Woke up early to go with Adventure Korea to the Haemi Folk Festival in Chungcheongnam-do. The weather was perfect. Saw all sorts of things, from torture devices (I tied one, but the people that wer tying to torture me were too light , to a tree where the used to hang Catholics, to traditional clothes, performances, pottery, traditional food We drank some Maggoli and ate some pajeon. We hit drums. We jumped over sticks and pushed kids in carts. After pushing the kids, I was dead tired... granted the cart weighed a lot and I pushed fast (and I had just eaten). I had to sit down and catch my breath. I met a local politician and he gave me a brief tour of part of the festival. I did not take as many pictures as I wanted to. There was a lot of neat stuff.
After the festival we went to an apple farm, winery. We got to pick apples... We got to taste the apple wine and apple brandy (delicious). We made apple pies and apple jam.
Sunday October 14th.
A nothing day... I got up and watched a little college football. I cleaned my room... I actually got it about 75% clean, so that is better than normal. I was going to go to Costco, but they were closed (2nd and 4th Sundays). I studied Korean for a while. So, relaxing and semi productive (in terms of cleaning my room). We were going to go see the movie Gravity because we all thought it was out. Much to our disappointment, it does not come out until the 17th. So thats what we will do this coming weekend.
Monday October 15th
I cant believe that October is already half over... where is the time going? School was good. We got a bit of work done in France class. We did show and tell instead of speech (miscommunication). The kids seemed to like the change... any change to a boring schedule is a good thing. Australia was good. We got a good amount of work done. There are some kids still slow with math, but not too bad. I wish I could say the same with Denmark. Several of the students are bad, real bad at it. One was not able to count by 5's (5,10,15,20...) I asked her is she could count to one hundred, and she said no. These are the things they are supposed to learn their first year... I was just doing a review. I dont know what I am going to do with that.
England was good. I am starting to get the kids personalities, and understand how each student is a little more.
We had an easy day with my 3rd graders.
I took the bus home... I am glad I did. Diana, one of my 3rd graders has trouble pronouncing some of the sounds in English (l,r,z,v...) so I go by her and over exaggerate my facial and tongue placements and she picks it up. We she rides my bus... I was talking with the kids about me going to Hagwon and they wanted to know what I am learning. I told them letters and sounds right now. So I would draw the vowel on my phone, and Diana would pronounce it, the same way I do for her... bigger facial expressions. It is exactly what I need. I am pretty visual when it comes to learning. And being close to someone and actually seeing where the tongue is supposed to be and how the mouth should really be shaped helps. In class, our teacher does not over exaggerate... So when I am learning, I am really going to focus on the mouths and tounges of people so I can see the sound, rather than just hear it.
Rob, Yuri, and I went to Costco. We bought some random stuff, including a pumpkin pie!
At night, Rob, Yuri, Scott and I started to play a game of Settlers. Then Scott got a call from his gf/ex and Yuri had to go home. So we did not finish the game. Scott and I drank a few beers in his apartment and had a good conversation. He and I are alike in many ways.
Tuesday October 16th
Field trip day! We went to Lotte World (we were going to go to a park but it was raining). Lotte World is an indoor amusement park... Which, sounds like fun, but being there with 120 kindergarten students is not the easiest thing. It was crowded too. Tons of High School students and other kindergartens.
Our bus dropped us (Denmark and Australia) off at the wrong place, after an hour and 15 minute bus ride. So it took us 30 minutes to find the other groups. We did the marry go round, and they were filming a commercial (or something). The people they were filming were white. Most of the advertisements had white people, and a lot of the performers in the shows that went on were white. Very interesting. Then we got to ride a tea cup ride. then it was lunch time. All of the other foreign teachers left, I stayed (I only have 1 afternoon class, so that was covered for me). We ate lunch. Soooo muuuuch kimbap. Students give you a piece of theirs, then they give you other snack and treats. It is rude to not accept it. In the morning, we get lunches from students. So I go through and pick and choose a small lunch for me. Sally from france gave me one, and she said her dad made it for me. I brought most of the stuff from her. It was incredible. The kimbap had american cheese in it. It also had a sandwich. I eat that, then I eat dozens of other kimbap pieces and food. Aye aye aye. I love to eat, but that much rice just weighs me down.
After lunch the kids got to ride a ride that raises them up and bounces them down. We went to Sinbads adventure. 3 kids did not want to do it (most of the other rides 2 kids did not want to do. So we wait in line... as soon as we get up to the boat (the ride is just a boat that floats around) Angelina decided she does not want to do it. So I make sure all of the kids get on, then I take her to the Christina and the group of kids not going, and I met them at the exit. We then met up with everyone else so we could go home.
Our bus was 30 minutes late picking us up, so we had to wait outside in the cool drizzly weather.
We finally get back to ECC. I leave to go home. I talk to Reginas mom for a minute as I am leaving (Regina was sick and did not get to go), but the mom met the other moms at ECC and 'gossiped.'
I come home for a few minutes, then head out to Hagwon.
I have homework. Like, legit homework. I have to look up answers, do paperwork, and memorize words. I am actually kind of excited!
After work, Yufei, Rob and I were going to go to Gustos to get tacos. They were closed. We decide to walk past a burger joint. We almost did not go... we did. Wow. The best burger I have had in Korea, and one of the best burgers I have had in a long time. It was reasonably priced too. Home made bread. Actual meat instead of processed. American cheese, swiss cheese. Bacon. Lettuce, tomoato, onion. Sauteed mushrooms. The owner we talked to. He studied Korean cooking. He went to the US with his wife (Korean American). He lived in NYC for a year. He learned how to cook american style. Came back to Korea and opened up a NY themed burger joint. Legit. I will be back... We then walked around the area for a bit and found a pizza buffet, a superhero themed restaurant, an all you can eat chicken joint, and a few others.... all were reasonably priced! Yay for reasonably priced!
(Yummy)
(Spelling mistake made me laugh)
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