I'm finally winding down from my first crazy weekend in South Korea. I say first because I just know there are going to be many more by the looks of this past weekend! Again, a lot has happened, so only read if you have a lot of time!!!
I finished up my three days training at the YBM Headquarters building in downtown Seoul, near Insadong. They were long days of sitting in a really small, odd-shaped room with no A/C and bright glaring neon lights. But I learned a lot about the company, my job, and Korea. It really made me excited to start teaching in my school!
On Thursday morning during my commute to Seoul, the inevitable happened...an older man started speaking to me in Korean. Here's the conversation:
Man: Koreankoreankoreankoreankoreankorean
Me: (Stare) Sorry, I don't speak Korean.
Man: (Quizzical look on his face) English?
Me: Yes! English.
Man: KoreankoreankoreankoreankoreankoreanUniversity?
Me: (Thinking: Sure, why not...it would take too long to explain) Yes! University!
Man: Koreankoreankoreankorean Filipino?
Me: Um, no...American.
Other Passengers on Subway: (STAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARE)
Man: Ohhhh. Koreankoreankoreankoreankoreankorea.
Me: (Awkward smile and nod)
After qhile, he stops talking long enough where I think he was finished with the conversation. So I put my headphones in and begin to read the workbook from YBM training. At his stop, he gets up, turns around and smiles with a small bow. YES, I made my first Korean friend!
Each night after training, a couple of the Foreign teachers and I will eat dinner at random Korean restaurants in the area. I've eaten my fair share of kimchi, squid, bulgogi, kimchi pancakes, and even raemen noodles. I'm trying to get used to all the spicy food! And I've discovered that although I believed myself to be pretty good at chopsticks...it's a whole new story when using metal chopsticks!
On Friday, a few of the Foreign teachers and I decided to celebrate our last training session by having a few drinks at bar. We finally decide on a bar on the outskirts of Insadong. It was in the basement of a large building (which is typical because of overcrowding in Seoul) and realize that it's the only Western bar on the block. Figures.
After a few Cass beers (the cheapest beer available. FYI-Budweiser and Miller beers are roughly 6-7,000 won = $6-7 USD...even Bud Ice) the bartenders become curious about us Foreigners and decide to take a couple Polaroids of us. Our picture is now posted on some random Western bar in Insadong. Awesome. I always knew I would leave my mark in the world somehow.
After awhile I realize that I need to get back to Hwajeong for Stacy's Going Away Party. It was just after 8:00 and her party started right after work at 9:10pm and it takes roughly 45 minutes to get there. I finally get to Hwajeong, but get out the wrong subway exit and get a little lost. I'm asking teenagers, "Hogwan ECC?" and they have no idea what I'm saying. Just blank stares. I think I need to get used to this. After wondering around for about 5 minutes, I see the YBM sign and all the pink buses outside. I rush into the elevator and go up to the 6th floor...and it's already locked up. Dang.
The doors close and the elevator descends to the fifth floor. Doors open and TADA! It's Cindy, the ECC manager with all the Korean teachers on their way to Stacy's party...WHEW! Apparently, the party was at the bar located on the third floor (The ECC school is sandwiched between two bars). In true Korean style, there are pitchers of beer to be drunk and lots of food to eat. Since I hadn't eaten dinner yet I was huuuungry. Cindy had ordered a bunch of appetizers from the menu which included a small pizza topped with expired Kraft parmesan cheese, potato skins (which I swear there was kimchi on them b/c they were really spicy) and a pound cake drenched in sugar syrup, butter, and blueberries. YUM-O!
Because I already had a few beers at the bar earlier that night and I had already had a very long day, I was through with drinking and ready to head home. But Cindy kept filling up my glass until I just didn't touch my full glass anymore. After getting details of the beach party from the other Foreign teachers, I head back to the "love motel".
I meet up with the Foreign teachers Luc (from Canada), Stacy, Tom (from Ireland) and Yoomi (Luc's girlfriend and a Korean teacher at our school) at 9:00am. We take a bus to Incheon Airport to transfer onto another bus to Muuido Island. On our way to Muuido Island, we met up with a bunch of other Foreign teachers who had gathered for the beach party as well as a bunch of soldiers from the Suwon army base who had come up for a nice weekend on the beach. I met a girl from Milwaukee who was visiting her brother at the army base but unfortunately he got in some trouble and couldn't leave for the weekend. Sucks to be him!
We secured our huts for the night. Wow, these huts were veeeeeeery basic. It was a small room on stilts. Probably 8'X 8'. And there were three of us sharing a hut. Good thing it was nice out cuz I have no idea what we would have done if it had rained!
There was also a Western-style house on the beach where the popular Korean drama "Stairway to Heaven" was filmed. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of it. There wasn't anything too special about it but I thought the title of show was entertaining enough.
The beach party was loads of fun. I got to meet all sorts of different people from all over the world and the States. There was a huge bonfire after we ate dinner at an outdoor restaurant and some guys brought some fireworks.
All in all, it was super fun weekend. Not only did I make a lot of friends, I also got a pretty wicked sunburn. Luc, Tom, Yoomi, Stacy and I are all pretty red and hurting! I'm sure we'll amuse our students tomorrow in class!
I observe Stacy's classes again tomorrow and prepare for class on Tuesday. Then I actually start teaching on Wednesday...SCARY! Hopefully by then, I'll have some fun stories about teaching those crazy kids Robocop and Snow White! Haha!
