my love. my life.

The mundane may be not so mundane after all. Enter a new country with an open-mind so as not to face the awkward moment of cultural differences...

[edengrace237]

It's been so long..

It has been a long since my last post. A friend posting hers prompted me to get back into it. And a day off gives me another good reason to write something up. 

So much has been happening lately - where to start?

Work.. 

A few weeks ago the teachers had a meeting about me - I interpreted their general meeting as discussing how terrible I am as a teacher. this probably was what it was about. Why have a native english speaker for English class and then tell them not to focus on pronunciation and to not use my own accent!?!?! Ridiculous. After my cry and regained self confidence I started organising myself better and aimed at being the best teacher I could be so that they could not complain about how I taught. 

Things at work have been much better over the past 2 weeks. I have gotten into the rhythm of teaching and getting to know my students makes things much easier. I enjoy teaching many of my classes but of course there is the odd class that is horrendous and I want to beat them (but I don't because I'm a good teacher). 

Went out for staff dinner which was great. Got to bond with other teachers on a different level and let them get to know me a bit better. Things were weird the next week at work though.. having seen these people drunk only a few days ago I thought we were now more friendly but things went back to a slight nod in the corridors and that's it. Oh well. 

Exam preparation has started at work. Blessed exams. Spent the whole week going over the past month of classes. Some of my students acted like it was the first time they had heard many of the phrases they were supposed to have learnt. So frustrating! But easy work for me. Exams start next week and also have a day off! Can't wait!!!

Friends ... 

My friends here in Korea mean the absolute world to me. The general gang of Nell, Bri, Gari, Mark, Fran and me get along well now and I am very thankful to have them! Spending most weekends together I love seeing more things around Seoul and having a good time on the offdays. We also are able to have the most chilled hang out sessions which are great. Even got together to eat junk food and just talk all night! Great times with great people. 

A few weeks ago I attended the KORVIA consulting party in Itaewon. They hosted it for all those teachers they recruited for EPIK. Accompanied by my girlfriend Nelly.F we dolled up and smashed Itaewon... well.. actually got smashed. But was a good night in the end. I think.

I was lucky enough to visit the Tim Burton Exhibition in Seoul while it was here. It was really busy and took a few hours to get through but it was really interesting, even from a psychologists point of view. TB is a very interesting man. 

Been going on a few more wanderings around my area. Came across a few great stores and now have my usual places to go to which makes me feel more at home. Came across this Aussie pub .. will definitely need to try it out! Hehehe. 

I have also been able to make some new friends at work. Always helps going in to work at 7:45am when you know there are some people there you want to see. Even went out with Su-Hyeong to get our nails done and for dinner!

One of the most interesting and amazing things that has probably happened to me in Korea has been being with Nell when she found a penny turtle outside my house in the gutter. We couldn't believe it! I had been wanting a turtle since I had been here and it was just fate to come across one.. and for free! (although his tank and accessories cost me nearly 200,000W!). I love him though. His name is Squirtle Turdle. He seems to be doing okay now but was worried he was near death especially with a mate dropped him :( (theres your shout out Gregory!)

Obviously after such an experience we had to go get drunk at my local pub. After copious amounts of drinks Nell and I went back to mine. Had a sick moment.. questioned whether we should go back out... then passed out. Good times. 

The first birthday since our time here had finally arrived! NellBells birthday! I organised her a surprise party but the lies got out of control and ended up only being about 80% of a surprise but she was happy which was the aim! 

So after a long awaited 2 months, Spring weather had finally arrived! Kind of. A group of us decided to go out to Yeoudio to see the spring blossoms although were a bit disappointed. The strangely colder weather than usual meant the blossoms had not really arrived but ti was still a fantastic day out!

Oh ... and as per usual I also started talking to a cute Korean kid. I have a problem. 

Other than being a beautiful day outside I did also have a memorable day on the phone to Nell. She always has the best stories. 

By the Monday though, spring blossoms were in full effect at my school! 

Absolutely beautiful!!

Luckily a few days over the past week or so have been warm! A few of the gang took full advantage of this and went out for a picnic at night by the river in Maebeong. A wonderful night and delicious picnic food! 

And what are fun times without alcohol??? Hehehe. Went out with the gang to the Seoul Shindig. Great fun.. mainly due to the consistent flow of alcohol and 3000 Tequila shots. Had a great time.. until that time became not great. Then it sucked. 

Family 

Missing my family very much but it is only 3 weeks until mumma comes over to visit me! Looking forward to this so much and showing her everything that has become my home!!! Looking forward to seeing dollface in August too. Maybe with her new boyfriend! Woo woo. 

I am also more homesick than usual as there has now been two babies born from my brothers since I have left. Congratulations to Zac and Teeara on their beautiful and healthy daughter Alexa. So proud of you guys and wish I could be there to celebrate such an important time in your lives!!

Anyways.. thats all about happening at the moment! I am one happy and very lucky girl! Looking forward to going to Jindo Island for the sea-parting this weekend with the people I care for the most! Seacrest out. 

[edengrace237]

Pants off Friday

Am I glad its Friday? No... I am f*$%*ing glad!!!

The week is finally over and I am able to rethink my week and realise how shitty it really was apart from those few glimpses of awesomeness such as students dancing.

Yesterday I left school an hour early to organise some stuff.. I managed to go to the hospital and get medication for being sick and ugly. I then went to the bank and hoorah got a credit card! According to the banks in Korea if you are a foreigner are are not entitled to a credit or debit card. Instead they give you a cash withdrawal card and then after 3 months it is able to be used within store. Luckily for me I told them that I have an F-4 visa and should check up on what I am entitled to and as expected I was able to get a credit card straight away.

I was lucky enough to have my coteacher with me to help with all the translations. Without her I would be completely useless.

After our errands we went to Itaewon near my house to get what she called "the best burger". She was indeed correct.

Called the 'Ambluance' for an extremely valid reason it was 10,000won of deliciousness. Double fried egg, bacon, meat patty, american cheese, hashbrown, mayonnaise and ketchup. What isn't to love here?!

So another day at work down and another 20% of self-esteem and motivation lost. Korea, you are killing me. And no, not with your yellow dust shit.

[edengrace237]

My students dancing and singing whilst they cleaned my classroom... so adorable! 

[edengrace237]

All we need is a bit of love

Having visited Lotte Mart @ Seoul Station on Sunday with the gang I have made the hard decision to get a pet - a pet turtle. I will love my turtle. My turtle will have the best life. His name with be Little Turd-le. He will be so cute. 

I will also buy me beautiful Little Turdle a nice home. But probably not this one.. this one is for mating dung-beetles I guess? 

Anyways.. my weekend was over in a flash and it was back to real life...

So my week is half done. Can't wait for the weekend. But at the same time I am still left thinking about my kids when I come home. The idea now of never seeing them again saddens me so I must like being here and working there right? Even if some of my students are complete monsters!

Monday and Tuesday didn't go as planned and I was left feeling drained and miserable - coming back home was a relief at the end of each day. Luckily things turned around today. Classes themselves run more smoothly and I had some really good students. 

Every day I have some students come in and clean the classroom. I have built up a relationship with two of them - they are lovely. Today when they came to clean I played music for them and we sang and danced together while they (only they - need to keep boundaries ;) ) cleaned for me. Most adorable thing. They were so happy to be there with me! 

Check out the video of a few of them dancing to Gangnam Style ... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMWr7utduxw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

And another positive for today. Received my ARC (or equivalent to). This means I can now organise a bank account and mobile phone. Hoorah! 

So a well rounded week so far.. Tomorrow should be good considering I get to leave an hour early to set up a bank account. And I also get to see some of my more liked students ;) 

Hope all is well from wherever you are reading this. 

Peace out mah homies. 

Yours sincerely, 

Denmark-Milk. 

[edengrace237]

Smashing it

Eden Robertson, February 2013

[edengrace237]

A working girl

The first week of work was.. warm.. desk-warm. Desk-warming has become a popular term for those working as english teachers in Korea. It merely refers to when you sit at your desk doing nothing. You are paid to be there so you must be there. Technically lesson planning, but often these are done earlier in time and then changed as the week continues. Regardless I celebrated my first week with alcohol and friends. We all went out to Hongdae for a mass celebration - when I mean mass I mean mass - there was over 30 of us trying to walk around in one of the busiest areas of Seoul. I was also fortunate enough to be invited to a soccer game at the World Cup Stadium between Seoul and Incheon. What a great experience! 

But then the actual work started - it was overwhelming to say the least.

Teaching middle school all boys for the first time. I tried to be the cool teacher but I think I ended up being the lame teacher. But on the bright side, a small percentage of my students are nice, and the building itself is beautiful (even if it is up the top of a fricken mountain). 

Picture: my very own classroom - and yes I am on facebook

Picture: the view from my classroom - you can see Seoul tower in the background on the left. 

I introduced the students to Australia and my friends. Many of my students said that my friend Joanna (blonde hair, blue eyes) was the prettiest out of my friends back home but then a few students sucked up to me and told me that I was the prettiest. Compliment accepted! 

Some of my students are ridiculous and so funny without even realising.. for example, I asked my students to make up an english name for themselves.. one student (grade 9) wanted to be called Denmark Milk, another Potato. 

But Potato drew a really good picture of his classmate so I let that one slide.. 

A week down, 4 lesson plans demolished and over 200 students later,.. my first week of teaching classes was over. But .. I took desk-warming to a whole new level and got a whole lot of work done.. printed and labelled. 

At the end of a long and exhausting week I decided to meet with friends. On Friday night about 15 of us met in Gongdeok to try out the street food. We had a whole lot of twigim (deep-fried stuff) and tokkbokki (ridiculously spicy rice cake). And beer of course. 

Saturday was St Patricks Day. All of us Waygooks (foreigners) decided to go to a big "party" (or so they called it) in Sindorim. It was a while ago but were told it was worth it. It wasn't.

After a long day of sitting and doing nothing at that festival a few friends came back to my place and we took a well deserved nap before heading out for some dinner.. very korean dinner - eggs benedict for me and burgers for them. The street food and korean smells were started to get to me so the western meal was more than pleasant. 

Sunday was a fun-day. Gari took a few of us to the Filipino markets in Hyehwa. Got to try some weird foods and spend the time in good company. 

Picture from left: Bri, Francesca, Gari (Bri was laughing at Mark falling over) ... 

And then my weekend was over. I had never understood TGIF until now.. waiting out for the weekend as soon as the weekend ends. 

In other news, congratulations to my brother Luke and his wife Sally. I am now the proud aunty to yet another beautiful little gem. Welcome to the family Stella!

[edengrace237]

My first time..

The first time.. it is always the most special..

It has been 32 days = 768 = 46080 minutes = 2,764,800 seconds. And no, not since my last drink. I arrived in Seoul, South Korea, what seems like a lifetime ago. I spent 5 days just working out my bearings and hoping to acknowledge the huge life decision I had made (it has yet to sink in). I was lucky enough to meet up with some good ol' friends I had met a few years prior in Korea. 

Picture from left: Min Young, Young Hwa, Jennifer Lee, Eden, Hye Yeon - at a bar drinking, I had the most delicious kiwi soju cocktail!

I was also able to visit the TrickEye Museum in Hongdae which was fun! 

On the 20th of February I travelled to Daejeon for the EPIK orientation. 8 days of learning to be a teacher. Sounded intense. It was. 8am start until 5pm and then of course spending time with my new found friends. Midnight curfew helped me get some sleep but it was still exhausting. Luckily the excitement and nerves kept me going.

It was in Daejeon, that for the first time in my life, I saw snow fall. It was beautiful and even shed a tear or two. 

Picture from left: Lucy, Eden, Nell - standing outside the cafeteria in Daejeon in the snow 

During the orientation I made new friends - some I already know will be friends for life. I remember standing in the lobby and hearing some girls talk. I was on my own so joined in. It was the start of a beautiful romance. Without them (Nell and Bri) my time here would have been miserable.

Picture from left: Eden, Bri, Nell - In Korean History class wearing hanboks (traditional Korean dress)

Soon, more migrated to our group - Gari, Mark, Matt.. 

Picture from left: Marites, Gari and Mark - going on our buses to Seoul

By this time I had become class leader (Woo, Go Class 2! - smashing it). I am so glad I was able to do this as it helped me get to know more people. I became close with the EPIK coordinators and even made a good friend with on.. my dear Sungwon Park. 

Picture from left: Ocean, Bri, Sungwon, Nell, Eden, Gari - final night in Daejeon

Being classleader also allowed me to make the closing ceremony speech which I was very grateful for. I was pulled out of my room as I was getting changed and rushed to the hall and was dressed "mildly" inappropriate.. but Jennifer Wang saved the day with her purple scarf. 

Picture: Nate Anderson and Eden - making speech at closing ceremony 

The 8 days of orientation ended way too soon. By the end of it it felt like it was time to come home ... but my new life had only just started.. 

We were taken to Seoul (or whatever province we were located in) and were picked up by our co-teacher. I was greeted with the kind smile of Mr Choi. Nice guy. He showed me around my school - an all boys middle school (years 7, 8 and 9), took me to my new home and bought me a fancy Korean lunch known as a sandwich. Then he left me. 3 days  before my new job and I had no idea where I was or what I was doing... 

I still don't know where I am or what I am doing.. No but seriously.. someone please tell me what I am doing here..