Marcie Teacher

First day of teaching in Korea.

Omg. I just had my first day of teaching English in Korea…wow I am so tired! Overall it was a great experience but I do feel like I was just taught how to swim by being thrown in water. In the morning time I teach 3 classes, blossom, olive, maple. Then we break for lunch and then I teach/play a learning game with maple, olive, blossom class. The students were very excited to meet me and to tell me about themselves. The funniest thing though is that they call me Marcie Teacher, even the staff call me teacher, sometime when they are talking to me instead of saying “you do this…” they will say “teacher do this…” It can get a little confusing. In the blossom class I have a very involved Korean speaking teacher which I think is helpful; in my olive class the Korean teacher is more hands off. The students in blossom and olive are about the same level. The students in the maple class are very young 4/5 years old.

This morning I was given a book and I was told you teach this okay. I was kind of wondering why they didn’t give it to me sooner, but it worked out okay. The only thing though, was that I didn’t realize I wasn’t supposed to teach the maple students something different so I was teaching these poor students something way too advanced for them…oops :/ we caught on about half way through the lesson.

Lunch time was kind of cool, the school makes the lunch for the students but the students bring these empty bento boxes with locking lid, for us to serve their food in, complete with chopsticks of course. I am doing pretty well with eating Korean food. I haven’t eaten anything that has made me sick (yet) and I have tried lots of new things and even things that I thought I wouldn’t like. I haven’t gone to the grocery store yet. I really should just go but the thought seems a little overwhelming. I might ask my teacher Ester to come with me one day this week after work. She is super nice I love her already. 

Later in the afternoon I had the older elementary students, they are called Yale, Oxford, Harvard, Cornell. Yale and Oxford are the same level, this class seems along the same lines of when I was student teaching French, have a book with text, listen the tape reading it, read it together as a class, some listening comprehension questions etc. The Harvard class is a the most advanced, I’m not really sure how much teaching I really do in this class, it is more grammar focused; like today they worked in their workbook and we went over the answers. The Cornell class is more challenging, they are older students but this is their first year learning English, it is very hard to keep them on task. This is a class where I wish I had a Korean teacher to help me keep the kids in check. However at the same time the material/ text that they are supposed to be learning is not at their level. Like today I was working on animals, and I was supposed to explain the difference between mammals, insects, reptiles, birds, fish etc. One of the questions was Which class of animals doesn’t have a backbone or skeleton? And this was the question I was supposed to be asking, they don’t know what a backbone/skeleton is and they sure as heck weren’t watching or listening to find out.

After school was over the staff had a little party for me. They even had a cake! It actually was a really good cake, I was surprised because I thought Korean bakery goods weren’t going to be very good. However I think this was from a French bakery. Also I successfully ate my piece of cake with chopsticks! Yes you heard me right I ate my cake, with surprising ease, with chopsticks! I also gave the teachers the gifts I brought them from Oregon, I got them jam and chocolate from the made in Oregon store. The chocolate had pictures of Oregon on it, which was a big hit : )

I still haven’t gotten used to the time difference, it isn’t terrible but I keep waking up super early. Like this morning I woke up at like 5 or 6 I think. I could seriously go to bed right now but I feel like I need to stay up in order to get my body on the right time. I might watch a movie or read a book for a while or organize my closet a little beat. And knowing that I have to do it all again tomorrow is just making me want to go to bed sooner…granted I know that hearing so much Korean and everything being new and different is making everything more tiring, once I get through the first week I will be good. I just need to experience everything once then I will know what is expected of me.

Alright I love you all.

Random question: if any of you have any children songs that you can email me I would love you forever. I totally spaced and forgot to copy my mom’s music :/ *hint hint mom*   

International Girl of Kimchi

First Morning in Korea: Travel adventures, first impressions.

Considering how far I was traveling the whole thing was surprisingly smooth going. I was stressed getting to the Portland airport because I had to get my ticket from the person at the desk which can sometimes take forever! But I was able to walk right up to the counter and get my ticket. I did feel a little sneaky because I put my lighter bag up first and the guy tagged it and sent it on its way then I did my second, heavier bag up and they let me slide because they had already sent the other bag to which I “could have” moved some stuff. But we are only talking a few pounds here (like3-4) so it would have been dumb if they tried to make a fuss. Then I breezed right through security, like I owned the joint :) I bought my coworkers/boss some jam and chocolate from the Made in Oregon store. I had the forethought to have little gift bags ready to go so I could wrap them at the airport, I wasn’t sure if I was going to meet them all once I arrived. The flight to Seattle was super quick, but those planes are freaky small, the one good thing about them is that they have a front and back exit.

I have never been to the Seattle airport, that place is pretty big. I had a few hours to spend before my flight to Seoul so I go a pedicure. I figured with the amount of time I will be taking my shoes off, I better get my feet into shape. The place that does it in the airport is okay, they have a “waterless” system, which I can understand why that would be easier and cleaner but it still seems like a rip. Especially for how much they charge.  However my feet are pretty and polished :) I still have weird feet tan lines, it’s weird the tops of my feet are really tan but my toes and legs aren’t, haha. I think it’s because I wear flats a lot with jeans so the tops of my feet get the most exposure.

I took the tram inside the airport to my gate got my new ticket and changed my money into Korean won. Thanks a lot dollar for being weaker :/ It isn’t that much weaker but still is lame. Then made some calls and got some lunch. It was funny because I made my first Asian friend (from Japan, but is half Japanese/Korean) at lunch. The place was crowded and he and I were going for the same empty table, I got there first (maybe) but I offered to share, he gave me the table but after doing a quick lap around the room came back to take up my sharing offer.  It was pretty funny because he didn’t speak much English and I felt like I was testing his skills, he did have a little translator on his phone that was pretty cool, a little inaccurate but help get the point across. The funniest thing was when he asked me if I knew about and had facebook; haha I guess his friend that he was visiting showed it to him and set up an account, he was pretty excited about it.

Then it was time for me to get on the longest flight ever. However it was a pretty great flight, even in my coach class you get taken care of. Also I’m not going to lie I love how small and thin everyone is on the plane because you actually have room. Each person has their own little TV thing that you can watch movies, play games, listen to music etc. There are a lot of choices, I ended up watching like 3 movies, I kind of slept off and on. My body just couldn’t figure out what was going on, I did work on my Korean a little bit, I just made some flash cards to help me learn the alphabet. They gave us 2 pretty good meals. The only thing is you feel so gross because you’ve been sitting so long and then eating on top of that, once I got off the plane all I wanted to do was run or do something active. However I am kind of impressed with myself because I didn’t get up once on the plane, I was in a middle seat and I hate climbing over people, plus airplane bathrooms are stupid, then towards the end it became a challenge to see if I could do it. Also Incheon airport is a very smoothly run airport, it’s crazy how calm and quiet it is, I got through customs and got my bags no problem, then you walk out the door to where the public is. I think that must be it, keeping the public out of even baggage claim, yes it can suck if you have a lot of stuff and need a hand, but I get so mad at baggage claim and it crowed over with a million people that stand stupidly close to the carasol so you can’t see your bag or they’re in the way of you bag.

Once I got outside I saw a man with my name on a sign (my driver) and he helped me get my bags to his van. This is where the real adventure begins. The van itself was hilarious, the car floor had (two different patterns) linoleum on it and the roof was padded and the stick shift had a sock over it. I am never driving in Korea! It was crazy I don’t understand how we didn’t crash a million times, he was breaking/speeding up so much I felt like I was on a rollercoaster. Plus I think he got lost/took the wrong way, that is the way it seemed according to the GPS. You know it’s bad when the foreigner can tell you need to be in the other lane or you are going to miss the turn. But I survived and made it to my apartment, my principal and her husband were waiting for us, that poor husband had to carry my 50 pound bags up to the second floor. My apartment is cute, small but not too bad. I unpacked but I’m not sure if I am going to keep everything where I put it. I need to get some hangers. My door has 4 locks on it plus another door to get inside the room itself and a little intercom so when people knock I can ask “who is it?” Then they will answer something I can’t understand and will end up having to open up the door anyway haha. It is a small complex, 2 apartments downstairs 2 on the second floor (1 being mine) and then the owner lives upstairs on the 3rd floor. I live right next to a drycleaners, which could come in handy because they have a washing machine and no drier (this is very typical) but I have no iron so it could be nice to have non-wrinkled clothes.

My boss and her husband took us to get some dinner, we got bulgogi :) it was good. It was weird just kicking your shoes off and sitting on the floor. Plus I’m not going to lie I was getting a few looks, haha I really do stick out. It is just funny to watch the heads turn, I’m not a freak show or anything, this is a huge city there are plenty of Americans etc staying here but it is a little weird.

After dinner we went to the school really quick just so I could have a little look around. It is such a cute school it has several levels. They have this cute little gym/play place downstairs and a stage. All the classrooms are colorful and cute. I am getting excited to teach but pretty nervous too, I think it’s the unknown that is scary I think once I do it for a few days I will feel great. I am feeling the same way I did before I started student teaching.

After visiting the school we came back to my apartment so I could go to bed, however I got this burst of energy and unpacked everything. Think I just didn’t want my bags on the floor. There isn’t much room for my clothes, there is a thing in the washing/drying room where I could put clothes but it’s so muggy and humid in there that I feel like they will smell bad, inside my room I have AC.  Oh and my boss is so nice and cute she even made sure I had a few groceries waiting for me :) I’m trying to decide if I want to explore a little bit today on my own. My boss invited me over to her house today at 4pm and her husband will come to the apartment to get me but its only 8am so I got some time to kill. I really need to buy an alarm clock. I thought I could use my old cellphone as one but it’s not updating to the time zone.

I am super excited about everything. Thank you everyone for your support and prayers. I will try to keep everyone updated on my adventures.  

It's official

So I just signed my life away (or at least a year of it) to the school I will be teaching at in South Korea! I can't believe it. I am so excited. It is a VERY small school and I will be the only native English speaking teacher at the school. At first I wasn't so sure about being the only foreign teacher but after speaking with the girl that is currently teaching there now it sounds like the best school. I will be teaching young kinder/elementary age students. I am really excited to be back in a classroom setting. It has been great nannying for this past year, I couldn't have asked for better kids or family; I am going to miss them so much! It is all coming together so fast: I had the job interview on Thursday, the job offer after the interview and the weekend to go over/negotiate the contract, received the updated contract tonight and signed it. I will be leaving for Korea in about a month. I think June 11th or 12th depending on flights. I still have so much to do! I am going to try and keep up a blog while I am there but no promises :) I figured this would be a good way to break the news to everyone.

First time blogging

Every wednesday, the school that I student teach at gets out an hour earlier so the teachers can have "professional development" or PLC "Professional learning communities". The one that my mentor teacher and I signed up for was integrating technology into the classroom. This being said I figured I should add blogging to my already stellar repertoire of skills.
I am about to graduate college, the big day is December 17th. I can't believe it's here already. These last 4.5 years have gone by so fast, this last semester especially. However I don't think the reality of it has hit me yet. I think it is because I still have so much left to do. There is always something to do, planning, grading, coming up with fun activities, beating my kids without getting caught, independent study, the list goes on and on. I have a feeling though that mid January when everyone starts to go back to school I'll have a break down and start crying.
I have mixed feelings about moving back to Oregon. I have loved living in the land of eternal sunshine, I don't know how well I will be able to handle the never ending rain. My plan is to always have something to do, give myself a reason to get out of bed, a little melodramatic I know but it's the truth. I am excited about not paying rent for a while. However moving back in with my parents comes at a high price, my pride :\ I never wanted to be that kid after college. The only way I am justifying my actions is that I have a plan. I want to teach abroad next year, maybe starting in the summer. I want to get my finances in order so I don't have to worry about doing international money transfers (total pain and you loose so much in fees). I am a little curious to see how things work out. I wonder if I have lived on my own long enough that I won't fall back into the old habits I had as a teenager? Or if it is inevitable, that when ever you are with your parents you act like a kid? Another thing I am excited about is living in the same state as my brother. It has been about 8 maybe 9 years since we last lived in the same spot, I wonder how much we will hang out; I can be an excellent winglady ;)
Currently life is going pretty well. Student teaching is going great, I really love it. Sometimes my kids can really ware me out, but I really do love all of them, I think I am going to miss seeing them every day. I am already mentally planning a return visit next semester. I love teaching, I can't wait to have a classroom of my own. I am sad about not having all the resources my mentor teacher has, it is amazing so many books, posters, CDs, tests etc. I really makes planning so much easier, she has already got me started with some old textbooks.
Thing the thing I am most sad about leaving behind is Regan and Janet's family. When I first thought about coming to the U of A I never really factored them into the equation but having them around has made such a positive impact on my life. I love visiting them. They are such a fun family, I love hearing about all the fun and funny drama with the kids and their dumb friends. I love planning nerts, and gestures and everyone teasing Maddi about her skills. I love Mikki's crazy ideas and hilarious impressions. I love Jarom's hugs and watching him grow up. I love Courtney's mad dance skills and sad but true singles ward stories. I love hearing Janet's loving guidance and advice for her children, especially her obsession with cute bangs. I love hearing Regan laugh really hard out loud. They are just such a loving and generous family and I couldn't have asked for a better family to get close to. I have already decide that all future thanksgivings and maybe 4th of Julys will be spent will them, because those holidays are really important to us. What can I say, I love them!
Well this blog turned out longer than expected. I don't know how long, or how good I will be at keeping this up. Until next time.