Welcome to Uijeongbu

It's been a few days living in my new home. Quite different. Trying to eat as much American food as I can while transitioning to Korean food (that includes, processed meat sandwiches, pb&J, and the first cooked dish i thought about taking a picture for you to see but realized how unappetizing it looked - mushroom garlic mashed potatoes :/ ) It's not that I don't like Korean food - I don't know what to order! And usually everything is for two or more people at restaurants. So I stick to the basics for now.

As for Korean, Ga Yeong and I ate Kobe pork that you grill in front of you with whatever vegetables. There were some interesting soups and side dishes as well. Quite delicious. This morning, my manager took me out for porridge and I got Pumpkin served with a plum tea for good digestion at the end - Yummy!

I did a little tour of where I live. Check out the video! Hope it gives you a better idea of my life thus far here.

These are some pictures I took while walking around my area. Thanks for my new camera Mom!

Click here to view these pictures larger

Besides all of the fun pictures...
The new English teacher moved in last night. His name is Dominic and he's from outside Philadelphia. His best friend works in Seoul teaching English so I'm kind of jealous! We haven't talked much yet but it'll be great to have someone else to experience all these new things. This morning we went to the hospital to start the process of Alien registration (pronounced "A-lion" here haha.) It was a whirl-wind of dental examine, blood test, urine test, eye exam, size measurements, and x-rays! Once I get the application filed and it goes through (hopefully ASAP) I get an ID card which allows me to get a bank account, a cell phone, start my internet/utilities...so it's pretty huge and I really want it to be done!

On Monday I visit my school for the first time and then head to the main branch of Plus Academy for two things: an orientation with the foreign teacher manager who wrote an 80-page manual on teaching English (quite helpful) and class observations at the other branches. September 1st is the opening and starting date of my new school so I'll have to train quickly!

I've been missing everyone at home a lot. It's hard not to have someone to share your meals with or even speak English and understand! I made a Korean friend who lives in Uijeongbu but speaks little English. Besides Woo Seok and Ga Yeong, I have yet to make friends here in Uijeongbu. I think in one week from now, things will be much different - I'll be out of quarantine, I will have visited Seoul, and I will have met other English teachers from Plus Academy locations in Seoul. Exciting future!

Arrival

I've made it to Uijeoungbu, South Korea!

I spent my birthday and three more days in Chicago to finalize my visa before heading out. Mom and the boyfriend Phil came with me and we were able to stay with Mere. What a great way to spend time with those that I love most before I left! Saying the goodbyes was no easy task but there is such an exciting adventure before me (mixed emotions :/) I met Tom and Kristy, two friends also teaching but in Incheon, at the Chicago airport before flying to Seoul. It was so helpful to have two Americans going through the same thing. Besides a crazy layover in LA, the flight on Asiana airline was quite nice considering they were the number one airline for 2009. Your own screen with a TON of movie choices, enough leg room, food, and a seat that actually leans back. The flight staff was so polite and each one was beautiful. 12 hours later and a flight into the future (left 2pm on Saturday and arrived 6:30pm on Sunday) I arrived in Korea!

My good friend Ga Yeoung met me at the airport with a school representative. Ga Yeoung studied with me at Creighton and lives in Seoul. She has been my SAVIOR these first 30 hours of being in Korea. She spent the night the first night and was able to take me shopping for the essentials in my my apartment. Speaking of my apartment...it's way bigger and nicer than I thought! It's brand new since the school is brand new. Nice appliances and basic furnishings. I don't have internet or cable yet (using a PC cafe) but I will get pictures up once I can use my laptop.

I had my orientation with the Foreign Teacher Manager, Kristy Huh, and my Uijeoungbu manager, Jen today. They came to my apartment because I'm in a one week quarantine because of the swine flu. That means I need to stay in the Uijeounbu area and not go to work (darn!) Walking to my Plus Academy takes about...oh 5min! Nice and close. I got the regulations, cirriculum handbook, and books for the classes I'll be teaching today. A little more explanation of cirriculum and classes later.

"Most different" things to get used to...
- taking shoes off before walking into a restaurant, home or other place with nicely kept floors
- no shower sectioned off - water drains straight onto floor (so I have separate bathroom shoes of course!)
- no toilet paper goes into toilet - goes in the trash ALWAYS (if you know what I mean!)

"Most familiar" things I did not expect...
- YUMMY fruits and other products I know (Peanut Butter!) in the Mart
- cutest clothes for cheapest price

until next time.
peace out

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the train to Chicago. My last night in my bed is tonight. It's strange to think how this house that I've grown up in will be so different with a different pair of eyes one year for now.

I have to keep reminding myself that "it's only a year" and not forever.

Train to Chicago Tuesday (also my 22nd Bday) and flight to In-cheon/Seoul Saturday with some hard good-byes in between.

Better start packing...

Stalk me here!

Welcome to Sarah's (that's me!) blog on her year in South Korea. First off, I'll be in Uijeongbu (I'll be embedding links for things you may want to get more familiar with.) It's 40 minutes north from the center of Seoul. I assume I'll be spending a lot of time in Seoul to shop, dance, eat, and sightsee.

I am teaching English as a foreign language to Korean elementary students age 8-16. The private institute I'm teaching at, Plus Academy, is the 5th branch of the popular school owned and run by the Korean Agency that recruited me, Woongjin Think Outside. They are providing a single-living apartment, 50% medical insurance, and the round-trip flight in addition to my monthly salary. I have 10 vacation days and would like to visit Kyoto, Japan and Thailand - maybe more if I'm lucky. Email me if you're interested in joining!

Goal = minimum of 1 post a week. I hope for you all to visit often and see what I'm up to! I'll try to keep it entertaining. Here's a start - can't wait to run into this:



Wanna visit me here?: