As our time in Korea draws to a close, Leslie and I have been trying hard to experience as much of this country as possible before we leave in July.
A few weeks ago was Buddha's Birthday, and Korea being a traditionally Buddhist country, pulled out all the stops to celebrate. Large portions of the city were covered with brightly colored lotus lanterns that were illuminated at night. There were parades, fireworks, and an entire street downtown was blocked off and used as a festival area. There was traditional dancing, food, and music. Leslie and I made some traditional prayer bracelets, but Leslie's kept breaking. (Bad Karma?) Mine held up just fine. We also tried our hand at traditional watercolor painting, but this time Leslie came out on top, as anyone who knows my artistic skills could already have predicted. The Korean instructor didn't even spend time helping me, but simply gave me the paint and wooden block and never returned. I think she knew I was a lost cause from the beginning.
It was great to experience some traditional Korean culture. It is something that is often difficult to do in the ever modernizing, late night partying Seoul.
Besides Buddha's Birthday, Korea has this other amazing holiday called Teacher's Day, a holiday that I would have probably conveniently forgotten about until this year. Due to a overly generous Teacher's Day present, Leslie and I were fortunate to able to attend a World Cup exhibition match between Korea and Ecuador, at Seoul's historic World Cup Stadium.
The game was wild, filled with 65,000 half drunk Korean fans. Sitting next to us were three grandmothers all yelling and eating a seemingly endless supply of candy. One of them got so excited about a play that she jumped out of her seat and her shoe flew into the row below us. Now you may think that we might have been concerned about our personal safety with shoes flying everywhere and all, but thankfully the authorities had surrounded the entire Stadium with a ring of police officers, in case these sugar-crazed grandmas got out of control.
Our time in Korea has gone by quickly and we only have about six weeks left in our teaching contract. We made what should be our last run to Costco a few days ago, which was quite a milestone for us. It shows how close we are to leaving. Thank God for Costco, that's all I have to say! It really has been a lifesaver, and its hot dogs are just as delicious as back home.
Well, that's the news from Seoul at the moment. Hopefully we will post some picture soon.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Samcheong-dong
To our surprise, we are still finding neighborhoods of Seoul we have yet to explore. The area we explored this past weekend is called Samcheong-dong. Without a doubt this is by far my favorite area of Seoul. It doesn't resemble the rest of Seoul in the slightest. The streets are smaller, full of independent coffee shops, restaurants, and clothing stores. It is considered the luxury area of Seoul, which is easy to see why with all of the Mercedes, BMWs, Lexus, and Volkswagen cars driving around. We've been told that getting a foreign car into Korea is extremely expensive, hence the reason 99% of cars on the road are Hongdae or Kia.
Even though we didn't shop, walking around, enjoying the flowers and people watching was enjoyable enough. We ate lunch at a restaurant that served Singaporean food, which consisted of fried noodles (somewhat similar to Phad Thai) and spring rolls. It was tasty and relatively cheap compared to the other restaurants in the area. After eating lunch we got a coffee at a place called "The Coffee Factory." Ian enjoyed an iced milk tea latte, whereas I got an iced green tea latte. For some reason regular coffee lattes in Korea are rather strong, so we often order different drink options. The coffee shop was in a great area of people watching, so we sat and enjoyed our drinks while watching the young Seoulites.
We ended the day with making our way to the Yongsan Electronics Market. We bought the 3rd season of Sopranos and the 1st season of Entourage for a cheap 12,000 Won, which is around $10! Those purchases would have easily cost us $40 in the states.
I hope everyone is getting as good of weather as we are in Seoul!
Even though we didn't shop, walking around, enjoying the flowers and people watching was enjoyable enough. We ate lunch at a restaurant that served Singaporean food, which consisted of fried noodles (somewhat similar to Phad Thai) and spring rolls. It was tasty and relatively cheap compared to the other restaurants in the area. After eating lunch we got a coffee at a place called "The Coffee Factory." Ian enjoyed an iced milk tea latte, whereas I got an iced green tea latte. For some reason regular coffee lattes in Korea are rather strong, so we often order different drink options. The coffee shop was in a great area of people watching, so we sat and enjoyed our drinks while watching the young Seoulites.
We ended the day with making our way to the Yongsan Electronics Market. We bought the 3rd season of Sopranos and the 1st season of Entourage for a cheap 12,000 Won, which is around $10! Those purchases would have easily cost us $40 in the states.
I hope everyone is getting as good of weather as we are in Seoul!
Boracay
We finally took our week vacation and might I say it was wonderful! Since we only had a week we decided it would be best to choose one area and to stay there the entire time. After weeks of contemplation, we decided to take a beach vacation to Boracay, Philippines.
Getting to Boracay was no easy task. Our first flight was from Seoul to Beijing. We then had to stay in the Beijing airport for about 6 hours waiting for our flight to Manila. We eventually made it to Manila around 1 am. Unfortunately, our flight to Boracay didn't leave until 6:30 am. Not sure if the airport would let us check in that early, we decided it was worth the attempt. To our surprise, the Manila Domestic airport was packed with people. Literally, we have never seen so many people at an airport so early in the morning. For some reason Filipinos choose 3 am as the average departing time when traveling. The airport also had several eateries and convenience stores, so we were definitely able to keep ourselves occupied for the four hour wait.
In order to actually get to the island of Boracay, you first fly to the city of Cataclan and then take a boat to Boracay. Fortunately, our hotel had set up a pick up service for us. So getting from the airport to the boat and then finally to our hotel was very easy. Once we arrived to our hotel we collapsed with exhaustion!
After a short afternoon nap we decided to check out the main beach, called White Beach. White Beach is about a mile and a half long of unbelievably soft sand. The water is the clearest I've ever seen and is the color of breathtaking turquoise. So, after a quick lunch we immediately jumped into the warm waters of Boracay! Very few things get better than swimming in some of the clearest and warmest water in the world.
Within that week we enjoyed a few different beaches on the island, took a snorkeling and boat tour around the island, and enjoyed the cable t.v. in the hotel!
Towards the end of the trip Ian and I got a stomach bug either from something we ate or water, which caused us to spend a little more time in the hotel then expected, but we were just happy to be taking a break from CDI. Fortunately, our trip to Boracay gave us the rest we needed to finish our last 10 weeks at CDI and in Seoul.
Getting to Boracay was no easy task. Our first flight was from Seoul to Beijing. We then had to stay in the Beijing airport for about 6 hours waiting for our flight to Manila. We eventually made it to Manila around 1 am. Unfortunately, our flight to Boracay didn't leave until 6:30 am. Not sure if the airport would let us check in that early, we decided it was worth the attempt. To our surprise, the Manila Domestic airport was packed with people. Literally, we have never seen so many people at an airport so early in the morning. For some reason Filipinos choose 3 am as the average departing time when traveling. The airport also had several eateries and convenience stores, so we were definitely able to keep ourselves occupied for the four hour wait.
In order to actually get to the island of Boracay, you first fly to the city of Cataclan and then take a boat to Boracay. Fortunately, our hotel had set up a pick up service for us. So getting from the airport to the boat and then finally to our hotel was very easy. Once we arrived to our hotel we collapsed with exhaustion!
After a short afternoon nap we decided to check out the main beach, called White Beach. White Beach is about a mile and a half long of unbelievably soft sand. The water is the clearest I've ever seen and is the color of breathtaking turquoise. So, after a quick lunch we immediately jumped into the warm waters of Boracay! Very few things get better than swimming in some of the clearest and warmest water in the world.
Within that week we enjoyed a few different beaches on the island, took a snorkeling and boat tour around the island, and enjoyed the cable t.v. in the hotel!
Towards the end of the trip Ian and I got a stomach bug either from something we ate or water, which caused us to spend a little more time in the hotel then expected, but we were just happy to be taking a break from CDI. Fortunately, our trip to Boracay gave us the rest we needed to finish our last 10 weeks at CDI and in Seoul.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Myeongdong and Gwangju
We believe we have finally survived the Korean winter. The temperatures are actually staying above the 40's and the trees are starting to sprout. We've been told that Spring comes and goes quickly, so to enjoy it while it lasts.
Two weekends ago Ian and I explored a new area of Seoul called Myeondong. It took us by surprise because it's appearance did not resemble the rest of Seoul. It contains multiple streets of updated shops, restaurants, and actual department stores. It was also cut off to most car traffic, so we didn't have to worry about the weaving motorcyclists. Before exploring , Ian did some research on the best noodle houses in Korea, and apparently there's one right in the heart of Myeongdong. We were able to find it rather quickly because of the line of people waiting outside and the smell of garlic incorporated in the air. Since the line is continually long, the restaurant employees get you in and out fast. You immediately pay when you sit down and once your food arrives, you are expected to eat, not socialize. The noodles were hand pulled and covered in a pork broth with garlic, ground beef and dumplings. It was delicious! The only bad part was that it ruined our breath for at least two days.
After eating our soup we made our way down the meandering streets. Needing to calm the garlic taste in our mouth, we decided to have dessert. Fortunately, we quickly found soft serve ice cream. However, this is not the dinky soft serve you get at McDonalds, these were at least 10 inches tall of creamy chocolate and vanilla ice cream. They were quite delicious. After stuffing ourselves beyond belief we shopped some more and eventually made the trek back to the apartment.
This past weekend we decided it was time to visit our friends Eric and Dana, who are now teaching in Gwangju. After an exhausting 50+hour work week we trudged ourselves and some clothes to the train station. Fortunately, the train was very quiet and relaxing. So, after eating salami sandwiches and Pringles, we listened to music and relaxed for the entire three hour ride there. Definitely one of the most relaxing train rides I have ever taken!
Once we arrived, Eric and Dana showed us around a shopping district in Gwangju. We got some drinks and ttoekpoki (deep fried food items covered in a Korean chili sauce). The next day was spent taking a bus to the nearest mountain range. We attempted a small hike, but stopped early because Ian was feeling under the weather. So, we made it back into town, walked around the shopping district, went bowling, and ended the night with some delicious Korean BBQ. All in all it was a great trip. It was nice to see Eric and Dana and to see an area outside of Seoul.
Tonight, Ian and I are working the late shift and then coming home to eat home cooked vegetable coconut curry! Hopefully it's as tasty as it smells.
Sorry for the delay in posts. Becoming Head Instructors has literally taken over any free time we may have. But, I think we are slowly learning how to strategize our work and free time. Hopefully our posts will be more frequent. Pictures will also be posted soon!
Two weekends ago Ian and I explored a new area of Seoul called Myeondong. It took us by surprise because it's appearance did not resemble the rest of Seoul. It contains multiple streets of updated shops, restaurants, and actual department stores. It was also cut off to most car traffic, so we didn't have to worry about the weaving motorcyclists. Before exploring , Ian did some research on the best noodle houses in Korea, and apparently there's one right in the heart of Myeongdong. We were able to find it rather quickly because of the line of people waiting outside and the smell of garlic incorporated in the air. Since the line is continually long, the restaurant employees get you in and out fast. You immediately pay when you sit down and once your food arrives, you are expected to eat, not socialize. The noodles were hand pulled and covered in a pork broth with garlic, ground beef and dumplings. It was delicious! The only bad part was that it ruined our breath for at least two days.
After eating our soup we made our way down the meandering streets. Needing to calm the garlic taste in our mouth, we decided to have dessert. Fortunately, we quickly found soft serve ice cream. However, this is not the dinky soft serve you get at McDonalds, these were at least 10 inches tall of creamy chocolate and vanilla ice cream. They were quite delicious. After stuffing ourselves beyond belief we shopped some more and eventually made the trek back to the apartment.
This past weekend we decided it was time to visit our friends Eric and Dana, who are now teaching in Gwangju. After an exhausting 50+hour work week we trudged ourselves and some clothes to the train station. Fortunately, the train was very quiet and relaxing. So, after eating salami sandwiches and Pringles, we listened to music and relaxed for the entire three hour ride there. Definitely one of the most relaxing train rides I have ever taken!
Once we arrived, Eric and Dana showed us around a shopping district in Gwangju. We got some drinks and ttoekpoki (deep fried food items covered in a Korean chili sauce). The next day was spent taking a bus to the nearest mountain range. We attempted a small hike, but stopped early because Ian was feeling under the weather. So, we made it back into town, walked around the shopping district, went bowling, and ended the night with some delicious Korean BBQ. All in all it was a great trip. It was nice to see Eric and Dana and to see an area outside of Seoul.
Tonight, Ian and I are working the late shift and then coming home to eat home cooked vegetable coconut curry! Hopefully it's as tasty as it smells.
Sorry for the delay in posts. Becoming Head Instructors has literally taken over any free time we may have. But, I think we are slowly learning how to strategize our work and free time. Hopefully our posts will be more frequent. Pictures will also be posted soon!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Long Time No Post
Okay, so we haven't posted in like 3 weeks, but we do have an excuse. Since becoming head instructors Leslie and I have been working about 11 hour days (including class prep) and we just haven't had the energy to post, but we are back on the wagon now!
We are now about 1.5 weeks into the new term and things have been busier than ever. Our classes have been good, but they are giving us some challenges as well. Leslie has been teaching a TOEFL test preparation course, which is a lot of work and can be quite complex. I am teaching an advanced grammar class, and have found that explaining English grammar rules, that at times I don't even truly understand, is no small undertaking. My first day of class was met with more than a few befuddled and mildly panicked expressions from students. But practice makes perfect right? Right.
This term I am also teaching a couple students with moderate mental illnesses, which has been both rewarding and frustrating. It is great to see them succeeding, but it also make class less beneficial for other students.
On our limited free time we have been trying to explore Seoul a little more. With the Olympic fever that has swept this small nation due to the success of Yu-Na Kim and other Korean athletes, we decided to check out Seoul's Olympic Park. Seoul hosted the Summer Olympics in 1988, and created a huge park on the city's eastside where many of competitions took place. It reminded me a bit of New York's Central Park, as it is a big chunk of grass and trees surround on all sides by high rises. The only difference was that the border of the park was sprinkled with stadiums catering to the various Olympic sports. The park also contained pieces of an earthen defense wall dating from 300 A.D. We weren't sure if the wall was real or simply a modern reconstruction (like most "historical" sites in Korea), but we let our imaginations take hold and hoped for the best.
The other big news around hear is that we are taking our week vacation in the middle of April. From April 17th to the 25th, Leslie and I are headed out of cold, polluted Seoul to the beautiful and fresh Philippines, where hopefully the majority of our activity will involve sand, water, good books, and 50 cent beer. We are going to spend a week on the island of Boracay, and maybe poke around Manila for a day or so. We are incredibly excited and are already counting down the days!
We are now about 1.5 weeks into the new term and things have been busier than ever. Our classes have been good, but they are giving us some challenges as well. Leslie has been teaching a TOEFL test preparation course, which is a lot of work and can be quite complex. I am teaching an advanced grammar class, and have found that explaining English grammar rules, that at times I don't even truly understand, is no small undertaking. My first day of class was met with more than a few befuddled and mildly panicked expressions from students. But practice makes perfect right? Right.
This term I am also teaching a couple students with moderate mental illnesses, which has been both rewarding and frustrating. It is great to see them succeeding, but it also make class less beneficial for other students.
On our limited free time we have been trying to explore Seoul a little more. With the Olympic fever that has swept this small nation due to the success of Yu-Na Kim and other Korean athletes, we decided to check out Seoul's Olympic Park. Seoul hosted the Summer Olympics in 1988, and created a huge park on the city's eastside where many of competitions took place. It reminded me a bit of New York's Central Park, as it is a big chunk of grass and trees surround on all sides by high rises. The only difference was that the border of the park was sprinkled with stadiums catering to the various Olympic sports. The park also contained pieces of an earthen defense wall dating from 300 A.D. We weren't sure if the wall was real or simply a modern reconstruction (like most "historical" sites in Korea), but we let our imaginations take hold and hoped for the best.
The other big news around hear is that we are taking our week vacation in the middle of April. From April 17th to the 25th, Leslie and I are headed out of cold, polluted Seoul to the beautiful and fresh Philippines, where hopefully the majority of our activity will involve sand, water, good books, and 50 cent beer. We are going to spend a week on the island of Boracay, and maybe poke around Manila for a day or so. We are incredibly excited and are already counting down the days!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Tardiness
Our deepest apologizes for failing to maintain the blog over the past couple of weeks. We have been really busy starting the next term as Head Instructors and teaching new class. Excuses aside, we promise we will get a post up by this weekend.
Thanks for your patience!
Thanks for your patience!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Gearing Up
Things are gearing up over here to be sure! In less than two weeks Leslie and I will officially be head instructors at our school, however the responsibilities of our new positions are already upon us.
This last week we had the unfortunate mission of returning to "Hell," more commonly referred to as CDI Training Center, a place Leslie and I vowed to never return if at all possible, due to our less than positive experience there 7 months ago. We were headed there for CDI Head Instructor Training, which thankfully was only 3 hours instead of a full week. After we overcame the initial nausea and panic upon entering the building, the training turned out to be not nearly as bad as we predicted. We actually learned a lot useful information, like how to deal with various instructor personalities, strategies for creating effective workshops, and the best ways to tell bad teachers that they are doing a crappy job. Overall, it was much less mind-numbing, exhausting, and sterile than our original training.
Over the next two weeks Leslie and I will each go to two more workshops. We both have to go learn about a new test-taking course CDI is implementing this term. Also, Leslie will be teaching a TOEFL Test preparation class next term, and needs to go to a workshop for that. I will most likely be teaching a speaking presentation and debate class that also requires me to attend a workshop. We have heard that these workshops are of limited value, and the best thing to do is just smile and nod until they let you out. However, our first workshop was a pleasant surprise so we're hoping the trend continues.
There is breaking news on the food front as well. The latest excitement stems from the discovery of a California Pizza Kitchen in Seoul, which we are hoping to try soon. We also learned of a spot that apparently serves "legit" Mexican food. Our quest on this culinary manner has repeated been filled with great hoped followed by utter despair. Let's hope this time things turn out differently....
Finally, our friends Eric and Dana are coming to Korea on Tuesday for a teaching gig down in Gwangju, a city about 2-3 hours south of Seoul. They will be working in the public school system. We are looking forward to having them here and going down for some visits. We have heard Gwangju is really nice and have been wanting to see more of the country once the weather warms up. We are hoping their training goes a bit more smoothly than ours did.
That's all the news for now. Leslie and I have to hold our own workshops in about two weeks, plus train some of our newbie teachers. We'll let you know how it goes.
This last week we had the unfortunate mission of returning to "Hell," more commonly referred to as CDI Training Center, a place Leslie and I vowed to never return if at all possible, due to our less than positive experience there 7 months ago. We were headed there for CDI Head Instructor Training, which thankfully was only 3 hours instead of a full week. After we overcame the initial nausea and panic upon entering the building, the training turned out to be not nearly as bad as we predicted. We actually learned a lot useful information, like how to deal with various instructor personalities, strategies for creating effective workshops, and the best ways to tell bad teachers that they are doing a crappy job. Overall, it was much less mind-numbing, exhausting, and sterile than our original training.
Over the next two weeks Leslie and I will each go to two more workshops. We both have to go learn about a new test-taking course CDI is implementing this term. Also, Leslie will be teaching a TOEFL Test preparation class next term, and needs to go to a workshop for that. I will most likely be teaching a speaking presentation and debate class that also requires me to attend a workshop. We have heard that these workshops are of limited value, and the best thing to do is just smile and nod until they let you out. However, our first workshop was a pleasant surprise so we're hoping the trend continues.
There is breaking news on the food front as well. The latest excitement stems from the discovery of a California Pizza Kitchen in Seoul, which we are hoping to try soon. We also learned of a spot that apparently serves "legit" Mexican food. Our quest on this culinary manner has repeated been filled with great hoped followed by utter despair. Let's hope this time things turn out differently....
Finally, our friends Eric and Dana are coming to Korea on Tuesday for a teaching gig down in Gwangju, a city about 2-3 hours south of Seoul. They will be working in the public school system. We are looking forward to having them here and going down for some visits. We have heard Gwangju is really nice and have been wanting to see more of the country once the weather warms up. We are hoping their training goes a bit more smoothly than ours did.
That's all the news for now. Leslie and I have to hold our own workshops in about two weeks, plus train some of our newbie teachers. We'll let you know how it goes.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
New Slideshow
We just posted a new slideshow above this posting. These pictures are...
- From our apartment flooding
- Riding the public bus
- The local movie theater
- The subway/map
- A university area
- A bowling tournament that I particpated in with some girls from work
Ian is going to write a new post this weekend. So, look out for that! Enjoy the pictures...
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Wii Room and 110 Bus Ride
The past couple of weeks have been very busy with teaching intensive classes and regular classes. We are both very thankful to have intensives done with so we can enjoy a little more time relaxing and touring the city.
A few weekends ago, our friend Peter had a birthday. So in full Korean fashion we had a big, relaxing dinner and finished the night off with going to a Wii room. The Wii room fits about 7 people and is $30/hour. You can play any Wii game that interests you, including tennis and Mario Kart, which are my favorite! The only set back is the directions are in Korean. Thankfully the room Ian and I were in had two Korean speakers, so we had no problem.
Yesterday, with a lazy day in mind, we decided to take a bus ride around the city. It wasn't a bus tour, it was actually the regular city bus. This specific bus takes you to Itaewon ("America Town"), which we go to a couple times a month. However, we have recently been interested on what lays beyond our usual Itaewon stop. So, than other getting off the bus at the usual stop we kept on riding.
For the most part, the rest of the route consisted of the same gray and run down city that the rest of Seoul looks like. However, half way through we noticed a large food market. Since we were getting hungry for lunch, we jumped off at the next stop, in hopes of delicious food. Well, we didn't find any scrumptious food for lunch, but we did find, we believe, the largest produce, meat, and seafood market in Seoul. It was huge. At least a half a mile in every direction.
The market was very interesting. It was the first time we have seen turtles, frogs, and dog's legs sold to the public. The meat vendors were selling every part of the cow and pig, and the produce vendors were selling everything from giant asian pears to ginsing. While the smells were a little overwhelming, the markets was one of the most interesting sites I've seen in Seoul.
After walking through part of the market, and not finding any lunch foods, we decided to jump back on the bus and keep riding. Unknowingly, about half way through our trek, the bus turned off the usual route to head back to the bus depot. While it caused a little concern when the bus abruptly stopped and the bus driver kicked everyone off, we were able to find the next bus stop in no time! The rest of the ride took about 20 minutes. Even though the ride wasn't very eventfuly, we were led to a fascinating market and were able to see even more of Seoul!
For some exciting news, Ian and I were recently asked to be Head Instructors for the following term! This means that we, including two other instructors, will be in charge of the different Programs, including EC, Memory, and Interactive classes. We will be in charge of getting the new instructors situated and evaluating instructor's teaching skills. We don't know of all of the details just yet, but we will tell you as soon as we know!
A few weekends ago, our friend Peter had a birthday. So in full Korean fashion we had a big, relaxing dinner and finished the night off with going to a Wii room. The Wii room fits about 7 people and is $30/hour. You can play any Wii game that interests you, including tennis and Mario Kart, which are my favorite! The only set back is the directions are in Korean. Thankfully the room Ian and I were in had two Korean speakers, so we had no problem.
Yesterday, with a lazy day in mind, we decided to take a bus ride around the city. It wasn't a bus tour, it was actually the regular city bus. This specific bus takes you to Itaewon ("America Town"), which we go to a couple times a month. However, we have recently been interested on what lays beyond our usual Itaewon stop. So, than other getting off the bus at the usual stop we kept on riding.
For the most part, the rest of the route consisted of the same gray and run down city that the rest of Seoul looks like. However, half way through we noticed a large food market. Since we were getting hungry for lunch, we jumped off at the next stop, in hopes of delicious food. Well, we didn't find any scrumptious food for lunch, but we did find, we believe, the largest produce, meat, and seafood market in Seoul. It was huge. At least a half a mile in every direction.
The market was very interesting. It was the first time we have seen turtles, frogs, and dog's legs sold to the public. The meat vendors were selling every part of the cow and pig, and the produce vendors were selling everything from giant asian pears to ginsing. While the smells were a little overwhelming, the markets was one of the most interesting sites I've seen in Seoul.
After walking through part of the market, and not finding any lunch foods, we decided to jump back on the bus and keep riding. Unknowingly, about half way through our trek, the bus turned off the usual route to head back to the bus depot. While it caused a little concern when the bus abruptly stopped and the bus driver kicked everyone off, we were able to find the next bus stop in no time! The rest of the ride took about 20 minutes. Even though the ride wasn't very eventfuly, we were led to a fascinating market and were able to see even more of Seoul!
For some exciting news, Ian and I were recently asked to be Head Instructors for the following term! This means that we, including two other instructors, will be in charge of the different Programs, including EC, Memory, and Interactive classes. We will be in charge of getting the new instructors situated and evaluating instructor's teaching skills. We don't know of all of the details just yet, but we will tell you as soon as we know!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Delay
Sorry for the delay in posts. We are in the last week of Intensive classes, so we are busier than ever! Plan on a new post and more pictures this weekend...
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Birthday Bash
I recently celebrated my 23rd birthday and did it in full Korean fashion. A co-worker of mine was also celebrating her birthday, so most of our co-workers came out to celebrate with us. We first met at a local pub called Yale Town. It serves burgers, bottomless curly fries and beer. The curly fries were by far the best part. We even had chocolate cake for dessert. After a couple hours of mingling and eating, we made our way to a karaoke room. In Korea the karaoke rooms are called Noraebang and they are very different from your typical karaoke bar in the states. In Korea you get your own room with a huge projector, which plays a Korean music video while also playing your song of choice. So, than other singing to a group of strangers you sing to your friends. It was a little strange at first, but once you add a little alcohol to the mix everyone starts to sing! Fortunately, they had all of the typical American songs, so we were able to sing our hearts out to some Britney Spears and Beatles. We finally made our way home at five in the morning. While I was completely exhausted the following week, it was a great night.
Our intensive classes are going well. Ian is learning how to communicate with children who understand very little English. He is also starting to perfect his hand gesturing and drawing skills. My grammar class has been a little challenging, but has taught me a lot about different grammar rules! My students are remarkable, which helps me immensely. They understand the majority of the material. Unfortunately, there is more material than both they or I can handle, so we work/learn for three hours straight.
Today we decided to tour Seodaemun Prison. While it was lacking some historical background, it was fascinating to see where the Japanese held Korean freedom fighters. The conditions seemed pretty bad, especially for the Korean women, who were imprisoned underground. On the whole it was an interesting experience.
Tonight we are going to eat barbecue pork that has been cooking in the crock pot. Hopefully it works out!
Our intensive classes are going well. Ian is learning how to communicate with children who understand very little English. He is also starting to perfect his hand gesturing and drawing skills. My grammar class has been a little challenging, but has taught me a lot about different grammar rules! My students are remarkable, which helps me immensely. They understand the majority of the material. Unfortunately, there is more material than both they or I can handle, so we work/learn for three hours straight.
Today we decided to tour Seodaemun Prison. While it was lacking some historical background, it was fascinating to see where the Japanese held Korean freedom fighters. The conditions seemed pretty bad, especially for the Korean women, who were imprisoned underground. On the whole it was an interesting experience.
Tonight we are going to eat barbecue pork that has been cooking in the crock pot. Hopefully it works out!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Parental Visit #1
Last week my (Ian's) parents hopped the pond to get a taste of Korea and see firsthand what our new life in Seoul is like. Other than the sub-zero temperatures, the teaching of extra classes, my mom's and my lingering sickness, and the biggest snowstorm in Korea in 70 years, it was a great trip.
Seriously though, we had a good time. I think my parents enjoyed themselves and handled the hustle and bustle of Seoul surprisingly well. I also came to the conclusion that my dad must have been a Korean in a past life. He loved the food, especially kimchi, knew an almost unsettling amount of Korean history facts, and the fast-paced, no-nonsense attitude of Seoulites, along with their penchant for flashy ties fits him perfectly. Now if I could only get him interested in tight jeans and karaoke he would more or less fit the mold.
My mom handled the ice-covered, neon-lit mega city better than her rural Idaho sensibilities led me to anticipate, and she enjoyed most of the food, which was especially impressive considering her sickness.
Leslie and I showed them our favorite eating and drinking establishments and some of the items on the standard tourist itinerary. My dad also came in to see one of my classes, which was fun for me and the kids. I had told them to prep questions for him as homework, but a lot of them nervously clammed up, and about their best response was that our mouths looked alike. But still we had a good time and Dad got them laughing and relaxed by the end.
About midway through my parents' stay Seoul experienced a monster of a snow-storm, which even shut CDI down for a day and a half. (That shows you how big it was.) Actually, it wasn't really that big, pretty standard compared to whatwe got back in Utah, but Seoul usually does not get much snow and the city was unprepared to handle it. For example, people here don't even have shovels, they used brooms and plywood connected to a two-by-four to shovel the snow. The army had to bring in 5,000 troops to assist with snow removal.
Thus, this made showing my parents around a little more challenging, but we managed it in the end. Dad spent most mornings playing superman/good Samaritan, helping get Korean drivers out of the snowbanks they had inevitably driven themselves into. Koreans have absolutely no idea how to drive in the snow. They are even worse than Portlanders!
My parents also went up to the DMZ, while we were working. Something Leslie and I still have not done. They said it was quite interesting and actually got to go a little bit inside North Korea. I haven't been able to talk to them in detail about it yet, but it sounded like a memorable adventure. Leslie and I are definitely needing to go do that soon!
Seriously though, we had a good time. I think my parents enjoyed themselves and handled the hustle and bustle of Seoul surprisingly well. I also came to the conclusion that my dad must have been a Korean in a past life. He loved the food, especially kimchi, knew an almost unsettling amount of Korean history facts, and the fast-paced, no-nonsense attitude of Seoulites, along with their penchant for flashy ties fits him perfectly. Now if I could only get him interested in tight jeans and karaoke he would more or less fit the mold.
My mom handled the ice-covered, neon-lit mega city better than her rural Idaho sensibilities led me to anticipate, and she enjoyed most of the food, which was especially impressive considering her sickness.
Leslie and I showed them our favorite eating and drinking establishments and some of the items on the standard tourist itinerary. My dad also came in to see one of my classes, which was fun for me and the kids. I had told them to prep questions for him as homework, but a lot of them nervously clammed up, and about their best response was that our mouths looked alike. But still we had a good time and Dad got them laughing and relaxed by the end.
About midway through my parents' stay Seoul experienced a monster of a snow-storm, which even shut CDI down for a day and a half. (That shows you how big it was.) Actually, it wasn't really that big, pretty standard compared to whatwe got back in Utah, but Seoul usually does not get much snow and the city was unprepared to handle it. For example, people here don't even have shovels, they used brooms and plywood connected to a two-by-four to shovel the snow. The army had to bring in 5,000 troops to assist with snow removal.
Thus, this made showing my parents around a little more challenging, but we managed it in the end. Dad spent most mornings playing superman/good Samaritan, helping get Korean drivers out of the snowbanks they had inevitably driven themselves into. Koreans have absolutely no idea how to drive in the snow. They are even worse than Portlanders!
My parents also went up to the DMZ, while we were working. Something Leslie and I still have not done. They said it was quite interesting and actually got to go a little bit inside North Korea. I haven't been able to talk to them in detail about it yet, but it sounded like a memorable adventure. Leslie and I are definitely needing to go do that soon!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Christmas
I can't believe Christmas has already past. It truly feels like Ian and I just started working at CDI. The past five and a half months have flown by. Fortunately, we were able to have Christmas off, which was spent relaxing and eating delicious food! Since we currently have no need for Korean gadgets, we decided to spend our gift money at Costco. We bought cheese, cheese and more cheese! Living on a Korean diet makes you deprived of a certain food that we love dearly (cheese), so we decided to splurge and eat enough of it to fill us for the next year! After stuffing ourselves we watched a favorite movie of mine, The Family Man. It was very weird being away from home but at least we didn't have to work and were able to enjoy a relaxing day not thinking about the kiddos at school!
Seoul got its first substantial snow the other day. It was only 3-4 inches, but let's just say it reeked havoc. Since it has been very cold, the snow immediately stuck to the ground, causing very slick roads. It was the first time I have been on a bus that fishtailed down a major road and then got stuck. Even though the conditions were horrible, the McDonald's, Domino's, and Fried Chicken delivery boys were still in action. Nothing stops them!
We start intensive this upcoming Thursday. I'm excited to teach an addition/different class, but I'm crossing my fingers we don't get sick. Working from 9-10 (Tues, Thurs, Sat) with a few hours of rest in between is going to be exhausting. Ian is teaching Critical Speaking and Writing Level 1, which will be full of the smallest kids at CDI. It's a little challenging teaching the youngest kids because they understand, if you're lucky, about a sixth of what you say. Let's just say you draw a lot of pictures and use a lot of hand gestures. I'm going to be teaching Grammar Level 2. The students will be about fourth-sixth grade. I've heard I can play some games with the students, so I hope it will be fun.
Ian's parents arrive in two days! We will update their travels in our next blog. Happy almost New Years!
We also uploaded a new slide show. The pictures are from our trip to China Town, the local mosque, and City Hall. Enjoy...
Seoul got its first substantial snow the other day. It was only 3-4 inches, but let's just say it reeked havoc. Since it has been very cold, the snow immediately stuck to the ground, causing very slick roads. It was the first time I have been on a bus that fishtailed down a major road and then got stuck. Even though the conditions were horrible, the McDonald's, Domino's, and Fried Chicken delivery boys were still in action. Nothing stops them!
We start intensive this upcoming Thursday. I'm excited to teach an addition/different class, but I'm crossing my fingers we don't get sick. Working from 9-10 (Tues, Thurs, Sat) with a few hours of rest in between is going to be exhausting. Ian is teaching Critical Speaking and Writing Level 1, which will be full of the smallest kids at CDI. It's a little challenging teaching the youngest kids because they understand, if you're lucky, about a sixth of what you say. Let's just say you draw a lot of pictures and use a lot of hand gestures. I'm going to be teaching Grammar Level 2. The students will be about fourth-sixth grade. I've heard I can play some games with the students, so I hope it will be fun.
Ian's parents arrive in two days! We will update their travels in our next blog. Happy almost New Years!
We also uploaded a new slide show. The pictures are from our trip to China Town, the local mosque, and City Hall. Enjoy...
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Birthday Weekend
The best part about international birthdays is that you get two of them! Friday was my Korean birthday, and Saturday my American one. What an awesome treat!
My birthday this year was pretty low-key, thank God! Let's just say that my last two birthdays had less than spectacular endings. SO I ended up eating a lot of meat with friends and then getting to bed around 1:30 A.M., which I was very thankful for.
Incheon has a small and quaint Chinatown that Leslie and I wanted to check out. In fact, its South Korea's only Chinatown thanks to the Chinese alliance with the North during the war. It was basically a few streets bathed in a sea of Communist red paint, lanterns, the ubiquitous Chinatown lampposts, and entrance gates. We found a dumpling restaurant and had delicious dumpling soup. After stuffing ourselves on dumplings, we took a short stroll, might I add a very cold stroll, around Chinatown. We were even able to see part of the sea, which was surprisingly refreshing. Being constantly surrounded by gigantic buildings, we tend to forget what open space feels like. It was very enjoyable to say the least...
The Korean winter has finally arrived and it is extremely cold. Even walking around with long johns under jeans, a down jacket, hat and gloves, you get stung from the bitterly cold wind. Thankfully it doesn't rain or snow that much here, so it won't be a wet winter. Something we always get a kick out of are how the Korean women dress. Us Americans thought that the usually fashionable Korean women would actually cover themselves up during the winter time. To our surprise, the Korean women still feel the need to impress by wearing tights, even shorter skirts and high heals, and jackets that barely cover the body. Let's just say bundling up for the cold is so out of fashion in Korea.
Fortunately, we are getting Christmas day off! Our head instructors fought long and hard and finally convinced our boss that getting Christmas day off would boost morale. Unfortunately, even though she agreed to give us the day off, she is making us come in on Saturday to make up for the missed classed. It was a little disappointing, but at least we can celebrate Christmas on the actual day!
Merry Christmas everyone and safe travels!
My birthday this year was pretty low-key, thank God! Let's just say that my last two birthdays had less than spectacular endings. SO I ended up eating a lot of meat with friends and then getting to bed around 1:30 A.M., which I was very thankful for.
The next day we ate at a local spanish tapas restaurant called Three Sister's. It is one of best restaurants in Seoul that actually offers European style food. Most Italian restaurants in Korean put a sweetener in spaghetti, but fortunately Three Sister's makes pasta just like home! Thanks to Jay and Sue, we splurged and ordered drinks and multiple tapas, including sauteed mushrooms in garlic and wine, spanish meatballs, an orange salad, and spaghetti with tomatoes and basil. It was absolutely delicious and a great way to end the weekend!
On Saturday Leslie and I headed out to Incheon, a port city about 20 miles to the east of Seoul. Well, technically Incheon is a separate city, but actually it is just the place where the sea stops the urban jungle of Seoul.
Incheon has a small and quaint Chinatown that Leslie and I wanted to check out. In fact, its South Korea's only Chinatown thanks to the Chinese alliance with the North during the war. It was basically a few streets bathed in a sea of Communist red paint, lanterns, the ubiquitous Chinatown lampposts, and entrance gates. We found a dumpling restaurant and had delicious dumpling soup. After stuffing ourselves on dumplings, we took a short stroll, might I add a very cold stroll, around Chinatown. We were even able to see part of the sea, which was surprisingly refreshing. Being constantly surrounded by gigantic buildings, we tend to forget what open space feels like. It was very enjoyable to say the least...
The Korean winter has finally arrived and it is extremely cold. Even walking around with long johns under jeans, a down jacket, hat and gloves, you get stung from the bitterly cold wind. Thankfully it doesn't rain or snow that much here, so it won't be a wet winter. Something we always get a kick out of are how the Korean women dress. Us Americans thought that the usually fashionable Korean women would actually cover themselves up during the winter time. To our surprise, the Korean women still feel the need to impress by wearing tights, even shorter skirts and high heals, and jackets that barely cover the body. Let's just say bundling up for the cold is so out of fashion in Korea.
Fortunately, we are getting Christmas day off! Our head instructors fought long and hard and finally convinced our boss that getting Christmas day off would boost morale. Unfortunately, even though she agreed to give us the day off, she is making us come in on Saturday to make up for the missed classed. It was a little disappointing, but at least we can celebrate Christmas on the actual day!
Merry Christmas everyone and safe travels!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Sorry for the delay...
The past couple of weeks have flown by with the start of a new term. Even though it's sad to bid some students farewell, it's exciting to teach a new level. Ian says his Albatross class has been great to teach. The students are very fluent and are fairly easy to entertain. Even though the reading topics can be somewhat dull, the students make up for it. Eagle has also been enjoyable so far. The past two topics were gambling and smart technology. It's very interesting listening to the student's opinions and ideas. I was signed up to teach a Saturday class, but fortunately it got cancelled because there was only one student one the role. This means that Ian and I will actually have weekends to celebrate for the next three weeks! It is only three weeks because intensive classes start at the end of December.
Even though we have not ventured far from Seoul these past couple of weeks, we have been introduced to some delicious eateries. We recently ate out with some friends and were taken to a Japanese Teriyaki meat restaurant. You basically get a bowl of rice covered in Teriyaki meat. You also get a side bowl of Japanese noodles in a beef broth. It was quite tasty, especially since in only cost about $5.00 each! Our friends also told us about a restaurant that only serves Chinese noodles. Since we have yet to learn Korean, we just pointed to a woman's dish that looked tasty. It's a little risky doing that in Korea because you never know how something is going to taste! Fortunately, the dish, which consisted of noodles sauteed with vegetables, was delicious. The newest eaterie is a Chinese Dumpling restaurant. All I can say is that Ian has found a new love! The dumplings are made to order, by one person, and are steaming hot with delicious pork goodness. It's a nice change from Korean mandu because the flavoring is less powerful and has a thicker dough.
Some exciting news, Ian's parents are visiting us at the end of December! We have already started to plan their week vacation and are thrilled to show them what Korea has to offer. We are also planning on taking a mini trip this weekend. Since we can actually enjoy a weekend, we figure that we should see a little more of the countryside, even if it will be very chilly!
If anyone is curious, the Thanksgiving feast turned out delicious. It was amazing that everything actually turned out. It was nice to eat a complete non-Korean meal with great company. It definitely helped us feel less homesick.
Again, sorry for the delay in posts! Happy Holidays everyone.
Even though we have not ventured far from Seoul these past couple of weeks, we have been introduced to some delicious eateries. We recently ate out with some friends and were taken to a Japanese Teriyaki meat restaurant. You basically get a bowl of rice covered in Teriyaki meat. You also get a side bowl of Japanese noodles in a beef broth. It was quite tasty, especially since in only cost about $5.00 each! Our friends also told us about a restaurant that only serves Chinese noodles. Since we have yet to learn Korean, we just pointed to a woman's dish that looked tasty. It's a little risky doing that in Korea because you never know how something is going to taste! Fortunately, the dish, which consisted of noodles sauteed with vegetables, was delicious. The newest eaterie is a Chinese Dumpling restaurant. All I can say is that Ian has found a new love! The dumplings are made to order, by one person, and are steaming hot with delicious pork goodness. It's a nice change from Korean mandu because the flavoring is less powerful and has a thicker dough.
Some exciting news, Ian's parents are visiting us at the end of December! We have already started to plan their week vacation and are thrilled to show them what Korea has to offer. We are also planning on taking a mini trip this weekend. Since we can actually enjoy a weekend, we figure that we should see a little more of the countryside, even if it will be very chilly!
If anyone is curious, the Thanksgiving feast turned out delicious. It was amazing that everything actually turned out. It was nice to eat a complete non-Korean meal with great company. It definitely helped us feel less homesick.
Again, sorry for the delay in posts! Happy Holidays everyone.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
New Slideshow and Schedules
We have posted a new slideshow. There aren't too many photos but there are a few of our excursions and two of our classes. Enjoy!
This is the last week of the term, so we have received our new schedule for winter term. Ian and I will both be teaching 27 hours/week. Including prep for the classes, we'll be working about 35-40 hours/week.
The level of classes are: EC (the youngest/lowest level), Memory (middle level), Bridge, Par, Birdie, Eagle, Albatrosse (very fluent level), and Masters.
Ian will be teaching two types of Memory and Albatrosse Listening and Reading.
I will be teaching EC 4 again and Eagle Listening and Reading.
We are both excited about our schedules, especially that we will not not be working 6 days a week! However, starting at the end of December we will be teaching extra classes that are "Intensive Courses." These are extra courses the students can take during their Winter vacation. So, in a month we will be working in the morning and nights. It's sad when the kids actually get a break from school, they get to attend more classes at CDI.
This weekend we will be enjoying a Korean Thanksgiving. Ian, myself and some friends are planning an actual Thanksgiving feast. You may ask, "If you don't have an oven, how do you possibly cook Thanksgiving?!" Well, we can get a pre-cooked turkey and gravy from the U.S. Army base, our friends have a microwave oven (which will be used to cook candied yams), add some mashed potatoes, rolls, pumpkin pie from Costco and you have a full Thanksgiving meal!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
This is the last week of the term, so we have received our new schedule for winter term. Ian and I will both be teaching 27 hours/week. Including prep for the classes, we'll be working about 35-40 hours/week.
The level of classes are: EC (the youngest/lowest level), Memory (middle level), Bridge, Par, Birdie, Eagle, Albatrosse (very fluent level), and Masters.
Ian will be teaching two types of Memory and Albatrosse Listening and Reading.
I will be teaching EC 4 again and Eagle Listening and Reading.
We are both excited about our schedules, especially that we will not not be working 6 days a week! However, starting at the end of December we will be teaching extra classes that are "Intensive Courses." These are extra courses the students can take during their Winter vacation. So, in a month we will be working in the morning and nights. It's sad when the kids actually get a break from school, they get to attend more classes at CDI.
This weekend we will be enjoying a Korean Thanksgiving. Ian, myself and some friends are planning an actual Thanksgiving feast. You may ask, "If you don't have an oven, how do you possibly cook Thanksgiving?!" Well, we can get a pre-cooked turkey and gravy from the U.S. Army base, our friends have a microwave oven (which will be used to cook candied yams), add some mashed potatoes, rolls, pumpkin pie from Costco and you have a full Thanksgiving meal!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Monday, November 16, 2009
How it all Began!
In previous posts you might have remembered us mentioning how exhausting, confusing, and at times terrible our first couple weeks in Korea were. We would now like to explain these first weeks in graphic uncensored detail, just so you can share a bit of our pain.
Lets start from the beginning....After 14 hours of flying we landed in Korea. At this point we only had one hard fact regarding what was awaiting us upon arrival: a van from our school was going to pick us up at the airport and take us to a hotel. However, once we got through customs and the swine flu check we sadly realized there was no such van waiting for us. We had no phone and there were no pay phones. Thankfully, a nice Korean man let me borrow his cell phone and I called the one Korean number I had brought with me, that of an employee at Chungdahm headquarters.
She proceeded to tell me that we needed to take an hour bus ride from the airport to a bus depot, and that our mysterious van would be awaiting us. So, carrying our 8 pieces of luggage through Incheon airport we found the appropriate bus and actually made it to our hotel without much more incident.
Upon arrival at the quite plush Hotel Prima (this is when we actually learned we would be staying at the same hotel together) we were given the keys to our room, along with a pair of thermometers and complementary Chungdahm coffee mugs. Not knowing what the hell the temperature checkers were for, we gladly accepted them, found some dinner, and promptly passed out on our extra stiff bed.
Once morning arrived we finally received an email detailing the course of events for the next week and a half. We already knew that our training didn't start for another five days, but we had no idea what was happening during the interim. We now found out that we were technically in "quarantine," which meant that we were strongly discouraged from leaving the hotel and had to email our body temperature twice daily to Chungdahm headquarters. Since the hotel was the only place we knew where to get internet it was Chungdahm's way of insuring we couldn't venture far from the hotel.
Thus, we spent the next five days connected to the hotel by a moderate leash and spent most of our time discovering the immediate surrounding area, sleeping and waking up at odd hours, and trying to hunt down some semblance of a western-style breakfast. It wasn't until over a week later that we learned our hotel had a massive and delicious free breakfast buffet every morning. (This fact apparently got lost in translation.) Therefore, most days we spent our breakfast time walking nearly a mile in the rain to Dunkin Donuts, spending almost $20 on shakes in the hotel lounge, or buying orange juice and pastries from 7-11.
After five days of aimlessly milling about we started training. Training was a week long event from 9:00am to a little before 5:00pm every day. Once back at the hotel after training we usually had to do about 3-5 hours of studying and prepping to prepare for the following day. The actual training day consisted of hours of mindless structural memorization and unrealistic mock classroom situations, followed by intensely stressful periods of practice teaching and evaluations. All of this was endured on about 5-6 hours of sleep as well. But I guess we should have expected nothing less considering Chungdahm condenses what would be a year-long program in the U.S. to a mere week. Oh, and did I mention we had to wear stifling face masks the entire time and get our temperature checked multiple times, along with continued hand sanitizing.
After our final day of training, which consisted of grammar tests and a final extensive mock teaching period we were finally told we had passed training and were officially Chungdahm instructors. Literally minutes after hearing the news we, along with all our belongings, were jammed into a cab and sent across town to our school, even though the cab driver wasn't exactly sure where he was going, but somehow it worked out. Exhausted, semi-delusional, and still extremely nervous we arrived at the front steps of our school. We were immediately carted inside, and given the introduction to at least 20 people. Then, we were whisked away again by two Koreans we didn't know, and who didn't really speak English, to our temporary apartment. (Which was just a small room with nothing inside except a bathroom.) We dropped off our bags and then were told that it was time to have dinner with the owner of our school.
Stomachs still sensitive from the Korean food we'd been eating all week, we made small talk and had what would have been a quite delicious meal of barbecued meat, if we only had the energy and stomachs to enjoy it. I just worked on keeping my composure, eating all the food on my plate, and trying not to look unappreciative or foolish in front of my new boss.
After dinner we were dropped off again at our room with no bed, no food, no toilet paper, no blankets, and no idea what was going to happen next. All we knew was that we started work in two days. Thank god our friend Dan was working at the school. He came over and gave us pads to sleep on and blankets, showed us where to get food and toilet paper, and took us out to breakfast the next day. If we didn't have him I don't know what would have happened!
And as they say, the rest is history. We have now been technically teaching for almost 4 months and we are about to start a new term. Starting in December we'll be teaching some of the highest levels Chungdahm has to offer, so we'll see how we like it. Those first few weeks in Korea were extremely tiring and difficult and something we never want to repeat again. But everything worked out well in the end. Still, every Monday Leslie and I pray for those poor souls who are about to embark on their training process and have no idea what lies ahead!
Lets start from the beginning....After 14 hours of flying we landed in Korea. At this point we only had one hard fact regarding what was awaiting us upon arrival: a van from our school was going to pick us up at the airport and take us to a hotel. However, once we got through customs and the swine flu check we sadly realized there was no such van waiting for us. We had no phone and there were no pay phones. Thankfully, a nice Korean man let me borrow his cell phone and I called the one Korean number I had brought with me, that of an employee at Chungdahm headquarters.
She proceeded to tell me that we needed to take an hour bus ride from the airport to a bus depot, and that our mysterious van would be awaiting us. So, carrying our 8 pieces of luggage through Incheon airport we found the appropriate bus and actually made it to our hotel without much more incident.
Upon arrival at the quite plush Hotel Prima (this is when we actually learned we would be staying at the same hotel together) we were given the keys to our room, along with a pair of thermometers and complementary Chungdahm coffee mugs. Not knowing what the hell the temperature checkers were for, we gladly accepted them, found some dinner, and promptly passed out on our extra stiff bed.
Once morning arrived we finally received an email detailing the course of events for the next week and a half. We already knew that our training didn't start for another five days, but we had no idea what was happening during the interim. We now found out that we were technically in "quarantine," which meant that we were strongly discouraged from leaving the hotel and had to email our body temperature twice daily to Chungdahm headquarters. Since the hotel was the only place we knew where to get internet it was Chungdahm's way of insuring we couldn't venture far from the hotel.
Thus, we spent the next five days connected to the hotel by a moderate leash and spent most of our time discovering the immediate surrounding area, sleeping and waking up at odd hours, and trying to hunt down some semblance of a western-style breakfast. It wasn't until over a week later that we learned our hotel had a massive and delicious free breakfast buffet every morning. (This fact apparently got lost in translation.) Therefore, most days we spent our breakfast time walking nearly a mile in the rain to Dunkin Donuts, spending almost $20 on shakes in the hotel lounge, or buying orange juice and pastries from 7-11.
After five days of aimlessly milling about we started training. Training was a week long event from 9:00am to a little before 5:00pm every day. Once back at the hotel after training we usually had to do about 3-5 hours of studying and prepping to prepare for the following day. The actual training day consisted of hours of mindless structural memorization and unrealistic mock classroom situations, followed by intensely stressful periods of practice teaching and evaluations. All of this was endured on about 5-6 hours of sleep as well. But I guess we should have expected nothing less considering Chungdahm condenses what would be a year-long program in the U.S. to a mere week. Oh, and did I mention we had to wear stifling face masks the entire time and get our temperature checked multiple times, along with continued hand sanitizing.
After our final day of training, which consisted of grammar tests and a final extensive mock teaching period we were finally told we had passed training and were officially Chungdahm instructors. Literally minutes after hearing the news we, along with all our belongings, were jammed into a cab and sent across town to our school, even though the cab driver wasn't exactly sure where he was going, but somehow it worked out. Exhausted, semi-delusional, and still extremely nervous we arrived at the front steps of our school. We were immediately carted inside, and given the introduction to at least 20 people. Then, we were whisked away again by two Koreans we didn't know, and who didn't really speak English, to our temporary apartment. (Which was just a small room with nothing inside except a bathroom.) We dropped off our bags and then were told that it was time to have dinner with the owner of our school.
Stomachs still sensitive from the Korean food we'd been eating all week, we made small talk and had what would have been a quite delicious meal of barbecued meat, if we only had the energy and stomachs to enjoy it. I just worked on keeping my composure, eating all the food on my plate, and trying not to look unappreciative or foolish in front of my new boss.
After dinner we were dropped off again at our room with no bed, no food, no toilet paper, no blankets, and no idea what was going to happen next. All we knew was that we started work in two days. Thank god our friend Dan was working at the school. He came over and gave us pads to sleep on and blankets, showed us where to get food and toilet paper, and took us out to breakfast the next day. If we didn't have him I don't know what would have happened!
And as they say, the rest is history. We have now been technically teaching for almost 4 months and we are about to start a new term. Starting in December we'll be teaching some of the highest levels Chungdahm has to offer, so we'll see how we like it. Those first few weeks in Korea were extremely tiring and difficult and something we never want to repeat again. But everything worked out well in the end. Still, every Monday Leslie and I pray for those poor souls who are about to embark on their training process and have no idea what lies ahead!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Hyehwa
We decided to put our training blog until next weekend. Sorry!
This past weekend Ian and I decided to adventure to another market. This time it was going to be the Filipino Market in an area of Seoul called Hyehwa. The past markets have been huge disappointments, so our expectations were rather low...
Before starting our adventure, Ian and I needed some breakfast. Having little food in the apartment, we ate at a local bakery called Paris Baguette. There are literally hundreds of these bakeries around Seoul. At first, Ian and I balked at the pastries they serve and the bread they offer, but having lived here for a little while, our tastes have changed substantially and now we actually really enjoy P.B. (as Ian calls it). So, we each had green tea and two croissants. Might I say a great way to start the day! We then took a bus ride and the subway to Hyehwa looking for some tasty Filipino food.
To our surprise the market was decent. It wasn't very big but it did have a fair selection of food. Since we were still full from our croissants we decided that food would have to wait. So, instead we explored Hyehway a little more. Thank goodness we did because it has become one of our favorite areas of Seoul.
The buildings are not extremely tall, there are a lot of independent shops and eateries, and you can even see the hillside! Sadly, it was amazing to actually be able to see the hillside with houses and trees. Being surrounded by huge buildings, roaring buses, and never seeing open space, is something neither Ian or I will ever get used to. Fortunately, this area also had avenue-like streets with trees lining the edges. With the yellow and orange leaves on the ground it was actually very pretty.
We walked around the area for about an hour planning where we would eat or drink when we would be back next. Lunch time came and we decided that Filipino food would have to wait for another day, because we stumbled upon a restaurant that only serves Japanese style noodle soups. The entire menu was in Korean, so we just pointed and crossed our fingers that we would not be getting something inedible. To our surprise the soup was delicious! It consisted of a very flavorful pork broth with egg noodles and some vegetables. The bowl of soup was only $5.00 and it gave you a considerable amount of food.
With full and happy bellies we decided to try out a tea house that we found. As some of you know, our previous tea house experiences have been rather retched, so we entered with caution. Ian got a Darjeeling tea and I got a black papaya tea. Both were absolutely delicious. The only down side was the price. The combined price of our teas was 14,500 Won (more than our food)! But they were worth every cent.
Completely exhausted we made our way back to the apartment and collapsed. After relaxing for a couple hours we decided to make dinner at home. With only a few possible options, we decided that breakfast for dinner sounded delicious. Fortunately, we were able to find regular American bacon at a specialty store. So, we had bacon, scrambled eggs, homemade hash browns, and even biscuits! Since we have a crock pot and bisquick we attempted to make a bisquick loaf and it worked out to be surprisingly very tasty. We ended the night with eating ourselves silly and watching a movie. It was definitely a perfect Korean weekend!
Pictures of Hyehwa coming soon!
This past weekend Ian and I decided to adventure to another market. This time it was going to be the Filipino Market in an area of Seoul called Hyehwa. The past markets have been huge disappointments, so our expectations were rather low...
Before starting our adventure, Ian and I needed some breakfast. Having little food in the apartment, we ate at a local bakery called Paris Baguette. There are literally hundreds of these bakeries around Seoul. At first, Ian and I balked at the pastries they serve and the bread they offer, but having lived here for a little while, our tastes have changed substantially and now we actually really enjoy P.B. (as Ian calls it). So, we each had green tea and two croissants. Might I say a great way to start the day! We then took a bus ride and the subway to Hyehwa looking for some tasty Filipino food.
To our surprise the market was decent. It wasn't very big but it did have a fair selection of food. Since we were still full from our croissants we decided that food would have to wait. So, instead we explored Hyehway a little more. Thank goodness we did because it has become one of our favorite areas of Seoul.
The buildings are not extremely tall, there are a lot of independent shops and eateries, and you can even see the hillside! Sadly, it was amazing to actually be able to see the hillside with houses and trees. Being surrounded by huge buildings, roaring buses, and never seeing open space, is something neither Ian or I will ever get used to. Fortunately, this area also had avenue-like streets with trees lining the edges. With the yellow and orange leaves on the ground it was actually very pretty.
We walked around the area for about an hour planning where we would eat or drink when we would be back next. Lunch time came and we decided that Filipino food would have to wait for another day, because we stumbled upon a restaurant that only serves Japanese style noodle soups. The entire menu was in Korean, so we just pointed and crossed our fingers that we would not be getting something inedible. To our surprise the soup was delicious! It consisted of a very flavorful pork broth with egg noodles and some vegetables. The bowl of soup was only $5.00 and it gave you a considerable amount of food.
With full and happy bellies we decided to try out a tea house that we found. As some of you know, our previous tea house experiences have been rather retched, so we entered with caution. Ian got a Darjeeling tea and I got a black papaya tea. Both were absolutely delicious. The only down side was the price. The combined price of our teas was 14,500 Won (more than our food)! But they were worth every cent.
Completely exhausted we made our way back to the apartment and collapsed. After relaxing for a couple hours we decided to make dinner at home. With only a few possible options, we decided that breakfast for dinner sounded delicious. Fortunately, we were able to find regular American bacon at a specialty store. So, we had bacon, scrambled eggs, homemade hash browns, and even biscuits! Since we have a crock pot and bisquick we attempted to make a bisquick loaf and it worked out to be surprisingly very tasty. We ended the night with eating ourselves silly and watching a movie. It was definitely a perfect Korean weekend!
Pictures of Hyehwa coming soon!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Halloween Weekend
Well, Halloween weekend was very different this year from last. As I can recall, last year I dressed up as an alcoholic drink with my three best friends from school and Ian dressed up as a Mormon missionary. We then followed the night dancing and drinking. This year was spent with no dressing up, no dancing, and very little drinking. I had a very low key night of dinner and a movie with a co-worker and Ian played screen golf with a few guys from work.
Even though the excitement level was considerably lower, we both enjoyed the weekend to its fullest and even learned more about the Korean War...
Since our weekends are ridiculously short (just 1 day) we decided to spend the rest of our Halloween celebrations relaxing, eating good food and seeing the Korean War Memorial. The Memorial is about a 30 minute bus ride from our apartment in an area called Itaewon. Itaewon is basically the "America Town" of Korea. It also has the US Army Base. While it definitely has its fill of sketchy Americans, it brings back a small feeling of home.
The War Memorial only costs 3,000 Won (about $2.80) to enter and is big enough that you could easily spend three hours walking around. The most interesting parts were learning about the Korean War and exactly why there are currently two Koreas. There were also several airplanes ( even a B52), tanks, missiles, and helicopters. We could even walk into some of them! Going through the Memorial and watching a few short video clips about the Korean War definitely made us appreciate Korea a little more and gave us a better understanding of Korea's past.
We ended the day with buying a rotisserie chicken and making chicken and cheese sandwiches for dinner. Definitely not the most exciting Halloween weekend we've ever had, but it was still thoroughly enjoyed!
We have finally decided that enough time has passed (roughly 4 months) since our training to properly describe it. The horrible memories of training have finally worn off and we are in the right mindset to actually tell you about our first week in Korea! So look forward to it coming soon...
Even though the excitement level was considerably lower, we both enjoyed the weekend to its fullest and even learned more about the Korean War...
Since our weekends are ridiculously short (just 1 day) we decided to spend the rest of our Halloween celebrations relaxing, eating good food and seeing the Korean War Memorial. The Memorial is about a 30 minute bus ride from our apartment in an area called Itaewon. Itaewon is basically the "America Town" of Korea. It also has the US Army Base. While it definitely has its fill of sketchy Americans, it brings back a small feeling of home.
The War Memorial only costs 3,000 Won (about $2.80) to enter and is big enough that you could easily spend three hours walking around. The most interesting parts were learning about the Korean War and exactly why there are currently two Koreas. There were also several airplanes ( even a B52), tanks, missiles, and helicopters. We could even walk into some of them! Going through the Memorial and watching a few short video clips about the Korean War definitely made us appreciate Korea a little more and gave us a better understanding of Korea's past.
We ended the day with buying a rotisserie chicken and making chicken and cheese sandwiches for dinner. Definitely not the most exciting Halloween weekend we've ever had, but it was still thoroughly enjoyed!
We have finally decided that enough time has passed (roughly 4 months) since our training to properly describe it. The horrible memories of training have finally worn off and we are in the right mindset to actually tell you about our first week in Korea! So look forward to it coming soon...
Monday, October 26, 2009
Oh Our Students!
In many ways, our students are the same as students everywhere else. You have the super smart ones, the obnoxious ones, the slow but persistent ones, the cute ones, the mean ones, the shy ones, the energetic ones, and the dramatic/emotional ones. But our students at Chungdahm definitely have some characteristics that you won't find in classrooms back in states. There is a marked difference between the elementary kids we teach and our middle/high school students. Lets start with the elementary rascals first...
First off, Leslie and I are not referred to by our actual names. We are known simply as "teacher" or if they want to get fancy and are referring to us in the third person: "Ian-teacher" and "Leslie-teacher." Although a few of my slow students still think the upper-case "I" in my name is actually a lower-case "l" and call me "Lan-teacher."
Second, elementary kids here (both boys and girls) are fixated by death, computer games, and thievery and it seems as though all our classroom discussions somehow weave their way towards one of these topics.
Third, Korean children love to speak their mind and find no shame in saying what they think, without any intention of verbal harm or praise. I have been called: fat, bald, crazy, sexy, boring, not funny, poor, trans-gendered, ugly, handsome, and nearly everything in between. None of these are really meant respectfully or disrespectfully, but either as the crux of a good natured joke or simple objective observation.
Fourth, little Korean kids love the word "crazy" and will burst into laughter at nearly every mention of it, no matter the context. Korean students have a great sense of humor, especially when it comes to slap-stick type stuff, like me falling town and pretending to hurt myself, or talking and acting like a woman.
Fifth, a lot of kids love to give their teacher part of their snack at break time. For the first few weeks of class I foolishly accepted and ate the generous gifts, against the advice of Leslie and some of my more seasoned colleagues. However, after a garlic bread incident that nearly had me blowing chunks into the first row of students I learned to accept only packaged foods.
Lastly, most of our students are very well behaved and have a great attitude in class, especially considering that they are in some kind of school for at least 10 hours a day! They work very hard and are extremely smart, perhaps a little too smart. Some of my students don't play sports or exercise, and thus have no idea how to catch. I learned this lesson the hard way when I tossed a marker to a student that went straight through his outstretched hands and slammed into his face. Oops!
Now the middle/high school kids are a different breed. Some of them are either to cool for school, too tired from their intense schooling, or are too self-conscious to participate. However, others are very talkative and have a great sense of humor. They love simple things like fart jokes, but also more creative humor. Some also refer to us by our actual names.
The biggest challenge the older students face in our classes is having to interact with the opposite sex. In my classes, boys and girls will sit on opposite sides of the room and would rather go skydiving over the DMZ than suffer the unbearable agony of working with the other gender on a project. Many times I relent and let boys and girls work in unisex groups (Leslie is better than me with this), just to spare myself the hassle and utter despair that befalls the class when boys and girls are forced to interact. Sometimes they won't even say a word to each other. Leslie and I still aren't sure why this is, since most of the younger kids work perfectly well with the opposite sex.
Next week our students take what is called a 'Level-up Test", which basically determines if they can advance on the next of the 16 levels at our institute. We are hoping that our students do well. Wish us luck and we miss you all!
First off, Leslie and I are not referred to by our actual names. We are known simply as "teacher" or if they want to get fancy and are referring to us in the third person: "Ian-teacher" and "Leslie-teacher." Although a few of my slow students still think the upper-case "I" in my name is actually a lower-case "l" and call me "Lan-teacher."
Second, elementary kids here (both boys and girls) are fixated by death, computer games, and thievery and it seems as though all our classroom discussions somehow weave their way towards one of these topics.
Third, Korean children love to speak their mind and find no shame in saying what they think, without any intention of verbal harm or praise. I have been called: fat, bald, crazy, sexy, boring, not funny, poor, trans-gendered, ugly, handsome, and nearly everything in between. None of these are really meant respectfully or disrespectfully, but either as the crux of a good natured joke or simple objective observation.
Fourth, little Korean kids love the word "crazy" and will burst into laughter at nearly every mention of it, no matter the context. Korean students have a great sense of humor, especially when it comes to slap-stick type stuff, like me falling town and pretending to hurt myself, or talking and acting like a woman.
Fifth, a lot of kids love to give their teacher part of their snack at break time. For the first few weeks of class I foolishly accepted and ate the generous gifts, against the advice of Leslie and some of my more seasoned colleagues. However, after a garlic bread incident that nearly had me blowing chunks into the first row of students I learned to accept only packaged foods.
Lastly, most of our students are very well behaved and have a great attitude in class, especially considering that they are in some kind of school for at least 10 hours a day! They work very hard and are extremely smart, perhaps a little too smart. Some of my students don't play sports or exercise, and thus have no idea how to catch. I learned this lesson the hard way when I tossed a marker to a student that went straight through his outstretched hands and slammed into his face. Oops!
Now the middle/high school kids are a different breed. Some of them are either to cool for school, too tired from their intense schooling, or are too self-conscious to participate. However, others are very talkative and have a great sense of humor. They love simple things like fart jokes, but also more creative humor. Some also refer to us by our actual names.
The biggest challenge the older students face in our classes is having to interact with the opposite sex. In my classes, boys and girls will sit on opposite sides of the room and would rather go skydiving over the DMZ than suffer the unbearable agony of working with the other gender on a project. Many times I relent and let boys and girls work in unisex groups (Leslie is better than me with this), just to spare myself the hassle and utter despair that befalls the class when boys and girls are forced to interact. Sometimes they won't even say a word to each other. Leslie and I still aren't sure why this is, since most of the younger kids work perfectly well with the opposite sex.
Next week our students take what is called a 'Level-up Test", which basically determines if they can advance on the next of the 16 levels at our institute. We are hoping that our students do well. Wish us luck and we miss you all!
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Gyeongbokgung Palace
Seoul's biggest palace and its historic seat of government.
Gangchon
Korean Corn Dog
Notice how much batter there is around the hot dog
Tom's Tacos
Minus sour cream we can get everything to make tacos!
The Completed Apartment
