That is hello in Korean, which is the only word that I have picked up so far working in my Korean school. After working for a week here I think it will be fine. The very first thing every class told me when I walked in was "teacher, you have a very small face." Um, ok. I absolutely love my 7th graders. They are so silly and make me laugh everday. The 8th and 9th graders have a bit of an attitude, but then I try and remember what I was like back then (sorry mom!), and have to try to understand. My 11th grade students are pretty cool. I only teach them writing, which comes with a different set of issues than teaching writing at home, but it's interesting.
The teachers here are pretty nice. I basically only talk to the foreign teachers but some of the Korean teachers are very friendly. Every other Friday we have Club Activity for the last 2 periods of the day. So I played soccer with the boys, as the only girl. The students thought it was hysterical, but wouldn't come near me when I had the ball. Which made it much easier to play! They also play a lot of badminton and ping pong. Maybe next week.
I am still enjoying Korean food for lunch and am able to try something new everyday. Literally, everyday there is something on my plate that I have NO idea what it might be. Sometimes it works out well for me, sometimes not so much. I like that I get to try all sorts of different things. Yesterday when I was downtown I ate octupus legs skewered on a stick from a street vendor. Surprisingly, very delicious. I have to work my way up to the whole squid skewered on a stick ,which I am sure is equally delicious, but a little more frightening to look at. I also met a man yesterday who told me he would teach me how to cook Chinese food, which I am VERY excited about. They like things really spicy here, which is right up my alley.
I had a good weekend. We went out on Friday to the bars. Well I should say "bar", as the teachers here like to frequent one specific one, Alibaba. It's a mix between a bar, dance club and pool hall. We stayed in the dance club most of the night, where I was of course a dancing machine. I was not quite as coordinated as the Koreans, who have synchronized dances to most every song. Most of the people in the bar were foreigners and I met people from South Africa, England, Portugal, Sweden, India, Mexico, Australia, and of course the US. Like my dad said, it was like a meeting of the United Nations. Throw on some dance music, add a beer or two and maybe we can achieve world peace.
Saturday I spent most of the day walking around with one of the other teachers here and went for a run. Yantai is very beautiful. It's on the sea and there are mountains in the background. I wish all of you could come live with me here, it's really a very cool place. The only thing it's missing is my friends and family. and cheese. and flushing toilets. and mattresses. Ok, so it's missing a few things, but regardless, I think everyone should at least come visit.
The teachers here are pretty nice. I basically only talk to the foreign teachers but some of the Korean teachers are very friendly. Every other Friday we have Club Activity for the last 2 periods of the day. So I played soccer with the boys, as the only girl. The students thought it was hysterical, but wouldn't come near me when I had the ball. Which made it much easier to play! They also play a lot of badminton and ping pong. Maybe next week.
I am still enjoying Korean food for lunch and am able to try something new everyday. Literally, everyday there is something on my plate that I have NO idea what it might be. Sometimes it works out well for me, sometimes not so much. I like that I get to try all sorts of different things. Yesterday when I was downtown I ate octupus legs skewered on a stick from a street vendor. Surprisingly, very delicious. I have to work my way up to the whole squid skewered on a stick ,which I am sure is equally delicious, but a little more frightening to look at. I also met a man yesterday who told me he would teach me how to cook Chinese food, which I am VERY excited about. They like things really spicy here, which is right up my alley.
I had a good weekend. We went out on Friday to the bars. Well I should say "bar", as the teachers here like to frequent one specific one, Alibaba. It's a mix between a bar, dance club and pool hall. We stayed in the dance club most of the night, where I was of course a dancing machine. I was not quite as coordinated as the Koreans, who have synchronized dances to most every song. Most of the people in the bar were foreigners and I met people from South Africa, England, Portugal, Sweden, India, Mexico, Australia, and of course the US. Like my dad said, it was like a meeting of the United Nations. Throw on some dance music, add a beer or two and maybe we can achieve world peace.
Saturday I spent most of the day walking around with one of the other teachers here and went for a run. Yantai is very beautiful. It's on the sea and there are mountains in the background. I wish all of you could come live with me here, it's really a very cool place. The only thing it's missing is my friends and family. and cheese. and flushing toilets. and mattresses. Ok, so it's missing a few things, but regardless, I think everyone should at least come visit.
2 comments:
Well Ha se yo to you!
Sounds like you are settling in, even though there are some minor inconveniences. I thought you were in China, but it sounds like you are in a KOREAN school, not a Chinese school. I am confused.
Len left early this morning for New York and is staying with a friend of mine there as the rooms are very expensive for some reason.
I can assure you he is eating some good meals there.
Sunny today....no more rain....
keep having fun and smiling. Koreans have large flat faces so I bet yours does look small.
Love you...:) Ide
Why is everything in China on a stick?
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