I know that I have been very neglectful of my blog lately, but I have been very busy. Things were just starting to settle into a routine at school when my co-teacher let me know that I would now be taking over the teaching of the regular classes alone. I was of course a bit nervous, but also very excited. This was my chance to take the class in the direction that I want to and get the students a bit more excited and adventurous about their English learning. I spent a lot of time doing extra thinking and planning, trying to decide exactly what I want to do with the classes and how to go about doing it. I spent tons more time going through the resources available to me and coming up with more. It was fun, challenging as seems to be working out well.
Aside from the actual work at school we have been pretty busy in general. There was a field trip to Seoul, a sports competition for the students with other schools, fitness exams for the 5th and 6th grades, a musical magic performance, the school’s birthday and open classes. I have been out to dinner twice with the faculty and staff, once following a monster hike with two other schools. The field trip to Seoul I won’t detail here as I have already started an entry about that one. I don’t have any pictures of the hike but I will tell you that it was an eye opener into what Korean people think “leisurely” activity means. I have never done anything so physically difficult in my life and there were several times during the two hours on the way up when I really thought lying down to die by the side of the path would be a good idea. When I finally reached the top with the three supporters that hung back with me, the round of applause that I received and my principal’s (he who hiked the mountain in his business suit, tie and all) ecstatic congratulations and bragging to the other principals. As soon as I made it to a sitting position at the lookout point the 5th grade teacher brought me a cup half full of Korean rice beer and a piece of beef jerky, saying “foh enuhgy.” The beer was terrible and everyone laughed when I said “umm, interesting.” I would like to say that the hike down was much better but, it was such a steep climb that I felt like my by then jelly legs would give out at any moment and I would tumble the rest of the way down, breaking my neck and ending the misery.
After leaving the mountain we drove to a restaurant where we stuffed ourselves on various extremely healthy yet still delicious soups and things that grow from the ground. I firmly believe that a couple of the side dishes were some type of grass. I also learned that in addition to eating well and communing with nature, Koreans love to drink. It was a great food and Soju filled couple of hours. About the time that my alcohol consumption had settled into a nice, happy, not quite tipsy feeling we left the restaurant and the night took a strange turn. In the parking lot we split up into the cars of the DD’s based on who was going where. Then we all took off. When we got to my town my driver pulls up and parks and I realized that half of our school was already there. We get out and wait while everyone else shows up and then we go into another restaurant and proceed to have another dinner. Why did we eat, drive 20 minutes to another restaurant and eat again, I HAVE NO IDEA! Another couple of hours at this place, more food and Soju and finally the night came to an end.
All in all it was a very interesting and enlightening experience. Apparently I went up drastically in the esteem of my principal and co-workers by being the only native English teacher who came to the hike (although I know that one of them was still teaching), but making it all the way and then handling my Soju like a champ. I also learned that social engagements are budgeted for a couple of times a month by a deduction from our pay. I think this may be the best job I have ever had.
Korean Trivia #5 Koreans not only enjoy chittlins but a restaurant dedicated to the beef version is right across the street from my apt. Apparently they are very spicy and popular.
