Saturday, 18 February 2012
Last Post
EDIT - My last post was supposed to link you to a new blog for here in the UK, but I decided against that, so I have changed this post to advertise my new blog for a new job. I'm off to Kazakhstan! Follow my blog - kazakhadventure.blogspot.com
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Conclusions
I am at the very end of my time in Korea now. I have shared some stuff here on my blog, but I am certain there is much that has gone unwritten too. So now I think it's about time I made some final conclusions about my whole experience...then perhaps I will put this blog to bed.
Korea - I had some good times and bad. I find there are many more bland or irritating times washing over me right now, perhaps with a little or a lot more time I will find myself looking back on my time in Korea with a fondness. But as I say this I know that not all of my time over there was so trying. I guess I will start with the good, follow with the bad and maybe glance over some of the stuff.
Good - I have discovered that I truly enjoy teaching and that it is a career I would like to pursue, plus to my surprise it is elementary school children I am most interested in teaching. I got to know the kids and their personalities despite the obvious language barrier. I wish I had not had to leave them behind when I left, but that cannot be helped.
I also enjoyed some of the few nights I had out with my co-teachers, there were some awkward times, but I am glad that they made some effort, if only once or twice. I know that it must have been difficult for them, due to lack of time and fear of using English, but it is a shame that I could not dampen the latter. Try as I might I could not make speaking English less than a chore for them.
I spent much time hanging out with my friend Matt. Generally we really didn't do a whole lot, but those Saturdays were often a light in my dull week.
Bad - Well now, my life was rather dull. I had a couple of friends in the town in which I lived, although I believe they were only friends by virtue of being in a small town where choice did not arise. On a day to day basis I could go several days without talking to someone - well barring my students that is. There were some days I would not even come across my co-teachers...yes I was supposed to teach with them but that did not always happen.
Reliability - You are not likely to find this trait over there. It may sound harsh, but it comes from experience. As a foreigner it would seem that people are much less likely to treat you as an equal and therefore they will often forget to tell you things in your school until the last minute. They will also cancel classes left and right and if they can get away with it they won't even bother telling you. Or another example might be that, during the day I should always have had a co-teacher, so that the kids would have an English speaker and a Korean speaker in the room at the same time. However I would say my co-teachers only showed up 50% of the time. For me this last bit became less of a problem later in the year, but it should never have been an issue.
Crappy co-teachers - Now I did have some good co-teachers, which I am thankful of. But there are three types of crappy co-teachers which I came across.
1. Useless and incapable - This particular co-teacher would try to take over my class over and over but she was a terrible teacher, had crappy English and she could not control the class.
2. Aggressive - This co-teacher was actually a pretty good teacher, but she was super aggressive and if the kids erred even slightly she would come down stupidly hard on them. At first I thought she was just laying the ground work, but I think she may just have been a bit touchy. Not exactly terrible for me, but difficult to watch. She would also slow down too much and do irrelevant activities if left to her own devices.
3. Not there - Thankfully for this co-teacher it did not matter overly for me as I was teaching a very capable grade and they were able to understand me without the need of a translator.
Racism - There is so much obvious racism in Korea against foreigners it is startling. The job market brings in foreigners to work in their schools, but it is pretty obvious that much of the country wish this were not so. I can understand their problems with having so many foreigners do a job that there a Koreans able to do the job too. However without being able to understand foreign English Korean businessmen of the future would be screwed. Koreans, generally and especially in the country-side are rather overtly racist, they act as though you are the first foreigner they have ever seen. They will stare, then they will stare and then they will stare some more. Even at a bus stop and this is one that I always found bizarre, was that the buses would always stop in front of the Koreans even if they have been lining up behind a foreigner. I eventually came to ignore the stares and the negative treatment that would often come up, but it can be pretty overwhelming when one first arrives in Korea.
Logic - This is the last point I will talk about. It is perhaps not something that may mean so much to other people, but for me logic is quite important. I used to think that Americans were completely illogical, but that was until I met the South Korean nation. There are many ways in which they have provenblog or anyone else's for that matter if you want to know more about that.
Finally - I guess I forgot to mention that the money for working in Korea was pretty good and I saved even more due to the fact that I had no real personal life to speak of.
This year has changed me significantly and I can only hope for the better, but I have come away with some scars, not really physical ones, but ones that will likely stay with more for quite some time. I hope I can take my experiences and put them to good use this next year, be that in some kind of teaching job or in a qualification.
I shall put it into a final sentence, although I experienced many bad things, I also found my career and saved enough money to allow me to pursue if I am given the opportunity. Thanks Korea! Now England give me the opportunity I need!
Korea - I had some good times and bad. I find there are many more bland or irritating times washing over me right now, perhaps with a little or a lot more time I will find myself looking back on my time in Korea with a fondness. But as I say this I know that not all of my time over there was so trying. I guess I will start with the good, follow with the bad and maybe glance over some of the stuff.
Good - I have discovered that I truly enjoy teaching and that it is a career I would like to pursue, plus to my surprise it is elementary school children I am most interested in teaching. I got to know the kids and their personalities despite the obvious language barrier. I wish I had not had to leave them behind when I left, but that cannot be helped.
I also enjoyed some of the few nights I had out with my co-teachers, there were some awkward times, but I am glad that they made some effort, if only once or twice. I know that it must have been difficult for them, due to lack of time and fear of using English, but it is a shame that I could not dampen the latter. Try as I might I could not make speaking English less than a chore for them.
I spent much time hanging out with my friend Matt. Generally we really didn't do a whole lot, but those Saturdays were often a light in my dull week.
Bad - Well now, my life was rather dull. I had a couple of friends in the town in which I lived, although I believe they were only friends by virtue of being in a small town where choice did not arise. On a day to day basis I could go several days without talking to someone - well barring my students that is. There were some days I would not even come across my co-teachers...yes I was supposed to teach with them but that did not always happen.
Reliability - You are not likely to find this trait over there. It may sound harsh, but it comes from experience. As a foreigner it would seem that people are much less likely to treat you as an equal and therefore they will often forget to tell you things in your school until the last minute. They will also cancel classes left and right and if they can get away with it they won't even bother telling you. Or another example might be that, during the day I should always have had a co-teacher, so that the kids would have an English speaker and a Korean speaker in the room at the same time. However I would say my co-teachers only showed up 50% of the time. For me this last bit became less of a problem later in the year, but it should never have been an issue.
Crappy co-teachers - Now I did have some good co-teachers, which I am thankful of. But there are three types of crappy co-teachers which I came across.
1. Useless and incapable - This particular co-teacher would try to take over my class over and over but she was a terrible teacher, had crappy English and she could not control the class.
2. Aggressive - This co-teacher was actually a pretty good teacher, but she was super aggressive and if the kids erred even slightly she would come down stupidly hard on them. At first I thought she was just laying the ground work, but I think she may just have been a bit touchy. Not exactly terrible for me, but difficult to watch. She would also slow down too much and do irrelevant activities if left to her own devices.
3. Not there - Thankfully for this co-teacher it did not matter overly for me as I was teaching a very capable grade and they were able to understand me without the need of a translator.
Racism - There is so much obvious racism in Korea against foreigners it is startling. The job market brings in foreigners to work in their schools, but it is pretty obvious that much of the country wish this were not so. I can understand their problems with having so many foreigners do a job that there a Koreans able to do the job too. However without being able to understand foreign English Korean businessmen of the future would be screwed. Koreans, generally and especially in the country-side are rather overtly racist, they act as though you are the first foreigner they have ever seen. They will stare, then they will stare and then they will stare some more. Even at a bus stop and this is one that I always found bizarre, was that the buses would always stop in front of the Koreans even if they have been lining up behind a foreigner. I eventually came to ignore the stares and the negative treatment that would often come up, but it can be pretty overwhelming when one first arrives in Korea.
Logic - This is the last point I will talk about. It is perhaps not something that may mean so much to other people, but for me logic is quite important. I used to think that Americans were completely illogical, but that was until I met the South Korean nation. There are many ways in which they have provenblog or anyone else's for that matter if you want to know more about that.
Finally - I guess I forgot to mention that the money for working in Korea was pretty good and I saved even more due to the fact that I had no real personal life to speak of.
This year has changed me significantly and I can only hope for the better, but I have come away with some scars, not really physical ones, but ones that will likely stay with more for quite some time. I hope I can take my experiences and put them to good use this next year, be that in some kind of teaching job or in a qualification.
I shall put it into a final sentence, although I experienced many bad things, I also found my career and saved enough money to allow me to pursue if I am given the opportunity. Thanks Korea! Now England give me the opportunity I need!
Leaving the U.S.
On the 6th of January I left the states, to finally head home after 13 long months.
My friend Jo took me to the airport and after some confusion about which desk to go to I checked my bags in and set about getting through security. The passage through Detroit was pretty simply, very safety concious, more than even Chicago. Once through I just went ahead and found my gate. I was pretty damn early, but other than waiting around for a while, nothing much to tell.
Once on board I spent some time speaking to the woman who was sat next to me. I shared some of my experiences and it seems we had some of our travel destinations in common. She was in sales and would often travel by plane, so she racked up a great deal of travel miles. She then handed me a card which would allow me access to a flight lounge in any airport that might have that particular carrier. I found that to be super generous, but then she also helped me once I got off the plane. She took me to the lounge and checked me in and told me how to get to the other terminal for my flight. I was really taken aback by her generousity and I was really thankful too.
So I spent an hour or so in the lounge before I moved onto the next terminal. I found in the second terminal, once I had gotten through security that there was little to do and see. So I just made my way to the gate and then I bummed about until they called for us.
On board it was pretty full and I had someone next to me, but she was no trouble. We didn't talk, but at least she seemed to be nice enough and kept to herself. The flight was actually super fast. It only took 6 hours because we had a fantastic tail wind all the way. So I watched some films and tv and I tried to get some sleep, but it just didn't really happen.
I landed in Dublin with a tonne of time, so I just milled about in the big area in the main terminal. I got some food and then I headed on over to my gate. It appears though that I was checked through immigration here, which I suppose they can do since we are in the E.U. but I found it strange when I landed in the UK, that I was not checked.
My flight was super short as ever, from DUB to MAN it's only about a half hour in the air.
Then I was picjed up by my friend Mike's parents. There was some cafuffle about where they could park, but we got on our way eventually. Then it did not take long for me to enter the land of nod once I got back to their house.
A couple days later I finally headed home. The journey was less than eventful, apart from the fact that I discovered that travelling by train in the UK now is super expensive and also that one of the wheels on my bag had become broken, so I had to drag the bastard for a while till my mum showed up.
Finally, I am here now at my parent's house and that's just it. It sure as hell doesn't feel like my house. I look at all the stuff that I left behind and it just feels like someone else's stuff. I fell as though I am just staying over at a friend's house and I will be moving on soon. Hopefully this will change. But given the job market and the lack of responses from the teacher training programmes thus far it may appear that I will be going abroad to work again pretty soon...We shall see.
The followi
My friend Jo took me to the airport and after some confusion about which desk to go to I checked my bags in and set about getting through security. The passage through Detroit was pretty simply, very safety concious, more than even Chicago. Once through I just went ahead and found my gate. I was pretty damn early, but other than waiting around for a while, nothing much to tell.
Once on board I spent some time speaking to the woman who was sat next to me. I shared some of my experiences and it seems we had some of our travel destinations in common. She was in sales and would often travel by plane, so she racked up a great deal of travel miles. She then handed me a card which would allow me access to a flight lounge in any airport that might have that particular carrier. I found that to be super generous, but then she also helped me once I got off the plane. She took me to the lounge and checked me in and told me how to get to the other terminal for my flight. I was really taken aback by her generousity and I was really thankful too.
So I spent an hour or so in the lounge before I moved onto the next terminal. I found in the second terminal, once I had gotten through security that there was little to do and see. So I just made my way to the gate and then I bummed about until they called for us.
On board it was pretty full and I had someone next to me, but she was no trouble. We didn't talk, but at least she seemed to be nice enough and kept to herself. The flight was actually super fast. It only took 6 hours because we had a fantastic tail wind all the way. So I watched some films and tv and I tried to get some sleep, but it just didn't really happen.
I landed in Dublin with a tonne of time, so I just milled about in the big area in the main terminal. I got some food and then I headed on over to my gate. It appears though that I was checked through immigration here, which I suppose they can do since we are in the E.U. but I found it strange when I landed in the UK, that I was not checked.
My flight was super short as ever, from DUB to MAN it's only about a half hour in the air.
Then I was picjed up by my friend Mike's parents. There was some cafuffle about where they could park, but we got on our way eventually. Then it did not take long for me to enter the land of nod once I got back to their house.
A couple days later I finally headed home. The journey was less than eventful, apart from the fact that I discovered that travelling by train in the UK now is super expensive and also that one of the wheels on my bag had become broken, so I had to drag the bastard for a while till my mum showed up.
Finally, I am here now at my parent's house and that's just it. It sure as hell doesn't feel like my house. I look at all the stuff that I left behind and it just feels like someone else's stuff. I fell as though I am just staying over at a friend's house and I will be moving on soon. Hopefully this will change. But given the job market and the lack of responses from the teacher training programmes thus far it may appear that I will be going abroad to work again pretty soon...We shall see.
The followi
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
In America
I landed finally in Detroit on the 17th December and from there I went out to Ann Arbor, I stayed with a friend and her husband in a little apartament for a couple of days. We did not really do all that much but that was mainly due to the fact that my friend was going through law exams for U of M. Which I am led to believe are ridiculously difficult. So most of the time with them was made up of getting up early, some catching up, but mainly it was some time for me to get over my jet lag.
The next place I stayed at was at my friend Ben. He had stayed with me one night when he visited the UK. So he was returning the favour, although he actually let me stay a few days, so I guess I owe him now. Again I did not do a whole lot here, although we did go out each night after work and we had some pretty good discussions and some drinks of course. A good friend of mine also turned up to take me out to buy some clothes. I am not a fan of shopping by any means, but I did well in a matter of 20 minutes I was able to get two pairs of jeans and a new set of trainers. Then we went out for Thai food. Not too bad.
Later that day I joined up with the same friend who took me out, Joe and we went out on a party bus. Which is effectively just a bus with painted out windows and limo-like interior. It all seemed alright. Then we were joined by Joe's friends, there were about 20 of them and I only knew one other personally and a further person over the internet only. The first hour or so was pretty awkward and generally I did not get to know many of them at all. However I did get to dance with some of the girls which was nice. I made a concious choice not to get drunk, one - I hate hangovers, but two, which is more important there was no toilet on the bus. No Toilet! That sucks on anything that start with party and ends with a viechle. But it's even worse in Michigan, because everything is so far apart, so the second bar was about 15 mins away from the first. All in all it wasn't a terrible night out, but it wasn't quite my thing either.
Next up was Joe's and this takes us up to Christmas Eve. I spent the next couple of days with Joe and his friends and family. This was good. I had a good time a Joe's house and I was finally able to use a computer again after a week and a bit, since my computer packed up.
Next I moved onto Midland. Which was about 2 hours and a bit away from downtown Detroit. I was off to see my friend Jake, who I knew from Wayne State and had become closer to in Korea. He drove down to the sort of Grosse Point area and picked me up, then took me back. I really can't believe how far people are willing to drive in Michigan on a daily basis. Up in Midland we basically spent the days playing a new game called the last night on earth. It's a board game which is as tactical if not more so than risk.
For new year we went to a lame party and I spent most of the night wanting to punch a drunk son of a bitch who would not let up with a really crappy British accent. It took every once of my inner control not to punch him right in the mouth. So I walked away.
My last port of call was my friend Mik and Jo's place. Here we hung out and I got to see some of my old friends.
Hmmm...I guess the story of my holiday in America really is nothing to write home about. But any of you who have followed my blog up to this point will be aware that my last holiday super sucked! So just having a time to relax and see old friends was good.
The next place I stayed at was at my friend Ben. He had stayed with me one night when he visited the UK. So he was returning the favour, although he actually let me stay a few days, so I guess I owe him now. Again I did not do a whole lot here, although we did go out each night after work and we had some pretty good discussions and some drinks of course. A good friend of mine also turned up to take me out to buy some clothes. I am not a fan of shopping by any means, but I did well in a matter of 20 minutes I was able to get two pairs of jeans and a new set of trainers. Then we went out for Thai food. Not too bad.
Later that day I joined up with the same friend who took me out, Joe and we went out on a party bus. Which is effectively just a bus with painted out windows and limo-like interior. It all seemed alright. Then we were joined by Joe's friends, there were about 20 of them and I only knew one other personally and a further person over the internet only. The first hour or so was pretty awkward and generally I did not get to know many of them at all. However I did get to dance with some of the girls which was nice. I made a concious choice not to get drunk, one - I hate hangovers, but two, which is more important there was no toilet on the bus. No Toilet! That sucks on anything that start with party and ends with a viechle. But it's even worse in Michigan, because everything is so far apart, so the second bar was about 15 mins away from the first. All in all it wasn't a terrible night out, but it wasn't quite my thing either.
Next up was Joe's and this takes us up to Christmas Eve. I spent the next couple of days with Joe and his friends and family. This was good. I had a good time a Joe's house and I was finally able to use a computer again after a week and a bit, since my computer packed up.
Next I moved onto Midland. Which was about 2 hours and a bit away from downtown Detroit. I was off to see my friend Jake, who I knew from Wayne State and had become closer to in Korea. He drove down to the sort of Grosse Point area and picked me up, then took me back. I really can't believe how far people are willing to drive in Michigan on a daily basis. Up in Midland we basically spent the days playing a new game called the last night on earth. It's a board game which is as tactical if not more so than risk.
For new year we went to a lame party and I spent most of the night wanting to punch a drunk son of a bitch who would not let up with a really crappy British accent. It took every once of my inner control not to punch him right in the mouth. So I walked away.
My last port of call was my friend Mik and Jo's place. Here we hung out and I got to see some of my old friends.
Hmmm...I guess the story of my holiday in America really is nothing to write home about. But any of you who have followed my blog up to this point will be aware that my last holiday super sucked! So just having a time to relax and see old friends was good.
Monday, 9 January 2012
Wrapping up pt 2
The day of the flight
I took the light rail out of Sasang to Gimhae airport. It was a fascinating ride, I wish I had taken some pictures. Once we had gone past the city limits of Busan we came upon large areas of grassland which was being developed and then we rode over an entirely new town that was being built all at once, so the town was yet to exist, yet there were huge unused roads and a vast number of incomplete buildings.
Then came the standard airport stuff.
I flew out from Gimhae to Beijing. From here came a little bit of 'FUN' basically there were three of us that we coming from Korea and we were transferring to a Seattle flight. The other two were Americans heading home for the holidays. We were taken by a member of ground staff to a re-checking in desk. However we had to go through customs and claim our bags first which sucked. We did get to our flight with a little time and we talked to one another about our experiences. But it was jusy another one of those annoying bureaucratic things that seem to occurwhenever you fly anywhere.
From Beiging I went to Seattle, this was to be the longest flight by far. I believe the flight time was something like 10 hours. It was not terrible and I belive I got some small amount of sleep, which isnot suprising as I was knackered. On the way down in the the USA, they handed out the necessary forms which one requires to gain enterance to the states, however they did not have the forms which it appeared I would require as a Brit. However once I was in the airport it became apparent that that would not be an issue as I had completed an ESTA prior to my visit in the USA.
However I was still subject to the customs and immigration section of the airport. Thankfully I knew I had a fair amont of time before my next flight, so I was not worried. But it still took a fair time non-the-less AND I was really close to the front of the line, since I had hurried to that section. I passed through without much issue. The guy behind the desk had a talk with me, more about my experiences more than anything else as he filled in the documentation.
My hurrying however proved to be fruitless, because after I had picked up my bags and checked them back in I was treated to the information that my plane would be 2 hours late. I ended up sitting at my gate using my laptop to confirm the information that I had been given and it was true. I spent some time talking to some American troops who were heading home and funnily enough a couple of them had come in from Korea. Even more funny was that they simply assumed I was in the military until I said otherwise.
The seattle flight was not really any problem at this point as I had already been travelling for a ridiculous amount of time. However due to the delay I would easily be missing my connection out of Chicago. However as the delay was due to the airline, they provided us with a place to stay. The reason for this was that it was 11pm when we finally landed in Chicago and the place was deserted.
(Before I move on I would like to say that when I landed in Seattle and I had made it through the immigration post I ended up within the airport in a large room with resteraunts and som many people. At that point I was in utter culture shock. I was surrounded by people I understood and they were all white. I have to say it was horrible and I had to go into a little corner and recover before I could continue on. It took me a week or so before I was actually comfortable).
The hotel that I stayed at in Chicago, was actually pretty decent. I caught a few hours sleep, although I was pretty hungry.
The next morning I woke up to discover it was snowing! First though "Bollocks!" I had hoped to beat the snow to Michigan. But once I went downstairs to check-out I found out that all the planes were still on time and the amount of snow that had fallen and would fall would likely have no bearing upon the flights out of Chicago.
Then my final flight Chicago to Detroit, it was delayed...Of course. We ended up getting on a fantastically small plane and once we were up it id not take too long and we made up some of the time in the air. Then finally when I landed in Detroit I had to hunt down my luggae. Thankfully it was not difficult because I have a very distinct bag.
Next part - Actually in America.
I took the light rail out of Sasang to Gimhae airport. It was a fascinating ride, I wish I had taken some pictures. Once we had gone past the city limits of Busan we came upon large areas of grassland which was being developed and then we rode over an entirely new town that was being built all at once, so the town was yet to exist, yet there were huge unused roads and a vast number of incomplete buildings.
Then came the standard airport stuff.
I flew out from Gimhae to Beijing. From here came a little bit of 'FUN' basically there were three of us that we coming from Korea and we were transferring to a Seattle flight. The other two were Americans heading home for the holidays. We were taken by a member of ground staff to a re-checking in desk. However we had to go through customs and claim our bags first which sucked. We did get to our flight with a little time and we talked to one another about our experiences. But it was jusy another one of those annoying bureaucratic things that seem to occurwhenever you fly anywhere.
From Beiging I went to Seattle, this was to be the longest flight by far. I believe the flight time was something like 10 hours. It was not terrible and I belive I got some small amount of sleep, which isnot suprising as I was knackered. On the way down in the the USA, they handed out the necessary forms which one requires to gain enterance to the states, however they did not have the forms which it appeared I would require as a Brit. However once I was in the airport it became apparent that that would not be an issue as I had completed an ESTA prior to my visit in the USA.
However I was still subject to the customs and immigration section of the airport. Thankfully I knew I had a fair amont of time before my next flight, so I was not worried. But it still took a fair time non-the-less AND I was really close to the front of the line, since I had hurried to that section. I passed through without much issue. The guy behind the desk had a talk with me, more about my experiences more than anything else as he filled in the documentation.
My hurrying however proved to be fruitless, because after I had picked up my bags and checked them back in I was treated to the information that my plane would be 2 hours late. I ended up sitting at my gate using my laptop to confirm the information that I had been given and it was true. I spent some time talking to some American troops who were heading home and funnily enough a couple of them had come in from Korea. Even more funny was that they simply assumed I was in the military until I said otherwise.
The seattle flight was not really any problem at this point as I had already been travelling for a ridiculous amount of time. However due to the delay I would easily be missing my connection out of Chicago. However as the delay was due to the airline, they provided us with a place to stay. The reason for this was that it was 11pm when we finally landed in Chicago and the place was deserted.
(Before I move on I would like to say that when I landed in Seattle and I had made it through the immigration post I ended up within the airport in a large room with resteraunts and som many people. At that point I was in utter culture shock. I was surrounded by people I understood and they were all white. I have to say it was horrible and I had to go into a little corner and recover before I could continue on. It took me a week or so before I was actually comfortable).
The hotel that I stayed at in Chicago, was actually pretty decent. I caught a few hours sleep, although I was pretty hungry.
The next morning I woke up to discover it was snowing! First though "Bollocks!" I had hoped to beat the snow to Michigan. But once I went downstairs to check-out I found out that all the planes were still on time and the amount of snow that had fallen and would fall would likely have no bearing upon the flights out of Chicago.
Then my final flight Chicago to Detroit, it was delayed...Of course. We ended up getting on a fantastically small plane and once we were up it id not take too long and we made up some of the time in the air. Then finally when I landed in Detroit I had to hunt down my luggae. Thankfully it was not difficult because I have a very distinct bag.
Next part - Actually in America.
Wrapping up pt 1
It has been a while since I wrote my last blog. I have been abroad in the world and my computer has been acting up, so I have not been able to detail my adventures. I am finally back in the UK now and while I am not existing on normal times I do have a little time to fill in what I did and where I went. I am afraid my holiday to the US was not some fantastic adventure, but perhaps there are enough things that are either weird or interesting that will make the next couple of entries worth reading.
I'll start with my departure from Korea, in logical chronological order.
The day that I finished up my contract my co-teacher had the various people from the appliances and such turn up so that everything could be turned off and what-not. The plan was for everything to last one extra day, because I had planned to stay at my apartament one extra day, so that I could close up the various accounts that I had with banks and such. However as it turned out they just cut everything off right there and then and I paid up my bills. This meant that there was no gas to heat my floor, nor any hot water, my tv connection was lost as was the internet. All I had left was a bit of electricity and the very sparse room. So, with very little choice remaining I had my meal out that night with some of the guys that lived in my town. We stayedout for a little while, which of course I found favourable.
Earlier in the day I had given out most of the stuff I had accumulated over the year to the remaining whiteys in my town. There was not all that much, but there was enough to make life just that bit easier and more comfortable.
The next day I had a choice, I could either wait until late day and allow some of my co-teachers to drive me down to Sasang and find me a motel to stay in, or else I could head out during the day and go down by myself across the subway system, but that would mean carting all of my stuff around on my own. So I chose the former.
However that meant that I would have to go into Busan and move and exchange money and then close my accounts and then head back to my apartament. It didn't take all that long really and then, once I was done I grabbed some food and then headed back. I only had to wait about 2-3 hours before my co-teachers came to get me, so I just watched some TV shows I have saved to my hard drive.
The drive down to Sasang was a little boring, but at one point they did get lost and we ended up almost in Gimhae, which I had no desire to stay in, so after some confusion we got back on track and then we had the fun activity of finding somewhere for me to stay.
I had no intention of staying in a fancy hotel for one night and pay a huge price for, instead they found me a motel, which in Korea are basically love motels. So basically people normally go to them to have sex. This was particularly obvious in the motel we had picked out for me, because on each floor there was a machine which resembled a cigarette machine of old, except that in these machines they were selling sex toys. But I knew what this place was like to be like and it really didn't bother me, because it was well furnished and the bed was pretty decent. PLUS it only cost about 30,000 won, which is like $30/£15 per night.
I met Matt in Sasang later in the evening, once he had gotten out of work and we just got some food (samgyupsal) and then we had a drink at the local coffee shop. It was pretty sedate, but just what you want before you are to get on a plane the next day. Then I headed back to my motel.
However the night did not simply end there as it should have, no it lasted much longer. I had planned to go to bed at a reasonable time so that I could get plenty of sleep before my flight, however it seems that a mixture of the samgyupal not sitting well with me and the stress of knowing what was to come provided me with the trots. So basically I was up for most of the night, before I finally bit the bullet and took a tablet. I rekon I got just about 3-4 hours sleep in all before I had to set off in the morning.
I'll start with my departure from Korea, in logical chronological order.
The day that I finished up my contract my co-teacher had the various people from the appliances and such turn up so that everything could be turned off and what-not. The plan was for everything to last one extra day, because I had planned to stay at my apartament one extra day, so that I could close up the various accounts that I had with banks and such. However as it turned out they just cut everything off right there and then and I paid up my bills. This meant that there was no gas to heat my floor, nor any hot water, my tv connection was lost as was the internet. All I had left was a bit of electricity and the very sparse room. So, with very little choice remaining I had my meal out that night with some of the guys that lived in my town. We stayedout for a little while, which of course I found favourable.
Earlier in the day I had given out most of the stuff I had accumulated over the year to the remaining whiteys in my town. There was not all that much, but there was enough to make life just that bit easier and more comfortable.
The next day I had a choice, I could either wait until late day and allow some of my co-teachers to drive me down to Sasang and find me a motel to stay in, or else I could head out during the day and go down by myself across the subway system, but that would mean carting all of my stuff around on my own. So I chose the former.
However that meant that I would have to go into Busan and move and exchange money and then close my accounts and then head back to my apartament. It didn't take all that long really and then, once I was done I grabbed some food and then headed back. I only had to wait about 2-3 hours before my co-teachers came to get me, so I just watched some TV shows I have saved to my hard drive.
The drive down to Sasang was a little boring, but at one point they did get lost and we ended up almost in Gimhae, which I had no desire to stay in, so after some confusion we got back on track and then we had the fun activity of finding somewhere for me to stay.
I had no intention of staying in a fancy hotel for one night and pay a huge price for, instead they found me a motel, which in Korea are basically love motels. So basically people normally go to them to have sex. This was particularly obvious in the motel we had picked out for me, because on each floor there was a machine which resembled a cigarette machine of old, except that in these machines they were selling sex toys. But I knew what this place was like to be like and it really didn't bother me, because it was well furnished and the bed was pretty decent. PLUS it only cost about 30,000 won, which is like $30/£15 per night.
I met Matt in Sasang later in the evening, once he had gotten out of work and we just got some food (samgyupsal) and then we had a drink at the local coffee shop. It was pretty sedate, but just what you want before you are to get on a plane the next day. Then I headed back to my motel.
However the night did not simply end there as it should have, no it lasted much longer. I had planned to go to bed at a reasonable time so that I could get plenty of sleep before my flight, however it seems that a mixture of the samgyupal not sitting well with me and the stress of knowing what was to come provided me with the trots. So basically I was up for most of the night, before I finally bit the bullet and took a tablet. I rekon I got just about 3-4 hours sleep in all before I had to set off in the morning.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
It's coming to an end
It's been a little while since my last post. I keep meaning to throw on another, but since I can't aces this at work it keeps escaping me.
I have finally come to my last week. Well next week will be the last actual week in the country, but I have only one working week remaining starting tomorrow. Am I glad to be leaving? Well I'm not going to lie, the simple answer is yes. I believe I have finally reached the end of my tether. It has not been one particular thing but many things compiling over the year. Yet as I look back on my year I am glad of what I have accomplished here. I have gained a year of experience in my chosen profession and I have done it through many difficulties. I can only hope that the things I have had to go through this year will help me in the future as a pursue teaching.
So since I am coming to the end I am having goodbye stuff and preparing to leave. I have been giving my house a thorough clean and getting rid of stuff that has no value. I'm also throwing out anything that I don't think I'll wear or should really just go in the bin anyway, gota make my bag as light as possible so that I can take buy some new clothes in the U.S.
I had my first goodbye meal on Sunday, with one of my friends from Changwon, I don't see him too often, but we get along really well. It was nothing big, just a meal and good conversation, just what I like. Then last night I had a meal with the guys from my town and we went to a favourite resteraunt of ours in the town, run by Mr. Kim (a really interesting guy). One of the guys had brought along some blueberry vodka he had concoted, it was not good, but we shared it around. In return Mr. Kim gave us some of his favourite alcohol 어량애 (Oh-ryang-eh) Well that's how it sounds, it should actually be in Chinese characters. It is a Chinese spirit. The stuff is fantasic, really clear and it goes down really well. But I don't think it is something that I'll get my hands on too oten because a bottle of it here in Korean costs ₩800,000 which is closing in on $710, which is about £450 (currently).
Tomorrow I will have a meal with some of the teachers at my school. It will be an informal thing, so I think it should be alright. I hope they don't expect me to drink a ton, because I still have to work the next day, although thankfully it will be the test day, so it's not exactly a difficult day, for any of us. Which makes me think there may be a bit of drinking going on. I am not sure who will be there, but I assume as it is supposed to be held for me, it will generally be people who actually want to talk/spend time with me...well, we'll see.
Then on Friday I am supposed to be going to a house party. I have no idea how that will work out as Korean houses are pretty damn small. Also I am a bit of a tag along, but again I shall see. Then after that I will just have a couple of days left before I'm off to the U.S. So I guess I should just pack my bags and make sure all is dealt with and I have everything I want to keep.
Well that's how things lay. I may write another blog before I leave. Then at some time after I have left, I think I will write my parting thoughts. Then, I guess I will close this blog and mayhaps move onto something else.
I have finally come to my last week. Well next week will be the last actual week in the country, but I have only one working week remaining starting tomorrow. Am I glad to be leaving? Well I'm not going to lie, the simple answer is yes. I believe I have finally reached the end of my tether. It has not been one particular thing but many things compiling over the year. Yet as I look back on my year I am glad of what I have accomplished here. I have gained a year of experience in my chosen profession and I have done it through many difficulties. I can only hope that the things I have had to go through this year will help me in the future as a pursue teaching.
So since I am coming to the end I am having goodbye stuff and preparing to leave. I have been giving my house a thorough clean and getting rid of stuff that has no value. I'm also throwing out anything that I don't think I'll wear or should really just go in the bin anyway, gota make my bag as light as possible so that I can take buy some new clothes in the U.S.
I had my first goodbye meal on Sunday, with one of my friends from Changwon, I don't see him too often, but we get along really well. It was nothing big, just a meal and good conversation, just what I like. Then last night I had a meal with the guys from my town and we went to a favourite resteraunt of ours in the town, run by Mr. Kim (a really interesting guy). One of the guys had brought along some blueberry vodka he had concoted, it was not good, but we shared it around. In return Mr. Kim gave us some of his favourite alcohol 어량애 (Oh-ryang-eh) Well that's how it sounds, it should actually be in Chinese characters. It is a Chinese spirit. The stuff is fantasic, really clear and it goes down really well. But I don't think it is something that I'll get my hands on too oten because a bottle of it here in Korean costs ₩800,000 which is closing in on $710, which is about £450 (currently).
Tomorrow I will have a meal with some of the teachers at my school. It will be an informal thing, so I think it should be alright. I hope they don't expect me to drink a ton, because I still have to work the next day, although thankfully it will be the test day, so it's not exactly a difficult day, for any of us. Which makes me think there may be a bit of drinking going on. I am not sure who will be there, but I assume as it is supposed to be held for me, it will generally be people who actually want to talk/spend time with me...well, we'll see.
Then on Friday I am supposed to be going to a house party. I have no idea how that will work out as Korean houses are pretty damn small. Also I am a bit of a tag along, but again I shall see. Then after that I will just have a couple of days left before I'm off to the U.S. So I guess I should just pack my bags and make sure all is dealt with and I have everything I want to keep.
Well that's how things lay. I may write another blog before I leave. Then at some time after I have left, I think I will write my parting thoughts. Then, I guess I will close this blog and mayhaps move onto something else.
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