Thursday, May 22, 2014

American Football Week 1

So, I decided that I would teach my students how to play some American sports after I saw how they played dodge-ball here and how different it was to how Americans play.  I figured I would have various sports that the kids do not know and teach them how to play one week and then play the next week.  Nothing crazy or hard.  Well, it has been hard.  Last week I did the lecture on American football; rules, how to play, positions, etc.  This week was when we started to play.  Bad choice.  These kids have never played or watched American football and they have no clue what they are doing.  So, this week ended up being practice and next week is going to be actual play time.  I might die.  This week was literally the hardest week I have ever had on the job.  11 classes of teaching football to children who cannot speak English that well.

The plus side is, the students seem to be enjoying themselves.  However, I will never teach American football again.  NEVER!!  Biggest mistake I have ever made!  HA.

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Sewol Ferry Disaster Update

So, it has come to light that the evacuation orders were not given because the crew (captain included) did not think they could survive if they told everyone else to evacuate.  Due to this three crew members are being charged with murder and facing the death penalty, which hasn't been used in over ten years in South Korea.  It is serious business here.

The big question is why murder and not manslaughter.  Was it cowardice or malice on their part?  I cannot answer that but my co-teacher told me that it came to light that they "it is shown that they ran away even if they thought passengers could die and they did that because they think they couldn't survive if they let passengers rescued first.  Considering what they did on purpose, they were charged with murder."  So, I guess because they were only looking out for number one means they committed murder. 

Here is an article explaining only a small portion of the murder charge:


Sunday, May 11, 2014

Stuff Students Say

Today has been an interesting day in regards to the things my students have said. So I thought I would put up some of the more memorable moments I have had in my 8 months of teaching in Korea.


1. Teacher, you look like a panda today. A sick panda.

2. What is the actual name of the Venus of Freedom? (Statue of Liberty)

3. Student: Teacher, I am not gay, I have girlfriend.
Me: Does she go to our school? Or is she from your hometown?
Student: She lives in the terminal. (He did not understand my question)
Me: Your girlfriend lives in the terminal?!

4. Student: Teacher, (taking my hand) will you marry me?!
Me: Sure, whatever.
Student: YESUH!

5. I love you. (in sign language a week after they learned how to say it)

6. Student 1: Teacher, fashionista.
Student 2: Teacher, glamorous!
Student 3: No, no, no! Teacher, glamorous fashionista!

I really love these kids and the crazy things they do and say!

Insadong Traditional Market and Homes

Insadong is a traditional marketplace and homes.  The homes are older homes in a traditional Korean style.  The area is very affluent today but was once a middle class neighborhood.  The traditional market sells all sorts of traditional Korean fair.  Like Korean fans, pottery, paintings, food, and other traditionally Korean things.  The market also sells handmade art projects as well, so not everything is traditionally Korean.

It was a beautiful Saturday and I walked around a bit and took some nice photos of the old traditional homes.  It was seriously breathtaking.  These homes are wonderful on the outside, and I can only imagine what they are like on the inside.  




















Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Busan!

Here are the photos from my Busan trip.  I definitely need to go back.  It was a lot of fun and there are still plenty of things that I need to explore around that city.  

Fresh Sushi!

Jo and I on our night out!

Adult Capri Sun.  It is a pouch drink with alcohol, like a capri sun but adult!

Amy, Jo, and I at the beach.  So beautiful!

Beach Selfie!



Getting ready to sunbathe.  I used an umbrella, so I am still super white.  HA!

At the foot sauna!

Just relaxing after a long day, getting our feet pampered.

It was a foot sauna, with ginseng in it.  It smelled wonderful!

On the bus down to Busan.  The boy sitting next to me is a student.  We ended up feeding him because the poor guy had to speak and listen to English the entire 4 hour trip on the bus and the 1 hour subway ride to our destination.  He was a trouper though!

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Lock Out and Vacation

UGH!

So, this is the third time I have been locked out of my apartment.  I was getting ready for work and my trip to Busan, when I remembered that I had to put the gas numbers out for the gas company.  This sheet of paper is on the outside of my apartment next to my door.  Well, I went out (not fully dressed yet) to put the numbers on.  Instead of going down to open my door, I went up, which locks the door.  I could have died.  I am only in my summer dress and shoes, with no coat on or anything.  Freaking out, I go downstairs and hail a taxi to school.  Once at school, I have to borrow 5,000 won for the taxi and then wait for one of my co-teachers to get to school.  I was 15 minutes early, and super lucky someone was in the office to borrow money from.  Anyways.  When my co-teacher got to school, she called the maintenance guy and asked him to look for the extra key for my apartment.  She drove me to my apartment and then helped me get the rest of the way ready for Busan.  She is going to make an extra copy of my key, just in case this happens again.  She is also going to help me figure out how to set the key pad, so I do not have to use the key to get into my apartment but a password.  Hopefully everything works out.

The biggest problem with being locked out, wasn't that I was locked out but that I am leaving for a mini-vacation to Busan today.  This weekend is a four day weekend because Monday and Tuesday are national holidays.  Buddha's Birthday and Children's Day.  So, some friends and me decided to go to Busan for a vacation and time away from Yeoju (and Seoul for one of them).  This is going to be my first trip to Busan, so there will be pictures, I am sure of it.  :D  I mean our hotel is on the beach, so it is going to be nice.  I am really excited for this girls trip and everything that is to come.