So my first week of teaching, or more like 3 days, went by surprisingly well. Despite feeling underprepared in most of my classes, I haven't been deported...yet! My students are becoming comfortable with me even though I can't remember all their names half the time! That makes it real difficult when I need to reprimand a student because I have to ask them their name and then be like, "John, I told you to put your book away". On Friday, in my rowdiest class, I made a big mistake. One of the students was making funny faces and I tried to reprimand him and tell him to stop, but he looked sooo funny, I started laughing. Thus, I lost control of my class and all hell broke loose. All the other students started making faces and it took me nearly 10 minutes to get them under control again. Oh kids. I'm so glad that I only have them for 40 minute increments at a time.
Last night, all my co-workers went to the Korea vs. Netherlands soccer match in Seoul. I unfortunately did not have tickets but I met up with a couple of friends who I met through Stacey; Kath, Dave, and Shannon. We went to Itaewon for dinner and drinks while waiting for our friends to return from the game.
On our way to Itaewon, I find out that Kath was in a big bicycle accident earlier that morning. A man had stepped in front of her bike and she had her water bottle in her right hand, so she pressed the brakes with her left hand, which were the front tire brakes. She flips over the handlebars and falls face first onto the ground. She's rushed to the emergency room and is told that she needs stitches and it's gonna cost 300,000 won (roughly $300). She calls her boss and her boss tells her to go to a plastic surgeon. So Kath goes to the plastic surgeon and gets 14 stitches which cost 150,000 won. I'm thinking that stitches at only $150 isn't that bad! Kath tells me that if she had been able to go to a regular hospital, it would have only cost 10-15,000 won. It's nice to know that health care is real affordable!
Itaewon was definitely an interesting place. Considered by some Koreans as "Little America" there were definitely more foreigners there than Koreans. Everything was in English as well as Korean. An American army base is right in Itaewon, so there were all sorts of GI's roaming around. We went to dinner at a restaurant called Gecco's. Very western...I caved in and had a cheeseburger. It was mighty tasty! Surprisingly, the only "Korean" food on the menu was bulgogi. Our waiter was really bad too. He didn't speak a word of English, which we thought was kind of weird b/c it's a western restaurant in the most western area of Seoul. So he did not get any of our orders right. But he was adorable. He had a dorky hair cut and big glasses and was really shy. My theory of him was that the only reason he got the job was because he was the owner's son. I nicknamed him "Bobby" and got a picture with him.
Then there was another waiter who helped "Bobby" and who Shannon thought was really cute. He spoke English very well and knew exactly what we wanted. I nicknamed him "Tyler" and got a picture with him as well. And, being a person who loves to embarrass others, I made Shannon get in a picture with him as well. hehehe. I told her she would forever regret it if she didn't take a picture with him.
The bar was filled with GI's off duty and, being the "typical American guys", were ridiculously loud and rowdy. There were also Korean and American officers that periodically came through to patrol things going on in the place. In fact, this was the only place where I've been carded. Despite the fact that it's Korea, GI's and their families need to be 21 to drink (otherwise it's 18 I believe).
I was told by my YBM training leader that Itaewon was a good place to get a cell phone...especially one in English. After looking around in a couple stores, I finally choose one for $90. It included a phone, two batteries, and the charger. Apparently, it was a good deal because Kath has the same phone and she said hers cost $250 less than a year ago. The cell phones here are absolutely crazy. When I ride the subway, it seems like everyone has a cell phone with television. Everyone is watching something on their cell phone or listening to music or playing games. Although I have an older cell phone model, it's a lot like my old cell phone...and I'm pretty sure it's not available in the States.
Today I went to see Pirates of the Carribbean: End of the World with some of my co-workers. It was definitely an experience! Before buying your tickets, you had to take a number (and you had to have a number or else they will direct you to the back of the line) You also have assigned seating! Tickets cost 7,000 won but a popcorn and two sodas cost only 5,000 won! Pirates was in English with Korean subtitles. Most American films have Korean subtitles. However, children's films are usually dubbed. So I'm hoping that there is a Shrek 3 show that is not dubbed!
Random Information: After the movie, Luc, Yoomi and I went to a pool hall to play some Nine Ball. Yoomi tells me that only girls and guys with their girlfriends play pool. Apparently, it's considered a girly game and the guys play billiards. You learn something new everyday.
