I've been meaning to write about my day to day life here in Korea. I think I haven't written about it previously, because to me, it is mundane. It is the everyday ordinary. Then I thought, to the folks back home, perhaps it could be interesting because, while it is the everyday ordinary, it's the everyday ordinary in Asia, which is not the everday ordinary in North America. Though, I must say, it bears a striking resemblance. (Take the sitting in Starbucks drinking chai, for example)
I spend the first hour of my day getting up, drinking coffee, reading some Scripture (this is a new thing for me, and I thoroughly enjoy it) and generally mentally preparing myself for the day to come. Working with 6 and 7 year olds sucks the energy right out of me, but I've found with this morning routine in which I actually have some time to myself, a buffer if you will, it's not been so draining. It may actually have made me a better teacher.
Once I get to work, my Korean co-teacher and I go over the lesson plan for the day. My co-teachers's name is Genie. They all pick English names that they use at the school. Her Korean name is Hae-Yoon, which is really fun for using to replace "Hey Jude," and singing loudly. Genie is among my favorite people in Korea. We often eat dinner together after work and talk about further dreams of our lives. Here's a picture of Genie eating her first bite ever in her life of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. I got them at the little foriegner store a few subway stops away called "I Love Cookie." I can also get Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and Guiness. It's a good little store. :)
After teaching preschool (which is really more like Kindergarten as the kids are around 6 years old) all the teachers eat lunch in the classrooms with their students. (Though for the last few days, I've had the mornings off, because preschool has been cancelled due to little children turning into piggys) Generally, it's pretty good. Everyday we have a sort of soup, rice, and kimchi. I'm starting to be a little worried about what I will do when I don't have kimchi provided for me at every meal. Koreans eat kimchi and rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I haven't started eating it for breakfast...yet. But I have it with lunch at school and no matter how cheap a restuarant we go to, kimchi is placed before us as an appetizer. My friend pointed out the perks of globalization, as HyVee back in Sioux Falls has canned kimchi. It is, of course, subpar to the real stuff, but it's a start.
After lunch, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I have a planning period, which is usually spent next door at the coffee shop, grading, planning, reading, or chatting with co-workers. Tuesdays and Thursdays I teach afternoon preschool. Tuesdays I teach art and Thursdays I teach science. (Apparently my school, SLP, did not get the memo that my brain does not process even the simplest of science experiments) Here are some pictures of where I work.
This is the front desk, which I see right when I walk in.
This is one of the hallways. The other one is blue.
Here's a picture of my (usually) favorite class.
In the evenings, I usually get some dinner with co-workers(at about US 4$ a meal), or dink around on the internet. There's a pub not to far from my house where I sometimes play pool. On Wednesdays, I go to church in the coffee shop my church runs just 3 subway stops away from my house. Friday nights I help out with the youth group there. Weekends involve coffee (at the particular Starbucks I'm currently sitting in) lunch at our favorite resturant. I always eat kimchibokkembap...kimchi fried rice. Or Bibimbap...rice with veggies and this red pepper paste that is is a lot of Korean food. Sometimes I make my way into central Seoul and see the sights.
So there's a basic rundown of my daily life. Not so different from my life back home. Actually, just the other day my Korean friend asked me "Isn't is scary living in another country?" And while yes, sometimes it can be intimidating or frustrating, being able to get myself around and get what I want, there's something really satisfying in it. Generally, I like it.
Love to everyone back home. Feel free to come visit. I promise I'll take you somewhere cooler than Starbucks
