Oh man, it has been two weeks since I first arrived in Korea. I must start by saying that I plan on posting on this blog more often, but I have really been putting off this first post because I feel like there is more to say than I will be able to express in one coherent post; but here is my best attempt...
After a few long flights and fun conversations with randoms folks along the way, I arrived in Incheon South Korea at about 7pm local time. After grabbing my luggage and working my way through customs, I exit the terminal in the most movie-like scene of my life to date: there was a huge crowd of people and a man holding a sign with "James Broom" printed on it. I soon came to find out that he would be my taxi driver for the one hour Seoul crossing adventure. After grabbing my bags from me and loading them into his car, I thank him and get a confused smile in response; he doesn't speak English (not that he should, I am in Korea after all).
As we drove through the seemingly endless skyline of Seoul, he occasionally rattled of tidbits of Korean into his walkie-talkie-enabled cell phone and would roll down the windows a crack for a few seconds. I was thoroughly convinced he was complaining to his fellow cab drivers about the stinky American that he picked up from the airport (I smelled horrible after a 12 hour flight with no air conditioning). Needless to say, I made to my hotel after a solid hour of relative silence.
I was welcomed by my fellow newbie (Meghan) and the director/owner of the school and asked out to a "welcome home" dinner. The meal was one of the most pleasant surprises yet; we had thick cut bacon, kimchi (a traditional dish served with nearly every meal consisting of fermented cabbage), and multiple other tasty items all cooked up on a grill in the middle of the table. It was delicious. Before coming, my biggest hesitation was the food, I was pretty nervous I was going to have a year of PB&Js ahead, but it will be anything but that. Don't get me wrong, there is a host of adventurous dishes to try, but the staple items are pretty safe with my stomach.
The next few days consisted of shadowing teachers on their last few days, to get an idea of what we would be doing and attending an orientation at Sogang University in Seoul. The school I am teaching at is composed of about 2/3 native Korean English teachers and 1/3 foreign English teachers such as myself. Because there were 2 native teachers who recently left, there were two native Korean women (Kaylee and Lisa; not their real Korean names, but names given for them to be addressed by students at the school) who attended the orientation with Meghan and I. It was so much fun to be shown Seoul by people who had lived in the area most of their lives. Kaylee and Lisa, if you read this, thank you. Because of them, I was able to experience the immense Seoul subway system with relative ease the first time and have henceforth had little to no trouble on it. Once again, thank you!
Here, I must get a little cheesy and interject my first major lesson realized here in Korea. In our time with Kaylee and Lisa, I was able to observe similarities that truly gave me hope that someday we will all come to see the humanity, though spread around the globe with a variety of cultures, are truly so similar. When walking up the stairs at Sogang University, I noticed that Kaylee was doing the usual skip a step when walking up the stairs that I do too. I was never taught to take two steps at once, I just naturally came to do it once my legs provided me the physical ability. We are all humans and are naturally so similar, it is my prayer that I may act accordingly and throw off the stereotypes that hinder me from loving my fellow human brothers and sisters.
To this point, I have explained through my first week of training. As the first weekend approached, I was a little nervous as to what I would be doing with the time off. I am lucky enough to have Nancy Schafer, a friend from Bethel, a mere 5 miles away and we were able to connect at the subway station and beebop our way around Korea University for most of Saturday. The campus is absolutely gorgeous and very castle-ish. I look forward to all the adventures we are going to get to take part in, in our shared 6 months here in Korea. We have already made plans to develop a Korea "bucket list" to be sure we actually venture out and make the most of this foreign experience. Nancy, you're a life saver.
I was also lucky enough to have a friend (Cassandra) here who is already a part of a local church with an English service. In light of this, I have been able to attend there the last two Sundays and develop another network of (hopefully) friends. Cassandra, thanks for taking me and Nancy under your wing for the first visits.
As for the teaching thus far, I would say I feel as though I am a young lad attempting to drink from a fire-hose. Curriculum, lesson plans, and energetic kids are a lethal combo when you have zero experience or education in the field. However, I feel as though there is nowhere to go but up from here. I must also add, that though it has been stressful, I absolutely love the kids and think that they are adorable (aside from the ones that me want to tear out my hair... I'm trying hard to love them)
A fun side not from the teaching so far: I have come to realize that my bodily follicle endowment passed from my loving father is not the norm here in Korea. In fact, I have come to be known by some as "monkey teacher." Yeah, not the most endearing nickname, but I'll roll with it. On that same note, I have one ADORABLE student who has taken a liking to petting my arm hair whenever I reach over her shoulder to point at her notebook. I should be moderately embarrassed, I think, but I just find it cute more than anything. The best part is, she doesn't do it in an obnoxious "look at me" kind of way, she just starts petting my arm while she looks down at whatever it is that I'm pointing at on her paper.
So, in sum, I am currently sitting in my apartment with more stories than can be fully realized through a blog. A stressful week of drowning in school acclimation ahead is all neutralized with the realized that God has been faithful to date in giving me this opportunity and will continue to be from the best I can tell. The shift in environment has really made me intentional in my relationship with God and I have experienced the peace that passes understanding more now than ever. I'm so glad He is gracious in receiving me as one who so sporadically finds Him worth my time, grace is a pretty cool thing, thanks Pops.
I cannot start to thank everyone enough who has dropped me a note, facebook post, skype call, and most of all prayer. I know that it has made the overwhelming start to teaching more peaceful and bearable. I love you all dearly and miss the community you have been to me.
Synopsis by Song: "This is Home" by Switchfoot.
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