It's been almost a month since I last posted on here. I kept trying to motivate myself to write only to return home from the long day exhausted and ready to pass out. Good news, though! I don't have tuberculosis....
Two weeks ago, Co-teacher, Monica (TX), and myself had to have a health check up at the Cheonan hospital before we could proceed in getting our alien registration cards. I'm still waiting on the card but I have my passport and a temporary permit. It should arrive next week. At the hospital, after the dentist and the optometrist checked on me, the third doctor said some something tuberculosis. To my alarm, we figured out she wanted to know if I had ever contacted it. I said no. Hope I gave the right answer. All should have gone smoothly there and hopefully I'll discover my blood type.
I've been teaching the past month since I got here. We first started teaching two classes a day at another Hagwon (private academy) until our school was complete. The city finally permitted gave the go-ahead meaning the school was ready to begin on time. Our director and administration manager fought tooth and nail to keep parents committed to our program even though rumors spread that we'd never open on time. Sure shown them! We started on time, with some construction still ongoing, and other academies lost many students because ours is the best.
There are five Korean teachers: Blair, my co-teacher, Leina, Angela, Jenny, Jane. Foreign teachers are now four: Monica (TX), Rebecca (Minnesota), Hayley (Manchester, UK) and myself (TN- only Male because our Administration Manager quit). Tomorrow is white day... I'll post if I receive anything from my teachers and students. :P
If you don't know about "White Day" check this wiki article out. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Day
I got to see my girlfriend twice this weekend. We originally only planned to visit Saturday so I could meet her sister and eat my favorite, Samgyeopsal (marinated grilled pork belly). My belly thanked me! I forgot to ask about the Batman apron I gave her for Valentine's. I gave her both Batman and Wonder Woman. She's letting me keep Batman to wear at cooking classes at school. Booya! Thanks to my forgetfulness, we got to meet again the day before White Day. If I lived closer and she didn't work the evening shift, I'd visit her Monday. Arrr!
What else? I've been fixing up my apartment. I may film what it looks like after writing. I found out my Global USIM card works. Jisook helped me purchase an unlock code off eBay yesterday. Now it's ready to try out. Farewell Verizon. I still get to keep my phone for use here.
I haven't been to many places other than Cheonan and Suwon, which about a 45 minute train ride from me. Two weeks ago, I saw Tolik (Russia) and Mutsumi (Japan) in Seoul for chicken and beer. Afterwards, we went for coffee with waffles. I don't recall taking a photo but if I find it then I'll add it later.
No photos attached this message since I'm writing on my laptop. I've mostly been dumping pix of the day on Facebook.
The first week of school was a structured bit of Chaos. I love my students. Each class is supposed to have 6 students. My class, Aries, is split male and female but others different. One boy causes trouble each day, Lee. We practice Cold Love here. My co-teacher helps discipline the kids, but the director is the only faculty that can dole out punishment. It's bad to say, but right now I wish my class was all female except Jun. He reminds me of myself. Doesn't really fit in with the boys. Kind of sensitive, but he really likes me. I received many great hugs last Friday. Blair's Good Character class about Love helped. Another one of my students, Judy was having a difficult time the first three days because they split her and her twin sister up. I almost cried Friday when she hugged me for almost five minutes before going home.
Leah, Danial Hong and Alice are my other students. I have to curb the classes overactive nature. I'll try tiring everyone out better. It's their first time going to school. We're all learning here.
We have an excellent team at the school. All of us have our particular talents. I'm probably going to dress up as Clifford the Big Red Dog at some point.
Oh last week, Hayley (UK), made our classes worksheets to help with our lessons. They helped a lot but when I assigned one as homework, the school got many calls because the instructions read "What is this COLOUR?" British spelling made the parents go bonkers. Sad... we're required to have someone else spellcheck before assigning papers. Funny times.
More to come I'm certain :)
I'm out of stories at the moment. I'll think of others later.
Loving Korea and these new opportunities. Miss everyone.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Monday, February 15, 2016
From TN with Love
It's raining today. That's good since the gossip has been predicting about 6 to 12 inches of snow between Sunday and Tuesday morning. I'm glad it was a light dusting so far.
For those who don't know, mostly for my own benefit, my flight to Korea leaves at 8 A.M from the Nashville airport (BNA). Dad will be driving tomorrow morning since Mom's working. We intend to hit the road at 5 A.M. .... possibly earlier if we're restless. I wish Mom didn't work night shift, so I'll give her big hugs and maybe kisses before leaving. (She's been sick and I had a two week long cough earlier this month)
I get so excited before most trips that I'm unable to sleep the night before. I woke up around 8 A.M. today when my girlfriend text me "Good Morning." I slept around midnight Sunday, which means if I don't sleep then I'll be awake for almost two days and that not counting the wait times.
The last time I attempted such a feat, I felt bad for my roommate, Seung-Il, because I was completely incoherent when he picked me up for UIP . I'm certain my employer, or whoever is picking me up, will understand. No, I'll definitely try to rest by 10 P.M. or earlier. Sleeping on planes allude me. It's not a fear of flying, the seats are too uncomfortable and I love all the early released movies. One day they'll upgrade me to first class!
When I went to Korea last August, I expected to leave my phone off the whole trip, but curiosity got the better of me and I checked to see if I got a last minute message after shut off. To my surprise, the phone connected to the airport WI-FI and my lovely lady later told me to give it a try for the remainder of the trip. I hope it wasn't a fluke on Verizon's behalf because I'm trying this again until switching carriers.
I'll miss you ***-8455 (AKA Vill, German for Will). Now I remember I should add a parent to my Verizon contract in order to close it in the coming weeks.... nice.
It's been about three weeks since I quit Wally-world. I miss my co-workers, but it's been such a relief to sit back and chill. Those 1-10 PM shifts were killing me, among other things. Other than enjoying my Netflix until it cancelled and researching teaching ideas; I spent my time visiting friends and family before I leaving, going to movies, board game nights, karaoke and appreciating those I'm going to miss. (TRULY sorry to those I could not see before leaving. I've mostly been sitting tight doing nothing so I'd be well off when I arrive).
Here's the Tripod singing at a Noribang in Atlanta. Singing rooms are the best!
The above photo is the Cheonan city region. I'll be located somewhere in the red area. I'll have a more accurate location by my next post. I'm adding this wiki page and going to talk more about my experiences after the first few days. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheonan )
I know I wanted to vent about driving back to Georgia after returning the past week but it wasn't too bad. I'm just thankful I did and wouldn't change a thing even if it was foolish. Because of that trip, my work Visa arrived Thursday; which meant I could finally book a ticket and leave. I've been packed for over a week. The school permitted me to come for orientation and training the 22nd but made the mistake (or fortune) in saying I could come in on the 17th or 18th. I'm excited and scared at this dream opportunity. Pray for me, peeps.
I had a lot more to say in this post, but everything is beginning to blur together. I need a snack. Heh!
I'll write more soon. Thanks to all those I've seen and to those I could not I'll send post.
<-- I swear this mermaid is my doppelganger. :P
For those who don't know, mostly for my own benefit, my flight to Korea leaves at 8 A.M from the Nashville airport (BNA). Dad will be driving tomorrow morning since Mom's working. We intend to hit the road at 5 A.M. .... possibly earlier if we're restless. I wish Mom didn't work night shift, so I'll give her big hugs and maybe kisses before leaving. (She's been sick and I had a two week long cough earlier this month)
I get so excited before most trips that I'm unable to sleep the night before. I woke up around 8 A.M. today when my girlfriend text me "Good Morning." I slept around midnight Sunday, which means if I don't sleep then I'll be awake for almost two days and that not counting the wait times.
The last time I attempted such a feat, I felt bad for my roommate, Seung-Il, because I was completely incoherent when he picked me up for UIP . I'm certain my employer, or whoever is picking me up, will understand. No, I'll definitely try to rest by 10 P.M. or earlier. Sleeping on planes allude me. It's not a fear of flying, the seats are too uncomfortable and I love all the early released movies. One day they'll upgrade me to first class!
When I went to Korea last August, I expected to leave my phone off the whole trip, but curiosity got the better of me and I checked to see if I got a last minute message after shut off. To my surprise, the phone connected to the airport WI-FI and my lovely lady later told me to give it a try for the remainder of the trip. I hope it wasn't a fluke on Verizon's behalf because I'm trying this again until switching carriers.
I'll miss you ***-8455 (AKA Vill, German for Will). Now I remember I should add a parent to my Verizon contract in order to close it in the coming weeks.... nice.
It's been about three weeks since I quit Wally-world. I miss my co-workers, but it's been such a relief to sit back and chill. Those 1-10 PM shifts were killing me, among other things. Other than enjoying my Netflix until it cancelled and researching teaching ideas; I spent my time visiting friends and family before I leaving, going to movies, board game nights, karaoke and appreciating those I'm going to miss. (TRULY sorry to those I could not see before leaving. I've mostly been sitting tight doing nothing so I'd be well off when I arrive).
Here's the Tripod singing at a Noribang in Atlanta. Singing rooms are the best!
I know I wanted to vent about driving back to Georgia after returning the past week but it wasn't too bad. I'm just thankful I did and wouldn't change a thing even if it was foolish. Because of that trip, my work Visa arrived Thursday; which meant I could finally book a ticket and leave. I've been packed for over a week. The school permitted me to come for orientation and training the 22nd but made the mistake (or fortune) in saying I could come in on the 17th or 18th. I'm excited and scared at this dream opportunity. Pray for me, peeps.
I had a lot more to say in this post, but everything is beginning to blur together. I need a snack. Heh!
I'll write more soon. Thanks to all those I've seen and to those I could not I'll send post.
<-- I swear this mermaid is my doppelganger. :P
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