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.
