Okay so I finished my first full week of school and that was not too bad. I apparently had a few complaints from parents of some of the students. The parents here are uber involved in finding out about the studies of the kids and they push the kids to their extreme limits and they even help them with their homework. Nonetheless, the complaints were basically about me not knowing how to teach. I talked with my director and she gave me some tips and my classes improved. No big deal.
To answer many people's questions the knowing of any Korean is completely unnecessary for teaching here. Instead it is necessary for life here. The schools that us westerner teachers are at only want native English speakers because they want the students to be in extreme circumstances in the class so that they can learn English better. In my high school Spanish classes our teachers would only speak in Spanish and they would not answer you unless you talked in Spanish as well. It was just an extreme teaching tactic. That is what this is...I guess. There's is more extreme only due to it being a complete road block in advancing if they cannot understand the teacher. Oh well. There is at least one high point to my having started teaching now and that is that we started our summer courses just last week for the next few weeks and that means a lot more classes. In other words when the summer classes are over I will be very used to the flow of school and there will be fewer classes, thus making life a little easier for me to deal with.
So Paul and I were going to go on this hiking excursion this weekend...but that did not happen. We overestimated the Seoul subway system and got to our meeting destination late. We had stayed up all Friday night and we left Paul's place around 5:30 am to be in Seoul by 7. So since we missed everyone we just stayed around Seoul. We went to Changdeokgung palace and saw some amazing Korean history. The palace had some seriously intricate architecture that was incredibly to say the least. I have but a few pictures of it only because my camera batteries died right at the start of the English tour. This palace was just amazing. There really are no words for how cool this was. It was, and I can only imagine, like seeing a castle in England. So much history and background. There were some people on the tour that really should not have been there and it seemed like a forced activity but their sour moods didn't spoil it for us tourists from the West. There was an amazingly beautiful garden and an abalone (sp?) couch that the Queen had owned. We also saw the oldest tree in Seoul. Paul tried a sample and said it was delicious. It was a juniper tree and he was just being funny.
From the palace we had to sit down because we were soooo tired from staying up the previous night. Then we slowly hobbled into Insadong to see if we could find a music store that Paul was looking for and to see if we could find me an electronics store so I could buy a cheap dvd player for here. Neither of us found what we wanted but we did find a really cool toy museum that was also sort of a store. Some things in there were for sale but most was for show. There were even toys from as little as one year ago. They had the Hellboy toy my sis got me for last xmas there and that was a toy based on last years movie! Not much of a museum but it was really a display place. It was truly intriguing. Full of gigantors, mazingers, and assorted plastic goodies. After the toy extravaganza we went and tried waffles at a little store front cafe place. They were weird but good.
After the waffles we went back towards Jongno tower and took a pic or two there. We then headed back to Paul's with great difficulty due to the sleepiness that had overtaken us. Finally we managed to get to Paul's and catch a couple hours of Zs. We then got up and walked around Paul's area, Jeongja, and looked for food. We ended up at a teppan-yaki style restaurant called Iron Chef. I was hoping there would be a main ingredient and that it would be soylent green, but, alas it was not. We almost ordered this kimchi eggrol thingy when this man next to us convinced us to order this japanese pancake dohicky. The chef started to cook this in front of us. He pulled out a tea pot and poured green slime onto the grill which quickly flourished into our pancake. He then added veggies, cooked some beef and bacon and added that, then broke two eggs and made them into the same size and shape as the pancake and used that as the other side of this veggie pancake sandwich-esque thing. He plopped it all together into one cylindrical mass, coated the top with a brown sauce that was neither teriyaki or soy, added a frosting type sauce out of a squirt bottle in a fashion like on a toaster strudel commercial, and then added these odd fish flakes. He served it to us and we timidly went for it. This was amazing. We forgot what it was called but, man, was it good. Finally we finished our japanese mystery meal and got ice cream, yay. Then we went back to Paul's, watched some fun junk that I brought on dvd and passed out.
Today we got up and went a couple stops up on the subway to a mall called AK Plaza. This place is completely a western influence mall. It was chock full of designer stores like Gucci, LV, Coach, Prada, and so on. The upper levels of the mall were all strictly one whole department store. We thought it would be a good idea to go up into it to see if we could find me a dvd player...but no it was no where to be found. We also searched the surrounding stores for trinkets such as the player but no again. We did find out that finding shoes in my size in korea is impossible. My feet are ginormous by korean standards, not that they are small in the states either. We headed to a shop that Paul knew would have funny t-shirts and we went in. The only ones we found that had funny things were the ones that said "I heart(shape) crap" and "Hey Dude, Don't Smoke. Chew a gum." We roamed through that area of Bundang for a large portion of the rest of the day. We then went back to Paul's place, I gathered my things, and I left. I went towards home and stopped at Hi-mart to grab a dvd player. I found a sony dvd player and headed out of there. As I walked out I noticed two gorgeous and scantilly clad korean girls dancing their tushies off in front of the store. They were trying to draw customers in. Then I continued to walk and saw a WACKY WAVING INFLATIBLE ARM-FLAILING TUBEMAN! who was doing the same as the girls and bringin in the business. Funny thing is that I think he was doing a better job than the girls. I proceeded home and started to do laundry. I went outside and stole a couch from the parking lot around my place. People here when they no longer want furniture just put it outside so I took it. Then I went to a little mart and got some eats. I just a little while ago tried the dvd player and learned that I have to return it. It cannot play my dvds due to the country code. Don't ask me what that means besides it being some ridiculous security precaution set in motion by international movie companies just to piss off travelers. Oh well. The hunt for a dvd player here continues. Anyway we come to now which is me writing this so that means this is where I leave you hanging until I get another interesting story or two to share with you. I luvz you all and much love from Korea!!
Special blog shout out: to my sister for being a tough cookie and an amazing person. Keep up the good work lady!!
--The Cap'n
P.S. please leave more comments I love em. They are like delicious little friend treats.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Ask yourself; will I blog in Hell?
Hah so that title is totally misleading. If you know anything about me you know that a lot of the time blog titles are song titles/quotes/movie titles with the word blog incorporated somewherez. Here is it a lyric from a QOTSA song.
On to bigger and better things. So I am going to dedicate a blog to my last week in Chi very soon. This blog is all about my first week in Korea. 1 down 51 to go! First thing is first. I had a 14 hour flight here from Chi. I got to the airport at 5am here and went right through customs. It was all very easy. I emerge from the gate to see so many people holding signs with names but none with mine. I wait a little to see if any will appear and no such luck. I set up shop on a bench, pulled out my laptop, and got some free wi-fi. I looked up some of the phone numbers I would need in such a scenario. A cabbie walked up to me and asked me if I needed help and then he ended up calling the phone numbers I had on his cell. We finally got a hold of someone at ASK Now, he said they thought my flight was later and that they were sending there own taxi driver. They told me to wait in the Mickey D's in the airport and he would be there shortly. I couldn't believe this had happened since a day and a half earlier I had emailed everyone at ASK Now with all my flight info saying I want to make sure this doesn't happen. What happened? Exactly what I thought would, boy r I smrt. So I waited, and waited, and waited. I finally had to call the guy at ASK Now again from a payphone. He was amazed the guy wasn't there but to sit tight. I waited for three hours in that airport after my already 14 hr flight for that guy. He came and then we went on the 2 hr ride from the airport to where my school is. Finally he found the school and I got out of the taxi and into another van. Then I was taken to a hospital for my medical exam. In the hospital the medical exam was a big room with tiny rooms attached to it and they sent me from one tiny room to the next. This medical stuff didn't take too long so I didn't mind. My head was still spinning from everything though. Then I was taken to a hotel in Suji where I was to stay for six days until the teacher I replaced moved out and left. They told me to sleep for a few hours until they would pick me up and take me to the school. This was around noon and they would get me at 5ish. I got picked up and went to the school and then was introduced to everyone, and was told to observe a couple classes. So all within this crazy fogotten travel day I still worked. Then, Sunny, my director/boss took me out for a dinner of my choice as a welcoming gift. Keep in mind I am uber indecisive so we ended up getting sushi. We went to really nice sushi place where the sushi is freshly cut and rolled and put on a little conveyer belt that comes around and you take what you want. Nonetheless the food was great and an experience and a half. Sunny then took me back to the hotel, I called Paul, and then I slept. End day 1...
Day two:
I got up and walked around downtown Suji to get familiar with the area a little. Then I got picked up around 12 something and we went to Outback Steakhouse here and met with all the other teachers at the school. This was a special meal to welcome me and say goodbye to the other teacher. Outback was strange to me since it was ironic to go to that restaurant just after leaving the states. We then went to the school and I observed numerous classes. After observing numerous classes I was taken back to the hotel where I yet again called Paul. End day two...
Day three...
I got up and walked around Suji some more to where my apartment is and then back. I then got picked up to go to school. I not only observed but assisted in teaching on Friday. I finished with this around ten to walk out into the main hall of the school to find who else but PAUL!! He came to my school so we could hang out afterwards and be like YEAH AWESOME WE ARE IN KOREA!! So we left the school and went to my soon to be apartment to hang out with all the teachers there for the going away party for the girl I was replacing. We then left there and went with another Westerner teacher to a bar near my hotel called Exit. This bar was full of other westerners but it wasn't anything special. There was a loose thai girl hitting on anything with a penis in there. Then Paul and I played pool against a couple guys, we didn't get beaten too badly. A little while later a korean girl went up to the pool table and started playing with the balls, she was drunk and didn't know better. Then one of the guys we played pool against grabber her and shoved her out of the way and started yelling at her. My fellow teacher and Paul were suprised at how fast my empty Heine bottle went from drinking position in my hand to attack position but they saw that I was holding off until and only if it got worse which it didn't. Had he hit her I would have been in deep doo doo because I would have attacked the crap outta that guy. I think we all know by now that I do not stand for senseless cruelty to anyone especially to women and this one was a korean girl who did not know English or any better and she was drunk. Anyway that killed our buzz so Paul and I left and went to my hotel room to watch Americas Funniest Home Videos until 4 am. End day three...
Day four...
Paul and I got up and went to Jukjeon station to get onto the subway and go to his place. We went there and he showed me around there. He has a cooler place and a quicker communte to school. His is across the street. Mine is down a few streets and across a river. We then ate some korean food near his place and then proceeded to take the subway into Apgujeong. Apgujeong is supposed to be a high class area with loads of cool shops, restaurants, culture, and history. It is supposed to be a hip place for youngsters like us. We found it to be quite the contrary. It was upscale and full of crazy architecture and loads of car dealerships and fancy as heck restaurants, bars and karoke bars too. We got soaked in the rain and almost lost our way. We then came back around and bought movie tickets at the theater to see the new Harry Potter. I really liked it. The movie goers there are sooooooooo quiet it is like a f*ckin dream come true. The seats are huge and there isnt a bad seat in the house. It is assigned seating but u pick where u sit. Anyway after the movie we proceeded to go back to pauls and chill out and drink. Me being me fell asleep on his couch. End day four...
Day Five...
We got up and went into Seoul on a bus. We got off near Itaewon which is Westerner heaven. They even have areas in Itaewon called Homo hill and Hooker hill. We just walked through there to see it. Paul had been there before but I didn't really care about it. We then took the subway in to an area with two old temples/forts and a whole traditional village. We couldn't go into them because they were closed for the day. The area is called Bukchon and it was near Jongno and Insadong in Seoul. So we wandered Bukchon and found our way past the traditional village into a neigborhood that is like a Korean evanston; where it has sooo much classic architecture and new too and a lot of cafes. It is also like Wicker Park in the sense that there were lots of fashion boutiques. My mother and sister would have had field days there. I intend on going back to buy them trinkets. Coffee shops in that area are more prominent than annoying cub fans on the red line after a game. We then wandered our way towards Jongno Tower but got distracted by the crowds of Insadong. Insadong has alleyways/streets that are markets like a korean version of a middle eastern bazaar. We meandered through there and eventually made our way to Jongno Tower we we stared in the abyss of amazement in its incredible architecture and structure. After this we tried pizza hut here which is weird and uber expensive. We then proceeded back to Paul's where he went to bed and I went back on the subway back to my hotel. I got back and reread more Ender. Then I went to sleep. End day five...
Day Six....
I got up and got ready for school and then went over to what I thought was my new apartment to meet up with the departing teacher so she could show me how to walk to school. I knocked on the wrong door. There was no answer so I knocked and waited and what not. Then I walked outta there and wandered in the direction I knew school was. After a long and bogus walk I finally made it there. I then observed, assisted, and taught a few classes. The teacher I was replacing wanted to sell me things for the apartment instead of leaving them behind and I said no I am only interested in the converter. So I bought the converter from her and I think I pissed her off by doing that so much so that she took the other stuff or threw it out. Although the bookcase she was going to sell me went to good use. It went to the school and now holds our non perishable food stuffs. I dont really care because I do not have that much stuff and do not need a damn book case or matress pad. Anyway after that long day at school I was dropped back at the hotel for the last night. Interesting notes about Korea and/or the hotels. There is at least one channel dedicated to softcore korean porn. By that I mean all they show are boobs and no groin area but they show them having sex...its really hard to explain. The other thing is that the entire bathroom is the shower where the threshold of the bathroom door is raised a few inches. The floor is all tiled and has a drain and there is a cover for the TP so it doesnt get wet. The whole thing is foreign to me but I am getting used to it now. End day six...
Day Seven...
So I started this day getting picked up at the hotel and then driven to my apartment where I discovered I had no cat5e cable to connect to the internet. I brought all of my stuff in and started to set up shop in my living quarters for the next 51 weeks. I then asked if I could get a ride to school from the guy who drove me, he works at the school as a handyman sort of guy, and he said no and then left. He doesn't speak english well so I am sure he did not understand. So I was on my own to find my way to school again. This time I went a different way and it still was outrageously long. Finally I got there. I had a little time to rest and then taught my first day of classes. After that I walked home with the British girl teacher, Jessica, since she lives just down the street from me. So now I know how to get back and forth from school. Also at school I got their extra cat5e cable so I got the internet. I got home, fiddled on the internet and emailed a few people and then hit the hay. End day seven....
Day eight (today)...
I got up, got dressed, met Jessica and she showed me how to get the bus to school although I doubt I will do that a lot. I want to walk especially while it is so humid and hot so I can sweat more weight off. So we went to school. I taught more classes. Then Sunny gave me a ride back here. After that I posted pics on FB from my last week in the Chi (check em out please). Now I am writing this blog and talkin to my peeps on ye olde FB. I hope everyone will keep up with me here. Do not fret if I do not blog as often as you or even I would like but there will be many posted. I again thank you all and remind you of my love for thee. Later Days to all.
Special Blog Shout out: Happy Birthday to the good lady Kristin!!
On to bigger and better things. So I am going to dedicate a blog to my last week in Chi very soon. This blog is all about my first week in Korea. 1 down 51 to go! First thing is first. I had a 14 hour flight here from Chi. I got to the airport at 5am here and went right through customs. It was all very easy. I emerge from the gate to see so many people holding signs with names but none with mine. I wait a little to see if any will appear and no such luck. I set up shop on a bench, pulled out my laptop, and got some free wi-fi. I looked up some of the phone numbers I would need in such a scenario. A cabbie walked up to me and asked me if I needed help and then he ended up calling the phone numbers I had on his cell. We finally got a hold of someone at ASK Now, he said they thought my flight was later and that they were sending there own taxi driver. They told me to wait in the Mickey D's in the airport and he would be there shortly. I couldn't believe this had happened since a day and a half earlier I had emailed everyone at ASK Now with all my flight info saying I want to make sure this doesn't happen. What happened? Exactly what I thought would, boy r I smrt. So I waited, and waited, and waited. I finally had to call the guy at ASK Now again from a payphone. He was amazed the guy wasn't there but to sit tight. I waited for three hours in that airport after my already 14 hr flight for that guy. He came and then we went on the 2 hr ride from the airport to where my school is. Finally he found the school and I got out of the taxi and into another van. Then I was taken to a hospital for my medical exam. In the hospital the medical exam was a big room with tiny rooms attached to it and they sent me from one tiny room to the next. This medical stuff didn't take too long so I didn't mind. My head was still spinning from everything though. Then I was taken to a hotel in Suji where I was to stay for six days until the teacher I replaced moved out and left. They told me to sleep for a few hours until they would pick me up and take me to the school. This was around noon and they would get me at 5ish. I got picked up and went to the school and then was introduced to everyone, and was told to observe a couple classes. So all within this crazy fogotten travel day I still worked. Then, Sunny, my director/boss took me out for a dinner of my choice as a welcoming gift. Keep in mind I am uber indecisive so we ended up getting sushi. We went to really nice sushi place where the sushi is freshly cut and rolled and put on a little conveyer belt that comes around and you take what you want. Nonetheless the food was great and an experience and a half. Sunny then took me back to the hotel, I called Paul, and then I slept. End day 1...
Day two:
I got up and walked around downtown Suji to get familiar with the area a little. Then I got picked up around 12 something and we went to Outback Steakhouse here and met with all the other teachers at the school. This was a special meal to welcome me and say goodbye to the other teacher. Outback was strange to me since it was ironic to go to that restaurant just after leaving the states. We then went to the school and I observed numerous classes. After observing numerous classes I was taken back to the hotel where I yet again called Paul. End day two...
Day three...
I got up and walked around Suji some more to where my apartment is and then back. I then got picked up to go to school. I not only observed but assisted in teaching on Friday. I finished with this around ten to walk out into the main hall of the school to find who else but PAUL!! He came to my school so we could hang out afterwards and be like YEAH AWESOME WE ARE IN KOREA!! So we left the school and went to my soon to be apartment to hang out with all the teachers there for the going away party for the girl I was replacing. We then left there and went with another Westerner teacher to a bar near my hotel called Exit. This bar was full of other westerners but it wasn't anything special. There was a loose thai girl hitting on anything with a penis in there. Then Paul and I played pool against a couple guys, we didn't get beaten too badly. A little while later a korean girl went up to the pool table and started playing with the balls, she was drunk and didn't know better. Then one of the guys we played pool against grabber her and shoved her out of the way and started yelling at her. My fellow teacher and Paul were suprised at how fast my empty Heine bottle went from drinking position in my hand to attack position but they saw that I was holding off until and only if it got worse which it didn't. Had he hit her I would have been in deep doo doo because I would have attacked the crap outta that guy. I think we all know by now that I do not stand for senseless cruelty to anyone especially to women and this one was a korean girl who did not know English or any better and she was drunk. Anyway that killed our buzz so Paul and I left and went to my hotel room to watch Americas Funniest Home Videos until 4 am. End day three...
Day four...
Paul and I got up and went to Jukjeon station to get onto the subway and go to his place. We went there and he showed me around there. He has a cooler place and a quicker communte to school. His is across the street. Mine is down a few streets and across a river. We then ate some korean food near his place and then proceeded to take the subway into Apgujeong. Apgujeong is supposed to be a high class area with loads of cool shops, restaurants, culture, and history. It is supposed to be a hip place for youngsters like us. We found it to be quite the contrary. It was upscale and full of crazy architecture and loads of car dealerships and fancy as heck restaurants, bars and karoke bars too. We got soaked in the rain and almost lost our way. We then came back around and bought movie tickets at the theater to see the new Harry Potter. I really liked it. The movie goers there are sooooooooo quiet it is like a f*ckin dream come true. The seats are huge and there isnt a bad seat in the house. It is assigned seating but u pick where u sit. Anyway after the movie we proceeded to go back to pauls and chill out and drink. Me being me fell asleep on his couch. End day four...
Day Five...
We got up and went into Seoul on a bus. We got off near Itaewon which is Westerner heaven. They even have areas in Itaewon called Homo hill and Hooker hill. We just walked through there to see it. Paul had been there before but I didn't really care about it. We then took the subway in to an area with two old temples/forts and a whole traditional village. We couldn't go into them because they were closed for the day. The area is called Bukchon and it was near Jongno and Insadong in Seoul. So we wandered Bukchon and found our way past the traditional village into a neigborhood that is like a Korean evanston; where it has sooo much classic architecture and new too and a lot of cafes. It is also like Wicker Park in the sense that there were lots of fashion boutiques. My mother and sister would have had field days there. I intend on going back to buy them trinkets. Coffee shops in that area are more prominent than annoying cub fans on the red line after a game. We then wandered our way towards Jongno Tower but got distracted by the crowds of Insadong. Insadong has alleyways/streets that are markets like a korean version of a middle eastern bazaar. We meandered through there and eventually made our way to Jongno Tower we we stared in the abyss of amazement in its incredible architecture and structure. After this we tried pizza hut here which is weird and uber expensive. We then proceeded back to Paul's where he went to bed and I went back on the subway back to my hotel. I got back and reread more Ender. Then I went to sleep. End day five...
Day Six....
I got up and got ready for school and then went over to what I thought was my new apartment to meet up with the departing teacher so she could show me how to walk to school. I knocked on the wrong door. There was no answer so I knocked and waited and what not. Then I walked outta there and wandered in the direction I knew school was. After a long and bogus walk I finally made it there. I then observed, assisted, and taught a few classes. The teacher I was replacing wanted to sell me things for the apartment instead of leaving them behind and I said no I am only interested in the converter. So I bought the converter from her and I think I pissed her off by doing that so much so that she took the other stuff or threw it out. Although the bookcase she was going to sell me went to good use. It went to the school and now holds our non perishable food stuffs. I dont really care because I do not have that much stuff and do not need a damn book case or matress pad. Anyway after that long day at school I was dropped back at the hotel for the last night. Interesting notes about Korea and/or the hotels. There is at least one channel dedicated to softcore korean porn. By that I mean all they show are boobs and no groin area but they show them having sex...its really hard to explain. The other thing is that the entire bathroom is the shower where the threshold of the bathroom door is raised a few inches. The floor is all tiled and has a drain and there is a cover for the TP so it doesnt get wet. The whole thing is foreign to me but I am getting used to it now. End day six...
Day Seven...
So I started this day getting picked up at the hotel and then driven to my apartment where I discovered I had no cat5e cable to connect to the internet. I brought all of my stuff in and started to set up shop in my living quarters for the next 51 weeks. I then asked if I could get a ride to school from the guy who drove me, he works at the school as a handyman sort of guy, and he said no and then left. He doesn't speak english well so I am sure he did not understand. So I was on my own to find my way to school again. This time I went a different way and it still was outrageously long. Finally I got there. I had a little time to rest and then taught my first day of classes. After that I walked home with the British girl teacher, Jessica, since she lives just down the street from me. So now I know how to get back and forth from school. Also at school I got their extra cat5e cable so I got the internet. I got home, fiddled on the internet and emailed a few people and then hit the hay. End day seven....
Day eight (today)...
I got up, got dressed, met Jessica and she showed me how to get the bus to school although I doubt I will do that a lot. I want to walk especially while it is so humid and hot so I can sweat more weight off. So we went to school. I taught more classes. Then Sunny gave me a ride back here. After that I posted pics on FB from my last week in the Chi (check em out please). Now I am writing this blog and talkin to my peeps on ye olde FB. I hope everyone will keep up with me here. Do not fret if I do not blog as often as you or even I would like but there will be many posted. I again thank you all and remind you of my love for thee. Later Days to all.
Special Blog Shout out: Happy Birthday to the good lady Kristin!!
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