Weekend Update

So... since I have yet to figure out how to take pictures in public without looking super suspicious, I have no pictures for you. Yet some very interesting things happened.

Friday
On Fridays, I teach at Gochang Buk Middle School. Its also a co-ed semi-dormitory, private school out in a rural setting. I teach all the grade 1 and 2 students in the school. I may end up teaching grade 3, but I wasn't asked to this Friday. The school itself is in a town called Buan. There are only 2 classes per grade with class one being more studious than class two. I think class one's English level is on par with some of the advanced high school students. Its nice to have a class of cute young children every once in a while. I can also be very scary with them which led to some very entertaining moments.

I had my first Korean last minute curveball thrown at me on Friday. I ended up staying at this school until almost 7:00 pm! Here is what happened:

I finished teaching my last class around 3:30. My middle school co-teacher told me that one of the teachers got into an accident and asked me to cover her English club class. I obliged. However, once I got to the classroom, I found out the club class was 2 hours long. I had a class of about 10 students, looking at me waiting for a lesson. I had nothing prepared. I already used my original lesson plan on them earlier. My solution was... 1 hour of hangman, teacher vs. students. Afterwards, we just had question and answer time with the students and they all asked me questions and told me a little about their lives (boyfriends). It was funny to talk to a bunch of 12 year old girls about their boyfriends (Apparently one of their boyfriends had a six pack hahaha). Anyway, the class ended at 5:55. After that, I was shown around at their monthly school-parent (Korean PTA) meeting. Afterwards, one of the teachers took me to a restaurant where I met some of the other foreigner teachers in town. I met up with them for a quick dinner, then had to go to basketball practice around 8:00 pm. Balled till 10. Got home. Read. Passed out.

Today (Saturday)
Today, I woke up and left for Jeongup around noon. I had lunch there with my uncle and grandma. We hung out, I showed her some pictures from America and just talked. She told me stories about me when I was a baby so it was really fun. Afterwards we went to my uncle's hospital and had dinner together. I overate and felt like throwing up. One of my uncle's friends showed up and he really forced me to eat non-stop. I probably wont eat until dinner tomorrow. Its that bad.

So I had some revelations about Korean society, but I won't post them here. I'm going to write them down in my journal. Ask me about them if you want to know.

Otherwise, PEACE OUT. I promise pictures on the next update.

- Anthony

First Day of Class, Foreigners

So... It began. My first day of class. I thought it would be awkward to go around school today snapping photos, so I just have words for you. Sorry everybody, but I'll try to snap pics later.

So, my daily schedule will consist of waking up around 6:45 and catching the school bus at 7:45. Then I will wait for my first class to begin around 8:50 and will usually be at school until 4:10. I have random two hour gaps in my teaching schedule, so I hope to get a lot of studying/reading done during those times.

The school: There is a brand new gym, but the actual school is really old. They were actually doing construction today so I guess it is in the process of renovation. There are about 450 students, and I will teach all but 100 of them. I think it will be really awesome to get to know most of them. Their English levels range from proficient to illiterate. Overall the school gives the feel of high beginner, low intermediate? The soccer team at my school seems to be the big deal, with the guys being exempt from a lot of classes to practice. It makes me wish I could play soccer so I can join in with them haha.

The students: I had two problem students in one of my classes, but I have no problem being a disciplinarian. I actually kind of enjoy it. Most of the students are well-behaved, just of a lower level. I also teach vocational students, so the motivation is not really there to learn English. I think I will just try to make it an enjoyable class for them instead of going over lots actual material. Also, it really perplexed the students that I am Korean but cannot speak Korean. Its hard for me to maintain too, as the students levels can be really, really low. Remember, these are high school students.

For example:
Me: Ok write down your hobby.
Student (in Korean): What is hobby?
Co-Teacher (in Korean): Hobby is 취미.
I nod along to verify
Student (in Korean to the co-teacher): What is 취미?
I am flabbergasted


This made me think that I will have a difficult year, but the lowest students need the most help and can improve the most. It really motivated me to do a good job this year.


The Food: Was banging. That is all.

In the end, I was really tired, and had to go back to nap. I woke up around 6:00 pm for a good dinner. Then around 8:00 pm, we headed out to SK telecom to get me a phone.

- Foreigners -
So I am a foreigner and I usually sit back and let my host mom do the talking. Its an interesting way to observe people as I seem like a complete foreigner. They always ask my host mom if I speak Korean, and she says I do. However, this does not stop them from being awed when I speak Korean. The guy at SK is a friend of my host dad so he was very nice to us. The students act similarly. They don't speak in a nice flowery Korean that I am used to hearing. Its rough, its improper, and at some times very rude. Speaking to a teacher in the informal speech is really, really rude. If they think I don't speak Korean, they just go alllllll out. Ha ha. I dropped some Korean on them to shut them up though.

Anyway, at the cellphone shop, they asked for my Alien Registration Card. When I showed them the sticker in my passport, they asked me to to show them my actual card. I told them I don't have one and that we didn't get one. They showed me an example. It was a Vietnamese woman's F.id Card. We then talked about how, Gochang in particular, Korea is dealing with an influx of foreign women (particularly from the Philippines and Vietnam). There is a multicultural family support center next to my homestay too. The attitude that people have for these foreign women is not great. I wouldn't say racist, but definitely superior. As we were talking, a man and his South Asian wife came into the store. They didn't show any attitude or mistreat her, but the fact that we were discussing it earlier shows that the Koreans still cast some judgement on the immigrant wives. It was really interesting to see. There is a good article in last week's Economist that talks about Asian women not getting married in the developed countries. Not many women want to stay here in a rural area and live the hard life. I think if the Koreans can drop any attitude against these South Asian women, they will really fit right it. I really wish these families the best of luck.

Anyway, I know I rambled, but I figured that's what blogs are for. I'll try to add some photos before the weekend, but no guarantees.

- Anthony

Around Town

Today was a pretty relaxed day. Woke up, had some food, went to the bank and shopping with my host mom, then got to walk around the town. I was blending in like a chameleon until I busted out my camera to take pictures around town. So two things I noticed today...

1. Gochang is still pretty rural. There are some high rise apartment, but most buildings are pretty close to the ground. There are still some old school style Korean houses here. The traffic here is also horrendous, because most streets are very narrow and don't have signals.

2. Gochang doesn't have beautiful people. We are the gritty, surviving, tooth and nail kind of Koreans. A lot of the older people are very tan (i.e. they work hard outside) and roll through the streets with confidence. There are a lot of 'studier' people instead of the typical thin beauties. Not many girls wearing heels either. It was interesting to contrast Seoul and Gochang as two cities in the same small country. I only saw 1 kpop poster in town. Seriously. This place goes HARD.

(I may be bias because this is my hometown, but it really is my honest opinion)

Also, there is no basketball court.
I took some pictures around town and will continue to do so for a while.


 The view outside my homestay.


My homestay apartment. I live on the first floor.

Coming down the street from my homestay.


One of the town's main roads, really narrow right?


Me and Sonia's type of Noraebang


We have PIZZA


The bus depot


The screen of the bus depot... We go hard


A family photo advertisement in front of a studio. Hardcore.

To my knowledge, this is the biggest and wildest intersection in town.


I saw this and thought BURRITOS!!! But then Mexican... chicken? Es Pollo?


Every town has a stream; this one is mine.


On the other side of the stream, run down housing and run down trucks.


Our ART MUSEUM. Going to check it out tomorrow/


OUR FORTRESS. I think I'll try to run this every weekend. Apparently its about 6 km all the way around, uphill both ways.


The lining in town for the decorative trees. Fun Korean style.

The government building in town. Apparently my great aunt works here?


MY PRESCHOOL. Destiny has led me here. Apparently the principal still lives around the area and owns the coffee shop next door. This will probably be my post up HQ in Gochang.


The gateway in. You gotta keep the children inside.


The school in front of the preschool. I think its both elementary and middle. My mom went here like 40 years ago.

Kids playing soccer without a care in the world. Some of these little kids had serious skills. Others were fat and slow.


Dad and daughters at one of those public outdoor fitness places. Adorbs.


Um... No idea, but the guy at the door gave me a weird look after I snapped this photo.


Cool compare/contrast with the high tech Math Lav next to the old house. Old man in the background.


Chicken in front of a restaurant. Probably really fresh food, but it smelled AWFUL outside.


Go left to my grandma's house


The sign says: Please take a rest as you go. These two old men were posting up and talking about their weekend plans. I was thinking about posting up next to them, but I had to go back for dinner.


My apartment's name is also my cousin's name. Interesting...

Pictures Part 1

Some pictures I have neglected to add anywhere. Please enjoi.

The pre-departure family picture. Parents were pumped.

 

Pre-departure cousins... Classy photo of course.

 

Me and Steph being THIN

 

Two friends and I at some temple on a mountain (Clare & Dan ssi)

 

Inside the temple

 

A prayer room

 

Buddhist need T.V. too I guess

 

The staff of Fulbright Korea. Some powerful Ajummas.

 

A creepy merry-go-round at the beach with Emilee

 

Optimist Dan at a waterfall


Korean field trip to the mountain


Me and a sad mythical uuicorn


Seriously, it said Uuicorn


Sonia with the sword of the famous Korean general Yi Sun-Shin. Its name is... the Guido.


Making out with a Korean bride


Happy honeymoon begins :)


Matt teaching at Camp Fulbright, did a SICK poetry activity.


Me and the GRAMS. She made me squat so she didn't look too short.


Me, the Grams, and Uncle at the World's Biggest Jetty.


Me, the Grams, and Aunt still at the World's biggest Jetty.


My mom's stitching from Middle School. Like 40 years old.


Korean Language Office Hours.


Tea ceremony class.


Walking around a fortress wall on a windy day.


My back sweat at a veranda along the fortress wall.


Lovely OC's Stephen and Jim SLEEPING ON THE JOB


Friends (Leslie, Anne, Dan, Clare) at the Filipino Troops in the Korean War memorial. Shout out to Chua's people.


Read it


Soldier/Diva at the War memorial.


Me and the Korean language teachers at the graduation ceremony.


My Jersey Shore look.


Teachers w/ Leslie