Check out this link for pictures of February
Click here for pictures of the wedding!
Be sure to also check out the video I have posted on the video page.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Updates
So here we are; a new year and more than 8 months into my 12 month contract.
Classes are still going extremely well. The students are still making me laugh and providing me with good reasons to come in and work.
This past month has been a busy one for me as in addition to my normal class hours I have been teaching a 3 hour debate class at 10 AM Tuesdays and Thursdays. It has been a challenge being at the school from nearly 10 AM to 10 PM. The students are incredibly smart but the topics are tough even for history majors. For example, last week we debated whether or not non-violent actions are the most effective ways to incite change. Using examples like Gandhi and MLK as examples.
Tomorrow is an exciting day as my good friend Ethan is getting married tomorrow to another good friend of mine Mandy. In case I haven't explained it before but Mandy is born and raised in Korea (Ansan, to be exact) and Ethan was born here but moved to America when he was about 7. The wedding is in Seoul at SeoulLand which is an amusement park that the students always talk about. I am going to be one of the photographers and will have plenty of pictures to post.
We just celebrated the Lunar New Year last week. As I have been saving money quite diligently I didn't want to spoil that with a lavish 5 day trip (we only got Wed-Sunday off) anywhere. I was toying with the idea of going to Jeju Island on the south end of the country. But as I get carsick a 8 hour bus ride plus some ferry rides didn't seem to be in the cards. I ended up going into Seoul one day for some good food, light shopping and good times. Then I went with Carly, a coworker of mine, to Pyeongchang, a city a couple hours away that hosts an ice fishing festival and also has a several mountains for skiing and snowboarding. I have been hesitant to go snowboarding here in Korea because I have been spoiled with all the mountains so close to Spokane. It was a very good trip though, the mountain was surprisingly not crowded and the mountain had a couple inches of powder to play on. The only downside was the hotel Carly's friend booked was a good 30-45 minutes from the mountain which made it a $30 cab ride each way.
There is a ton more that I can write about and loads more pictures and videos to post but I will try to write more often now that things are starting to slow down (only to speed back up again in 2 weeks when we have a new term).
My contract here is over June 1, however, I like it here. I like it quite a lot. The children are amazing and a huge part of my life. The thought of leaving them after only one more quarter is very saddening. It is because of this that, and a couple of other reasons, such as the familiarity of things here and the good pay; I want to stay here for a second year. I have only mentioned this briefly to my boss but I would like to stay here at Chungdahm in Ansan for one more full year. I do not think it will be possible to go home for a break first, if I did it would only be for a week or maybe two at the most but in all reality, I will probably just keep on teaching without a break. Which is fine for me. There are several things I miss about America, like being able to chat with random people on the street and read menus and street signs places. Having a car is always nice and other things like campfires and my good friends back in Washington. But most of my friends are spread out all over the world as well. I would hate to end such a great job and life here only to go back to living in Fishtrap for another year subbing in Sprague and the odd tech job (no offense to Sprague or Fishtrapians, but one year there has taught me a lot about where I want to be in the world right now, and although Korea was not on my list before, it does have a place in my heart now).
I have thought about staying now for quite some time and am 99% sure I am going to sign a one year contract and 85% sure I will stay the entire year. I can always leave early with only minor consequences. After another 6 months here I will have the funds I want to travel. It is still too far away to know if I will go to Thailand straight away or come home before traveling.
Classes are still going extremely well. The students are still making me laugh and providing me with good reasons to come in and work.
This past month has been a busy one for me as in addition to my normal class hours I have been teaching a 3 hour debate class at 10 AM Tuesdays and Thursdays. It has been a challenge being at the school from nearly 10 AM to 10 PM. The students are incredibly smart but the topics are tough even for history majors. For example, last week we debated whether or not non-violent actions are the most effective ways to incite change. Using examples like Gandhi and MLK as examples.
Tomorrow is an exciting day as my good friend Ethan is getting married tomorrow to another good friend of mine Mandy. In case I haven't explained it before but Mandy is born and raised in Korea (Ansan, to be exact) and Ethan was born here but moved to America when he was about 7. The wedding is in Seoul at SeoulLand which is an amusement park that the students always talk about. I am going to be one of the photographers and will have plenty of pictures to post.
We just celebrated the Lunar New Year last week. As I have been saving money quite diligently I didn't want to spoil that with a lavish 5 day trip (we only got Wed-Sunday off) anywhere. I was toying with the idea of going to Jeju Island on the south end of the country. But as I get carsick a 8 hour bus ride plus some ferry rides didn't seem to be in the cards. I ended up going into Seoul one day for some good food, light shopping and good times. Then I went with Carly, a coworker of mine, to Pyeongchang, a city a couple hours away that hosts an ice fishing festival and also has a several mountains for skiing and snowboarding. I have been hesitant to go snowboarding here in Korea because I have been spoiled with all the mountains so close to Spokane. It was a very good trip though, the mountain was surprisingly not crowded and the mountain had a couple inches of powder to play on. The only downside was the hotel Carly's friend booked was a good 30-45 minutes from the mountain which made it a $30 cab ride each way.
There is a ton more that I can write about and loads more pictures and videos to post but I will try to write more often now that things are starting to slow down (only to speed back up again in 2 weeks when we have a new term).
My contract here is over June 1, however, I like it here. I like it quite a lot. The children are amazing and a huge part of my life. The thought of leaving them after only one more quarter is very saddening. It is because of this that, and a couple of other reasons, such as the familiarity of things here and the good pay; I want to stay here for a second year. I have only mentioned this briefly to my boss but I would like to stay here at Chungdahm in Ansan for one more full year. I do not think it will be possible to go home for a break first, if I did it would only be for a week or maybe two at the most but in all reality, I will probably just keep on teaching without a break. Which is fine for me. There are several things I miss about America, like being able to chat with random people on the street and read menus and street signs places. Having a car is always nice and other things like campfires and my good friends back in Washington. But most of my friends are spread out all over the world as well. I would hate to end such a great job and life here only to go back to living in Fishtrap for another year subbing in Sprague and the odd tech job (no offense to Sprague or Fishtrapians, but one year there has taught me a lot about where I want to be in the world right now, and although Korea was not on my list before, it does have a place in my heart now).
I have thought about staying now for quite some time and am 99% sure I am going to sign a one year contract and 85% sure I will stay the entire year. I can always leave early with only minor consequences. After another 6 months here I will have the funds I want to travel. It is still too far away to know if I will go to Thailand straight away or come home before traveling.
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