So.... I'm a little stressed right now. This is normal for a teacher, but I feel it double because I'm a new teacher in a foreign country and access to cutesy teacher stuff isn't readily available.
Let me back up a little bit.
So the first week went great! We were shown around our neighborhood and around Itaewon (the foreign/new york-y place) and I really REALLY like it here! The weeks have smushed into blurs. So keeping track of when everything happened is really hard.
Friday night, a lot of the newbies and some of the veteran teachers went to Itaewon to have dinner (club sandwich and fries, thank you very much!) and hang out. It was a lot of fun! It was more relaxed and nice to be able to hang out with people rather than work/"hang out" with people. :)
Saturday a big group (of old and new... mostly new...) went to Namsan Seoul Tower and back to Itaewon to have lunch.
Seoul Tower was great! The view was amazing! It seems crazy to me that not too terribly long ago this huge city was torn apart (and down) in war. Seoul is know as "The Miracle of Asia" and I believe it! Rome may not have been built in a day, but I think Seoul might have been.
We then went for "Mexican Food." I ordered fajitas and guacamole-- it was okay. I will miss the homemade goodness that was a-plenty at Brown. All my teacher friends are SPOILED. Be THANKFUL for such delicious food!
The next day I went to church at my school. I liked it! It was small, but I could tell that it was a nice little community of believers. They are needing volunteers to help with Sunday School, so I'm thinking I would love to help with that. After church, Sarah and I worked until 5ish and Suanne Forrester (our new Literacy Coach) made us leave. The three of us went to E-Mart and got some necessities for the home. We ate Mandu for dinner (delicious dumplings). Sarah and I actually went BACK to EMart later that night because Sarah wanted a cool mattress pad thing. Sunday was a fruitful day. :)
Monday, we met all of the veteran teachers (I don't want to call them "old" because they aren't) and thus started our week of in-service.
Basically, it was a week full of working, working, meetings, working, working, eating, working.... and you get the idea. Truthfully, I know lots of fun stuff happened in there, but everything is blurred together. It was a lot of fun meeting all of the veterans. They are really great and helpful! We have had a good bit of time to get to know our collegues, so it has been really good.
As I mentioned before, though. I'm a little bit panicky. The kids come tomorrow and I feel VERY unprepared. I know it will be fine. I know kids are very forgiving about 1st day stuff. I just like to be on top of it and there doesn't seem to be enough physical time to do that. Plus, I have been FORCING myself to get out of the classroom and hang out with people. It's important!
Friday night, Sarah and a group of teachers (myself included) met up with her cousin, his girlfriend, and part of her family. We had some great food and then went to a noraebong (karaoke). They are small rooms for about 10 people and, well, you sing your heart out! It was a lot of fun! The best karaoke songs are ones that remind you of the "olden days." MC Hammer, N'SYNC, Aerosmith, and the like.
Yesterday, was new student orientation. I have one new student, but he wasn't here yet. He arrives today, but I've already met him. He is Suanne (our Literacy Coach's) son. Last night we had a pot luck roof top party on the other apartment's room. There is a nice little garden area and a great view. Pot Luck in Korea is more like, buy some type of food and bring it. There were only two foods brought that were actually made in someone's home, but it was all delicious! I pooped out early because, well, I'm lame. But Brittany came over to use the internet I'm borrowing since she isn't able to borrow any in her apartment. It was fun to sit and talk a while.
I'm going to stop this post here with some pictures from Seoul Tower. It was beautiful.
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| This doesn't look impressive, but we had already ridden up the trolly to this point of the tower. So, be impressed. |
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| So, there are trees and fences full of locks where those in love lock their love forever in Seoul... |
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| "Fajitas" They were okay. |
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| This is at the park right by my apartment. It's fun to watch everyone play in the water! |
Tomorrow is the first day of school, so expect a post on that! Prayers would be helpful!
God has been good!!!! It's not easy, but He doesn't promise easy. Please pray that my time here will bring God glory and that He gets ALL the praise!
-Sara
