February

Well February is over, and March is beginning. Saying good-bye to February isn't too hard - it wasn't the best month. My favourite supervisor was transferred out of our branch, and we have a new lady who is nice, but I think she's more of a co-worker and less of a friend. It's not a bad thing, but I miss Jenny anyway.

Also with March comes a huge switch in classes at school. A few weeks ago the students did a placement test, and their classes were re-arranged. In March is when these new classes start. So, here is my old schedule:

• MWF 4-6 Junior 6
• MWF 6-8 Senior 3
• MWF 8-10 Junior 5
• TTh 4-7 Junior 2
• TTh 7-10 Middle School

Up until now, every day has been work from 2-10. For March-May though it will be 12:30 - 8:30 on MWF, and 2-10 on TTh. Which means when my parents come in April I will be able to get off of work earlier and spend part of the evening with them, which will be nice. (Note to Mom & Dad - Chinatown will happen on the Thursday now, and Aiin's World will happen on Friday because I need enough time in the morning to bring you to Chinatown!)

Anyway, this is my new schedule for March-May

• MWF 2:30-4 Basic 3
• MWF 4-6 Junior 2.1
• MWF 6-8 Junior 2
• TTh Science 2
• TTh Basic 5

So, in general terms, my next 3 months will be spent, on average, teaching younger students and lower levels. That's alright with me though, it will be a nice break from my Senior level class I had. I am only keeping one class that I had before, which is the Junior 2.1 (the old Junior 2 class).

Alright that's enough about school. This weekend I went to Itaewon for Keri's birthday. I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but Keri is a friend who I took my TESOL/TESL course with at McMaster Uni. It was a fun night, and I feel like I left when it was just getting started! I had to catch the last subway home from Hondae, so I could only stay out until just about midnight.

Speaking of the last subway, I have no idea when it runs. So I got to the stop where I had to transfer, and all the subways had stopped running! I was slightly worried, but nonetheless I thought it would end up being an adventure. So. I left the subway station, looked around and didn't recognise anything around me. I had a few options open to me. a) go to the shady hotel across the street for the night (and probably end up paying for the room by the hour!) b) curl up behind the bus shelter for the night and take the first bus (or subway) home in the morning or c) catch a cab home. I considered my options. I eliminated a), because I didn't want to catch something as a result of staying overnight in a bed which may or may not have been disease-ridden. I thought of how inexpensive b) would be, but then I thought I might be arrested if I had chosen that option. Finally, I had no choice but to hail a cab and, in broken Korean, explain my situation. I had no money so I had to be driven to an ATM first and then home. The cab driver was really nice, and really patient considering half of my Korean was probably wrong. Anyway, he wanted to charge me 30,000 Won, but I told him it was too expensive (너무 비싸요), and got it down to 20,000 Won (roughly 16.50 Canadian).

Anyway, I was so thankful to finally get home that, while I was getting my money from the ATM, I bought him a coffee from the convenience store. He was really thankful - he bowed and said "thank you" in English. It was nice.

Just another adventure in Korea!

Now I'm lesson planning for my new classes, which feels like lesson planning in November all over again - I have no idea who my students are, or what their abilities are like. I'm sure I will catch on to all of that soon though.

In other news, payday is in just over a week.

That's scrumptious.

Also I've included a picture of me eating octopus! haha

Week's happenings

Well, during the week it was pretty much the same old happenings. On Friday we celebrated Lindsay's birthday (happy birthday Lindsay) with cake at the school. That was pretty fun. Then we went out for dinner (the same place that had the octopus). We had something different this time. Instead of pork we had beef (because I have been kind of iffy with pork for a couple months now... re: food poisoning). It was fantastic.

On Saturday I had another Korean class which I'm still really really enjoying. I have to keep on top of my studies though, because it's a lot to take in / memorise on a weekly basis, but I think I can do it. Certain things stick with me every week. This week was how to ask where the washroom is. It's this: "Hwah-jahng-shiel Audi-ayo?" or 화장실 어디에요?

I also enabled the ability to type Korean on my computer.

After Korean class I went to get my first haircut in Korea. It was an experience. I didn't exactly know how to ask for what I wanted (I'm really picky), but it turned out ok. I was really nervous - I have been going to the same person to get my hair cut for like 8 years now. Anyway, I ended up pointing to a picture of Tom Cruise (one of three American actors in their magazine) and pointing at my head and saying "Chuseyo" (please). It worked. lol.

In case you're wondering, I had the choice between Tom Cruise, Richard Gere and some other person who had the hair style I wanted.

Sunday (today) I met Keri, who is a girl I took my TESL/TESOL course with a couple summers ago. She has been in Korea for a year already, and she has just returned to do another year contract. We went to an Indian restaurant in Itaewon which was ultimately delicious and made me want to go to India even more. My stomach hurts right now though because of the amount of spices. At the time I was eating up the sauce with a spoon (I couldn't get enough), but now I might be regretting that decision.

Oh, we also ended up finding ourselves in some type of sketchy alleyway store that sold fake / illegal Chanel bags. It was kind of fun. I feel like for something illegal, it isn't covered up very well... what with the people outside of it saying "fake bags" to everyone who walks by. Also, the fact that there were many other people inside shopping too. But you could tell by the setting of the store that it was definately illegal... you had to walk behind this curtain next to an abandoned restaurant... once again... sketchy is the only adjective I can think of right now that describes the whole ordeal.

Anyway, it's 12:12am now on Monday, and I suppose I should get to sleep now. I might go get a big bottle of water from the GS (slang for GS 25 - the convenience store at the corner), because I'm sick and I have to drink lots of water. I plan on sleeping until about noon tomorrow, so I should get at least 10 hours of sleep after I factor in a few episodes of the Golden Girls which, please don't make fun, I have been watching steadfastly, at least one episode a day, for about 10 months now. It's a hilariously spectacular show.

Alright, now that I've revealed that tidbit of info, I will retire for the night.

Have a good week everyone!

Pictures

Alright, as promised, here are my pictures from the Seoul Tower, and also standing next to big things! Aunt Karen: the 2 fingers sign is sending out the message of "peace". It's about 30 years behind the trend, but almost everyone does it here, from children to grandparents!

This lady's cotton candy machine had a foot pedal that she used to manually make it! P.S. it was delicious.

(and apparently good to make moustaches from!) Those are 2 of my co-workers, Jennifer and Mark.

The three Canadians proud of our tower!!

The city is surrounded by mountains, which you can't really see when you're at street level.

This is still at Seoul Tower, but it is a good transition picture into my "standing next to big things" section.

Here it goes: Standing next to big things!

There's a giant shoe, an Italian cook (a new restaurant was opening I think), a giant doctor, giant people, and my personal favourite (and most random if I may say so), the giant tube of hand lotion.

Seoul Tower

One week ago today I visited the Seoul Tower, which is like the C.N. Tower, but not as tall, and Korean. I have just discovered that the picture uploader tool isn't working right now though, so I can't post pictures of that just yet. I will try again tonight. In other news, I went to Myung-dong again yesterday. It was really fun. There were people on stilts for some reason, so I took a picture with them. There was also a guy in front of a store that is like the Body Shop, dressed up as a giant tube of hand lotion. I think I will have to make a seperate post for pictures of me standing next to big things in Myung Dong!

I guess there aren't any new updates as of now, other than the happenings of my weekend. Today we are going to Itaewon which should be fun. I took another video of dragon's beard being made, but I still have to upload that to my computer too.

Anyway, have a great weekend everyone!

China video

Well, after about 2 weeks of procrastinating, I have finished the China video. The whole process of making the video made me want to go back for another vacation! It was really an amazing 4 days.

Anyway, please click here to watch the video.

The video is about 10 minutes long. Enjoy!

A whole big discovery

Well! I just discovered (I realise that an hour ago I made a post saying I was going to go to bed) something that I hope will make my blog much more popular! All for free, I can see how many people have accessed my blog from google, and what they typed in to google in order to find my blog! I have had one "hit" from someone typing in a search into google. The search was "shipping customs to Korea". haha, apparently this blog was the 21st search result when that person searched that phrase in google.

This is both exciting and kind of weird for me, because I didn't realise that I could see that! I'm excited! Also, I clicked a little box that allows my blog to be searched in both the "web" google feature, but also in "google images" which is great, because then people can see my pictures and learn about Korea and the other places that I've posted pictures of!

Alright. I forgot to mention that also the kids in my class LOVED the letters they got from everyone in Canada. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to write a response. They really liked it!

Alright, now I'm definately going to bed!!!

All things Korean

Well, this is just an update post. This last week was pretty average. After returning from China, I cleaned my apartment like it was no one's business. I assaulted the cleaning supplies and as a result I will have to buy more. I think it took me 3 hours or so to clean the various crannies and nooks. The China video is almost ready, I just have to find some more music for it.

This weekend I am going to see RENT which happens to be one of my favourite musicals. It's going to be in Korean, so that should be interesing. I want to know what 525600 minutes is in Korean. I think it is "oh-ship-man-oh-chun-yug-beyk" minutes. But I could be totally off.

Sunday we are going to Seoul Tower which should be fun.

In other news, I am really liking my piano. I have been practicing it every day and I am learning a new sonata (Mozart K309 in C). I think it is more my level than the last 3 or 4 sonatas that I've tried to learn. Mostly I try to take on things that are too difficult for me. Especially sonatas. (The expositions are always deceivingly easy, then you turn the page and the development and recapitulation slap you in the face.. especially because the bridge and the second theme are all messed up... "Oh no, I have to stay in the tonic! I can't migrate to the dominant again!")

Sorry about that music lingo for those of you who don't know / care! haha. But I know those of you who have ever learned a sonata will understand.

hmm.. what else. Ah. tying in my post title - I have Korean class tomorrow. I am really enjoying it. I am getting quite fast at reading things now. It just took practice. Now I can almost keep up with other people who have been here for longer than me. The more I practice the better I will get though. I find myself constantly reading signs outside, and notices that are posted around just to get the practice.

The weather here has been wonderful. I think this weekend it is supposed to go up to 15C. That is amazing, considering I just got a message from my family saying that in the past week the wind chill dipped down to -31C. That sucks.

I bought chocolate ice cream from the store today which was pretty much the best thing ever.

I have started to iron my shirts every day before work.

My feet are cold.

This post started as an update, but now my ADD mind has taken over and I think my fingers are moving on auto-pilot as I look at other things and think of other things. Alright, it's late and I have class tomorrow morning. I should sleep!

Have a great weekend everyone!

China pictures!!

Well, as promised, I have some pictures from my China trip. I haven't made the whole video yet. The editing and what not is taking quite long. I'm about 1/3 way through the video. But for right now, here are some pictures.

This is at the Temple of Heaven

An Acrobat show

North Korean restaurant

Above the urinal!

Public phone

Water delivery!

This was a Chinese Traditional Medicine place. They touched my hand, asked to see my tongue and told me that I had a stomach ache!

Olympic Stadium Summer Games 2008

The Great Wall of China

A restaurant we ate at that also had a show with dinner

Tienanmen Square / the Forbidden City

Rickshaw ride through the shantytowns close to the Forbidden City

A guy selling sweet potatoes by the shanties

Summer home palace

"A Night of Beijing" really cool show