So I was up until 11 last night working on a mock lesson to teach today in front of a panel of judges and now I’m wide awake at 5 am. It’s even too early to hide in the lobby, so I’m under my blankets and typing softly.
Soooo, where to start? Orientation is crazy. Basically, you start at 9 am and end at 9 pm. Classes are 90 minutes, food breaks are 60 minutes, breaks between classes are 10-15 depending on how early you get out of class. I’ve had some much stuffed in my brain about TR, PBL, PPP, lesson plans, TL, Korean culture, Korean history (which explains so much about why they hate Japan but love the Japanese—I don’t love the Japanese right now, at least not the high schoolers chatting and running through the halls in heels at 10 pm).
Today I have to give a mock lesson to high schoolers about American homes. There are two other people in my group and we’re doing PPP. This is why I was up until 11 making a powerpoint of suckage last night. I am prepared to totally bomb this wonderful, evaluated, in front of the class activity. But hopefully my PPT will look acceptable.
Today is also our field trip. We’re going to some palace-museum with our EPIK tee-shirts. I shall actually take pictures of more than just street food I ate and OTC botox injections in the convenience store. I might actually even have time and energy and light to go find my camera cord so you guys can see these pictures. Deal? Deal.
Other than that, I’ve been networking. Networking, networking, networking. There’s approximately 100-150 of use here, so I’ve been talking with a lot of people. Everyone says they love it/like it here. It’s cheap, the people are friendly, the job is fun, etc. I’ve yet to hear one person say, “I LOVE the food!”
So far I haven’t been poisoned, or constipated, or the other one. I also avoid kimchi like the plague, love the pumpkin, and still can’t get over salad for breakfast (and lunch and dinner). I’ve eaten more salad food in the last week than I have the last year! I bought and ate street food (bean-paste filled fish) and instructed the people with me to “take me to the 5th floor if I start convulsing.” For some reason they didn’t want to try my lovely little fish. I only wanted to try it because I saw it in a blog. It was really good. I have two left.
I asked for one, but I don’t know Korean for one. I basically pointed (incorrectly, I know now… no pointing with your index finger!) and said “ergo,” which (I hope) means that. The lady thought I meant one for every person (I think—lots of interpretation here) and gave me 3. The other two are stashed in my bag for lunch today in case it sucks. Along with the Pringles and cookies. I’ll buy a coke or water from the vending machine when its light out.
Hmmm, I also kinda know where I’ve been placed. Apparently Anton got an email about me and him being placed in the same town in Gangwon. So at least I’m going with someone else. I haven’t done much talking to Anton. For Hetalia fans, he looks like Germany. Very tall and broad with slicked back blond hair. Great, now I’m going to start calling him Doitsu! In my head. I already keep sprinkling Japanese into things. Today I will at least talk to him long enough to get the name of the town where I’m staying. All I know is its on the coast and the water is infected with god knows what so you can’t drink it (not that I planned to: traveling 101 don’t drink the water—except in Japan, where it was delicious).
It’s funny how the rumor mill works here. Because I learned about my placement from Edwin, who was sitting next to Anton at dinner and told me about it in Korean class. Edwin learned about his placement from a random S. African girl who’s friend he’s replacing. He’s being plopped in a fun, rural spot. Woot. None of us have gotten it from an official source… and we leave tomorrow. Way to go bureaucracy!
In any case, I think I will post this and post my story, the lucky readers getting it two days early. Then it might be a decent time to start thinking about a shower. I’m hungry though, which seems to be common here, and the cafeteria doesn’t open until 8! Two more hours… hmmm, little fish bun…
Over and Out.
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