A Serious Update... Meaning Long...

I've successfully made it through week one! By successfully I mean that I got through this week without breaking down in tears or sending one of my students to the hospital. And please believe me when I say that there was much to cry about. However, to spare you all the gruesome details, I'll share with you one thing that really hurts my feelings... yes, hurts my feelings. My students mock and make fun of me. Ugh. They tauntingly repeat certain words or phrases I say. They also say things in Korean like "She's Korean, why doesn't she speak Korean!" or "She's not American! Look at her!" I understand everything they say, but must act ignorant of the language because it's regulation to speak only English here. I tell you, kids these days... it's a good thing that we're allowed to have a sense of humor...

I teach 19 classes per week, and I see each class once per week for only 45 minutes. Obviously, it's not enough to teach much. But English conversation is a very low priority for these students, as I don't even test them and they have so many other exams to focus on. What this means is that I teach the same lesson 19 times per week. This week was the worst because it was an "Introduction to Miss Linda" lesson. What does this mean? It means that I explained that I was from Washington D.C. the city, not the state 19 times... I also repeated my favorite color, number and food 19 times. Same words, same jokes, etc. I also teach the English teachers (native Koreans) once a week for an hour. This will be more of a discussion time where the Korean English teachers can ask me questions and have an opportunity to participate in an English conversation with a native speaker. Also, starting next week, I will hold two conversation classes per week with advanced students.

There are some drawbacks, but there are, as in life, those moments that just make you smile. When I allow the classes to ask me any question they want, the following are a given:
1. How old are you?
2. Are you married? (No) Do you have a boyfriend?
3. What's his name / Is he handsome?
4. How much do you weigh?
Okay, well the last one, only one class asked, but it was pretty funny. I've also been asked for my cellphone number a few times by the students... middle school, pimply, snot-nosed things. Also, when I ask the class "Hello! How are you?" Automatically, and in unison, and in one breath, they answer "I'm-fine-thank-you-how-are-you?" And one last thing that makes me smile: they don't call me Miss Linda or Linda Teacher as I asked them to. They call me "teacher," and I love it.

As for my apartment, it's huge. I heard of one of the other SMOE teachers who said he could spread out his arms and touch the opposing walls. I was blessed with a living room, separate bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. I'll post a video of it as soon as I can.

I've been busy meeting new people and getting to know the city. There's an open market that I walk through after school every day and there is temptation at every booth. Sausages, donuts, rice cake, fresh fruit... it takes all of my effort to contain myself and not buy everything in sight!

And, before I sign off, I will share two very important things about Seoul:
1. Seoul does not have nice, evenly paved sidewalks -- yet 98% of women walk around all day in heels. I kid you not, it's both ridiculous and amazing. My friends and I sat for about 15 minutes looking at women's feet. Of the thousands (okay, hundreds) that walked by, only a handful, maybe five did not wear heels.
2. Seoul is the mecca of couples. Everywhere you turn, there is a couple, sometimes with matching t-shirts, holding hands and being couple-y. PDA is rampant in this city.