What a day.
Today I met my other co-teacher at Dong-Sung Elementary School. Crystal came with me to introduce me. The new teacher was very nervous to meet me because she doesn't speak very much English at all, but she is very nice! Apparently she majored in Art and didn't study much English - probably why I am teaching at that school...after meeting her and going over the weekly schedule, we went to meet the Principal of Dong-Sung. He is very nice, much less outgoing than the Principal of Allak Dong. But very nice :)
I had emphasized to Crystal that I had to be at Busan National University at 5:30 to meet my triathlon coach, especially since I don't yet have a phone so I can't call to cancel. So she, my new co-teacher and I walked back from Dong-Sung to my apartment so that I would know how to get there tomorrow and also so that my new co-teacher would know where I live. Crystal also showed me which bus to get on to get to the subway, which was great because the closest subway is 30 minutes from my house. So I changed real quick, caught the bus early expecting problems, and got the the subway and headed off to PNU. I got to the stop and actually couldn't get out of the gate - I think because I didn't scan my bus/subway card when I got off the bus, so there was some sort of error - so I had to push the help button and some man let me out of the gate. That was weird. Once I got outside, I asked someone for directions to PNU and arrived abotu a half hour early. I was so excited! So I walked around a bit so I wouldn't be just anxiously standing there.
About a half hour later, someone comes up to me and says hello and shakes my hand. I said, Catie? Haha - I don't know what I was thinking...but sure enough it was my coach! We waited at the gate for a few minutes to meet two other team members, and then myself, Dr. Chanho and one other triathlete headed to C's car to drive up the huge butt hill (probably 400m and the grade is huge) to the track (the other guy had to finish school stuff) (just to be clear - there are most than 4 people on the tri team but these are the only people that could show up today - there are apparently 7 adults and about 30 younger people - although I'm thinking the younger people are like teenagers...more on that at a later time). I was so excited but also a bit nervous because I haven't been working out much this week, but I knew I had to do a workout with them - if they are sickeningly fast, I will just have to work super hard and will get much better much faster. Once we got to the track, we did a 2 lap warm up, and then did a 4K on the track (I thought he said 4K repeats at first, and I was like...craaapppp...but it was only one, thank goodness! They are at the beginning of their season so no one is in crazy awesome shape). C told us to go at our own pace...so me and the other guy, I will refer to him as S today for failure to remember his name) went out together at a chill pace. After 2 or 3 laps he picked it up a bit, and by the 8th lap we were had picked it up a lot (I was dying - it was crazy humid!), but I was able to stay with them, thankfully! It was kind of crazy - good to know that I am in decent enough shape to train with them though! There were a lot of other athletes at the track too - football players, track people, etc - so there was a lot of stuff going on.
After the workout a sprinter guy came over and was talking to C and S, making a comment about me - I think he said something like 'she's pretty good!' or 'she's fast-' because he was looking at me and pointing and making some wide eyes and saying 'good'- and said I should do his 400 workouts - 400run, 200 rest/jog x 5 or 6 - maybe next time I will jump in with him on that :). Soon after that C and S and I head back down the hill to meet up with the other guy who had class, and we all went to dinner.
Dinner was DELICIOUS. We had Albop (I think thats what it is called) and come delicious hot noodle and vegetable soup. SO GOOD. My favorite meal yet (and not just because of the great company). We ate, C insisted that I didn't pay because its a "welcome dinner", and then we went out for "coffee" (aka beer) where we talked about training...(anyone who knows me is probably thinking that I am making this up because it sounds too good to be true - these Korean triathletes, SUPER nice (C is really really nice and genuine and has a great laugh, very easy-going), let me workout with them and then take me out to food and drinks and pretty much abandon their beautiful language for the night to make me feel comfortable (not at all times, of course)...yea, it was awesome. C even had S call a bike shop to order me a soft bike case so I can take my bike with me on the subway, since it is really hard to bike in downtown Busan...!
After some beer-drinking and talk of training, C and the other guy, who is a student of C (C is his mentor in Exercise Science) had to go to a meeting, but C said that if I wouldn't mind waiting then he would be happy to drive me home...! So S and I chilled out in the "coffee house" and attempted to talk to each other - he taught me some Hanguk-mal (Korean) and I confused him with asking him somewhat involved questions in English...haha - it was fun. Soon after that, C and the other man (I can't believe I can't remember his name, sorry) came back, and we hit up the car to go home (this is 5 hours later...haha). We decided that our practices will be Wednesday and Thursday after school/work, and Saturday and Sunday will be longer workouts/doubles. This Saturday we will be biking and then swimming in Haeundae (apparently a beautiful beach area), and since I won't have the bike bag by Saturday, C offered to come pick me up Saturday morning...!! Seriously...this place is freaking awesome. I can't believe how lucky I am!
It's officially way past my bedtime, but it was worth it to reminisce all of that :) Until next time!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Night Out With Co-Workers Part II
So the VP and Principal and the Administrator have all come up to me to have a drink, and now the grills are being removed from the tables and desert - pineapple/pear-ish type fruit, is being served. The Principal (who, apparently, is new this year too) yells "Catie!" and motions for me to come over to him. I'm confused - people are looking at me and smiling..haha, whatever. So I go over there. They plop me down, and ask me to have another drink with them. Of course, I accept (it is bad manners not to!) I sit with them a bit and "talk" (more like smile and motion and say "ne" (yes) and "choe-ai-yo" (ok, good) and "mul-ai-yo" (I don't know). I chill with them a bit and then return to my original table.
A few minutes later the Principal makes a bit fo a speech, looks over at me, and the girls at my table are looking worried. Apparently the Principal wants to do post-dinner activities, and he mentions specifically that he wants me to come (everyone is invited and strongly encouraged to go though). The girls at my table apparently aren't very keen on these activities - what ended up being karaoke- so they tried to stall. I wanted to go, but I didn't want Crystal to feel like she had to go, and I was also a bit tired so I didn't want to stay all night. So I kind of just followed her. One of our co-workers met us in the street though and pretty much dragged us there, and while we tried to get out of that, another co-worker called Crystal's cell and basically told her that we had to come. Haha. Crystal is telling me, I will come with you this time, that is fine - but next time you are on your own. Haha.
In Korea, karaoke is taken much more seriously than in the USA. You have your own room for each party, even if it is only a few people. Enough said. When we get there, most other teachers are already there. The Principal sings the first song -he has a terrific voice! Apparently all of the teachers really like him, especially since the last principal didn't sing and was pretty overbearing and strict in general. So after the first song done by the Principal, he hands the mic to me - uhmmm? I stupidly pic a Queen song - Killer Queen - great song, but really hard to sing and the words are pretty tough - but whatever, haha. I'm not drunk enough yet to really let go, but after a bit I just start doing my Catie dance and they start clapping and laughing and seem to really enjoy it. Haha. After the song, you get your score..and I got a 100 - (I have no idea how because I didn't hit nearly all of the words let alone the notes - it must be based on song difficulty) - and in Korea, the custom is, if you get 100 on karaoke then you have to give 10,000 won to...I don't know who, whoever is running the operation in the room - and they stick the bill in beer and smack it on the screen and leave it up there all night. It is actually really fun - I was just really confused at first because I was the first one that night that it happened to. But at the end - I'm not sure where the money goes - maybe to the karaoke place - but I think it is a cool custom in any case.
The Principal is very very outgoing and very nice - he wanted to have another drink with me there - ok, fine with me. Haha. this time, they put the soju on top of the beer glass and hit the table (like in Japanese restaurants) and the soju falls into the beer cup and they pass those around. He comes over to me and wants to do...ah, crap, I forget what it is called - but you link arms and chug (I wasn't aware of the chugging part so I just sipped, and then when I saw that he had chugged I chugged too and everyone cheered. Haha). Before we did that, he said "Merry Christmas" - I was supposed to say "Happy New Year" apparently - I would have caught on in the States but I wasn't sure he knew of that interaction and to be honest, everything is so new I can't keep up with it all at once! But it was a lot of fun. The Principal would grab me to dance at points too and that was just embarrassing because I can't dance for crap - I got one twirl down and then I was out. Haha. When he would dance with the other teachers, they definitely had the moves - I'm so young and sad and inexperienced.
That ended relatively early, thank goodness, because I was really tired, and I haven't been able to wake up and run the past two days because I have been so tired with staying up and cleaning and just doing outings with the co-workers. Crystal and I left together so she could point me in the direction of my apartment, and on our way back, she told me that she didn't mind the karaoke so much when I was there. :) :) Awww.
That was last night. Today - I had a few more introductory classes. Lots of kids are coming into my office to talk, and very often. Crystal and Mrs. Moon tell me that I can shut my door because I won't get any work done otherwise. I want to encourage them to come in but I realize that they shouldn't be in here all the time. Some of the kids that come in most often are not even kids I teach. A few girls that are in 3rd and 4th grade come in once or twice a day, and today one of the girls showed me a ring and said, do you like ring? I said, yes, I like rings! It's very pretty. She then takes my hand and puts the ring on my finger...!! I said, oh, but is it your ring? They look confused, so I say, is this for me?? And she and her friend nod...!!! Oh my goodness!!! They are so sweet!!! I can't remember the last time someone gave me a ring... :)
In a few minutes I will be going to meet the teachers at the other school I will be teaching at. I am excited and also a bit nervous. But after that, I will be going to meet my triathlon coach!!!! I am VERY excited about that. I just hope I don't get lost! (I probably will, so I will just leave as early as possible). So the next entry should be very interesting as well...
A few minutes later the Principal makes a bit fo a speech, looks over at me, and the girls at my table are looking worried. Apparently the Principal wants to do post-dinner activities, and he mentions specifically that he wants me to come (everyone is invited and strongly encouraged to go though). The girls at my table apparently aren't very keen on these activities - what ended up being karaoke- so they tried to stall. I wanted to go, but I didn't want Crystal to feel like she had to go, and I was also a bit tired so I didn't want to stay all night. So I kind of just followed her. One of our co-workers met us in the street though and pretty much dragged us there, and while we tried to get out of that, another co-worker called Crystal's cell and basically told her that we had to come. Haha. Crystal is telling me, I will come with you this time, that is fine - but next time you are on your own. Haha.
In Korea, karaoke is taken much more seriously than in the USA. You have your own room for each party, even if it is only a few people. Enough said. When we get there, most other teachers are already there. The Principal sings the first song -he has a terrific voice! Apparently all of the teachers really like him, especially since the last principal didn't sing and was pretty overbearing and strict in general. So after the first song done by the Principal, he hands the mic to me - uhmmm? I stupidly pic a Queen song - Killer Queen - great song, but really hard to sing and the words are pretty tough - but whatever, haha. I'm not drunk enough yet to really let go, but after a bit I just start doing my Catie dance and they start clapping and laughing and seem to really enjoy it. Haha. After the song, you get your score..and I got a 100 - (I have no idea how because I didn't hit nearly all of the words let alone the notes - it must be based on song difficulty) - and in Korea, the custom is, if you get 100 on karaoke then you have to give 10,000 won to...I don't know who, whoever is running the operation in the room - and they stick the bill in beer and smack it on the screen and leave it up there all night. It is actually really fun - I was just really confused at first because I was the first one that night that it happened to. But at the end - I'm not sure where the money goes - maybe to the karaoke place - but I think it is a cool custom in any case.
The Principal is very very outgoing and very nice - he wanted to have another drink with me there - ok, fine with me. Haha. this time, they put the soju on top of the beer glass and hit the table (like in Japanese restaurants) and the soju falls into the beer cup and they pass those around. He comes over to me and wants to do...ah, crap, I forget what it is called - but you link arms and chug (I wasn't aware of the chugging part so I just sipped, and then when I saw that he had chugged I chugged too and everyone cheered. Haha). Before we did that, he said "Merry Christmas" - I was supposed to say "Happy New Year" apparently - I would have caught on in the States but I wasn't sure he knew of that interaction and to be honest, everything is so new I can't keep up with it all at once! But it was a lot of fun. The Principal would grab me to dance at points too and that was just embarrassing because I can't dance for crap - I got one twirl down and then I was out. Haha. When he would dance with the other teachers, they definitely had the moves - I'm so young and sad and inexperienced.
That ended relatively early, thank goodness, because I was really tired, and I haven't been able to wake up and run the past two days because I have been so tired with staying up and cleaning and just doing outings with the co-workers. Crystal and I left together so she could point me in the direction of my apartment, and on our way back, she told me that she didn't mind the karaoke so much when I was there. :) :) Awww.
That was last night. Today - I had a few more introductory classes. Lots of kids are coming into my office to talk, and very often. Crystal and Mrs. Moon tell me that I can shut my door because I won't get any work done otherwise. I want to encourage them to come in but I realize that they shouldn't be in here all the time. Some of the kids that come in most often are not even kids I teach. A few girls that are in 3rd and 4th grade come in once or twice a day, and today one of the girls showed me a ring and said, do you like ring? I said, yes, I like rings! It's very pretty. She then takes my hand and puts the ring on my finger...!! I said, oh, but is it your ring? They look confused, so I say, is this for me?? And she and her friend nod...!!! Oh my goodness!!! They are so sweet!!! I can't remember the last time someone gave me a ring... :)
In a few minutes I will be going to meet the teachers at the other school I will be teaching at. I am excited and also a bit nervous. But after that, I will be going to meet my triathlon coach!!!! I am VERY excited about that. I just hope I don't get lost! (I probably will, so I will just leave as early as possible). So the next entry should be very interesting as well...
Celebrity, Hospital, Night Out With Co-Workers
Picking up where I left off - Tuesday, two days ago, I continued doing introductions to the classes that I will be co-teaching. I am co-teaching with two different teachers in Allak Dong (the school I have been at this week - I would have written it in Hangul but apparently this computer is no longer letting me do that! :( ). I teach 6th grade with one teacher, Mrs. Moon, and 5th grade with the other teacher, Miss Crystal (I forget her Korean name! Su-Jeong, but I think that is her family name). Anyway, I was doing another introduction for the 6th graders, and I was telling them that I do triathlons (I have been telling all of the classes this). All of the classes get excited, mostly probably because they know what swimming, biking and running are. Haha. But for one class on Tuesday I told them I was training for a really long race called the Ironman in China, and they got really excited. One student then asked me about the Olympics and if I had done or was thinking of training for it, and I said (honestly) that I am thinking about possibly training for the 2012 or the 2016 Olympic games for triathlon (I know many of you may be thinking that that is a horrible idea and that that could never happen, but that's ok :) ). When the kids heard this, they FREAKED OUT (they may have misunderstood me? I don't know - my co-teacher was translating though..)! And they started asking me for my autograph. Haha. Mrs. Moon told them to ask me later because we were having class and we are not going to interrupt it for something like that, obviously. So I thought that phase would pass. But around 1:30p, one kid comes running in with his friend and asks me to sign a piece of paper, and I'm like, ok, sure. Five minutes later, 6 boys come running - seriously, running - into my office and also ask for my signature. Hahaha. I couldn't believe it. Now I'm thinking I just might have to train for the Olympics so that those signatures will be worth something. Haha. Yesterday another girl even came in to ask for one. They are so cute.
After classes ended on Tuesday, around 2:30p, Crystal and I left to go to the hospital to get my mandatory check up. Once we got there is was about 3:30p. We go to register, but apparently I needed two photos to give them (not IDs). So we ask around to see if there is a place I can get my picture taken near the hospital. Luckily there was a Kodak place somewhat closeby. We go in and tell the man the situation (he didn't seem like the happiest man). I sit down in the chair, and he shuts the curtain. No more translating from Crystal. So I'm just sitting there smiling, and he starts saying things to me in Korean which of course I don't understand. I continue to smile but he continues to say things, so I'm thinking he wants me to do something different, but I'm not sure when he is going to snap the picture, so my face is becoming a bit contorted between smiling and confusion and uncertainty. Finally he takes the picture. Definitely not one of my best photos. One of my eyes was somewhat squinting, and it definitely just doesn't look like a normal me-picture. But it doesn't matter - I just need this to get my physical done.
So I'm ready to get the heck out of there, but the man continues to touch up my photo - making sure none of my acne is showing. This took a really long time because he was being very meticulous. I'm thinking, come one! I could care less! This is what I look like when I have been sweating from walking around with a computer and a second bag and being really nervous! Who cares! But he wants me to look unnatural I supposed. I'm fine with that, as long as we get to the hospital on time. He finishes with the touching up - but then he starts messing with the background!! He is painting over my black sweater so it looks like I have no body. Crystal and I are feeling kind of uneasy because apparently the desk closes at 4p at the hospital, and we just want to get out of there. But I'm following her lead. A few minutes later....he goes into his picture files and finds a Korean dress...and puts that where my sweater used to be. I'm thinking...is this really necessary? Maybe so, maybe that's how they do it here...although my head was wayy bigger in proportion to the size of the woman who was wearing that dress...but a few minutes later he gave us our prints (but not with that dress on - I'm thinking he just really doesn't like me and wanted to mock me or something..haha), and we literally ran to the hospital because it was 4p already (I'm running with my big purse and my laptop). We get there, and luckily they let us register.
Once we registered, things went REALLY fast. They gave me cups to pee in, which I did, then gave them the cups, and literally a minute later I was sitting down getting my blood drawn. Right after that they directed us to X-ray. This was probably the place where I waited the longest, and it was no longer than 3 minutes, including me removing my upper clothing. The actual X-ray took about a minute, and then we were off to hearing tests. Next was dental, and finally vision. Overall, everything took less than a half hour. For all of that. And moving around to different floors. It was amazing.
After finishing, Crystal took me back to the Kodak place. I didn't really understand why we were going back, but once we got there I realized he only could develop a certain number to give us before 4p, and so he gave us the rest of the pictures when we came back. Also, he gave me a picture of myself in the Korean dress which also had a small calander next to it, as a small gift. Aww. :) That was really nice.
Now it is about 5:15p and we start heading for home. We take the subway to a station that I haven't yet been to, and Crystal points me in the direction of my house (because I said I wanted to walk and figure out how to get there rather than take a bus and not know where the station is from my house). I definitely got a bit lost on the way home, but I had no where specific to be, so that was fine with me. And now I know my way a little bit better (and found a bike shop :) ). When I got home I just cleaned my apartment (it was a huge mess from the day before, having no time to re-arrange stuff), and went to bed.
Yesterday. Yesterday was fun. We left school early again because there were some problems still with my apartment - the sink was leaking in the bathroom, the door to the porch didn't shut because a cable was stuck in the door and so bugs were getting in, and I still needed internet. So Crystal, another girl, I think her name is Hal, or something close to that, and a few other men came with us. While all of these people are in my apartment, an air conditioner is delivered as well (I don't really think I need an AC but it is a really nice gesture!). This is all finished at about 4:30, and now we have to run back to school because the Principal is taking us out to dinner tonight.
This is going to have to be short because I have class in 10 minutes, but I'll start it anyhow. So all of the teachers meet at the school, about 35 of us - and go to the restaurant. The Principal had reserved the back room for us - one of the restaurants where the tables are really low and you sit on the floor. :) Love it. This is also one of the restaurants where you cook the meat on your own table, like the other night. It was such a great atmosphere, having all of the teachers there. Everyone is so nice! After a bit, the Vice Principal comes around and has a drink with everyone - with this tradition, one shot glass is used, and the person coming around pours Soju (or something else if someone doesn't drink) into the glass, and the receiver turns their head from the pourer and drinks, then makes sure the glass is empty (I saw people turning the shot glass upside down to drain out excess), and takes the bottle from the pourer and does the same for him or her. I don't know how the person traveling with the Soju bottle drinks so much...maybe they don't drink with everyone, I'm not sure. This happened again later with the Principal, and another time before that with someone else. Crystal and the other girls at my table are getting worried that I am getting drunk. Haha. It was a fun time.
More to say about this but for now I must go to class!
After classes ended on Tuesday, around 2:30p, Crystal and I left to go to the hospital to get my mandatory check up. Once we got there is was about 3:30p. We go to register, but apparently I needed two photos to give them (not IDs). So we ask around to see if there is a place I can get my picture taken near the hospital. Luckily there was a Kodak place somewhat closeby. We go in and tell the man the situation (he didn't seem like the happiest man). I sit down in the chair, and he shuts the curtain. No more translating from Crystal. So I'm just sitting there smiling, and he starts saying things to me in Korean which of course I don't understand. I continue to smile but he continues to say things, so I'm thinking he wants me to do something different, but I'm not sure when he is going to snap the picture, so my face is becoming a bit contorted between smiling and confusion and uncertainty. Finally he takes the picture. Definitely not one of my best photos. One of my eyes was somewhat squinting, and it definitely just doesn't look like a normal me-picture. But it doesn't matter - I just need this to get my physical done.
So I'm ready to get the heck out of there, but the man continues to touch up my photo - making sure none of my acne is showing. This took a really long time because he was being very meticulous. I'm thinking, come one! I could care less! This is what I look like when I have been sweating from walking around with a computer and a second bag and being really nervous! Who cares! But he wants me to look unnatural I supposed. I'm fine with that, as long as we get to the hospital on time. He finishes with the touching up - but then he starts messing with the background!! He is painting over my black sweater so it looks like I have no body. Crystal and I are feeling kind of uneasy because apparently the desk closes at 4p at the hospital, and we just want to get out of there. But I'm following her lead. A few minutes later....he goes into his picture files and finds a Korean dress...and puts that where my sweater used to be. I'm thinking...is this really necessary? Maybe so, maybe that's how they do it here...although my head was wayy bigger in proportion to the size of the woman who was wearing that dress...but a few minutes later he gave us our prints (but not with that dress on - I'm thinking he just really doesn't like me and wanted to mock me or something..haha), and we literally ran to the hospital because it was 4p already (I'm running with my big purse and my laptop). We get there, and luckily they let us register.
Once we registered, things went REALLY fast. They gave me cups to pee in, which I did, then gave them the cups, and literally a minute later I was sitting down getting my blood drawn. Right after that they directed us to X-ray. This was probably the place where I waited the longest, and it was no longer than 3 minutes, including me removing my upper clothing. The actual X-ray took about a minute, and then we were off to hearing tests. Next was dental, and finally vision. Overall, everything took less than a half hour. For all of that. And moving around to different floors. It was amazing.
After finishing, Crystal took me back to the Kodak place. I didn't really understand why we were going back, but once we got there I realized he only could develop a certain number to give us before 4p, and so he gave us the rest of the pictures when we came back. Also, he gave me a picture of myself in the Korean dress which also had a small calander next to it, as a small gift. Aww. :) That was really nice.
Now it is about 5:15p and we start heading for home. We take the subway to a station that I haven't yet been to, and Crystal points me in the direction of my house (because I said I wanted to walk and figure out how to get there rather than take a bus and not know where the station is from my house). I definitely got a bit lost on the way home, but I had no where specific to be, so that was fine with me. And now I know my way a little bit better (and found a bike shop :) ). When I got home I just cleaned my apartment (it was a huge mess from the day before, having no time to re-arrange stuff), and went to bed.
Yesterday. Yesterday was fun. We left school early again because there were some problems still with my apartment - the sink was leaking in the bathroom, the door to the porch didn't shut because a cable was stuck in the door and so bugs were getting in, and I still needed internet. So Crystal, another girl, I think her name is Hal, or something close to that, and a few other men came with us. While all of these people are in my apartment, an air conditioner is delivered as well (I don't really think I need an AC but it is a really nice gesture!). This is all finished at about 4:30, and now we have to run back to school because the Principal is taking us out to dinner tonight.
This is going to have to be short because I have class in 10 minutes, but I'll start it anyhow. So all of the teachers meet at the school, about 35 of us - and go to the restaurant. The Principal had reserved the back room for us - one of the restaurants where the tables are really low and you sit on the floor. :) Love it. This is also one of the restaurants where you cook the meat on your own table, like the other night. It was such a great atmosphere, having all of the teachers there. Everyone is so nice! After a bit, the Vice Principal comes around and has a drink with everyone - with this tradition, one shot glass is used, and the person coming around pours Soju (or something else if someone doesn't drink) into the glass, and the receiver turns their head from the pourer and drinks, then makes sure the glass is empty (I saw people turning the shot glass upside down to drain out excess), and takes the bottle from the pourer and does the same for him or her. I don't know how the person traveling with the Soju bottle drinks so much...maybe they don't drink with everyone, I'm not sure. This happened again later with the Principal, and another time before that with someone else. Crystal and the other girls at my table are getting worried that I am getting drunk. Haha. It was a fun time.
More to say about this but for now I must go to class!
Hospital and Celebrity
Oh goodness, so tired. But I will start this entry and finish it tomorrow.
Eh, you know what -I lied. Let's just say tomorrow will be an entry discussing children asking me for my autograph, hospital and photo madness, and more apartment craziness. Tomorrow also I will hopefully have a great story to tell about meeting my triathlon coach for the first time, and possibly doing my first workout with the team!!!
Stay tuned. :)
Eh, you know what -I lied. Let's just say tomorrow will be an entry discussing children asking me for my autograph, hospital and photo madness, and more apartment craziness. Tomorrow also I will hopefully have a great story to tell about meeting my triathlon coach for the first time, and possibly doing my first workout with the team!!!
Stay tuned. :)
Monday, September 1, 2008
First Day at 안락덩 (Allak Dong); Breaking and Entering
What an interesting day.
It starts out with a 6am wakeup so I can get in a run before work - I definitely needed to calm the nerves, especially since I haven't had a significant workout for a few days (actually longer than that but we can pretend otherwise). So I get up, go out, and try to run on a main road for a long time so I don't get lost. My alternative motive for this run was to find a subway station as well, since I can't really get that information easily from my co-teacher since she advocates taking a bus to the subway since it is a decent walk. But I don't want to spend the extra money, and I like walking...so I started to run and discover.
About 15 minutes down the road at probably 7:15-7:30 pace I saw the first subway - although it ended up being quite far on the subway map from my apartment (the subway map has no street names so that does no good for me trying to find other stops near me) - I mean, 2 miles to a subway stop in a city - clearly I'm missing something. But at least I located one.
So I turn around, run back, found the bike/run trail...(SO excited to hit that up on the bike!), chilled on that for a bit, then turned around and ran home. Yea, I wish. So at about 40 minutes, when I should have been just about back to my motel, I start to look around and feel like I am in an unfamiliar place...I didn't catch the street name of the road from which my motel intersected with the main street...because there was no sign...and I forgot the landmarks...so I'm running...its 7:15. I have to leave for work in an hour... ... so after 10 minutes of trying to find my way around, I asked someone for directions to my school - first encounter asking for directions, and it worked out pretty well. I ran back, and ended up having just enough time to make it to school all sweaty. Whee.
I get to school - meet the rest of the teachers very briefly, because it is their first day in a while too, because everyone is just coming back from break. So everyone is kind of frazzled. I'm chillin in the teacher's office, waiting...soon I am introduced to the Principal. Brief encounter - very nice man, looks very professional, intimidating in a very intriguing and yet gentle way. After this introduction, I get taken down to the media-ish room for morning announcement Apparently, they have televised morning announcement...and I was to be introduced over the screen. YAY. I speak no Korean, have no idea what they are saying, and I still have remnants of sweat on my face and hairline. I ended up getting introduced, and then apparently asked to repeat some things in Korean...which took me a few seconds to realize that that was the case...whatever. No problem.
Next, I'm shown to my room. Sweet! So it's my room when I am not teaching, like an office - pretty darn big, with an oval table in the middle of the room that has green felt under the clear glass. PERFECT - a transformable poker table. :) They show me to my room and have me clean it, which is cool with me, I'm all about that. Then I was invited to have cold beverages with the teachers on my floor after first period. That was really nice. :)
Next, I was to wait until 3rd period to introduce myself to one of the classes that I will be co-teaching, and repeated that for 4th period. After that, we had lunch, and then Crystal took me to get a bank account, and then to move into my apartment. It is really nice! Although it wasn't clean or furnished...and we had issues getting in with the electronic lock...but lots of people came and helped clean and get furniture in there. At about 3:30 we were supposed to go back to school for a teachers' meeting, but the lock decided that it was going to shut down and stop working. After trying for about 20 minutes, we called a lock man and left for the meeting, where the principal introduced me again to everyone, and Crystal did a small bio for me. Everyone is SO nice.
After that, Crystal and two other teachers took me shopping to get a crap load of other stuff that I really didn't need but they wanted me to have. Like mats, a shoe rack - they had also gotten me a rice cooker, a toaster, microwave, blender/contraption, hot water heater...etc, etc. This is crazy! We got back to the apartment, and the lock man was there. He tried manually to fix it for a few minutes, then decided the best way to go was hammering a few sharp objects into the lock to violently remove it, while also successfully breaking at least one screw driver. That actually took about 10 minutes. It was a strong lock, I'll give it that.
We got back in, and while he is installing another lock, the teachers and administrative head are helping me put furniture together. Keep in mind it is 7p and people haven't eaten since 12p...I felt so bad! But after the lock man finished, we headed out to dinner at a classic Korean restaurant, tables 6" from the floor with the chairs that you have to sit cross-legged in.Family style dinner, they give you raw meat and there is a grill-type contraption right in the table. We cooked it, cut it with scissors, and ate along with an array of other side dishes. SO delicious!!
After that, the administrator went home, and the two remaining teachers took me to go get a fan. It was about 9:30p when they dropped me off here to use the computer. I can't believe how nice people are being to me. It's almost too much to handle!
Now it's officially way to late for me to be up. I have to wake up early enough to find my way back from getting lost on tomorrow's run...
It starts out with a 6am wakeup so I can get in a run before work - I definitely needed to calm the nerves, especially since I haven't had a significant workout for a few days (actually longer than that but we can pretend otherwise). So I get up, go out, and try to run on a main road for a long time so I don't get lost. My alternative motive for this run was to find a subway station as well, since I can't really get that information easily from my co-teacher since she advocates taking a bus to the subway since it is a decent walk. But I don't want to spend the extra money, and I like walking...so I started to run and discover.
About 15 minutes down the road at probably 7:15-7:30 pace I saw the first subway - although it ended up being quite far on the subway map from my apartment (the subway map has no street names so that does no good for me trying to find other stops near me) - I mean, 2 miles to a subway stop in a city - clearly I'm missing something. But at least I located one.
So I turn around, run back, found the bike/run trail...(SO excited to hit that up on the bike!), chilled on that for a bit, then turned around and ran home. Yea, I wish. So at about 40 minutes, when I should have been just about back to my motel, I start to look around and feel like I am in an unfamiliar place...I didn't catch the street name of the road from which my motel intersected with the main street...because there was no sign...and I forgot the landmarks...so I'm running...its 7:15. I have to leave for work in an hour... ... so after 10 minutes of trying to find my way around, I asked someone for directions to my school - first encounter asking for directions, and it worked out pretty well. I ran back, and ended up having just enough time to make it to school all sweaty. Whee.
I get to school - meet the rest of the teachers very briefly, because it is their first day in a while too, because everyone is just coming back from break. So everyone is kind of frazzled. I'm chillin in the teacher's office, waiting...soon I am introduced to the Principal. Brief encounter - very nice man, looks very professional, intimidating in a very intriguing and yet gentle way. After this introduction, I get taken down to the media-ish room for morning announcement Apparently, they have televised morning announcement...and I was to be introduced over the screen. YAY. I speak no Korean, have no idea what they are saying, and I still have remnants of sweat on my face and hairline. I ended up getting introduced, and then apparently asked to repeat some things in Korean...which took me a few seconds to realize that that was the case...whatever. No problem.
Next, I'm shown to my room. Sweet! So it's my room when I am not teaching, like an office - pretty darn big, with an oval table in the middle of the room that has green felt under the clear glass. PERFECT - a transformable poker table. :) They show me to my room and have me clean it, which is cool with me, I'm all about that. Then I was invited to have cold beverages with the teachers on my floor after first period. That was really nice. :)
Next, I was to wait until 3rd period to introduce myself to one of the classes that I will be co-teaching, and repeated that for 4th period. After that, we had lunch, and then Crystal took me to get a bank account, and then to move into my apartment. It is really nice! Although it wasn't clean or furnished...and we had issues getting in with the electronic lock...but lots of people came and helped clean and get furniture in there. At about 3:30 we were supposed to go back to school for a teachers' meeting, but the lock decided that it was going to shut down and stop working. After trying for about 20 minutes, we called a lock man and left for the meeting, where the principal introduced me again to everyone, and Crystal did a small bio for me. Everyone is SO nice.
After that, Crystal and two other teachers took me shopping to get a crap load of other stuff that I really didn't need but they wanted me to have. Like mats, a shoe rack - they had also gotten me a rice cooker, a toaster, microwave, blender/contraption, hot water heater...etc, etc. This is crazy! We got back to the apartment, and the lock man was there. He tried manually to fix it for a few minutes, then decided the best way to go was hammering a few sharp objects into the lock to violently remove it, while also successfully breaking at least one screw driver. That actually took about 10 minutes. It was a strong lock, I'll give it that.
We got back in, and while he is installing another lock, the teachers and administrative head are helping me put furniture together. Keep in mind it is 7p and people haven't eaten since 12p...I felt so bad! But after the lock man finished, we headed out to dinner at a classic Korean restaurant, tables 6" from the floor with the chairs that you have to sit cross-legged in.Family style dinner, they give you raw meat and there is a grill-type contraption right in the table. We cooked it, cut it with scissors, and ate along with an array of other side dishes. SO delicious!!
After that, the administrator went home, and the two remaining teachers took me to go get a fan. It was about 9:30p when they dropped me off here to use the computer. I can't believe how nice people are being to me. It's almost too much to handle!
Now it's officially way to late for me to be up. I have to wake up early enough to find my way back from getting lost on tomorrow's run...
Saturday at School; Gwangali Beach
Yesterday I arrive at the school at 12p, thinking my co-teacher wanted to take me shopping with the other teacher I had met the day before. Apparently, that was not the plan for the day. I ended up meeting the Principal and the Vice Principal, and many of the other teachers. I'm glad I was dressed at least in a moderately appropriate manner.
So I get there, meet the Vice Principal - not sure if he is the Principal of Vice because my co-teacher, Crystal, wasn't familiar with the English work principal, so she didn't know what I was asking. Since Crystal is the only one at the school who speaks enough English to have a conversation (although limited), she is my only source for information coming from the others.
A few minutes after I get there, some noodle soup arrives in huge bowls, and we start to eat. They are all speaking in Korean, and I'm just chillin, eating my soup, watching the VP to see what kind of etiquette is appropriate for eating this massive bowl of soup with insanely long noodles. The noodles were so long that consumption required either slurpage or biting the noodles halfway and spitting the rest back into the soup, both of which don't seem like options falling into proper etiquette. Luckily the VP started eating before me, and he slurped those noodles right up with the sound effects to boot. So I go to fish out some noodles, and ended up taking what turned out to me a bit too many, because I nearly choked. The noodles were so long that it was pretty much imperative to bit them down into smaller pieces, but the consistency was so...rubbery (for lack of a better word - but that is not meant in a negative way, they were delicious), that it took a decent amount of time to chew. So I have a glob of 16" noodles nearly stuck in my esophagus, still desperately trying to chew, and trying to look all good and happy.
After I learned appropriate noodle portion sizes, the lunch went pretty smoothly. Once in a while I would understand something that they were saying, like 개나다 (Kaynada, meaning Canada) in an inquisitive manner, and I broke out the one of the very few Korean phrases that I know: 조는 미극에서 왔어요 (Choneun Miguk-eso wasseoyo, meaning, I am from America). They loved that! Haha. Good times.
Also, since my bike and other big bag is still at school (until I get my apartment tomorrow they will stay there - jsut easier for transportation) the VP and P were interested in my biking. They asked if it was a mountain bike, and I told them it was a road bike - triathlon bike - and made the aero position. I'm pretty sure they didn't understand the triathlon part, but they were still interested in the fact that I brought such a big piece of athletic equipment. After talking about the bike, the VP apparently asked Crystal if I played volleyball, and I said...well, I have before! I like to play! And, apparently...he wants to play volleyball with me!!! The VP!! Haha. This school is awesome.
So the VP wants to hang out and play volleyball, the other woman teacher that I had met the first day apparently wants to take me to Haundae (sp?) Beach...(she wanted to do that yesterday but she ended up getting really busy with work), not a bad situation I got going on here. And I'm just chillin, smiling, occasionally interjecting with basic Korean phrases. Pretty sweet.
Tomorrow is my first day, and Crystal told me that I won't be teaching until next week (at least at this school). This week we are going to plan some lessons, I am going to watch her class (I think), and also get administrative stuff done, like get my medical check and bank account and apply for the alien registration card. However, because Crystal's English is not very advanced, I'm not sure if this actually will be the plan - but I'm ready for whatever. She gave me the teacher's guide for grade 5, and the lessons are planned out in quite a detailed manner, so I could definitely cruise if I had to (not that I am going to cruise by any means once I get settled - I am going make sure that I have back up activities for students at different levels so that everyone is learning something new each day - but I may not be able to employ this technique the first week). This week I will also be going to my other school, where the students' English is apparently much more developed. So this week will be interesting.
Gwangali Beach - what an adventure (I wish I had pictures, but my camera batteries ran out and the charger is in my suitcase at school). First of all, Crystal's dad took me to the subway station (it is not very close to my house), and Crystal showed me which subway to get on and where to get off. I was to meet a friend at his hotel at Gwangali, and we looked up directions so I could get off the subway and be able to find the hotel. However, although I followed the directions exactly, I definitely ended up getting lost. I was supposed to go out of the subway from a certain exit and go straight until I hit the beach, and the turn left. However, I was walking straight for about 20 minutes, and still no beach. So I just turned left, and kept turning. I saw water that way, but no beach. I was a little concerned, but just decided to explore a bit (I asked one man for help but he didn't understand my broken Korean). So finally, luckily, I saw the beach, and just started looking for the name of the hotel, and ended up finding it, although arriving 15 minutes late. But getting lost is definitely beneficial, because now I know the Gwangali Beach area that much better.
I had brought my swimsuit, cap and goggles so I could go for a swim - first one in about 3 weeks - sad, I know. However, the workout got cut short because people need to vacate the water at 6:30pm, which we were not aware of, so I only got 20 minutes in. But it was great! After that, my friend and I met another American on the beach who was looking for good American bars in the area (he also teaches English in Korea but he does not live in Busan). We had no idea, but decided to meet up with him later and get some drinks, and ended up having a really great time. He actually went over to talk to a group of Koreans at the beach, invited them to drink with us, and we ended up hanging out with them for a few hours. I even met someone who is interested in learning English and teaching me Korean, and we've planned to get together sometime next weekend to help each other learn!
Suddenly, out of nowhere, it is 3am. What a crazy, amazing night. In addition to all of the great social company, we were also graced with the company of an amazing view (I wish I had a picture here!) We're here on a beautiful beach with mountains in close proximity. Also, a big bridge spans accross Gwangali Beach, and at night, the whole bridge lights up, as well as the rest of the town. Also, lots of singing and instruments were being played, and bars and restaurants set up their tables in the streets. Literally. Cars were prohibited. Pretty intense.
Well, I think it's about time to go learn some Korean. 안녕히계세요! (Annyeonghi-kyeseyo, meaning goodbye, said to a person staying) :)
So I get there, meet the Vice Principal - not sure if he is the Principal of Vice because my co-teacher, Crystal, wasn't familiar with the English work principal, so she didn't know what I was asking. Since Crystal is the only one at the school who speaks enough English to have a conversation (although limited), she is my only source for information coming from the others.
A few minutes after I get there, some noodle soup arrives in huge bowls, and we start to eat. They are all speaking in Korean, and I'm just chillin, eating my soup, watching the VP to see what kind of etiquette is appropriate for eating this massive bowl of soup with insanely long noodles. The noodles were so long that consumption required either slurpage or biting the noodles halfway and spitting the rest back into the soup, both of which don't seem like options falling into proper etiquette. Luckily the VP started eating before me, and he slurped those noodles right up with the sound effects to boot. So I go to fish out some noodles, and ended up taking what turned out to me a bit too many, because I nearly choked. The noodles were so long that it was pretty much imperative to bit them down into smaller pieces, but the consistency was so...rubbery (for lack of a better word - but that is not meant in a negative way, they were delicious), that it took a decent amount of time to chew. So I have a glob of 16" noodles nearly stuck in my esophagus, still desperately trying to chew, and trying to look all good and happy.
After I learned appropriate noodle portion sizes, the lunch went pretty smoothly. Once in a while I would understand something that they were saying, like 개나다 (Kaynada, meaning Canada) in an inquisitive manner, and I broke out the one of the very few Korean phrases that I know: 조는 미극에서 왔어요 (Choneun Miguk-eso wasseoyo, meaning, I am from America). They loved that! Haha. Good times.
Also, since my bike and other big bag is still at school (until I get my apartment tomorrow they will stay there - jsut easier for transportation) the VP and P were interested in my biking. They asked if it was a mountain bike, and I told them it was a road bike - triathlon bike - and made the aero position. I'm pretty sure they didn't understand the triathlon part, but they were still interested in the fact that I brought such a big piece of athletic equipment. After talking about the bike, the VP apparently asked Crystal if I played volleyball, and I said...well, I have before! I like to play! And, apparently...he wants to play volleyball with me!!! The VP!! Haha. This school is awesome.
So the VP wants to hang out and play volleyball, the other woman teacher that I had met the first day apparently wants to take me to Haundae (sp?) Beach...(she wanted to do that yesterday but she ended up getting really busy with work), not a bad situation I got going on here. And I'm just chillin, smiling, occasionally interjecting with basic Korean phrases. Pretty sweet.
Tomorrow is my first day, and Crystal told me that I won't be teaching until next week (at least at this school). This week we are going to plan some lessons, I am going to watch her class (I think), and also get administrative stuff done, like get my medical check and bank account and apply for the alien registration card. However, because Crystal's English is not very advanced, I'm not sure if this actually will be the plan - but I'm ready for whatever. She gave me the teacher's guide for grade 5, and the lessons are planned out in quite a detailed manner, so I could definitely cruise if I had to (not that I am going to cruise by any means once I get settled - I am going make sure that I have back up activities for students at different levels so that everyone is learning something new each day - but I may not be able to employ this technique the first week). This week I will also be going to my other school, where the students' English is apparently much more developed. So this week will be interesting.
Gwangali Beach - what an adventure (I wish I had pictures, but my camera batteries ran out and the charger is in my suitcase at school). First of all, Crystal's dad took me to the subway station (it is not very close to my house), and Crystal showed me which subway to get on and where to get off. I was to meet a friend at his hotel at Gwangali, and we looked up directions so I could get off the subway and be able to find the hotel. However, although I followed the directions exactly, I definitely ended up getting lost. I was supposed to go out of the subway from a certain exit and go straight until I hit the beach, and the turn left. However, I was walking straight for about 20 minutes, and still no beach. So I just turned left, and kept turning. I saw water that way, but no beach. I was a little concerned, but just decided to explore a bit (I asked one man for help but he didn't understand my broken Korean). So finally, luckily, I saw the beach, and just started looking for the name of the hotel, and ended up finding it, although arriving 15 minutes late. But getting lost is definitely beneficial, because now I know the Gwangali Beach area that much better.
I had brought my swimsuit, cap and goggles so I could go for a swim - first one in about 3 weeks - sad, I know. However, the workout got cut short because people need to vacate the water at 6:30pm, which we were not aware of, so I only got 20 minutes in. But it was great! After that, my friend and I met another American on the beach who was looking for good American bars in the area (he also teaches English in Korea but he does not live in Busan). We had no idea, but decided to meet up with him later and get some drinks, and ended up having a really great time. He actually went over to talk to a group of Koreans at the beach, invited them to drink with us, and we ended up hanging out with them for a few hours. I even met someone who is interested in learning English and teaching me Korean, and we've planned to get together sometime next weekend to help each other learn!
Suddenly, out of nowhere, it is 3am. What a crazy, amazing night. In addition to all of the great social company, we were also graced with the company of an amazing view (I wish I had a picture here!) We're here on a beautiful beach with mountains in close proximity. Also, a big bridge spans accross Gwangali Beach, and at night, the whole bridge lights up, as well as the rest of the town. Also, lots of singing and instruments were being played, and bars and restaurants set up their tables in the streets. Literally. Cars were prohibited. Pretty intense.
Well, I think it's about time to go learn some Korean. 안녕히계세요! (Annyeonghi-kyeseyo, meaning goodbye, said to a person staying) :)
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