Read My Mindby: the real ginger on: July 22, 2008 12:40am
It may be into the first week of summer vacation, but I'm one of the handful of teachers that have to come in during the break to teach a summer camp. I have about 16 students in the camp---11 boys and 5 girls. They're all first and second graders, and they all have good levels of comprehension and speaking. I was worried that I would waste tons of time rehashing directions for games/assignments but the kids have been very quick for the most part. I work with them from 9-12 Monday-Saturday (yes, Saturday) until the 31st of July. Then, I'll be going back to the US to help my sister plan for her wedding (I'm the maid of honor) and to *relax*.
On Friday, one of my Korean friends threw a birthday bash in Hongdae with one of her Korean friends who is visiting from America (she goes to school there). When we go out with her, it's usually a slew of us foreginers and a sprinkling of Koreans. But this time, we found ourselves in an ocean of Koreans. They were all so, so friendly and we had a great time, even though many of us didn't know each other at all. We spent the ENTIRE evening (8:30 pm-3:30 am) in just two bars...and those bars are right next to each other. Lame? Maybe. But the drinks were cheap, the company good, and the weather foul. The next morning, I woke up and thumbed through the previous night's photos on my camera. Somehow, I'd taken over 120 photos with my new "friends." We look like we've all known each other for ages and in reality...I don't know any of their names! Well, that's not true--one guy must have asked me if I remembered his name about 20 times. But even in that case, I just know the initials, not the name. A lot of Koreans have realized that their names are sometimes difficult for foreigners to remember so they sometimes just offer their intials, like "TY" or "YM."
I think I will be changing my home soon! My current officetel is a tiny, tiny 5 pyeong and my school administration has been more than willing to help me find a new one. I had heard that a lot of schools are kind of stingy about housing issues for teachers that are renewing contracts for a second year. But my school came to me and said that they'd found some places in the area for me and Dean. We will be within walking distances of our schools AND...it will be a THREE bedroom apartment. That's insane. However, it won't come furnished. I've heard that you can get cheap used fridges, tv's, and washing machines, and that's all I really care about. I don't mind sleeping on a floor mattress as long as my room is bigger than a walk-in closet. Tomorrow, after my camp, Dean, me, and one of my co-teachers will go looking at the apartment. I'm crossing my fingers that I'll love it, because I really don't think I can stay in this officetel for another year.
We had our second Soompi meet on Saturday! About a dozen of us showed up and it was a good time--I still feel bad that I had to leave at 1 am. I heard that the other folks partied until sunrise. Next time, ya'll--next time. Just in case I offend anyone who wants to remain anonymous on the internet, I won't be posting up pictures from the meet on Soompi.
Me with my nameless pals.
Duos. The guy posing with me was sitting so close the entire evening. He was insanely energetic and kept asking to have pictures together.
Our favorite bar adopted a kitten! They didn't name it, so we asked if we could name it "Jack" (it was trying to sniff after Dean's Jack and Coke).
Ha! I KNOW the girl next to me in this one! She and I worked together at a summer camp last year.
A guy in pink, moi, and my friend from college. It's going to be too strange once my college pals go back home in the fall. :(
We're obviously hardcore gangstas. AAAAAnd the media for today takes the form of a short, 30 second "commercial" 3 of my boys did for Skinfood. We went over advertising words today and after, I divided them into groups and gave them a prop. They had to make a short commercial for it. This is one of them. Click here for the youtube video.
This title is Read My Mind by The Killers
Oh well I don't mind, if you don't mind
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Comments |
also I was wondering how you find info on soompi meets? I'm coming to Korea in Sept and I would love to attend one if I get the chance, or figure out where I'm going...haha
by: silver_angel
Jul 25, 2008 10:30pm
hi! interrupting..haha..then what do you call the American/Cdn equivalent of grade 1 - 6? curious
by: silver_angel
Jul 25, 2008 10:26pm
aww...cute kitty. Too bad I'm allergic to them. Anyways I was wondering...do you bring your d40 when you go out like this or are these from your other camera?
by: memeu
Jul 25, 2008 9:07am
love the new hair... and the two chicks in the first photo are hot.
by: sefure
Jul 24, 2008 6:07am
I'd be sad too if my college friends had to leave so soon :[.
Are your college friends going to become teachers in America after they leave? That's something I want to do after I teach in Korea someday. I'm afraid though, because idk what to do after I come back from Korea :[ Plus, idk if I'll be hired right away in America after coming back from Korea. (I'm hoping one of your friends are going into education after coming home >_<).
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"Because in this world, love is more hungered for than bread."
by: KTZ811
Jul 24, 2008 12:23am
I've been stalking your posts for quite sometime now, reading most of them. I've messaged you once about the adoption agency and how I wanted to volunteer too, if you remember :)
I can see you're teaching summer camp too. I just came to korea for summer break and have been teaching english summer camp/grammar basics to korean high school students. You're so lucky you get to teach middle 1st year and 2nd year students! I'm stuck with high school kids - 1st years mostly - (about 12 of them) and boy, are the girl high schoolers b#tchy HAHA. [I just graduated high school and will be entering college in the fall, so they think I'm still one of them when my fellow staffers told them how old I was -_-) Anyhoo, I was wondering if you had any ideas for activities i could do with my students or any that your past students really really enjoyed.
Thank you :]
[p]s: I love your pictures. Hahah the gangsta picture gave me a nice laugh :D
by: SOPHIIE
Jul 23, 2008 5:31am
I love how everybody out there are really sweet. I would be so upset if they looked at me like some....foreigner!!! Anyway I'm glad you had fun and that you're going to get a new apartment. I don't think I would mind a small one because I won't have a boyfriend! But I can see your predicament. I don't think Korean names would be hard to remember...but to pronounce. Of course I have trouble pronouncing a lot of Korean words...but truly I have gotten better! Yay for me! I think teaching at a camp would be fun! I would be upset if no child showed up but otherwise to be able to teach English a little longer to willing students. Cool.
Ohhh going back to America for a little bit. I would actually be sad to leave South Korea....but of course I'll be sad to leave America when that happens! Have fun!!!
<33
by: koncettina
Jul 22, 2008 1:44pm
1st = 7th
2nd = 8th
3rd = 9th
by: the real ginger
Jul 22, 2008 5:21am
when u say 1st and 2nd graders, what grade is that in America?
Cuzz I thought you meant 2nd grade in America, but when I saw the video, they don't look like little kids. lol
by: sunnyside_08
Jul 22, 2008 3:38am