#epikorientation

Tuesday was an exciting day… Kind of. Gladly, I woke up feeling normal again! Also this meant I could actually eat food, yay! Then as my group was first to present, we presented our lesson plan and were given feedback – all constructive and really helpful. This activity was truly for our benefit only. Then we had to watch other groups present until midafternoon. After that we met with our MOE (Metropolitan Office of Education).

Mine was GMOE (Gwangju). I always pictured this being one on one, but actually I was just in a classroom with all the other EPIK teachers going to Gwangju listening to a presentation by our Program Manager (an American from Oregon!). She answered a lot of valuable and important questions and also, I learned which school was my Central (main) School (Poongam Elementary) and my Visiting School (Sangmu Elementary). I also learned the names of my co-teachers that I will meet tomorrow and a very general run down of how tomorrow will work.

After that we had our closing ceremony. People talked, there was a slideshow, some speeches, and many thanks. I really did almost cry through all this because of excitement and nostalgia.

Yay! Dinner time. BEST DINNER EVER. We had a banquet in the gym and it was the best Korean food I’ve had so far. Also, we had forks. And real cups! (We’ve been using small, metal, shot-sized glasses in the cafeteria – really makes you see the difference in cultures with America super-sizing everything).

After dinner, me and some of the girls here went out for ice cream. They have a big there here about shaved ice, called, Bingsu. The one I had was flavored syrup, shaved ice, cookie crumbs, ice cream, whip cream and oreo cookies. I was only able to eat half and even then I felt like I was going to puke. The whole thing was huge. Probably the size of my face or head. Last, we just had to bring our luggage down to the lobby to be loaded first thing in the morning on a truck going to our city.

A lot of people are going out drinking, and to Norebangs (karaoke bars), but if you know me, you know I stayed inside, working on my lesson plan and preparing to meet my co-teacher, school, principal and move into my apartment tomorrow J we leave at 930 am!

Talk to you soon,

Sunday and Monday were fairly uneventful.

Sunday was full of classes. We had two morning classes and two evening classes and Korean class after dinner. We also started working on our group lesson plan.

Monday was slightly more epic, only because I was sick. I woke up crazy dizzy, over heated, and feeling like I was going to vomit. I tried going to the nurse, but she wasn’t there, so I stuck to eating saltine crackers and ramen noodles for the day, in case it was something with my stomach that was making me sick (this seemed most likely, especially after I had my temperature checked after lunch and it was confirmed normal). Slowly I began to feel better.

Monday was the last day to prepare for our presentation of our lesson plan. We started in the morning, finalizing our plans and materials and worked after dinner until almost 9pm practicing the lesson and finalizing those details. Luckily we would be first to go on Tuesday.

The idea of the lesson plan is that you were allowed to randomly choose a topic and your group was pre assigned and that is the topic your group would plan and present for. We got the lowest grade level – Elementary Grade 3 – and the topic of “What’s this?” So, we had to teach our “students” (the rest of our class) how to use the term “What’s this?” and how to respond.

Today was Field Trip Day! We went to the Hanok Village – Traditional Korean Village in Jeongju.

Breakfast started the day (again, I am still missing American breakfastL) then we had to load the bus at 8:40am.

First, we were left to explore the Hanok Village (the largest in Korea) on our own for about 2 hours. There were lots of shops and the Gyeongggijeon – a palace in commemoration of Taejo Yi Seong-gye and also because Jeonju is the origin of the Joseon Dynasty (North East Asian History Foundation & NIIED, pg 16).

The palace was really pretty and felt the most authentic. Outside the palace was where most of the people and shops were and it felt a bit like an area at Disneyland. There were lots of places to buy coffee, fans, and ice cream.

After exploring, we had lunch. We were given Bibimbop, which everyone was really excited about. I wasn’t too impressed. Apparently Bibimbop can be served hot or cold and we had the cold version. I think I would like the hot version more. It wasn’t gross or anything, it just didn’t live up to it’s reputation. I will give it another go though.

Then we headed to the Jeonju Traditional Culture Center where we learned how to play the authentic Korean drums and made our own fans (thank goodness – today was the hottest day yet!).

I was honestly exhausted by lunch time, so by the time we boarded the bus at 3:00pm to head back the campus, I was ready to fall asleep.

For the rest of the day we have free time, whether that means go out, saty in, work on our lesson plan that is due on Monday evening or what.

Tomorrow is another full day of class! I will update you then!

Finally I was able to sleep straight through until 6:00am! Quick round of applause?

Today was also the first full day of classes. We started with breakfast, as usual… nothing really new there, but I am starting to miss American breakfast because it’s my favorite meal and Korean breakfast is just like any other meal… rice, kimchi, soup, salad, meat…

Our first class of the day was Cooperative Learning, which is not what it sounds like. It is more like how to get your kids really loud in the classroom. This was my first and only class of the last two days that I have not liked. We just did a lot of mind games that I think would be hard for younger groups and people were yelling over each other… I think cooperative learning is a good idea, but maybe on a different scale for me.

Then, we had Co-Teaching. This class actually did make me a bit nervous because although EPIK keeps reminding us that we are “Guest English Teachers,” the presenter said that the most important characteristic the Korean Teacher hopes for in a Native Teacher is that they are good at teaching. Uhh…. Then why does it not require any credential to teach here? I guess I am probably worrying more than I should. Technically I have taught way more than I give myself credit for. It just going to be about the confidence for me.

Then there was lunch. Same old same old. I may have to stop eating at the cafeteria for all meals because they are getting a bit boring and repetitive (but tomorrow we have a field trip, so we get some authentic bibimbop!).

After lunch I went down to the convenience store for some ice cream because it was really hot out today. I knew that whatever I got would be a surprise, but it was still taking me a long time to decide which one to get. Then, an ajamma (Korean older woman) walked in and went straight for two melon pops. My thought was, well she probably knows best and I got one for myself. Go ajamma! It was so tasty! It was like a creamy melon ice cream pop J

The class after lunch was Lesson Planning I. I really liked this class. It was a comfort to know what to focus on and the presenter had some really good points. Up until now, everyone has told us that we should make our first presentation one about ourselves… to talk about ourselves to our students. However, this speaker said, you know what? They are sick of hearing about your lives… they get a new teacher all the time and they probably just don’t care anymore. Every other class is going to be student-centered, so why not start off that way and let them come use English to ask you things they are interested about? He also had some good tips on teaching in general that I really appreciated.

The second after-lunch class was EPIK rules and regulations. These were mostly things we already know and was a very short class. After that was free time and dinner.

Today I heard about my schools!!! I found out that I will be teaching at two elementary schools – Sang Mu Elementary and Poong Am Elementary :D They look pretty far apart so I am not sure how that will work or what grades within elementary I will teach or which days I will be at which school or where my apartment will be. But now I know I am at an elementary school and I am so excited!

I went to dinner elated, even though I am getting sick of cafeteria food.

My last class of the day was Korean Language and Culture. I think my brain was over-used for the day because by the time I got to Korean class, I wasn’t having it. So that wasn’t so fun tonight, mostly overwhelming.

After class I walked to Lotte Mart with one of the girls from EPIK. It was such a nice walk! Everything looks very Westernized except right in downtown (at least where we are for orientation). And Lotte Mart is HUGE! 5 floors!!! It was a lot of fun and I can’t wait to actually go shop there. It’s kinda like Walmart but there were super cute clothes and jackets.

Tomorrow we get to go on a field trip and take a break from classroom stuff, yay! I will post more about tomorrow J

This morning was our Medical Check-Up. FYI: We are separated into 4 different classes for the purpose of organizing the orientation. Classes are based on our cities we have been placed in, so I am in Class 3 with other Gwangju teachers. Class 3’s Check-Up time was 8:30am. This also meant that we were allowed to eat anything past 10:00pm last night, nor could we drink anything past midnight (No one understood the no water part). Also, we weren’t allowed to eat until after our exam and I was SO HUNGRY!

Both yesterday and today I have been waking up at 3:00am and struggling to continue to sleep later and finally giving up at 6:00am – I guess I am still fighting jet-lag?

The Medical Check-Up consisted of waiting in line for quite some time. Then, we were given a medical form. The first page was for the doctors to fill out and was in Korean and the second page was for us to fill out and it was just a medical information sheet, like if we have any diseases and if/how much we drink and exercise per week.

Then, we headed to the next station to have our height and weight recorded, followed by our eye sight (which btw, I forgot my glasses for the exam and I think I failed on my left eye, but they didn’t say anything. How come I think I failed? Well, I started with my left eye and was reciting both numbers AND letters. Then, when I switched to my right eye, I realized there were only numbers on the board…)

After that was hearing and blood pressure, then the longest line was for getting blood drawn. If you know me, you know this was an event in itself. If you don’t know me… then know that I have a needle/blood phobia and though I have never actually completely fainted, I get very close and freak doctors out when getting shots or blood drawn.

So luckily I managed not to freak myself out too much before actually getting my blood drawn. When I got to the front of the line, the EPIK Coordinator asked if anyone had a problem/phobia of needles. I raised my hand and he said I could lay down behind a medical sheet wall thing if I wanted to prepare for the blood being drawn, or I could lay down and have them draw the blood there. I opted for the laying down and having blood drawn there because I knew that’s where I would end up anyways.

The first thing the doctor who walked in to take my blood said was “Oh… you have a good vein! No problem!” haha which is true… Thank goodness. He was really fast and it only stung a little when the needle went in. As usually I got sick after and felt nauseous and dizzy and had to stay laying down :/. Meanwhile, doctors kept coming up to me and saying “Oh, you have a needle phobia?!” Yes, I do…

So then, we had our chest X-ray. They said for the ladies to remember not to wear a bra with metal on or in it. I remembered to do that but forgot that the one I was wearing had plastic on the strap and had to take it off anyways and put a gown/coat thing on over my shirt for the chest x-ray.

Last was our urine drug test. Everyone was worried because we were all dehydrated that they wouldn’t be able to pee… Idk how, but I did. Woo, go me! (TMI?).

Yay, then we went upstairs and got super sugary snacks. We got grape juice and a pastry that was filled with sweat cream cheese stuff.

FINALLY, we got lunch at 11:30 then had a long break before our classes started at 2:00pm. The two classes I had today were Elementary School Teaching and How to be More Comprehensible (to Korean students).

Then dinner – rice, kimchi, salad, beef patty, pineapple, crab with veggies, and miso soup. It was really loud so I just ate and went to my room to watch Tangled before our Korean language and culture class at 7:20pm.

And that was the entire dayJ. It wasn’t too eventful, and there was a lot of waiting around, but tomorrow we have 5 classes all day. I’m not sure if that will make the day go by faster or slower? So far all the presenters have been really interesting and helpful! Looking forward to learning more! I will be sure to keep posting as the week goes on.

Wake up time: 6:00am. I think because I went to sleep around 9:30pm is why I woke up so early. Other than that, I slept like a baby. We had air conditioning, our own bathroom, blankets and towels. I guess I originally woke up at 3:00am and then continued to fall back asleep until 6:00am when I finally gave up and got up. Because my roommate was sleeping, I just grabbed my phone, tour book, and the orange juice EPIK gave us the night before and went out to the lobby.

It was already so humid! I stayed out there trying to connect my phone to the internet and reading my guidebook on the floor, in my pajamas for about an hour. It was actually pretty nice because I was able to sit by a wall that was entirely a window and look out on South KoreaJ.

At about 7am, I headed back to my room to get ready for the day and breakfast at 8:30am. I was expected to be alone for the first part of breakfast since it went until 9:40am, but when I headed out, it looked like everyone had a similar experience of waking up extremely early and hungry.

Breakfast was good. We walked up and there were two rows of tables, each about 30 ft long with food on them. There were plates and utensils at the beginning end, so me and the other girls I headed down with followed suit. There was, oddly, rice, kimchi, bread rolls, salad, etc. Thennnn, when we got to the end of the line at those tables, we saw that there was a line of tables perpendicular to the ones we were just at that was serving toast and eggs. Oh well, better to eat the Korean food anyways!

After breakfast we had about an hour of more downtime, where I continued to try and find wifi access… I found a spot in the hallway of our floor where my phone will automatically connect to a secure server for free. But it isn’t reliable on my phone and sometimes won’t connect at all. Apparently, in our rooms we can connect, but we have to use an Ethernet cable, but my laptop doesn’t have a spot for an Ethernet connection :/. Oh, I also went on a walk around campus with some girls on my floor and going to my MOE (Gwangju). Broke in my new flats a little and gave myself some blisters.

At 10:00 we had our campus tour. I am horrible with directions so I forgot a lot of them but luckily we travel in groups. The tour was really short – less than an hour and then we had more time on our own before lunch at 12:40pm.

After lunch, things sped up a bit. We were to meet at the Star Center on campus for our Welcoming ceremony where various people from the University  and EPIK program spoke and were introduced. Then there was a Taekwondo performance – so cool – and a guest speaker that was really funny and informative.

Immediately following that, at 4:20pm, we met up with our “Class” – mine is “Class 3” – for our homeroom introductions and information for the week’s events.

Immediately after that, we had our welcoming dinner (I am really not sure what made it different than any other meal so far, but it was good!).

Now, here I am, at the café across the street in order to get Wi-FiJ. It’s only 8:30pm and I am trying to stay up later in order to sleep in more tomorrow. Tomorrow is our Medical Check Up, so we don’t get breakfastL but we do get an early lunchJ.  

I have been really bad with updating this page this week because orientation has been so busy! I'm really having a good time here though. Everything has been organised so well and they have really looked after us. From the moment we met the EPIK team at the airport, they have been nothing but great and that just shows what a great program EPIK is. I have met some really lovely people and the classes have been so informative and have really been beneficial for our year ahead. Everyday is so busy though and it is sometimes hard to stay awake sometimes with the jet lag and all just because everyday is classes from 7:30am to 8:30pm (no joke). It is kind of intense but I am so grateful for it because being thrown in to the deep end like hagwon teachers are would be so daunting.

We are staying in dorm rooms for two people and I was fortunate to have my friend Teni who I met in the UK prior to arriving as my room mate. We also flew over here together so this experience has not really been nerve racking (as of yet). Orientation has also been a safety blanket so i'm kind of nervous for next week when we go to our school. We are given breakfast lunch and dinner in between classes too. So far apart from usual classes, we have taken part in tae kwondo and we have also been on a field trip to a traditional hanok village.