Ok, I know what you are all thinking. “Alright Jo, enough of the history/current affairs lectures!” Don’t worry, I shall return to making random observations and recapping funny little stories about getting lost in translation in Korea.
I am now four months into my Korean adventure and it turned out that my umbrella wasn’t as sturdy as I initially thought. No that’s not a metaphor, my umbrella just fell apart so I had to throw it away, and the new one packed up a couple of weeks after I brought it. In a country where umbrellas are used come rain or shine, you’d think they would be built not to break the moment they are touched by, oh lets say, rain. Still, on the bright side, my boiler has been fine this month and I can have hot showers!
One thing I have learnt to appreciate (there is a long list of things) about South Korea is the fact it’s an incredibly safe place if you don’t take into consideration its northern neighbour. I am talking about the violent crime rate, or the lack thereof. When I am walking around alone late at night I don’t feel threatened, even when I am about to walk through a small crowd of sojued up old businessmen-on a weekday no less! Walking home along the river after my Korean lesson at around 10pm I often see young children seemingly without adult supervision. At the start of August a gas pipe was installed in my apartment. While the work was being done I was required to leave my flat unlocked when I went to the Hagwon, and aside from the ugly cracks in one of the walls my flat was how I left it when I returned. The gas pipe as yet hasn’t been connected to anything, and my landlord occasionally pops round at 7 in morning just to wake me up, shout at me in the Korean and point at the pipe, but that’s another story. I guess it’s just refreshing not constantly reading about so-called gang and knife culture.
Of course there have been schedule changes galore, and I am now flying solo with Grade 3 (12 kids) and Grade 4 (as of today 14 kids-new addition Deon). Both grades have a set of Tom and Jerry’s, and Grade 4 has a girl called Joo-Joo who for some reason feels the need to mount me from behind every time she sees me. Grade 3 has a little gem called Yarn (I have absolutely no idea why she’s called that!) who isn’t arrogant like some of the brighter boys. Grade 4 are having difficulty grasping the fact I don’t speak enough Korean to understand them, but once they get bored of trying to explain something to me I am greeted with a chorus of “Are you crazy?”s followed by hysterical laughter when I respond “Yes, I am.” Well, it does help. Grade 3 are much cuter, more cheeky than naughty, and really fun to teach, except when it comes to games-honestly, the competitive nature of these kids is frightening. In one class, three of the girls burst into tears when they got an answer wrong and no amounts of “It’s ok, don’t worry” helped. I just wish they could break the classes down a little bit, because some of the weaker children would really benefit from a smaller, calmer environment. One of my lovely Grade One girls has left (Jane), but as a result Joyce has become more chilled out-swings and roundabouts. I was apprehensive about Christian (“How are you?” parrot boy) being moved up to the top set of Grade Five, but apparently being the weakest in the class has a real affect on a child-he was so polite and tried so hard today that I had to stop myself looking for switch-robot kids! I must have reached a level of acceptance now because the constant change is no longer getting a rant out of me anymore-I’ve been broken in it seems! However, I was reminded that I worked in a “run for profit” organisation when Fely told me there is talk of kicking Henry out of the Hagwon. Henry is one of the Grade 2 boys who’s finding English difficult, he really sweet and unassuming though, unlike some of the older kids who act out when they don’t understand. Apparently, he’s not doing well in any of his subjects, “he’s too stupid” (not my words) for the Hagwon.
I have had a month of Korean lessons now, but I am under no illusions that I am any good. I can understand the odd phrase, and I am getting really good at guessing what questions are being asked of me (Where are you from? Are you a student? Etc), but really I need to find an outlet outside of my Korean lesson to practice. Obviously it would be detrimental and unhelpful to try out my Korean in classes. With regards to my Korean co-workers I would get more conversation out of a gaggle of mime artists. But I am trying, and hopefully I will meet someone who’s happy to listen to me buggering up their first tongue! I have no fears about “losing face”-did you read my response to “Are you crazy?” Just to show off, I am nothing but honest, here are a couple of phrases I have mastered!
나는 매일 머리를 감아요 – I wash my hair everyday. (I might meet some really interesting in my personal hygiene levels-the sentence structure-I everyday my hair wash.)
나는 귀여워요 – I am cute. Apparently! Just by being a Westerner I am told I have a cute face, which is always nice!
I realise the two phrases above could both be part of some online dating profile. Why I feel the need to rain on my own parade is beyond me-especially when I don’t have a functioning umbrella!
I wanted my four month reflections to be about Korea, but next time I will blog about my adventures in Thailand-and explain how the trip made me realise how fond I had grown of South Korea-and also how glad I was to meet up with a familiar face.
I am now four months into my Korean adventure and it turned out that my umbrella wasn’t as sturdy as I initially thought. No that’s not a metaphor, my umbrella just fell apart so I had to throw it away, and the new one packed up a couple of weeks after I brought it. In a country where umbrellas are used come rain or shine, you’d think they would be built not to break the moment they are touched by, oh lets say, rain. Still, on the bright side, my boiler has been fine this month and I can have hot showers!
One thing I have learnt to appreciate (there is a long list of things) about South Korea is the fact it’s an incredibly safe place if you don’t take into consideration its northern neighbour. I am talking about the violent crime rate, or the lack thereof. When I am walking around alone late at night I don’t feel threatened, even when I am about to walk through a small crowd of sojued up old businessmen-on a weekday no less! Walking home along the river after my Korean lesson at around 10pm I often see young children seemingly without adult supervision. At the start of August a gas pipe was installed in my apartment. While the work was being done I was required to leave my flat unlocked when I went to the Hagwon, and aside from the ugly cracks in one of the walls my flat was how I left it when I returned. The gas pipe as yet hasn’t been connected to anything, and my landlord occasionally pops round at 7 in morning just to wake me up, shout at me in the Korean and point at the pipe, but that’s another story. I guess it’s just refreshing not constantly reading about so-called gang and knife culture.
Of course there have been schedule changes galore, and I am now flying solo with Grade 3 (12 kids) and Grade 4 (as of today 14 kids-new addition Deon). Both grades have a set of Tom and Jerry’s, and Grade 4 has a girl called Joo-Joo who for some reason feels the need to mount me from behind every time she sees me. Grade 3 has a little gem called Yarn (I have absolutely no idea why she’s called that!) who isn’t arrogant like some of the brighter boys. Grade 4 are having difficulty grasping the fact I don’t speak enough Korean to understand them, but once they get bored of trying to explain something to me I am greeted with a chorus of “Are you crazy?”s followed by hysterical laughter when I respond “Yes, I am.” Well, it does help. Grade 3 are much cuter, more cheeky than naughty, and really fun to teach, except when it comes to games-honestly, the competitive nature of these kids is frightening. In one class, three of the girls burst into tears when they got an answer wrong and no amounts of “It’s ok, don’t worry” helped. I just wish they could break the classes down a little bit, because some of the weaker children would really benefit from a smaller, calmer environment. One of my lovely Grade One girls has left (Jane), but as a result Joyce has become more chilled out-swings and roundabouts. I was apprehensive about Christian (“How are you?” parrot boy) being moved up to the top set of Grade Five, but apparently being the weakest in the class has a real affect on a child-he was so polite and tried so hard today that I had to stop myself looking for switch-robot kids! I must have reached a level of acceptance now because the constant change is no longer getting a rant out of me anymore-I’ve been broken in it seems! However, I was reminded that I worked in a “run for profit” organisation when Fely told me there is talk of kicking Henry out of the Hagwon. Henry is one of the Grade 2 boys who’s finding English difficult, he really sweet and unassuming though, unlike some of the older kids who act out when they don’t understand. Apparently, he’s not doing well in any of his subjects, “he’s too stupid” (not my words) for the Hagwon.
I have had a month of Korean lessons now, but I am under no illusions that I am any good. I can understand the odd phrase, and I am getting really good at guessing what questions are being asked of me (Where are you from? Are you a student? Etc), but really I need to find an outlet outside of my Korean lesson to practice. Obviously it would be detrimental and unhelpful to try out my Korean in classes. With regards to my Korean co-workers I would get more conversation out of a gaggle of mime artists. But I am trying, and hopefully I will meet someone who’s happy to listen to me buggering up their first tongue! I have no fears about “losing face”-did you read my response to “Are you crazy?” Just to show off, I am nothing but honest, here are a couple of phrases I have mastered!
나는 매일 머리를 감아요 – I wash my hair everyday. (I might meet some really interesting in my personal hygiene levels-the sentence structure-I everyday my hair wash.)
나는 귀여워요 – I am cute. Apparently! Just by being a Westerner I am told I have a cute face, which is always nice!
I realise the two phrases above could both be part of some online dating profile. Why I feel the need to rain on my own parade is beyond me-especially when I don’t have a functioning umbrella!
I wanted my four month reflections to be about Korea, but next time I will blog about my adventures in Thailand-and explain how the trip made me realise how fond I had grown of South Korea-and also how glad I was to meet up with a familiar face.
2 comments:
Adventures in thailand! Nice necklace by the way!
im so glad the history lesson is over and now i can hear stories abt your life. the next time we go to seoul and party i wana see pics and adventures. haha, im just vain.
love ur blog. mwah!
Post a Comment