Charpie's Travels

Work was pretty different this week. That sounds like I actually know what “normal” is here. I just know it wasn’t this. The students have these big tests every month, and all the teachers have to do for those hours is pass out tests, make sure no one cheats, and find puzzles or games or videos to fill the post-test time. I bought fruit this week. I got a couple pieces that looked like they might be sweet limes (like we had in India). They were not. More like weird grapefruit. I picked up a pomegranate and noticed when I got home that it’s from California. I bought banana chips, and I don’t care what you say … they count as fruit. I tried to buy oranges. If you bag your own fruit, you’re supposed to take it to the man at the scale who weighs it and slaps a sticker on the bag. Who knew. I did not visit the scale man, and so my oranges stayed at the check out. I also bought some beef, which is nothing like fruit. It tastes much better. Also, rice here is ridiculously expensive. On ...

My Korean co-teacher had my students make these cards for me.  Christmas Cards

My school has a birthday party each month. This week, we had the birthday party for December students. One of my girls has a December birthday. However, before and after her birthday, she is still six years old. In this country, the day you are born you are one year old. Your age changes on Lunar New Year. Typically everyone celebrates together, but we had to stay in our classrooms this time (swine flu fears). Conveniently, the birthday party happened during the class that I enjoy the least. Georgia lives about a few hours south of me in Jeonju. Friday after school, I took the subway to the Express Bus Terminal and then rode 2 ½ on the bus. This little trip was my first time (1) on the subway alone, (2) on a bus of any sort, (3) nearly buying a ticket for the wrong city, (4) attempting to use a pay phone, (5) ordering a Dunkin’ Donuts espresso beverage, (6) watching 2 ½ hours of completely Korean TV, (7) seeing snow in Korea (all weekend long!), (8) having enough internet to use Sky...

It's been nearly three weeks. How about we just start with what went on the first week of Life Korea? I took almost no photos the first few days, so you're stuck with words. Day One I left Minneapolis at 7:45 Tuesday morning (US time) and arrived in Seoul at 5:30pm Wednesday (Korea time). Only when we were taxiing to the gate did I realize the man next to me thought I was coming to do a year of military duty in Seoul. I couldn't decide which of us would feel stupider if I corrected him, so I refrained. Never knew I looked like military.... Eddie picked me up from the airport and drove me to my school. While I was getting an introduction to the school, Eddie left. This was slightly disconcerting until I learned he moved my suitcases to someone else's car before driving away. By now it was at least 8:00pm. Boss took everyone still at the school out to dinner. At this particular restaurant, they bring out the food and you cook it yourself. I don't know what...