And So It Continues...

It sounds ironic to say, but the concept of communication here may be the death of me. My not having a Korean cell phone is about as convenient as a kidney stone. The directors never showed up on Monday. Not to say that I had anything better to do as it was raining and I was exhausted, but I waited for them all day. It was the Korean Independence Day so I guess I could’ve gone out and seen how it was all celebrated, or if it was even a big deal; but my stress, disappointment, confusion, and lack of sleep kept me in my apartment. I tried to make it as ‘homey’ as I could. Moved around the scarce furniture and used my new bottle of windex to completely wipe down the place as I assume it had never been cleaned.
I began to hang up some of the clothes with the hangers I had gotten and could only think of how much of a fit my mother would throw if she could see me. The selection of hangers around this town are slim pickins. People that know me know that I’m incredibly neurotic and like my hangers to match whatever they’re hanging all the while being in rainbow order from white to black. The hangers I found are all green and peach and very thick plastic with plastic frills. So, that’s a no thank you. I’d rather fold them. Then I found a convenience store with a different cheaper option. Mom, please sit down… but I’m using paint speckled colored WIRE hangers. And I like them. Ha. To some this may mean nothing, but to mommy dearest…she understands.

But yes, aside from a productive hour or so, consider Monday a lost day for me. I decided that Tuesday, my first day of class should signify a new life. Jane had mentioned a few days earlier that I should come into work around 8 AM. So I woke up at 5:30, went for a jog in my new surroundings, took a shower, ate breakfast, made my bed, swept the floor, and headed off to class. I wasn’t met with the expected smiles and hellos I was hoping for. Apparently I was scheduled for a 7:10 AM class, but no one had the chance to tell me. Talk about a new introduction to isolation. Occupants: 1. They didn’t seem mad as they told me to prepare for my next class that starts at 8:40. Prepare? How? What book are we using? Can I have a copy? How many students do I have? What page are they on? No one had the answers to tell me. Needless to say, it was a huge relief to find that my 8:40 class consists of a few businessmen who are usually at important meetings and rarely show up. I spent this hour on facebook instead so as not to leave the school and be available for any questions. Sunny(receptionist, manager, fellow teacher) said to be back around 3 as I might have a company call.
Company call translates to James showing up pounding on my apartment door at 2 PM waking me up (as he usually does) to take me to LG electronics to meet the vice president of the company who I’m supposed to start giving private lessons. Thank goodness I have started sleeping in my clothes, so I grabbed some shoes and was on my way. James treated me to some of his potato and seaweed sandwich on white bread which was surprisingly, not half bad. I got there and had to go through a series of security guidelines and had to hand over my passport and iPod while my purse was x-rayed before I could enter. Then I had to sign some paperwork and agree that I could only go in strict designated areas. So, in short, you will not hear any more of this particular teaching experience. Yes, I know the curiousity must be killing you, but you’ll survive.
(The rest of this blog is going to be quick as I just typed it all and then my computer somehow didn’t save it.)
My next class involves two girls ages 9 and 11. They read and write English at the same level of American children so teaching them is like teaching any other. Yes, Alice and Lily are my new best friends as they are the two people I understand best so far. Most of my classes have been introduction classes where they want to know my age and where I’m from and if I have a boyfriend and the like. I learned that you’re 2 years older in Korea for some random reason so I’ve been getting a kick out of telling people I’m 27. Oh and for a boyfriend status, I’m basically telling them I’m married. I told one student I was single and things were very awkward. So yeah, sorry Isaak, while I’m here, as far as Korea is concerned, we’re quite the item.
Anyway, I’m not going to talk about teaching classes much unless there is some amusing story such as how they all have English names for me since I can’t pronounce their Korean names. Oh and my middle school class already knows how to say fuck you (to each other, not me). And regardless about what all the books say about how much Korean children want to learn… 15 year old Korean boys do not want to sit in class at night after they already finished 8 hours of regular school. And I don’t blame them.

Until next time…