"You have funny hair" Says the Korean student.

First day DONE. Oh man, what have I gotten myself into. That  might have been the most chaotic day ever...though for some reason I have restrained myself from drinking an alcohol beverage, probably because I know tomorrow is going to be worse.

My schedule is Monday through Friday 9:30am to 6:30pm. I teach a total of 4 different classes, all of which range from the least advanced 2nd year kindergarteners in the school, to the oldest (Korean 12year olds, which I think makes them 10) furthest most advanced in the school. I honestly don't know how I speak the english language after looking at the lessons I, now, have to teach these kids. My AM-k (AM kindergarten class) are learning basic vocabulary, so that entails spelling, definitions, past/present/future tense, using it in a sentence, learning different meanings if it has them i.e. be versus bee or how to say it depending on the sentence i.e. read versus read.  Ughhh, I now have a new found respect for grammer school teachers....it's hard!!! Our cirriculum doesn't give us the lessons to teach it, we have to explain ourselves.  Why do we talk the way we do....can you explain to someone- who doesn't speak your language in the first place, why you change "try" to "tried" when using past tense. Then, in the afternoon, I'm teaching the older kids vocabulary that I don't even use or some words i haven't even heard of (Well, I've heard them but rarely do I ever hear anyone use them)! I'm mean seriously....Portland public schools, you have failed me!!! THEN, on top of that, I have a strict schedule to follow. There is no room to take extra time in any of the days subjects to explain if the kids don't get it or even for myself to figure out how the hell I'm going to teach it!! Anyhow....that's my life right now, pretttty awesome!

Besides school, I get to move into my apartment tomorrow!! wooohooo, finally!! I've been staying at a hotel  the past week, which sucks since I had had to live out of my ridiculously full, not packed very well, suitcases! Which to make matters worse I've had to move rooms within the week to share with another teacher who just arrived my school. Kinda awkward especially since the rooms are...I would say 7'x7'. Small. The apartments aren't much bigger I don't think, but I've heard that mine is the nicest, so that's good!! I'll take pictures to post, I'm kinda failing at taking pictures but I'm working on it!

Ohhh k, time to rest my brain, big day tomorrow!

Miss everyone, wish you all were here!!!!

Oh, Korea..I hope things get easier!

Where to start?? It's definitely harder to get around here then i was thinking. The Korean Language and I don't get along very well, my hair is having a better time adjusting then I am!! :( You guys are lucky that you get this blog, since I came to the website to sign in and everything was in Korean characters.

I got here on Thursday, thinking I'd have the weekend to adjust and start work on Monday, little did I know I had a full packet to read that night and I had to start work on friday. Which was the longest workday EVER of just observing and an overload of information!! Though, instead of just going home to rest when i got here, I, of course, met up with Johnny for a beer which lead to about 10 and going to bed at 3!! HA, welcome to Korea... I think I've managed to have about 10 solid hours of sleep since I have been here and have drank 2 gallons of beer, soju, and/or liquor each day! I'm going to lose 10 pounds from not eating and gain it all in a beer belly!!! haha, awesome.

I've also managed to embarrass myself a ridiculous amount of times in the 3 days that I've been here and it doesn't help when Johnny (my friend who lives here) points me in the known wrong direction! Ass. So far, I've been THAT American, THAT tourist, and just a plain idiot!! Good thing, I'm curly and it's not the first time I've been those...if I couldn't laugh at myself, I'm pretty sure I would hate life! Let's see, I've have paid a taxi driver in pokemon cards and too much money (THanks, John for that one), I have took a cab to the wrong place (Where, I have no idea- though it was an expensive ride), I have sang Kareoke, Tried to eat a restaurant, walked-in and sat down, only to be told they aren't open! Though, he's telling me in Korean so you can only imagine how well that went over. I managed to order a pizza somewhere else after that!  John has been my Tour guide this weekend and beside him trying to kill me on his scooter (which has no driving rules here (i.e. Can drive on the side walk, in between cars, through crosswalks, and through red lights...) has not taken me any where to experience the Korean culture (not that I need to, I'm here for a year...but it's just funny!) I have been to a baseball game, drank margaritas and ate chips and salsa at the mall, and have been to Itewon (sp?) which is where all the foriegners go for nightlife! At my school, they provide lunch which is true Korean food so at least I get something there!!  

All in all, I am really enjoying myself... things can only get easier, right?!?

Bookmark...curly moments!!

16 days left till departure! Seoul, Korea is the destination. I figure this is probably the easiest way to keep everyone up to date on my adventures, so I would probably bookmark it! No guarantee on how often I'll post but I will try!!

I'll be working at LCI kids club with Kindergarten and 1st graders, located in Jamsil-dong, Songpa- gu. Which I think is in the SE area of Seoul. If you google a map of the subway in seoul, korea you should be able to find it. Don't know much of what to expect, part of the adventure for me, so, stay tuned...

...and since I'm not gone yet, you should probably hangout!!