Another weekend down

Saturday, March 30.
I went to Yongsan Electronics Market. Enormous. It is not just one building, but multiple buildings connected by enclosed walkways going over roads. Tons of vendors. New stuff, old stuff, used stuff... they had Sega Genesis's still in their boxes. I almost bought a Nintendo 64. My co teachers and I have been talking about the games we used to play. Alas, I did not get it. I did buy some speakers for my computer. It has a remote, not the best speakers in the universe, but they sound good and were cheap. I needed them, cause listening to music through my laptop speakers was not great.
Night, it was the pre Spring party at Joons.... Fun as always. Beer pong, darts, cards, drinking games, talking...

Back: Rob, Callum

Front: Me, Karen (Callums GF) and 성희 (Robs GF)

Sunday, March 31

Chill day. Easter. I tried a different church yet again. Very small. Their EM is only a year old and they are having a hard time getting people to come. There were 7 people there. They were really happy I was there, and afterward, everyone sat around asking me all sorts of questions. They want me to come to their lunch, and stay for the Korean service (they have english subtitles). We'll see. 

I had McDonalds after church. I have been avoiding it... but sometimes you just want crap. I had a mega mac. A mega mac is a big mac, but with 4 pieces of meat and more cheese. The funny thing is that you almost never see any fat Koreans, let alone obese. That goes for all of the food. There is so much fried everything... and yet the obesity epidemic hasnt spread... 

I then went shopping. We are supposed to wear yellow on Tuesday for our Easter party. I did not bring my yellow shirts. I found one at emart that is actually close to fitting. If I dropped some of my gut, then it would probably fit pretty nicely. It is not completely yellow, but it has some yellow on it. Its as close as I could get. 

I cant wait for Tuesday, cause that is when I get my ARC. (Alien Registration Card) so I will finally be able to get a bank account, cell phone and real internet. Spent the rest of today listening to music, typing some emails, and relaxing...

Thought- Bloomberg bans things which does nothing to solve the problems... and yet over here, they do not and there is no problem.  I know genetics does play a pretty big role in it... but if it is genetics, banning wont solve the problem. King Bloomberg just wants to be a dictator. While I do miss NYC, I do not miss him. Dont get me wrong, Korea is kind of a nanny state... CCTV cameras everywhere. But crime is down. They do not have to stop and frisk and violate people. They do not have police that act as a small army carrying M16s, and yet I am safe.  If Bloomberg really wanted to fix NY's problems, he would come here and see how they do it here... everything from police to education...If he did not experience his own little world only seen with his billionaire goggles, he might get some good ideas.

Wow...

March 29th
So this week at school is done. All I can say is wow... that went quick. I got touched by mom for the first time today... There is a restaurant called Moms Touch, and they have fried chicken sandwiches.  So, when someone eats it, it is called being touched by mom. It was cheap and delicious. I am glad I was not touched earlier... otherwise I would easily have gained 20 pounds. I dont have to worry next month, cause I have lunch duty (eating in school with the kids).
I copied the picture of the washer that I posted yesterday and brought it into school. I hung it up on the board, and one of the co-teachers filled it out. I am not sure who... but wow... I still do not look forward to doing laundry, but at least know I will know what I am doing.
I was asked to do a book reading next Saturday (April 6th) at some big bookstore in Seoul. I get paid... and I will be representing the school and Cartoon Network (YBM has an exclusive contract with Cartoon Network in Korea). The kids all love me, I am expressive, and I am good natured and happy. Everyone still gets a kick about how the students react to me. So, that is pretty cool they want me to do that.
Other than that, school was school. It went really fast today. I only have 1 more class with the MWF classes that are being handed off to the new guy. I am kind of glad but kind of sad. There are 2 classes that are both the same, but it was split into 2 different classes. One faster and more advanced, one slower and not as advanced. The slower class really needs to be split again. We took 2 Quizzes today. The first one, we went over all of the answers and I explained all of the answers before I gave it. It was making verbs passed tense (do note these are 3-5th graders and my 1st graders are learning this). In a class of 10, only 3 people got all of the answers right. There were only 6 questions. The second quiz was over the same material but was in a different order. Same thing. 3 Students got all of the answers right, the rest didn't. This was stuff they were supposed to have learned years ago. The advanced class... we got through all of the work and started on the homework. The slow class, we got through 2 pages of work, and the kids still do not understand. So, it will be the new guys problem (and Rachel's as she is the coteacher).
Other than that, I am spending the night in with a cold drink, relaxing... I will watch some West Wing or Doctor Who... Just keeping it low key. After work, may, it just feels good to sit and relax.

Another week flying by.

Thursday March 28.
Tomorrow is Friday... I can't believe it. Nothing happened special at school today. Another day...So I really have no complaints or much to say about that.
After school, Rob, his girlfriend, Sarah, and myself went to the same restaurant that Ama, Sarah, Sam and I went to. Dinner was good once again. The price is 7000 won a person and really cant be beat. I finally got a drying rack, it is Sarahs old one, and tonight I am trying to do laundry. Trying... Let me say first I hate doing laundry. I know it is necessary, I like the results, but the act of doing is a pain. I think it will be easier to do here than it was in NY, since I have the machine here. But, I think I spoke of this before... I have no idea how to control a Korean washing machine.

As you can see, I took a picture of it. I just turned dials and pressed buttons. I got it to start. I have no idea exactly what it is doing. There is water and it spins occasionally. So... Hopefully soon I will have some clean clothes. I will then hang them on my drying rack... and then maybe, just maybe it will work out and I'll have some clean clothes (especially socks) for tomorrow. I will ask one of my Korean co teachers to try to translate it for me. I never do much with laundry... I just want it to work. Fancy settings, I do not need.

Nothing going on other than that.

First Fieldtrip

March 27th

Fieldtrip day. So today I got to wear jeans to work as well as a nice polo shirt. We took our Kindy kis on a fieldtrip. I am not exactly sure what this place was. It was almost like a giant sandbox in the basement of a building. There was 7 sections once you entered the facility. One side had activities, the otherside had the sandboxes. The very first section was for kids to take off their shoes and socks. First my kids watched a type of puppet show. It was all in Korean so I had no idea what was going on. Then we went to a section where the kids put clay in a mold to make a necklace. After that we went where we drew on paper with glue then pored colored sand on the glue... The people that worked there only spoke Korean, so they explained to the kids in Korean what to do. None of the kids really got "it' and when we tired explaining in English, I think that threw them for even more of a loop. While they are learning to speak both, I think going back and forth is too hard. The next section was a sandbox and a bouncy castle. We then moved on to an egyptian themed sandbox... but instead of looking for Egyptian things buried in the sand, it was looking for dinosaur bones. The last one was partially dinosaur themed, but there were random lights there that kids could put sand on. ... I dont get it either. I think the workers at the sand place liked me. Most of the other foreign teachers were in the back not playing with students, I was there with them. Helping them, picking them up, and when they were about to cry for some reasons, I was there to help stop it. The one thing I couldn't stop was the sand in the eyes... aye aye aye. We almost need to issue goggles to the kids.

The rest of the day was pretty calm. We didnt do anything with the Kindy kids once we got back. My afternoon classes when okay. I downloaded some videos of a space shuttle launch to show one of my classes. It worked out, but the computer did not have any sound... so I'll see what I can do for that...The classes that I will not be teaching any longer went okay too. The class that is slow was still slow. I'm happy its not just my class they are slow in.  I stayed after again today to help that class. I went walking in my neighborhood after school to try to find some food. Its tough not being able to read things. A lot of the places by me are mom and pop places with no english anywhere. Its not that I care what I am ordering... I eat everything. But it is trying to communicate what I want to order. Once I can read Hangul a little better it will be much easier. Now I can sound things out... but I have no idea if my pronunciation is right... So I just went with one of the things I normally get, a lunch box, and it is something that has a little bit of everything. Soon I will start trying these mom and pop places. So only 2 days left... wow.

Start of a week

Monday, March 25
Busy day at school, but a good day at school. I was told that they hired a new person and he will be here next week and start some training. I will be losing 2 of my MWF classes. Its good because my life will instantly get easier, but it is bad, because these students need extra help. I found out that we one of the classes skipped over one of the books (so the did not do book one) and started on book two. That class is one that is having major problems with book two. So I talked to the co-teacher, and they will slow down and spend more time on it.
A pie place opened up next door to the school, which is pretty fantastic, because I love pie. I got their apple pie, expecting a good ole' piece of apple pie. What I got was interesting. Instead of being apple pie like I am used to, the apples were minced, borderline pureed.  Not a bad experience by any means, but just a shock.
After work I went to emart to get an iron and an ironing board. Yes, I do not like having to do that, but I also like having unwrinkled shirts. I had an iron in NY, but the whole time I lived in Manhattan I never had a board. I used my recliner. So I guess I am off to a good start when it comes to that. I am waiting to get a drying rack from a coworker so I can start doing laundry. Definitely not looking forward to that.
Spent the night typing emails and hit the bed early.

Tuesday, March 26
School was good today. My TOEFL class seems to be starting to get it. Granted I am falling behind on the schedule... but I would rather the kids understand the material so they can pass the test, then keep up with a schedule that is going too fast for them. My afternoon class that I have been having trouble getting them involved, there was a slight spark of interest that quickly fizzled. I know most other teachers have written them off, but I just cant do that. I will pour my energy into them... they all seem like they are on the verge of doing the work... I just want to tip them.
We have a field trip tomorrow. I have no idea where. The form informing of us just said "Sand" so I am at a lost. Hopefully it will be fun. Also I got my new schedule for when the new teacher starts. I will still be at the school from open till close on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but MWF I will get off at about 6. So maybe that is when I will be able to start learning Korean.
Tonight for dinner I was walking around and smelled some food. I went in this little kitchen... I have no idea what I orderd, but it was pretty fantastic. I may walk by there again and take a picture of the signs and have one of my Korean friends translate and tell me what it is that I got. I spent about 5000 won, and only finished half of it. I'm glad I have a refrigerator... After payday, I might try to get a used microwave. There are many things that I want, but a microwave will just make my life so much easier. Even when I start cooking... A lot of stores sell microwaveable rice... quick and easy... and filling. Throw in some meat... I am eating cheap.
That's all I got for now!!!

Pictures from Weekend 3-23/24

 

 

 

 

These are all from my subway station. Though every subway station is like this. The masks and oxygen is in-case there is ever a fire. These stations are deep. I'll post a youtube video sometime of me walking down into mine.

(I think this fills with water in the summer)

 (Floating concert stage)

 (airplane and runway sign)

Floating fire station

 

(Floating fire station has a hovercraft. Awesome!)

 Han River

 Seoul National Assembly

 

 (Seoul Subway Line 2 crossing the Han)

All above is from Yeouido Park

 Picture of me my friend  and beer pong partner  김다슬 at Joons Bar drew of me. We had just beat Joon and Rob in the championship. We played 2 gin and tonic beer pong games and the tie breaker was just regular beer

Seoul Express Bus Terminal

(on the 10th floor, these are nets so people can't jump)

Shinsegae Department Store in Central City

Subway Art

 

Outskirts of Itaewon

I hope all of the people in here be happy. First you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you.

(very deep)

Sunset

Bulgogi Hotdog, NY Chili Hotdog, Chili & Cheese Hotdodog

NY Hotdog and Coffee

Good, except the hotdogs did not taste like they were from NY and they had no drip coffee.

Sunday funday

March 24
I woke up and cleaned my room a little. It wasn't horribly messy, but definitely not clean. I slipped with my parents for a while in the morning. Only the 2nd time I have done that. It was good getting to talk to them.
I was going to try church at the church another coworker told me about. I was not lucky with trains. So I decided I would go to NP again. So I go to Seoul National University of Education subway stop.... I was supposed to go to Seoul National University stop instead. Yes two separate stops and not close. I decided I would explore and then go to NP in Itaewon at 4pm.
I walked all around. Explored the express bus terminal, central city, and some mall there.
Then just walked around for a while. Got to Itaewon. Once you are off the main drags it is more Korean.
Went to church, I liked it more than the last time I went. Smaller. So in no closer to anything other than just touring churches and neighborhoods.
Walking back to the subway stop there was a place that said NY Hotdogs. I had not had dinner yet so it seemed perfect. I had 3. The bulgogi hotdog, which was a hotdog topped with bulgogi. The next was a NY Chili dog. Weak chili dog topped with a liquid cheese wiz cheese.  Last was the chili cheese dog. Spicy chili dog topped with melted cheese. All were pretty good. Chili is not like american chili... But still very edible. These were not cheap hotdogs, but the price was worth it.
I stopped by a foreign foods store. Interesting. I already found them odd in NY. Though being a foreigner walking into one where it has some native foods... Well I understand them now. So even though I'm not the biggest fan of Itaewon, it does have some redeeming qualities. I need to do what the other teachers say... Just take it for what it is.

Now I am back home and I am just going to call it a night and relax.

Oh, I did buy some ground coffee, so hopefully tomorrow morning, I will be able to start off the day with some delicious coffee.

1 Month.

Thursday March 21...
Classes went pretty normally. Nothing big or major... that is until my last class of the day. I think I have spoken of them before, and how the kids do not want to work. On Tuesday they did not have their homework done, same thing today.  I gave them the quiz, and all failed miserably. Well I talked to them like adults...There are only 5 of them. I asked them what was wrong... Nobody was speaking. So I got paper and told them to just write to me and let me know what was going on... Depressing.
One kid does not want to learn English but his mother forces him to go. I think he knows he cannot fail out, so he just doesn't care. Other kids wrote down about all of their other work and everything they have to do. Its horrible how much pressure these kids are under... not just at my school. But their elementary school, other hagwons, and other organizations. Homework in each of these... these kids are like in the 5th grade and they go to school and other places from 8am till at least 8pm, then each place gives them homework, and they have several hours of that every night... So I am going to try to see what I can do to at least make it more fun for these kids... Only one seemed to have any interest in learning. So, we will make it interactive.
After work, Ama, Sarah and I went out for dinner. We had budae jjigae, also known as army base stew. It came about after the Korean War when food was hard to find, so they just threw things Americans left into a stew. Hotdogs, spam, veggies... It was delicious. It is more or less just a spicy stew. After that we went to the bar in Bobo, called M Flani. Nobody had been there before... there were a lot of rumors about it. We went... upscale. They had beer which was all bottled and was not cheap. Cass was 7000 won for a bottle. Normally it is 3000. For liquor, it was bottle service only, so you would have to buy an extremely over priced bottle. Needless to say we wont be going back. We got some soju and beer, and went to Ama's room and listened to music and drank. Fun and relaxing.

Friday March 22.
1 Month. I have been in Korea for one month. Wow the time is going extremely fast.
The students all seemed to be rather quiet today. I think all of them are worn out. I know I am.  I think I started to have a little break through with one of my students. He has never really talked and is really quiet, often he doesnt pay attention. Well, in class I used a funny voice for a little while. This kid just started laughing and seemed to be happy. First time I have seen him smile. Then for the rest of the lesson he was following along and doing his work. If he keeps that up... well it may be a really good thing. One of my classes seems to be falling further and further behind. I do not think they are up to the level they are supposed to be. I know one of the things with Hagwons, since grades do not matter, is that the students are pushed along even though they do not get the material. I am not used to that and I care about teaching these students. The schedule is so rigid that I cannot spend more time on a lesson if I need to... It is frustrating.
After work Rob and I went out to Joons. We just went there cause it is an awesome chill place. Good music. Joon, the owner is awesome. A guy that used to be a bartender there, but had to quit for school, was there. Kim. He is pretty cool. He is my beer pong partner, and we are pretty good. So we played beer pong. It was Joon and Rob vs Kim and me. And instead of it beeing beer pong, it was Joons Tonic (Gin and tonic) pong. Kim and I lost the first game. So we rematched. Kim and I won that game. For the final game... we did it was just beer. Joon and Rob had an early lead, but Kim and I went on a roll and ended up winning. We then went on to listen to music. Rob was trying to meet up with some other people too, so he left, and did not come back. Once again, the no cell phone made life difficult. So I took a cab back to bobo.

Saturday March 23.
Lazy day today. I slept in a little, but that is still hard with my window not being blocked. I watched some West Wing, played on the internet, and then went out to walk around. I took the Subway to Seoul Color Park. It was nice. The weather was nice... I think once it warms up more there are fountains and little streams. I took some pictures and in my next picture post I will post those pictures. I walked from there all the way back to Bobo. I stopped at a fast food restaurant for a burger. I love hamburgers. The place is called Lotteria.  I had one called the Lotz burger, which seemed to have a coleslaw on it. The other was Bulsae burger. It was on a long bun and had 1 patty of fried shrimp and the other patty with bulgobi. It was pretty delicious. . It has just been a very chill and relaxing day. Just getting some of that well deserved rest.

Wednesday Wednesday

Wednesday, March 20
Today was good. I got a bit of the work that I needed to get done, done. I still have a lot to do and all of the report cards to do... I have several breaks tomorrow, so I should be able to catch up. I need to go to emart to buy some real coffee. The super sweet instant coffee just doesn't do it for me. Real coffee is expensive (Think 22 bucks for a tub of folders that costs maybe 9 in the states). But getting going in the morning with the sugar coffee just doesnt work.
I stayed after work again today for the after school tutoring session. 2 of the kids I was helping today seem to be able to get the answers... but only when they go slow and think of them. It seems like they are in such a rush to do the homework. I talked to Rachel about that... she thinks it is the parents. They push the kid to do the home work to get it done. They do not check if it is right. So the student always rushes... also neither seem to have confidence in their work. Rachel also said that was how a lot of Koreans were. I do not know if in School I was ever afraid to give answers... especially in the school I can remember, I would answer. These kids seem so afraid to answer... so much that when I am helping them, they would rather write the answer down and have me tell them whether it is right or wrong, and erase it if it is wrong... instead of just telling me. Or on the other hand, they do not write anything down until I confirm it.
With my 7-1's we are having to make them sit in arranged seats. It seems like drama is already going on between the girls. The boys just play... but the girls are already hurting each others feelings, leaving one of the others out, not sharing, making each other cry... to make matters worse, since they do not speak English, I have no idea what is going on.
I need to figure out how to eat a better dinner. I need to get some dishes so I can cook. I need some chopsitcks and a spoon. I need cooking utensils.  I finally have the refrigerator. Right now I just eat instant stuff that is cheap for dinner. It is microwavable, but not the frozen kind, the made daily kind. I mean, I try different stuff, but the 3000 won dinners that are quick and easy are good, especially after 12 hours at school. I do not want to have to think. Tonight it was rice, bbq chicken, kimchi, fish, fried chicken, spaghetti, and egg. Not big portions of any one thing... but it seems not too bad for 3000 won (3usd).
Okay, thats all for now

I guess I am in the swing of things at school

Well, another day, another dollar. School was another long day... but I think everyday I will be saying that. I was there until they closed the school and locked up. I collected stuff to grade (book report, essay, homework book) from 2 classes on Friday. Monday, one of my co-teachers gave me the journals and book reports to grade for another class. Today, I got another homework book pick up from another class and I have to grade the tests we took today. Also it is report card time (monthly) so I have to start doing those. I think a lot of people feel sorry for me. Both Korean teachers and foreign teachers. Since I am there from the first class till the last, and the classes I teach are not just a walk in the park like they are for some others... I still really enjoy it and look forward to going... its just when I get home, I do not want to do anything productive for society. I just want to sit, read the news, and then maybe watch a netflix tv show. Then off to bed to start the craziness again. I wish I had a recliner so I could lean back and put my feet up. Maybe I'll get one... or if not, something a little more comfortable than just an office chair (what I have at my apartment).
I also bought some Tabasco sauce today. Everyone talked about how spicy Korean food is. I have not experienced that yet. I wish there were some local hot sauces (there may be somewhere). The store by me had Tabasco. Rob brought Tabasco to school for lunches, and I guess that really got the idea in my head... Dinner tonight had a nice slight kick that I enjoy. It was only an udon type of noodle... but I cant complain.

Monday the 18th

Today was a normal and typical Monday.
A long day. But not much really happened today. No drama in my classes. I am getting a lot of work piled on me... I have journals, book reports, essays, and homework that all needs to be graded. I also have to start working on some report cards for one of my classes. Just over my last hour on Friday till today, I had a ton of stuff dropped onto my desk to do. I can't get there early to do it... I cant stay late to do it... I'll have to do it during my breaks and probably take some of it home.
After school I went to Pizza School to get dinner. They have 5000 won pizzas. Not great pizza, but it is filling quick and easy. I can buy the pizza, pick it up and be home... I also moved refrigerators. The refrigerator I had in my room only froze or was off. I got the one from my first room. It smells horrible.... but so far it seems to be working.
I need to get a drying rack and an iron. This weekend (or this week) I must do laundry. I also want to find a cheap cleaners to drop my shirts off at. I'll talk to the guys to see what they do. I am going to get my stuff ready for tomorrow and hit the hay early.
This work sure takes the energy out of me. Soon, I want to start back up studying Korean... but not yet... My brain needs a chance to breathe.

More Pictures

Seoul Tower seen from Entrance of Market

 All are pictures from the Market

 Building of Fixing something

 City Hall of Seoul

 Entrance to Doeksugung Palace

 Umbrella Art

 Seoul Tower near City Hall

 Art... Yes, the people look really interesting... the perspective is off... there was a sign by it, possibly explaining it... but it was written in Hangul

Kim NaNa's apartment from City Hunter

Pictures from Around the apartment building