30 May 2013

School

 The school I teach at is named “Chungnam Marine Science High School.”  It is a high school where the courses are geared towards the sciences.  For high school in Korea students go for three years.  I only teach to the first and second year students and this is because the way the school is a special school.  For the third year students they are in vocational type classes and are working hands on with different things such as: welding, engine work, machinery, scuba diving, aquarium science, etc.  I am pretty sure the third year students here don’t do much paper type of work, but a lot more job training work.  Since this is considered a special high school it does have a reputation to have the kids who have behaviour problems and not disciplined.  I can definitely see this as being the case.  Actually when the vice principal found out that my major in college was criminology they were pretty happy because he said that some students can be hard to handle.  I haven’t had too much trouble, but I do see the other teachers carrying sticks (drum sticks, bamboo stick, etc.) to class in case there is somebody that needs to be disciplined. 

I obviously am one of the English teachers at the school.  There are two more but one of them does seem to only know the English from the book and not much else.  The other English teacher is actually my age and she is considered my co-teacher.  This basically means if I need help with anything, especially with Korean, I can ask her.  She has helped with finding bus schedules, telling me when to not come to work because of no school, and other minor things that some people might take for granted but can be difficult because of the language barrier.  Her English is pretty good and I haven’t found anything she doesn’t know when I am talking to her.  Of course we don’t talk about topics that require a bigger more extensive vocabulary.

At the school there are eight periods of classes and also a lunch in the middle of the day.  Each period is fifty minutes long with a ten minute passing period.  There really isn’t a need for ten minutes because the school is small, but that is the time that is given.  I teach twelve different classes with each one at a different level.  Again it is only the first and second year students.  Plus there is an after school conversation class that I teach MondayWednesday, and Friday.  The class sizes range from around twelve students to the biggest being about twenty-eight students.  The after school class has only eight students on the roster, but the most that has ever been to class is five.  Since those students I meet three times a week they are the ones most experienced with English.  The skill level of all the students is not that high.  Yes, they are in high school but I would consider their English level at around an upper elementary school student (4th-6th grade in the states).  So this does mean there is no reading of novels.  The other English teachers follow a couple different books that are the “English curriculum” but I am encouraged to not use these books.  This is because the students see me once a week and then one of the other English teachers another time where they learn what is in the book.  That is fine with me because I think the books are disorganised and bounce around to random things.  So instead I am making my lessons up as I go along.  For example last week lessons were on meals along with the different food and then this week is on different environments along with the animals that live in the environments.

Next week lessons I am still currently planning and I just found out next week is a short week.  In fact we will only be at school on Tuesday and Wednesday.  This coming Monday is the school's anniversary and for some reason that means no school.  So with the three day weekend I will be going up to Seoul to see the big city.  Then next Thursday is Memorial Day and so no school Thursday or Friday.  With that four day weekend I might try to head to Japan since it is only a simple ferry ride over to that island nation.  I just thought of that today and I need to start planning if that is the case.  This post has been a little bit about my school.  I couldn't get pictures of the school this week because it has been raining all the time and I don't want to ruin my camera.  With being out of town next week I might not post for a couple of weeks.  

23 May 2013

Fire Drills


I have been in Korea a little over a month and I have witnessed two fire drills.  One of those drills was at school this past Monday and the other one was at the immigration office in a city called Daejeon.  I went to Daejeon in order to extend my visa past ninety days.  While there I had filled out paper work and was waiting with number in hand.  One of the two English speakers in the building tells me we need to evacuate because a fire drill is about to happen.  So we proceed to leave the building and sitting out front was a fire truck and an ambulance.  They play with the real equipment during a drill.  The alarm went off and one of workers from the building ran out with a hose and started spraying the building.  A little bit later the fire truck started spraying its water onto the building too.  Meanwhile the workers from the ambulance go inside and “rescue” someone who was left in the building.  They ran the water for a little bit and then we were allowed back inside and the truck and ambulance was picking up to leave.  I think because it is a government building they need to practise the drill often. 

The school fire drill was a little different because the students obviously had to be evacuated.  So my school consists of a high school and then right in front of the high school is the middle school.  After lunch on Monday all the students were called to the soccer field out front of the middle school.  I say students because all the teachers weren’t out there and I guess they don’t care about the drill.  Right across the street is a fire house and so the fire engine, water tanker (they are separate here), and ambulance drive to the middle school and proceed to get the building wet.  Along with one of the administration person using a hose from the building too.  They also added a fire extinguisher and did light some wood on fire to put it out with the extinguisher.  Next all the students were told to go back to their classrooms and wait for the alarm.  The fire equipment went down the drive and waited for the alarm to drive up and do the same thing.  The alarm goes off and all the students come out of the buildings towards the field.  Bad planning was the students were in the way of the fire equipment to get to the front of the school so somebody had to stop them from walking.  On the field the students did have the attendance books for each class, but none of them were opened.  I guess since it was a drill they didn’t care much and the drill overall didn’t seem that effective.  It is a good thing the school is made out of brick so it would take a while to burn because the students weren’t in much of a hurry and the equipment there to fight the fire didn’t seem like it would put out the fire in a timely manner. 

I write this post thinking of how lucky everyone is in the United States for the service the first responders (including firefighters, emergency medical staff, law enforcement, etc.) do every single day.  For them it’s not a job but a passion for helping others.  This past Sunday, Phoenix, Arizona did lose two first responders who were both on duty.  A Phoenix firefighter and Phoenix police officer were killed during separate incidents.  This is a first for the city to lose a firefighter and officer on the same day.  Without much detail the firefighter was injured by some heavy equipment, later dying at the hospital, and the officer was hit by a drunk driver while on a traffic stop.  I have had the privilege to work with both of these departments and I know they will come together strong and remember there fallen friends.  I also hope the community stands behind these departments offering any service possible.  I write this post reminding everyone of the sacrifice these two individuals took, but also to remind everyone of the sacrifice these individuals take day in and day out.  Working long shifts every single day in potentially hazardous situations so that way everyone can sleep well at night knowing help is one phone call away if needed.  Every chance I did have, I did thank these first responders. Even when I was working side by side with them providing help and services for everyone involved.  A little bit of insight into Korean culture, but at the same time an appreciation towards all first responders working worldwide.  I believe next post will have some information on my school.  I will write later.  

17 May 2013

Hiking Trip

For everyone who doesn’t know, my job here (the reason for moving to South Korea) is an English teacher. I am pretty sure everyone knew that, but I figured I would remind everyone. Future posts will talk about that experience and the many things that go along with that, but to talk about the hiking trip I need to mention that during the week of midterms this trip happened. Okay, so midterms happened last week. This resulted in no teaching and half days the whole week. I took this time to do some planning and actually went out of town a couple of times for errands. These trips were by myself (or “solo,” like the Koreans like to say it) except for this one hiking trip that is going to be described now. 

It was Monday and after lunch all the teachers loaded up onto a tour bus to go on a hiking trip. It is a bonding experience and a way to get out and enjoy nature. The destination was a little over an hour ride from our school. Before getting there on the bus some snacks and drinks were handed out to everyone on the bus. Nothing that strange until I realised the drinks were beers. So we are riding along on the bus drinking some beers (or coffee for those who didn’t want beer) and eating various snacks such as: chocolates, cucumber, dried squid (tasted like a jerky), almonds, etc. Everyone is conversing and enjoying the drinks. Once we get to the mountain we all get ready to start hiking up the mountain, and start on our way after a group picture was taken at the beginning of the trail. Obviously different people broke off into different groups because of skill level. It was a nice scenic hike but I had my work shoes and clothes on because I was never really informed about the trip. About a quarter of the way up is a resting area where we did stop, and when I did get there they offered me some more beer (these teachers loaded the rest from the bus into their backpacks). I simply wanted my water, but it was pretty funny. After a short break we kept going eventually going quite a ways. I made it to the top with one of the quicker groups. The view was neat. Going back down I was talking with one of the teachers who was wearing a ball cap with the dive flag on the cap. With that being the case we were talking about scuba diving. He is a dive master and does teach it at school on some occasions. So I was asking him about the diving and we were trading some dive stories. Kind of funny how hiking up a mountain and I still end up finding a way to talk about scuba diving.

After making it to the bottom of the mountain it was prearranged for us to have dinner together. It was nice to feed us after hiking for a good two and a half hours. The restaurant was a Korean barbecue place. At these places all the side dishes are laid out on the table and then the meat is brought to the customer raw. There is a grill right in front of you where you cook your own meat and then eat it along with the sides. Another interesting note that some people might not know is that at every Korean place you eat on the floor and shoes are left at the front and not allowed inside. This concept goes for everything, and actually some schools (not mine) even have a no shoe policy. In this case usually “flip-flops” are worn inside. So at this particular restaurant we are inside sitting on the floor with no shoes. Once everyone arrived from hiking they started giving out the meat and we proceeded to cook at each various station. (picture below might show it better than words) Another interesting thing that is different here in Korea is the consumption of alcohol at work dinner gatherings. Before eating somebody walked around pouring everyone a shot and a toast (at least that’s what I think it was considering it was in Korean) was made and everyone drank the shot. Plus throughout the dinner people would walk around offering shots to other people. How it is supposed to work is the younger teacher would offer a drink to the older teacher. That teacher would drink it and then using the same glass pour a shot for the teacher that offered it in the first place. This person then moves onto the next person all along down the line. I lost track how many bottles were used throughout the evening. The drink that is used is called “soju.” It’s a rice based alcohol that doesn’t have too much flavor. Meanwhile this is happening everyone is busy cooking and eating the meat. The meat was smaller cut up meat that once cooked is bite size.  The dinner was good and interesting.  Since that Monday there have been two other times where we have had dinner together with all the teachers.  It seems like here in Korea it is common for all the co-workers to go out together.  Overall I think this concept is a good thing.  Well here are some pictures of the hiking trip.  I will write later.  


Drink and Snacks








Green bottles are some of the Soju bottles 

Grill where the meat was cooked 

07 May 2013

List


I have been here a little over two weeks now.  Since being here I have come across a few things that I need to do in order to make it easier on myself.  What follows is that list along with explanations which will give a little insight into Korea:

1.      Buy an umbrella

Since I am from the desert of Arizona I never did own an umbrella.  Sure there is a monsoon season but it seems like most umbrellas in Arizona are used for protection against the sun.  Here in South Korea there is a different story.  My first week and a half it seemed to rain every other day.  Plus when it rains here it is more than just a little bit of precipitation but instead can rain hard and for the entire day.  One of the students did give me his umbrella one day when it was raining but come to find out he gave it to me because it was a little broken (any wind and it would turn inside out).  Luckily starting this past weekend the weather has been nice with no rain, but of course the rainy season isn't supposed to start for a little while longer. 

2.      Find out where to buy a trash bag

Okay that doesn't seem that complicated, correct.  Well in my city of Boryeong there are special bags that need to be used.  I was told by some of my co-workers that I can find these bags near the checkout line at a grocery store.  I obviously have been in a couple of grocery stores in order to get food and other items but have yet to find the bags.  If my Korean was better (see next item on list) then it would be pretty easy to track down a garbage bag but that isn't the case.  So I am still in search of finding a garbage bag.

3.      Keep learning Korean

This does seem simple enough since I am living in Korea.  It is true that each day I do pick up different         words without really studying.  In my city though it is small enough where English isn't known and for any conversation or for that matter anything to happen, Korean needs to be spoken.  (So it is a good thing “sign language” and body gestures for the most part can be understood)  This is what I did want when looking at where to live but now I need to start studying.  Last week I was trying to sign up for this free thing online where it is language courses and language exchange with just about any language, but the sign up wasn't accepting me.  I did figure out how to do it and so now I need to start working on learning Korean.
  
4.      Learn how to use chopsticks

So in order to eat at any restaurant or anywhere for that matter a person needs to know how to use chopsticks.  Before coming to Korea I had never really used chopsticks so now I need to learn.  The nutrition teacher (lunch lady) here at school gave me a fork as a gift the first week I was here.  I kind of laughed because I said I am going to learn how to use chopsticks.  Then my head boss saw me one day and told me to come to his office after eating (thought I was in trouble already).  Instead he gave me a gift of some learner chopsticks.  They are pretty useful and I am starting to get the hang of it.  Last night for dinner I ended up using chopstick and eventually fork when I was eating slower than everyone else.

5.      Take pictures

Last thing on this list is to take pictures.  Okay why would I add this to a list?  I will be here for a year so I do have plenty of time to take a lot of pictures, which is true; however, the scenery here changes rapidly and it won’t be another year to see it like that again.  What I mean by this is one day there is flowers on the trees and then the next day there is less and less.  Most of my life thus far has been in Arizona where scenery doesn't change that rapidly and someone would have time to take many pictures.  Well here where there is going to be four distinct seasons and so some things go away a lot quicker.  It still is spring here but as an example the cherry blossoms are pretty much gone.  When I did get here there were some but it was the end of cherry blossom season and it won’t be till next March or April until they bloom again.  Pretty crazy how it happens that quickly.  Below are some pictures of some of the scenery and my town. 

So that is a list that I should keep working at in order to make life easier in Korea.  The reason I came to Korea is to teach English at a High School.  I have been doing that since the first day I have arrived in Korea, and so I eventually will talk about school and various things.  Right now though I am still getting used to it and actually right now it is midterms so this whole week I am not teaching.  So technically I have only taught two lessons to the students.  Since it is midterms it is half days for students, and so yesterday on Monday, the faculty, we went on a field trip.  I will describe this field trip where we hiked a mountain in the next post.  It was a fun and interesting trip, but for now this will be it.  Here is some pictures like I mentioned earlier and I will keep taking more. 





Flowers from Cherry Blossom Trees 

Cherry Blossom Tree


Last of the flowers 

If I forget what city I just look down 

Welcome sign along the beach 

The Beach (5 minute walk from school I teach at)