Korea is getting much warmer. I can actually stand to be outside at night. It's nice to finally feel like you have a full day to do what you want. Before I would hate to get up in the mornings. I'd rush to the teachers room where it was warm and rush back and forth from class because it was cold in the hallways. And then I'd rush back to my house to be warm again afterschool. It was real struggle to go back out after that. But now....its pretty warm.
I wake up early to go for a run. Go biking by the river in the evenings. I walk around in the evenings and go to dinner. It's so much easier with a little warmth. Its still a little chilly but its ok. I can't wait until the real heatwaves hit. I hear that the summers are insane here with crazy high humidity. I can't wait to see what its like. The Koreans don't sweat or smell the way us foreigners so its going to be a funny sight. I wonder how bad it will be?
Monday, March 23, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
New Semester
I've been back to teaching after the winter break for almost 3 weeks now. This semester is a lot more comfortable than the last. I think it has a lot to do with me having more experience with the teaching style and subject matter they deal with here. Over the winter I got to know some students better and understand their level of maturity more. I still have some classes that are a hassle to teach just because the teachers have trouble controlling them. I've decided to just teach and not be stressed out about certain things. There still have been some trying times though.
A friend of mine told me that for some reason on after being here for 6 months people go through a phase of having a really strong urge to go back home. I didn't understand really since "at 4 months you already know how you feel about Korea." But just before my sixth month I had 2 weeks where I really just didn't think I was going to make it through this. I absolutely hated everything about this place and was wondering how to not be miserable for my last six months. I really really wanted to leave. I just grew tired of what I saw as "nonsense." I now understand what she meant.
I'm glad to say that it has passed because it was really bad. I don't know if it was the constant gloomy weather. The sky is only blue maybe twice a week and that's the only sunshine we get here. Even then its overcast and still grayish. Maybe that got to me. The weather is warmer and I can actually stand to be outside at night. Its getting better.
A friend of mine told me that for some reason on after being here for 6 months people go through a phase of having a really strong urge to go back home. I didn't understand really since "at 4 months you already know how you feel about Korea." But just before my sixth month I had 2 weeks where I really just didn't think I was going to make it through this. I absolutely hated everything about this place and was wondering how to not be miserable for my last six months. I really really wanted to leave. I just grew tired of what I saw as "nonsense." I now understand what she meant.
I'm glad to say that it has passed because it was really bad. I don't know if it was the constant gloomy weather. The sky is only blue maybe twice a week and that's the only sunshine we get here. Even then its overcast and still grayish. Maybe that got to me. The weather is warmer and I can actually stand to be outside at night. Its getting better.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Hola Yola!!!
I shoulda posted this one so long ago but I was away. My friend from back home is now teaching in Seoul. I can't even believe she's here. I remember when she told me that she would come but I wasn't sure about it. It is really good to have someone from home out here with you. In the beginning, although I met friends, the friendships of course weren't as close or intimate as the friendships that had been built over the years.
She loves the Spanish language and is kinda hating Korea right now so I hope she doesn't dip out on me. Its been 6 weeks and I have yet to see her though...?? I tried and tried to meet up but so far it hasn't worked out. Maybe this week I'll get to see her. We have classes for 4 days this week and then go back on winter break (ridiculous I know). The Korean public school makes no sense to me. But basically I go back on real vacation this time until the beginning of March. Hopefully I'll get out of the country again.
She loves the Spanish language and is kinda hating Korea right now so I hope she doesn't dip out on me. Its been 6 weeks and I have yet to see her though...?? I tried and tried to meet up but so far it hasn't worked out. Maybe this week I'll get to see her. We have classes for 4 days this week and then go back on winter break (ridiculous I know). The Korean public school makes no sense to me. But basically I go back on real vacation this time until the beginning of March. Hopefully I'll get out of the country again.
I'm back....
Sooo....Its been like 2 months since I last posted anything on my page. This is mostly because right after Christmas I got pretty ill and winter vacation started at the same time. I had to teach "Winter Camp" classes from January until the beginning of February. The classes were all day. I actually taught more than I do during the normal school year 8:40-4pm pretty much non-stop with no break. Although it was tiring it was really nice. I prefer it to the normal school year because the classes are just too big.
During winter camp I had 8-16 students per class plus taught with a co-teacher. It was fun, I got to know my students individually and they even got hooked on this Korean drama "F4" which stands for "Flower Four" I think the original Japanese version of the show was called "Flowers better than Men". The scenario of the show is that there are 4 extremely wealthy guys that go to something like a Beverly Hills High School with all the rich kids. Then there's a girl who is poor that the school took in. She's not beautiful or smart or wealthy but is opinionated and "strong"...but not really (Korean culture). The two of the four "F4" are all in love with her and all of the rich girls are jealous. All in all its pretty cheesy but I like it.
During the winter session I had my students do a role play about being a college student and looking for an apartment that close to their University. It was set up just like a real scenario, you call the owner's and ask questions about location, size, facilities etc. So I thought it would be great practice for them to actually call to the U.S. I brought my laptop into class and we used my skype to call people off of craigslist. It was hilarious and the students couldn't believe that they were actually going to talk to Americans in class. I'll post the video I recorded of it. It was a really good idea.
During winter camp I had 8-16 students per class plus taught with a co-teacher. It was fun, I got to know my students individually and they even got hooked on this Korean drama "F4" which stands for "Flower Four" I think the original Japanese version of the show was called "Flowers better than Men". The scenario of the show is that there are 4 extremely wealthy guys that go to something like a Beverly Hills High School with all the rich kids. Then there's a girl who is poor that the school took in. She's not beautiful or smart or wealthy but is opinionated and "strong"...but not really (Korean culture). The two of the four "F4" are all in love with her and all of the rich girls are jealous. All in all its pretty cheesy but I like it.
During the winter session I had my students do a role play about being a college student and looking for an apartment that close to their University. It was set up just like a real scenario, you call the owner's and ask questions about location, size, facilities etc. So I thought it would be great practice for them to actually call to the U.S. I brought my laptop into class and we used my skype to call people off of craigslist. It was hilarious and the students couldn't believe that they were actually going to talk to Americans in class. I'll post the video I recorded of it. It was a really good idea.
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