It is late at night probably...I tend to loose track of the day and time and working from Tuesday to Saturday instead of Monday to Friday makes it worse to figure out what day it is. I'm not sleeping ofcourse, I mean I can sleep but I have to wear myself out first by watching movies and reading and then eventually sleep comes over me but 5 hours is not enough with my job.
I wouldn't call what I do hard labour but it is mind and emotional labour sometimes. I have never had so much respect for those who choose teaching as a profession especially young little ones who are ADD all the time...I never thought I would see the day when I would be teaching 2-12 year olds but I also thought I would never see the day at ISCM when I would be working as a junior counsellor and with junior boys for that matter so I'm surprising myself daily. I start everyday at 10:30 with 2 & 3 year olds and their moms in a moms and tots class which is really song/dance/smile/energetic time and as your first class, it can be draining. They are probably the cutest kids ever with the funniest personalities at such a young age so that keeps me smiling daily but its not forr everyone that's for sure. I have either a 2 or 3 hour lunch break which I use to relax and plan in our staff room which is where all 15 of my fellow Maple Bear staffers have our desks. The staff room is pretty much our only safe haven at school from kids/parents and is a good escape to re-group on bad days, luckily I haven't had any really bad ones yet, just long ones. My staff are really great and have been more then helpful with whatever I need which is usually something because I'm still getting the hang of things. As you can imagine my desk is covered with every possibly organizational supply I could get and with lots of fun pens, highlighters, post its and stickers for the kids(and me too when I do good :) My afternoon is back to back classes or various Junior English levels with everything from level 101 to 701. Some classes I love love loooooove but some are a little more challenging so its a good balance. Some of my 701 kids are so smart its truly shocking when they say "teacher this is too easy" which happens often. I have this adorable boy named Edward in my 401 class who's mom brings me a treat bag and drink at the end of every class....the first week it was starbucks and this week it's Dunkin Donuts. Ofcourse I don't like Dunkin Donuts, especially when just today I was saying how I would kill for Tim Horton's and DD just doesn't do the trick BUT how sweet is that...It's too much and I almost feel guilty but its a great snack at the end of the day so I won't complain. Saturdays I have 2 Kindergarten classes filled with many many hyper 7 year olds who are beyond cute. Again its alot of smiling, singing, clapping and looking like an absolute fool(I'm almost glad no one can see me in these moments) but its fun and I'm loving it.
I moved into my apartment a week ago and I love it although its comparable to a dorm room with kitchen included. Its teeny tiny but I'm not too bothered and could really live anywhere aslong as its clean and bright which it is. I walk to and from work everyday since its only about 5 minutes away. The morning is great because its downhill but nighttime after a long day walking uphill is just brutal but atleast my calves will look good right! I'm still getting used to the shower which is pretty much above my sink, they don't often have the seperated shower stall so its pretty funny and quite ridiculous...how I have taken showers for granted and never will again! I have already surrounded myself and my walls with little pieces of home inlcuding my one wall next to my bed which is covered with photos of everyone I love in my life :) I have made a collage of photos for above my desk that is joined by my ISCM staff photo and a picture of the Toronto skyline. Finally my beautiful going away card from the oakville crew with drawings by Big Ian Evinou himself is above my head so there is no possible way I could miss home in theory, except I do a little everyday.
There are things about Korea that make me laugh and that I'm still adjusting to. 1) Cars have the right of way here which makes sense in a city of this many people but this really means that red lights don't really mean stop...red lights are more like yellow lights at home and are often ran 2) There is no recycling so everytime I through out a can/bottle which is often, a little piece of my soul dies. What's almost worse is that there are barely any garbage cans on the street so I end up carrying my garbage forever until I find one. Their theory is that if there are no garbage cans then people will create less garbage which is obviously the silliest thing I've ever heard but Seoul is pretty clean anyways. 3) People love to spit on the street and not just men but women too...its gross and there is no reason for it EVER. 4) Koreans do this thing where they squat everywhere. I swear they must be the most flexible culture ever because anytime they're standing to wait or are smoking outside a building they squat and will sit like that for ages....its very strange and funny to see for sure. 5) The showers...but that was already mentioned. 6) There are precious little stray puppies and kitties everywhere and because its me I run after them trying to pet them and cuddle them but clearly that is not normal here. It just makes me sad and if it were up to me I would have about 10 pets by now lol. 7) Koreans treat foreigners like they're famous and sometimes random people will just walk up to you and say hello or want photos with you. In my area there aren't many foreigners but on sunday I was in Itaewon and you would never know you were in Seoul being there...its crazy! 8) The culture and language is all based on a class system and how you speak and act varies depending on who you're speaking to. I'm still learning and obviously don't know much Koreaan but I already see how difficult it is to learn because of this and all the proper phrasing. Koreans are also big gesturers and love to nod their heads which I have now found myself doing. 9) It is impossible to find my necessities ie. ketchup, peanut butter(although I finally found some skippy yay), avocados(they are like 5$ each ew), diet pepsi and there are probably more that I will discover in the next little while. 10) Drinking is really cheap here...especially beer and soju which is like the Korean vodka which is drunk in shots(except I can't handle that so I mix it). I just bought 6 bottle of soju for 6000 won ie. $6 INSANE!! I could get used to this!! Oh and apparently my new thing here is drinking beer...who would have thought the day would come when I would be drinking beer at all let alone Korean beer haha I still don't like it but I'm putting up with it, maybe it'll grow on me.
I think I've really started to blend in to the daily life here and although I still have no idea where I'm going half the time, am white and don't speak or understand Korean...I think I'm getting along but more importantly am loving it!!! I know that its still early but it can only get better and I can't wait until it does.
Until next time,
janey waney peacing out xoxo
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