After a 3 week national orientation in Jochiwon, and a week long provincial orientation in Asan, Chungnam, I am finally in my apartment. To be honest, it has been a journey to finally get here and it certainly feels like one.
I don't feel like uploading pictures right now because I'm not motivated to, but I will later.
After our 3 week orientation in Jochiwon, we were shuttled to a training center in Asan, Chungnam. It wasn't a bad venue at all, but some other scholars in different provinces got to stay in 4 star hotels and just had cultural trips the entire week. When not comparing, I was pretty happy with the situation, although we did have a 11pm curfew. We had lectures or activities, like lesson planning, all day, but this schedule was only for 5 days and then we were done with training for the rest of our contract. The training was really helpful because we had the opportunity to lesson plan again, and also gain some more insight on how to manage the classroom and what not.
On the last day of training, we had closing ceremonies and we got to meet our mentor teachers from our particular schools. My mentor teacher's name is Areum, and she is a 2nd grade teacher. Her English is not especially good, but it is enough for us to have a conversation and understand a joke or two. I'm not going to lie, the language barrier is a bit difficult at times. There were some times where we spent 10 minutes going back and forth trying to understand each other, when it could have taken a few seconds normally. But she and I have the same intentions. Yesterday before dropping me off at my apartment she said something along the lines of, there is a language barrier between the two of us, but I hope you are positive and we want you to be happy while you are here." It was a sweet thing to say, and I really appreciated it.
Yesterday after closing ceremonies, we jetted off to Taean. When going to Taean we have to pass another city called Seosan. When we passed, Areum said to me that there is a movie theatre here, the only theatre in the area because there are none in Taean. I asked her what she does for fun in Taean and she said to me that there's not much to do here, except go to work and go home. Taean is mainly a farming community, so there truly is nothing around here. I still have exploring to do, so I will definitely update this statement when I get more time around town. I know it can get really lonely here, but I at least have 3 other scholars who also live in this building.
Yesterday I also got to meet a lot of the staff at my school, including my principal and vice principal. Respect for people higher up is a huge part of the Korean culture, so it was really important for me to bow to other teachers and the principal and vice principal. The students at school saw me at lunch time and came up to say hi, the formal way. I would respond back with a bow and also formal hi because they were doing that to me. Areum later told me not to do that, and instead she said to just wave hello and say "anyeong." Also when leaving the school, it is important for me to say goodbye to the principal and vice principal. On the way out, I made the mistake of bowing and waving goodbye to the vice principal. In Korean culture, a wave is only meant for friends so it wasn't appropriate for that situation. Today, I got another opportunity to practice this and I made sure to not repeat the mistakes I made yesterday. After leaving the school, I moved into my apartment and then went with Areum to meet some other school staff at a restaurant for my hweshik. Hweshik in Korean is basically a welcoming dinner, and the principal and VP were there. We went to a duck restaurant and there was a LOT of food there. Koreans also like to drink, and my principal offered me (many) drinks. I told him not too much, and he respected that, but it was definitely a new experience to drink beer and beer/soju with my new staff. It was nice to talk to some of them outside of the school grounds, and we were able to exchange a few jokes through hand motions and basic English and Korean. I can really tell that they really appreciate having me here, and this definitely makes all the difference. I feel more welcomed and comfortable in a totally foreign country, and I feel lucky to be part of their staff.
I don't officially start teaching until September 19th, but until then I will be lesson planning, teaching Kindergarten on Tuesdays, and conversing in English with some top students after their lunch times. This is extra work on top of what is outlined in my contract, but I don't mind because this keeps me busy and this is part of showing my "jeong," or in Korean, my love or dedication to the school.
I am in a completely new country, where English is not the native tongue. I do feel a little lonely, however I know if I keep busy and keep an open and flexible mind, I will be okay.
More updates and pictures to come :)
Cindy
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