First Day At School

Monday, August 29, 2005

Well, it finally arrived.........1st day at school - Yeonggwang Girls' Middle School.
I met the Principal and the other teachers including 3 other English teachers (besides my co-teacher Mrs. Jo). There was a staff meeting and I was introduced and then had to introduce myself which I did "in Korean". It's amazing how you can impress the heck out of them by just trying a few Korean phrases. Apparently they are very impressed and appreciative of foreigners speaking Korean. So.........onward and upward.

Then I was taken to the Student Assembly and was introduced again and I did the same with them. I got applause!!

The girls are really cute. Boy, they know how to keep those girls in line. They are responsible for cleaning the classrooms and for one of the Phys. Ed. classestoday, I saw they were out pulling weeds. Hey, you U of T Phys. Ed. teachers, you should try that with your students!!

I start at the High School tomorrow (Tuesday). Apparently I teach 6 out of 7 classes on Mondays at the High School. That seems a bit much but we shall see!!

Well gotta run. Almost time for bed.

Ciao.

Bus ride to Gwangju

Today is Sunday, August 28, 2005.

Matt and I took the bus into Gwangju (1 hour ride from Yeonggwang). Matt is the young man who is also teaching English and lives in my building and is teaching at the boys Middle School in Yeonggwang. We went to a HUGE electronics store Kuomo World - floors and floors of all kinds of electronics, appliances, etc. It seems like every floor has the same stuff and that they are all individual owners (not sure). Not sure how they make any money. Everyone works at least 6 days here so today, being Sunday, it seems everyone and his mother's uncle was out shopping!!

I now know what it is like to be the only minority in a sea of Asian faces. I don't think we are being stared and pointed at as much as we were told we would be - even though I am a semi-large blond caucasian female and Matt is a red head caucasian male. It seems odd and yet in a way I have adjusted. I am still taking one day at a time but in another country. I'm sure there will be times when I just wish I didn't have to ask for everything and have to draw pictures or act it out (I showed a lady my bra today to find out where the lingerie department was - the other day I just about strangled 2 men - separately - trying to find out where to buy a tie...I was just pointing to their tie but they looked nervous!!) It is all an experience and "it is what it is"!!

Now I am back in my apartment looking out over the mountains and setting up a picture presentation for my first classes which I think will be Wednesday. I am going to show pictures of Shawna's wedding. The Grade 7 (Grade 1 in Korean Middle School) and Grade 9 (Grade 3 in Kirean Middle School) girls should like that, I hope.

Well that's it for this edition of Korean Adventure. See you next time. Keep those emails and comments coming. See ya.

Finally in Yeonggwang

Hey Everyone:

Well I have finally arrived at my apartment in Yeonggwang. Have only been here 2 days so not too much time to explore yet. Hope to do some hiking today and tomorrow.

My apartment is 2 bedrooms with open living room/kitchen, bathroom (with tub - yeah!) and closed in balcony (that's where the washer is - no dryer - should be interesting in the winter!!).

Start at school Monday - Yeonggwang Girls' Middle School although don't think I will be teaching. I am actually supposed to be at Yeonggwang High School but they don't start back until September 1. I am supposed to have preparation time on Monday and Tuesday so we will see. Things have a way of changing here and we have been advised to "go with the Korean flow". Good advice I think!!

Today is Saturday, August 27, 2005.

That's it for now.

HB