Kickin it in Iksan

Today is Friday! I have officially survived the work week in Iksan!

Everyone has been asking how I like it here and what is different and if I feel like I'm in a totally new world. SO I thought I would wait until I had some valid perspective, then blog. But I think even being here just this week has not been enough time to truly see the differences. People here are quick to tell you the differences between Koreans and westerners, but I'm still deciding.

Do I like it here?
YES! My apartment is amazing! One thing I think is super cool about my apartment is that the floors are heated. They look like wood but are a plastic material and they are heated by a boiler system that is common to south Korea. My apartment literally looks like a floor model from IKEA but so much better, because it's mine!!! :) Also, I have two shower heads, one with a handle and one of those waterfall shower heads, NICE! There are no dryers here, but I have washing machine and a little room for drying clothes. Mark gave me a bed so I have a bed that is SO hard, buuut my back feels amazing when I wake up so I think my squishy bed at home may have been hurting me more than helping. I have plenty of closet space and my door has a code, not a key. The door to get into the building also has a code, double protection! There are also only 15 apartments in the entire building, with about half of them occupied by teachers from my school, so I feel really safe here.

How is teaching?
Teaching is AMAZING. Everyone says for about the first six months that you're just trying to get you footing and decide which style of teaching works best for you. I've been working on that and so far I love it. The school I work at is super laid back, the administration is supportive and helpful and the other teachers have been absolute life savers!

What ages do I teach?
This week we began the semester teaching just the children, as college students are still on break and going through orientations this week. I have a classes of eight and eleven year olds that I have been working with this week. The classes are 45 minutes long and the kids are so so so so so cute! As for the adults, I will have one intro level class, two intermediate classes and one, two hour class of advanced students at the dormitories.

What have I had to do for my job so far?
Monday, I was thrown into the mix immediately! I arrived late Sunday night and Monday morning I was at school at 9:45. I walked in and began doing interviews. At this school they have the English teachers interview students to gauge their level and place them in the correct class level. Yeah so I was good at that! I was jet lagged and tired and could barely understand English myself! BUT I managed to do the interviews and make it through the day. I've had to write the syllabi's for all my classes, do interviews of the dormitory students and teach.

Last night me and two other teachers when to the dorm for student orientation. I was interviewing the students and didn't really think about it that I was going to be teaching them! I have the highly coveted "Free Talking" class. Basically students will be given a topic and will need to discuss the topic using correct grammar and vocabulary. I will also be helping them with their writing using sample of work from a class they have in the mornings. I had an awesome time doing the interviews at the dorms and the students seemed to really like me too! When I was introduced at the orientation I got a really loud cheer! It made me feel good, but I think it was mostly because I spent at least five minutes with each student and had them talk mostly about themselves. I tried to be encouraging and give them good feedback, I guess it worked!

I had one student stop me after orientation and he was upset that I put him at an intermediate level (which he was!). I tried to pawn it off on that he may have just been too shy or nervous during the interview, but that I put him in what I thought was the correct level. I told him if the classes are not challenging enough for him after one week he can go to the office and request a change, but I know he's not at an advanced level!

What's the food like?
Well here in Iksan we have a few foreign food restaurants, so I have been able to eat at those a couple of night since I've been here. Also, kimchi is growing on me. It's really good actually. Most the Korean food is really spicy or it's fish flavored, or it's both!

What is different here?
This is something that will be an on going discovery. So far, a couple of differences I have noticed have been that they don't heat the hallways, only the rooms.
-All the water, even at restaurants comes from water coolers and at restaurants you are served warm or luke warm water with no ice.
-You have to watch where you are going when walking, cars have the right-of-way, not pedestrians.
-The streets are grimy and people hack luggies and spit all the time!
-Everyone leaves their shoes at the door when entering someones home or some restaurants.
-Instant coffee is a big hit! I actually am loving it! There is a vending machine at school where I can get a little can of coffee for about 45 cents and it comes down the shoot and gets hot instantly! Coolest and most delicious thing ever!!!

I think that is enough for now, but I will be posting some more pictures and hopefully I will have some good stories from over the weekend!!