"that point"

I think it's official.  I've hit "that point".  You know, that point where I think, "what am I doing?!"  Don't get me wrong, I do NOT regret what I'm doing.  We were told in our TESOL/TESL/TEFL course that this would happen.

I'm not really homesick (sorry if I offended anyone by saying that).  I do miss my friends and family but not to the point where I want to come home because of it.  I think the newness of being in a foreign county is wearing off and the monotony of everyday life is setting in.

As some of those closest to me often heard, I used to say that I hated kids.  That wasn't really true.  I just knew that I didn't want any of my own in the near future.  I was also happy to be able to escape the kids if it got too much for me.  Who would have ever thought that I would be a teacher?!

Well, here I am.  I do like my job and I like the kids most of the time.  I'm just having a difficult time.  As most teachers who teach students a different language, I am having a hard time getting the kids to stop speaking their native language (in this case, Korean).  In fact, I am having a difficult time getting them to stop talking, period!  They just don't have the respect for the "foreign" teacher as they do for the Korean teacher.  I knew that would be a problem going into it, but it's different being in the middle of it.

It's also hard because Zach and I have a slight difference in our schedules.  Mondays and Tuesdays, I have to be at school at 2:35pm and end at 9:15pm.  I am not teaching the entire time, I have a break.  Zach has to be there at 3:00pm and ends at 9:15pm.  Not too bad, right?  On Wednesdays and Thursdays, I have to be at school at 2:35pm and I end at 6:45pm.  Zach has to be there at 3:00pm and doesn't end until 10:10pm.  He goes in at basically the same time as me but stays about 3 1/2 hours longer.  He doesn't blame me, because it is obviously not my fault, but it just doesn't seem fair.  I know that it's just a way of life, but I feel bad about the situation.

Zach and I also have different of ideas of what to do on the weekends.  I would rather be around as few people as possible.  Don't get me wrong, everyone I have met here I really like.  But, after the week with the kids, I just don't want to be around people all the time.  Zach feels like he is isolated from the world; he wants to be around as many people as possible.  It's hard to find that middle.  I need to stop being so anti-social.  Deep down, I want to hang out with people.  Like I said, I really like everyone I have met here so far!  I know that Zach and I don't have to do everything together.  That's the point.  We are together all the time.  I love him, but separation is good too.

Anyway, I don't want to bore you with all of my problems, but I thought I would give you an update of my thoughts.  Hopefully I pass this "point" fairly quickly!!  I know it will happen, I just need to put effort into helping myself pass it!

Lunar New Year Activities

February 2-6, 2011 was a holiday for us so we decided to take a trip to Seoul, the capital of South Korea.  We saw a lot of neat things and places -- some on purpose and some by accident!!!  We didn't really have an agenda when we got there, but it turned out to be a really great vacation!!!

Highlights:
The East Gate
Cheonggyecheon (waterway)
Dongdaemun History and Culture Park
(Former President) Johan M. Chang's House
National Museum of Korea and Special Exhibition Gallery (Silk Road)
Traditional houses
Changgyeongung Palace

The East Gate

Cheonggyecheon

(For those of you in the Jasper-area reading this, it's like the River Walk except with A LOT more history.)

Dongdaemun History and Culture Park

(This is also the area where we took the subway to and from our hotel.)

This is one of the places we found by accident.  We were looking for the Community Center and looked up and saw a sign about the Former President's house.  We thought, "What the heck" and checked it out.  We were the only ones there and the "guide" spoke very little English, but we got some cool pictures out of it!

 (Former President) Johan M. Chang's House

 National Museum of Korea and Special Exhibition Gallery (Silk Road)

 Performances for the New Year

Lots of kids were wearing traditional clothing all weekend.

 Found some traditional housing

 Changgyeonggung Palace

There are a TON of pictures that I could have put on here, but it would have taken me days.  Zach literally took over 100 pictures of just the Changgyeonggung Palace!

We had an amazing time and agree that we will have to travel to Seoul every weekend we get a chance, especially in the spring and summer.

To see more pictures, please visit my Facebook page!!!!