Three Year Plan and Randomness!

There has been no more news on the schedule front and the builders on Level 5 seem to be pulling that worldwide builders code stunt of “we can drag this out for a couple more days for the extra cash.” The last couple of weeks have just been spent relaxing in Hongseong, trying and failing to catch up on some sleep, and planning the next few weekends. As the last blog shows too, I have also been using this time to consider my future.

So here a concise version of my three plan:
One year doing a PGCE.
One year becoming a qualified teacher.
One year volunteering/TEFLing/travelling in South America.

In the first two years I hope that I can learn Spanish, and learn how to drive. Not at the same time though since I am not The Stig. I am currently trying to figure out where to do my PGCE. As I only have the internet as a resource it’s hard to make an informed decision. Out of the four universities I am considering I have only been to one of the cities, once, for a Cat Empire gig, so I am taking a stab in the dark and all I am hitting is hot air.

Aside from missing the kids I used to teach I am also missing out on the free school dinners. This means I am not getting my daily fix of rice, kimchi and soup, and this makes me a little bit sad. Since I was getting fed at school my kitchen is lacking certain utensils, for instance a toaster, a microwave and an oven. To be sure, most Korean homes don’t have an oven-which is why my Christmas dinner is going to be a very delicious curry, but since I am limited to food that can be either boiled or fried, my diet is pretty dull and crap at the moment. Plus, to my surprise I actually miss kimchi! When you eat out in Korea you are served about a gazillion delicious, refillable, FREE side dishes to accompany your meal and as I have mentioned in previous posts, it’s really cheap to eat out in Korea. But despite all the travelling I have done, and my fiercely independent nature, I am still not comfortable eating out alone. Plus with all the side dishes eating out it South Korea is definitely a group event.

Last weekend I stayed in Hongseong, and I was reminded how much Koreans like to stare. I nearly caused a car crash on Sunday, and I know it was not because of my stunningly beautiful features, rather I was being stared at because I was “gasp” not Korean! I had got to the stage where I no longer noticed all the slack jaw staring, but I was in a funny mood on Sunday so I was very conscious of the cars slowing down to get a closer look (no, I didn’t have anything on my face!). You are constantly reminded how insular South Korea can be when you are pointed at in the street and called a 외국인 (foreigner). Really, crap, I hadn’t bloody noticed, cheers for letting me know.

The never-ending building work next and around my apartment block continues to be, well, never-ending. Unfortunately, there’s not even a routine for me to work around, so one day I could be woken up at 7am but the next day nothing is done. But on the plus side it does give my landlord ample opportunities to scowl at me.

Well that’s enough randomness for today.