First day of school
Cue scene
School, in the middle of nowhere
No AC
About 200 screaming Korean children
1 foreigner (me)
1 other English speaker
1 self-proclaimed alcoholic principal
Recipe for success.
I walked to my school (which I found by pure dumb luck because I had no directions there) and walked in to be greeted by Danny, and the other teachers and students. They had a morning meeting in the auditorium, where I was pushed on stage to greet them and introduce myself. Then I was shown to my classroom
My class was scheduled to begin at 10:50. Naturally at 930 the bell chimed with my students all in their seats. With no books, no curriculum at hand, and no instruction from the co-teachers, I just had to wing it.
I introduced myself, told them about where I am from, asked them their names, and what they knew about America and what they could tell me about Korea.
Then I opened up the floor for questions.
Students- "teacher how old are you?"
Me-"How old do you think I am?"
S- "100!"
M-"I am 24"
S- "Our teacher is 25!"
M- "cool"
S- "Teacher do you have boyfriend?"
M-"No students, I do not have a boyfriend"
S-"do you like our teacher? He can be your boyfriend!"
Awkwardness ensued.
Of course, I thought it was hilarious and the kids are so adorable. They kept looking at me and miming big eyes with their hands! They also called me lord of the rings because of my abundance of jewelry.
Danny came in and whisked me away to a meeting that apparently was going on at the department of education that I was supposed to attend.
This was where I met all my new Miryang friends!
Most of the other foreigners in this town are from South Africa, and are a blast! We all met up, discussed curriculum, went to dinner, and planned to meet up the next evening with a few other americans and British in the town.
After Pregaming in my apartment with my new south African friends, we pounded 4 bottles of soju, and met up with the others at a chicken restaurant.
Like in turkey, one of the fun things about meetups here are the old school tactics of communication. For example, I got home to my door with a note from my South African neighbor Greg that said "meet outside at 815 for beers with Rich." Its like every day is a secret mission.
We pounded another 6 or 7 bottles of soju at the chicken restaurant and then decided that since it has been a week since my arrival in Korea, we needed to go to a "no ray bang" which is a singing room. Basically, you get a bunch of people together, preferably drunk people, and go to a little room with microphones, a karaoke list, and a tv screen, and a bunch of beers that you smuggle in.
It then deteriorates into a crazy scene of drunken debauchery where people are simultaneously passing out, dancing on seats, and singing bad karaoke songs.
I knew I would like it here.......
Cue scene
School, in the middle of nowhere
No AC
About 200 screaming Korean children
1 foreigner (me)
1 other English speaker
1 self-proclaimed alcoholic principal
Recipe for success.
I walked to my school (which I found by pure dumb luck because I had no directions there) and walked in to be greeted by Danny, and the other teachers and students. They had a morning meeting in the auditorium, where I was pushed on stage to greet them and introduce myself. Then I was shown to my classroom
My class was scheduled to begin at 10:50. Naturally at 930 the bell chimed with my students all in their seats. With no books, no curriculum at hand, and no instruction from the co-teachers, I just had to wing it.
I introduced myself, told them about where I am from, asked them their names, and what they knew about America and what they could tell me about Korea.
Then I opened up the floor for questions.
Students- "teacher how old are you?"
Me-"How old do you think I am?"
S- "100!"
M-"I am 24"
S- "Our teacher is 25!"
M- "cool"
S- "Teacher do you have boyfriend?"
M-"No students, I do not have a boyfriend"
S-"do you like our teacher? He can be your boyfriend!"
Awkwardness ensued.
Of course, I thought it was hilarious and the kids are so adorable. They kept looking at me and miming big eyes with their hands! They also called me lord of the rings because of my abundance of jewelry.
Danny came in and whisked me away to a meeting that apparently was going on at the department of education that I was supposed to attend.
This was where I met all my new Miryang friends!
Most of the other foreigners in this town are from South Africa, and are a blast! We all met up, discussed curriculum, went to dinner, and planned to meet up the next evening with a few other americans and British in the town.
After Pregaming in my apartment with my new south African friends, we pounded 4 bottles of soju, and met up with the others at a chicken restaurant.
Like in turkey, one of the fun things about meetups here are the old school tactics of communication. For example, I got home to my door with a note from my South African neighbor Greg that said "meet outside at 815 for beers with Rich." Its like every day is a secret mission.
We pounded another 6 or 7 bottles of soju at the chicken restaurant and then decided that since it has been a week since my arrival in Korea, we needed to go to a "no ray bang" which is a singing room. Basically, you get a bunch of people together, preferably drunk people, and go to a little room with microphones, a karaoke list, and a tv screen, and a bunch of beers that you smuggle in.
It then deteriorates into a crazy scene of drunken debauchery where people are simultaneously passing out, dancing on seats, and singing bad karaoke songs.
I knew I would like it here.......
