Unlike the first two posts I made, this post feels more like an essay, rather than the free flowing information I'm used to. The reason for this is because I found out that some people actually enjoy these posts and now I feel like I have to keep it to up to some sort of high standards, rather than my usual ill ramblings. But anyways, here it goes.
I am completely settled in Korea. I now have all the basic necessities such as heated water, a fridge, a cell phone, and a completely sweet shower system that has the ability to turn the bathroom into a water free-for-all. To be honest, my bathroom is rather ridiculous and consists of a drain in the middle of the floor and a shower head sitting right next to the toilet. While this makes cleaning of the area just a twirl away, I have experienced one too many wet sock days after forgetting to put on the usual slippers that Koreans have residing next to their bathroom door. Also along these lines, I have noticed that Koreans really just love fucking slippers. Slippers are used literally everywhere! There's a pair for the house, a pair just for the bathroom, and even my co-workers wear a separate pair of slippers for in the classroom! Me on the other hand? I get praised for having the "remarkable" ability of wearing my dress shoes for the entire class period. I guess my feet are stone cold iron killers.
Since I am completely settled in Korea, I have since started my actual contract and teaching schedule. While here is where I would like to place complaints on being over worked and some sort of terrible regime, I cannot. The reason? I have it really fucking easy in terms of work inside a hag won. Everyone I have met usually works from 2 to 9:30. I on the other hand work 2 to usually 7:30, two days lasting until 8:30. Even more remarkable, I don't actually have class until 4, so in reality I have mainly 4 classes a day. Ahh, living the life :)
The kids in the classroom are remarkable well behaved for their ages, and are a pleasure to work with. I am constantly amazed at my own enjoyment in this field, and at times look forward to completing lessons involving the teaching of colors and shapes. The kids refer to me as teacher and will constantly place two hands out when receiving worksheets, this gesture is a symbol of respect towards one's elder or superior. Also, the classes are rather small, which helps one get individual time working with each student.
I must say I am enjoying my time as a teacher, and I also enjoyed the experience of completing a visa run due to my employment in the field. This visa run was to Fukuoka, Japan and was a really cool experience. I have always been one for going to Japan, so to do so while living in Korea is a killer bar story at least. While Koreans and the Japanese constantly stress differences in culture, I was unable to experience many of these differences due to my language inability, but I must say that if you come from one country that you can't read shit, and goto another country where you still can't read shit, they seem very similar. The things I did note are that the Japanese youth are a lot louder and appear to be much happier during the day. This could be due to the fact that Hagwons (after school learning academies) are not as popular in Japan. Also, there are a lot of bikes and the American dollar is shit to the Japanese Yen. Another difference is that their spas consist of naked time for separate sexes. Okay wait, never mind, Korean's spas consist of naked time equally. While I have made myself appear as not the biggest exhibitionist in the past, I did partake in naked time while on the island. The spa was enjoyable and relaxing, but my major regret is that anyone visiting me or that I personally know will not be able to experience the delights with me. I am sorry, but while I am slightly uncomfortable with naked strangers, naked friends are even more on my "not gonna happen" list. Besides naked spas I saw a really cool robot exhibit and a history museum (I got to see the golden seal, one of many national treasures of Japan!). Regretfully I only stayed on the island for two days so I did not get to travel across Japan. (Luckily my stay was for two days, because the day later a typhoon hit Japan!)
As this note is getting rather long, I shall end it with my Japan trip. Other quick notes to be made later may include my distaste of the Korean bar and restaurant scene, the swine flu paranoia, the awesome fireworks festival I'm going to next week, and the unique group of English speakers I have met in the area.
I am completely settled in Korea. I now have all the basic necessities such as heated water, a fridge, a cell phone, and a completely sweet shower system that has the ability to turn the bathroom into a water free-for-all. To be honest, my bathroom is rather ridiculous and consists of a drain in the middle of the floor and a shower head sitting right next to the toilet. While this makes cleaning of the area just a twirl away, I have experienced one too many wet sock days after forgetting to put on the usual slippers that Koreans have residing next to their bathroom door. Also along these lines, I have noticed that Koreans really just love fucking slippers. Slippers are used literally everywhere! There's a pair for the house, a pair just for the bathroom, and even my co-workers wear a separate pair of slippers for in the classroom! Me on the other hand? I get praised for having the "remarkable" ability of wearing my dress shoes for the entire class period. I guess my feet are stone cold iron killers.
Since I am completely settled in Korea, I have since started my actual contract and teaching schedule. While here is where I would like to place complaints on being over worked and some sort of terrible regime, I cannot. The reason? I have it really fucking easy in terms of work inside a hag won. Everyone I have met usually works from 2 to 9:30. I on the other hand work 2 to usually 7:30, two days lasting until 8:30. Even more remarkable, I don't actually have class until 4, so in reality I have mainly 4 classes a day. Ahh, living the life :)
The kids in the classroom are remarkable well behaved for their ages, and are a pleasure to work with. I am constantly amazed at my own enjoyment in this field, and at times look forward to completing lessons involving the teaching of colors and shapes. The kids refer to me as teacher and will constantly place two hands out when receiving worksheets, this gesture is a symbol of respect towards one's elder or superior. Also, the classes are rather small, which helps one get individual time working with each student.
I must say I am enjoying my time as a teacher, and I also enjoyed the experience of completing a visa run due to my employment in the field. This visa run was to Fukuoka, Japan and was a really cool experience. I have always been one for going to Japan, so to do so while living in Korea is a killer bar story at least. While Koreans and the Japanese constantly stress differences in culture, I was unable to experience many of these differences due to my language inability, but I must say that if you come from one country that you can't read shit, and goto another country where you still can't read shit, they seem very similar. The things I did note are that the Japanese youth are a lot louder and appear to be much happier during the day. This could be due to the fact that Hagwons (after school learning academies) are not as popular in Japan. Also, there are a lot of bikes and the American dollar is shit to the Japanese Yen. Another difference is that their spas consist of naked time for separate sexes. Okay wait, never mind, Korean's spas consist of naked time equally. While I have made myself appear as not the biggest exhibitionist in the past, I did partake in naked time while on the island. The spa was enjoyable and relaxing, but my major regret is that anyone visiting me or that I personally know will not be able to experience the delights with me. I am sorry, but while I am slightly uncomfortable with naked strangers, naked friends are even more on my "not gonna happen" list. Besides naked spas I saw a really cool robot exhibit and a history museum (I got to see the golden seal, one of many national treasures of Japan!). Regretfully I only stayed on the island for two days so I did not get to travel across Japan. (Luckily my stay was for two days, because the day later a typhoon hit Japan!)
As this note is getting rather long, I shall end it with my Japan trip. Other quick notes to be made later may include my distaste of the Korean bar and restaurant scene, the swine flu paranoia, the awesome fireworks festival I'm going to next week, and the unique group of English speakers I have met in the area.
No comments:
Post a Comment