I finally gave up and found a PC bong. Turns out there's one not far from my apartment. while sitting here I got a message that my internet should be working so when I'm done I'll go back and maybe write some more. For now please read everything I've done since I could post last. Many things have happened so I apologize if your eyes start to get tired before you're done.
3/1
On Sunday we had the whole day free. I slept in till almost 11. I didn’t sleep well because I woke myself up coughing all night long. We were going to go walk around town but it rained all day. I mostly rested and hung out in my room all day. I played on the computer and did my laundry. The dryers in the women’s side of the laundry room don’t work so I just hung everything up in my room on the drawers and the cabinet doors. Brittany did too, which meant our room looked like our closets threw up everywhere. I packed what I could that night and the rest in the next morning. I slept through breakfast and finished most of my packing in time for the last lecture. A woman attempted to teach us some Korean. I can recognize more of the letters and learned some more phrases.
I met up with my mentor teacher and Justina. We lugged our suitcases into the car. Justina’s mentor teacher met up with us later at her school. My school had left the contract with the previous scholar’s apartment open. When I said I’d like to live near Justina in Imsil, they said they’d discontinue it. Well, the landlord didn’t like that they didn’t give any advanced notice. My mentor teacher talked to him on the phone for a while and eventually they decided that I would live in the apartment for one month and then I could move to Imsil. We dropped my luggage off at my apartment but I didn’t have long to see it. We did see that Casey, one of the other 6 gen, TaLK scholars, was living in the building right next to me. It took about an hour to get to Justina’s school. You can see the exact line where Jeonju ends and the country starts. Justina felt like she was leaving civilization behind. I thought it looked like we were taking a trip through Michigan, not going out to nowhere. Her school looks nice with some cute drawings on the outside and a creek running along the side.
My school is less than 10 minutes away from hers. I have my own cubby to keep my shoes in and my own slippers to wear in the school. I met the Vice Principal very quickly and then my mentor teacher left me in my classroom. He told me we would leave at 4:30 which is when school usually ends. That was 2 ½ hours away. I cleaned up a bit because the previous scholar hadn’t left everything put away. I snooped through some of the stuff he had left behind and what he had saved on the computer. I spent the last 40 minutes or so online.
My classroom has two white boards, a chalkboard and a huge TV that connects to the computer. I will have to see if my laptop can connect to it, otherwise I’ll just move everything over on a flash drive.
There are lots of children’s books, teacher resources and audio CDs. I have to spend even more time exploring those. There is also a children’s karaoke system so we can sing songs together. I think that could be awesome to play with. I went back to the faculty room just before 4:30 and found In Sung (Mentor teacher) and the vice principal. The VP gave me a drink (pomegranate). It was really good and I wouldn’t mind if he gave it to me more often. In Sung drove me back to my apartment. He actually dropped me off at the Mart near my apartment so I could buy some food. I got some cereal, milk and ingredients for curry. That’s just a simple package of sauce powder, chicken, and a huge carrot. It’s one of the easy meals that Dr. Koh taught me and I’ve had at the orientation meals at least 4 times. I saw Casey at the store, but didn’t think to ask which room he was in.
I put my milk on the back porch/balcony/laundry room for now because there is something really moldy and gross in my fridge that I’m guessing was once radishes? I have to clean that and the freezer and some of the cabinets. There are a bunch of condiment bottles and bags of grains left from the previous scholar. Is a bag of rice that has been sitting open on the shelf for two months still good? I don’t think it got too moist. I think the other grains shouldn’t be trusted. At least I haven’t seen any flies.
After finding the moldy fridge I really questioned why I was here. Were the blankets clean? The bathroom seemed okay. I made my bed and found that the mattress was clean but too big for my sheets. The blankets were fine so I have a very cushy bed for the first time since I came to Korea. Beware future scholars of the Jeonju dorm beds!!!! I got out my two stuffed animals, had a pot of Raman and cup of 5 grain tea for dinner, and tried to get online. When that didn’t work I went to sleep. I’m not used to sleeping in a city even after all my time here. At the dorms we were never that close to the road or civilians.
Today I had some cereal and tea for breakfast had a shower and went for a walk. I walked to the Chonbuk university campus nearby but after 5 minutes the rain turned to snow so I turned back. It has continued to drizzle while I sit here. I can’t get in contact with anyone. I can’t find my mentor teacher’s phone number and don’t have a phone or internet. The landlord came by and tried to ask me a question but had to come back with a translator. He wanted to know when I was going back to Canada. I told him I was from the U.S. and would be moving out in a month. After I realized that he thought I was the previous scholar. I wish I could ask him for internet, but he didn’t understand when I asked the first time. I heard from a previous scholar at EMU that the first week is the most boring because you have no phone and probably no internet, no classes and no friends. I thought my computer games would be enough, but I’m so worried about getting to class on the 3rd and feeding myself for the next few days (I don’t understand how to heat the stove). I got a loaf of bread but can’t find peanut butter. And I HAVE to clean out the fridge no matter how disgusting, but I don’t want to till I know where to throw out the garbage when I’m done and not keep it in my room. I have lots of questions I never asked In Sung. They aren’t immediate concerns, but it’s hard not knowing where a bank or post office are.
When I get detergent, will I know how to use the washing machine?
The shower leaks from the hose when it’s on and gets everything on the counter soaked.
I just have to breathe and put these things aside for a while. I’ll take this time to rest and get over the last little bit of my cold. I don’t have anywhere to be right now and no one to see………… :)
I’ll post this when I get internet or when I go to school on the 3rd.
Wish me luck with my new beginning. I would appreciate it.
~Lisa
3/2
If you’re feeling homesick don’t let BNL’s “Go home” come up on your playlist. They told me to “pack your bags and get yourself on a plane,” but I didn’t.
The funniest thing to do in the whole world in play Dead Space on your computer, turn the music off and listen to Disney songs in the background. It’s not nearly as scary when you have “following the leader” playing.
DON’T play late at night by yourself in a foreign country. If you squeak in fear, you feel very foolish.
I’ve gone through most of the games on my computer. Most are demos that I didn’t know I had. I enjoyed Escape from Rosecliff Island, Fate, Heroes of Hellas 2, and Purble place, in case you ever are looking through your computer and find them. I’m all packed for tomorrow and went over my directions of how to get there. I’m sure you’ll all get to read this starting tomorrow.
I think I’ll make it!
~Lisa
3/3
I went back to school today only to be told that they don’t need me till the 14th. One of the teachers took me on a tour and I got to see the kids in their classrooms. There are 12-4 kids in each class. Most of them are on the smaller side, luckily (classes not kids, though elementary kids are of course also small). When the tour was done, the teacher looked at me like he expected me to say goodbye and leave. I asked if I could use the internet for a while since I don’t have any in my apartment.
I spent quite a long time on facebook and talking to my mom. I was unable to get my flash drive to connect to that computer so I still haven’t uploaded this blog. Oh well, you get to enjoy it all at once. It turns out that Casey and I take the same bus to our schools so we rode together and met up again after. We’re going to the Imsil pizza place for dinner tonight. He says the cheese is the best part, just like everyone says.
My teacher also said that I have to stay in this apartment for the full six months. I felt guilty that I would be leaving Justina alone in Imsil, but Casey said that her facebook said she is living in Northern Jeonju, so I don’t feel bad anymore. We are trying to get a group of us together this weekend for some fun. It’s hard with no phones and inconvenient internet. I can use the internet in the café down the street so hopefully I won’t have to wait till the 14th to check my email again.
Also down the street from my apartment, is the Western Bar. When I see “Western Bar”, I expect Wild West with a wooden Native American or Cowboy out front. No, this one has a wooden Roman. It makes me laugh every time I see it. I need to take a photo.
Just now someone in the hall called for someone else. I swear it was my mom calling my name. I’m still a little homesick and missing peanut butter. It’s my comfort food.
Anyway, the ride from Jeonju to Kanjin is an hour. Between those bus rides and the taxis from Kanjin to my school, I will be spending about $20 every day. Thanks to Casey, I can walk to the Jeonju bus station from my apartment which will save me another $8. It’s about a 20 minute walk, but it’s refreshing and I get to see more of Jeonju.
Each day gets a little easier and writing about it always makes me feel better. I’m getting pizza now. I’ll tell you all, all about it so you can be envious.
Cheese,
Lisa
3/5
The pizza was great but it tastes better if you think of it as pizza casserole because to me onions, green peppers, black olives and corn don’t belong on a pepperoni pizza, but whatever. The cheese was excellent.
I didn’t do much yesterday. I slept in and played DS, listened to music and discovered the wonders of having an apartment to yourself. I may have done a little dancing when no one can see. Casey and I were going to meet up with some other 6 gens last night but they didn’t give a meeting place or time until too late, so we ate at Lotteria, which is like burger king, and walked around a lot.
Today I felt horrible because of my cold. I couldn’t breathe well and didn’t know how to get to the doctor. I wrote to Rira, from the café down the street, who is a 4 gen and works for the POE. It turns out she lives in the apartment building across from me. We tried to see a doctor, but everything is closed on Saturdays. We’ll go back on Monday and try to get me an inhaler. I did get myself some new glasses. They cost more than I wanted but they are nice and thin and the frames are really bendy, purple and a little sparkly. I should have internet tomorrow or Monday thanks to Rira and my 300,000 won should be deposited in my account then too. I also know how to use the stove now. I feel a little more taken care of. Rira told me to go with her with any more questions. She also helped me get rid of the moldy onions from the fridge. Sorry, no photos.
I fixed my drain yesterday and the shower works better too. Most of my problems are slowly going away. I think I’ll get better faster just because of all this stress being taken away. A good night’s sleep is what I need now.
Goodnight,
Lisa
P.S. I just sneezed 6 times in the last two minutes. I don’t think that’s a good thing :)
3/6
Did a load of laundry but I still don’t think I know how to use the washer. It randomly beeps at me and I have to turn the hot and cold water faucets on and off behind it. The cold was leaking and I fixed that but now the hot one is leaking and can’t be fixed the same way. I enjoyed hanging up my clothes when they were done. I have a circular hanger that lots of stuff can be hung on.
I put all my socks and underwear on it and spun it around. I think I’m so bored from lack of company that I’m finding ways to amuse myself. I found all my beading supplies and made a little flower that I can put with my keys. I took out my recycling and did a lot of dishes. I also cooked myself a real, not ramyon meal. Curry chicken and carrots with rice. I actually made too much so I’m saving the rest for breakfast. Yes, curry for breakfast. I started into my Girl Scout cookies, but I am doing a good job of making them last. Tomorrow is Monday so most of the stores should be open and I plan on exploring. I hope my internet works soon because this document is getting quite long.
A good morning to those just waking up in the states!
~Lisa
3/7
So now the landlord says tomorrow for the internet. Rira was telling me about Korean time. I got used to Mexico were everything was always later: “we’ll go later”, “it’ll be done later”… In Korea it’s similar. Everything is done at the last minute. I’m going to keep checking and asking every day. I did some more exploring today. I had a corn dog with fries in the batter which was delicious but I’d better not have one every day. The biggest thing I did was clean out the freezer and most of the fridge. I have to do more tomorrow, but I’m so close. The freezer still smells a little so I’ll have to see if it gets better. I’m worried the whole thing is ruined because of all the mold and stuff. I took my walking adventure as a break and a reward from the cleaning. I’ve also discovered a new game, Minesweeper. I’ve played before, but my laptop has a new version where the bombs are flowers. It’s wrong that the flowers are a bad thing. I’m HOPEING that this time tomorrow I’ll have internet. Wish me luck, cuz I think I’ll need it.
~Lisa
3/9
Happy Birthday Megan!
I think my time in Korea has been one big string along after the next. As you can tell, no internet yet. Today, please come today!!!
My co-teacher came by yesterday and took me to get a phone. I’m actually using his old phone and I only have to pay for the new sim card and the minutes. If anyone cares to call me (which I don’t advise as it’s probably expensive and I hope to have skype soon) my number is +82(Korea) 10-2897-2245. Now I can get in touch with all the people whose numbers I have which is… 3 people. Yay!!!! When I get internet I’m sure I’ll get the numbers of most of my friends. My Alien Registration Card came yesterday as well as the return of my passport. Ah, the security of having my passport back!
My co-teacher’s name is You Kim but most people call him Sab (Sabino) his baptismal name. He also brought me my schedule and told me he can teach with me on Tuesdays and Fridays. I have Wednesdays off which is super cool. I started speaking too fast to Sab and had to explain that I had been starved for company. His English is pretty good and when I slowed down we had some very nice conversations. He has never seen Harry Potter which I said was unacceptable.
My mentor teacher (who has changed to Myung Hwan Yoo) told me through Sab that the school wants to pay for my utilities and internet. They are giving me so much including this vacation and I should be grateful. The problem with hiring education majors for TaLK though, is that I really do want to see the kids and teach! Only a few days left and then I’ll wish I still had vacation I’m sure.
I’ve been listening to too much Disney music on my laptop. When I get the internet I think I may have to watch most of these movies again. I did not come to Korea to watch Disney movies. I have to find some friends to go out with and try to learn more Korean. I have mastered the few phrases I already learned. It’s time for something new.
It felt like spring before but now it’s too cold outside to take a walk.
I guess I’ll work on my lesson plans some more.
~Lisa
