FRUSTRATED TO THE nTH DEGREE!

So my frustration levels are on an all-time high........

I never felt sooooooo socially or communicatively crippled as I have yesterday....

First of, I am still suffering from the "common cold" although in my eyes, this thing needs to be alot less common cuz I been sick now for 2 weeks straight!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday, our school was supposed to visit another school then all teachers get together for dinner.........(dinner outings happens very often).........and usually I'd turn it down cuz I'm still kinda shy from the other teachers and as well, I'm still now used to Korean food here.........................

Yesterday, I actually was looking forward to going, until I was told that Pork will be the main menu.........My hopes were shattered, they decided to send me home early instead baaaaahhhh

So my co-teacher took this opportunity to take me to the doctors and go to the bank.......

The doctor went well cuz (ALHAMDULILLAH) he spoke some english!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and he had this cool machine where we can ALL see inside my ear!!!!!!!!!!

The banking though.....................okay my goal yesterday was to send money back home.....internet banking is not saying much...............................................so, WHY did we wait for 30mins in line, see the teller quickly (all in korean) and leave the bank without sending the money??????? WELL...one more time, my co teacher misunderstood me and aparantly thought i needed more clarification on net banking......i was like NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I WANNA SEND MONEY NOW THIS MINUTE!!!!!!!!!!

naturally, the bank was closed then....................

Next scenario.......

I go to the cell phone store (KTF) to buy a cellie....so i can order pizza..................the guy didn't speak ANY english AT ALLLLLLL and forget sign language...............why is it that they continue speaking to you in fluent korean, like it'll hit you suddenly that AAHH you DO understand korean>?????????????????????????

He ended up ordering pizza, and the pizza delivery man ended up being the translator.............................

FAAAAACK!!!!!!!!!!

I started thinking about my fam and my homey's overseas.....and damn, I really miss them (I MISS YOU SUE-BEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I'm soooo happy today is friday though ONE MORE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank GOD the kids were in a good mood today, cuz I think I would've system crashed with the weather being gloomy, me not speaking korean, and depressed kids at the same time.......................

I hope we have a long weekend sometimes soon (doubt it) cuz I wanna check out this area bout 3 hrs to the east called Sokcho and I heard its the hot beach spot and its really pretty.....

Meh..........this weekend I wanna take my homegirl to Jungdo island near my city, its basically an island park, where you can rent bikes and ride around....or have abarbecue or just chilll..........inshallah may the weather be favourable for it!!!

Kay, lunchtime for me is ova!!!

Adios!

Its been two weeks..............

Okay, so I guess technically, on my last post, it HASN'T been 3 weeks since I've been here in Chuncheon cuz its the 27th today, which is 14 days after my last post, which is two weeks...........which means I've been here..............5 weeks????

No. Stop.Rewind.

I arrived on the 28th of Feb...........today is the 27th of March so few more days and it'll officially be a month here for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's been a while since my last post so I'll just jot down everything.

1 - Food hasn't improved much for me.......I've tried, Lord knows I've tried to taste what Korea has to offer in terms of food, BUT, unfortunately, my body is just not having it........I feel bad because everyone at school eats cafeteria food except for me, and they might start to think that I'm taking offense to their food.............but I'm nooooot!!!!!!!!!

2 - There are many more Nigerians living here than I ever expected....

3 - Seoul.....is rather an interesting city...........I guess I'm more of a nature person, and therefore prefer Chuncheon's natural attractiveness over Seoul's bright lights and crazy roads...............speaking of which.......

4 - People drive crazy in Seoul......and Chuncheon too.....I don't know how people can fly up and down extremely narrow alleyways like there won't be people in your way......

5- I've been sick since last Monday and it seems that I'm getting sicker today, my glands are swollen YET AGAIN.........I was told to expect this but, dang, I didn't think it would be this bad.....

6 - I was told by another teacher that I've lost some weight...........HALLELEU-YER!!!!!!!! I feel as though I have lost some weight, though not voluntarily..........but its a good thing anyhow!!!

7- They don't believe in soap or cleaning products here......their dish soap doesnt do much, they have their toilet paper outside of bathroom stalls in मान्य public restrooms............some places SELL toilet paper (I kid you not)

8- There is just way too much staring going on, not necessarily when I'm alone, but when two foreigners walk together (or heaven forbid, 3 or 4) then its ON.....You are a walking television show............its creepy at times. but mostly annoying..........I've learned to just go on with whatever I am doing......

9- I will hopefully get my hands on a dig. cam soon so that I can capture my life through photos and not feel pressured to write as much because things are getting a bit more hectic here and I will not have as much time to jot down my thoughts.................SO LOOK OUT FOR PICS, COMING SOON!!!!

10- I really, really, really, really, really, really appreciate the opportunity I got here in Chuncheon and all that comes with it..............My "apartment" is, yes, basically a room, BUT, I still have my own kitchen, and laundry room, a pretty decent bathroom, heat and hot water, a laundry.......and a computer which is my LIFE at the moment seeing that I don't have a phone and probably won't get one for a while.....So they only way for ppl to reach me is through email, or just drop by anytime you want to!!!!!!!!!!

11- My fav grade to teach are the 3rd and 5th graders because they actually LISTEN ........the 3rd graders are SUUUPER adorable too, thats a bonus!!

12- I miss my fam and really close friends now.........though I'm fighting it as much as possible cuz I will be here for a long time......................but I love ya'll!!!!! And I'd do anything to bring you guys here!

13- I know I promised earlier, but I will post up information on how I came about finding this job, and possible tips for those interested in taking the same path......I was extremely blessed to get this job through this girl who was finishing up her contract and her school needed a replacement, except she did the recruiting seeing that she was the only fluent English speaking person...............

One BIG advice is to research, research, research the HECK out of South Korea............try looking up blogs of those who are here (comme moi!) and see what their views are on the different cities and such................and come with a VERY open mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Its way past my bedtime, so to be continued!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At school....

Live from Chuncheon, its approx. 3:28pm and felt the need to post up my thoughts thus far on my experience......

So far I've been here for 3 weeks, and it feels like I've been here forever......Not in a bad way though!

I feel like I'm getting to know my surroundings a little better..Since there are no rhyme or reason in South Korean roads, I keep discovering more and more shortcuts to get around this city! Like just now I realised the train station is about a 20 minute walk from my house!

I went to Seoul over the weekend and it was quite a welcoming experience being with people I know and surrounded by people like me (foreigner).....Its good that I live in Chuncheon though because it feels like a quite retreat from the hustle and bustle that is Seoul.....Yea it might suck to have to travel there whenever I need some serious excitement, but, not like Chuncheon is lacking life! I have yet to discover that, so more on that after this weekend....

I am starting to think that people here are generally friendly, and always willing to help, regardless of the language barrier.....This is extremely good for a person like me because I like to tap into other human resources ALOT to get around areas, and avoid feeling 'lost'..........my #2 fear on my list: being lost!

Chuncheon is located in a valley, today is a beautiful spring day, no flowers yet but in due time there will be.....and all I'm missing is my CAMERA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh the horror!!!!!

Fear not, I'm getting on that quick!

I tried to do my laundry the other day but forget that, I 'm bringing my co-teacher to translate it for me and show me how to use it....I'm hoping I can get a new machine since this one is VERY old and I don't think it spins, so it might be broken....

As for teaching......its all that I imagined it to be and more, I believe I am at home infront of the children....and when they want to, they can be ideal students.....Today some of the homeroom teachers came into class to take pictures with me and the kids, 'posing' as if I'm in the middle of a lesson, that was outta the blue, wish I knew! Or I would've combed my hair and looked decent enough!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, I'll post up info on my position in details about the what/when/where/why and how's of me coming to Korea to teach in my next post!!!

Ciao!!!!!!!!!!

Alone with my thoughts....

I haven't yet started to feel homesick, but I'm definately feeling like Nikki/Jessica from the show "Heroes" loool Let me explain....

Being here on my own in a foreign land leads to many moments of me being accompanied with nothing but my thoughts....I've had many thoughts crossing my mind and its getting to dangerous degrees....I'm not talking to myself yet, but it's getting there!!

I've always been an introverted person so its not such a big deal BUT, it is definately making me define the limits of my rationality and set some boundaries to create a tunnel vision on my future goals and aspirations...

I love it here so far, I know myself, I either love it or hate it from the beginning, and so far, I'm liking it, but I need to get into focus, this is not an average part-time/full-time job where I can call in sick if I don't feel like going, or not be enthusiastic about what I'm paid to do......

This is teaching, its fun, even when my body is not in a "fun" mode!

The big lesson I've been learning lately is this: pick a major goal, and stick to it.

WE may be distracted in so many ways and so many levels from achieving that what we seek in life, yet it is only WE who can change that, literally.

On another note, I haven't adjusted to Korean food, and seriously look forward to checking out Seoul and shop for food there!!!

Aparantly I missed out on a trip for the teachers this year, so I wonder where they'll go next time! The teachers go on a trip I guess funded by the school to a different city each year: last year they went to Singapore, the just went to Vietnam this past January, I'll cross my fingers and hope they're going to Thailand or Indonesia next time!!!!

We only had the grade 3 class today because the school had their elections, so the grade fivers weren't gonna make it....which is okay with me, been at my desk all day, and not really complaining about it!!!

Thank GOD its Friday tomorrow!

Big Things!!!!

Sittin here at my desk browsing the net and chatting as usual, I thought of updating my blogs on the latest happenings!!!

Well, I'm at school right now, and this is usually how it is:

Teach from 9-12:30 then sit in the english room from 1:30 - 5 to do whatever it is needed to be done.....Since its a new year/semester, not much needs to be done so I been browsing around on my spare time. Mostly ideas on teaching, and what neat cool activities I can come up with for each grade.

So far, the kids are ADORABLE, and so eager to learn which makes things alot easier.....Man I wish I was that eager to learn a new language *French*, in elementary school !!!!

Time seems to fly while teaching which is is good, compared to sittin around at my desk for 3.5 hrs......

We will begin "Storytime" every Friday and I'm looking forward to that!!

I FINALLY got to explore my city last night and felt even more at ease knowing I can find pretty much everything here!!! I just wish I had a car......but then again, I wouldnt get to enjoy my walks as much......which brings me to my next point.....

I've signed up to a gym!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!! I went there last night and its very clean and very quite a bit expensive buuuut, its like a 10 minute walk away so I have NO excuses!

If worst comes to worst, I spotted the staple junk food resto's i.e.: mcdees and KFC so I can never go hungry here!!! But thats my ultimate last resort!!!!

I found a bank where I can withdraw my money from my PC card which is a HUGE relief...

Slowly but surely, I am making my place feel like home!!!

Can't wait to check out Seoul, hopefully it'll be this weekend!!!!!!!

HEROES.....my new addiction

OKay, so I basically haven't been able to "explore" as I planned, or buy all the important little things I need for that matter because its been a crappy weekend, weather-wise. It's been raining since Friday and its cold and wet, which is essentially a recipe for a nasty virus.....I decided to just rest and catch up on shows I missed while in Dubai last year....and MAN, I am ADDICTED to Heroes!!!!!!!

I watched one episode and now, I'm hooked!!!! I get to watch the shows online (thank GOD) and I intend to catch up on it!!!!

This, combined with Greys Anatomy......I may never have to leave my apartment anytime soon...........


Bad idea....bad, bad, bad idea.........

More to come soon...

Chuncheon, South Korea.........Four Days Later.....

I don't know what happened to my old blog but its been a VERY long time since I've touched it, but here I am again!! Different blog, different location, different person all together.....

Although its been four days since I've been here, I needed a few days to recollect my thoughts.
I will try to update this more often, Lord knows there might be some fellow Somali who will embark in the same journey as I am currently..............

I've been toying with the idea of teaching overseas for a long time, and I figured its something worth trying. After many positive feedbacks from those who've been here, I took a flight on the 27th of February 2007 to Seoul, S.Korea, and the rest turned into a whirlwind of events....

First off, the flight on Korean Air from Chicago was AMAZING! I had the entire row to myself so that also helped!!! BUT the coolest was being able to watch movies on my own screen, and there were many to choose from! Too bad I slept most of the time.....

So far, I have to say thank Allah (swt) for everything.

I was lucky to have gotten this position through Keri (from Canada too!) whom I'm replacing while she galavants across S.E.Asia on holidays (lucky her!)

I am currently working as a teacher at an elementary school in Chuncheon which is about 1 1/2 hour East of Seoul and the city is really pretty! I haven't had the chance to explore it fully yet, but that will come over time....

Yesterday was my first day, and it was interesting meeting all the other teachers and the students!! OFCOURSE all the students were super giggly and wanted to know who their new teacher was.....The other teachers were very friendly and funny, and very welcoming.

I have a co-teacher with me, so basically I'll be the english entertainment on the side! Thats the impression I got anyway!

My "apartment" is about the size of a mid size hotel room but its good enough for me! The building itself is pretty new and I really don't need more areas to clean!!!!

Anyway, once I get my camera fixed, I will take pics of it....

I miss my family already, but the I'm very excited to get to know my surroundings and the culture here!!!!

Keep Posted!!!