Nothing too Exciting!

School

School has been ok for the most part. By the end of the day I am exhausted! being with students from 9:00-6:00 is a long day! It is not straining as there is minimal planning ( it is just following the books) but it is hard to motivate students who are tired and when you are tired yourself. Last week was testing; end of semester tests as well as phone tests so it was a long week!
The end of semester tests were ridiculous. A Korean teacher at the school made them up; for example there was a picture of a turtle in a pond and the question I had to ask the students (kindergarten) is “Where is the rabbit?” HONESTLY! I obviously edited this while I did it... but it was still ridiculous. I then had to phone all of the kindergartens and phone test them. (Ask them 4 questions). Well apparently I was asking the questions in a different order than what was on the sheet we sent home. I know this because I would ask question #2 “What is a baby pig called?” (random I know--- the teacher that left made it up). Anyhoo more than one student answered; “A clock has two hands!” The best thing about phone tests is when you try to phone and the Korean parent who doesn’t speak English answers; rambles some Korean and hangs up-- I doubt either of us knew what was going on. Really it is no biggie though... I just test them at the following noon hour.
This week I have been planning for the next three months... a syllabus time table. It has taken quite a while to do out of my own time... so I am glad it’s over. I think now teaching will start to get more fun. I know what I am doing... and rushed my kindergartens through the mandatory workbook so that I could paint autumn leaves with them tomorrow. Hopefully they like it :)

Life Outside School
So I am a little embarrassed to say this but we went to military base camp in Osan. Not that this is a bad thing but I had been in Korea for what 2 weeks and I had already made a trip to the “American” district in Korea. My lame excuse: we went because our two friends were going (they have been here for about 6 months) and their friend works there.
Needless to say in a lot of ways I thought it was really interesting. The military has never been an interest of mine so I basically know nothing. I had no idea what kind of things they had on this “base.” (Airforce). For example, we ate at a Chills Restaurant (yum!), there are imported Jeeps/ Fords, there is a almost hot dog stand but it is Burger King, a highschool, an elementary school... the grounds are huge with taxis driving you around. It was all nuts... I imagined a couple dorm type rooms with some “practice” fields or areas... you know movie stuff??? It seems being in the military is travelling the world but packing your own city too! So we did make the most of it and partied hard... to be honest it was great to see so many men :) Ohh and it was crazy seeing diversity again.... Korea is a very homogenous place.... it was great seeing black people, white people, hispanic people..... etc. all in one place.

Funny Story

So in Osan, I had to go to the bathroom (honestly I sense a theme). Any way, I used the hotel bathroom and then looked at the “flusher” it was this odd twist turn thing. I thought... meh?... what the heck I will turn it to on. So I am turning the dial while standing in front of me... and the next thing I am screaming.... why you ask?... because it is not the flusher... it is a freaking Bidet!! And I got soaked full force (yes a little painful) by it. My pants and shirt were wet... and I had nothing to change into... but it was so so so funny!!!

Korea Korea
This is my favourite part to write but I forget all the little things whenever I sit down:
* we eat all meals with metal chopsticks (harder to use then wood)
* Koreans go to the ‘Hospital” for everything!--- But being in the hospital (we walk by one) is nothing like in Canada... the patients are always on the street smoking.. but in their hospital pj’s... one day I even saw a guy in a back brace jump out of his vehicle and go into the market??? Crazy hey? The most ridiculous part is with our students if they get a paper cut we have to tell them to go to the front desk so that the ladies there can look at it. If we don’t send them and the parents complain we will be in trouble.
* While on the subject of sickness.... people (for the most part) here do not cover their mouths when they sneeze or cough... so they do it all over you.... (it is disgusting) I am trying to change that ... One student at a time (ha ha)
* I’ve eaten this delicious seaweed type of sticky spaghetti.... and the food here can be quite spicy (so great :)
* It is rude to pour your own drink when out for supper--- you always keep your friends glasses full... and when pouring the person receiving and getting the drink has to hold their arms a certain way-- (like hold the cup and then with the free arm touch the fore arm of the cup holding arm) ... I will take a picture to explain this better.
* People drive on the same side of the road as us... but when walking (you know how we go right... well they seem to go left) It is confusing?
* when we party... we drink “soju cocktail” ...which is vodka like... but in pitchers
Well I think that is all for now... Love/Miss you All!