As promised, here is the video of not only my apartment, but also a short jaunt around the block where my apartment is located. Enjoy all!
Love,
K
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuGY_D11eag
Saturday, 18 February 2012
Annyeong!!
Welcome, welcome, welcome!! Welcome to the wonderful land of the red sun!
The first shot is of suburbs surrounding Incheon, while the last two are of Yeosu and the ocean surrounding it.
I have made it, and am having an interesting time! I've already met some great new friends and orientation so far has been good; a fair amount of repeat from my TEFL cert. course in Prague, but I would rather have to do orientation rather than just be dumped in and told "these are your students, good luck". I was super jetlagged on Thursday when I met my co-teacher who has been replaced with one that I have not met yet. I met my vice principal, which was sudden, but I did the formalities other than bring a gift. I settled into my apartment and my co-teacher took me to Lotte mart to get some food and other supplies (like a comforter) but I was so jetlagged that I didn't really take stock of anything in the store, which was unfortunate. So because it was his last day on Thursday, I had to take a taxi to orientation on Friday morning, which wasn't too bad; the drivers are quite scary though. They all run red lights (even buses), they don't wear seatbelts, and they don't use signal lights when they cut infront of other vehicles. A bit scary at some times, but I feel I've already adjusted to that part anyways.
Then I went grocery shopping yesterday to Lotte mart again, because it's so close (around 20 mins walk from my apartment) and I walked around leisurely for about an hour. I got some fruits, a kettle, a hairdryer and other things I needed. I was stopped on my way home by this older man who wanted to talk with me because I was a foreigner, however he did not speak any english, and me having no communication skills in Korean, or any other skills other than a few survival words, it was pretty awkward. So I got out of that situation as fast as I could, and booked it home.
All the people I passed each day would walk by and keep staring at me, cranning their necks around to get a good look at the blonde haired foreigner that I was. I was prepared for it, as a Canadian couple that I follow on youtube and their website, simon and martina (eatyourkimchi.com) made me aware of the likelihood of that happening. So I just bow and give a small closed mouth smile, and keep walking. They seem to like the fact that I bow, and they return the bow and sometimes say hello in passing.
I will be putting up a video later today of my apartment so that you all can check it out (and how small it is). So look forward to that. For now, I give you some fun pictures of my time so far here. Enjoy!
Love,
K.
my phone that was waiting for me at Incheon airport through thearrivalstore.com
a doughnut from dunkin dounuts in Gimpo airport, waiting for our flight to Yeosu.
Joelle on the tour bus we got to ride in on our way to orientation.
Orientation classroom; they also had out bread and jam for a light breakfast.
On the front cover of our notebook that we got in orientation.
Lemonade drink bottle.
Kiddie chopsticks.
Ramyeon with kimchi, carrots and red pepper paste.... super spicy, had to drink a fair amount of milk with it!
The first shot is of suburbs surrounding Incheon, while the last two are of Yeosu and the ocean surrounding it.
I have made it, and am having an interesting time! I've already met some great new friends and orientation so far has been good; a fair amount of repeat from my TEFL cert. course in Prague, but I would rather have to do orientation rather than just be dumped in and told "these are your students, good luck". I was super jetlagged on Thursday when I met my co-teacher who has been replaced with one that I have not met yet. I met my vice principal, which was sudden, but I did the formalities other than bring a gift. I settled into my apartment and my co-teacher took me to Lotte mart to get some food and other supplies (like a comforter) but I was so jetlagged that I didn't really take stock of anything in the store, which was unfortunate. So because it was his last day on Thursday, I had to take a taxi to orientation on Friday morning, which wasn't too bad; the drivers are quite scary though. They all run red lights (even buses), they don't wear seatbelts, and they don't use signal lights when they cut infront of other vehicles. A bit scary at some times, but I feel I've already adjusted to that part anyways.
Then I went grocery shopping yesterday to Lotte mart again, because it's so close (around 20 mins walk from my apartment) and I walked around leisurely for about an hour. I got some fruits, a kettle, a hairdryer and other things I needed. I was stopped on my way home by this older man who wanted to talk with me because I was a foreigner, however he did not speak any english, and me having no communication skills in Korean, or any other skills other than a few survival words, it was pretty awkward. So I got out of that situation as fast as I could, and booked it home.
All the people I passed each day would walk by and keep staring at me, cranning their necks around to get a good look at the blonde haired foreigner that I was. I was prepared for it, as a Canadian couple that I follow on youtube and their website, simon and martina (eatyourkimchi.com) made me aware of the likelihood of that happening. So I just bow and give a small closed mouth smile, and keep walking. They seem to like the fact that I bow, and they return the bow and sometimes say hello in passing.
I will be putting up a video later today of my apartment so that you all can check it out (and how small it is). So look forward to that. For now, I give you some fun pictures of my time so far here. Enjoy!
Love,
K.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Connection!!
Good Morning All!
I have now been up since 4:00 AM Alberta time; very early to make my 8:10 AM flight out of Calgary connecting through Vancouver, which is where I am at the moment.
Yummy chilled green tea!!
My flight was a bit delayed, but I planned for 3 hours for my layover just in case my flight was delayed, or I had to go through security in Vancouver instead of Calgary. Turns out, it was a good choice in the matter.
It was very surreal these past two weeks, packing and prepping to essentially move my life half way across the world into an unknown situation with unknown people. I had optimistic days, and I had days where I went crazy, and even had a dream that when I got there, my co-workers and co-teachers didn't like me, the students hated me, and my boss said I was a horrible teacher and thus fired me. Not exactly a great dream to wake up from.
But, talking to some teacher friends of mine (shout out! Kristy and Kevin!) they had both had similar dreams before starting school each year, which calmed me vey much so. I spend my remaining time with family and friends, celebrating not only my own, but my nieces and my grandma's birthdays early, as I would be away for all three.
But I am suprisingly calm on this journey right now, and I am excited to start this next new chapter in my life. To explore the diverse locations that will be presented to me in a short while.
So, enjoy, kahmsamnida, and annyeong!!!
K
I have now been up since 4:00 AM Alberta time; very early to make my 8:10 AM flight out of Calgary connecting through Vancouver, which is where I am at the moment.
Yummy chilled green tea!!
My flight was a bit delayed, but I planned for 3 hours for my layover just in case my flight was delayed, or I had to go through security in Vancouver instead of Calgary. Turns out, it was a good choice in the matter.
It was very surreal these past two weeks, packing and prepping to essentially move my life half way across the world into an unknown situation with unknown people. I had optimistic days, and I had days where I went crazy, and even had a dream that when I got there, my co-workers and co-teachers didn't like me, the students hated me, and my boss said I was a horrible teacher and thus fired me. Not exactly a great dream to wake up from.
But, talking to some teacher friends of mine (shout out! Kristy and Kevin!) they had both had similar dreams before starting school each year, which calmed me vey much so. I spend my remaining time with family and friends, celebrating not only my own, but my nieces and my grandma's birthdays early, as I would be away for all three.
But I am suprisingly calm on this journey right now, and I am excited to start this next new chapter in my life. To explore the diverse locations that will be presented to me in a short while.
So, enjoy, kahmsamnida, and annyeong!!!
K
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