This week in review will be in an older, yet still effective format. The good old fashioned printed word.
The previous week had been even more first for me. While it seems like I have been living in Korea for a long time, in reality I had only been here less than a month. Time seems to be one continual paradox here. The days go by fast, the weekends even faster, but the weeks seem to last longer than they should. Looking back, one week can seem like an entire month. Perhaps it’s the time zone change or the fact that my days are much busier than they used to be. Either way, time seems to travel differently in Korea, something that I still feel like I have not gotten completely used to.
One of the most enjoyable experiences for me has been getting to know my teachers inside and outside the classroom. They have all been very helpful and very kind as I learn how to function and properly teach around the classroom. Most go out of their way to be friendly, some have even been as kind as to treat out for dinner and to invite me along for workout routines. It was certainly a kind gesture, and an appreciated one as well. I was still not entirely used to my hometown and with most of my friends living at least two hours away from me, it was nice to have some additional company, even if the language barrier provided a challenge at first.
Living on my own as not been as disastrous and as traumatic as I had once envisioned. Despite some initial hiccups, it’s been a smooth and easy going experience. It’s actually funny that the location of most importance for some people is the location that I seem to spend the least amount of time in. Most of the day I am gone and on the weekend I am usually traveling around Korea, staying and temporary lodgings far away from my tiny town. I like it that way. Always staying busy and always traveling.
The most difficult part has been slowly getting adjusted to the daily schedule of teaching. It has been said that Korea is a last minute society to its core and nothing seems to demonstrate this more than my schedule changes.
My schedule has changed a total of eight times during the two weeks I have been teaching. Classes would become cancelled, switch without notice, change periods and move to another day all at a moment’s notice. Trying to keep track of all the initial changes has been very challenging and at times overwhelming.
The classes are also all at different levels of comprehension and understanding as well. While one grade may easily be able to read a paragraph and write a paragraph some students hardly have the comprehension to speak a simple sentence. Trying to find the right mix of engaging activities and keep them relevant for the students is always a great challenge that usually ends up with mixed results.
With all that being said, despite the initial hangups and daily schedule changes, Korea and the job have been great. There’s a certain satisfaction you get when the students pay attention to your lectures, become engaged by your activities and thank you for teaching them something new. There’s an incredible sense of freedom that is felt when your weekends are spent exploring on your own and meeting up with friends in locations all over the country. There’s exhilaration when riding a speeding train across the countryside, eagerly awaiting your next destination.
In only a short period of time, Korea has been a daily source of adventure and learning. I feel lucky to live in a country that can offer this to me, the call of adventure, for only a few hours of my time.
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