I have found the second firefly disc...
Today I awoke full of hope that today I would speak actual full sentence Korean to someone, in particular about the hot water situation, that is the lack of hot water situation. I had a cold shower the second day I was here and I'm not doing that again! So I dutifully copied my sentences into my babelfish book and trotted off downstairs. I arrived in the office of my landlord to find two men smoking and warming their hands on the indoor heater, neither of them my landlord and I wasn't sure if they were waiting for him or actually worked in the office so unwilling to cause offence I sat about a bit until they turned on their computers.
My babbling korean was met with polite incomprehension until they took pity on me and made me a coffee.
Disheartened I returned to my room and leafed through my korean books, the book on culture shock was particularly helpful. It told me that getting upset or intimidated or dead angry cos you're so stupid you can't speak Korean is natural but honestly relax, things take time.
Christ I thought to myself, give yourself some credit, it is only friday morning of week one and you have already moved into an apartment, started work, met a whole load of new people including five year olds who want to be entetained, tried to comprehend your work schedule and lesson plans, eaten squid on a stick, walked to Bucheon station, caught buses, eaten sushi including squid in what we think was sea urchin stomach contents and the internet's coming saturday.
So with that in mind I toddled off to Bucheon station market and bought myself a kettle.
Later when Kyle arrived to pick me up, he came upstairs to try to sort out my hot water but was left scratching his head. Felt like less of a numty.
Classes where ok today, feel less out of my depth than before. It is nice that physical contact is permitted and it is joyful to see when Kyle drags himself along the corridor, kids hanging on for dear life and shrieking.
The kids are dead sweet, one actually cried because she'd forgotten her storybook, I mean, bless. They seem obsesssed by stickers and the girls love my phone; the smallness of it makes them positively coo with delight.I attempted to indoctrinate my last class into the wonders of rock music, as it is the free speaking class for the kids about to go on their exchange program to Vancouver, so I filled them in on Grunge as well.
Being so close to Seattle.
Went for dinner with Kyle, his deputy head teacher, (I think) and the office teacher.We went to this amazing restaurant. I want to open one in the UK, it was so good! Everyone sits around a table and in the middle of the table they put a charcoal brazier or a fire pit and then they bring you raw things to cook. It's like a BBQ fondue!
And the fire pit has an extra channel all around it in which they pour beaten eggs and chopped goodies so you have this omlette gently cooking while you barbeque your meat. Then you have salad stuff to go with and dipping sauces and other sides. We had pork skin and beef strips for the BBQ and kimchi,pickled cabbage, actually very good, starts off slightly spicy and then you get the sour of the vinegar and then a great kick of heat but I really liked it, as a side. We also had Soju, Korean wine but more a vodka at 25% proof but very very drinkable. We also had Lao Beef, raw beef strips seasoned and blended with egg and can also be with rice. Bloody lovely!
Now I am home writing this blog. I also had Mandu, a steamed dumpling, you know the ones Shane, the white fluffy cloud like ones but bigger, filled with minced pork and veg for breakfast this morning, it was so tasty. I fear this may become a food blog. One woman...one mission..to eat her way round Korea....
Til next time, must study some Korean!
Addendum:
Just tried to go to the bathroom. It is locked shut, obviously noone about, went downstirs anyway, I llive in hope but no luck, one chopstick desrtroyed and still no bathroom. Must remmember never to leave home without pliers! At least then I could have taken the door off its hinges!! Had a piss in a saucepan, went to bed.
No comments:
Post a Comment