Start

We have a new school year ahead of us.  Hint for teachers, if you can, clean before you leave at the end of the year.  This I didn't do.  Now I must.  Going through the papers and deciding what to keep and what to through out.  My binder of lesson plans were all examples of what not to do, so I didn't keep it.

Our meeting where we learned who had which office as well as what we were teaching went well.  After a rather confusing chart was distributed, we talked it over and straightened out the logistics of how we were going to work through this coming year.

I was a bit disappointed in that I am teaching completely new classes.  So I can't use old lesson materials at all.  It gives me a fresh start though, so I don't mind too much.  We are switching up how we teach Sabbath Schools as well.  The first weekend is ours.  The rest we teach.  We will be in teams and two classes will be provided.  We are to encourage students to sign up to come as they have the option of coming or not.

On a fun note, the age old game at this school was pulled out last night.  We played Monopoly Deal among most of the new teachers.  It was a lot of fun.  The students are in for a surprise if they can be forced to play by the rules including no more than 7 cards in one hand.

Dinner

This morning I started my day hanging out with the new teachers.  We had lunch in the cafe together, then walked around the school for awhile.  Then we hung out at the larger apartment and talked.  When they were going to go for a walk, I claimed work on my computer and went back to my place.  Made sure my online class for this past week was completely finished.  The next week's assignments are now up.

Then we met again for supper.  Ordered pizza and chicken.  They set up the table and we toasted with pop.  It was both relaxed and formal in a way.  The other guys all treated me with respect... like a lady.  I am unused to this, but found that I liked it.  I'm used to being one of the guys.  To be treated as a lady is new and not unwelcome.  Holding doors, serving me first, letting me decide the simple things like what to eat.  All of this was surprising.  After supper we walked to Namsan to show the newbies where things are located.  Enjoyed talking with them.  Felt a sense of protectiveness from them towards me at different times throughout the walk.  It was after dark so I suppose it was only natural.

I offered to show anyone who wanted to learn the bus route to town and back.  I am going shopping for groceries on Friday.  Need to get some things more quickly, like bread.

So I figured I could eat dairy here.  I must be wrong.  Even in Korea, I have trouble with milk and cheese.  So I will probably avoid dairy again... even the ice cream.  Wonder what else causes trouble to my digestive system?

Keeping Jesus Near

I want to share a little testimony that I am unsure many of you are aware of.  When I first came to South Korea, I did experience culture shock and homesickness like any other foreigner.

The first month I was here, I spent ALL my spare time reading the Bible and researching concepts or cultural things I found there.  It was my lifeline.  The first month I was here, sure I missed people.  I was not unhappy though.  My negative feelings were almost nonexistent.

Then I kinda just stopped.  And slowly life became lonely, depressing, unbearable.  I felt nothing could be accomplished or overcome.  That if only I was back in the states I would be happy.  If only I had English services to go to I would be happy.  If only I have family and friends nearby, I would be happy.

Then when I got back to the states, I found a trusted friend who works at Union College and relayed to her my observations.  She had helped me immensely through college, especially my senior year.  We realized that as long as I prayed and read the Bible, I was okay.  It was only when I deviated that life became so hard.  That was the missing key.  A relationship with Jesus.  So I started another blog, where readers would notice if I didn't write anything or didn't write anything well.  It is a way to encourage me to not let my relationship with Jesus slip again.

He is all I need.

Children

Something that is becoming more and more clear is how child friendly this country is.  The whole nation is centered around children.  Everything is set up for them and helping them to have a brighter future.  It is absolutely amazing.  If I was to marry and have kids... if... then this would be the place to raise them for the first few years of their lives.  They would even have the added advantage of being exposed to another language.  They would be able to pick up Korean that much more quickly.

Aug 2013

I have been thinking about how long to stay in South Korea.  For getting another job, I should have a minimum of 2 or 3 years of experience.  The good jobs require that.  So staying here until Aug 2013 was looking like a good option.  However, I am really adjusting to life here.  Staying here even three years no longer seems like a bad option.  Of course I haven't restarted taking classes yet.  I also have quite a few new teachers here that I wasn't counting on.  So will have to wait and see how a semester goes with me more on my feet now.

Church

I have had the wonderful opportunity to go to church today.  Not the one with the school.  An actual church.  It was enjoyable and I was very happy about it.  A friend came and picked me up.  He drove us to the smaller church and we arrived in time for the end of sabbath school.  Basic, but enjoyable.  Then we went upstairs to the sanctuary.  The prayers and the sermon were translated.  There were kids making a small symphony.  It was pretty neat.  They said goodbye to a foreign teacher who sang a song for us.  I suppressed tears, it was so beautiful.  He cried.  Potluck was really good.  I recognized everything from the cafe.  I only messed up when I got korean pizza patties... started to eat them and tasted the dreaded korean mushroom taste.  Adding rice to each bit I chewed helped hide it so I wouldn't gag.  Never been so thankful for rice.  There was pineapple too and that really made my day.

Afterwards the person who took me to church showed me his apartment there.  He has two.  We went walking and he showed me more of the local area.  Then he loaned me one of his guitars and gave me a lesson.  On our way back, he showed me some of the scenic areas nearby.  He knows a lot of hiking trails but I am nervous about taking them after my poor performance last time I went hiking.  It was a great day and I ended it with making nonbake cookies.

Slideshow

So I worked to create a slideshow for the blog... and something went wrong.  So here is a link to my album on photobucket that I created for the purpose of sharing some pictures with you.

http://s1141.photobucket.com/albums/n599/maidenroseheart/Life%20of%20an%20English%20Teacher/?action=view&current=7c88608a.pbw&ps=1&t=1329975819

Network

So apparently the Seventh-day Adventists in South Korea have a large and extensive network.

As Teacher Michael was about to leave yesterday, we were standing outside talking while waiting for his taxi to come.  A white guy on a bike pedals up to us (remember I am in the country, the middle of nowhere) and asks if we are teachers here.  I'm blown away that a white person is even here.  Michael explains that he is leaving but I am staying.  The fellow says he is a professor from Daegu University, a SDA, and has been here for 10 years.  Wow!

Turns out that his name is also Michael.  We talked for a couple hours and he, upon learning how new I am to South Korea and how out of the loop I am with the SDA network, starts talking to me about all that is actually at my finger tips.  He generously offered to help me start meeting people, learning about more stuff around town, and take me to church.  So I will have people to hang and travel with, know where to buy vegi meat at, and even where the black market in town is.  Super excited.

SDA foreigners look out for each other here.  Anywhere I want to travel, there most likely will be an SDA at that place, and I most likely will be able to stay with them for free.  We all enjoy talking to each other evidently.

A relief, and truly a God-sent, is that he told me how if there was problems at my school that I could just tell him (or one of those he will introduce me to) and they will make the necessary phone calls.  There are people higher up the ladder than the principle who will talk to the principle.  Aka, I won't have to worry about violations of labor laws... I have protection!

And a new idea for where to get my masters has been opened up too.  There is a really prestigious school in Australia that is internationally renown... and I could attend if I wish.  Anyone would hire me if I have a degree from there.  So it is another option.

So why didn't I type this up last night?  Internet was out.  A new teacher that used to be here before and built the international program is back... and between him and a friend of his who is also coming here... I am super hopeful that this coming year will be awesome.  I can't tell you how positively charged the atmosphere is becoming.  And there are two other teachers coming... both with good reputations of being great teachers.  So I will have good models to watch just like I did last year.  Though I am already missing my friends who left.

Missed

Something I truly appreciate about being back in Korea is the amazing friendliness of the people here.  I had forgotten.  Sure language is a problem.  Not understanding can be so difficult.  In fact, I had adjusted so much to communicating here that somehow when I went stateside there were actually miscommunication between me and loved ones on several occasions.  I just wasn't on the same wavelength.  Interesting how the world works ;)

Jelly

So, Korea has a tendency to use less preservatives than the US does.  Nothing demonstrates this more than leaving jelly in the fridge for a couple months.  Came back from the states and found mold inside.  Wow.

Returning from Vacation Stateside

For the record, I never liked flying.  It just isn't my thing.  With that said, you will more appreciate the views and experiences I am about to describe.  Also my experiences can lend aid to your own if you decide to travel.

When I was in the states, I wanted to visit as many as I could.  I crammed my traveling into three weeks by spending time in basically four states and three regions.  Kansas and Nebraska saw me the most.  I was also in North Carolina and Oregon.  Needless to say... I got around.

My school paid for me a round trip ticket on the condition that I would stay an additional year or pay them back.  I chose to stay an additional year.  They set it up so that I flew to and from Kansas.  My last visit was in Oregon so I had to fly back to the Midwest in order to catch my flight.  Here is a learning point: double check the dates when you order yourself tickets.  I accidently set my flight for March 14 instead of February 14.  Thankfully Frontier Airlines has a hardworking policy and found me a flight that very day at no additional charge other than the transfer fee.

I was going to take sleeping pills and sleep while we where crossing the Pacific (actually, we didn't... went north through Canada, crossed Alaska, skimmed Russia, and landed in Japan.)  Figured that was the easiest way to get through a flight.  However, learning point: if you decide to stay up and read or watch movies then be sure to periodically stand up and walk around.  It helps in more ways than one in both emotional and physical ways.

Another learning point: double check and make sure your layovers are two hours long.  If you are flying in winter and the plane gets delayed an hour waiting to be deiced... you stand a chance of missing your connecting flight.  Thankfully, the Tokyo airport has an efficient system set up for baggage.  I ran into sweet ladies who let me ahead of them in the security line.  Then I ran down the escalators and along the moving walkways to my gate.  They were waiting for me, but if I had been 5 minutes later then I might have missed the gate.

Last learning point:  if possible, pre-arrange travel plans at your destination.  If you are going to take a bus, buy the ticket online and print it out.  When I arrived in Korea, I had to take a taxi from the airport to the school.  Well, I didn't have to.  I didn't know that there was a train available.  I also didn't know that Teacher Oh was willing to drive and pick me up even though I was well over an hour away.  So do your research!

Those are my learning points.  I really, really don't like flying anymore.  However, I will take an hour flight over an hour ride in a taxi anyday.  Less upsetting to the innards if you know what I mean.