Getting Used to Things

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So I've taught my own classes for over a week now and I'm really getting the hang out it. But not gym. I don't think I'll ever get used to the gym classes here. There's always kids running everywhere and I don't know all of their names yet since I don't teach the kindergarten kids regularly. They also play some pretty risky games. Dodgeball is pretty common, though I'm not sure it's a brilliant idea in a room that has a lot of computers. The computers are also a problem for one of my gym classes b/c one of the kids loves pulling the cords out of the computers and flipping switches, etc. Basically I spend my time watching him like a hawk while the other teacher runs the gym class. Another game the kids LOVE is called chicken fight. We lay down some mats and 2 kids will stand on the mats, jump around on one leg and try to knock each other over. It's hilarious to watch, but this game would never be played in the US.

I went to E-mart twice this week to pick up new things for my apartment. E-mart is basically a giant, slightly higher-end Wal-mart. There are 4 floors and I've explored one side of two floors so far. I'm pretty sure it would take me an entire week to explore the whole thing. I've found it pretty easy to tell what things are since a lot of the cans/bottles/boxes have English translations on them, at least to tell you what they are. If they don't, you can sometimes work out what it is by sounding out the Korean label. I picked up a bottle of what I assumed was shaving cream (I think a logical choice, since it was on a shelf with other kinds of shaving cream and razors) but found out that it was some sort of a spray. I read the label and it said "dae-o-deu-ran-teu seu-peu-rae-ee" so it was deoderant spray. I found this kind of hilarious because everyone always complains that it's difficult to find deoderant in Korea. Apparently people don't really use it. But I found it ON ACCIDENT. So it can't be that hard.

I have to go to the hospital for a physical to get my Alien Registration Card. I went on Tuesday, but they had changed the hours of the clinic AND it snowed so the highways were a mess. So I went back on Thursday, finished all of my tests and all of the sudden the lady who took my blood came into the room, asked me when my last period was, and then proceeded to have a very loud, very fast conversation with my boss and the other nurse in the room. I pretty much knew that I wasn't going to get my card at that point. She says there's something wrong with my blood, so I have to go back next Tuesday. In the meantime I am still without a bank account and a cellphone. Very frustrating. Also frustrating was that the nurse talked to another one of my bosses and told her the problem could be allergy medication. Why couldn't she have asked me that when I was there?!? That would have cleared up a lot of the problem. But the hospital is really efficient. You just walk into whichever room you need and they get it all done for you. I had a chest x-ray, blood sample, urine sample, height/weight check, blood pressure test, hearing and vision tests and it was all done in probably less than a half hour.

Yesterday I went with some of the other teachers to a restaurant called Burger Hunter. To me, it was an OK bacon cheeseburger, but the other teachers were freaking out about how good it is. I'm pretty sure that I have to be here longer to truly appreciate it. But I got to see Metapolis, which is a new giant apartment building/shopping mall/movie theather/ ice rink. LOTS of restaurants b/c they have the entire food court and a restaurant called VIPS (just say vips, not the initials) that I guess serves American food? From my investigating I've determined that they sell meat, predominantly. And salad. One of my students told me their favorite food is salad. That's so weird. Another girl said rice. I told them my favorite food is pizza and they told me I'll get fat.

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Comments

[Aunt Peggy]

Blog
Really enjoying your blog - very well written and so informative. Thanks for setting this up and taking the time keeping us up on your happenings. Things in Tucson are settling down a little after the shooting of Congresswoman Giffords. She was transferred to a rehab facility in Houston, TX today with no hitch. It'll be 2 weeks tomorrow it all happened and amazingly she survived let alone being move already! It is amazing. I know 2 of the victims that were shot but lived. One went to church with us at one time and the other man, Ron Barber I worked with for 12 years through my state service! One never believes you would know anyone in an incident like this. Grandma and Grandpa are doing great and enjoying the warm tucson weather. Its fun having family around. They were over for lunch today and then ALL of them took over an hour nap - I just stayed quiet so they could all sleep. Too funny. Much love and keep up the good work.

[Aunt Catherine]

It's COLD!!!!!
Hi, how ya doing? I'm really like this blogging thing. I have always heard of it, but never understood how it works.As you can tell I'm very cold. It's only 16 degrees this morning down here in the south and they say it might snow tomorrow. Weather guy says its the coldest its been in 15 years. Aren't I lucky??!! I moved down here all those years ago to get away from this.We moved the second week of Jan and it was cold and rainy then. Not as cold as today, but cold anyway. It's only suppose to get to 32 today. Did your mom tell you Andy and Jill had the baby? Mason Robert O'Neal on Jan 15th. I think he looks like Jill. Of course he's very cute. Do you have a Facebook account? They posted pictures there. Grandma and Grandpa will be here in a couple of weeks after their stay in AZ. Can't wait to see them and show them the new place. When I was unpacking, I came across a bunch of pictures you drew for me over the years and the cards you made. To cute. Sounds like you have your hands full with your students. the game "chicken fight" definitely would never ever be allowed in the states. But sounds like you're having fun. I envy the fact that you have been able to do all the international traveling that you have done, so far. I still remember my trip to England/Scotland in my senior year, wayyyyyyy back in the mid-70's LOL. I love you and can't wait to hear from you again.