It’s been one week exactly since I arrived in South Korea, and a lot has since happened. I’ve realized the drinking culture is everything they said it would be. People literally stay out all night long carrying around soju bottles or zip-lock bags filled with mixed drinks they buy from the street vendors. Seriously, quart-sized zip-lock bags filled with liquor on the subway, down the sidewalk, whatever.
Orientation started on Sunday, but I arrived to the National Institute of International Education (NIIED) on Saturday. I had met a few people already, and was still meeting more and more during the day. Eventually we all decided to wonder around Seoul for the afternoon. We ended up going to Itaewon (not spelt correctly) and check out the famous, ex-pat hotspot Hooker Hill. It’s not what it seems, there aren’t prostitutes lining a mountain side with drunk, old, white men scrounging for change at their feet. In fact it was nothing like that at all. It reminded me a little of what I think Time Square would look like—lots going on, advertisements on everything, and a lot of white people. There was a very westernized feel to it, and almost everyone spoke English. Long story short, we ended up at an Irish pub drinking doubles of Jameson on the rocks at four o’clock in the afternoon. Again, this was Saturday. I had just arrived one day earlier, and was still thirteen hours off of what my biological clock was trying to tell me. I ended up going home a few hours later, more drunk than I had intended on the first day with the orientation group. But, it was for the best because I passed out as soon as I got back to NIIED, and woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed for the mornings opening ceremony. On the other hand, some didn’t get in until after three in the morning, when curfew was midnight. This happened more or less every night of orientation—a few random people staying out much later than the curfew called for, and paying for it in the morning—soju being the culprit.
I have a love/hate relationship with soju. I love it because it’s cheap, tastes all right, and does the trick when one needs to take the edge off. I hate soju because it tricks me every time. I think: because it’s rather weak and cheap, and that Koreans drink it everyday, I can drink a lot of it. Then I do so and absolutely regret it in the morning. Because it is so cheap, it’s poorly made, and by morning time even the smallest amount can feel like you drank the bottle. I think I’m going to stick to beer while I’m here (but I am probably only thinking that because I’m hung over now).
Next day…
So, today was the first day of classes. I woke up at seven in the morning ready to go. I shaved, ironed my outfit, and grabbed a coffee on the way to work. My apartment is only a few ten-minute walk from my school. The children walk to school from all directions, and my pretty sure some live in the same apartment complex I do. Once they noticed that I was walking to their school, they all started gathering behind me in little groups. They would speak Korean and laugh and whisper and point at my back. I would turn around and smile, and they would all scream a little, smile, yell, “Hello!” and curl into each other laughing some more. It’s ridiculous. By the time I made it to school, there were about thirty students following me. It’s obvious to them that I’m the new teacher they’ve all been waiting for this last month.
The teacher before me was named Katrina. She was from Florida and stayed the entire year. I guess she was a really good teacher because they kind of expect a lot out of me already. I only just started at this school today, and already I am teaching. I had to give a presentation about myself in front of every class. I showed them pictures of my family, my college, and my hobbies. Then, I read the new vocabulary to the students, making them repeat the words back to me. I also ran games/activities. All of my classes are the same during any given day. Today I was with the sixth graders. They are thirteen years old in Korean age, and eleven or twelve in North American age. In Korea they believe a person starts at year one the day they are born. They add another year when the Chinese New Year starts. Therefore, a baby born in December could be considered two years old roughly one month after they are born—weird, I know.
So, here’s my schedule for the next year: Monday I have five classes, Tuesday I have six classes, Wednesday I only have two classes. Thursday and Friday I have four classes. I forget which days are which classes, but I know I am teaching third through sixth grade.
All of my classes for today were in the morning, and I was lucky to go to the bank today after lunch. For the rest of the day, I am going to work on lesson planning with one of my two co-teachers. Later today, I am going to hang out with a few girls from orientation. It’s one of their birthdays and I’m excited to hang out for the weekend. Plus, I left my ukulele at orientation and she grabbed it for me—soju hangover, what else can I say. Until next time!
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