Friday, November 20, 2009

25 in Korea

Despite the ceaseless hustle and bustle of the city, things are moving pretty slow. I never thought I would say these words, but I am so ready for work to start. I have explored my city everyday now and have found some places I love. There is a hill a couple blocks away from my house that has different routes up, down, and around it. I decided to go for a run and see how many laps I could make. This "hill" was much steeper than it first appeared, I was exhausted just after reaching the top, but found a delightful little place on top of that hill. There is various outdoor exercise equipment up there. Has anyone seen Ellen's Hawaiian chair?!?! Well my favorite machine is much like that, only you stand on it. I was having way to much fun and giggling out of control all by myself. Because it was so much fun, I hardly realized what an abdominal workout I was actually getting and could barely sit up to get out of bed the next day. I will take pictures and possibly video next time I go just show you this spectacle. 

I am just about ready to make a sign that says "Freak American Girl-will smile and wave for 100 won" and post it in this window at Dunkin Donuts. I feel like a caged zoo animal. I sit at the window that faces out into the city center, so people are constantly walking by and stare at me the whole time like they have never seen a white girl in their city. This is not the same friendly, curious stare like I get in Africa either. It's more of a glare than a stare really. Sometimes for a quick thrill, I will wave at the passerby and make them extremely uncomfortable. As I watch people passing by in this busy downtown area, I feel even more out of place than for the mere fact of being the foreigner. Everyone is extremely attractive and dressed very fashionably. Here in Korea, appearance is everything. I don't have the desire or money to walk 30 minutes in heels and dress every time I come downtown. Therefore, I sit here in my  jeans, hoodie, and tennis shoes. Perhaps this is another reason why they stare. 

Yesterday we had a staff meeting at school. The school that I teach at is a private English academy, we have seven foreign teachers and ten Korean teachers. This makes the meetings twice as long because the principal does not speak English well, so everything has to be translated. His main concern for this meeting is that the students do not write very well, and we need to be checking their online homework more often. They are 6 years old!!! and his is concerned about their creative writing skills in their second language!!! are you kidding me?!?! (Culture briefing sidetrack-Koreans believe that the day a child is conceived life begins. When  baby is born, he/she is then 1 year old. Therefore, a 6 year old in Korea would be 5 years old in the US). How many 5 year olds do you know that can write a 5 paragraph creative essay, in a second language? I have to write a unit plan that includes brainstorming, outlining, revision, ect. for a kindergarten class. I am amazed by these students, their spelling and vocab list for last week was equivalent to that of a 6th grader in the United States. 

After our meeting the boss took us all to dinner. Since he makes the most money out of anyone else at the table, by Korean standards, he must pay for everyone there. That was only our first stop of the night. We proceeded to move on to bar #1, where the boss continued to buy for everyone there. Once he got bored at that bar, we moved on to a norebang. This is a karaoke room. We have our own room with many screens to sing along and dance to any sort of music you can think of-what a spectacle. Then after a few hours of singing we moved on to the next destination, and so on. Koreans don't mess around when soju is involved. 

Tonight and this weekend I am heading up to Seoul to go visit Jackie!!! I am super excited to see her and meet her friends. I am a bit nervous to make this adventure and tackle the Korean subway by myself. I would be scared of the subway by myself in the United States when everything is in English. I'm sure I will be fine and find my way to her eventually. 

Many of you have been asking for my address, here it is! This is the address to the school, but the best place to send things. There isn't much that I need, but anything would be appreciated. I would like game film/highlights on DVD from the basketball games. I would love to stay updated and watch both the girls and boys season, I will miss being there to cheer terribly! 

SLP Seosan Inst. 2 &3rd fl
Dong-sin BD, 276-4, Dongmun-dong, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea
T. +82-41-688-5008 F. +82-41-688-0501
South Korea

(must include all of that!)

Hope everyone is doing well! Miss you already!

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