Discovery

"This week Wild on E! host, Brandon Moore, travels to Seoul!..." jk. Old aspiration I once had, then again, I am traveling the world - just a little differently.

Anywho, this week I have almost the whole Korean alphabet down (pronunciation, and writing), and actually bought a study book with Jothin's assistance. It came to my attention early this week that I would be getting a new Korean assistant teacher in my room. The one I currently have (until Tuesday) is leaving because the commute is much too long. I've already met and been working with my new one (Michelle) this whole past week.

On Thursday, I got to skip some of my classes, :P and drop by a hospital to take my medical exam. That went swimmingly. You know, being one of the tallest people in Korea is funny. There's not too many people 6 ft or taller here. If I were a mere 3 inches taller, I would undoubtedly be the tallest person ever to have walked on this Asian soil. I'm probably exaggerating just a tad, but, nah... it's probably true.

I still don't own any pots or pans, a microwave, or an oven (or toaster oven for that matter) - ooh, those are luxuries. I DID; however, find some American light brown sugar and vanilla (to make my cookies). I also purchased some spices so that when I DO get some pots, I will be able to cook some spaghetti and other junk. In recent weeks, the Korean milk industry has seen significant profits since I immigrated in. I'm their biggest consumer. Of course, they don't sell milk in gallons, so I have been purchasing around 5 one-fourth gallons a week. So, for you mathematician genius faces out there, that's like... 3.1415 "loads" of milk per week.

About 15 minutes have passed now because I just heard someone screaming bloody murder close by. I've heard it a few times before, but brushed it off as a tv or someone playing around. This time I went out of my apartment and it was coming from the next apartment. It was wild! I rang the doorbell and the screaming suddenly dissipated. I waited a few seconds, and then knocked on the door. I then hear a weeping sound, and a door inside slams shut. Pretty freaky. I went downstairs, found a couple Korean ladies, and communicated my message with gestures. They came up and rang the bell. I gestured if we needed to call someone (I don't know who or what number to dial). After a couple minutes they departed. Called Jothin, he gave me the number to call the police... called them, they didn't speak English... Jothin got his friend to call and tell them the scoop. The police just came and rang both my and the "perp's" bell. They asked me if I was alone and said goodbye while the "perp" opened their door and the police went in and talked for 10 minutes or more. I guess that's that. UPDATE: I just now saw them walk out again. They must have been in there 30 minutes. Jonathan called me and the police said that it was a mother and daughter arguing. I don't know about that... sounded pretty intense.

Wow, what a turn in my story. Well, I guess I'll just cut it off here. What an ADVENTURE you'll have living in Korea... Y'all come back now, ya hear?

Well, week 2 and the weekend are now over. My classes are progressively getting easier to manage... I've organized all my classes, etc... into a binder - much better. Actually, demands are still pretty high and unrealistic at school, and every Friday there is a foreign teacher's meeting including the Korean principal and 2 other Korean supervisors. This is when all the teachers vent, big time. Even the vets that worked here last year were saying how much more stressful this year is in regards to duties and expectations in the time we are given. The Korean supervisors keep piling it on and that's not gonna cut it. ha It's like I'm in a union; us versus the Koreans- it sounds bad, but this is what hagwons are like. Korean private schools are run like businesses (people with degrees in business, not education)... trying to milk you dry so they can get there money's worth out of you. Jonathan and all of his friends have said the same thing... you just have to say no sometimes or they'll just keep piling it above the brim.

Anyway, I've attached some pictures of my apartment. Today, I did my first load of laundry - water flooded the room, then I realized the hose (to release the water) wasn't even hooked up properly ((shakes head)). I'm still waiting for them to install an A/C - it'll be getting warmer soon, and the tv doesn't work either... I'm timing it.

Yesterday, Jonathan and I (other peeps) went to this really cool Taekwondo performance (They were all 3rd degree blackbelts). I WISH I would have brought my camcorder - it was pretty sweet. They choreographed fighting scenes, broke wooden planks, bricks, etc... The guy that took us (Metari?) is from Ghana and is a 6th degree blackbelt and teaches classes in Seoul.

I almost understand all of the Korean letters, except for a few combination letters. Anywho... watching a movie and then it's on to looking over some lesson plans, peace!

Speaking of Endurance...

So Monday was the first day of school, and let me tell you... I'm not sure if any one has ever been, as overwhelmed to say the least, to the degree as I was on my first day of teaching.
I was thrown into a chaotic whirlpool of erratic Koreans.

Since I was late and missed the 1 1/2 week orientation/observation/prep time, I was being handed papers left and right while being told what needs to be done for each class, each day, each week, each month, etc... and this is while I am trying to teach (really?.. teaching!?) a class called Leadership or Good Neighbors or Theme in which I wasn't even aware of the objective or know really where to begin. I was being told that I needed lesson plans turned in on Fridays, personal communication letters sent home thrice a week, monthly newsletters, and monthly phone calls. On top of all this, I'm trying to communicate my need for reimbursement for a flight to Houston for my visa, my relocation allowance, set up a Korean bank account, learn names of all the people these other people are telling me to speak with....AH! During my short breaks of people walking in and out of my room (while I'm supposed to be teaching), I'm trying to become aware of class procedures and routines on my own. I was on the brink... the edge of it all, wavering like Superman's cape in a bizarro world of education.

Well, the first week of school has now ended and... wow what a "unique" school (hagwon). Expectations at this school are high, and realistically, they are undoubtedly unrealistic. For example, on Thursday afternoons I will be teaching GT science with 9 students (ages range from 4-5 American years). Now at this point, the only thing I knew about the class is the name. I have not been given a head's up to what the class mission/goal/objective might be. Around 10:30am, one of the Korean supervisors hands me a couple of books and a blank lesson plan sheet. She wants to be describe what the class is designed to do, what we will be generally doing throughout the year, as well as plan out the next 2 months worth of lesson plans - type them out - and have them ready to send home with the students (to show their parents) at the end of the day... yeaaah riiight. At this point, I am still trying to grasp my other duties and comprehend the lessons of my core classes. I readily say that the expectation for me to turn in quality work given such short notice is impossible. Man, I was bewildered that she would even ask that of any teacher. We (the foreign teachers) later had a meeting about these unrealistic expectations and that these short notices were impractical.

Anywho, we left that day, and I was able to get to know my fellow teachers (Foreign English teachers) as we blew off some steam and relaxed at a nearby restaurant called Two Two Chicken. I am the only guy teacher... what a shock, right? Actually there are a lot of guys who do teach English with the prek - elementary level here, just not currently at my school.

Yesterday, we (Jothin, me, friends) went to a pot-luck party. I made my homemade cookies with whatever ingredients that were available. The brown sugar and vanilla were very different, sooo they tasted way different. People seemed to enjoy them however.

Anywho... I'm about to leave to catch a subway and meet little brother... My next post will include pics of my apartment... I've been really bad regarding taking pictures... I usually forget to bring my camera!

Aching Seouls

SOOO... I've just experienced my first weekend in South Korea. I'll start from the beginning and be as brief as possible for my sake.

Waiting to board Korean Air in the DFW on Thursday, I happen to catch some CNN... some of you might have, too. Well, N. Korea threatened danger to South Korean passenger planes flying near its border... hmm I'm flying within 20 miles of the N. Korean border... little freaky. Anywho, I was fine.

I arrived in Seoul on Friday afternoon and little brother Jonathan was there to receive me and all my splendor (whatever that means :o ). First, I went by the school and was "debriefed," if you will. Then, Jonathan and I explored the city, and I got a cell phone, T-money card (a device to use the Subway). Well, we get to my apartment, and of course it's small - but MAN did it smell foul, I tell you what! It was filthy to say the least. Dried up food remains behind this, dust and dirt behind that, mothballs here, hair there, ghetto windows, rusted slippers, medicinal pills (I think), rubbish, no remote = unwatchable tv, no A/C, and perhaps the previous occupant's bedspread and comforter, on and on, etc, etc... This place was so gross I had to sleep at Jothin's place. I slept on a small 4 foot long couch with no cushion.

On Saturday, we went to Costco, E-Mart, G-Mart, dollar stores, etc... to equip my apartment with the necessities. Costco was grand. Two floors of amazingness. Like Sam's Club, there were food samples galore. This day I explored the subway with J and learnt some Korean symbols. ... I get stared at quite often, not too many foreigners where I live.. or people that speak English.

On Sunday, Jonathan, I, and some friends of his went to church at an English speaking service. The pastor reminded me of Keanu Reeves, but he had a great message (he was Korean-American btw). After, we ate some kimchi, some Korean-style Schnitzel, and other pretty good food. We then called a Filipina lady (maid service) to clean my apartment. She was very nice. We left her at the apartment for 3 hours while we explored and came back to a fresh, clean residence! It was very niiice. I should have taken before/after pics. :/ We then ate more Korean food, explored, learnt Korean letters, yada yada... I'm leaving tons out, but am tired because today was the first day of school... I'll post that tomorrow or something!

Sorry if this sounds like short ramble - it is... too tired to write eloquently. The blarney has rubbed off.

Philippians 3:13-14

Philippians 3:13-14 "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

1 Corinthians 9: 24-27 "²⁴Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ²⁶Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. ²⁷No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

environment
intake
desire
passion (motivation)
patience (endurance)
discipline (dedication)
strength
transformation
new creation (devotion)