July 29, 2007
We are writing to let all of you know that we are about to embark on a new and exciting adventure. We are going to teach English at a school in Naju City, South Korea. The website for the city is: www.naju.go.kr/english/ We sent for Cameron's visa yesterday - it should arrive back Tuesday. Our contact David booked our flights for next Thursday, Aug 2 at 10:30. We are flying out from Detroit to Chicago then to Seoul. All of the paper work has taken a bit longer then we thought which has delayed us a bit, but we have been trusting that God is in control and He knows what is happening. We will keep everyone posted as we get more information. Please keep us in your prayers as we finish preparing for our trip.
August 5, 2007
It rained the Saturday all night to Sunday about noon so it has cooled off a bit. As long as we keep our apartment opened up all day and night its not too bad - I actually wore jeans yesterday and was fairly comfortable. They say that this month is the worst. Its been mostly cloudy since we have been here - it was cloudy yesterday day, but a bit brighter. I'm hoping we will get some sun soon. The other teacher arrived yesterday. We went out right away to the downtown. She showed us a couple of good places to get stuff. We had our first Korean food - I was really nervous, but it was good - they bring you an appetizer like plate with kimchi and a couple other things, and also a bowl of broth and you can get pickled radish which is a palet cleanser. I got curry rice with veggies and Cameron got a cheesy pork dish - I forgot to take my camera with - will have to next time. The three of us ate for $10. On the way out we got slushies - pineapple Fanta we think. We didn't do much yesterday. Between Sat. and Sun. we were trying to get our sleep schedule normal. We decided not to go to church - it was raining really bad anyways - we will have to be brave with that. Usually I get really nervous with storms, but since we are in kind of a shell with a screen/glass porch on one side and a windowed hall on the other side it wasn't bad. We watched movies all day - we get about 6 stations that play a lot of English movies and shows - more details later.
I have to get ready. We are going to get our teacher IDs today - and I think we are actually teaching today. - very nervous - but Angela said not to worry.
August 12, 2007
Teaching this week had its good moments and bad moments. Cameron started right away Monday - since they were down a teacher. I observed. He has 6 classes and I have 4 so far - after Angela leaves Friday I will be taking over her phonics classes and I think keeping 1 or 2 of the ones I am teaching. The beginner classes are easy on the lessons, but hard because of the younger kids. The older kids are not bad, but the grammar is challenging - not having had it since elementary school - the highest levels actually learn how we really speak. The classes I have right now are mostly 9 and above. An interesting side note - Korean's age is not based on their birthday - they are born at 1 and turn the next age at the New Year. Birthdays are celebrated, but age does not change at that point. If a child is born in December - it will be 2 years of age at the new year. - this is what we have been told.
The language barrier is definitely a challenge - and it is hard when a question is asked that you don't understand. We will be starting Korean classes in September at the International center in Gwangju. I can't wait to start reading and understanding somewhat - thankfully most of the important signs either of pictures or have both Hangul and English.
Life is much like the states in general terms. Apartments are the main living. The transportation system is better - taking the bus, train and subway are the best way to get around - we have heard that even very young children take the bus, on the train yesterday there were 3 or 4 girls probably 11 or 12 in the seats in front of us - 2 1/2 hours or more by themselves.
There are rice fields everywhere! Which will be amazing to see harvested in the fall.
Its very safe here - that the other teachers have said - we can walk at night and not be bothered - I'm still trying to get used to that. A taxi ride is very cheap - you can go a couple miles for about $2.
Today we went to Gwangju for church (in English) which was a blessing. It is a ministry that one of the Presbyterian churches have. I think there were 20 of us some various country backgrounds - in a room in the lower level of the church. I think we will go there once a month. We want to support the church where are school is so we will go there most weeks. We went to lunch at TGI Fridays. Then we went to this 9 level electronics store - it was almost like a flea market, but most everything was new - you have to be careful of pirated items, though. It also had a level of musical instruments - pianos, guitars, violins, keyboards - pretty much you name it.
After that we went to Emart - which is like a cross between Target and JCPenney with groceries. There are girls and guys in every department - almost every aisle - wanting to help you. They have a lot of the same products and a lot of different ones. Neutrogena, Dove soap and chocolate, Listerine, Vaseline, Dasani, - then the normal Pepsi and Coke - you can only get Sprite at Costco. We went to Costco yesterday - got Sealy pillows, Honey Nut Cheerios, the biggest tub of "I can't Believe its not butter" I've ever seen - you can't get good butter/margarine really in the grocery store in Naju, we debated on the Cambell's chunky chicken noodle soup - which you can't get much chicken of any sort anywhere else.
I think that is all for now.
I know we have added some people to the list so here is our address just in case:
647 Song Weol Dong
Naju City, Jeonnam
520-130
South Korea
Please continue to pray for our time here -
for our example, our learning and teaching grammar, patience with the kids, adjusting to the differences in culture. Pray especially for the students - they are under a lot of pressure!
I leave you with this:
The pastor at the English church spoke on Matthew 14:25-33
"During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. 'It's a ghost,' they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: 'Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.' 'Lord, if it's you,' Peter replied, 'tell me to come to you on the water.' 'Come,' he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' he said 'why did you doubt?' And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, 'Truly you are the Son of God.'
He gave us this:
FAITH - For All, I Trust Him. - We are trusting him for everything. God got us here and he has been with us and will be with us.
August 26, 2007
Angela left Thursday - Aug 16. We were now on our own. I class schedule changed Friday. I am now teaching 3 phonics classes ( all at different levels ) then I have a grammar class called Spin D, and then a conversational class - my last 2 classes have older kids - its a bit more difficult to get them to engage.
Both Cameron and I feel like we are getting the hang of teaching. I do want to do some research online to get some tips.
This week I noticed I was getting more homesick - especially for American food. I am hoping to learn some from Samonim about Korean cooking. Although mine will not be nearly as spicy. We'll see what happens. I looked through the cookbooks I brought - I think I can use them - I might have to make some substitions.
Last Sunday we went to church at the Nazarene church (at our school) - it was very similar to our church style - we just didn't understand most of it. WE did recognize a few of the songs. We ended up sitting with Samonim - she helped us along. Her husband - whom we call Maxonim - is in the Philipines helping with a new school that they started.
After church Sunday we went to Gwangju to see Stardust - a very good movie if you like fantasy. Then we went to Emart to get some cleaning products and some other stuff. I am happy to say I did find mops at Hanara mart in Naju - I'm going to buy one next week.
I'm so glad our internet is back up! It was tough without it. I have discovered that I can still listen to HisRadio back in Greenville, SC online here.
Big prayer request - we are supposed to go to the hospital in Gwangju to see if we can get Cameron's medicine here - if we can get it here that will save us a lot of money!
