Day 11- Oh Tuesdays....

I have officially been here 11 days and it's so interesting that I feel like there is still so much to learn and that time has FLOWN by but at the same time, I also feel like I have been here for a long while.  I am starting to figure out who my friends are, what my role is in the school, what my classes are like, how to walk to and from school, what are good food places in my neighbourhood etc.  It is a great feeling when a person is finally content and comfortable, I now know how that feels.  I know there will be so many more experiences that will be new and exciting but I am enjoying feeling like I found my place. 

When I walked off the elevator and into the teachers room, I realized that today was my morning to lead circle time (ironic since all the classes sit in lines based on classrooms).  This is basically a time where the kids come in and we sing songs, dance and I ask them questions about the months, numbers and seasons etc.  Can I just say that it is super difficult to keep the attention of about 40 kindergarten students!!!  The funny part is that I am not even trying to do math or classes they may find boring, listening is apparently an issue for all ages :P.  Another difficult moment I experienced today is when there are specific actions for specific lyrics in the song and I am standing on a stage in front of all the kids having no idea what the songs are or what actions I should be doing.  To make it worse, I forgot to turn on the air conditioning for that room so the kids and I were sweating up a storm (not an attractive look for Erika Teacher).  The kids had fun...I think, either way it was a good time for all the students to get to know me and see my personality while dancing and singing with them.

School today went well, with the help of one of my co-workers I made my first lesson plan (mostly her telling me how it was done) but it was super helpful.  The students I have today are some of my favourite classes so it ran pretty smoothly.  Some of the elementary students have such personalities that I can't help but laugh at how clever they are.  One of the rules we have at the school is once class starts, the students are not allowed to speak Korean.  Usually the students do and it requires a little "Excuse me, are you speaking Korean? Why?" in which the students say sorry and start to speak English.  Today one of my students was speaking Korean and I asked him "Why are you speaking Korean" and he said "Teacher, I am Korean, this is the language we speak" I just started clapping for him as he giggled thinking he was the funniest man in the world.  It is refreshing to have some personality in the classroom after having kindergarten troubles in the morning (hitting and yelling at classmates because they used your favourite red crayon...who knew that was a mood breaker?).  I really do love the school I am at and the kids are awesome.  It is obvious I am getting more comfortable since I am now able to voice my negative encounters :p.

So after work (which finished early today 6pm!!! YAY) I realized there was an utter need for me to have some cash to survive the next little while before my pay check and THE BANK MACHINE ACCEPTED MY CARD!!! I am so relieved and super excited about it (*I will Survive* is playing in the background).  I went to the grocery store directly after getting money from the bank machine in order to get some groceries for the next little while.  A co-worker and I headed to E-mart and bought a slice of pizza for dinner (now I know I shouldn't be spending my money on a piece of pizza when I am buying groceries but let me just tell you...it was one of  THOSE days).  The pizza here is so random but delicious, today they gave me a pizza called "potato pizza".  This pizza has the most random stuff on it; bacon, potatoes, corn, onions, eggplant some sort of mayo thing on it and cheese.  It was pretty yummy after I got over the "awe" factor of what I was about to eat.  It may have gone completely different if I didn't think the woman had told me it was cheese pizza.  I have decided to start eating more Korean food since it seems to be doing wonders for the people here :).

When a co-worker and I were walking home, she showed me one of the most beautiful parks I have ever seen.  There are so many people running there and kids driving little convertible cars, there is a water show on the hour and later in the evening it is a water and light show which I will HAVE to go to one evening.  In the middle of the park is something that looks like a cathedral and there is a workout dance group where ANYONE from off the street can come and join, it looks super awesome! I might just have to try it out.  I am feeling more and more exhausted as the days continue...maybe the time change is starting to hit me? I will have to go to the dance group in a week or two...I need sleep! haa 

I was also able to go to the dollar store and purchase some little basic need items which was so awesome to be able to do! Money makes a huge difference!!!   I am finding my place here in Korea and I am grateful for the moments I am having.  I can already sense my growth in certain areas and it is amazing how I feel so many of my insecurities and negative traits are getting washed away while being here ( I still have a long while to go but I see a change).  It is such a great feeling to have so few worries when I surrender all my thoughts and feelings.  When I focus on what I CAN do and how I CAN accomplish certain tasks, each day is more beautiful than the next.