Paying my utilities

I just paid my utilities.  I got the bill placed on my door late at night and was actually worried a stray cat was attempting entry. My coteacher told me I just had to go upstairs to pay. Needless to say, I did not look forward to the inevitably awkward interaction.

Awkward INDEED.

An older man opened the door (please bear in mind I still am not 100% sure this is my land lord) and I show him the utility bill. His wife then takes over. A little girl, around 4, is gaping at me and can't stop smiling. What can I say, I'm pretty fun to look at. The woman keeps asking me something and making a telephone gesture, so I asked if I should go get my phone.. Of course she understands me about as well as I understand her. I use the universal language and show her the money I am using to pay for the bill. Success. Her husband gets me the change and I am now able to use 1/5 Korean phrase I know and say thank you. While saying this, however, she starts saying something and patting me on the back. I think "Is there something stuck on my back?" She then turns me around and starts pointing down the stairs. She is smiling, so I didn't get the feeling she was angry, I think she legitimately thought I did not know that to return to my apartment, I had to go down. 

Let's just say I am glad that's over with!

Teaching is going pretty well! I had a really cute class today. The grade 5's are my favourite. I am so happy I got elementary. The few grade 6's who are going through puberty scare me so much. Not actually, but you know what I mean. I like the size difference to be a little more pronounced! Anyway, the coteachers I worked with today were extremely nice and supportive. One said I was very good and funny, and was like an actress. It was very sweet. One class had two students with the English name "Ann" and one with the English name "Charles"! It was very exciting. 

Also one students drew and EXCELLENT drawing of a beetle. The teacher asked if I knew what the name was in English. I had to smile at her reaction to "rhinoceros beetle." They stuck with just beetle.

I went on my first jog in about a month on Sunday and was encouraged by an adorable old man. He gave me a thumbs up as I took a much needed heat break. The people here are so incredibly kind to me. I also explored downtown, which is much nicer than where I wandered to the other day. Hurray :) It is a bustling maze of alleys, shops, and food. Will be fun to get to know it better. We stopped in a coffee shop after window shopping and the barista loved that I was from Canada. We are so popular.

PS Mom and Dad you'll be happy to know I just bought a full load of groceries full of veggies and even some fruit. 

Pretty view, and an interesting mix of eras

Oh yeah. I eat this now.

For obvious reasons, this amused me greatly. So. Creepy.

This is a sesame leaf! Delicious!!
So they don't only make seeds!

I survived week 1!

All in all, I'd say this was a very successful first week. My coteacher takes such good care of me! I went to get an Alien card, it'll be here within the month. I then could use my new alien number to get a bank account, and a cell phone. And WHAT a cell phone. After my decrepit blackberry, I really don't know what to do with this high tech thingamajig. Of course, give me a week and I'll be as hooked as the rest of you.

The cell phone shop owner was sweet, he said his very first customer was a foreigner, yay. Also you get so many extras here in Korea. He gave me and my coteacher free phone covers, and also gave me a screen scratch protector. He then asked me what colour I'd like him to order for ANOTHER phone cover as all he had was black! I have a Samsung Galazxy RStyle, I believe it is a Korea only phone. Unfortunately I will have to buy it out of the 2 year contract early, but it won't be unreasonable and I think I'll be able to re sell it. Or maybe I'll stay for two year ;) My coteacher said I should.

The food has continued to amaze me. Yesterday we took the day off to go into Ulsan to register for the alien card. Yay. But Koreans love to feed me so my coteachr bought me dumplings for lunch. SO GOOD. She showed me a place right by my apartment that sells giant burger sized dumplings. We got kimchi ones, they were super amazing and super spicy. We also passed by this store:

I'm famous!

Today I went back to school and did my intro for 4 more classes. Lunch was AMAZING. It was something called Ssambap I think. Basically rice, beef stew and some yummy sauce wrapped in lettuce and giant herb leaves. It was kinda mexican tasting, and super delicious.

About teaching: It's astounding how different each class if. Also it is sad how huge the skill levels are. I have some students who stare at my, absolutely petrified, then I have others who will casually say "No, thanks." or some other colloquial term. I have been singing an old camp song "There was a great big moose" and I swear I will never ever sing this song again haha. It gets quite tiring. Luckily, they all like the funny versions of it (slow motion, underwater) but I have yet to determine if they're laughing at or with me.

Today I got the most "hello" and "hi"s so far. Children on the street pretty much yell it at me haha. Sometimes I also get a "nice to meet you!". My favourite was as I was walking by some kids playing soccer one starting frantically calling out " HI! HI! HI! HI! HI!" It took me a while to realize this was to me, and not a soccer call.

Everyone also keeps telling me I'm pretty. Whether or not I agree, I will take the compliment. Ok not everybody. This morning a teacher asked me what was wrong because my eyes looked so tired? I was not tired!

Random thoughts:

- I'm so happy my coteacher showed me how to turn on the hot water.

- I have NOT been doing polite hand gestures at all. I completely forgot. Luckilly, no one seems offended, and they usually laugh when I try to remmeddy the situation a few minutes later.

- My coteacher said I am good at teaching.. but she's so nice I'm not sure if she's telling the truth. One of my classes actually went INSANE today I thought I might get trampled haha.

- Teaching is hard work yo!

- Koreans use the "~" symbol instead of "-" to mark points, or notes, which made me very confused. I thought everything was an approximation for a while.

- It's amazing how quickly a fish hater can become accustomed to fish tasting everything

- I have no idea how to use a rice cooker. Korean instructions/buttons don't help.

Today I went for a walk

Turns out I'm not in the most scenic of areas, but that's ok. I wandered over a bridge and almost choked on smog. I walked over to a hill and saw a path so I walked up to to breathe some fresh air.

Well that explains the spiderwebs I felt!

I then walked along the water which was actually quite nice.

 I think teaching went well! Only 1 class was too cool to do what I asked haha but they weren't mean or anything. They just are at that age I suppose. Here are some pictures from my walk!

Ok this isn't from my walk but how
awesome is it? Found it in
the grocery store! Even the teachers
at school were impressed with
my luck! 

There were tons of egrets. There was something else too,
looked quite a bit like a great blue heron. None would
pose for photos though.

Not sure what's happening here but it looks cool and Korean.

Random wild patch of zucchini. I
recognized that  flower from a
cooking debacle.

The only splash of colour amidst
the rather drab architechture  

Pretty mountains always

Bugs!

This is for you AchAar.

You can't really explain the feeling...

Here is a thought process that is becoming a little too common..

Oh god I need to pee

YES a bathroom

Oh god no toilet paper in stall

YES there is some by the sink

OH GOD SQUATTING TOILET

...panic panic panic...

Aahhh.. western style toilet.

With many thanks DASA Rang

“With many thanks DASA Rang who aims the top of the chicken industry together Fhranchise difference becomes the leader of industry.  Currently at day culminates Fhranchise difference cu the chicken market is becoming larger gradually with increase of the interest regarding and consuming. It will lead a chicken market in the management philosophy which many thanks DASA Rang is discriminated and organization it will go out. Strongly with many thanks DASA Rang who equips the professionalism and discrimination of top from all fields future together.”

Beautifully put Dasa Rang. Beautifully put.

Apartment & Day 1

Hello faithful blog readers,

Today went very well! I walked to school with my co-teacher and began meeting everyone. I met the principal and vice principal and sat in the wrong chair and was very embarrassed. Turns out the one they point to isn't the one you sit in? I did use my broken Korean to address them though, and gave them all some maple syrup. They were speaking in Korean, presumably about me, and seemed happy enough. The principal did say I looked young, asked what my degree was (eek never felt so embarrassed of a BSc haha) and then said that teaching would be hard. The vice principal had fun saying my last name. They gave me green tea and were sort of warning me that it was green, and then my coteacher told them I had bought green tea at the grocery store and they all seemed happy.

Next up I met all the grade 5 and 6 teachers, as those are the two grades I will be teaching. I used my 3 Korean phrases and got a very positive reaction! They clapped and smiled and then they told me which men were single. I will be teaching English with a lot of homeroom teachers who don't speak much of it, but they all offered to help in any way they could.

I also will be teaching a single grade 3 class, which I think will be fun to mix it up. There is another Guest English Teacher at the school and he passed on his grade 3  knowledge to me.

I finished up my introduction lesson which I will be able to show for about a week because I have so many different classes (there's eight grade 5 classes and nine grade six's!). My coteacher said I was very good at computers ! Thank goodness my high school made us do a powerpoint presentaiton for every project ever - the skill has come in quite handy.

As promised, here are some pictures!

Oh my goodness how could I forget to discuss food. I had a cup of noodles for breakfast, and then had the school lunch. What was served? Rice, kimchi, soup, dried cuttlefish, weird cold omelette, and.. SPAGHETTI! What a lovely surprise. I was forced to eat the spaghetti at an excruciatingly slow pace due to my tools being chopsticks. The rest of the meal was really good too (except the weird cold omellete): the kimchi was much better than at orientation, and the cuttlefish was actually amazing. I didn't know it was cuttlefish until after I tried and enjoyed it. I totally thought it was a mushroom! There was so much food that I was unable to finish my plate out of fullness, and not distaste.

Finally, the weirdest thing to happen to me today: the previous tenant/teacher left behind some shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo is all in English, so much be an import. It says "violet shampoo to remove brassiness from blond hair." I thought "whatever, marketing gimick" but OH MY GOODNESS it was so horrifyingly purple and dark I fear my hair will be dyed purple. I am definitely buying some shampoo tomorrow.

Oh also the kids seem very cute. The brave ones said hi to me. The very brave ones asked my name and said I was pretty. I could totally get used to this.

Kitchen where the previous tenant was kind enough to leave
an ashtray mug and popcorn wrapper haha.

The living room with all my luggage in it.

Isn't that a cute toilet seat? It's
about as firm as foam but it looks
nice! The shower head is behind
the door.

I have so few clothes that this
was actually more than enough
space for them.

My double bed! Alas now I need to find double sheets

Washing machine that brutally
maimed my dresses.
Luckily I have a needle
and thread!

Really my photos are inspiring.

First day, off to inspire. 

Interesting breakfast. Tea, ramen,
and a bunch of little maple syrups.

My school!

My building! It says: Ma ee Uyae ee
Hom I think..  The Uyae I;m not
too sure on.

Moved in!

Hi guys!

I know I said I wouldn't have internet, but I am lucky and do! I am currently on a neighbours wireless and the signal is not too bad while I wait for mine to be hooked up.

I woke up today around 5 30 because I was so nervous/excited! Packed everything up, had my last free breakfast (bacon and eggs for our last meal! so nice of them) and was OFF.

We drove from Jeonju (Orientation location) to Gumi, where we had  lunch. Lunch included more bibimbap and a seafood pajeon (turns out this is the fried pancake thing I had my first night). Pretty much, my favourite two Korean dishes. Pajeon is actually so amazing. Today's again contained various tentacles and a bunch of fresh little onions. Yum.

But on to more exciting things! I met my co teacher and was driven to Gyeongju! She seems extremely nice, and I think we had a very pleasant ride. She's been to Canada a bunch of times, and so I am please to know she'll like the maple syrup I brought her. Her car GPS was out of this world. It included a 3D map of where we were which was accurate to the point of showing specific buildings around us. It had little 3d people walking across the crosswalks. It would warn her when she was speeding if a taffic camera was coming up. It was amazing. She was amused by my amazement.

I got to my apartment which was nothing like I expected... it was much better! My kitchen, living room, laundry room and bedroom are all separate rooms! There is a whole bunch of stuff here including dishes, cleaning products, and a drying rack. There is A/C! There is internet! There is a TV in case I want to watch Korean TV! Haha. So exciting!

Another bonus: I'm in a bustling little area. I am 5 minutes from a big grocery store, and 10 minutes from my school. There are cafes and restaurants everywhere. I really want to wander around, but I have decided to spend today unpacking. Tomorrow I will wander and take good pictures for you guys.

Tomorrow I start at the school eeeeeee. I am going to spend the day observing, and then Wednesday I will start teaching. My coteacher asked me to prepare a little introduction class about me and Canada. Shouldn't be too hard... right?

Oh and also she said I will be mainly teaching grades 5 and 6 which I think sounds like a good age group. It's a huge school with 9 different grade 6 classes, ayeuy. Another teacher from EPIK found out today that they'd be teaching at 3 middle schools and 1 high school.. poor guy!!

Ok MAJOR rambling, I apologize. The computer chair I am sitting in is one of the most comfortable chairs I've ever sat in, so blogging currently is much more enticing than unpacking.

ONE MORE THING: I have somehow managed to learn the Korean alphabet! It's very logical so it hasn't been too hard. Understanding what I'm reading, however, is a whole different story haha. I am too hyper to spell check. Deal with it.