Venture to Korea with Amanda & Abi

To all our friends, families, and vistors - thank you for visiting. We will be updating this blog as our adventure develops.

Two months down, ten to go

Hey all. We're still being crap about the postings, although might I say that the last three or four have been from yours truly :P. Work has been really busy lately. Last week we had sandwich day which took a lot of preparation. We had to make a pretend market where the students bought sandwich ingredients, and then they had to follow english instructions to make them and then discuss how delicious they were. It was hardly organized chaos, and four hundred sandwiches later, I never want another one. It was really funny the things they would put on them though. Like tuna salad, egg salad, ham and cheese. Barf! This week we have to do report cards for sixty students, which is not quick. Next week is Chusok (sp?) which is like Korean thanksgiving so we get tue, thur and fri off. Can't wait! I've been having some problems with my back and have been visiting the Korean hospital. Amazing. For an ER visit, prescription pills for two weeks (multiple pills), an ortho consult, and xrays it has cost me about $90. Unbelievable. The drugs make me feel drunk, which makes teaching quite interesting. I'm not supposed to be working so I have to teach sitting down. My skills at controlling the classroom are certainly strained. We've been swimming lately and that feels good. I have a date tomorrow with a Korean guy from Seoul. He's going back on Friday but I'm hoping we can be friends and perhaps he can be a tour guide when we decide to go to Seoul. One of our friends here who owns a foreigner bar and also Outback steakhouse has given us a free meal for 6 at Outback this weekend. Once again, the strangers hate you but once you're in..... Overall things are good and I think I speak for both of us when I say we're really looking forward to Chusok. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods. Go teabaggers!!! (P.S. I wore my jersey on what I think was your game day, apparently it didn't help your luck!)

much love

abi

posted by: 2SKLadies at 03:30 | link | comments (1) |

week six...or seven???

I realize we haven't posted in a while, I'm trying to think of funny stories to tell but it's all becoming so normal, I don't think I notice stuff anymore. I was on a pay phone the other day and a truck pulled up onto the sidewalk and hit the booth. I just sort of laughed and kept talking, if the streets are crowded the normal alternate route is the sidewalk....the shirts are still weird. One of my students was wearing one the other day that said "drug master." I tried not to laugh at her but it was adorable. There is a commerical here for something that features one line of English singing "raindrops falling on my head." So my students walk around singing it and it's so cute. My classes are getting bigger and I'm up to six a day. It's not too bad but I'm usually tired by  my last class. I've started Korean lessons with Neon but it's really hard. I don't think my mouth can go the way it's supposed to to form the sounds. Gotta get to work. Keep the emails coming!

abi

 

posted by: 2SKLadies at 05:50 | link | comments (4) |

First birthday out of the country

So this was my first birthday out of the country and although I was dreading it, it turned out wonderfully. The kids at my school loaded me with letters, pictures, cookies, cakes, candy, notebooks, pens...even some kids who I don't teach or know gave me presents. It was really sweet. Last night some foreigners and some Korean friends of mine all went out for dinner and to some bars for my birthday. Once again I got loads of gifts and the celebrity treatment...and am completely confused by it. Many foreigners notice and/or complain about the fact that Korean's are not overly friendly or welcoming. They value what is familiar and the same, which I can respect, but once you're in, you're in and it's like a total reverse. If they consider you to be your friend they are so generous and kind, it was really moving. Of course sweetie pie amanda got me a delicious cake too! I get paid on tuesday, which is desperately needed, and this week they've given us more classes. Ran into a bunch of military personnel last night...learned to recognize them by their biceps. I quite love living here, it's an adventure every day but the homesickness is starting to sink in. I don't really miss Ameria, but am starting to miss all my friends and family. Keep me posted on the latest news!!! xoxox

~Abi

posted by: 2SKLadies at 16:19 | link | comments |

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