Wow, it is so overwhelming! It gets a little frustrating not being able to communicate with most people, but i'm getting along ok. I've learned a few basic words so that's all i'm using for now! My first day here Mary and some of the teachers came and met me at my hotel and we went to lunch. We went to a Korean restaurant and I had no idea what to order...the menu was all in Korean! They gave me some suggestions and I ended up with a bowl of rice with beef (i hope) and seaweed (they put that in almost all dishes...and I pick it out of them!) It was pretty good. We walked around the plaza my hotel is in for awhile and then I came back to my hotel to sleep off the jet lag. It's been pretty bad with the 11 hour time difference but I am starting to adjust.
Yesterday was my first day at the school and I spent the day observing the teacher I will replace. Luckily she has some of the most well behaved classes so that will help me a lot! Some of the other new teachers have some pretty wild students so i'm thankful! I learned some interesting customs on my first day. You cannot write a student's, or anyone's name, using a red pen because it signifies death and means you want him or her dead...kinda weird! Also, the students have outdoor shoes and indoor shoes, kind of like slippers. The first thing they do when they get to class is change into their indoor shoes because it is disrespectful not to. Even when they sit on the mats for group time they have to take their indoor shoes off. It's one of their customs. When you hand out papers, or money, or anything in this country you have to do so with two hands as a sign of respect. (You also have to receive everything with two hands). It is rude not to do so. Some interesting things! The other countries I have been to have had their own customs but these are the most different by far!
To the students, my name is Christi Teacher. That's how they address all teachers. Kinda funny! School is going to be very hectic and confusing until I get the hang of things. I work from 9:00 until 6:30 every day, and there are three different classes on Monday/Wednesday/Friday, and another group of three classes on Tuesday/Thursday, so I will have a lot of names and schedules to learn! The biggest class only has 10 students though so the small groups will help out a lot. I have kids ranging in age from 6-8 and they are so smart! A lot more advanced than students that age in the United States, especially because this is their second language! The school serves the teachers lunch, we have an hour break for that, but we can go out or home if we choose to. A lot of teachers also use this time to plan or prepare.
I need to finish getting ready for my second day but I will continue to write and let you know what I am learning! Miss you all and wish me luck!!!
2 comments:
Wow, your first day sounds overwhelming! What can your students do there that they might not be able to do here? Respect sounds like it is at a high level. I'm sure that will be an advantage. Do you have any breaks during the day? How long does each class run? How many classes do you have each day? We have so many questions and can't wait to read your next Blog:) And see some pictures too! Love and miss you, Mom, Dad, and Harley:)
Yo Christi Teacher! I am so proud of you! I can't imagine what it must be like and I wish you the best of luck. When you come back, you'll have to teach us everything you've learned. I'm with your parents - tell us what kids there can do that they can't do over here at that age.
Good luck again and I'm thinking about you lots!
Love you!
Katie
Post a Comment