Blogging is boring and I don't much care for it. I know that I should write down the important happenings of my day, the feelings, sentiments etc etc but it seems like unnecessary work. Too much English. Ha.
Maybe I'll get back into the mood later. Though, if you look- I've never quite been in the mood, have I.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Two Weeks Down
50 to go!
Haven't been updating a whole lot- blog wise. I've put up a bunch of pictures and videos though, so you really should check those out.
Things are getting a little easier and a little more routine, though, not 100%, obviously. Its still difficult not understanding the language and not really knowing anyone. Today is Chuseok, an important Korean holiday so I'm not sure what I'll be doing as everything in the world closes down. Ok, maybe just everything in Korea. I guess Jenna's weekend of being a lazy bum continues.
Back to the language issue, its fine for certain things, like convenience stores and the mall, but other things require a little more communication, like hair cuts. That was my adventure yesterday- I went into a salon and the woman cutting my hair (as well as everyone in the place) spoke no english and I obviously speak no Korean the only thing I could say to her was "I'm sorry I don't understand Korean". I brought my computer though, with pictures, and she went off of that and it ended up being a great cut! While I was sitting there, in silence, I looked around and noticed it was kind of a nice place. There were 3 people taking care of me: one cutting, one standing there to wipe hair off my face and another just watching. Then when they dried my hair two of them did it and it was done in a snap! Great, I thought, I just got a $100 haircut and I won't know it until I get to the desk because I couldn't ask how much before this whole thing started! When the cut was done, the woman cutting my hair handed me a cell phone and a woman who spoke a little English asked if I liked the cut or if it needed to be shorter or if I would like her to relay anything? I said no and she gave the message in Korean. Then, the moment of truth, I walked over to the desk, waited for her to write out the number since she knew I wouldn't undersand if she said it, and huzzah! Only twenty bucks. Obviously I asked for her card so I could come back to her and not have to play charades again. Obstacle one, down.
I've moved into my new apartment and its quite a change from my last one. Instead of a 30 minute walk to school and everything else, its 5. Instead of no internet except for at night, I have it 24/7 (knock on wood that it doesn't disappear). Instead of being the size of a beach towel its quite large. All in all I'm quite fond of it. I've put up some pictures and in a bit I'll make a video of it.
I had my first week of teaching, and while I'm not sure I'm really cut out to be an educator- one thing is for sure, the kids are adorable! This was them dressed up for Chuseok activities on Thursday. We all had a lot of fun making songpyeon, baskets to put the songpyeon in, playing games and doing Korean dances. The whole thing was a lot like making turkeys out of your hand when you were younger.
I'll make it a point to write some more when I have time- I've just been a lazy wretch!
Don't forget!
http://www.youtube.com/user/chopstickslol
Haven't been updating a whole lot- blog wise. I've put up a bunch of pictures and videos though, so you really should check those out.
Things are getting a little easier and a little more routine, though, not 100%, obviously. Its still difficult not understanding the language and not really knowing anyone. Today is Chuseok, an important Korean holiday so I'm not sure what I'll be doing as everything in the world closes down. Ok, maybe just everything in Korea. I guess Jenna's weekend of being a lazy bum continues.
Back to the language issue, its fine for certain things, like convenience stores and the mall, but other things require a little more communication, like hair cuts. That was my adventure yesterday- I went into a salon and the woman cutting my hair (as well as everyone in the place) spoke no english and I obviously speak no Korean the only thing I could say to her was "I'm sorry I don't understand Korean". I brought my computer though, with pictures, and she went off of that and it ended up being a great cut! While I was sitting there, in silence, I looked around and noticed it was kind of a nice place. There were 3 people taking care of me: one cutting, one standing there to wipe hair off my face and another just watching. Then when they dried my hair two of them did it and it was done in a snap! Great, I thought, I just got a $100 haircut and I won't know it until I get to the desk because I couldn't ask how much before this whole thing started! When the cut was done, the woman cutting my hair handed me a cell phone and a woman who spoke a little English asked if I liked the cut or if it needed to be shorter or if I would like her to relay anything? I said no and she gave the message in Korean. Then, the moment of truth, I walked over to the desk, waited for her to write out the number since she knew I wouldn't undersand if she said it, and huzzah! Only twenty bucks. Obviously I asked for her card so I could come back to her and not have to play charades again. Obstacle one, down.
I've moved into my new apartment and its quite a change from my last one. Instead of a 30 minute walk to school and everything else, its 5. Instead of no internet except for at night, I have it 24/7 (knock on wood that it doesn't disappear). Instead of being the size of a beach towel its quite large. All in all I'm quite fond of it. I've put up some pictures and in a bit I'll make a video of it.
I had my first week of teaching, and while I'm not sure I'm really cut out to be an educator- one thing is for sure, the kids are adorable! This was them dressed up for Chuseok activities on Thursday. We all had a lot of fun making songpyeon, baskets to put the songpyeon in, playing games and doing Korean dances. The whole thing was a lot like making turkeys out of your hand when you were younger.
I'll make it a point to write some more when I have time- I've just been a lazy wretch!
Don't forget!
http://www.youtube.com/user/chopstickslol
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
I'm Sitting in a Hallway for Internets
I'm one floor below my apartment and I've found the source of the illusive UNICORN wireless connection. Kelli and I discovered its wiley ways this morning when it kept going in and out before I went to work. I have wrangled it once and for all! (Kayla, I renamed it Justin...I hope thats ok...)
I've discovered at least 4 strong wireless connections in the area, one of which shows up magically in my apartment between the hours of midnight and 9 am, or somewhere around there.
All I know is that the internet is my lifeline to not only my family and friends, but English...
I'm getting really good at charades.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Day 2 Teaching, Day 1 Not Completely Freaking Out
So I've been at school now since 9:20, it is 4:00 right now. I'll be here again tonight until 6:40. Long days but its ok, I just had a 2 hour break and I went to explore- so exciting! Found coffee and Coke Zero. Very productive.
Classes are making more sense, yesterday was very confusing and frustrating and overwhelming! I wanted to run to the airport and come home right away! Then I got some internets, I talked to Kelli (woke her up, it was 6:00 am Michigan time) and she explained the obvious- it is NORMAL to feel overwhelmed when you're moving to a foreign place, especially if that foreign place is really foreign...this is really foreign.
I was invited out by one of the other teachers here, so looks like things on the friend front are moving along. Thank god!
Also, there are videos up, yay!
http://www.youtube.com/user/chopstickslol
Ok see ya
Monday, September 1, 2008
I'm ready, I guess
So after traveling for a little more than 24 hours I got into my apartment last night- sadly it is not the one I'll be staying in for the year...I have to move out in a week. Its really annoying because I can't get situated and comfortable but thats ok! I don't have time to anyway! We (another new teacher named Holly was on my flight from Tokyo and we met up in the Incheon airport and bonded over blogging about bidets) got in last night around 9:00 pm local time, 8 am for the rest of you, went through customs and immigration, got our baggage and went down to find our driver. After we found him and he picked up another guy going to a different school, he quickly stole my luggage cart and started running through the crowded airport turning around every so often to yell something in Korean and laugh. We sprinted after him and found ourselves outside where he had parked his taxi-van.
Fast forward a crazy hour long car ride to Bucheon City where we stop outside our school and two people tell Holly to come with them and two more take my luggage into another car. Separated! At this point people are yelling in Korean and English and I'm not sure who is going where and where who is from what. Exactly. So I get in this car with Jason (the guy who interviewed me from the school), Francis and her husband who is driving and speaking no English. They take me to my week-long home, before they move me closer to the school. Francis helped me get some water and a noodle bowl for breakfast and they told me that I have to be at work bright and early in the morning! Thanks guys! 26 hours of travel, 5 hours of sleep, tiny Asian apartment, spicy noodles and beef for breakfast and I get to jump right in and see little babies today! Everything here moves much more quickly. Heck, I decided less than two months ago that this was an option...now I'm going to get in my bathroom/shower/combo and get ready for my first day of work!
Fast forward a crazy hour long car ride to Bucheon City where we stop outside our school and two people tell Holly to come with them and two more take my luggage into another car. Separated! At this point people are yelling in Korean and English and I'm not sure who is going where and where who is from what. Exactly. So I get in this car with Jason (the guy who interviewed me from the school), Francis and her husband who is driving and speaking no English. They take me to my week-long home, before they move me closer to the school. Francis helped me get some water and a noodle bowl for breakfast and they told me that I have to be at work bright and early in the morning! Thanks guys! 26 hours of travel, 5 hours of sleep, tiny Asian apartment, spicy noodles and beef for breakfast and I get to jump right in and see little babies today! Everything here moves much more quickly. Heck, I decided less than two months ago that this was an option...now I'm going to get in my bathroom/shower/combo and get ready for my first day of work!
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