Buddha's Birthday Parade and My Polygamous Marriage

Howzit all!

I'm feeling kinda strange this week. Must be coming off my Korea-high.... finally. Missed the cheese festival with those of you who went :( Also missed voting. And missing all the holidays! Boooooo....

I'm not regretting coming to Korea at all. I know there's a divine reason and purpose for me being here, the place is beautiful and the people are generally friendly and kind. But I'm also beginning to understand why foreigners whine so much. It gets lonely, even the loner that I am, has to admit it. It's not something I can directly put my finger on right now, but it just feels strange. Maybe it's the influence of my expat friends. I seem to be attracting lonely expats. The previous weekend, it was Geoff from the US, this weekend it was Martine from Australia. She came over Fri night, stayed over and we went to Daegu again on Sat morning to meet up with others who couldn't make it the previous weekend. Someone got totally lost, we didn't find her, but at least we managed to find Owen, a sweet Brit who entertained us girls thoroughly with his dry quirky Brit humour.

We stumbled - accidentally - on the preparations for a float parade for Buddha's bday (which is May 2nd) but celebrations have already begun weeks ago. The floats were fantastic! Huge and exquisitely made. Lotus flowers, dragons, elephants, etc. (photos on their way) Cups of some strange rice drink (with grains of rice at the bottom of the cup) were pushed into our hands. I was even interviewed for tv. (As foreigners, we are natural targets for that kind of thing.) We were given hand-made paper lotus flowers (Buddha's favourite flower, can't you tell?), we were also pushed into the middle of a traditional band and made to dance for the cameras (oh, the indignity of being a foreigner! - dancing while you're trying to swallow the glutinous rice cake which was also pushed into your mouth by some very serious woman!) while someone loudly bangs a tin cymbal in your ear! Nonetheless, I was very passive, going along with the whims of the locals. Posing for photos with everyone, being eyed up and down by the Indian buddhists who were also there. Why not? Free food and drink in exchange for being the local entertainment's not a bad deal. :)

Next, we took a taxi to the electronic hub of the city, and this is when I got married. Owen decided to tell the taxi driver that both Martine and I were his wives. The taxi driver was quite taken aback, and gave us all very long, hard looks. I was, of course, killing myself laughing, much to Owen's merry amusement.

The electronic hub in Daegu is a massive warehouse (a bit like a Makro back home, but of course, smarter). We didn't even walk around to look at everything. It's was just toooooo much to take in and all a bit overwhelming for Martine. Every section had the same kind of stuff, as far as we could see. Cell phones, cameras, tv's, electronic dictionaries, hand computers, etc,etc, etc. I wanted to buy a camera, and if Owen hadn't been there, I would naturally have bought a pretty little red camera, purely for its colour. As it is, I managed to listen to my 'husband''s advice and bought a silver Olympus for half the price, same function! Defintely way cheaper than in SA. I paid 160 000Korean Won, (R1045.00) !!!

Back in another taxi. Same story of polygamous marriage. This one thoroughly enjoyed it, called Owen a stud, called me beautiful - since I was Wive #1 - and then advised Owen to eat dogmeat for sexual stamina!!!

Went for lunch at a kiddies' restaurant. We didn't care, just wanted food. Of course, the starter was ice cream!!!! Oh well...food's food.

Shoe shopping next, met up with some more friends, and later joined the Buddhists for the beginning of the parade at 7pm. We were handed traditional paper lanterns with candles inside that had to be lit. Some Buddhists invited us to walk with them. I stayed for a short bit and then had to leave to get back home. The giant float lanterns were being lit, and oh my word, it was awesome. My favourite was a giant fire-breathing dragon with moving head and legs. I hope I get to see more of that kind of thing during my stay here. There were these kinds of lotus lantern festivals taking place all over Korea this weekend.

By the way.... for those of you who said I wouldn't be able to find Indian spices here....well. The previous week, Geoff had showed me where the Pakistani and Indian restaurants were. I went for some Breyani takeaway on my home. They refused to let me pay. So I had free food, again! And they also have a little supermarket, where I can buy all my spices. Hello, Korea!!!

And then a VERY VERY VERY LAZY SUNDAY. I spent almost the entire day in bed reading. Almost forgot to do my lesson planning!

Well, this coming weekend, had a few invitations as well. I had to turn down a trip to Busan (Korea's most popular beach and tourist destination), as Ernest from South Africa is coming to visit. More about that next week.

Have a good week, all. I miss you...

Love and hugs

Andrea

My Weekend - Where to begin????

Hi all!

There's just waaaaay too much news for one email, and it's Tuesday already... How on earth am I gonna keep up? I'll try to be as concise as I can...

Friday night:

My doorbell rang approx 9pm. Thought it might be some of my Korean friends, but it was (aaargh!) a strange white Western man, named Geoffrey from Colorado, USA. He works in a nearby town, comes to the gym in my town, heard that the new English teacher was here (me), decided to pop in and intro himself. We ended up chatting for 2 looooong hours. I was not impressed that he put his sweaty tackie feet (now in socks) from gym on my couch! He is a motormouth! Speaks sooo loudly and way too much. My next-door neighbour heard him. My other friend who lives 2 floors up heard him. Enough said! My one friend thought I had some drunk men visiting! (I swear I thought I detected a hint of jealousy in his eye when he asked me! LOL!) Anyway, Geoff turned out to be a bit of a blessing in disguise, as he was going to take the bus into Daegu the next morning - as was I - so we agreed to meet on the same bus, so he could show me the ropes re catching the correct bus in Daegu, etc.

Sat:

Meet Geoff on the bus. Am horribly embarrassed by him the entire trip and the next bus trip too. (2 buses to get into the city centre - Daegu is the 3rd largest city in Korea. Travel, travel, travel!) An old Korean man who I was sitting behind had been sleeping peacefully till motormouth-built-in-amplifier Geoff arrived. We were sent to the back of the bus! I could have died of embarrassment. One of my students was also on the bus. And here's Geoff bad-mouthing Korean drivers, the education system, etc, etc, etc at the top of his voice. The Koreans kept giving us dirty looks. By the time we got into Daegu, I just wanted to get away from him. I didn't take much notice of the info he was giving me, as everything was blocked by this barrier of irritation, frustration and embarrasment! Finally, away from him. I had 4 hours to explore and shop before meeting my other expat friends. Found 2 bookstores that sell English books. Books definitely cheaper here than in SA. Yay! Signed a membership at Kyobo bookstore (just like Exclusive books but bigger, way bigger, same coffee shop set-up, only with Starbucks.) Found tons of stores: all the namebrand clothing and shoe shops are here: Nike, Puma, Skechers, Adidas, Asics, New Balance, etc etc. Checked out one of the department stores here - combination of Edgars and Woolworths. Don't let anyone ever tell you that you can't find something in Korea. Generally, it's all here: Pantene, Nivea, Neutrogena, Ferrero Roche chocolates, Clinique! (I even found Gucci fragrance in my little rural town!) The list goes on.... Also bought a lovely bid RED handbag! On the street, of course, since it's WAAAY cheaper than the department store prices. Finally met up with some expats (Kiwis, Aussies, Brits, another Springbokkie and a NICE American). I'm ashamed to admit, we did the Western thing and had lunch at Burger King! IT WAS GOOD! Junk food, processed cheese and french fries.YUMMY!

The weird thing, though, is that although we had wanted to hook up and speak some rapid English with one another, soon it was enough. Some of us have settled in so nicely into the Korean way of life, that the Western thing seemed oddly uncomfortable. Oh dear, what does THAT mean? Only time will tell. We went our separate ways, in smaller groups. My little group went walking and stalking. We found a traditional Korean market: huge octopus, all manner of fish, some humungous fish, that could have been tuna, crabs galore....and then...the disturbing: we passed a dog restaurant, and just outside it, were stalls selling dogmeat. Hindquarters, skinned and ready to be sold, some legs still had paws attached. And just beyond that, a stall with whole cooked dogs...ears, eyes, teeth intact. It was bizarre, and even more disturbingly, there was a live dog (a pet, I think - I hope) nearby, Surely, the dog must live in a state of constant anxiety, smelling cooked dogmeat all day. As one of my friends pointed out, we kill and eat cows, and baby sheep, what makes eating dog that different?

Eventually, I left to go home. But remember, I had wanted to get away from my 'tour guide' earlier that day. Basically, I got horribly lost. I had bags of shopping with me, it was dark, I'd been on the wrong bus going round Daegu for an hour, expecting to get back to my bus terminus to connect with the bus to my town. All logic was long gone, I was just in a state of silent panic, suppressing the tears. No one could understand me. I didn't have energy to try to communicate. I didn't even want to ph my co-teachers for help. I was just too upset. Eventually, I hired a private taxi to get me home - needless it was a very expensive trip (about R500). The relief was worth every last penny!

Sun:

Some Korean friends came over for supper. (2 guys and 1 girl). I made roti and curry and rice, just to satisfy the Korean rice craving! But what do you know, they enjoyed the roti so much, they hardly touched the rice! They also thoroughly enjoyed my cucumber sambal and asked for the recipe! In Korean culture, when you visit someone's home, it's custom to take a gift. I got fruit, fruit juice, and wait for it...the guy I like-like, brought me laundry detergent! At least, I won't have to buy washing powder for the next year or so! They also brought cake. Basically, we ate till we couldn't move: Menu: vegetable soup, beef curry and roti/rice, sliced banana and cucumber sambal, strawberries and kiwi fruit for dessert. Chocolate cake. And then the finale: beer and squid biltong! (Korean beer is very weak, tastes like cider, so I can drink it, and I actually enjoyed the dried squid - they were surprised, as usually Westerners don't like it, due to the smell!) It actually starts tasting sweet, the longer you chew it. Hence, dessert!

They said I should mention to you guys back home that the Sunday tradition lives on...Sunday lunch/dinner at Andrea's....just with Korean friends :)

Well, folks, that was my weekend!

Love and peace

Andrea

Summer, Winter, Which Season is it?

Hooowziiiiit!

(I'm teaching my Korean students all kinds of SA stuff.....like "bum" (the one you sit on, of course!) and "Howzit?!" (heeheehee). So much for American English! Although, I shudder just thinking of it: I actually found myself consciously writing the word "favorite" iso "favourite" on the board. Too much explanation, too little time to go into American vs British spelling with them. After all, the textbooks are American. (Aargh!)

Anyhoooo...I am happily making more Korean friends. I learnt how to cook and eat pig intestine last night! (I know, YUKK! is what I also thought at first...but I am being converted, people!). The Koreans might eat some strange stuff, but there's one thing you can go to the bank with... flavour is VERY important to them. And, guess what, for someone like me, who can't imagine eating offal, who can't even stomach (pardon the pun) the thought of eating steak-and-KIDNEY pie, I actually found pig intestine "not bad at all !!!! OMG! I've gone all Korean already!

What's next? Bring it on!

The weather here is at odds and evens with itself. It's Spring here right now but last week it felt like February in Cape Town and this week it's June weather, including rain. At least the moisture in the air seems to have put an end to the daily bloody nose! (The air is very dry here, just like in Jo'burg, which gave me nosebleeds.) Everyone's getting sick around me. I'm trying to remain faithful with my Patrick Holford IMMUNE C - which has been keeping me hale and hearty! Plus, Korean guardian angels keep me regularly stocked with Vitamin C drinks, Red Ginseng drinks, and ion replacement drinks. plus fresh strawberries regularly to keep the immune system going.

A moment of illumination.... I have been placed in my town with much favour from on high. Apparently, this little town of Gunwi has a reputation for its kindness. So, some of my international Native English Speaking colleagues are already telling me that I'm being spoilt here and that they're jealous! LOL!

Some of my expat pals are trying to convince me to attend MudFest (a mud festival) in the hot sticky summer months. Basically, you slide around and wrestle in the mud, fling mudballs at other people, get mud in your eyes, hair, mouth, camera lens (if you don't have a special mud protector, which can be purchased!) etc. It's meant to be good for your skin, acting as a natural sunscreen. Basically, learn to be an elephant! So, maybe I'll be doing that, cavorting in the mud in July. I'll keep you posted, as always.

I just have to tell you a bit more about my high school. It's an experience and a half. I already mentioned to you guys that they play music to indicate beginnings and ends of lessons at schools here. What I didn't mention is that during lunch break (50min) they play K-pop (Korean pop music) for the students to unwind and relax, before they go back to their long school day. How cool is that?! So now that the weather is getting a bit warmer, everyone likes to go out for a post-lunch stroll around the grounds, sit on the benches under the trees, while K-pop music is played over the loudspeakers! Lunch-times feel like a party! It's so cool! I just love it!

"Okey-dokey" (another one I'm teaching my kids here ;) )

I'm a naughty teacher!

Much love and hugs

Andrea

My Easter Weekend

Hi all!

Happy belated Easter to all! Hope you all had a peaceful and blessed time. My weekend has been adventurous to say the least! And not necessarily in a good way all the time! More later....

So, little over a week ago, I was advised to refill the oil for the heating system in my apartment as it was showing empty, and serious damage could be caused. Well, of course I complied. Fortunately I had the cash on me - which was actually money I had brought with me to tide me over till my first payday here. It cost 180 000,00 Korean Won (approx R1250,00). Apparently, the oil can last 3-4 months (floor and wall heating plus hot water). Right, so, I thought, hey, no problemo, I can always draw some more cash when I need it.

Right so, a week later, I try to use the local ATM at the bank with my INTERNATIONAL cards (both debit and credit). And they DO NOT WORK HERE!!!!! And no, I will not be able to transfer funds from my SA account to my already existing but naturally empty Korean bank account, as the very nice, handsome, good English-speaking Korean bank staff member advised me. I was upset, worried, concerned, angry, blah blah blah.....

The next day, I told my co-teachers at the high school about my troubles. One of them offered to take me downtown to the bank during a free period. (A word about the banks here in my town.) The same branch, but there's a baby and big brother branch. I went to the baby bank the day before, which had staff speaking excellent English. The big brother version is government-owned, and they couldn't speak English. But they were helpful enough to phone the Interpretation Diivision, so I could be assisted telephonically. That worked out quite well and efficiently, I must say. Ok, so the short of it is that I needed to find a GLOBAL ATM in order for my cards to be accepted. The nearest global ATM's are about 1 hour away, in the cities of either Andong (to the north) or Daegu (to the south). Fortunately I was going to Andong for my medical exam that Sat, so I was able to use my credit card at the Korean Exchange Bank ATM.

I also have a wonderful support system here in the form of the other expats that I met in Seoul. We all stay in touch daily via Facebook, and so, are able to offer each other all kinds of advice. So, at least I can always double-check what I get told by the locals. You see, information is personalised in Korea. You won't always get the same story from everyone. It's embarrassing for Koreans to lose face by not knowing something or not being able to assist you. So they will give you advice and information as they see fit, within their own understanding. (Don 't know if this is making ANY sense to you!)

On Sat morning, I took a bus to Uiseoung (25min away) to meet one of my co-teachers so she could drive me to Andong for my medical.

Right, at the hospital. You won't believe this, but I swear it is true! 30min medical exam which consisted of: meeting with the doctor, urine sample for drug test, blood drawn for HIV test, chest x-ray, dental exam, height, weight and girth measurements, blood pressure plus eye-test! Everything is on the same floor with Energiser bunny staff. I felt as though I was on a human conveyor belt in a super-efficient factory!

After that, my co-teacher took me for a drive to Andong Dam, which is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. The dam is massive, but terribly low right now due to drought. I'm definitely going back there. It's a cultural hive of activity. The roads are all lined with cherry trees in full blossom! STUNNING. After that, was sushi for lunch. And back home.

Easter weekend here is pretty normal. Friday was a normal work day, as was Sat. There were a few snippets on the local news about Easter Sunday services. But it looks like a bigger fuss is made of Buddha's birthday which was early March but they are still stringing up colourful paper lanterns everywhere. It's very pretty.

I'm planning a shopping trip into Daegu this weekend, where I'll meet up with a bunch of expats from the surrounding areas. Some much needed rapid English conversation! Yay!

Okey dokey, till next time...

Love to all

Andrea

Country Market

Hi!

I survived the market!

It was actually lovely! Fresh farm produce (soil still clinging to giant carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions), cherry tomatoes, tomatoes, so many varieties of lettuce, cabbage, bunches of fresh ginger. Giant, sweet fresh strawberries! Chillies, green peppers, red peppers! A cook's haven! It's also much cheaper than in the supermarket! And the good news is that there's a country market every 5 days! So, when I cook my traditional SA curry for my Korean friends, I can get cheap, fresh produce!

I even found a plant stall. Guess what?! There were African violets! Of course I bought a red one for my kitchen. They also have freesias, mother's-in'law's tongue, the usual old home plants (ferns, etc.), roses. I felt like I was in Stodels! So, I'll definitely be getting many more plants. I have a nice big balcony to transform into a little oasis. Future project!

There were also huge baskets filled with different types of beans. There were farm appliances, shears, special caps to protect you from the sun when working out in the fields. And then the fish stalls...... live fish swimming in buckets (little mudfish, I believe they are called). Long skinny eel-like fish, crabs galore, octopus, etc, etc. (However, we are far from the coast, so I was advised not to buy dead fish from these stalls. And then, the weird..... pupae. I saw a programme on TV back in SA about how pupae are a delicacy in Asia. Well, yes, now I've seen it with my own eyes! Looks kinda gross, actually. Like dead cockroaches, minus the feelers and eyes and head. And you can even buy it canned, in the supermarket! Sits comfortably next to the canned tuna! That's one thing I'll definitely be avoiding! All in all, the country market was a delight!

And then, off to dinner. One of my Koeran colleagues (KIm Gyo Lim) treated me to supper since I had treated her to sushi the previous week. We had GALBI (pork ribs - spare ribs, if you wish, but still different...more belly than actual ribs). Oh but was it absolutely delicious! I have finally found my favourite Korean dish! Apparently, Westerners usually choose this as their favourite. Must be the meat thing. If any of you ever go to a Korean restaurant back home, you must try Korean Braai. This is what you'll experience...... The tables are constructed around a gas ring (Actually there's a cooker top set in your table.) Your marinated raw meat will be brought to you, along with salad leaves, cloves of garlic, red pepper paste, gimchi, fried pancake /omelette, too many other side dishes to mention. Basically your table will be filled with little dishes of various accompaniments. You cook your meat as you want it. Dig in and enjoy! There is NO way you can consume everything on the table!

Oh, and there'll usually be a side dish of prepared fruit as dessert.

All in all, yet another delightful Korean experience.

Did I mention that the Cherry trees are in full blossom? The sad thing, though, is that after 1-2 weeks the blossoms fall to the ground. The petals are so fine and tiny, that the slightest breeze sends them flying. Already, I feel bad, having to walk on them. My little dorpie is also surrounded by plum trees. They look almost like the cherry trees just, their blossoms are white. And of course, because Spring has sprung, so have the bugs! Spiders, flies are coming out in full force. Of course, farming area, so lots of dung being spread around, you know...(Poofy!) I'm just awaiting the cockroaches and mosquitoes. We also have rice paddies in and around the dorp, so lots of open water - perfect for mozzies! But forewarned is forearmed. I brought a few cans of repellent from SA! Just till I find the equivalent here :) And fortunately, all windows have mesh screens. So that should keep mozzies and flies out.

And yet again, I've managed to write a novel! So sorry....

Till next time

Love,

Andrea

A Typical Weekday for me in Korea

Howzit!

Okay, so, I wake up about 6am, switch on the water heating system, (at least the heating control panel is in my bedroom!) climb back into my nice big comfy bed for 30min. Then finally wake up properly, shower, etc. Have breakfast. Maybe watch a bit of TV (did I mention I have cable?). So, it's the funniest thing for me to be able to watch a movie at 7:00am! Oh yes, did I also mention that I have a huge TV in my bedroom and a flatscreen in my lounge? Like, who needs 2 tv's when you live alone? Am I supposed to run between the 2 rooms? LOL!

Ok, now I must explain the shoe thing. I am trying to adopt and appreciate as much of Korean culture as I can. So much so, that I also leave my outdoors shoes in the special foyer reserved for them. And try not to walk in the home with any outdoors shoes! Good thing I packed so many shoes! Right, so just before leaving for school, (which is a leisurely 3min stroll away if I'm at the Middle School that day), I do a little shoe dance at the door. Leave indoor slippers on the home level, which is higher than outdoors shoes, change into outdoors shoes. In order to do this effectively, one must have everything that you need to take with you, with you! Else, it can be quite a palaver....Slippers off, shoes on...oh, no, forgot packet for shoes for school. Shoes off, slippers on. Go fetch packet. Slippers off, shoes on, Oh no, forgot school bag. Shoes off...oh what the heck. I live alone! (but the conscience, oh the conscience gets you!!!)

Right, so off I go, on my way to school. On the way, if I pass anyone, I bow, oh there's a stern-looking old man, better bow and greet (Anyeonghaseyoh!). Too bad, he didn't return my greeting. Probably thought I'm just a nutty foreigner! Ok, next time maybe. Oh, look there's another one, bow...bow...bow... Ok, I'm finally at school. Change shoes, outdoors shoes in shoe locker in foyer. Nice comfy slip-on shoes on feet. Enter teachers' office, bow to vice-principal and colleagues. Now the students can start bowing to me. Justice has been served!

Now I check my emails and facebook, maybe prep a little for the school day, if I hadn't already done that! Then teach a class, rest for 10min, maybe teach another class, rest for 10min. Sometimes, I rest for 3hours, depending on my timetable! I am being forced to relax here in Korea. What a weird notion! Relaxing! Who'd have thought it possible?

Lunch-time! Colleagues collect me to go to cafeteria with them. Wash hands in following order-hot water, cold water, dry hands. Collect steel chopsticks and spoon and lunch tray. Lunch inevitably consists of soup - to wash the meal down with, no tea or coffee here (that's in the teachers' office). Lunch ladies all wear those 'doctors' masks, gloves, etc). Rice, always rice. Plus various accompaniments, which can be anything from crumbed chicken to squid to omelette to stew to fish, plus gimchi (hot spicy fermented cabbage)-always gimchi, everyday gimchi!. I have already eaten eel, squid, tofu, some strange fruit and vegetables (and perhaps even dog, without knowing it, of course!) The combinations are often strange but damn, it tastes good! Place all left-over food in soup bowl, empty in following order: soup bowl contents down the sluice, chopsticks in one container of water, spoon in separate container of water. Stack lunchtray on lunchtray pile. Collect sterilised stainless steel cup and pour a small amount of hot water/or it could even be very weak herbal tea from urn and drink and stack cup in special compartment. You may now leave the cafeteria. Back at desk. Everyone goes to bathroom to brush teeth! Join in brushing teeth in tiny bathroom! (Got to respect the culture!) Back at desk! Someone has usually left a vitamin drink or rice cake, or strawberries or whatever local snacks (made of rice, of course!) on my desk. No idea who it is. That's just the Korean way. Always bless someone and don't seek recognition for it :)

After lunch, catch up with friends on facebook, arrange socials etc, teach a class or two. At the moment, I'm only teaching for a total of 20 hours - supposed to be 22 but there are only so many classes in a rural school. In SA, you must teach a minimum of 27 hours.

Finally 5pm comes round. Time to go home. Some teachers stay working at school till after 6pm. At high school, even later. So, I go home, usually rushing just to use the toilet! Cause, out here in the old rural schools, they still only have traditional Korean toilets, which I was forced to navigate last week. I just hope I was facing the right direction! LOL!. It's a strange contraption, like a long, flat toilet set in the floor (not a 'long-drop'). But in order to do your business comfortably, you HAVE to get down and squat low!

Right, so at home, shoe dance at the door again. TOILET! Maybe go for a walk downtown. Come home, make supper, watch some TV. Write in my journal. Maybe practice my baby Korean language, learn a few more Korean words, and fall asleep in front of the TV. Wake up a few hours later, go to bed. Daily cycle complete. Can you understand what I mean about relaxing?

That's a typical day for me in Korea. Anything out of the ordinary, you'll be the first to know....

Till next time!

Love and hugs

Andrea

PS I'm going to a country market with some colleagues after school today! What weird and wonderful things await me! And I'm being treated to supper, too! YAY! (Hope it's not dog!)

Arbour Day

Hi all!

Hope everyone's well, etc.... I must remember to stay up to date with the happenings in SA. I'll try to catch some news later. Anyway, from my side:

I had a nice quiet sort of weekend here in Gunwi. I was supposed to go in to Daegu on Saturday for my medical exam. Daegu is the nearest city, which is about an hour's drive from here by bus. (Koreans drive very fast, by the way. Apparently, they are very impatient people! Foreign drivers are warned to rather travel by public transport as they might cause an accident on Korean roads!)

Anyway, the visit to Daegu didn't happen, cause I had to meet the students officially, at assembly (yes, they go to school on Saturdays here!). By the time my co-teacher was done teaching, it was too late to go, as the hospital staff assigned to foreign medical exams go off duty at 1pm on Saturdays. So it, has been postponed to this coming weekend. I have to undergo a medical exam here in Korea, so they can verify my good health, in order for me to apply for an Alien Registration Card, in order for me to purchase a cellphone and/or be connected to their cellphone network!

A word on their school assembly. It was like army camp! The kids had to stand throughout, in assigned rows. They had to respond to certain calls with specific postures...just like in the army. (Of course, it's not done with military precision, as we ARE talking about young teenagers here. But the discipline idea is cool. Actually, it reminded me of the good old days when I first attended school back home. There were some similarities. You just don't see it today anymore.)

I think my co-teacher felt bad about the whole thing, cos he invited me to join his family the next day. His family owns a small plot of land just outside our town, in the mountains. And it was Arbour Day on Sunday, so we went and planted strawberry and tomato seedlings. He has a lovely wife and 3 small daughters who, of course, are adorable. What beautiful surroundings. It was a full-on farming experience, involving heavy machinery to plough the land, and furrow-making. Even carrying water in old pails and metal kettles up the mountain to water the seedlings! Thankfully, the men did that! Us girls entertained the kids, playing hide-and-seek in the bushes and picknicking! We did eventually get our hands dirty by helping to plant! What a lovely experience!

And then, Monday! So I had my first day teaching here in Korea. I was a bit nervous at first. Of course, nerves are good, lest we get overly confident, you know. I didn't quite know what to expect. My first class was a bunch of rowdy 1st Graders (Gr8). Thank the Lord for my previous teaching experience and UCT Drama School! Basically, I handled it without screaming and shouting. Yay!

For my first lesson, I was asked to do a presentation introducing myself and sharing some info on where I come from. So, guess what... I played WELCOME TO CAPE TOWN for them, turned it into a listening activity, involving worksheets, etc. They got to take the words home with them, and they are now singing the song in the hallways here! Cape Town is alive and well in Gunwi, South Korea!

Okay, there's more news, but let's leave that for another email....

Love to all

Andrea

Korean Kindness

Hi!

I have been moved to tears for the past 2 days. Not tears of sadness, but tears of feeling overwhelmed by the kindness shown to me. The Korean people value kindness very highly. And this is evident from both the students and teachers.

On Wednesday, my high school vice-principal kept checking up on me to see if I was ok, chatting to me so I don't feel lonely, etc. He called me to his desk to show me South Africa on google earth. He then also showed me some video/photo presentations that he had compiled and edited of his many travels. (Fran! You would love him! He owns a yacht and has gone trekking up the Himalayas! Just your kind of guy. And he's very good-looking, too! But, unfortunately, he's already married:( )

The teachers here at the high school are trying to hook me up with one of my co-teachers. They are a very friendly bunch, full of fun and jokes. They are also trying to get me to take tennis lessons with one of the other male teachers! They rag each other constantly. (Battswood, I feel right at home!)

They always check to see if I had breakfast; coffee and tea get pushed into my hand. I'm not allowed to say no, thank-you!

Even the kids move me to tears! I finally got to sit in on 2 classes yesterday. The students wouldn't let me carry my own chair. They removed it from my hands.

I then met 2 students after school yesterday afternoon. I finally understand the full meaning of PAINFULLY shy. I felt soooo sorry for them. It's the first time I have ever felt sorry for adolescents. I just wanted to mother them! But I told them that unfortunately, I am a bit deaf, so they really need to speak LOUDLY for me to hear them. I am going to have to start speaking all American, too, till they become accustomed to my SA/British English.

I have a lovely classroom at the Middle School - remember, this is a rural area - but classrooms all have big-screen tv's and computers! My classroom also has a data projector. Korean kids are extremely visual. So teachers are encouraged to use technology in their lessons to keep students awake and interested.

One of my co-teachers was just telling me this morning how he worked with students till 11pm last night. Gives a new meaning to school-life, hey?

My latest challenge is trying to figure out how to plan lessons and co-teach with 5 different co-teachers. There is not much time in the classroom, as they have to work through the curriculum, but at the same time, the kids MUST learn English conversation, as they have to conduct their future job interviews in English when they graduate from university. If they want good jobs with big companies like LG and Samsung, English is a must. So we are very concerned about how to equip them when they already have so little time. Their studies are focussed on entrance exams for university. This does not include English conversation. I don't think that 1 year is enough time. And for those of you who know me well, I am already thinking that I will have to stay on for a few more years, at least so that I can see that I have made some progress and input in these beautiful yong people's lives.

Speaking of 'beautiful'... the more confident kids will greet me in the hallways, and tell me that I am beautiful! How cute are they! When I tell them that they, too, are beautiful, they do not accept it. They will disagree. As for the teachers, they think I am 'well-rounded', 'sociable', 'always smiling', 'beautiful', 'positive'...... All good things of value for them. So far, so good!

Liefde vir almal

Andrea

It's me again!

Howzit!

I already don't know how I'm going to keep up with the social side here. I've made quite a few lovely international friends at orientation. Even though we are now split up, we plan to visit each other and in that way see more of Korea.

Here, in my little dorpie, I am also busy making friends. The language barrier makes communication a bit slow, but that's ok, as I'll be teaching the teachers English as well! Those that I have contact with, are already improving quite rapidly!!!

I'm at the high school on Wednesdays and Fridays. Veeeeery long days here! The students only finish class (normal school day) at 6pm! Then all go to extra classes after that still! They are under tremendous pressure to get into university.

Anyway, let me describe a typical day at school here.....

Classes only start at approx 9am. But teachers are at school from 07:30. When you get to school, you change your shoes. Everyone wears slip-ons at school. When you leave, then you put on your outside shoes again - which have been in your locker all day. There are 10min breaks between each class. 40min classes for Gr1-6; 45min Gr7-9; 50min Gr10-12. The breaks are fantastic, after SA! They play music to indicate start and end of classes, not screaming sirens like back home. The teachers' office (or staffroom) is one cosy place to be. Central heating, coffee machines, paper shredder, photocopier, laminator. And each teacher has their own desk and computer. The vice-principal has his desk in the staffroom, where he keeps a watchful, fatherly eye over everyone. The funny thing is, must be a cultural thing, in both schools that I work at, the vice principal's desk area is surrounded with plants! The amount of respect here is phenomenal! The students are in and out of the staffroom, and seem to have a good relationship with the teachers. It's like one big happy family.

The service here is wonderful! They hadn't yet set up my computer at the high school, but wthin 2hours, it was done! Computer reprogrammed, programmes loaded and internet access! Un-freakin-believable! (And this is a rural area! A village actually.)

We are served lunch at school in the cafeteria. I don't even have to spend money on food here, just breakfast and whatever snacks I want or the basics. The lunch at school is too much for even me! There's soup, rice, a meaty stew, salads, veg side dishes, fruit, and today there was cake as well! It's so filling, that one's not really hungry at night. Which is just as well, as the Western products can be a bit pricey. Oh! And everyone brushes their teeth after lunch! (Students and teachers)

Product-wise: they have Pantene, Nivea, Dove, Lux, Pringles, Kellogg's cereal, Lipton tea, etc. But they are, of course, expensive. More than I would pay back home. So far, so good....

Ok, till next time.

Peace and love!

Andrea