Settling in

So I've been here just over a week, and had two full days at school.

I have to say so far it's been awesome.

I live in a great area. Though it's the 10th most expensive area in the world, there's affordable alternatives, such as 24 kimbop shops, and enough 7-11's that you'd think Korea invented them. I'm right next to a subway station that's pretty central, and a ton of bus stops that will take me anywhere the subway won't.

A mosaic in Apgujeong Station

I've had things to do every night for the past week. I've been able to see several of my friends that I hadn't seen in ages, mostly because they'd all moved to Seoul and were now quite a trek away.

My apartment could be better, but it's not bad. It's the smallest and least furnished of any place I've lived or seen in Korea. I was given a bed, table, two chairs, a tv, and a fridge. You'd be surprised at how much more "stuff" you need beyond this. I've been living without a lot of "stuff" for a year, but I didn't realize how much of it had simply been handed to me. I used it, but it didn't really belong to me, so I didn't consider it as part of my stock of "things", like dishes, pots and pans; horizontal space (like a desk for my computer), or even garbage cans!

My living area - just about everything you need within arms reach!

My kitchen - I covered some old mis-matched wallpaper that had been taped up with the checkerboard.

The job itself so far seems to be pretty straightforward. I have a decent amount of downtime during the day to grade papers or do lesson plans, and most of the lessons are supplied for me. Some things I'll have to do on my own, and this will probably end up taking more time than I'm spending now, but I expect that as par for the course.

Me introducing myself to the 7-year-old classes at Spirit Day on Friday.

My kids are good for the most part. I've only had them for two days, and they already know my three rules by heart, and are excited about the rewards program that I started (just a sticker chart with the promise of a treasure box dive for anyone that fills in their board). I've got some kids that always know the answer, so getting the quiet ones to answer is probably going to be the trickiest part. I've got one boy that's, well, quite verbal. He managed to earn three stickers today, and then subsequently lose not only all of the stickers but his sticker board as well. Luckily he had an after-school class, so I was able to sit down one-on-one and talk to him about what happened, and what he can do tomorrow and in the future so he doesn't lose anymore stickers. We shall see if he remembers.

Tonight I headed out straight from work into the heart of Gangnam. I've been on the hunt for sheets for a week. My school said they would supply me with sheets, but it seems as though the Korean definition of sheets does not equal the western one (i.e. there are no top sheets, only fitted sheets - if the store even sells them at all). I thought I'd try the COEX mall, thinking it was a possibility albeit a slim one. I didn't find any stores that might possibly sell bedding supplies, but I did happen upon a great water/light/music show as I was leaving the mall.

A light and water show set to music at Samsung Station in Gangnam.

I enjoyed watching the show, taking pictures, watching people watch the show, and just being there in general. I couldn't help but think that this was the sort of thing I'd been missing out on by living so far out of the city - things you just can't see during the day or on a weekend.

Tea-time for Tuesday

We woke up uber early on Tuesday, and again had an arduous search for coffee. We had found a few places the night before, but again, most weren't open before 10, and we were on the bus for the next city by 8am. We got to Boseong (pronounced Bosawng) just before 9am, and managed to miss the 9:10 bus to the tea plantation. Since they only run once an hour, we took a cab. Apparently the only cabs in Boseong are the executive cabs. I haven't seen a meter run up that fast, even at 4am in Seoul. It was almost W10,000 to get to the plantation, about 7 minutes away. But the plantation itself was beautiful.

There were huge trees leading up to the entrance, and there was a walkway through the plants. They're more like hedges, really.

There were a few other people around the areas we were in, but for the most part, we wandered around alone.

In fact, they are hedges. They look exactly like the hedges you see in suburbia around a soccer mom's yard: low and well trimmed.

We took a side path into the woods, and found a temple-style pavillion tucked away from the main foot traffic.

We also found an area that had already been harvested, which wasn't as scenic, but still interesting.

We then had a cup of fresh tea in one of the pavillions, and had a quick lunch before heading out. There didn't seem to be much else to do in Boseong, so we took the next bus to Yeosu, which is on the southern coast, around the middle of the country.

It was early evening, so after finding a place to stay and dropping off our bags, we headed out to Odongdo island.

Along with a scenic walk across the South Sea to the island,

we found a dragon cave,

A lighthouse,

and "Musical Water Pipes" with LED lights that the kids just loved to play in.

It was a very nice evening overall, and we headed back to our hotel (passing by a mass amount of ajumas, or older Korean women, doing group yoga or something in the park).

Water Gun Playing

I think the pictures say it all...

And in the elevator on the way back to class.

Birthday Day

So today was a Birthday Day. There were five kids that have birthdays this month, so they all celebrate them on the same day. Birthdays are a big deal here, so we spent quite a bit of time on this. I had three kids in my classes that were celebrating- Irene, Lewis, and Lyna. At 11:30, we all went into the fun room, where they had a pizza, some rainbow rice cakes, and what looked like funions on a table. The birthday kids stood in front of it while they had their pictures taken. Apparently it's not common for people to smile in pictures here, most of the kids either had a straight face or a weird attempt at a half smile.



The cake was being delivered, and was running late, so they had the kids standing at the front of the room for about ten minutes without doing anything. Finally they decided that the kids were all going to perform their songs again, and they started with my Lemon class, who did "Little Bear Lake" again. The cake came after about 4 classes had done a song, so they took more pictures of the kids with the cake, and then lit candles, and gave each kid a chance to blow them out (while taking more pictures). Then it was pictures with each kid by themselves, each kid with their class, each kid with their class and teachers, and each kid with the others that had given them presents.





Then we ate lunch, which was pizza and noodle soup, with funions and cake for dessert. Some of the kids opted for cake, but most wanted the funions. When the kids eat lunch, or snack, they have to say a prayer first. They close their eyes, put their hands together, and say (to the tune of Are You Sleeping, Brother John)

Thank you father,
thank you father,
for the food,
for the food,
any other blessings,
any other blessings,
amen,
amen,

Thank you for the lunch,
enjoy your lunch

When they're done eating, they say "finished", then bring their plates and utensils to the kitchen. They then get their toothbrush, which is hanging next to the sink, and come and say to me "toothpaste please", at which point I put the toothpaste on for them. They then have to say "thank you", and go brush their teeth. When they're done brushing, they can go play until the next class.

And this was my dinner last night from Home Plus (HP):