions I get from the kids and adults.

- Wednesday is good lunch day at school!

- They wear different shoes while at school.

- You get at least a 5 min. warning on things that are happening.

- Korean's love to stare. Especially when they hear me speaking English.

In case you were wondering about what my classes are like I will give you a run down. I have 22 classes all together. 4th-6th and one after school class, which is like an English Club. Each grade has 7 classes.

That's all for now. Sorry not much detail, but I didn't really feel like going into detail about this week. It was kind of a rough one

Take care!