Week Two: A Typhoon and the Beach

Last week was week 2 for us teaching in public school.  It was a pretty eventful week.  It was the first real week of teaching actual lessons.  Last week I talked about me and the U.S.  This week we started in the books.  Mid-terms, for me, start on October 9th.  So that means I have to cover Lessons 6-8 before then.  In that time we have a holiday (5 days total, 3 weekdays worth).  So, I am planning on taking about 2 weeks to cover each lesson.

On Tuesday the 28th, Typhoon Bolaven blew through Korea.  The typhoon did most of its damage to the west side of the country, but Busan still had some strong-ish winds and a little rainfall.  I'd never been in a typhoon before but I was expecting for it to be a little worse than it was.  Many elementary schools in the area cancelled classes for the day even though the teachers still had to go.  Zach's middle school cancelled first period classes but the rest of the day was normal.  I had my normally scheduled classes.  Though the storm was pretty uneventful (I've been through tornado warnings/watches worse than Typhoon Bolaven), I did have a moment where I thought I was going to get seriously hurt.  I was standing at the bus stop and there was a huge (bigger than average) gust of wind.  It picked up a square metal piece and hurled it straight at me.  I covered my neck and head with my arms.  I kept envisioning the metal piece cutting through my neck....  The wind dropped it at my feet.  The lady at the bus stop with me just stared at me with her mouth open.  I think it might have scared her a little too.

On Friday, the school had a special schedule due to school club activities.  I was not privy to this new schedule and sat and waited on two classes that never showed up.  Turns out, I have to make up those classes this week.  Yay!  All of the students were hyper because it was Friday.  Many came up to me and yelled, "Teacher, TGIF!!!!"  I was just as excited as they were about it being the weekend - finally!  Before one of my classes, a few of the students started playing a game with erasers.  Now, I'm used to the students playing games where they have to smack each other around when they win, but this eraser game is new to me.  I think the object of the game is to knock your opponent's eraser to the floor.  If your eraser lands on or touches your opponent's eraser, you get one point.  Sorry that I can't give you a better description of how to play it but I did capture the students playing the game on video.  (40 seconds)

After school on Friday, Zach and I met up with a friend.  We went to a bar across the street from the ocean.  It was a pretty awesome night.  The weather was just cool enough that I almost felt chilly in jeans and a short-sleeved shirt.  We sat outside at the bar and enjoyed the wonderful weather and beautiful scenery.

On Saturday, a friend from our Korean hometown, Iksan, came to Busan.  We ended up going to one of the other beaches in town for the day.

Though I ate and drank too much this weekend, it was a really great end to a fairly decent week.  I am excited that the weather is getting cooler - that means fall is just around the corner!  I can't wait to start doing more activities outside without being a completely sweaty mess.

Countdown til my sister, Rachel, arrives in Korea to stay for one week: 27 days!!!!!!!