First English "Meeting"....

Today was the first English "meeting" with the Yun Jeong (the lady from the bank).  We met after she got off of work.  We had a good time and I must admit prior to our meeting I had to send up a quick prayer that God keep me open minded and help however He saw fit.

Our "plan" was to meet for only an hour, but we ended up talking for two.  I didn't mind because between the both of us, we had lots to talk about.  I learned about her, her family, her job, etc. and I'm sure she learned from me.  As you can see this wasn't the "formal" teaching of English, but instead more informal by practicing English through conversation.

During the conversation I just had to ask....."Why did you wait so long to ask for me to help you?"  It took her a little while to answer, but she did.  Turns out that she had asked a different foreign teacher (before I got here) to help her with her English and he was going to charge her 20,000 won (about $18.00) per hour.  She said she just didn't have the money (for this person to do this is illegal because as a foreign teacher in Korea you can't have another job).  After she told me this, I figured she didn't ask because she wasn't sure what my response would be or if I would charge her too.  I reassured her that it was my pleasure to be able to help.

We will meet again next week....

Ask for What You Want

Time is slowly winding down.  Middle school students begin their semester exams today (today until Friday), go camping next week, will have their English Summer Camp, and will then begin their Summer vacation (July 15th thru August 22nd)........

                                                     *                        *                           *

After asking 3 times, (yes 3!), my leave date has finally been approved.  It took so long because I decided to forgo my 14-day summer vacation so that I could leave early.  So...my this adventure will come to an end on Saturday, August 13th!  It has been nothing but God's grace and His mercy that I have been able to endure this year long journey.  More on that later......

I went to the bank today.  I've ben going to the same bank for the past year and have been working with the same lady for about the same amount of time.  Today, however, was a little different.  When I go in to take care of my banking business, she and I usually only make small talk, I make my transaction and I leave.  I went in today, tired with a headache, hoping to only be there for a short amount of time.  As she was gathering my paperwork she started to ask questions.  Then she asked for a favor, this is the short end of the conversation.

Her: "Do you think you could help me?  I know that you are busy."  This was after I told her that I work at 5 schools...
Me: "Sure. How can I help you?"
Her: "Well, do you think you could help me with my English?  You help me and I will pay you by buying you dinner or lunch."
Me: "Oh no. That's not necessary.  I will help you. No problem.  Just tell me where you want to meet and what time.  I train on Monday, Wednesday, Friday so those days won't work.
Her: "Oh great! How about Thursday? We can meet at my bank? I will call you."
Me: "Not a problem."

After our conversation I could see that she was excited.  When I informed her that I would only be here until August, her face changed, almost like she was shocked/sad/disappointed, all at the same time.  I, however, had a huge smile plastered on my face....from ear to ear!    :)

Small Scare

Over the past few weeks I haven't been feeling like my usual self.  Although I knew something was definitely wrong, I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

Last Friday, I wasn't able to deliver my elementary school lessons as I normally do--standing up.  I had to sit during most of the classes because of a severe headache and dizziness whenever I would stand.  Followed by all of this was major heat flashes.  One thing that I did know was that I am wayyyy to young for menopause!

Over the weekend, despite spending time with friends, I was still drained.

I decided to take Monday and Tuesday off and after debating with myself on whether or not to go to the doctor, the conclusion was to go.  I didn't want to go for many reasons, one of which was because what I knew needed to be done, I was very apprehensive.  So, after doing a little bit of research I found an English speaking (fluently) international clinic in Seoul.

Going to see the doctor was the best decision that I could have made.  The staff was very nice and the doctor took his time and listened to what was going on with me.  After we talked, he told me what he thought would be best, x-ray my head, urine sample, and blood work.  I will admit, I got a little teary eyed because what I wanted done was blood work.  He suggested it without me having to say it.

After all of the work was completed, the conclusion was (short version):
the headaches are migraines, I have no energy because my iron is low (and it hasn't been this low since high school).  I was given iron supplements and a prescription for the migraines.

I will get the full report of my visit within 10 days.   

    

Randomness

*  I didn't realize that Koreans plant (literally) everything that they eat.  This includes every kind of vegetable, every kind of potato, every kind of pepper, every kind of fruit (I don't think I have ever tasted anything as fresh and delicious), the list goes on and on.  I know it seems lame, but I enjoy watching it grow.  It's mind boggling.  The corn stalks are about as tall as me!

* After one of my students asked me what I was going to do for summer vacation, I explained to her that I was not going to take a summer vacation because I was leaving at the beginning of August.  She thought that I meant leaving for a summer vacation and then coming back to Korea.  After she finally understood, she got quiet and then said, "Oh, I am sad.  I don't want you to leave....." She looked like she was about to cry.

* I have a trainer at the gym!  He is pretty good.  His English is limited, but he definitely knows what he is doing.  The "class" that started out with 4, with myself included, is now just me!  Not sure what happened to the other ladies.......

And then there were 61.....

Seoraksan National Park

My day began at 5 a.m.  

I needed to catch the 6:40 a.m. bus to Sokcho, and then get on the #7 bus to get to Seoraksan National Park.

Entrance...

I arrived at the park at about 9:30 a.m.  My first order of business was to change clothes and apply some sunblock.  I knew it was going to get warmer and warmer throughout the day.  I didn't want to be looking like a little cherry tomato by the time I left. 

After a quick snack, I knew exactly where I was headed.  I had been wanting to hike this mountain for months and figured that the summer time would be the best time to do it.  I had done my research and found pictures of Ulsanbawi Rock.  Now it was time to climb it.  

Yhep! That's the Rock I wanted to climb.
This was near the entrance of the park.

It's said that this rock is one of the hardest hiker's courses in Seoraksan National Park.  The top is 876m high.  It takes about 4 hours to complete the hike; 2 hours up (3.8 km) and 2 hours down (3.8 km).  It was  definitely a challenge.  

Directions to the rock...these signs became my bff.
Anyone who knows me, knows my sense of direction
is horrible!

I first saw a picture of the mountain on the cover of my tourist book that I bought before coming to Korea.  The picture shows nothing but stairs and more stairs.  All of the pictures that I found show the same thing.  I was surprised when I got there only to find that before you get to the stairs there are nothing but rocks.  For a minute I thought I was going the wrong way and I even back tracked and stopped to ask (I wrote down the name of where I wanted to go in Korean...just in case).  The lady pointed me in the direction that I was already going.  

As I got closer and closer to the top, the stairs began.  

Headed up...
Notice the rock right in the middle.....

Then there is a sign that says...

Getting closer to the top, looking down....

Before I knew it I was at the mile marker to the top of Ulsanbawi!  It was here that I started re-thinking my "mission" to get to the top.  Looking back down I thought that there was no way I would be able to make it all the way back down (let alone the top!).  The higher you go the steeper it gets.  What changed my mind?  I saw kids, small kids and women twice my age and older continuing up the mountain.  If they can do it, surely I can too!  I also told myself that I didn't come all this way to stop and quit 1 mile from the top.

Maybe 30 (or so) minutes later....I reached the top of the mountain!  It was worth it!  I had actually gone at a very good time too.  On the way down there were way more people, so many that they had to wait in a line to get up.  This would be scary because the path gets very narrow only allowing one person to pass at a time. 

After soaking in the top, taking videos, and pictures, I slowly began the journey back down.  This is what I witnessed....

Rock climbers.......

I thought going down would be just as tough as it was going up, but it wasn't that bad.  I felt like I was on the Amazing Race.  

With my great hike completed, I left the park kissed by the sun, and headed back to the bus station headed for home.  I know my legs are going to be beyond sore tomorrow, but it was worth it! 

Whoa! Sarah Teacha!!!

It's beginning to get warmer and warmer here.

Warm here translates to hot.

That means it's time to break out the short sleeves!  I would do sleeveless, but they don't get down like that here, at least women anyways.  So, to be respectful of their culture, I will save my sleeveless tops for the states.

I was in class last Friday, (teaching the 5th grade elementary kiddos), and I was burning up so I decided to take off my jacket.  By the sounds of the students you would have thought that something amazing had just happend.

I was looking around like what's going on?!

One of the boys said, "Sarah teacha! Your arms! Oh my gosh!"

I was cracking up!  Then I flexed my muscles....
(Mind you, while I may have a little bit of muscle, I'm not walking around looking like a body builder...)

They went crazy!  I guess they had never seen a black woman with muscles.....

It was too funny.

By the end of the day they were trying to flex theirs too!