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My name is Theresa. If you want to know more about me the blog explains my thoughts, wishes, dreams, and aspirations better than the 500 character maximum allowed in this description box!

Monday, August 30, 2010

Summer English Camp Take 2

08.16-20.2010

The second week of my English camp consisted of 5th and 6th graders, 20 students in total. The students were overall behaved and I learned from my first camp, I may have taught them too much and let the younger kids have too much free time. So my lessons were: basics (alphabet, numbers, shapes), animals, food & drink, time, and review. The PPTs were set for a slightly higher level with a little more content. Instead of ‘Shaun the Sheep’ episodes for ‘Brain Breaks’ (as I like to call them) they watched one Wallace and Gromit movie about the halfway point in class. Plus, at the end of class I had games pertaining to the theme/lesson plan. The favorites were ‘What time is it, Mr. Fox?’ and Bingo.



On the last day I planned to have them watch one episode of ‘Shawn the Sheep’ and play Bingo with school supplies as prizes for half of class and the second half to watch Wall-E in English with Korean subtitles, but unfortunately Bingo went too long and we only had an hour left of class so I had them watch two Wallace and Gromit movies: ‘The Wrong Trousers’ and ‘A Matter of Loaf and Death’.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Summer Break All Day Class (1st and 2nd graders)

Overall, this class is fun and very challenging. I have to keep the attention of 20 students, at a young age, with their first introduction to a foreign language. The children can be quite difficult as my patience is never-ending (so far). The units we have covered were the alphabet and animals. Last week, I covered basic foods; it wasn’t an easy concept to grasp with an introduction to ‘like’ and ‘dislike’. But it kept the conversation and speaking portion of class going.

My goal last week was to teach them a song about food and I saw a ‘simple’ youtube video and I thought it was cute. Let me tell you, it wasn’t easy to teach… About half of them were interested in the class participation and the other half didn’t want to learn anything from me that day. All in all, it was good enough, though the Korean teacher thought it was above their level. So, I played the song, went through the lyrics with a listen and repeat method and played the song again. The next day I started the class with the same youtube video as I was writing vocabulary on the board. After I finished the vocab, I sang along with them to encourage them and did the actions. Yes, I felt like a class-act fool. But here’s my proof and pride…

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Solo in Seoul

08.12.2010

Woke up at 8am and talked with Phill on Skype while prepping for the day. My grand ambition is to take the train to Seoul Station (a 70 minute journey one-way).

I was finally going to meet Jonggul’s friend, Shin-hye, and give her the gifts for herself and her sister. We decided to meet at 3pm and I left my apartment at 11am and took the line 1 subway straight shot to Seoul Station. Of course it was raining the whole day, yay Monsoon season… :/ I listened to my iPod, more Pimsleur ‘Learning Korean’. I got to Seoul station around 2pm.

I went to the huge Lotto Mart to kill time; it was the biggest one I’ve seen yet. Then, I went to the ‘Beautiful Store’, a tiny thrift store chain. I purchased a few items for fewer than 26,000 Won.

I walked around the area for a bit and laughed to myself regarding the SC2 endorsement by Mc Donald’s. (It’s a huge deal here, you cannot speak ill of this game in Korea).
I met Shin-hye and we ate lunch together at Bulgogi Bros. and she told me about her time living in America and recommended some places for me to visit. She was very kind and very cute. We parted ways as she had to head off to work and I wanted to look around some more, aka window shop.



Then, I had Cold Stone Creamery; again, I’m just too happy it’s here in Seoul.


I ate the same delicious Honey Nut Yogurt, soooo yummy! I finally took the train home around six and I got home at 7:40pm. I did my laundry and giggled at my washing machine as it sings to me when it finishes the cycle.

It completed my evening. :p

Friday, August 13, 2010

Keeping Busy-ish

08.08.2010 – 08.11.2010

I’ve spent a majority of my vacation relaxing and doing very little. As it is Monsoon season, it rains nearly everyday, so making plans to go and check out different areas in Korea is frustrating. It will rain everyday, but when during the day? It also seems that everyone else is on vacation too, I tried making reservations to go to Jeju (Korea’s version of Hawaii), but that task proved to be unsuccessful, as many other Koreans had the same idea as me, to get away. So I have been working on wedding stuff remotely with Phill, catching up with my friends and family back home, slowing learning Korean with Rosetta Stone and Pimsleur programs, tailoring clothes I have purchased here, and playing ‘The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks’ on my DS. I’m having a good vacation, but I feel guilty about my lack of traveling, due in part to my guilt of the lack of knowledge of the Korean language. I can read only a little and I’m hoping over time, it will get much better. I can’t wait to see more of this wonderful country, yes, I am really relishing my time here!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Electronics Land

08.07.2010

I woke up at 8am to talk with my family and Phill. Then I got ready for the day for a trip to Seoul. In the early afternoon I met with Michael and we took the train to Seoul, about an hr long trip, our destination, Yongsan. We were a bit behind schedule, as we barely missed the previous train, so we were late to meet his friend, from California, a previous co-worker from a Hagwon. We ate at some small Italian restaurant, yes Koreans love Italian food too, just like the rest of the world. And they we continued the journey to the electronics area and the dungeon of the electronics world. There are a lot of small little booths offering illegal and legal gaming components and accessories.


I’ve never seen something like it all in one area, English, Korean, and Japanese games. I’m only looking for items for my little DS. But by the end of our shopping excursion I found what I was looking for, a USB hookup/connector for my MicroSD card, I purchased it for 3,000 Won.

Michael got his legal copy of ‘Alan Wake’ for the 360, which proved difficult to find at a decent price. Then we had some ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery, yes they exist in Korea, but few and far in-between. I had a yogurt-honey-pistachio-almond combination, which was effortlessly heavenly. Yum… Then we took the express train, KTX, home. We stopped by the small grocery store and got a few supplies. The cashier was the owner of the store. She asked if we wanted to purchase our items together and Michael explained they were separate. She asked Michael who I was and he told her English teacher. I said Munsi Elemetary and my name. She said her son went there and told me it was ok to hit him if he wasn’t good. I kindly said thank you and laughed after I left the store. Korean mothers are a different breed compared to American mothers… I got a good deal out of it too, I paid for one Korean Pear (1,500 Won) and instead she gave me two, sweet…

I went home and crashed from the busy day.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Discovering the History of Suwon

08.06.2010

I woke up at 8am, why? Because I want to and I have plans. Sort of… I talked with Phill in the morning and got ready to go visit the Hwaseong Fortress and the detached country Palace, Hwaseong Haenggung, in Suwon. http://ehs.suwon.ne.kr/

When I left my apartment, it was still sunny, but after I reloaded my transportation card with another 10,000 Won at the nearby FamilyMart the skies were starting to look as rain would quickly come through my region. I went to the 301 bus stop as soon as I could, but it was too late. It rained and rained with short periods of sun for the whole day. I had about 22 stops from my home to the fortress, so for my duration of the bus ride (40 minutes) I listened to Pimsleur ‘Learning Korean’ on my iPod.





As I arrived at my stop near the fortress the rain started to let up a bit, temporary. I started at the Janganmun Gate, the north entrance. It is the largest gate in South Korea and it was constructed from Feb. 28 – Sept. 5, 1794. Unfortunately, during the Korean War the overall structure was compromised and it was restored to its former glory in 1979.





To take a walking tour of the Fortress it costs only 1,000 Won, but you must be ready for a lot of climbing and walking! From the north gate I headed west. Near Hwaseomun, it started to rain again and I went to seek shelter for temporary sanctuary.





Once the rain cleared up I continued on my walking journey to Seobukgangnu, the northwestern pavilion command post, for my next sanctuary for another period of moderate rainfall. I spoke with an elderly Korean man, he asked my age and profession. I told him I was 25 and an English teacher in Osan. He said I was a baby, very young, which I said yes, still young. He told me he had two children, a son: 31, and a daughter: 27. He was kind and wished me a safe journey. I said thank you in Korean. I continued on my long journey as the fortress went further and further into the higher elevation.





It was arduous and I felt extremely out of shape. When I finally reached Seonodae (west multiple-arrow-launcher platform) and Seojangdae (western command post), I could hardly believe I made it to the highest point. And it was worth every grueling step upwards to the top of Mt. Paldalsan.






The panoramic view of Suwon was just breathtaking, despite the hazy sky. I rested there for a while, despite waiting for the rain to stop. It was just so beautiful.
Further to the south was the Bell of Hyowon, which you can hear from Seojangdae, creating a peaceful atmosphere. From there, I went to Seonamgangnu (southwestern pavilion) on the southern ridge of Mt. Paldalsan.




Very beautiful with vibrant colors, almost hidden away, past the Seonamammun (southwestern secret gate).



Climbing down into the south my next sanctuary from the rain was Nam-Poru (southern sentry post), a small artillery post.





From there, I walked to the Hwaseong Trolley Platform for a drink of water to quench my thirst and I continued down Mt. Paldalsan towards Hwaseong Haenggung.





Hwaseong Haenggung is considered a temporary palace but it was also utilized as the Suwon government office for a period of time. King Jeonngjo had this palace constructed as a refuge away from Seoul as a ‘country palace’. It cost a bit more than the fortress, but it doesn’t break the bank at 1,500 Won, about the same as my bus fare to Suwon.





The temporary palace was very beautiful with a simple elegance. It is one of the largest and most elegant temporary palaces in South Korea. I can’t describe it enough, but it was much larger than I originally thought, as it covers a lot of distance with many compartments, at the time of its construction there were 600 different compartments.
























Also, Hwaseong Haenggung was used as a filming site for the Korean drama ‘Daejanggeum’ and many of the character’s attire are shown on display.





After touring the large palace I walked to the Suwon station to catch my bus home. My legs ached all evening, but visiting those historical sites made my pain worth it.