Summer Adventures

Apologies for not updating in almost 3 weeks. Oops.

It's been a busy few weeks getting further into the summer term, spending more time outdoors during the daytime, and simply procrastinating writing on the blog.

Last time I posted, I was about to go to Busan. Below are a few photos from that trip. Finally took the time to upload photos, but alas my camera battery has died. Must recharge so I can take more photos this summer.

This weekend I was supposed to go to Busan again for a pre-July 4 weekend with some coworkers, but plans didn't work out. As July 4 is my favorite holiday, hope to find something else to do, if the weather will hold out.

It's now summer, which means monsoon season is here... which means humidity humidity humidity. And frizzy beyond belief hair. And gross moist apartments that the A/C can't really destroy. I miss US A/Cs. They do a better job of regulating a large area, not that my apartment is large but that just goes to show... too much rain is also making me go slightly insane. I can't stand being cooped up or without sun for too long. It leads to me singing songs... but since I have the tendency to only get a line (or less) of a song stuck in my head, well, I'm just a record on repeat. Yes, the most recent song being 'Bilbo Baggins' by Leonard Nimoy in case you're wondering. Yep, completely random songs.

Random observation: This term has reduced the number of female teachers to 3. It's funny, in the cohort there was 18 girls and 2 boys. Now it's switched here! I've enjoyed becoming closer with the other 2 ladies. We have lots of fun day adventures as we have now deemed any such outing. 'day adventures'. 'food adventures'. etc.

TOEFL

Tonight I taught my first TOEFL Jr. class. I was supposed to begin teaching it last week during the first week of the summer term, but we didn't not have any students signed up for it other than my branch manager's son, which felt strange since I kept imagining him watching his son in class through the CCTV.

This TOEFL class has far more material to prep than my other classes at CDI, or it seems that way after teaching a specific method for the past 10 months. We're focusing on grammar, reading, and listening skills, and their strategies to help the students do well on their first TOEFL exam. I haven't had to teach such intense grammar skills since my senior teaching placement in a 5th grade classroom.

I'm looking forward to this weekend - I'm visiting a friend from training in the city of Daegu, which is about 2 hours south of Seoul if I take the fast train, KTX. I'm going to spend Saturday exploring Daegu, and then Sunday we're going to take a day trip to Busan, the port city that faces Japan. Will definitely have to post photos... as well as those from the baseball game I have yet had time to upload.

Summer Term

Sorry for the long absence! My Internet was out again. Oh the joys of the 21st century.

This past Monday started Summer Term, which means my year anniversary will approach sooner than I know it! My branch manager told me today that if I want to re-sign, I need to go through the apostille process again to renew my ARC. Basically, I need to find my diploma here, send it back to the great state of Georgia, wait for them to stamp it, and then show it to either my manager or the Seoul Immigration office to extend my stay. The apostille process was beyond a pain last summer, so not looking forward to finding that information again.

This term I am teaching mostly high level classes, which so far I'm enjoying, although that means more time necessary to prep.

Last weekend I went to a Korean baseball game, so when I find the time I'll post photos. The team we cheered for, LG Twins, won against the Lotte Bears. The environment in a US stadium and Korean stadium is surprisingly different -- I'd say the Koreans have more excitement and cheer than we do!!