This morning Jade took us to the hospital to get our “health checked”. Seemed to be a lot more than just that! They tested our hearing, blood pressure, eye sight, took our blood, made us pee in a cup for a drug screen and pregnancy test, took a chest X-ray, and gave us a private interview!!! Seemed like a bit much, but I was happy to get a break from being at school. It was definitely an interesting experience. I didn't understand a word the nurse was saying to me, so I just let her pull and shove me to the places she wanted me to stand, sit or wait. The nurse and I laughed at each other a lot because we didn't understand each other. I try to keep a sense of humor in these awkward situations, and the Koreans are so friendly so I just smile and play a long. Being around people who don't speak English can be nice, particularly when we’re trying to have a private conversation or talk about the person we’re sitting next to hahaha. When we were all done, someone had parked next to Jade in the middle of the street, so we couldn't get out of the parallel park we were in. Jade got out of the car, peeked into the car and called the owner of the car. Apparently in Korea they place their cell phone number visibly on the dashboard of their car so you can call them in situations like these. Minutes later the owner came and moved his car. It was wild! I thought it would be a great idea for the US to adopt, but then prank phone calls or security would probably become an issue, but how cool was that??
When we went back to school I was assigned to follow Daniel around for the day. His classes were wild a crazy! I let them play and run around, and speak Korea in the classroom. He had a hard time getting the kids to settle down so he could actually teach them something. I know that when I get my classes I won’t be letting my kids be chaotic like that! I want my students to actually learn! Daniels other classes weren’t as misbehaved, to my relief. I was able to get involved in some of the classes and help the students with their math workbook. It is challenging for me to speak incredibly slow and use a simple vocabulary to describe things. Its one thing to teach difficult math to a 6 year-old, but its totally different when you’re teaching it to a 6 year-old who doesn't speak English! Something I found really interesting in Korea is the student’s ages in each class. I could be teaching 7 year-old and have students who are 5, 6, 7and 8. I guess in Korea when you are born, you are 1; then in the New Year, you become 2. So if a kid was born in November, he is 1, then on January 1st he becomes 2 in Korean years. So a 2 month-old is 2 years old, it’s crazy!!
When I got home from work I was very excited to see Ariel and Evan on Skype!!! I got to talk to both of them for about 30 minutes each. It felt so great to see familiar faces and talk to people I miss so much! Its been weird being away from them and it feels like its been forever, even though its only been 4 days! Tia, Katie and I finally started setting up our rooms and arranging the furniture how we want it. Katie still doesn't have a bed and we don't have our shelves, tables or chairs yet- biggest downfall of living in brand new apartments. You would like they would have it all ready for us by the time we got here, but I guess not. It was fun to go into each other’s rooms and help each other decide how to arrange our apartment and move things around. We’re all really excited to have our own places and be out of our parent’s houses!!!!!!! We stopped by Home Plus Express to buy a few groceries so we can make our own dinners, I doubt that will happen that often since it is so cheap to eat out.
Later, we went over to Ta-Leah’s apartment with Sarah, who lives down the hall. Ta-Leah’s apartment looks amazing! Like a home. She’s been here for 10 months, so she is all set up, with curtains and posters and pictures on her wall. It gave me hope for making my apartment feel more like my home. Ta-Leah and Sarah just got back from Thailand with the other girl teachers we are here with a few months ago. Ta-Leah showed us all of the clothes she bought and they shared some amazing stories from their trip, getting Katie, Tia and I so pumped to go!!! It’s all we talk about now! Being here in this freezing, cold weather is making us dream about being in the paradise that Thailand is!! Aww I can’t wait!! We’re really excited to experience Seoul this weekend too. I hear only amazing things about Seoul, so I am counting down the days ‘til the weekend so I can experience for myself. I’ll be having a blast in Seoul this weekend, but I know I am going to be wishing I was back home to go to the Slightly Stoopid concert with my girls in Portland ☹ I get to see Katelan and Chase this weekend though, so that will keep me satisfied! I think I might cry when I see them, I’ll be SO happy!!! I am so lucky to know so many people here, I wouldn't have been able to do this by myself. These next 13 months are going to be incredible! I can already tell that I will be sad when I have to leave. I am already thinking about doing a second year in Chile or Prague… we’ll just have to wait and see.
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