Last week was a pretty good week. I was still in some pain recovering from surgery, but the week was fairly easy at school because the kids had level tests and spelling bees which take the place of a lot of teaching. Also, it was our directors last week and one of the teachers at our school left to go home as well (he is coming back in 6 weeks to teach for another year). Thursday night we had a big going away dinner for Sue, our director. I had to live vicariously through other teachers who went on our last staff event, which was a day long picnic at the beach that included a lot of food, so-ju (korean liquor made from rice), and karaoke, because I had my surgery that day. It sounded like so much fun with all of the teachers, Korean staff, lunch ladies and bus drivers. In total there are about 35 people that work at our school. I was so sad I had to miss the picnic! However, our dinner out was quite an event and just as much fun as the picnic so I hear!
The school took us to a really nice Korean BBQ restaurant, where you sit on the floor and cook really good meat and veggies on a coal fired grill in the middle of the table. They paid for all the food and drinks we wanted. So soon after surgery I couldn't drink, but just about everyone else did and I have never had quite the same bonding experience with co-workers in my life! Koreans are known for drinking quite a bit and people definitely had a hard time waking up for work the next morning! Needless to say, we got to know each other in a different light...and way better! Luckily the next day was Friday, and people just had to get through one day of work before crashing! It was pretty funny when the Korean staff brought in a whole case of these small liquid drinks that are meant to cure hangovers. They had fun too and everyone was struggling the next day! Talk about being thoughtful!
After work on Friday we had a pizza party for Julian, the teacher that is going back to Canada for 6 weeks. It wasn't quite as exciting as the night before, but still fun! It was also pretty exciting because it was the last day of work before our week long summer vacation. 7 of us from LCI (my school) had a trip planned for the week and we were all so ready for the time off!
A few more interesting things about life in Korea: Everyone is VERY obsessed with being small, and parents implant it in the kids from an early age. Kids at school make comments all the time about junk food and being skinny, which is kinda wierd coming from 5 and 6 year olds. Also, Koreans do not waste ANYTHING. There are special colored trash bags for everything. Food goes in yellow bags, trash goes in pink bags, and recycling goes in a separate bag. Even at McDonalds there are separate places to put your straw, drink lid, cup and so forth. The no-waste thing goes a little far. There are no paper towels at the school or in most public places. Instead, there is a community towel that you try your hands on after you wash them. That was something we had to get used to! Kids are also very affectionate. Sometimes they think it's funny and it goes too far. They love to grab behinds and boobs...which we definitely have to teach them NOT to do!
Hope everyone is doing well!
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