School and Host Family Introduction

Mon. 7/1

Jet-lag got the best of me last night!  I could not sleep.  The upside – I had some time to update the blog.  And check Facebook.  And e-mail.  And read.  I am hoping that coffee and the excitement of the day will get me through… J

Office of Education

We were picked up at 8:30 this morning by our host teachers and taken to the Gyeongsangnamdo Office of Education.  Gyeongsangnamdo is one of the nine provinces that make up South Korea (see map below).  There we had the chance to meet some of the officials and staff members of the School Policy Division, specializing in English Education & International Exchange, who helped to coordinate this exchange.  We also had the pleasure of meeting the Education Governor of Gyeongsangnamdo (similar to a superintendent position, except he oversees the schools and teachers for the entire province).  We were encouraged to learn and enjoy as much as possible about Korean culture (and food!) during our time here.  We assured them that would most definitely not be a problem J

As we were leaving the Office of Education, our attention was drawn to a large sign on display at the top of the front steps.  The sign read “Welcome to Gyeongsangnamdo Office of Education Lee Braddock and Carrie Zill.”  Of course we had to stop and take a million pictures!  I don’t think I have ever had my name on a sign before!  The pictures were taken on Lee’s camera, so I’ll post some later.

Gyeongwon High School

After the picture-taking session, Lee and I parted ways to go to our respective schools.  The school where I will be spending most of my time is Gyeongwon High School, which is located in the city of Gimhae.  It is a public high school with about 1400 students and 70 teachers.  The students here are in the equivalence of 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th grades.  I had the chance to meet the principal and vice principal as well as some of the teachers. 

For lunch, the principal, vice principal, and some of the teachers took me to a traditional Korean restaurant.  We sat crossed-legged on the floor at a low table and were served dish after dish of beautifully prepared food in all kinds of colors, textures, flavors, and smells.  It was a really fun – and delicious – eating experience.  At first they were concerned that I might not be able to use chopsticks very well, but I assured them that my travel experiences throughout Asia prepared me well J

After lunch we returned to the school and I was able to stop in on a few of the classes to say hello.  Here all of the classes are segregated into boys and girls classes.  I was introduced to a few of the girls classes.  As soon as I walked in I was greeted with resounding applause and excitement and a few cheers.  I told them that I felt spoiled – my students back home never greet me in such a way J.  I could tell that many of the students were very shy and hesitant to ask and answer questions using English, so we mainly communicated by translating through the teacher.         

Host Family

After school, my host teacher, Yeji, took me to her home where I will be staying for the next five weeks.  Yeji is young – only 24!  She lives with her parents, grandmother, and younger brother in an apartment in Changwon which is about a 30 minute drive from the high school in Gimhae.  Yeji’s father is also a teacher.  He teaches geography at a school in Changwon.  Her younger brother is in the military.  Military service here is mandatory for all males for two years after they turn 21.  Her family is extremely nice and welcoming.  For dinner we ate at a nearby restaurant that specializes in shabu shabu.  Shabu shabu originated in Japan and is cooked family-style in a hot pot.  Thin slices of meat and various vegetables are added to the hot pot to cook.  Once ready, you use your chopsticks to pick out the meat and vegetables and then dip them in any of the numerous dipping sauces available.  I unfortunately cannot take credit for the images that I have included below (thank you Google images), but I wanted to make sure to give you a visual.  Once again, a beautiful and delicious meal!

After dinner, my lack of sleep from the night before hit me hard.  I was out like a light by 8:00.  Good night!

Tues. 7/2

School

This week, starting today, the students are taking final exams, so their school schedule is a little different.  The students test in the morning and then go home by early afternoon – similar to how our last few days of school work.  So I won’t be working with any of the students the rest of this week.  I will have the chance to meet with some of the other teachers as well as some time to prepare lessons and presentations for the students next week.  Yes, the students will be coming back to school next week and the week after.  When I asked why the students come back to school right after completing final exams, I was told that the students come in order to start preparing for next semester which starts at the beginning of August! 

Here is what a normal day looks like for a Korean high school student –

Students arrive at school by 7:50am to their homeroom class.  Their first lesson begins at 8:40.  They have four lessons in the morning, then lunch in the cafeteria, then four more lessons in the afternoon.  After the afternoon lessons have finished, the students get a little break, eat dinner – again in the cafeteria – have independent study time from 6:40-9:00pm, and then go home.

The students I met yesterday were a little envious to say the least when I explained what our students’ schedules are like…

Lunch – Pizza with…potatoes?

So for lunch today, some of the teachers suggested that we have Western-style food – pizza!  It was pizza with a Korean twist.  We had potatoes on one kind of pizza and bulgogi (thinly sliced, marinated meat) on another.  Once again, delicious.

Clayarch Gimhae Museum

After lunch, Yeji and I went to the Clayarch Gimhae Museum.  This museum is unique in that it also provides studios and facilities for artists of all kinds to work, and then the artists' creations are displayed in the museum!  It is the only one of its kind in South Korea.  Here are a few pictures from the museum.