Stream running through Seoul
In front of the palace we wandered into
A ten story pagoda in the park we found. It was behind the glass because it was built in 1465!
Britney and I
Sunday, August 16, 2009
One month down
So its officially been over a month since I arrived in Korea. Its hard to believe that its really been that long! I had a really hard first 10 days however the last 3 weeks have flown by. Once I started teaching the days just blended together. I have learned a lot about Korea and been pushing myself in new ways.
Teaching has been really good. I actually miss my kinder class when I am not at school. They are so cute and so much fun. I found out that tomorrow I am getting a new kinder student, Jasmine. This will put my class at the max limit of 10. I am worried about what lever her English will be at. I have had a stressful time learning how to teach young kids. The older classes are easier because they are all at the same level. They may know very little English however each student is at the same pace making it easier to teach. The kinder class is not like that. I have 3 students, Louie, Sean and Sarah, who are A LOT more advanced then the rest. They finish most of the class work before I finish explaining it to the other students. Louie is so advanced that he tells me numerous times a day that it is 'too easy teacher.' I have not found the balance between keeping him interested while helping my other students who cannot read, the, are or in. I am hoping that this will get easier as I continue to learn other 'tricks' from the other teachers.
Yesterday Britney and I went into Seoul. We took a bus there and walked around for a while. It was unbearably hot, around 97 with the same humidity as always for Korea. We wandered into a temple and palace by chance. We saw Seoul Tower from a distance and walked along the stream that runs through Seoul. Later in the evening we headed back to Suji. We then met up with Steve, Michael and Blake, other teachers we work with, for some card games.
Today I just laid low in Suji. I went to get groceries, did a few loads of laundry and cleaned by bathroom. I also put up more pictures on Snapfish.
Tomorrow starts another week at LCI!!
Teaching has been really good. I actually miss my kinder class when I am not at school. They are so cute and so much fun. I found out that tomorrow I am getting a new kinder student, Jasmine. This will put my class at the max limit of 10. I am worried about what lever her English will be at. I have had a stressful time learning how to teach young kids. The older classes are easier because they are all at the same level. They may know very little English however each student is at the same pace making it easier to teach. The kinder class is not like that. I have 3 students, Louie, Sean and Sarah, who are A LOT more advanced then the rest. They finish most of the class work before I finish explaining it to the other students. Louie is so advanced that he tells me numerous times a day that it is 'too easy teacher.' I have not found the balance between keeping him interested while helping my other students who cannot read, the, are or in. I am hoping that this will get easier as I continue to learn other 'tricks' from the other teachers.
Yesterday Britney and I went into Seoul. We took a bus there and walked around for a while. It was unbearably hot, around 97 with the same humidity as always for Korea. We wandered into a temple and palace by chance. We saw Seoul Tower from a distance and walked along the stream that runs through Seoul. Later in the evening we headed back to Suji. We then met up with Steve, Michael and Blake, other teachers we work with, for some card games.
Today I just laid low in Suji. I went to get groceries, did a few loads of laundry and cleaned by bathroom. I also put up more pictures on Snapfish.
Tomorrow starts another week at LCI!!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
A few pictures of my classes
My kinder class. Left to right: Samuel, Daniel, Louie, Jenny, Alex, Sean, Mini, Chelcy and Sarah
Ready to head home in the rain
Left to right: Sameul, Alex, Daniel, Louie, Sarah, Mini, Jenny, Sean, Chelcy
My 2:30-4:00 class everyday
Left to right: Tom, Ria, Anna, Jetty
(Missing one boy, Jen)
More pictures on snapfish!!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
My apartment building
The door to my place. #101 on the left.
My building. Noble House
The door to my building.
My apartment is the second one up. The two smaller open windows on the left are in my laundry area. The windows to the right of the laundry, near the corner, are my bedroom. The one above the air conditioner is my room and the window on the far right is my second bedroom.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Address
If you want to send me anything (pictures!) here is my address. We are told to send things to the school so that we can make sure we get it, as there is usually always someone here.
LCI Kids Club, Suji School
C/O London Wetsch
6th Floor Garam Bldg. 1080-14, Punduckcheon-dong
Suji-gu, Yongin-si, Gyunggi-do
South Korea (449-846)
LCI Kids Club, Suji School
C/O London Wetsch
6th Floor Garam Bldg. 1080-14, Punduckcheon-dong
Suji-gu, Yongin-si, Gyunggi-do
South Korea (449-846)
Is that the hot water button???
This will not surprise you if you know me....
When I got to my apartment I soon realized that I did not have hot water. I ran the water for a long time only to soon give up and stick with a cold 'shower'. The next day at school I asked the other teachers. They told me that you need to push this button to get hot water each time you want to use it. They said its really easy, the only button by your power box. When I got back that night, around 9:30pm, I decided to try. It turns out that the button is not for hot water but for turning off the power in the entire apartment. Luckily, I pushed it once more and the power came back on.
The next day at school I asked one of my supervisors. He printed off this picture for me and wrote all over it in English. It turns out what I needed to use is this box of leavers and knobs in my bedroom. To get hot water I must turn on the heat in my apartment and turn the heat off when I am done. Only in Korea do you need to turn on the heat to get hot water when it is 95 degrees outside with 90% humidity.
Lesson learned!
When I got to my apartment I soon realized that I did not have hot water. I ran the water for a long time only to soon give up and stick with a cold 'shower'. The next day at school I asked the other teachers. They told me that you need to push this button to get hot water each time you want to use it. They said its really easy, the only button by your power box. When I got back that night, around 9:30pm, I decided to try. It turns out that the button is not for hot water but for turning off the power in the entire apartment. Luckily, I pushed it once more and the power came back on.
The next day at school I asked one of my supervisors. He printed off this picture for me and wrote all over it in English. It turns out what I needed to use is this box of leavers and knobs in my bedroom. To get hot water I must turn on the heat in my apartment and turn the heat off when I am done. Only in Korea do you need to turn on the heat to get hot water when it is 95 degrees outside with 90% humidity.
Lesson learned!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Finishing up my Second Day
Yesterday was my first day at LCI. The morning (kinder) went really well. The kids are great and really like to talk. In the afternoon I had older kids that know very little English. I taught them basic English, reading and writing. (I have them MWF) I had a hard time getting them to talk and the classes dragged on. After school at 7 I went with Alan, Amanda and Steven for dinner. We went to a galbi place. In Korea these are everywhere! You can pick your meat, order extras like soup, get the Korean sides and rice and cook the meat at your table. Then you can eat it plain or make a lettuce wrap. I them came back to my apt. (Oh, if anyone wants to send mail I really need some pictures from back home to put around my place!)
Today I had my normal kinder class and it went fine. The kids are energetic so I need to keep them under control. In the afternoon I taught a reading class and social studies class. These kids are 10 and are so advanced. They are pretty much fluent in English so they were really fun. I have them TH until 5. From 5-6 on TH I have my prep time for the week. On TH I am done at 6.
I stopped at a little market for some food and water and came back to my apt and tried to do laundry. I guessed on the settings and now my clothes are hanging to dry, and they seem clean. I was finally able to put minutes on my Korean cell phone and I think I figured out how to get hot water. We will see if it works tomorrow when I shower!
Today I had my normal kinder class and it went fine. The kids are energetic so I need to keep them under control. In the afternoon I taught a reading class and social studies class. These kids are 10 and are so advanced. They are pretty much fluent in English so they were really fun. I have them TH until 5. From 5-6 on TH I have my prep time for the week. On TH I am done at 6.
I stopped at a little market for some food and water and came back to my apt and tried to do laundry. I guessed on the settings and now my clothes are hanging to dry, and they seem clean. I was finally able to put minutes on my Korean cell phone and I think I figured out how to get hot water. We will see if it works tomorrow when I shower!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
First day teaching at LCI
When Fred and I left Busan we went back to Pohang. Friday for dinner we went to a BBQ eel place. Fred really liked it however I did not care for it. We had 3 kinds, BBQ, salt and pepper and soy.
On Saturday we just spent the day wondering Pohang and went to a great Italian place for dinner. I sadly had to leave on Sunday around 12:30 to make the 7 hr trip back to Suji. I got settled in my apartment (finally!!).
This morning was my first day at LCI as a teacher on my own. I am on my lunch break now. The morning went well. The kids are kinda crazy now that Matt Teacher is gone but it will get better once I learn the schedule.
More to come once the day is over!
On Saturday we just spent the day wondering Pohang and went to a great Italian place for dinner. I sadly had to leave on Sunday around 12:30 to make the 7 hr trip back to Suji. I got settled in my apartment (finally!!).
This morning was my first day at LCI as a teacher on my own. I am on my lunch break now. The morning went well. The kids are kinda crazy now that Matt Teacher is gone but it will get better once I learn the schedule.
More to come once the day is over!
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