Day 3-Teaching Begins

So I woke up today at 7am unable to sleep (I don't start work till 10am so that is a pretty early internal alarm clock going on).  I woke up and started feeling anxious about how my day would go today, I live about a 20 minute walk from the school so I had time to think about what the day would look like however before I left for school I took some time to read a motivational and inspiring book called The BIBLE :P which helped me feel calm and just take it one step at a time. One of my coworkers told me she would come by to pick me up so we could walk to school together, man am I ever happy for the support system I have going on! I anxiously awaited her arrival and thought I would check on facebook to see what the rest of the world was doing and while I waited for my day to begin and facebook creeped some people I found my nerves slowly calming down (again it's the whole familiarity thing...it makes all the difference).  I know students get anxious the first day of school but they honestly have nothing on me...like I can tell you I was feeling next level nervous (sweat glands were working)...anyways like I said, people are super nice around here! Love ittt! 

So before I got to work, my coworker and I entered the cutest bakery and cafe underneath where my school is...it is ADORABLE! I will need to take a picture one of these days and post it on the blog because honestly it was super cute.  We entered it and grabbed some coffee (well my co-worker did) upon entering my school.  So unlike various schools in North America, many of the schools in Korea are floors in apartment buildings, mine happens to be on the 8th floor and is called ILS. It is a very cute building with so many classrooms, the use of the space is amazing.  So I got there and felt a little bit anxious as paper after paper were handed to me to look over and familiarize myself before the day began.  

My schedule is set up that I have a homeroom kindergarten class where I teach English (reading, writing, verbal communication and all that jazz) but I also teach math, show and tell and arts and crafts to all the kindergarten classes until 3 (I was anxious about teaching Asian children math but this math is the best kind: "which cup is shorter?" or "draw a triangle and colour the square in blue" I totally got this :P.  I then teach 5 elementary classes until 7:10ish...it was a good first day overall! I had and still have many questions as to what to do but the kids were a lot of fun.  The funny thing about children is they have no filter so I was told some pretty interesting things today that made me feel a variety of ways haha however the way they looked at me and said "Erika Teacher, look at my work, I done it" made me melt!

It is amazing to me how intelligent these kids are, some are 5 years old and super bright, speaking and reading books in a completely different language.  I was impressed most of the day and added some fun new ideas to teaching the kids that made my classrooms a little loud.  I was able to stand aside and not teach a few of my classes so I could sit in on some of my coworkers classes to learn their style and how certain things were done.  The different styles that are out there are so beneficial when trying to develop my own teaching style.  I did realize today how my spelling is not the greatest thanks to a new age where everything has auto correct on it so when editing some of the kids speeches I MAY have made a mistake...fail. It is my first day so I feel I am allowed a little leeway.

My director was super encouraging and told me I was a good teacher and she saw how involved the kids were when I was teaching...however I feel she was just trying to be encouraging since the first day was pretty exhausting.  The teacher whose place I took made the lesson plans for the next little while so I am feeling pretty happy about that...it is going to be A LOT of work! I can feel it in my bones.  As much as I am excited to become a better teacher, I am afraid of all the work that is it come but since my theme is NEW I am mentally hoping to prepare myself for anything!

One thing I was surprised with, was how most schools have their own cook, so every lunch time the kids split up and go into classrooms where there are co-teachers who serve them food and we as staff get some too.  It is adorable watching these kids eat with their little chopstick thingies and trying to teach me how to do it.  The food was pretty good, they served this intense looking fish and I took some to be polite but could not finish it and so I had to bring it back into the kitchen and unfortunately I was caught by the cook and my director who asked my feelings on eating fish...so much for being smooth and sneaky...epic fail on my part.

I got out of class at about 7:20pm and walked the 20 minutes home, some of my coworkers were headed out to eat by one of the places by my house however I am starting to feel the jetlag now and feel the need to rest (that and I am on limited funds till I get my first pay check JULY 10th!!!).  Being here I realize how much pressure I put on myself and I am hoping to change that and take each day at a time expecting nothing but having a blank mind to learn all I can and experience Korea.

I noticed that even though it is only my 3rd day I have the constant attitude that I need to know how everything works, in reality...I do not even come close to knowing anything and need to remind myself to be still and take it a day at a time.  Tomorrow I was stressing about some of the classes I would have to teach but lucky for me we are going to the FIRE STATION for a field trip! I started at the perfect time, getting half days already and it is only my 2nd day in! :)  

I am looking forward to what is next in store for me although part of me wants to be anxious and insecure I SHALL not give in! Yay for a new adventure and journey, like most things in life practice makes perfect.