South Korean Adventure Begins...

After a panicked packing, I sat on a flight to South Korea, questioning the intelligence of my decision. I spent a good part of my 15 hours of travel feeling sad, small and lonely. Once I landed in Korea, I was much too tired to feel anything except tiredness - I was picked up at the airport and whisked off to my school. There I met with Sean (the bilingual director/teacher) and 'President' from my school. We went out for dinner - to make a long story short, my apartment wasn't ready so I had to move in with two Aussies for the first 5 days of my stay.

I spent the first two days observing the all-star teacher, Chris, who'd been at the school for 4 years and all the kids and other teachers seemed to love. It was good to see they way he taught, but kinda bad because it meant I also took over his schedule which is something like 138 hours a month (my contract's for 120), so I'll be making mad overtime, but burnt out.

First impressions of Korea?

1) I was pretty underwhelmed when I arrived.. but not in a bad way. I compare this to my trip to China which was completely overwhelming in size, noise, colour, etc. when we arrived. Korea is Asian and foreign but very clean and modern seeming - and despite being crowded is not nearly as crowded as China. However this could also be because I am used to living in an Asian environment...
2) Koreans are hard workers. The amount of hours they put in is nothing like I would ever do.
3) Koreans REALLY like their kimchi...and I mean REALLY.
4) While technology is very advanced here, sometimes communication is not. Took a week and a bit to get a phone installed and when it finally was, they installed a phone that didn't work. Also, my washing machine was put in and nestled against the wall without the hoses hooked up.
5) Korea is possibly the most Confucious place left on earth. Kids and adults alike will solve small or major problems with a game of rock-paper-scissors. Kids here are quick to get destroyed if someone wins a game or ends up with more points. Over the course of a class, I give out stars, but must sneakily finda way for everyone in the class to tie by the end or there will be a catastrophe of tears and upset.
6) I will lose my voice from yelling in about a week, I'm sure of it.
7) Sometimes kicking kids out of class is really satisfying.
8) Kids have no qualms about groping and touching me.
9) The Korean language is the hardest language to learn that I've ever tried. After a week here, I've only managed to pick up "Yes, no, thank you, hello and good bye".