So I know I promised a digital camera and pictures in this post. But being a huge letdown is one of my hobbies, and I totally managed to NOT have any pictures for you today! I actually went shopping for digital cameras, and found a good, reasonably priced one. That one was sold out. So I found a second-best camera (reasonably priced). That one was sold out. So I found a marginally acceptable one for more money. That one burned down, fell over, sank into the swamp and was sold out. So I went home without one. I’m considering just getting a really good cell phone that can double as a camera, then all of you can see pictures of my adventures WHILE I’m telling you about them- how cool would that be?
On to more important news.
I’ve been to my school a few times and I’m out of training days. When I show up tomorrow, It will be as Jeff Teacher (still getting used to that one.) The substitute they had filling my spot until I came signed out for good today, so from here on in I’m flyin solo (solo). Some of my classes will be rowdy kindergarteners, some angsty middle-schoolers, and everything in between. Some notable highlights from my school experience so far:
1. Teachers get food in the teachers’ lounge. But in Korea, that means Korean food. Today one of the options was literally garlic covered in red pepper sauce. Whoo boy. Also, Kimchi must be an aquired taste. The I-don’t-actually-like-this-but-I-do-it-anyway-because-everyone-else-does kind of acquired taste. You know, like smoking. Or driving a hybrid.
2. Starcraft. We had a lesson with a reading out of a textbook, and the lesson was on bees, and the head teacher asked the class if they knew what larvae were. The only reply? “like starcraft!”. I’M over my head in nerdiness.
3. When choosing English names, Koreans often pick those English names to which they are most often exposed. Most of that exposure comes from entertainment media. I’ll give four J-props to whoever can correctly guess the most popular male name and female name I’ve seen at the school so far. (I’ll give you a hint- you won’t like the answer unless you’re thirteen and a girl.)
I went to a Chinese restaurant today and ordered sweet and sour pork. Not the same cheap, gross, non-chinese stuff we get in America. Different cheap, gross, non-chinese stuff. I was actually able to order in Korean, until the cashier stumped me with a question (“for here or to go?”—but I didn’t know this at the time). Now I was well-dressed that day, and looking in need of assistance, and a group of girls who’d clearly been watching the entire drama, and studying English in school, came over to save the day with translations.
TRAVELER TIP: There’s more to life than being really really ridiculously good looking. But it sure helps get you out of tricky situations.
The character-based language is getting easier. I read a street sign to two of my coworkers today, and they were amazed and asked when I had learned that. The fact that I had started studying Korean AFTER I left the USA (that guidebook my parents got me has been indescribably helpful, thank you!!) helped alleviate their disappointment when I revealed the fact that I didn’t actually understand anything I’d just read.
The typhoon is supposed to hit in two weeks, I’ve been told. I’ve never seen a typhoon, so I’m excited to see one. Did you know that they have no tornados in Korea? Guess they’ve gotta get their entertainment somewhere….
Hopefully at the next post, I’ll have a phone, photos, and real teaching experience stories for you all!
Til next time,
Jeff
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
14 hours and a world
is how far away I am. I've flown 14 hours. I've travelled across fourteen time zones. But really, I'm in a different world. But let's begin where I began.
Midnight, Chicago.
I say goodbye to my family (who I was very happy to have there to see me off), and cross through security. Once on the other side and settled in, I proceed to wet myself. Not in the usual way. Not that I have a usual way. But I spill my water bottle all over my lap and begin my trip soggy. A good omen, I say! As I sit in the plane on the runway (to my surprise and good fortune), I discover that the young man sitting next to me is a Korean who has been living in America to study for college. Someone of my age, familiar with the two languages I'll be teaching and studying, and familiar with the differences between the two cultures.
TRAVEL TIP: talking to strangers is much easier and more necessary when alone. They know thtings you don't. Also, your friends won't see you say "an nyeong!" to someone who replies "hey, I'm from Chicago"
After sleeping on the plane, I study Korean for about an hour.
Pluses: has an alphabet. is phonetic. isn't chinese.
Minuses: not exactly ordered like English
I'll elaborate. To type my name out in english, it would read J-e-f-f D-a-v-i-s
If I were to order that like I was writing with Hangul, it would read,
Je D vi
f a s
Tricky? it's growing on me.
Then my new friend and I go on to discuss the differences I can expect from his culture. I learn many things.
1. Koreans aren't as big on their traditional games, but love baseball!
2. Internet is easy to find anywhere, if you can remember the Hangul characters for INTERNET.
3. Soju is a wonderful liquor, almost Korean roulette, as it's no surprise to buy two bottles and have one twice as strong as the other.
4. Do not, under any circumstances, discuss the goings-on in a Room Salon with a woman.
After my crash course in Korea and Korean, our flight arrives in Incheon. I watch on the screen as the magnificent 777 completes its beautiful arc on the map through Canada, Alaska, Eastern Russia, around a quick detour that avoids the upper half of the Korean peninsula for some reason (I'd assume atmospheric pressure, or prevailing southerly winds, or some science) before finally touching down on the island airport of Incheon.
As soon as we landed, the humidity hit. For anyone not familiar with East Asia meteorology, allow me explain. MONSOON. I had arrived in the season of rain. And rain it did. My friend from the plane and a professor I had met at the consulate collected their bags, shook hands with me, and we parted ways.
And then I was alone on the far side of the world.
for about seven minutes, when my contacts showed up. My recruiting agent and my boss picked me up and drove me to the apartment (which I"ll cover in the next post, when I can take pictures). My boss' GPS summed up the technology gap pretty well. Its screen was four times the size of my GPS'. It showed him every lane of the road with graphics better than some video games. And it told him how much money to get ready for each toll. Stunning.
Anyway, I've got to unpack before the Institute director shows up this afternoon.
'Til next time!
Jeff M. Davis
Midnight, Chicago.
I say goodbye to my family (who I was very happy to have there to see me off), and cross through security. Once on the other side and settled in, I proceed to wet myself. Not in the usual way. Not that I have a usual way. But I spill my water bottle all over my lap and begin my trip soggy. A good omen, I say! As I sit in the plane on the runway (to my surprise and good fortune), I discover that the young man sitting next to me is a Korean who has been living in America to study for college. Someone of my age, familiar with the two languages I'll be teaching and studying, and familiar with the differences between the two cultures.
TRAVEL TIP: talking to strangers is much easier and more necessary when alone. They know thtings you don't. Also, your friends won't see you say "an nyeong!" to someone who replies "hey, I'm from Chicago"
After sleeping on the plane, I study Korean for about an hour.
Pluses: has an alphabet. is phonetic. isn't chinese.
Minuses: not exactly ordered like English
I'll elaborate. To type my name out in english, it would read J-e-f-f D-a-v-i-s
If I were to order that like I was writing with Hangul, it would read,
Je D vi
f a s
Tricky? it's growing on me.
Then my new friend and I go on to discuss the differences I can expect from his culture. I learn many things.
1. Koreans aren't as big on their traditional games, but love baseball!
2. Internet is easy to find anywhere, if you can remember the Hangul characters for INTERNET.
3. Soju is a wonderful liquor, almost Korean roulette, as it's no surprise to buy two bottles and have one twice as strong as the other.
4. Do not, under any circumstances, discuss the goings-on in a Room Salon with a woman.
After my crash course in Korea and Korean, our flight arrives in Incheon. I watch on the screen as the magnificent 777 completes its beautiful arc on the map through Canada, Alaska, Eastern Russia, around a quick detour that avoids the upper half of the Korean peninsula for some reason (I'd assume atmospheric pressure, or prevailing southerly winds, or some science) before finally touching down on the island airport of Incheon.
As soon as we landed, the humidity hit. For anyone not familiar with East Asia meteorology, allow me explain. MONSOON. I had arrived in the season of rain. And rain it did. My friend from the plane and a professor I had met at the consulate collected their bags, shook hands with me, and we parted ways.
And then I was alone on the far side of the world.
for about seven minutes, when my contacts showed up. My recruiting agent and my boss picked me up and drove me to the apartment (which I"ll cover in the next post, when I can take pictures). My boss' GPS summed up the technology gap pretty well. Its screen was four times the size of my GPS'. It showed him every lane of the road with graphics better than some video games. And it told him how much money to get ready for each toll. Stunning.
Anyway, I've got to unpack before the Institute director shows up this afternoon.
'Til next time!
Jeff M. Davis
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