So rather than cramming for Korean, I instead spent a small amount of time creating a reward system for my kids. Hopefully that will motivate their asses into participating.
But besides cooking and studying, I was cleaning the house and tidying up the place. On a Monday.
Think about it.
Monday 29 September 2014
Saturday 27 September 2014
September 27th: Badminton in Wonju City: Jeeeebus...
Cramming Korean as always, but wanna update on the badminton situation.
Racket arrived, as posted earlier. Itching to try it out. Local community centre has drop-in badminton, so I went today. I first went to a small badminton store to grab some badminton shoes and plastic birdies. Got these shoes and 6-pack Mavis 350 birdies for 100,000W.
http://www.toplinesports.ca/Kumpoo-KH-160YB-Badminton-Shoes_p_230.html
Never heard of Kumpoo in my life. Dude tried to do 113,000 for the two things, but I went down to 100,000W by making a fuss. Still damn sure got overcharged. I guess he felt guilty for knowing what he did, because he gave me "service", IE: a free pair of socks. What a guy...
Anywho, so off I biked to the community centre. Paid my 1500W or whatever it was, and went it. 90% of the people there were over 30, so the older gen Koreans. TL;DR = I went around introducing myself, and everyone ignored me. My Korean was understandable. Broken, but understandable that I'm from Canada, and this is my first time playing here. A few people did play with me, however, but the majority just kinda ignored me and didn't look at me when I introed myself. And the people I did play with just rallied with me. Some people actually do look at me, and do interact with me and talk back, but then it's like korean korean korean 죄송해요 (sorry). And I know at that point they don't wanna play with me. Sigh.
I played a half court game with an ahjuma and lost 16-21. I felt so ashamed lololol. I'm prob not gonna go back there again, not until I can destroy them all and make everyone cry, which means Im' never gonna go there ever again.
They were all pretty damn good. Even the ahjumas were playing very respectably. They were judging me probz cuz I just had a graphic T-shirt on instead of a Yonex shirt. Also didn't have the Yonex shorts either.
Sigh. I need to find coaching. I'm gonna talk to my co-worker, who is also training. 100,000W a month for 20 minutes of training + 2 hours of game time a week. 25,000 a session.... expensive as fuck, considering training is only 20 minutes.
SIGGGGHHHH.
Thank god I didn't wear my wrist band though, or else the people would be like, who's that damn foreigner who thinks he's all that with his Victor wristband, and his Victor bravesword 9, but he can't play for shit!
\
Oh, racket felt really nice. Maybe it's because I just haven't held one in so long. Clears, when I hit it properly, clears faaaarrrr. So far, it goes out lol. I can't smash tho, not that well. But it's my fault, not the rackets. Everyone uses feather birds too. Just feathers covering the gym floor lol.
Racket arrived, as posted earlier. Itching to try it out. Local community centre has drop-in badminton, so I went today. I first went to a small badminton store to grab some badminton shoes and plastic birdies. Got these shoes and 6-pack Mavis 350 birdies for 100,000W.
http://www.toplinesports.ca/Kumpoo-KH-160YB-Badminton-Shoes_p_230.html
Never heard of Kumpoo in my life. Dude tried to do 113,000 for the two things, but I went down to 100,000W by making a fuss. Still damn sure got overcharged. I guess he felt guilty for knowing what he did, because he gave me "service", IE: a free pair of socks. What a guy...
Anywho, so off I biked to the community centre. Paid my 1500W or whatever it was, and went it. 90% of the people there were over 30, so the older gen Koreans. TL;DR = I went around introducing myself, and everyone ignored me. My Korean was understandable. Broken, but understandable that I'm from Canada, and this is my first time playing here. A few people did play with me, however, but the majority just kinda ignored me and didn't look at me when I introed myself. And the people I did play with just rallied with me. Some people actually do look at me, and do interact with me and talk back, but then it's like korean korean korean 죄송해요 (sorry). And I know at that point they don't wanna play with me. Sigh.
I played a half court game with an ahjuma and lost 16-21. I felt so ashamed lololol. I'm prob not gonna go back there again, not until I can destroy them all and make everyone cry, which means Im' never gonna go there ever again.
They were all pretty damn good. Even the ahjumas were playing very respectably. They were judging me probz cuz I just had a graphic T-shirt on instead of a Yonex shirt. Also didn't have the Yonex shorts either.
Sigh. I need to find coaching. I'm gonna talk to my co-worker, who is also training. 100,000W a month for 20 minutes of training + 2 hours of game time a week. 25,000 a session.... expensive as fuck, considering training is only 20 minutes.
SIGGGGHHHH.
Thank god I didn't wear my wrist band though, or else the people would be like, who's that damn foreigner who thinks he's all that with his Victor wristband, and his Victor bravesword 9, but he can't play for shit!
\
Oh, racket felt really nice. Maybe it's because I just haven't held one in so long. Clears, when I hit it properly, clears faaaarrrr. So far, it goes out lol. I can't smash tho, not that well. But it's my fault, not the rackets. Everyone uses feather birds too. Just feathers covering the gym floor lol.
Tuesday 23 September 2014
September 23rd: Free time, I have it, and I don't have it... [PICS OF MY LIFE INCLUDED]
Long time no post gaiz, I'm sorry. Life has been busy because I chose to make it busy. Technically now, I only need 4-6 hours to plan for all my classes (might take longer once my Gr 3/4 and Gr 5/6 classes finish their play/song and dance).
So what do I do with all this free time?
I take Korean classes at Yonsei University. It's 3 hours a day, 3 days a week. So that's 9 hours of just classroom time, plus I put in a shit tonne of time into it as well on my own time. That is where the majority of my time is going. Where there is a will, there is a way, and I have found my will.
Also, spent $180 on a Brave Sword 9N. It came in the mail today, and it's so beautiful.
PICTURE BREAK PICTURE BREAK PICTURE BREAK PICTURE BREAK PICTURE BREAK
Hmmm, kids are alright. It's just my Gr. 3/4 class that makes me dislike teaching, but I'll deal with them soon enough. I signed up for a consulting service provided by TaLK, and through that I will learn classroom management. AKA make those Gr. 3/4 respect mah authoritah! #Cartman
Girl's Day is performing at Yonsei on Thursday, and I'm going =D Tix were only 7,000W!
Found a fresh produce place called World Mart. I bought a cart of food that lasts me the whole week, and it only costs $22, and that include a 3 kg tub of gochajang, spicy red pepper sauce.
I bought this Majuang Riseling (2013)
http://wine-in-korea.blogspot.kr/2007/03/majuang-riesling-kabinett.html
And it's actually pretty good! This particular vintage has typical varietal characteristics of a Riseling. It's sweet, got the hint of apricot, and a little teeny tiny bit of petroleum. For $13, can't go wrong, imo.
Something big is gonna go down soon. I'll update if the optimal outcome is achieved.
So what do I do with all this free time?
I take Korean classes at Yonsei University. It's 3 hours a day, 3 days a week. So that's 9 hours of just classroom time, plus I put in a shit tonne of time into it as well on my own time. That is where the majority of my time is going. Where there is a will, there is a way, and I have found my will.
Also, spent $180 on a Brave Sword 9N. It came in the mail today, and it's so beautiful.
PICTURE BREAK PICTURE BREAK PICTURE BREAK PICTURE BREAK PICTURE BREAK
Yonsei Campus
Big Bang School Supplies... [SOON]
Fruits expensive as fuckkkk. 과일은너무비사해효,
Before Yonsei class starts, gotta turn on a little KPOP
Kids: Gr. 5
Joined my Gr. 6s for disc golf, which is surprisingly fun.
That's me... complete with the stubble.
Another pic of me, with the Gr. 3/4s.
Hmmm, kids are alright. It's just my Gr. 3/4 class that makes me dislike teaching, but I'll deal with them soon enough. I signed up for a consulting service provided by TaLK, and through that I will learn classroom management. AKA make those Gr. 3/4 respect mah authoritah! #Cartman
Girl's Day is performing at Yonsei on Thursday, and I'm going =D Tix were only 7,000W!
Found a fresh produce place called World Mart. I bought a cart of food that lasts me the whole week, and it only costs $22, and that include a 3 kg tub of gochajang, spicy red pepper sauce.
I bought this Majuang Riseling (2013)
http://wine-in-korea.blogspot.kr/2007/03/majuang-riesling-kabinett.html
And it's actually pretty good! This particular vintage has typical varietal characteristics of a Riseling. It's sweet, got the hint of apricot, and a little teeny tiny bit of petroleum. For $13, can't go wrong, imo.
Something big is gonna go down soon. I'll update if the optimal outcome is achieved.
Wednesday 17 September 2014
September 17th: Wagon Wheels and Note Cards
One reason why I don't update this as often as I do.
Tues Weds Thurs, teach from 10 til 5. Yonsei Korean classes from 7 til 10. Come back, write new vocab on vocab cards, then eat a simple meal. Today was a nectarine and quad decker marmalade sandwich.
I'll make it up by cooking big breakfast tmrw. Btw, I find I speak broken English often, even when I don't mean to, like right now. Well, at least as my English goes down, my Korean will go up.
Can't wait for the fricking weekend.
Also, eating one of those chocolate wagon wheels right now. Like a box for a dollar. 1000W well spent.
Tues Weds Thurs, teach from 10 til 5. Yonsei Korean classes from 7 til 10. Come back, write new vocab on vocab cards, then eat a simple meal. Today was a nectarine and quad decker marmalade sandwich.
I'll make it up by cooking big breakfast tmrw. Btw, I find I speak broken English often, even when I don't mean to, like right now. Well, at least as my English goes down, my Korean will go up.
Can't wait for the fricking weekend.
Also, eating one of those chocolate wagon wheels right now. Like a box for a dollar. 1000W well spent.
Thursday 11 September 2014
September 11th Update Part II
So where did I leave off? I have a little bit of time to draft out more of my life thus far as my water is heating up for my shower.
So the folks at Wonju are great. Larry is an awesome person. He's an old TaLK scholar form Baltimore that shows good old southern hospitality. Amy loves the azn guys, and she's into Kpop. Also there to guide us noobs around Wonju and Seoul. Enshea is from a neighbouring city, but she stops by sometimes during weekend, and she's super friendly and loves KPOP too. My generation includes Ryan, Cailin, Julie, Erika, and Kyla in the city. I live literally 4 minute bike ride from Cailin and Julie, so we go out n grocery shop together. They're good girls. Cailin is from Australia. Julie is American. They're not the "LETS GET FUCKING WASSSTED AND SHIT FACED YEAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!" type of girls. So they're good in my books. Kyla is a drinker, I think, and she has a stronger personality. I don't talk to her as often, she lives further away. Ryan is like the silent type. Never know what's he up to. Erika is half Korean, and she smokes. She and Ryan are also American. Most of the Wonju folks went together to Seoul, which I'll detail that trip later on.
Wonju itself has a population of 300k, but from the AK Palaza and the downtown core, it seems like it's a bigger city than 300k. Lot's of people, flashy signs. Roads busy with cars and buses. I live on the outskirts of Wonju, southern outskirts, actually. About 20 minute bike ride from the downtown core. It's really quiet here and quite nice. My apartment is newly built. I can feel the newness of everything still. I don't really hit up the downtown area during the night, but I think if I did, I'd have a lot of stuff to do... IE: I'd spend all my money on food and drinks and 노래방 (karaoke).
Gonna talk about school dynamics and my Seoul trip tmrw... hopefully. Or maybe Saturday. We'll see.
So the folks at Wonju are great. Larry is an awesome person. He's an old TaLK scholar form Baltimore that shows good old southern hospitality. Amy loves the azn guys, and she's into Kpop. Also there to guide us noobs around Wonju and Seoul. Enshea is from a neighbouring city, but she stops by sometimes during weekend, and she's super friendly and loves KPOP too. My generation includes Ryan, Cailin, Julie, Erika, and Kyla in the city. I live literally 4 minute bike ride from Cailin and Julie, so we go out n grocery shop together. They're good girls. Cailin is from Australia. Julie is American. They're not the "LETS GET FUCKING WASSSTED AND SHIT FACED YEAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!" type of girls. So they're good in my books. Kyla is a drinker, I think, and she has a stronger personality. I don't talk to her as often, she lives further away. Ryan is like the silent type. Never know what's he up to. Erika is half Korean, and she smokes. She and Ryan are also American. Most of the Wonju folks went together to Seoul, which I'll detail that trip later on.
Wonju itself has a population of 300k, but from the AK Palaza and the downtown core, it seems like it's a bigger city than 300k. Lot's of people, flashy signs. Roads busy with cars and buses. I live on the outskirts of Wonju, southern outskirts, actually. About 20 minute bike ride from the downtown core. It's really quiet here and quite nice. My apartment is newly built. I can feel the newness of everything still. I don't really hit up the downtown area during the night, but I think if I did, I'd have a lot of stuff to do... IE: I'd spend all my money on food and drinks and 노래방 (karaoke).
Gonna talk about school dynamics and my Seoul trip tmrw... hopefully. Or maybe Saturday. We'll see.
Monday 8 September 2014
September 8th Update: I'm still alive!
So it has been a while since I've last updated this blog, and tonnes of stuff has happened. So after we left Jeju-do, we flew to Wonju airport. It was a tiny one compared to Incheon or Gimpo. We then ate bibimbap, all the Gangwondo people. The old TaLK scholars were there to welcome us. We all went on a bus to the DMZ, and lived at a compound with no beds, just traditional mats and the ground. There we stayed for like 4-5 days, doing DMZ stuff, like going to a tunnel that links N and S Korea, as well as going to some Buddhist temple thing. We ended off the orientation with me receiving my Letter of Appointment, and a big ol samgyupsal dinner.
Our mentor teachers came to pick us up, and mine was a young female. She was supremely introverted, and a little awkward too, but that's fine. She took me to my apartment, and met up with another school staff, and the three of us went to Home Plus to buy my basic living stuff, like pots and pans, etc. My apartment is a lot bigger than expected. It has a bathroom, bedroom, and a kitchen/living room area, as well as a tiny corridor for laundry. It sure beats my grandparent's pad in HK, where it was about half the size of my current Korean pad.
I had one weekend to adjust to new surroundings, and off I went to teach. My first day to Gwirae didn't require me to teach. I just went with my mentor teacher (MT) to Chuncheon to register my alien registration card. The following days of the week, I had to teach. The kids are good overall. Not too rowdy, but still were kids. It's hard to motivate them to learn. They love kpop though. Their levels of English is not as bad as I thought, considering they were from rural areas, but there were some pretty big gaps between the skill level of the students. It's hard to deal with those gaps. My classes are gr 1, gr 2, gr 3+4, gr 5+6, and abc gr 3+4, abc gr 5+6. The abc classes are for the lower level groups.
Teaching was very tough at first, and I could hardly keep my head above the water, with lesson planning and all, but I got the hang of it pretty quickly. I still have a looooot of work to do though. I constantly have to evolve my plans, because the kids aren't responding to them as I like them to. I go to waygook.org to get inspiration for my lessons, and some games that other classes love to play, my kids don't like to play. It's still a period of discovery for me.
One thing I don't like about my school is that they require me to come in at 10 am and leave at 4:45 pm. On contract it says I'm only required to go in an hour early to lesson plan. The school wants me to go in like 4 hours early... Sigh. Well, silver lining = Gr. 6 teacher is willing to teach me Korean in her spare blocks. I am invited to join the Gr. 6 PE class as well on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I haven't been to one yet, but I will this coming Thursday. Just gotta remember to bring t-shirt and shorts, and running shoes. I hope we play badminton. I'll cream em. Doesn't matter if they're 12 year olds.
Let's see, it's getting late, but there is still a lot more I can say.
Our mentor teachers came to pick us up, and mine was a young female. She was supremely introverted, and a little awkward too, but that's fine. She took me to my apartment, and met up with another school staff, and the three of us went to Home Plus to buy my basic living stuff, like pots and pans, etc. My apartment is a lot bigger than expected. It has a bathroom, bedroom, and a kitchen/living room area, as well as a tiny corridor for laundry. It sure beats my grandparent's pad in HK, where it was about half the size of my current Korean pad.
I had one weekend to adjust to new surroundings, and off I went to teach. My first day to Gwirae didn't require me to teach. I just went with my mentor teacher (MT) to Chuncheon to register my alien registration card. The following days of the week, I had to teach. The kids are good overall. Not too rowdy, but still were kids. It's hard to motivate them to learn. They love kpop though. Their levels of English is not as bad as I thought, considering they were from rural areas, but there were some pretty big gaps between the skill level of the students. It's hard to deal with those gaps. My classes are gr 1, gr 2, gr 3+4, gr 5+6, and abc gr 3+4, abc gr 5+6. The abc classes are for the lower level groups.
Teaching was very tough at first, and I could hardly keep my head above the water, with lesson planning and all, but I got the hang of it pretty quickly. I still have a looooot of work to do though. I constantly have to evolve my plans, because the kids aren't responding to them as I like them to. I go to waygook.org to get inspiration for my lessons, and some games that other classes love to play, my kids don't like to play. It's still a period of discovery for me.
One thing I don't like about my school is that they require me to come in at 10 am and leave at 4:45 pm. On contract it says I'm only required to go in an hour early to lesson plan. The school wants me to go in like 4 hours early... Sigh. Well, silver lining = Gr. 6 teacher is willing to teach me Korean in her spare blocks. I am invited to join the Gr. 6 PE class as well on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I haven't been to one yet, but I will this coming Thursday. Just gotta remember to bring t-shirt and shorts, and running shoes. I hope we play badminton. I'll cream em. Doesn't matter if they're 12 year olds.
Let's see, it's getting late, but there is still a lot more I can say.
Tuesday 19 August 2014
August 19th Last day at NLCS + My Talent Show Performance
So, today's the last day we're here. I'm off to Inje tomorrow morning for a 3 day provincial orientation. I'm excited. I will get to meet more new people, and actually be in the province I'll be teaching at.
Grabbing snacks for the trip and for a Amnesia gaming session this night.
Dinner. Left = veggie/fruits Right = protein and more protein
Class B is best Class.
Cert of completion!
My Talent Show Performance
After I'm gone from this wifi haven, I'm not going to have regular access to internet. It might be a long time before I get internet again. Just so you're warned.
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