2 weeks of teaching down, 50 more to go

It is the end of my second week teaching and I am down one supervisor, but up half my curriculum. Friday after work I was informed that my direct supervisor had quit. My first week here I was told this happens fairly often, but still, to have it happen with no warning and no one even telling us teachers seemed crazy to me. I only found out because I asked another teacher after school was Sarah was and they informed she had out her notice in earlier that week. On the positive side I did receive curriculum for two out of the four classes I teach. I still have no book for the two classes that speak little or no English. Teaching to students who have NO idea what you are saying has been quite the learning experience. When Korean children come to an English school they are given an English name. However, I am not sure the children even know their name for the first few weeks! Toriann’s students, who speak no English, certainly do not know their names. One girl even had her name change three times during the first week, from Heart to Park and back again to Heart. I guess her parents couldn’t decide what to call her. I say her name often and she has no idea I am even speaking to her. Of course she is one of the children I am responsible for at the end of the day during the chaos of the buses, when I call her name to come on the elevator she has no idea I am even speaking to her.

On Tuesday night three of the other teachers and I decided to order Domino's pizza. Pizza in Korea is nothing like Pizza at home. Most pizza has corn on it, along with crazy topping choices. To get pizza without corn on it you have to go to a pizza chain from home. We have a Domino's right by our house, and have already ordered it twice. It taste so much better than at home, it isn't greasy at all. Tuesday night we enjoyed pizza, Korean wine (cherry wine) and a delicious carmel ice cream treat. It was nice to finally be at someone’s place and just enjoy new friends and conversation without being at school or a restaurant. When it came time to leave we looked outside and it had begun to snow! I was extremely excited about this turn in weather. Casey, from New Jersey, did not share in my enthusiasm. I guess this is the benefit of not growing up with snow. The snow continued through the night and Wednesday morning. Sadly, by Thursday it had all melted. I guess I have something to look forward next winter.

One of our adventures for this week included a group trip to the immigration office to get our Alien Registration Cards. The highlight of the experience by far was the taxi ride. There were 4 teachers in each Taxi and our driver was highly amused by us. Since drivers are crazy here (I could write a whole blog about it), we decided to embrace it, rather than be afraid. In our embracing of it we encouraged our driver when he went through lights, cut lanes of traffic and drove fast. I have to say it was one of the best taxi rides I have ever had! We were in the taxi for about 45 minutes, so we saw a great deal of the city. This city is HUGE, I am not sure I will ever see it all. Just to get an idea of how cheap taxis are here, a forty minute taxi ride only cost about $16. The actual time at the Immigration office was again a wonderful example of how Korea is run on inefficiency. We had to wait over two hours, and they almost did not take us because it was after 6. However, there are times being a foreigner works in our favor, Korean culture is so concerned with offending people that they will bend over backwards to help you. The eight of us English teachers, along with a few other teachers we met there, threw a little fit and they stayed open for us. Of course, everything was incredibly rushed and stressful, and the whole process ended up taking place on three different floors of the building. Why they wouldn’t put everything on one floor is beyond me, I guess that would just make too much sense. In the end we all left with the confirmation that we will be receiving our Alien Registration Card by the end of next week.

Costco was another adventure and highlight of the week. I talked about Costco all week long, and I am pretty sure my enthusiasm for going rubbed off on my fellow teachers because by the time it came ready to go on Friday, everyone was excited! We even enjoyed pizza and frozen yogurt from the cafe, and it tasted just the same as home. In Korea it is extremely difficult to find cheese, everyone who goes to Costco buys cheese, and I am not sure I have ever been more excited to purchase a block of cheese in my life. Other purchase highlights included chicken, frozen vegetables, and a Swifer wet jet! We had to take a taxi home because we had entirely too much to take back on the bus! Our poor taxi driver almost broke his back trying to put our big, heavy Costco bags in the trunk. He was impressed that we could carry such a bag.

I finally ate Korean food that was not made by my school and it was delicious. A few of the teachers found a restaurant last week when I was sick, and took me back there this week. Most of Korean food is shared by everyone at the table. We ordered a rice dish that is made right in front of you at the table on a skillet. It had chicken, vegetables, and these cheese stuffed noodles. It was delicious and cheap!

I did manage to work my washing machine successfully last weekend. However, I discovered after I did my first load that I had not used detergent, but instead something to clean the washing machine. I did not know such a thing even existed. After a good laugh with my co-workers, I ended up rewashing my clothes with the correct soap and now know how to clean my washing machine, and will do so often since I have a whole box full of this soap. Next task is to fully understand what all the buttons on my microwave mean!