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.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Saturday, 19 November 2011
One Month remaining
Well now, I have been away from my blog for a little while.
I have finally reached a point in my life out here that I have simply become content. I have become used to the food and whether I am enjoying it or not I am not sure but it os certainly what I expect. For instance finding octopus in my soup id no longer a problem, in fact I almost look forward to it. It's not just the food though, I am becoming somewhat more accepting of the culture. I think I would attribute this new found peace in Korea to the fact that I am soon to leave the country. One of my friends sugested that i may have entered the third state. The first being excitement of the new. The second state, where you feel out of place. Finally the third is acceptance. However the way emotions play out is quite that cut and dry. There are many peaks and troughs in a person's time working abroad. For most people in one year the would be a peal when one first arrives, which then tapers down into a trough at about the six month mark and then in the last couple of months you reach another peak, just in time for re-signing. I found this was not really the case for myself.
I had a peak when I arrives, just like everyody else, however I troughed after my NZ experience and then I pretty much flatlined up until this last month. Not a great looking chart, but I have been able to survive the year and finally I am being able to enjoy my last month. It's funny though. I can feel the tug of staying here for longer. But I know that on whole I do not want to stay here for another year (consecutively at least). I would in the future consider returning to Korea were I looking for work abroad again. However, were I to come back to Korea, I would have to work in a city.
Outside of my feeling for the country as a whole I have been working as normal and I continue to enjoy my job. I have been significantly enjoying my lessons with the 6th grade because I have seen the students become much more confident in the last year. Both in their attempts to speak English but also as peoplke generally. They are by far my favourite class to teach.
This last week, I finally finished the game I have been playing with the 5th and 6th grade. Each day for the last 2 months I have been playing a 5 minute game at the start of each class. The students were in two teams and they had to come up with as many words beginning with the letter of the day. I promised the winning team some sort of prize. This week we had the prizes. The 5th grade did not put all that much effort into it, therefore they were only rewarded with a cookie each. The 6th grade on the other hand had tried properly. Therefore they were rewarded with a party: food and watching Dr. Who. Next week we will get back to normal and I will speed up the lessons a little, just so that we are ahead of time. I need to make sure that the students have a couple of lessons prior to their test to revise. This will be the final test, for most of the school it has some inportance, but to the 6th graders it actually holds significant importance. The result of this test could have ramifications upon which middle school they can attend. However due to the area in which the school is and the size of the school it is near certain that all of my students will go the same, local middle school regardless of their results.
Well that's about all there is for now.
I have finally reached a point in my life out here that I have simply become content. I have become used to the food and whether I am enjoying it or not I am not sure but it os certainly what I expect. For instance finding octopus in my soup id no longer a problem, in fact I almost look forward to it. It's not just the food though, I am becoming somewhat more accepting of the culture. I think I would attribute this new found peace in Korea to the fact that I am soon to leave the country. One of my friends sugested that i may have entered the third state. The first being excitement of the new. The second state, where you feel out of place. Finally the third is acceptance. However the way emotions play out is quite that cut and dry. There are many peaks and troughs in a person's time working abroad. For most people in one year the would be a peal when one first arrives, which then tapers down into a trough at about the six month mark and then in the last couple of months you reach another peak, just in time for re-signing. I found this was not really the case for myself.
I had a peak when I arrives, just like everyody else, however I troughed after my NZ experience and then I pretty much flatlined up until this last month. Not a great looking chart, but I have been able to survive the year and finally I am being able to enjoy my last month. It's funny though. I can feel the tug of staying here for longer. But I know that on whole I do not want to stay here for another year (consecutively at least). I would in the future consider returning to Korea were I looking for work abroad again. However, were I to come back to Korea, I would have to work in a city.
Outside of my feeling for the country as a whole I have been working as normal and I continue to enjoy my job. I have been significantly enjoying my lessons with the 6th grade because I have seen the students become much more confident in the last year. Both in their attempts to speak English but also as peoplke generally. They are by far my favourite class to teach.
This last week, I finally finished the game I have been playing with the 5th and 6th grade. Each day for the last 2 months I have been playing a 5 minute game at the start of each class. The students were in two teams and they had to come up with as many words beginning with the letter of the day. I promised the winning team some sort of prize. This week we had the prizes. The 5th grade did not put all that much effort into it, therefore they were only rewarded with a cookie each. The 6th grade on the other hand had tried properly. Therefore they were rewarded with a party: food and watching Dr. Who. Next week we will get back to normal and I will speed up the lessons a little, just so that we are ahead of time. I need to make sure that the students have a couple of lessons prior to their test to revise. This will be the final test, for most of the school it has some inportance, but to the 6th graders it actually holds significant importance. The result of this test could have ramifications upon which middle school they can attend. However due to the area in which the school is and the size of the school it is near certain that all of my students will go the same, local middle school regardless of their results.
Well that's about all there is for now.
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
School Trip - Ulsan Park
We went to Ulsan park today as a school. I had reservations about it before I went, since the previous one was something of a flop, at least fr me. This time however I had been told a wek or so ahead of time instead of 5 minutes before and I was able to bring the correct sort of gear and also pack myself some food.
The park was pretty huge, so much so that you can eother hire a bicycle or take the in park bus to get from A to B. At first I went off on my own and discovered some nice grasy areas and I considered doing some Kung Fu there, but I wanted to see how the day would play out first so I went back to the teachers and kids. The older kids had decided to go off and walk to the animal petting zoo and butterfly house, but the younger kids were waiting for the bus. It's a good thing too, else I may have lost them, although, it was because of their shouting that I was able to find them, so perhaps it would not have been so difficult.
At the other end of the park we went into the butterfly house and although it was small it was nice and we followed that with a insect house. Not so much my cup of tea, but interesting none the less. Next we made our way to the 'zoo', but on the way decided to make a pit stop for lunch.
I had come vastly prepared and I had sanwhiches, boiled eggs, fruit, crisps and a drink. I had also made a batch of cookies, which throughout the day, I shared with the kids and the other teachers. I was to eat with the other teachers, which I was rather dreading, making the asumption that it would be yet another meal where I would be ignored. But I think since there were no authority figures it was somewhat more relaxed and I felt more at ease, even if little conversation was directed my way. The other teachers had brought an array of Kimbap and other very Korean dishes and invited me to dig in. Then Sey Bom arrived with his fiancee and lots of delicious food, some of which was cooked chicken (still hot). In short, the food was good. Plus I liked his fiancee, she was able to talk to me, since her English is pretty amazing,
Next the animals. There were a couple of macaques and some various birds, mainly pheasants and chickens, nothing too strange. There were also some donkeys, which were good, I like donkeys for some reason. probably because they are always portrayed as the hard working animal, not asking much of anyone.
It was funny though because the teachers and kids were trying to feed the Donkeys with chopsticks, it was a rather fruitless attempt becuase they kept dropping stuff and it rolling away from the donkeys. So I told them how you should feed them open palm, as I had seen my sister do when she had a horse at one point. Scared the teacher asked me to show her, I'd never done it before myself, so I was a little dubious, but I thought, meh, why not. It was alright, although the donkey ended up licking my hand.
We walked back down to around the butterfly house and most of the kids went off to play in the big playground, made up of climbing stuff and trampolines. While I, Sey Bom and his fiancee and a couple of kids hired out some bikes and cycled around for about an hour. That was great, that's the first time I have ridden a bike while I have been in Korea. I really enjoyed it.
And then we headed back to school. Plus we were then allowed to go home early. What a great day!
The park was pretty huge, so much so that you can eother hire a bicycle or take the in park bus to get from A to B. At first I went off on my own and discovered some nice grasy areas and I considered doing some Kung Fu there, but I wanted to see how the day would play out first so I went back to the teachers and kids. The older kids had decided to go off and walk to the animal petting zoo and butterfly house, but the younger kids were waiting for the bus. It's a good thing too, else I may have lost them, although, it was because of their shouting that I was able to find them, so perhaps it would not have been so difficult.
At the other end of the park we went into the butterfly house and although it was small it was nice and we followed that with a insect house. Not so much my cup of tea, but interesting none the less. Next we made our way to the 'zoo', but on the way decided to make a pit stop for lunch.
I had come vastly prepared and I had sanwhiches, boiled eggs, fruit, crisps and a drink. I had also made a batch of cookies, which throughout the day, I shared with the kids and the other teachers. I was to eat with the other teachers, which I was rather dreading, making the asumption that it would be yet another meal where I would be ignored. But I think since there were no authority figures it was somewhat more relaxed and I felt more at ease, even if little conversation was directed my way. The other teachers had brought an array of Kimbap and other very Korean dishes and invited me to dig in. Then Sey Bom arrived with his fiancee and lots of delicious food, some of which was cooked chicken (still hot). In short, the food was good. Plus I liked his fiancee, she was able to talk to me, since her English is pretty amazing,
Next the animals. There were a couple of macaques and some various birds, mainly pheasants and chickens, nothing too strange. There were also some donkeys, which were good, I like donkeys for some reason. probably because they are always portrayed as the hard working animal, not asking much of anyone.
It was funny though because the teachers and kids were trying to feed the Donkeys with chopsticks, it was a rather fruitless attempt becuase they kept dropping stuff and it rolling away from the donkeys. So I told them how you should feed them open palm, as I had seen my sister do when she had a horse at one point. Scared the teacher asked me to show her, I'd never done it before myself, so I was a little dubious, but I thought, meh, why not. It was alright, although the donkey ended up licking my hand.
We walked back down to around the butterfly house and most of the kids went off to play in the big playground, made up of climbing stuff and trampolines. While I, Sey Bom and his fiancee and a couple of kids hired out some bikes and cycled around for about an hour. That was great, that's the first time I have ridden a bike while I have been in Korea. I really enjoyed it.
And then we headed back to school. Plus we were then allowed to go home early. What a great day!
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Food and Toilets, weird right?
So let's start with food shall we.
I have become a little fed up with my food situation. Unfortunately living in a small town there is only a limited supply of resources. So that can be rather trying since I like to make food myself. There are some more advanced meals which I like to make, but they take a while to prepare and the ingredients can be pricy. So that means on a daily basis I am left with what I can buy from the local shops and the market should I catch it when it comes through town (which can be difficult since it seems to follow no actual schedule). Occasionally I am able to gather other ingredients from the cities, but that is a rarity. Of course I can grab a meal from one of the many resteraunts in town, but the problem there is that, although there are many resteraunts, there is still not a lot of choice.
Of course if I were Korean having very little choice about food would not bother me as it seems Koreans do not get gastronomically bored. This may be because of the way they ar ebrought up...who knows. It turns out the kids in my school have rice, kimchi and soup for breakfast, rice, kimchi and soup for lunch and can you guess? Yes that's right rice, kimchi and soup for dinner. One of my co-teachers tried to explain to me that outside of school most people do not have rice for lunch, instead they probably have noodles. Which of course is SO different! Well it seems to work for them, but it does not do much for my mental stability, which is wavering as it is.
TOILETS!!!
Now I have discussed this subject before, the lack of toilet paper and the bizarre squats. However today I look at the total lack of privacy. Most restrooms/public toilets in Korea seem to lack basic privacy. Yes there are doors on the cublices, which is good. However there is not much priority put on blocking the rest of the toilets from view. For instance in my school, although there are doors to block the view of toilets they are never used. People just leave the doors wide open, which frequently means that the guys are using the urinals while putting themselves on public display. Now while there are doors that are not used the ones closest to my room are glass doors, with only the bottom half frosted, so anyone even slightly tall can see over. So even when I should make any attempt to provide myself some privacy it is easily foiled. Sometimes I even retreat to the downstairs toilets because students do not use them. But the problem there is that Koreans must have the windows open at all times so, on the ground level the toilet windows are open putting everyone inside in full display once more. To make matters even worse over by the door the mirrors have been set up over the sinks so that people outside can basically see in through the reflections.
The lack of privacy on toilets is not simply for schools, but with all public toilets that I have come across. Even to the extent that in a bar we often frequent in Tongdosa has a unisex toilet and often women will just walk past you at the urinal to use the one stall. It is very strange and rather off putting. I generally avoid a lot of discomfort, at least at school by ducking into the cubicals, simply to escape overly curious students.
I remain an adamant suporter of the western toilets and the privacy that comes with it, even though westerners treat their toilet facilities worse on whole.
I have become a little fed up with my food situation. Unfortunately living in a small town there is only a limited supply of resources. So that can be rather trying since I like to make food myself. There are some more advanced meals which I like to make, but they take a while to prepare and the ingredients can be pricy. So that means on a daily basis I am left with what I can buy from the local shops and the market should I catch it when it comes through town (which can be difficult since it seems to follow no actual schedule). Occasionally I am able to gather other ingredients from the cities, but that is a rarity. Of course I can grab a meal from one of the many resteraunts in town, but the problem there is that, although there are many resteraunts, there is still not a lot of choice.
Of course if I were Korean having very little choice about food would not bother me as it seems Koreans do not get gastronomically bored. This may be because of the way they ar ebrought up...who knows. It turns out the kids in my school have rice, kimchi and soup for breakfast, rice, kimchi and soup for lunch and can you guess? Yes that's right rice, kimchi and soup for dinner. One of my co-teachers tried to explain to me that outside of school most people do not have rice for lunch, instead they probably have noodles. Which of course is SO different! Well it seems to work for them, but it does not do much for my mental stability, which is wavering as it is.
TOILETS!!!
Now I have discussed this subject before, the lack of toilet paper and the bizarre squats. However today I look at the total lack of privacy. Most restrooms/public toilets in Korea seem to lack basic privacy. Yes there are doors on the cublices, which is good. However there is not much priority put on blocking the rest of the toilets from view. For instance in my school, although there are doors to block the view of toilets they are never used. People just leave the doors wide open, which frequently means that the guys are using the urinals while putting themselves on public display. Now while there are doors that are not used the ones closest to my room are glass doors, with only the bottom half frosted, so anyone even slightly tall can see over. So even when I should make any attempt to provide myself some privacy it is easily foiled. Sometimes I even retreat to the downstairs toilets because students do not use them. But the problem there is that Koreans must have the windows open at all times so, on the ground level the toilet windows are open putting everyone inside in full display once more. To make matters even worse over by the door the mirrors have been set up over the sinks so that people outside can basically see in through the reflections.
The lack of privacy on toilets is not simply for schools, but with all public toilets that I have come across. Even to the extent that in a bar we often frequent in Tongdosa has a unisex toilet and often women will just walk past you at the urinal to use the one stall. It is very strange and rather off putting. I generally avoid a lot of discomfort, at least at school by ducking into the cubicals, simply to escape overly curious students.
I remain an adamant suporter of the western toilets and the privacy that comes with it, even though westerners treat their toilet facilities worse on whole.
Sunday, 16 October 2011
Open class and social life
Okay, first, I had an open class in Friday. Which to anyone who has not worked in korea, an open class is basically an evaluation. I am not entirely sure how important the outcome would be had I wanted to stay working in Korea. I had chosen to throw my entire self into this lesson. I wanted to teach the best I could, but I try to do that with every lesson anyway. But I had no intention to do a bullshit lesson, like I have seen often in Korea, where they practise the lesson with their kids several times before they do it for the evaluation.
So it turns out I was to be evaluated by three random teachers who work in the locxal area at different school, not sure what that proves. Yes they could give me some helpful criticism, but they would all have their own way of doing things as each teacher does...not sure what that was all about. Anyway I had to hang around waiting to teach because the observers were late. Then when I started I was a little flustered and got things a little messed up in order. I pulled it back together though and as far as I am concerned I taught a fairly good lesson. The kids seemed to like it and from what my co-teacher said, she liked it too.
However my observers were a little more reserved about it. They did not care for my game and felt that I was not teaching certain activities in the proper way. I listened to their comments and took some of it in. However some of what they said was just theoretical bullshit that I have cast aside myself because in practise I attempt to tailor my lessons for my students and teach them in methods which work for them. But I just let them give ne their comments rather than argue about it.
They then turned on my co-teacher and went to rip him apart for not having participated. But as far as I am concerned the 6th grade teacher does not need to speak English. He more or less cannont speak English, or so it would seem. But I can make the students understand me and he keeps them in line. It works for us.
Anyway, I am glad that is out of the way. I will keep some things in mind of what was said. But I am leaving soon and the outcome will have no bearing upon my job.
Socialisation or lack there of.
I have spoken of this before, that I do not really have a social life here. However it has now reached a point that I am becoming a recluse. I no longer try. A friend of mine seems to be disappointed by my attitude, but I have become quite comfortable with a solitary life and I should be fine till the end of my contract. Now I am not saying that I want to live like this forever, rather that there is little that interests me now, here. Normally I will meet up with him at the weekend for a chat and a meal. That's great for me. Plus given where I live going out and getting home have to be done with strict time limits otherwise I must pay for a room or a taxi, neither of which I really want to do most of the time.
Yesterday he wanted me to go clubbing in Busan and basically just stay up all night and then take the first bus home. When I was in uni, sure maybe. But I HATE clubbing and I really didn't want to lose a whole day and fuck up my sleeping habits. Yeah, I know, not adventurous. But, well, I just don't care anymore.
I will wait to re-ignite my social spirit once I am in the US. I don't think I really have the energy anymore for it here. Well that's it, catch you later.
So it turns out I was to be evaluated by three random teachers who work in the locxal area at different school, not sure what that proves. Yes they could give me some helpful criticism, but they would all have their own way of doing things as each teacher does...not sure what that was all about. Anyway I had to hang around waiting to teach because the observers were late. Then when I started I was a little flustered and got things a little messed up in order. I pulled it back together though and as far as I am concerned I taught a fairly good lesson. The kids seemed to like it and from what my co-teacher said, she liked it too.
However my observers were a little more reserved about it. They did not care for my game and felt that I was not teaching certain activities in the proper way. I listened to their comments and took some of it in. However some of what they said was just theoretical bullshit that I have cast aside myself because in practise I attempt to tailor my lessons for my students and teach them in methods which work for them. But I just let them give ne their comments rather than argue about it.
They then turned on my co-teacher and went to rip him apart for not having participated. But as far as I am concerned the 6th grade teacher does not need to speak English. He more or less cannont speak English, or so it would seem. But I can make the students understand me and he keeps them in line. It works for us.
Anyway, I am glad that is out of the way. I will keep some things in mind of what was said. But I am leaving soon and the outcome will have no bearing upon my job.
Socialisation or lack there of.
I have spoken of this before, that I do not really have a social life here. However it has now reached a point that I am becoming a recluse. I no longer try. A friend of mine seems to be disappointed by my attitude, but I have become quite comfortable with a solitary life and I should be fine till the end of my contract. Now I am not saying that I want to live like this forever, rather that there is little that interests me now, here. Normally I will meet up with him at the weekend for a chat and a meal. That's great for me. Plus given where I live going out and getting home have to be done with strict time limits otherwise I must pay for a room or a taxi, neither of which I really want to do most of the time.
Yesterday he wanted me to go clubbing in Busan and basically just stay up all night and then take the first bus home. When I was in uni, sure maybe. But I HATE clubbing and I really didn't want to lose a whole day and fuck up my sleeping habits. Yeah, I know, not adventurous. But, well, I just don't care anymore.
I will wait to re-ignite my social spirit once I am in the US. I don't think I really have the energy anymore for it here. Well that's it, catch you later.
Friday, 7 October 2011
Evaluation or no evaluation?
So I was supposed to have an evaluation or 'open class' today. But of course that did not happen, because that's just how things always go here. I have become pretty acustomed to it now. Sure it's still a pain in the ass, but it seems the only way to survive working in Korea is to have absolutely no expectations, so whether its good or bad it's still not much of a suprise.
Therefore in theory I should be having my evaluation this coming week instead...but well, we'll see if that really happens.
Therefore in theory I should be having my evaluation this coming week instead...but well, we'll see if that really happens.
I decided to do a bit of dieting.
While I have been in Korea, I have been putting on some weight. It is most likely due both to my making my own food and the fact that I lead a rather dull and socially devoid life style. Also, while I get some exercise here and there I am generally quite lazy after work. So, although I am not entirely sure how much I currently weigh I know it's more than when I turned up.
In response then, I have decided to do a bit of dieting. I assume it is starting to work because I'm pretty damn hungry. But I have taken measures to stop myself not binging when I get hungry, by having nothing but healthy food in the house. But over all I would say it sucks...
In response then, I have decided to do a bit of dieting. I assume it is starting to work because I'm pretty damn hungry. But I have taken measures to stop myself not binging when I get hungry, by having nothing but healthy food in the house. But over all I would say it sucks...
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