Travelbliss

I can’t believe two weeks in Korea has gone by.  I still don’t think I’ve processed it all.  The novelty of Korea has definitely worn off, but I am still enjoying my time. 

This week, I was called hip-hop hair by my students.  I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.  This country has a long way to go in regards racial equality.  What I have noticed in my short time here, is that there are no social injustices in this country.  Everyone is the same.  Everyone has the same heritage, same background, and are all pure blooded Koreans.  No one is treated differently, because there are no differences amongst the people.  I feel that this will change soon, with more foreigners entering the country to teach and work with Hyundai.  I have met quite a few foreign men who have married Korean women.  With more foreigners in the country, I’m sure that is bound to happen more and more.  The appearance of the Korean population will be drastically changed within a decade.   

For the most part, my students are awesome.  I really enjoy teaching.  I never thought I would really enjoy the job or be good at it.  As quite a surprise to me, teaching has come to me naturally.  I guess all of my previous work with children has paid off.  I have successfully tricked the children into learning.. it’s great!  In one class, a student commented that all we did in class was play games.  This is true, we did play several games, but the class spoke in English the entire time, which is the point of the class.  I love it!  

However, It isn’t the ideal teaching situation.  I don’t have my own classroom, I have so many classes that i don’t know if I’ll ever learn all of my student’s names, and I don’t get paid for prep time.  On the up side, I don’t give out homework or tests, I only teach each class for 50 minutes, and I get to be the cool teacher for the kids.  Creates a balance I suppose.  

In a taxi last night, I had a strange broken English conversation with my taxi driver.  We talked about Obama.  It’s so great to me that even all the way over here in South Korea, people want Obama to be the president.  People are also very aware of how terrible George Bush is as a president.  I think the whole world is looking forward to the change a new presidency will give our nation.  

The crisis on Wall Street has affected me drastically.  I have been very observant of the changes in the stock market since my arrival.  I have paid more attention than I think i would have in the states.  The saying in South Korea is: “If America catches a cold, South Korea sneezes.” Or something to that affect.  The value of the won has dropped dramatically in my short time here.  I had intended on sending a lot of money home to pay off debt, but to change over the won to the dollar is pitiful at best.  I really hope things get better over there soon so that I can get back on track with my savings plan.   

I didn’t go hiking this week, because I was not feeling very well.  I’ve been stuffy for the past few days.  The one cool thing I did do this week was have a bonfire.  It seems there are no rules in Korea.  My group of friends and I picked up random pieces of wood we found and burnt them on the beach.  No one attempted to stop us.  It was nice to have a bonfire, it felt like being back at home.  

I hope you are all doing well out there.  I’m dong pretty great.  Life is good, I’m just taking it one day at a time.  Feel free to write me, I have quite a bit of down time.  

Love
Me

Bonfire at Ilsan Beach