Later that day...

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Later that day Tobama Teacher showed me around the city a bit, and bought me a hamburger and fries, again with the american food. The burger was a little different, an interesting sweet terryaki sauce and the meat was softer than an american burger. We walked for about an hour in a big circle, he showing me where a bank was, the super market, bus station and hospital, all while helping read korean and showing me some useful phrases. Sunday I had to myself, and I rested for most of it, finally really resetting my body clock. Monday the director and many of the students were on there trip to Japan, so it was just Tobama Teacher and Chinese Teacher (don't really know what her name is, names are so different and difficult here) and the day went smoothly and quickly as all classes drew on balloons for Childrens Day. Tuesday was another holiday (Children's day), and I was invited to go on a hike with Tobama, his friend Sum and Chinese Teacher. It wasn't a long hike, but an insufficient breakfast sent me into exhaustion about halfway up. Some peanuts and water and about ten minutes of rest set me straight, and we continued up the trail. We had lunch at a cute park at the top of the hill, and toasted with a drink of Makoli (a type of rice wine, about the alcohol content of beer) as is customary upon reaching the apex of a climb. I was spent when we got back, and napped and read away the evening. The next day the honey moon was over and I was left alone with the kindergartners who eventually spun out of my control. There were tears and a stern scolding from Mommy Teacher, but it was needed for them to take me seriously. Along with the tears came some happiness as it was Father Teachers birthday, and we had a cake and sang some songs. The next night after school the staff of the Hagwon went out for his birthday dinner. It was an immense never ending meal where we consumed at least twenty different dishes over about seven courses. The most interesting dish had to be the still squirming octopus tentacles, the suckers would latch on to your chop sticks. I tried to eat a piece, but wasn't very successful, my gag reflex overcome by the slimy movement in my mouth. Most of the dishes were seafood, most raw, the one still moving. The raw fish was good, wrapped in a lettuce leaf with a slice of chili and garlic and some spicy sauce. There were snails that had to be spun out of their shells with a toothpick, and small hardboiled eggs. Some were strange, most were delicious, but call me old fashioned, my favorite was when they brought out a fish charred by the heat of a grill. It was a feast and an experience and I fell asleep that night with a pleasantly swollen belly. The next day was spent making cards to the students parents, as Friday was the schools parents day. I had to prepare the kindergartners for a demonstration to their parents, reciting vocabulary relating to a cookie house (gingerbread house); It is a door, it is a roof, today we are making cookie houses. The next day the display went well. The kindergartners and their parents made gingerbread houses, but it was king of sad, we made an example with a cardboard frame and hot glue, what a waste of candy! When the parents made theirs they used syrup, but still the cardboard frame kind of ruined the tasty treat that you can usually enjoy at the end of the process. Nonetheless the parents and little ones seemed to enjoy themselves, and there were some nice looking houses. With my first full week down I am set to start my own classes on monday. I am a little nervous, but there is a well established curriculum, and the students are good, so it shouldn't be a problem. And I can always get Mommy Teacher to drop the hammer if things get out of hand.

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Photos

Hikin
Left to right: Tobama, Sum, Chinese Teacher

Over the hills
The hike starts

And through the wods
The hike continues

A lamp pole
It kinda looked like Chronicles of Narnia

Geochang
A good view of the city

More hike
Nice forest

A playground
It's like theres a park on the side of a mountain (hill really, but it was pretty big)

Movin
Me being a goof

Me on the rocks
There was this cool foot massage thing made out of smooth rocks. Nice after a steep climb

Me and Toba
yup

Makoli
Traditional cheers and the pinnacle of a hike

The gang
A successfull toast

More
Another pic for good measure

The descent
Lovely area

Comments

[danaan]

crazy
always trips me out about how much south korea looks like parts of california