I’m loving the public transportation here! Seriously the transportation here is really amazing. There are some buses that are one won to ride and some that are 1700. Most of the red buses go to Seoul. There are also smaller buses that look like vans for shorter routes that 700 won or cheaper. From bus to subway is free so I’ve been told. You need to get a T-money card though for that. You have to be nuts not to appreciate the public transportation. You can always find a bus that goes some place. The buses are soo clean and soo nice it’s ridiculous. My two other American friends Kim from Texas and Grace from California explored parts of Seoul. We explored Insadong, which is a great culture shopping area for traditional Korean souvinears. They also had some men playing the Korean drum on the street. It was really neat.



So more info about the hagwons. To those that are coming here especially or have an interest in coming here. It’s important to make sure you really know about the curriculum of the school your going to. I now have a new job, thank goodness! The hagwon I was at when I arrived was a too hardcore academic for my style. I had two bosses watching over my shoulder way too much. I didn’t feel like they were open to my teaching style which really sucked and was making things more stressful then they should be. There were cameras at the last hagwon. I think that some of the curriculum was good but at the same time not fun academically for the kids nor for the teachers. It’s really disenchanting! I was really disappointed with it. A lot of these kids go to math tutors, science tutors, taikwando, and even more than that.. Blagh! I thought that the American education was bad. Korea’s education system is worse. The kids always look worn out. My supervisor and I discussed that it’s not a good fit, so she helped me find a better school through a recruiter. It actually is working out great! I have a higher salary then my last job. I’m now making 2.7 million won then before I was making 2.2. My boss is VERY nice and I’m the only native English teacher, but I don’t mind. He told me that I obviously have to follow the textbooks but I can teach however way I feel is best. Which was GREAT!!! Exactly what I wanted. I don’t like feeling limited, especially with all my creativity I have in me. The move was a big pain in the butt but I don’t have the little nat problem that I had in my last apartment. My boss bought me sheets, pillows, and really nice comforter, which impressed me. He put some food in my cabinets, provided some dishes and a tea kettle for tea and coffee! I thought that was nice. It’s a smaller hagwon, but I like the fact that it looks like he invests time in caring about how I’m doing. I’m teaching adults, elementary, middle school, and primary (little kids). I think this is really good that way I can figure out which one I mesh with the best. I’m excited to start teaching with them. My goal is for them to actually want to come to learn English, where it’s fun! The website to go to for teaching game ideas for English is www.eslcafe.com. I found a great game for my middle school class. They have to read tongue twisters separately in two teams and pronounce them clearly. The team that pronounces them the most clearly wins! I think.. I have to reread the game rules again. I live by Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, which is really neat. The campus is gorgeous and I ride my bike up the wicked hill! Phew it’s exhausting but really good. I want to ride it up everyday, but since my body isn’t used to riding a bike for exercise I have to be careful. My knees have been kinda sore lately. I’m gonna have to do my bike exercise research. And I can sit by a big pond with tables and chairs to relax and write on my laptop or in my journal. It’s so awesome! I also live closer to Everland then before. Haven’t gone yet, but can’t wait to go! I’m also going to Japan!!! Even if it’s for 2 days and I don’t see much, I can still say I’ve been to Japan. Since I’m starting a new job, they have to update my visa, which requires for them to send me to Japan. I’m going this upcoming Monday through Wednesday morning I think.. That’s what my boss told me.. I think I’m going to Osaka…?? But I can’t remember. I’ll keep you guys updated. And I don’t have to pay for it!

Recently there was the holiday of Chusoek which is basically thanksgiving : It is a major harvest festival and a three-day holiday in Korea celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. As a celebration of the good harvest, Koreans visit their ancestral hometowns and share a feast of Korean traditional food. These days.. they don't wear the hambos so much anymore.. globalization.. good and bad.. =( As you can see in the photos above, I went to a Chusoek festival in Seoul and it was really interesting! There was a guy that went on a tightrope, a group of men singing and dancing to a traditional song for harvest, and a group of women wearing the traditional hamboes to a fascinating dance! One of my friends took a video I’m gonna try to get it from her and send it to everyone.