I realize I haven't talked much about the teaching aspect of my Korean life on this blog, because it makes me tired just thinking of all the work I've had to do. Every six months this school holds an Open Class where kindergarten parents can come in and see what their children are doing, and it was my responsibility to lead one of them. This event requires a ton of preparation, and considering I've only been here about two and a half weeks with no prior teaching experience, you can understand why there was so much pressure. I was jumping into a situation where I had to be at my best immediately, and there was also a lot of catching up to do, as the teacher I replaced was in the hospital for a while just before I got here.
I went over the schedule with Mrs. Kim several times, and even stayed late to practice my presentation the night before. For good measure, I also watched the following clip for inspiration:
It's not exactly like my job, but it's closer than you'd probably think. I'll bet Danny Kaye could've been the greatest ESL teacher ever if he wanted to be, but then, I doubt there's anything Danny Kaye couldn't have been great at if he wanted to be.
This morning was the moment of truth, and I won't lie, I was nervous. I felt a little sick to my stomach before it began, but fortunately, Mrs. Kim and the Korean teacher for that kindergarten class were there to assist me when I needed it. I often find ways to credit my improv classes for helping me become a better person, but I really feel like it applies here. I goofed up the script a few times, but I somehow managed to cover my slipups like a pro. That's improv, baby! Truthfully, it felt like a minor miracle that some parts went as smoothly as they did, but thank God things worked out. That clip from Hans Christian Andersen also found its way into part of the presentation, because at one point the kids got a little rowdy and I tried to say "ladies and gentlemen!" to calm them down. It didn't work as well for me. I guess there can be only one Danny Kaye.
I was told later that most of the parents don't speak English themselves, so they couldn't tell when I made mistakes. Still, I felt good about the job I did, and the feedback I got was nothing but positive. What a relief! I was told that a lot of the parents liked me and were impressed by how tall I was. In six months I'll have to do it all over again, and I imagine this experience will be a boost to my confidence.
Now that Open Class is over, I'm told it gets easier. Of course, there are still a ton of other classes I teach, and they require preparations of their own. I was told about kindergarten when I was first hired, but in fact, I only teach one kindergarten class. Most of the stuff I teach is with the older kids. Also on my schedule: science classes, math classes, phonics classes, current events classes, history classes, and plain old English classes.
Most classes start with a session of "How Are You?", in which I ask each student how they are doing, and give them a chance to practice their English. The answer is usually "I am happy" or "I am sad" or "I am angry," followed by a reason. Some kids get lazy though and give "just because" as their reason. In cases like that I have to start initiating questions like "what did you do over the weekend?" or "what are your plans?" In classes where there's a Korean assistant teacher, they sometimes ask for help saying what they want to say. It's pretty cool, and a good way to ease into the class.
I'm surprised at how rowdy some of these kids can be. It's nearly impossible to keep them in their seats at times. Was I like that when I was their age? I don't remember ever being that way, but perhaps I've forgotten. On the other end of the scale you have kids you can barely get a word out of, who can be almost as frustrating. Though it's stressful when the kids don't behave, it's funny to think back on those classes later (sort of an "I can't believe I survived that" feeling). I hope the humor doesn't wear off, because being able to laugh about things makes them bearable.
Though there's been a lot for me to absorb since I've been working here, the experience has been rewarding so far. I love the language I speak, and I'm gaining a greater appreciation for it by working with it on a daily basis. Maybe to most people this wouldn't be a big deal, but I always feel kind of cool when I'm asked to check someone's grammar or to explain a word. It makes me feel like I'm an expert in something, even though I know it's nothing more than being a native speaker clarifying for a non-native speaker. Still, I enjoy getting to share my knowledge of English with others and being the person who introduces certain words and concepts.
The other day I introduced the word "batch" to the kids. It was math class, and I had to type up some word problems beforehand. These kids know their math already, but the goal is to get them to understand mathematical concepts in English. For each word problem they had to figure out whether they were adding, subtracting or multiplying, then answer the question. One of the word problems I typed up was "My mother made three batches of cookies. If each batch has 12 cookies, how many cookies are there altogether?" I had to explain to the class what a batch was, and though they kind of robotically said "yes" when I asked "does everyone understand?", it seemed clear when checking their work later that some of them didn't. With one girl who got it wrong I tried explaining it again:
"When we make cookies, do we put just one cookie in the oven?"
"No."
"Right. We put in lots of cookies. So if my mother puts 12 cookies in the oven at one time and does that three times, how many cookies do we have?"
"Ohhhhhh!"
Her face lit up like she suddenly understood, and when she came back to have her work checked again she had the correct answer (36, for those of you who can't do it in your head). Inside I felt like "Wow! I just taught someone something!"
One thing that makes this job difficult is that you hear English spoken all the time, and your brain assumes an understanding behind the words. The fact is that many of these kids can say certain phrases, but they can't completely think in English the way a native speaker does. When you speak to them you have to remind yourself that they might only be partially understanding you.
This job is most definitely a challenge, but it's one I enjoy tackling. I can't wait to see how I'm doing in a month from now.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
The Acclimation Continues
So I didn't really have much of a weekend, because I've been getting accustomed to the responsibilities of this job. On Friday I was at school until about 11 PM working on preparations for next week's classes, then on Saturday I went back into the office for more preparations. I also talked to Mrs. Kim a bit about the plans for this week, since it's the busiest time of year here at Raffles. I feel like I'm getting better at this job, but I'm still pretty green, of course.
You probably don't want to hear about all this boring teacher work though. You want to hear about life in a new country!
On Friday morning I went into the immigration office to apply for my Alien Registration Card, and I should have it in about three weeks, I'm told. I had to take a bus to the place where I'd meet one of the Korean teachers, and fortunately, one of my fellow foreign teachers needed to go there too, so she was able to help me find the right bus and all that. The bus was nice. I'm more or less indifferent to public transportation, but it was up to the standards of Chicago's buses, so that's good enough for me.
Besides the work I had to do on Saturday, I did some other significant things as well. I took a short walk around town, and I may have become the first person in history to walk down the streets of Gwangju singing "Everything is Ticketty-Boo." As I was walking I suddenly heard the sweet sounds of Secret's latest single, "Starlight, Moonlight," and I noticed there was a store with a TV in the window tuned to a music channel where the video was playing. Did I stop to watch it, even though I'd already seen it a ton of times? Of course I did! Who can resist Secret's charms?
I went back to Lotteria (that fast food place I mentioned before) to grab a bite. I had a chicken sandwich this time, and it was tasty but gooey. I paid less than the price shown on the menu, and I wondered whether it was because the girl pressed the wrong button or because they lowered the price and hadn't changed the menu yet. Either way, I saved about 1,000 Won, so that was nice.
Also on Saturday I moved out of the guest apartment and into the apartment of the teacher I replaced. It's bigger and has more stuff in it, like a desk to sit at, a microwave and a larger bed (not that I really minded the single bed I had in the guest apartment, but hey, I have more space to move around now). The old teacher didn't leave much of a mess in here either, so that gave me less to worry about. There was no TV, so I took the one from the guest apartment.
I finally did my laundry on Saturday night/Sunday morning. The laundry system here isn't designed for clean freaks like me. On the top floor of this building is a washing machine, and after we're done with a load we have to hang our clothes on racks to let them air dry. For sheets we have to clip them to the bannisters in the stairwell. If you know me, you can believe I wiped off the bannister before I clipped my sheets to it. The paper towel got so much dirt on it that I felt justified in doing so.
On Sunday I needed food, so I went to the grocery store next door to the school. I'd only been in there once to buy one item, because my fellow teachers had told me it was more expensive there. I decided it was time to familiarize myself with their selection though, and boy was I glad I did. I finally found some disinfectant spray! Woo-hoo! Less stress on laundry day! Another thing I liked about it was that they actually had prices listed for most of the items, so I had a better idea of what I'd be paying.
On the way out I saw a girl wearing a White Sox hat, so I stopped and said to her "Chicago White Sox!" She looked confused, then I pointed to her hat and repeated myself. She seemed to understand and just giggled. Next time I'll say "White Sox hwaiting!" to let the person know I'm a fan. MLB merchandise seems to be popular around here (mostly American League teams, I've noticed), but I wonder how many people know anything about the teams whose caps and jerseys they wear.
I don't think I mentioned it before, but the alarm clock I brought from home no longer works. I tried plugging it into the wall with one of those small plastic converters and it shorted out. Oh well. At least it had a good long life. I don't plan to throw it away, because I go way back with that clock. What was it, 1994 or so? Yeah, that thing's part of the history of Ian. I'm saving it. Interestingly enough, that clock was made in China, so it got to die on the same continent where it was born. Anyway, later on Sunday I went out again to buy a new alarm clock. I now have a cool old-fashioned non-digital one that uses a real bell, and the guy behind the counter even threw in new batteries for free. Awesome!
Today after work I went out for my third pizza from Nantapizza 5000. I decided to go with the pepperoni, which was an extra 500 Won, no biggie. They add green peppers to their pepperoni pizza, which, while marginally more healthful, didn't really appeal to my taste buds. I think I'll stick with the plain cheese next time, unless I'm in the mood for one of the more exotic toppings.
While I was out to get the pizza, several random people said "hi" to me. I'm thinking they might have been fascinated by a real live foreigner. It was just strange, because I hadn't had that experience since I'd been here and all of a sudden three different people talked to me in one brief walk outside (well, two of them were in the same pack of people, but still...).
Anyway, maybe next time I'll talk more about my teaching experiences, but as of right now I'm too stressed thinking about the classroom to write about it. Stay tuned!
You probably don't want to hear about all this boring teacher work though. You want to hear about life in a new country!
On Friday morning I went into the immigration office to apply for my Alien Registration Card, and I should have it in about three weeks, I'm told. I had to take a bus to the place where I'd meet one of the Korean teachers, and fortunately, one of my fellow foreign teachers needed to go there too, so she was able to help me find the right bus and all that. The bus was nice. I'm more or less indifferent to public transportation, but it was up to the standards of Chicago's buses, so that's good enough for me.
Besides the work I had to do on Saturday, I did some other significant things as well. I took a short walk around town, and I may have become the first person in history to walk down the streets of Gwangju singing "Everything is Ticketty-Boo." As I was walking I suddenly heard the sweet sounds of Secret's latest single, "Starlight, Moonlight," and I noticed there was a store with a TV in the window tuned to a music channel where the video was playing. Did I stop to watch it, even though I'd already seen it a ton of times? Of course I did! Who can resist Secret's charms?
I went back to Lotteria (that fast food place I mentioned before) to grab a bite. I had a chicken sandwich this time, and it was tasty but gooey. I paid less than the price shown on the menu, and I wondered whether it was because the girl pressed the wrong button or because they lowered the price and hadn't changed the menu yet. Either way, I saved about 1,000 Won, so that was nice.
Also on Saturday I moved out of the guest apartment and into the apartment of the teacher I replaced. It's bigger and has more stuff in it, like a desk to sit at, a microwave and a larger bed (not that I really minded the single bed I had in the guest apartment, but hey, I have more space to move around now). The old teacher didn't leave much of a mess in here either, so that gave me less to worry about. There was no TV, so I took the one from the guest apartment.
I finally did my laundry on Saturday night/Sunday morning. The laundry system here isn't designed for clean freaks like me. On the top floor of this building is a washing machine, and after we're done with a load we have to hang our clothes on racks to let them air dry. For sheets we have to clip them to the bannisters in the stairwell. If you know me, you can believe I wiped off the bannister before I clipped my sheets to it. The paper towel got so much dirt on it that I felt justified in doing so.
On Sunday I needed food, so I went to the grocery store next door to the school. I'd only been in there once to buy one item, because my fellow teachers had told me it was more expensive there. I decided it was time to familiarize myself with their selection though, and boy was I glad I did. I finally found some disinfectant spray! Woo-hoo! Less stress on laundry day! Another thing I liked about it was that they actually had prices listed for most of the items, so I had a better idea of what I'd be paying.
On the way out I saw a girl wearing a White Sox hat, so I stopped and said to her "Chicago White Sox!" She looked confused, then I pointed to her hat and repeated myself. She seemed to understand and just giggled. Next time I'll say "White Sox hwaiting!" to let the person know I'm a fan. MLB merchandise seems to be popular around here (mostly American League teams, I've noticed), but I wonder how many people know anything about the teams whose caps and jerseys they wear.
I don't think I mentioned it before, but the alarm clock I brought from home no longer works. I tried plugging it into the wall with one of those small plastic converters and it shorted out. Oh well. At least it had a good long life. I don't plan to throw it away, because I go way back with that clock. What was it, 1994 or so? Yeah, that thing's part of the history of Ian. I'm saving it. Interestingly enough, that clock was made in China, so it got to die on the same continent where it was born. Anyway, later on Sunday I went out again to buy a new alarm clock. I now have a cool old-fashioned non-digital one that uses a real bell, and the guy behind the counter even threw in new batteries for free. Awesome!
Today after work I went out for my third pizza from Nantapizza 5000. I decided to go with the pepperoni, which was an extra 500 Won, no biggie. They add green peppers to their pepperoni pizza, which, while marginally more healthful, didn't really appeal to my taste buds. I think I'll stick with the plain cheese next time, unless I'm in the mood for one of the more exotic toppings.
While I was out to get the pizza, several random people said "hi" to me. I'm thinking they might have been fascinated by a real live foreigner. It was just strange, because I hadn't had that experience since I'd been here and all of a sudden three different people talked to me in one brief walk outside (well, two of them were in the same pack of people, but still...).
Anyway, maybe next time I'll talk more about my teaching experiences, but as of right now I'm too stressed thinking about the classroom to write about it. Stay tuned!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
It's a Magical World...Let's Go Exploring!
Since I've been in Korea I've learned a few things about my adaptability skills. I must've used up all my energy on the huge leap I made in coming here, because as of yet I've been hesitant to do more than dip a toe in the Gwangju pool.
As I mentioned in my first post, I've done some walking around my immediate neighborhood and familiarized myself with the area. I don't like to approach people unless I know exactly what I'm going to do or say, since I don't want to burden them with my language barrier issues. There are several grocery stores on my street, and usually I can go to one of them, find what I want on the shelves (though the selection is much more limited than in America) and pay for it without having to know any Korean. Of course, they can tell I'm a foreigner (the whole being Caucasian thing is a dead giveaway), since they often say "Thank you" instead of "Kan-sa-ham-ni-da" to me after I pay.
There was a chicken stand I wanted to try the food at a few days ago, but I ended up not getting anything because I wasn't sure what the menu items were and my Korean dictionary didn't seem to have translations for them. Too bad. The next day I stopped at a chicken shop that had a picture menu, and I got the cheapest thing there. My only gripe was that the portion they gave me was about half of what they showed in the picture. I don't know if they were ripping me off or what, but I was disappointed. If you give out only half a bag of chicken bite-thingies, then doggone it, don't show a full bag in the picture!
I found a place called Nantapizza that apparently markets itself as inexpensive. There's even a little cartoon on the bottom of the box. I can't understand it, but I'm pretty sure I can tell what's happening. There are two cats, one of whom is holding a 5,000 Won bill and lamenting the fact that he doesn't have enough money to buy anything good. The other cat tells him not to worry, because he can get a pizza for 5,000 Won at Nantapizza! They go to Nantapizza together and in the last panel they're both grinning from ear to ear at the huge pie that awaits them. Cute? Very. Once I have a camera I'll take a picture for you.
5,000 Won is actually only the price of their cheapest pizza, but since I don't want to spend too much my first month here, that was all I got. For those who don't know, pizza toppings in Korea are all kinds of weird stuff we Americans aren't used to, so I went with a plain cheese (known in Korea as "Chi-ja-pi-cha"), as it was cheapest and safest. They offer only two sizes: Large and XXXL, and obviously I went with the smaller of the two, "Large." I took the pizza home and it wasn't bad. It's no Malnati's, but hey, I'm not too picky when it comes to pizza these days.
I was curious how big the XXXL was, so last night I went back in the late evening (my work kept me at the school until 9:00) and decided I'd try the old Triple X-L. The woman behind the counter recognized me from last time, and I'm sure she was happy to have a loyal customer. There was a second woman in the store this time, and she held a small poodle in her arms. That's right, there was a dog in the store. Even funnier, she carried the dog with her behind the counter at one point. I'm guessing the health codes around these parts are a little more lax. The XXXL is definitely bigger, and I ended up only eating about half of it, as opposed to the Large, which I ate in one sitting.
Only once have I ventured off my street, and that was when I decided to walk up and down the big, busy street that runs near mine. I stopped at a fast food place called Lotteria, and I got some sort of shrimp burger thing. It was interesting. Some menu options were similar to what you'd see in America, but there were also some odd ones that I'd never even heard of. If I recall correctly there was a definite seafood leaning.
That same evening I decided to walk down a random side street after going further down the busy street. I came across a small grocery store and decided to check out the selection. The man behind the counter was very friendly and eager to help me find what I was looking for, and it was a memorable experience trying to talk with someone whose English was limited, but good enough for communicating in a barebones fashion. I probably spent a little more money there than I would've liked, but hey, I made a friend!
I could possibly talk a little about my teaching experiences, but right now I'm still learning the ropes, so it's hard to feel great about how I've done. I believe I can do this job well, but as of right now I know I still need to improve. I take confidence in knowing that I've become a valued employee at several jobs where I started out terribly. I know I'm capable of overcoming my weaknesses, because I've proven it to myself many times, but until I do I won't be able to rest easy. I don't think anyone has any idea how badly I want to succeed at this job.
It's now nighttime in the Land of the Morning Calm, which signals the end of my waking hours as well as this post. Hopefully next time I'll be able to end on a more upbeat note.
As I mentioned in my first post, I've done some walking around my immediate neighborhood and familiarized myself with the area. I don't like to approach people unless I know exactly what I'm going to do or say, since I don't want to burden them with my language barrier issues. There are several grocery stores on my street, and usually I can go to one of them, find what I want on the shelves (though the selection is much more limited than in America) and pay for it without having to know any Korean. Of course, they can tell I'm a foreigner (the whole being Caucasian thing is a dead giveaway), since they often say "Thank you" instead of "Kan-sa-ham-ni-da" to me after I pay.
There was a chicken stand I wanted to try the food at a few days ago, but I ended up not getting anything because I wasn't sure what the menu items were and my Korean dictionary didn't seem to have translations for them. Too bad. The next day I stopped at a chicken shop that had a picture menu, and I got the cheapest thing there. My only gripe was that the portion they gave me was about half of what they showed in the picture. I don't know if they were ripping me off or what, but I was disappointed. If you give out only half a bag of chicken bite-thingies, then doggone it, don't show a full bag in the picture!
I found a place called Nantapizza that apparently markets itself as inexpensive. There's even a little cartoon on the bottom of the box. I can't understand it, but I'm pretty sure I can tell what's happening. There are two cats, one of whom is holding a 5,000 Won bill and lamenting the fact that he doesn't have enough money to buy anything good. The other cat tells him not to worry, because he can get a pizza for 5,000 Won at Nantapizza! They go to Nantapizza together and in the last panel they're both grinning from ear to ear at the huge pie that awaits them. Cute? Very. Once I have a camera I'll take a picture for you.
5,000 Won is actually only the price of their cheapest pizza, but since I don't want to spend too much my first month here, that was all I got. For those who don't know, pizza toppings in Korea are all kinds of weird stuff we Americans aren't used to, so I went with a plain cheese (known in Korea as "Chi-ja-pi-cha"), as it was cheapest and safest. They offer only two sizes: Large and XXXL, and obviously I went with the smaller of the two, "Large." I took the pizza home and it wasn't bad. It's no Malnati's, but hey, I'm not too picky when it comes to pizza these days.
I was curious how big the XXXL was, so last night I went back in the late evening (my work kept me at the school until 9:00) and decided I'd try the old Triple X-L. The woman behind the counter recognized me from last time, and I'm sure she was happy to have a loyal customer. There was a second woman in the store this time, and she held a small poodle in her arms. That's right, there was a dog in the store. Even funnier, she carried the dog with her behind the counter at one point. I'm guessing the health codes around these parts are a little more lax. The XXXL is definitely bigger, and I ended up only eating about half of it, as opposed to the Large, which I ate in one sitting.
Only once have I ventured off my street, and that was when I decided to walk up and down the big, busy street that runs near mine. I stopped at a fast food place called Lotteria, and I got some sort of shrimp burger thing. It was interesting. Some menu options were similar to what you'd see in America, but there were also some odd ones that I'd never even heard of. If I recall correctly there was a definite seafood leaning.
That same evening I decided to walk down a random side street after going further down the busy street. I came across a small grocery store and decided to check out the selection. The man behind the counter was very friendly and eager to help me find what I was looking for, and it was a memorable experience trying to talk with someone whose English was limited, but good enough for communicating in a barebones fashion. I probably spent a little more money there than I would've liked, but hey, I made a friend!
I could possibly talk a little about my teaching experiences, but right now I'm still learning the ropes, so it's hard to feel great about how I've done. I believe I can do this job well, but as of right now I know I still need to improve. I take confidence in knowing that I've become a valued employee at several jobs where I started out terribly. I know I'm capable of overcoming my weaknesses, because I've proven it to myself many times, but until I do I won't be able to rest easy. I don't think anyone has any idea how badly I want to succeed at this job.
It's now nighttime in the Land of the Morning Calm, which signals the end of my waking hours as well as this post. Hopefully next time I'll be able to end on a more upbeat note.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Memorial Day
Today is my first holiday in Korea: Memorial Day. At 10:00 in the morning on June 6 we honor the members of the armed forces who gave their lives for this country, most notably in the Korean War, with a moment of silence.
Even though I'm a newcomer, I want to say that their sacrifice was most certainly not in vain. I've seen with my own eyes what a great country South Korea has grown into because of their perseverance, and on a personal note, without them I wouldn't have the opportunity I have here today. Since I don't have a flag to fly at half-mast, I'll put a flag underneath this text, which would place it right around the middle of the page.
In honor and remembrance:
Even though I'm a newcomer, I want to say that their sacrifice was most certainly not in vain. I've seen with my own eyes what a great country South Korea has grown into because of their perseverance, and on a personal note, without them I wouldn't have the opportunity I have here today. Since I don't have a flag to fly at half-mast, I'll put a flag underneath this text, which would place it right around the middle of the page.
In honor and remembrance:
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Stranger in a Strange Land
I know that title is the same as the worst episode of LOST (at least by my ranking), but it was the perfect way to describe life in a foreign continent where I have no family and few friends. I know that my family and friends who are reading this have probably been dying to hear what's going on, so at long last I'm inaugurating my Korea blog. I realize those family and friends are among the few reading, but I'll try to write mostly in a neutral voice for the benefit of anyone else who happens to stumble across it. That way they won't feel they need to know me to understand what I'm talking about. Just think of it as a diary or something.
Long Day's Journey Into Gwangju
My parents dropped me off at O'Hare on May 29 around 9:30 AM, and after my mother bid me farewell I was on my own. The guy at the airport desk was named Tae Woo Kim, and I was tempted to tell him I liked his song "Echo," but I figured that'd be stupid (probably correctly). I got through security quickly and easily, which gave me about two hours before we started boarding to sit and read my Korean phrasebook.
Most of the people waiting with me were Korean themselves, so I got my first taste of the outsider feeling while I was still in Chicago. I think some of them were Korean-Americans though, since I ended up briefly chatting with a few girls nearby (in English, of course). I'd assumed they were from Korea because they were speaking Korean to each other, but when I told them it was my first time going to Korea, one girl said it was hers too. Perhaps she was raised speaking Korean among her family and English with others, because I've read that that's how many Korean-Americans families are. When I told her I was going there to teach English she said "You're going to make a lot of money." Except perhaps for Hurley, I think most people enjoy hearing those words.
My flight was scheduled to leave Chicago on May 29 at noon, but I think they delayed the takeoff for about half an hour because it was raining. I have to say, Asiana Airlines was magnificent. They knew how to make a 14-hour flight comfortable. They provided headphones, slippers, pillows, blankets, two meals, and even those warm wet towels like the first class passengers got in The Wedding Singer. Because I agreed to take a seat by the wing exit in case of emergency, I had plenty of leg room, as well as space to get up and stretch my legs regularly.
The lights were out for the majority of the flight, since they expected people to sleep. I didn't do much sleeping though, because I found it hard to get relaxed enough. I probably only slept for about 30 minutes total on the plane. I started reading Benvenuto Cellini's autobiography (which I got from my uncle), and it was actually pretty interesting. I'm not very far into it (it's pretty long), but it kept me engaged during the second half of the trip.
For the first meal they offered two options: Western and Korean. I could've gone with the familiar "Western," but I figured hey, I'm going to Korea, so why not get a taste of the food I had to look forward to? I chose the Korean option, which was a meal called Bibimbap, and for foreigners like me they included instructions on how to put the separate ingredients of the main rice-and-vegetable course together. I was confused about how to prepare one of the sides, which was some sort of noodle soup. Fortunately, I saw how the Korean man next to me prepared it, so I was able not to look like too much of an idiot. I ended up loving that meal, certainly a good foot to get off on with Korean cuisine.
There were a projector and screen during the flight that constantly scrolled through stats like where we were, how far we'd traveled, what time it was at our destination and departure points, etc. I'm not sure if all long flights have that feature, but it certainly did provide a sense of perspective. When you're in the air for such a long period, time loses all meaning.
There were two couples with babies sitting in the rows across the aisle from mine, and for some reason I didn't mind the occasional crying. When the mother closest to me picked up her boy and walked around with him it made me think of how my own mother got a little teary as she was saying goodbye to me. Perhaps one day that mother will have a similar moment with her son, and she'll think back to those days when she could carry him around in a pouch.
There was the usual customs stuff to do when I arrived in Korea (by which point it was around 4 PM on May 30), and thankfully the airport had English-speaking helpers floating around to help anyone who had questions. After I picked up my luggage and exchanged my money I noticed there was an internet terminal nearby, where I stopped to give a Facebook update to my family, as I wasn't sure how soon I'd have internet access. It was a little unusual, but I figured it out all right. I felt like a pinball with all the running around I did at the airport, and I finally got to relax when I hopped the bus to Gwangju. It didn't appear that anyone else on the bus spoke English, so I kept to myself the entire time and even got some sleep in.
First Impressions
It was dark out by the time I got to Gwangju. I arrived an hour sooner than they were expecting me, since the bus usually takes longer to get there, I'm told. The terminal I arrived at was attached to a mall, so I walked around until I found a phone to let them know I was there. The school sent a man to pick me up, and he took me to my new apartment.
Right now I'm in the "guest" apartment, which is smaller and has fewer amenities, but it's nice enough. When I got there Mrs. Kim (who runs the school) and one of my fellow foreign teachers were cleaning up the place for me, and Mrs. Kim even went out to get me some food for the first few days. It turns out that a lot of things I thought I wouldn't have here (internet, TV, sheets, towels, a soft bed) were in fact readily available, so that was a big help in settling in. They treat their teachers well here at Raffles.
They assumed I'd be sleeping for my entire first day due to jet lag, but I guess the sporadic naps I took allowed me to remain on a fairly good schedule. I went to sleep around midnight and woke up around 6:45. I watched some TV, and I was excited when I saw a brief clip of Secret performing. Apparently a bunch of K-Pop groups did a special show for the Korean military, and Secret was one of them. My family thinks it's weird that I like a girl group so much, but the troops were clapping and singing along, and even holding up signs for the various girls who performed, so my interest is hardly unusual by Korean standards. Just sayin'.
Since the school is right across the parking lot from the apartment building, it's easy for us teachers to go back and forth between work and home. I went over in the afternoon and got to look around a bit, and it's really nice. Of course, they recently renovated, so you'd expect everything to look fresh and new.
I was surprised to learn that in certain areas we don't wear shoes. In the classrooms and teachers' area we walk around in our socks. I actually kind of like it. The comfort helps relieve some of the stress. There's also lunch served in the cafeteria every school day. It's all Korean food, of course, and some of it's really good. The spicy, bitter stuff is different from what I'm used to, but I guess I'd better develop a taste for it. The fried rice we had a few days ago was a real winner with me.
Ian-Teacher
In Korea it's common to address someone by their name and occupation, and we teachers are addressed as "[name]-teacher," making my name among the children the above subtitle. I haven't taught a class solo yet, but I will be doing so next week. Since I'm replacing another teacher, I went with him to his classes for the past week, and he even let me lead a few. I think between my improv experience and all the time I've spent watching Danny Kaye I have a good grasp of how to handle being up front. I still need some polish, obviously, but I have a fairly good confidence level right now in my abilities.
A lot of the younger kids have a ton of energy, but they're all well-behaved enough that you don't get too much trouble from them. It's clear that some are more interested in learning than others (especially the older they get), so I'm going to have to do everything I can to keep them interested.
The kids here are pretty frank when they give their opinions of you. There were two girls in one class who covered their faces and wouldn't look at me at first, because they thought I was a monster (it's hard being tall). I eventually got them to accept my presence, but they still seem to view me as a novelty. A more complimentary comment I received was that I looked like Korean drama star Hyun Bin. I found a picture, and was I shocked to learn that the guy was practically a Korean Ian. If you know me personally, I'm sure the picture to your right will make you feel like you're looking at me (since people rarely pick up on my jokes, I'm being semi-sarcastic here).
Out and About
I actually haven't gone out that much, since being the introvert I am, I prefer to unwind by spending time alone in my apartment. I have walked down the street for food a couple times though, and grocery shopping is certainly a different experience when the shelves are full of items you're not used to and can't read. In fact, some items don't even have prices displayed. I just bought them and hoped they'd be reasonable (I think they were, though I still have to calibrate my mental price points a little for the Korean Won). The food I ended up getting served me well for one day, but I'll have to go out again this weekend for some more.
The day after I arrived I went to a housewarming party for one of the teachers at Raffles, who I believe just got married. Apparently in Korea, if somebody invites you over for a meal, you're getting a feast. There were more food items than I had room for. They served alcohol there, as is typical of Korean get-togethers, but fortunately there was no awkward forced-to-drink-alcohol moment I was anticipating. They had orange juice available as well for us teetotalers.
I was super tired that night and had to leave earlier than everyone else because of it. I got a cab home and learned than running red lights is the norm in Korea. Apparently everyone does it, and most drivers check to see if anybody's coming even on green lights. Since I already don't like driving in America, I'm definitely not planning to get behind the wheel while I'm in Korea. Let someone else deal with the stress of navigating through this traffic.
One of the teachers took me to the hospital to get my physical on Friday, and it was fortunately a quick process. I also learned that in Korean parking garages the first two levels are reserved for women only. How chivalrous.
Yesterday I spent most of my day with Mrs. Kim. First we went out to lunch and it was nice being able to ask questions about Korea and discuss my interests with someone else. I told her about how I started listening to Korean music, and also mentioned that I'd seen some Korean dramas at my grandmother's house. She asked if I was more into sports or entertainment, because her perception is that men are usually more into sports and women are more into entertainment. I told her that I was probably more into sports, but the entertainment I like, I really like.
She asked if I liked Lady Gaga, because that's what's popular these days. I laughed and told her I thought Lady Gaga was terrible (it's truly a sad day when friggin' Lady Gaga is the face of my country's popular culture) and that I mostly preferred older entertainers. She wasn't familiar with Danny Kaye, but when I told her about all the things he accomplished in life, she seemed impressed.
After we went back to the school and discussed some plans for the classes I'd be teaching, I went with her and another of the Korean teachers to the coffee shop that's attached to the school (the building is quite incredible). She was nice enough to let me talk her ear off about improv and how I'd like to get involved with it in Korea. My suspicions about improv from before I came here were correct: Koreans generally aren't familiar with it. I suggested it might be possible for students who have a higher level of proficiency to use improv for practicing English, and she seemed interested in the idea. We'll see if that turns out to be feasible.
We also discussed some of the vagaries of English that make it so funny and difficult to learn. Once I become fluent in Korean I'm sure I'll be amazed at how much simpler it is. I was honored to be asked my opinions on various language issues, because my friends and family know how much I care about words.
Arts and Entertainment (What is This, Wikipedia?)
Like I said, I haven't exactly been all over town, but when I went out to lunch with Mrs. Kim she showed me that there's a street dedicated to art in Gwangju. If the performing arts are as big a deal as the visual arts, this may be the perfect city for the start of an improv wave that'll sweep the nation. OK, maybe I'm aiming a little high with that sort of talk, but as I told Mrs. Kim yesterday, I love improv, and I'd love for others to experience the same joy I get from it.
Since I familiarized myself with a lot of K-Pop groups before I came here, I can watch the music channels and recognize most of the artists. Secret is even more beautiful (yes, it's possible!) on TV than on YouTube. It seems like the music channels just show reruns of the same programs most of the time (that Lee Hyori photoshoot again??), but that seems to be all MTV did back when I watched that channel, so I suppose it's par for the course.
It is funny to hear Korean songs I first heard in America around town, or even playing outside my apartment window. I've heard Untouchable's "You, You" and Jang Yoon Jeong's "Eomeona" and thought "Hey, I know that song! I guess Koreans really do listen to this music!"
I get the impression that I might've come to Korea with more knowledge of the country than a lot of others do, because people have seemed surprised that I know certain things. Of course, I'm nothing close to an expert on Korea, and I'm sure I'll learn a lot more during my first month here than I ever learned doing research in the U.S.
Soooo....
Those are my thoughts on my first week in Korea. I haven't felt a serious culture shock yet. I don't know whether that's because it takes time to hit you, because I did my homework and knew what to expect, because Korea has many similarities to America or because I just haven't gone out much. Whatever the case, I'm enjoying myself so far, and I'm looking forward to the challenges of this job. I'm at a great school, and I hope my work as a teacher will befit the institution.
Long Day's Journey Into Gwangju
My parents dropped me off at O'Hare on May 29 around 9:30 AM, and after my mother bid me farewell I was on my own. The guy at the airport desk was named Tae Woo Kim, and I was tempted to tell him I liked his song "Echo," but I figured that'd be stupid (probably correctly). I got through security quickly and easily, which gave me about two hours before we started boarding to sit and read my Korean phrasebook.
Most of the people waiting with me were Korean themselves, so I got my first taste of the outsider feeling while I was still in Chicago. I think some of them were Korean-Americans though, since I ended up briefly chatting with a few girls nearby (in English, of course). I'd assumed they were from Korea because they were speaking Korean to each other, but when I told them it was my first time going to Korea, one girl said it was hers too. Perhaps she was raised speaking Korean among her family and English with others, because I've read that that's how many Korean-Americans families are. When I told her I was going there to teach English she said "You're going to make a lot of money." Except perhaps for Hurley, I think most people enjoy hearing those words.
My flight was scheduled to leave Chicago on May 29 at noon, but I think they delayed the takeoff for about half an hour because it was raining. I have to say, Asiana Airlines was magnificent. They knew how to make a 14-hour flight comfortable. They provided headphones, slippers, pillows, blankets, two meals, and even those warm wet towels like the first class passengers got in The Wedding Singer. Because I agreed to take a seat by the wing exit in case of emergency, I had plenty of leg room, as well as space to get up and stretch my legs regularly.
The lights were out for the majority of the flight, since they expected people to sleep. I didn't do much sleeping though, because I found it hard to get relaxed enough. I probably only slept for about 30 minutes total on the plane. I started reading Benvenuto Cellini's autobiography (which I got from my uncle), and it was actually pretty interesting. I'm not very far into it (it's pretty long), but it kept me engaged during the second half of the trip.
For the first meal they offered two options: Western and Korean. I could've gone with the familiar "Western," but I figured hey, I'm going to Korea, so why not get a taste of the food I had to look forward to? I chose the Korean option, which was a meal called Bibimbap, and for foreigners like me they included instructions on how to put the separate ingredients of the main rice-and-vegetable course together. I was confused about how to prepare one of the sides, which was some sort of noodle soup. Fortunately, I saw how the Korean man next to me prepared it, so I was able not to look like too much of an idiot. I ended up loving that meal, certainly a good foot to get off on with Korean cuisine.
There were a projector and screen during the flight that constantly scrolled through stats like where we were, how far we'd traveled, what time it was at our destination and departure points, etc. I'm not sure if all long flights have that feature, but it certainly did provide a sense of perspective. When you're in the air for such a long period, time loses all meaning.
There were two couples with babies sitting in the rows across the aisle from mine, and for some reason I didn't mind the occasional crying. When the mother closest to me picked up her boy and walked around with him it made me think of how my own mother got a little teary as she was saying goodbye to me. Perhaps one day that mother will have a similar moment with her son, and she'll think back to those days when she could carry him around in a pouch.
There was the usual customs stuff to do when I arrived in Korea (by which point it was around 4 PM on May 30), and thankfully the airport had English-speaking helpers floating around to help anyone who had questions. After I picked up my luggage and exchanged my money I noticed there was an internet terminal nearby, where I stopped to give a Facebook update to my family, as I wasn't sure how soon I'd have internet access. It was a little unusual, but I figured it out all right. I felt like a pinball with all the running around I did at the airport, and I finally got to relax when I hopped the bus to Gwangju. It didn't appear that anyone else on the bus spoke English, so I kept to myself the entire time and even got some sleep in.
First Impressions
It was dark out by the time I got to Gwangju. I arrived an hour sooner than they were expecting me, since the bus usually takes longer to get there, I'm told. The terminal I arrived at was attached to a mall, so I walked around until I found a phone to let them know I was there. The school sent a man to pick me up, and he took me to my new apartment.
Right now I'm in the "guest" apartment, which is smaller and has fewer amenities, but it's nice enough. When I got there Mrs. Kim (who runs the school) and one of my fellow foreign teachers were cleaning up the place for me, and Mrs. Kim even went out to get me some food for the first few days. It turns out that a lot of things I thought I wouldn't have here (internet, TV, sheets, towels, a soft bed) were in fact readily available, so that was a big help in settling in. They treat their teachers well here at Raffles.
They assumed I'd be sleeping for my entire first day due to jet lag, but I guess the sporadic naps I took allowed me to remain on a fairly good schedule. I went to sleep around midnight and woke up around 6:45. I watched some TV, and I was excited when I saw a brief clip of Secret performing. Apparently a bunch of K-Pop groups did a special show for the Korean military, and Secret was one of them. My family thinks it's weird that I like a girl group so much, but the troops were clapping and singing along, and even holding up signs for the various girls who performed, so my interest is hardly unusual by Korean standards. Just sayin'.
Since the school is right across the parking lot from the apartment building, it's easy for us teachers to go back and forth between work and home. I went over in the afternoon and got to look around a bit, and it's really nice. Of course, they recently renovated, so you'd expect everything to look fresh and new.
I was surprised to learn that in certain areas we don't wear shoes. In the classrooms and teachers' area we walk around in our socks. I actually kind of like it. The comfort helps relieve some of the stress. There's also lunch served in the cafeteria every school day. It's all Korean food, of course, and some of it's really good. The spicy, bitter stuff is different from what I'm used to, but I guess I'd better develop a taste for it. The fried rice we had a few days ago was a real winner with me.
Ian-Teacher
In Korea it's common to address someone by their name and occupation, and we teachers are addressed as "[name]-teacher," making my name among the children the above subtitle. I haven't taught a class solo yet, but I will be doing so next week. Since I'm replacing another teacher, I went with him to his classes for the past week, and he even let me lead a few. I think between my improv experience and all the time I've spent watching Danny Kaye I have a good grasp of how to handle being up front. I still need some polish, obviously, but I have a fairly good confidence level right now in my abilities.
A lot of the younger kids have a ton of energy, but they're all well-behaved enough that you don't get too much trouble from them. It's clear that some are more interested in learning than others (especially the older they get), so I'm going to have to do everything I can to keep them interested.
The kids here are pretty frank when they give their opinions of you. There were two girls in one class who covered their faces and wouldn't look at me at first, because they thought I was a monster (it's hard being tall). I eventually got them to accept my presence, but they still seem to view me as a novelty. A more complimentary comment I received was that I looked like Korean drama star Hyun Bin. I found a picture, and was I shocked to learn that the guy was practically a Korean Ian. If you know me personally, I'm sure the picture to your right will make you feel like you're looking at me (since people rarely pick up on my jokes, I'm being semi-sarcastic here).
Out and About
I actually haven't gone out that much, since being the introvert I am, I prefer to unwind by spending time alone in my apartment. I have walked down the street for food a couple times though, and grocery shopping is certainly a different experience when the shelves are full of items you're not used to and can't read. In fact, some items don't even have prices displayed. I just bought them and hoped they'd be reasonable (I think they were, though I still have to calibrate my mental price points a little for the Korean Won). The food I ended up getting served me well for one day, but I'll have to go out again this weekend for some more.
The day after I arrived I went to a housewarming party for one of the teachers at Raffles, who I believe just got married. Apparently in Korea, if somebody invites you over for a meal, you're getting a feast. There were more food items than I had room for. They served alcohol there, as is typical of Korean get-togethers, but fortunately there was no awkward forced-to-drink-alcohol moment I was anticipating. They had orange juice available as well for us teetotalers.
I was super tired that night and had to leave earlier than everyone else because of it. I got a cab home and learned than running red lights is the norm in Korea. Apparently everyone does it, and most drivers check to see if anybody's coming even on green lights. Since I already don't like driving in America, I'm definitely not planning to get behind the wheel while I'm in Korea. Let someone else deal with the stress of navigating through this traffic.
One of the teachers took me to the hospital to get my physical on Friday, and it was fortunately a quick process. I also learned that in Korean parking garages the first two levels are reserved for women only. How chivalrous.
Yesterday I spent most of my day with Mrs. Kim. First we went out to lunch and it was nice being able to ask questions about Korea and discuss my interests with someone else. I told her about how I started listening to Korean music, and also mentioned that I'd seen some Korean dramas at my grandmother's house. She asked if I was more into sports or entertainment, because her perception is that men are usually more into sports and women are more into entertainment. I told her that I was probably more into sports, but the entertainment I like, I really like.
She asked if I liked Lady Gaga, because that's what's popular these days. I laughed and told her I thought Lady Gaga was terrible (it's truly a sad day when friggin' Lady Gaga is the face of my country's popular culture) and that I mostly preferred older entertainers. She wasn't familiar with Danny Kaye, but when I told her about all the things he accomplished in life, she seemed impressed.
After we went back to the school and discussed some plans for the classes I'd be teaching, I went with her and another of the Korean teachers to the coffee shop that's attached to the school (the building is quite incredible). She was nice enough to let me talk her ear off about improv and how I'd like to get involved with it in Korea. My suspicions about improv from before I came here were correct: Koreans generally aren't familiar with it. I suggested it might be possible for students who have a higher level of proficiency to use improv for practicing English, and she seemed interested in the idea. We'll see if that turns out to be feasible.
We also discussed some of the vagaries of English that make it so funny and difficult to learn. Once I become fluent in Korean I'm sure I'll be amazed at how much simpler it is. I was honored to be asked my opinions on various language issues, because my friends and family know how much I care about words.
Arts and Entertainment (What is This, Wikipedia?)
Like I said, I haven't exactly been all over town, but when I went out to lunch with Mrs. Kim she showed me that there's a street dedicated to art in Gwangju. If the performing arts are as big a deal as the visual arts, this may be the perfect city for the start of an improv wave that'll sweep the nation. OK, maybe I'm aiming a little high with that sort of talk, but as I told Mrs. Kim yesterday, I love improv, and I'd love for others to experience the same joy I get from it.
Since I familiarized myself with a lot of K-Pop groups before I came here, I can watch the music channels and recognize most of the artists. Secret is even more beautiful (yes, it's possible!) on TV than on YouTube. It seems like the music channels just show reruns of the same programs most of the time (that Lee Hyori photoshoot again??), but that seems to be all MTV did back when I watched that channel, so I suppose it's par for the course.
It is funny to hear Korean songs I first heard in America around town, or even playing outside my apartment window. I've heard Untouchable's "You, You" and Jang Yoon Jeong's "Eomeona" and thought "Hey, I know that song! I guess Koreans really do listen to this music!"
I get the impression that I might've come to Korea with more knowledge of the country than a lot of others do, because people have seemed surprised that I know certain things. Of course, I'm nothing close to an expert on Korea, and I'm sure I'll learn a lot more during my first month here than I ever learned doing research in the U.S.
Soooo....
Those are my thoughts on my first week in Korea. I haven't felt a serious culture shock yet. I don't know whether that's because it takes time to hit you, because I did my homework and knew what to expect, because Korea has many similarities to America or because I just haven't gone out much. Whatever the case, I'm enjoying myself so far, and I'm looking forward to the challenges of this job. I'm at a great school, and I hope my work as a teacher will befit the institution.
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