Wow, a month has gone by already. I wasn't expecting to be so busy with teaching and taking my own classes. The first 3 week round is finished and I think the second 3 weeks will be (at least I hope) a little more relaxed.Schedule:
Monday-Friday 9-12am = University Freshman (section A first half, section B second half)
Mon/Wed/Fri. 2-3pm = Kid's class (10 kids about 9 yrs. old)
Monday-Thurs. 6:30-9:30pm = my grad class "Vocabulary Acquisition"
It may not seem like much, but to plan and correct and then do my own homework for my grad class at night was exhausting! ha happy to be done with that. Next graduate class will begin next Monday (12th?) so I'm going to enjoy having this week off of night class.
It was the first summer that the university freshman students were required to take summer English classes, whether they wanted to or not, so the task was put on us and we began a three week course. At first it was a bit nerve racking as everyone was telling us to "get ready" and that the students won't want to be there, but I found that to be true for some...aka sleepers in the class...but for the most part I found them to be very nice and interested in learning. I also think class was more "fun" in that they weren't just being lectured to, which is typical of Korean-style classrooms. I had them in groups talking, doing skits, interviews, games, songs, movies and youtube clips! I'm going to miss seeing them every morning.
In both my freshman classes and my kid's class it's fun to see each individual personality come out!
I had my first "norebong" aka singing room or karaoke experience! Jenna and I met one of our students that we had taught in St. Cloud! It was soooo much fun! We got our own individual room and sang our hearts out for almost 3 hours! What a fun night.
I've stayed in Daejeon every weekend except for this past weekend we went to Busan, a city on the southern coast! It was beautiful and relaxing! We splurged and between the three of us girls got a room in a gorgeous hotel on the beach! This is a picture from the hotel's sundeck! It's the rainy season here so we lucked out that it didn't rain. It wasn't really sunny, but doesn't seem to ever be really sunny here in Korea. More hot and humid with clouds! I guess this beach is famous for being extremely crowded in August and the as the beach becomes covered with umbrellas! Korean's definitely get a lot of usage out of their umbrellas, using it to keep dry from rain and shade themselves from the sun. It's interesting how everyone wants to be tan in the U.S. and here they want to be lighter.
We spent time walking on the beach and through a market, of course with live fish. I saw a woman cutting up skinned sea snakes...they were still moving....tear! Lots of seafood!
Saturday night we went for a walk on the beach and caught a few minutes of a fireworks show! Then we headed to a hof (beer house) for a beer and then back to our hotel for dinner! We just stayed in the rest of the night, rented a Korean movie and enjoyed the nice hotel room. It had quite possibly the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in! In the morning we woke up and had breakfast at the hotel, then headed out to Beomeosa, a Buddhist temple. It was about an hour from our hotel by metro and then a bus then took us up into the mountains to the temple where we wandered around and admired the beautiful buildings and nature surrounding them.
Funny: Some students came up to me to conduct an interview, after the typical questions like "Where are you from?" and "Do you like Korea?" they asked "What's your blood type?"
haha this caught me off guard! A friend explained to me that it is a common question in Korea. So mom...what am I? haha I don't even know!
Korean age is different then western age. Something about the year you were born and the moon? So most Koreans say they are 1-2 yrs. older than what we would consider them to be. For example my friend informed me that I am 27 yrs. old in my Korean age! (i'm only 25 in the U.S.) I told my class that I prefer to go by my "western" age! haha
My kid's class playing "red light, green light", particularly Fred yelling orders! I'll try to get a video up of him doing it!
My freshman class giving their final presentations on a country. One student, Gerrard, who is very quiet, reserved and respectful presented on Germany. He began talking about Octoberfest and it's drinking culture and then about a particular beer from there, Becks. Then he opened his bag and took a real Beck's beer out! ...I'm thinking ok, beer in the class, it's ok he's just showing it, its relevant to his presentation. Then he proceeds to open it and ask the class who would like to try it! At this point we're all laughing so hard and he does let three students taste it. Things are pretty laid back here so I wasn't too worried. Then later I wondered where the bottle went, and I looked over and Martin, who is equally innocent, casually taking drinks from it while watching the other presentations! We had a talk about drinking age after this! Here it's 19 and doesn't seem to be as serious of an issue.
I discovered the tv show, "Modern Family". I'm not really into many tv shows anymore, but this one makes me laugh!
My pillow is made up of little plastic tubes....not comfortable at all! Whose idea was that? ha
So many funny things happen everyday I can't keep track of them all. Frustrating things also happen daily. I'm finding it's not easy to be the foreigner, especially not knowing the language. I feel for people who come to the U.S. It's surprising how a smile or patience goes a long way, versus stares and anger.
I know there's more I've forgotten to write, I'll keep updating as I remember and add more pictures! I hope you all had a great 4th of July, I miss you all!
Sarah xxx
