First day of work!

---

Yesterday was my first day of work. It was AMAZING!!! The feeling was almost surreal. I have imagined this job in my head over and over, and it was nothing like I had dreamed - it was better! I know all of this sounds really, dangerously cheesy, but please bear with me here. This is the thing that I have wanted to do for about 5 or 6 years now - since I found out that teaching abroad was an option. I can't even tell you how great it feels to do the thing I've been dying to do for so long, to make a check on that list of things to do before I die.

I know I've been pretty vague up to this point, so let me throw some details on you.

First off, despite my adventures in Ilsan, the people I work with are spectacular, interesting, caring human beings who genuinely love what they do here and want to help in any way they can. The guy in charge of our excursion to Ilsan brought me a pizza of apology and made sure (about 50 times) that I was okay, I wasn't hurt, and that I didn't wish death upon any of them. Of course, I don't.

Of all the classes I was set to observe yesterday (music by geography, survival English, General Knowledge, and Limbo), every co-teacher had me participate in some way so that, by Limbo time at the end of the day, I was leading with the rest of them. I got to give intsructions, teach dances (waltz, jive), give stickers, keep score, and interact with the kids on a one-on-one basis.

The kids are great, too. Some of them know a lot of English, some of them only know a little. Some of them are totally pumped to learn, some of them need a significant amount of motivation. That's where I shine the most, I feel. The more energy I have, the more energy they have. If there are sleepers, I have them get up and stretch it out with me, maybe go for a jog. If they don't understand what I'm saying, or I them, we work it out together by pointing and drawing. Then I teach them how to say it in English as well as how to ask how to say something in English.

I'm learning some survival Korean, which is a lot of fun. I remember some of what I learn and forget lots too, but it's okay. I'll be here for a year, so I have plenty of time to learn. My theory of my cabinets doubling as dry erase boards turned out to be true! So I have a prominent place to write my Korean alphabet so that I can see it and study it every day. I think I'm going to go do that now, before I have to get ready for work.

That's another thing - you all should be so proud of me! I don't work until 1pm everyday, but I've been getting up at 8:30am like clockwork. It's great because I have time to do things like laundry and exploring and writing travel blogs before I head off to work for the day!

I love you all so very, very much.
-Meg

I loved every sweaty, exhausting minute of it and when I finally got off work yesterday at 9pm, I washed my face, took out my contacts, put on some pjs and collapsed into bed, smiling.

---

Comments

[Rachel pearson]

Yay!
I'm so happy for you I hope everything goes amazing your whole stay and remember we miss you, and we are almost juniors!! Two more days!! Anyways have a great time good luck, Rachel

[Emily]

So happy for you!
What an experience! I'm so glad you are happy and doing what you love. Do everything you can to commit these moments to long term memory. Hold on to it when things get tough... remember how excited you are right now. That'll get you through :) Love you bunches!!!

[Spencer]

It's my turn to be proud...
I am really glad that things are going so well for you, I knew you were going to love it once you got into the actual teaching aspect of things. I'm definitely going to be hitting you up for pointers (I teach for the first time tomorrow!). Anyway just thought I'd leave a comment. lovelovelovelove, from your biggest fan. -S