Oh, Jun

HI friends! Well, my internet connection has not been on my side this week. Thankfully, the internet man is coming to my apartment on Saturday. Yahooo! I am so behind on all my important shows and skype conversations.

Things are still going well. I am finishing my sub position this week and will finally meet my permanent classes on Monday. I love preschoolers, but I am SO ready to hand them back to their teacher. I have one student named Jun. He knows he is cute and smart, so he runs with it. He always gets himself into trouble and then tilts his head slightly, blinks his eyes, and smiles. Yesterday he was drinking water from the water cooler and decided the closet was thirsty. He opened the closet door behind the watercooler and dumped his cup of water on the floor. Thankfully, I know about his shannigans and was keeping a close eye on him and watched the whole thing. I held back the chuckles and brought him back to the classroom. It was there that he got a sad Squidward (Sponge Bob Square Pants character)next to his name and had to sit there during break. He didn't seem to care. I think he was quite pleased with himself. I will miss him. :)

Yeah, Kindergarten! I hope...

The bell is going to ring. I must go. More this weekend...and pictures.

I hope you are well. Smile. It's almost the weekend!

xoxo

I'm Baaaaack!

Hi Friends! I'm sitting in my apartment listening to tunes (Zac Brown Band- weeee! Also, stuffing my face with chocolate wonders.), and crossing my fingers and toes, hoping my internet won't cut out. I am currently stealing internet from my gracious neighbors who have no idea. Thanks. I hope it continues. In Korea, foreigners cannot open an account for anything (cellphone, utilities, cable, etc.) unless you have your alien registration card. You have to get a physical and pass numerous test, including a drug and AIDS test. If you don't pass you won't need to open any accounts because you will be kicked out of the country. Yeah, they mean business. Fortunately, I have my secretive contacts and was able to get a pre-paid phone. Weee! Well, it has been an interesting week-ish of getting readjusted in Korea. Where do I begin????

My apartment-
It's cute. Pictures to come. I'm too lazy right now. Hey, at least I'm honest.

My neighborhood-
It's cute as well. There are lots of restaurants, shops, bars, people, food, markets, a huge park (Olympic Park) with paths and sculptures, food, and food. Did I mention food? I think I am going to love it!

My school- Kangnam Poly
So far so good. There are 26 other foreign teachers, so it was very easy to meet people right away. I work with ALL girls in the morning, so that will be interesting. I just hope everyone isn't pmsing around the same time. Eeek! Sorry boys. My school is a lot more organized than my other school, but the hours are longer. One day a week I have 11 classes, but Fridays I have prep periods all day. Strange. The staff has been SUPER helpful, which is greatly appreciated because there is a lot to learn. Everything has to be done a certain way, otherwise Korean parents complain and we don't want that. Korean mothers can be scary. Today was my first day of teaching. It was not awful, but it was sooo hectic. There is another girl (Kaila) who started the same day as me, so we have been banding together and chatting about everything that we don't know how to do. Fun times. I am currently subbing for two weeks for a teacher who just finished her year contract and went home for vacation. It will be a good transition. However, I am subbing for pre-school in the mornings. It is not my ideal age, but it's alright. I sing a lot of songs and tell them to stop picking their noses. I've had worse mornings. :) My permanent schedule will be kindergarten through 4th grade. I miss teenagers. I know, I am crazy.

I'm hoping my students will get over the freckle shock by the end of the week. I've had pre-schoolers trying to erase them, rub them, and ask a bajillion questions about them. I'm freckled out. Did you know I look like Pippy Longstocking? Me either. My first grader thinks so.


I have had so much fun catching up with friends and wandering the city. I'm so excited for this year. It's a whole different year. My first day wasn't terrifying. Last year, I survived on tuna and crackers that I brought from home for the first few days until I had the courage to go into stores or get on the subway. The little Korean I knew is slowing coming back to me.

My brain is mush. It has been a long day. I hope you are all well. I miss you already. Pictures soon- I promise.

xoxo

It's That Time Again ....

Hello Everyone!

I hope this letter finds you happy and healthy. Well it seems like I
was just writing you all a letter not too long ago and letting you
know that I was leaving for Korea. Here I am again, doing the same
thing, but in a completely different place (mentally). I sort of know
what I am getting myself into this time and already have friends over
there waiting for me. I will be teaching at a new school and living in
a different area of Seoul, so I'm a little nervous about how that will
be. I'm really excited to start another adventure over in Korea! I had
an amazing year last year, but this is a whole different year and I
know not to have too high of expectations. Basically, I have almost
zero expectations and I'm going into my job thinking that I might hate
it. Things can only get better after that, right?

As I have been packing my life into two suitcases, I have been
thinking about what I am going to miss about home and what I am
excited about in Korea. Here is my "top 10" list.

What I will miss...

1. Family/ friends- What can I say, you're amazing.
2. Going to lunch with my grandpa and opening a million pull tabs.
3. Driving- Oh how I miss driving with the windows down and the music blaring.
4. Going to the grocery store and finding EXACTLY what I want, when I
want it. For example, cheese, avocados, cereal, tea, candy, etc. This
also includes going to a restaurant and not wondering if I will be
able to read a menu or wondering what exactly I am eating.
5. My mom/dad's cooking. I have become a spoiled child living at home
for the last 3 months. Did I mention I didn't cook practically the
entire year in Korea? Yeah, I have LOVED a full refrigerator at my
fingertips.
6. Ease-dropping on others' conversations that are around me and
knowing what they are saying. I never know what anyone is talking
about in Korea.
7. Luxuries, such as a separate shower, dishwasher, dryer, carpet,
buying shoes, etc. However, I'm totally OK without them, but I do
really like them. :)
8. Going to movies and being able to look up show-times before I go
there. In Korea, they are usually sold out before-hand because Koreans
have the ability to read Korean (jerks) and can order online. Jerks.
9. SPACE! No explanation needed.
10. Going anywhere and blending into the crowd. Here, I am not all
that different from anyone else. Most people understand what freckles
are, have them themselves, or don't care. There, not so much.


What I am excited for...

1. Seeing my friends again. Yippy!
2. Teaching. Enough said.
3. Korean food. My mouth is watering right now.
4. Traveling. I still have the travel bug and it is hungry.
5. Experiences that make you go "Did I really just see someone do
that?" or "I can't believe I just did that".
6. Having no idea what other Koreans are talking about and knowing
that I am able to drown- out the world in the subway and listen to
John Mayer. Or trying to guess what they are talking about, but really
having no idea. That's a fun game too.
7. Getting lost.
8. Having visitors from far away lands, for example, Minnesota.
9. Koreans. They are pretty awesome.
10. Korean fashion.

Well, those are my lists. I have a lot to look forward to, but a lot
of things that I will be missing. I have had an amazing time being
home and seeing most of you. Keep in touch!

I will be blogging again. If you are interested or bored, here is the
link. http://freckleonthemove.blogspot.com/

I am on the move again. I leave Thursday morning at 6 AM. EEEK!

You are awesome.

Love,
Megan