Cherry Blossom Season

A Gwangju sunset (2 minute walk from my apartment)

Koi fish- the fish of Asia (they can live up to 70 years old)

The start of Cherry Blossom Season

Working hard or hardly working?

Annyeonghaseo! Or Hello, in Korean. Sorry for the delay in posts. I've actually been pretty busy the last couple of weeks at work, writing and marking tests, copying and pasting comments for my students evaluations (at least i'm honest), as well as trying to balance a social life! It's interesting because any previous part time job I've had, I had no emotional attachment too and honestly felt no remorse for taking a sick day when I was really just hungover or showing up minutes late because I "missed the bus". I remember once when I worked in my University Terrace at Mr. Sub, I carelessly wrapped a sandwich and tossed it on the burner. One of the loose ends started heating up and within 35 seconds the turkey sub was literally flaming! The fire alarm started to sound and everyone in the cafeteria was starring at me (wearing a hairnet, by the way) as well as a now 'smoked' turkey sub. Probably one of the most mortifying experiences ever and also solidified that I probably wasn't cut out for the fast food business! Anyways, my job as an English teacher is by far the most rewarding job I have had thus far and a job that I actually care about. What lead me to this conclusion, was when I was marking 140 of my students tests. I really wanted them to do well and felt even more motivated to inspire them. After 4.5 months I have witnessed many of my students excel and progress in English and it makes me feel like I'm really helping these kids! My first week of teaching, I had a grade 2 class that couldn't answer the question "How are you". Now, they can have English conversations with each other and even explain in detail (sometimes a little too much) of what they accomplished on the weekend. One of my students spent 10 minutes of a class giving me a play by play of how he first woke up, then put on his t-shirt, pants, socks, sweatshirt, etc, etc. It was cute though and the fact that they're speaking English is all that really matters.

I do have some students though, and even an entire class which I can barely tolerate and it's sad to say, but its those bratty children that reinforce my future career of entering the Public Relations industry... NOT teaching. The other day, 2 of my grade 6 students were passing notes in the back of the class and after about 5 minutes of pretending to ignore this obvious gesture, I asked them to give me the piece of paper, ensuring them that I can't read Korean, so it wouldn't matter what it said. For some reason, they still refused to give up the note and it wasn't until I threatened them with going to the office (and ultimately getting hit) they gave me the note. For the entire 45minutes of class, these 2 girls were.....drawing an elaborate picture of MY HAIR!! haha. I didn't want to laugh because they should have been listening to me teaching, but it was quite hilarious and the picture was actually a pretty accuarte drawing.

This past weekend I, along with 20 other people from Gwangju followed Feed the Boats (my co workers band) to Seoul as they played a show at a bar downtown. I guess you can say we were their "groupies" for the night and loved being able to say "we're with the band" haha... everyone had a blast! Ryan and I took a cab to the bus terminal early Saturday morning to head to Seoul and after the 15 minute ride, we figured out (in broken English) that the cab driver's son is Ryan's grade 6 student. It made us realize how small Gwangju really is...and also that we need to be more careful cabbing home at 5am! There was a big 80s themed party downtown 2 weeks ago so a bunch of us dressed up at characters from Saved by the Bell, Breakfast Club, etc and walked around downtown being starred at that much more! My friend Jessie's student mentioned to her on Monday that she saw us all downtown the night of the party... which would probably be THE WORST night to see us teachers out on the town. We looked absolutely ridiculous and I could only imagine how that must have looked to this students parents, "Hey mom... see those hookers over there, those are my English teachers!" haha.

Feed the Boats playing in Seoul

The Gwangju "groupies" showing their support

Getting dressed up for the 80s party

80s hookers

I mean, Koeans do sort of dress like they are from a different era too. I don't know what it is but shiny suits (like what a man would typically wear to the office) are VERY popular and I'm starting to think they are somewhat of a status symbol (the shinier the tye, the more money one makes?) Who knows. Also, "couple sets" are the norm here with Korean couples. It is basically a couple wearing the EXACT SAME THING, proving to the public that they are official. It is actually hilarious to witness a couple in a couple set and it has gotten so out of hand that we foriegners have made a game out of it. You know, 'punch buggie' (a friendly punch when you see a Volkswagen Beetle drive by?) Same idea.

I know I have mentioned countless times that us foreigners are basically a spectacle here in Korea. Well I never thought about it, but at my school, the 4 foreign teachers sit right at the front of the entrance to our school. We essentially share a desk with the secreteries and are the first thing people see when they walk through the front doors. Literally every other Korean teacher at the school has their own desk and computer in a back room behind us. It's kind of ridiculous but I suppose the parents want to see what they are paying for. The reason parents send their children to our Hogwon is solely because they hire "native English speaking Teachers". There is a clear trend here where apparently "image" defines ones integrity.

Well the weather is warming up which means it is almost cherry blossom season! Next weekend I'm planning to go to a Cherry Blossom festival just South of Gwangju! Should be a lot of fun and I've heard its the most beautiful time of the year. I'm excited to spend the summer touring around the rest of Korea and camping on Islands in the South! Still after 4 and a half months I wake up excited for what's to come.

Happy Pesach to those who are eating matzot and Happy Easter to you others! Miss you all and will update you again soon.

Signing off,

Gillian xx