I eat for rice for breakfast (rarely), lunch, and dinner. I now bow to greet people good morning. I LOVE Korean hip-hop I prefer chopsticks to forks. I know the Korean alphabet. I can even handle kimchi once in awhile.
Welcome to my Korean life after three months. I feel like I haven't given a great snapshot about my true life over here. I am going to blog a little bit about my life and my school.
I work at Taejoen Christian International School. It was founded soley in the late 1950's by Presbyterian missionaries, but has since but supported by many different denominations. Our school is sandwiched in a little university area called Hanam De. It's packed with bars, restaurants, and cheap and wonderful coffee shops. I frequent the eating estasblishments and coffee shops quite avidly. I was sad to learn our school may move to another part of town in two years. It would be more spacious campus, but lack the social energy Hanam University brings. What will I do without ten coffee shops? Eat leaves?
I teach two different freshmen preps: Writing 1 and English 9. That's right. I have freshmen boys and girls ALL DAY LONG. I miss upper classmen at times, but I couldn't be happier with my sea of growing teenagers. Every Monday morning we start off the day with a "high/low" exercise talking about the joys and trials of the weekend. They are allowed to say "Switzerland" if they are feeling "neutral" and we move onto the next person. The exercise is cliche, perhaps a bit of a time waster, but it builds community and identity for the kids. They LOVE it! For the teacher fans of my blog, you should give overseas teaching a try. I only have to grade SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS. THAT'S IT. AND MY BIGGEST CLASS SIZE IS 17. Did my pitch work?
My professional, social, and spiritual life all revolve around school. I live four blocks from school. I work at school. I meet people to go out at school. I attend church at school. I take a yoga class at school. The thought overwhelms me at times how much I am at school. Ironically, I LOVE the community. I like being part of a small environment.
I also love leaving the small environment when my restlessness takes hold. Good thing Seoul, a city of 17 million, is about a one hour train ride away. The last four weekend I have hopped on the bullet train to partake in random adventures around the city. I have gone to the all night markets, eaten squid from random street vendors, witnessed the mystical tombs of past kings and queens, and shopped on the Rodeo Drive of Korea. I love the energy of Seoul, but I am always a little grateful to return to the slower paced speed of Daejeon
Three months ago, I was saying goodbye to my mom, sister, and friend Stephanie is Switzerland over wine and fondue. Now I talk to people over the Internet while eating kimbap and drinking aloe water. Life certainly changes dramatically in such a short time. I miss my family and my friends back in the States. I miss buying clothes because I'm too "big" for Korean standards. I wish I could buy shoes that fit my gargantuan feet. I miss Banana Republic. I really miss cottage cheese. Who am I becoming? Korean or American?
Thus begins the identity crisis. Or maybe better termed an identity FUSION. :)
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