White Water and Mountain Views

Hey friends! A lot has happened in the past week- I love my life in Korea more and more every day- let me tell you about it!

Last week I observed classes to get a better feel on what teaching would really be like. There are 2 other new teachers and we all went to training for our franchise on Tuesday and Thursday. We did some mock teaching there and then at the end of the week we did mock teaching for our boss and started teaching parts of other teacher’s classes. They eased us in teaching, which was really helpful.

Everyone who is here on a E2 visa has to get a medical check up in order to become a registered alien. I had heard its super complicated and was not looking forward to it. I went with one of the other new teachers and it actually was not so bad. Everyone in the hospital spoke English- PTL! I go back tomorrow to get the results- and then I can send my stuff off to immigration.

Saturday was the bomb digity- seriously- the best day here so far

First we went WHITE WATER RAFTING with a group from New Harvest (the church we’ve been going to). It was a 2hr bus ride out of the city into the beautiful countryside.

After a big Korean lunch we divided into boats and got on the river.

Our boat was by far the most fun boat. There was a Canadian, South African, French, Koreans, Korean Americans, and plain ole Americans all in one boat. It was crazy! So much fun. We are pretty sure our guide was drunk- which made our trip even more wild- but fun =)

Jamie, Me, and Reuel

First stop was to jump off a cliff- so fun. Koreans just jump in without yelling- but us American girls weren’t so quiet. It was so fun- what a great feeling.

Like I said we think our guide was was drunk- the water was kinda low- to make the trip interesting he did things like putting us into rapids sideways- in one rapid I went over board along with 2 other guys in our boat. I got pretty beat up by the rocks and my sunglasses were destroyed- but it was really funny and well worth it.

Later the guide had us all put our paddles in the boat and everyone had to move to the back of the boat and hold on to each other- and this set him up to pull us all into the the water. This started a 10 minute long wrestling match. People would climb back into the boat and fight- and push each other out- so fun- I felt like I was 10 again.

I’m so thankful that we went on this trip and just thankful in general that I get to live this cool life.

We were wiped after- and had the BEST burgers for dinner.

We did not get back to our side of town till about 9pm- and I still had to move from the hotel to my apartment. My coworker and really great friend Reuel helped me move everything and find my apt. My apartment is really nice and only 5 minutes from work. It’s bigger than I thought and I even has a couch. Even better is that I have a shower stall. This is a big deal here. Most bathrooms just have a toilet, sink, and shower head. You just hold the shower head and the water goes all over the floor of your bathroom. But I got lucky- I have a stall that contains the water and my whole bathroom does not get wet =) yay!

my SHOWER!

the kitchen

The BEST part is the view- I’ve never had a mountain view except on vacations- ahhh- it will never get old.

I’m a very happy girl =)

I started teaching Monday. I have 3 different classes on MWF and 3 on T/Th. So far the kinds are really good. We are known to have some naughty ones here, but we had a lot of fun and they were well behaved. The youngest ones are probably my favorites. They are really cute when they talk and say the funniest things. They have lots of questions for me too. I love my students- I can't wait to see them progress and have fun durring the semester. I love that I get to be a part of their lives =)

Hopefully I'll have some funny stories about my students soon!

26 million people. Mexican Food. Church.

Jamie and I had an awesome weekend- let me tell you about it.

Saturday we headed into Seoul. We took the bus and metro with out getting lost! PTL- all the stops are called out in Korean on the bus- so I just have to pay really close attention.

Our first stop was here

Namsangol Hanok Village.

It’s a traditional Korean village that has been rebuilt right in the center of Seoul. It was really beautiful and nice to walk around.

We had a F.A.B. lunch and my new fave place in Korea- Paris Baguette. They have one on every corner here. LOVE IT.

Later we walked up the biggest hill ever to get to the cable car that would take us up to the highest point in the city where the Seoul N tower is. From the top we got a 360 view of the city- and that’s when I started to realize just how big this place it. There are 26 MILLION people in the metro area of Seoul. Everywhere you look there is just apartment building after apartment building and it goes on as far as the eye can see through the smog.

We even saw some ninjas.

Later we went to Indongwon street- and did some shopping before we decided or feet had enough for the day.

Sunday morning we meet one of my coworkers Reuel to church. Reuel is Korean American and the perfect friend to have in Korea. She speaks English and Korean and understands both American and Korean culture. SO thankful for her. We took the bus about 45 mins across town to a really nice part of Seoul where the Church is. Before the service we had lunch at Dos Tacos- O.M.G. they have MEXICAN FOOD here??? So good. Tasted just like home. I hope we go there every Sunday.

The Church service was really good. I did not have high expectations- I have been going to some awesome churches back home and kinda told myself I would not find that here. The worship was so good. The message was great. Everything was in English. The church was about 70% Korean 30% western. I loved it! Jamie and I could not stop taking about how happy we were.

And get this- we signed up to go WHITE WATER RAFTING Saturday with the church- I am SO stoked!

I got to see where Jamie lives and we had really good porridge for dinner and went for a really good walk and just raved about how good the weekend was.

I’m observing teachers all week. I’m really anxious to get up and teach- and move into my apartment. Hopefully all that happens soon!

Never a dull moment

Let me tell you about the adventure I had to get here- Hotel ON in Uiwang, South Korea.

First- Dad and I miss calculated how much time we need to get to the airport. So I got to the Orlando airport 45 mins before my flight left. Security was OUTRAGOUS. I thought I was screwed. But being a pilot’s kid has some perks- like using the employee line at security. So we skipped the huge line and when we walked up to the gate we started boarding. PTL- I made it. Saying goodbye to my dad was hard, and I think at that moment I had saved all my tears from all the goodbyes I had to say over the past weeks- so that was not so pretty. It was the moment where it finally hit that I would be gone for a whole year. I had a 3hr flight to Chicago to think about that.

After walking a thousand miles (with a 40lb backpack) all over the Chicago airport I got to the international terminal. I meet about 20 kids my age that were all going over to teach English before getting on the plane- and I sat next to 2 of them. Awesome. It was so fun chatting with them and we were all getting excited about teaching. The flight from Chicago to Seoul was 14hrs but it went by rather fast.

After arriving and passing through customs I was told someone would meet me and take me to a bus. After a lot of confusion I got on a bus. After the bus started pulling away I pulled out my papers to check where I had to get off. A Korean man sitting next to me asked me where I was going and he told me that I was on the WRONG BUS- awesome. So he called the director of my program and arranged for a driver to meet me at the station where the bus was going- thank you Jesus for that man- seriously- there are some VERY kind people in this country.

I meet my driver at the bus station and she took me to my hotel- which is a whole blog post in it’s self- so I’ll save that for later =) That night 2 American teachers from my school meet me at the hotel and showed me around the school and neighborhood. I’ll take pictures this weekend and post them. The city I am in is smaller- but VERY urban and very asian- it’s hard to describe- look out for pictures.

Needless to say I PASSED out once I got home. I had not really slept in about 30hrs, so sleep felt good.

This morning I went out to find my breakfast- that ended up being a doughnut-ish thing from 7-11. I found a little park and ate there. This city has mountains on all sides- and there are some awesome views. I REALLY love mountains- so I am very happy.

I was at school from 11:30- 7:30 today observing teachers. It made me really excited to teach. Everyone is really nice and the kids are so funny. I won’t start teaching for another week- I’ll just train and observe this next week.

I’m off to go pick up Jamie from the metro station- she lives about 25 mins away. I’m REALLY excited to see her. She is going to stay with me at my swanky hotel this weekend and I’m sure we will find fun things to do.

Peace Out USA

Today was my last day in America for the next 365 days- crazy and I did not even know it till I woke up this morning… let me tell you a little about my past week.

Monday- bought my plane ticket- cha ching

Tuesday night- Find out I will be working at a different school

Wednesday- Find out they want to change my plane ticket to fly out 2 days later on 8/19

Friday- Still waiting to hear about the news about my new ticket

Sunday/Monday- said all my Orlando “see ya laters”

Tuesday (THIS) morning 8:30am- Found and email from the director in Korea- I leave tomorrow (8/17) at 6:53am- HOLY.COW.

Realization after reading – I have less than 24 hrs left in America…

Needless to say I jumped out of bed and have not stopped moving until now. I was thinking that they really were going to change my ticket to Friday and I had all the time in the world. Just kidding. I had things to put in my parents storage unit, the oil in my car needed to be changed, laundry needed to be done, I wanted to make sure I had all my travel info together.

Then I look over the last email from Korea

“ps. Please don't forget to bring a set of your degrees(1 original Degree and 1 Apostillized copy of it). That's necessary for your another registration in Korea.”

Umm excuse me? What is this?

So- a month or so ago I drove to Tallahassee (5 hrs each way) to get my diploma apostilled by the state (it’s basically a super important notary). I mailed that to Korean immigration so I could get a visa.

Today at 1pm I find out that I need another diploma apostilled for the Ministry of Education. Yeah- not gonna happen

I have awesome parents who are going to mail my diploma to tally and then to me in Korea- what would I do with out them

I will be up in less than 5 hours to leave for the airport- don’t think ill sleep much tonight. I fly to Chicago then I leave at noon central time for Seoul. 14 hours later I’ll arrive- and the REAL adventure will start.

It’s not really hitting me yet- I think it probably will somewhere over the pacific.

One last think I want to tell you about- I had the BEST dinner tonight-

Drink: Pomegranate Margarita

Appetizer: Shrimp and Lobster dip

Entre: Steak and shrimp with a loaded baked potato

I like leaving the country- gives you an excuse to forget anything you ever learned about dieting for a night ;)

Anyways- I best go zip up my bags and try to sleep a little- haha- yeah right

Change of Plans

Steps to become a teacher in Korea

1. Interview with a recruiter in the US

2. Interview with schools in Korea

3. Accept the job you want

4. Get fingerprinted and send it to the FBI

5. Drive to your state capital to get an apostille (that was 9 hrs of driving for me)

6. Pay way too much to FedEx a bunch of paperwork to immigration in Korea

7. Get approved by immigration in Korea

8. Apply for a visa and mail docs to the nearest consulate

9. Get your passport back with the visa inside!

10. Pack your life into 100 lbs worth of luggage- ugh

11. Buy a ticket!

12. Get on the plane!

So I’ve been doing really well and I got all my stuff done. I’ve had my visa for a few weeks. I bought my ticket. I’m totally packed. I could leave now if I needed to.

BUT last night my recruiter called- at 10pm. Strange. He told me that the school I was going to be working at had to cut back the number of teachers in the fall…and I was the one they would cut =/ I was bummed… really bummed.

This school that I was originally working at is the same school my friend Tommy works at- and my friend Jamie lives near by in the same city. One of the big reasons why I was going was because I would be near my friends.

My recruiter offered me another job at the next city north of Suwon (where my original school is) called Anyang City right away. I can be in Suwon in 25 mins via metro…not so bad I guess. I’ve decided there has to be a good reason behind this. I don’t really understand why yet, but I trust that it will be good. I am really close to Seoul (only like 20mins via metro) and I can still hangout with my friends.

AND I’m not teaching middle school anymore- I’ll be teaching elementary- which was my preference originally =) so I’m excited.

I knew this was going to be an adventure, and adventures never go exactly as planned, or they aren’t really adventures- so the adventure starts NOW! I’m excited!

The "A" is the city where I'll be living now- halfway between Seoul and Suwon

Downtown

Anyang City

my new home

PS- the city has mountains on all 4 sides- I'm ok with that =)