September 5th, 2010

I've successfully completed my first week teaching, which so far has involved giving the same introductory presentation about myself twenty-two times. I included some choice photos of the Isle of Wight in my slideshow and now all my students believe that the Island is some kind of tropical honeymoon destination.

I also included an ‘Any Question’ section, which the children made full use of, asking me insightful and pertinent questions such as, what is your blood type? How much do you weigh? and do you have a six pack? They are rather cute though. I teach 10 - 13 year olds and as their first foreign teacher, I have achieved something approaching celebrity status. Students follow me to the bathroom and stand outside my office practicing how to ask me what colour my eyes are. After one particularly successful lesson I even spent ten minutes signing autographs for my students. One girl almost fainted when I wrote " I ♥ Football " in her notebook.

I also joined a 6 a side football team this weekend. We had training Saturday and I soon realised that I'd finally found a team that would give me the appreciation I deserved, when my first touch – a defensive up field punt which went out for a goal kick – was actually applauded.

In the showers afterwards I was then subjected to one of the stranger team initiations I’ve experienced. I was invited to get down into a press up position by the captain who then proceeded to wash and rub my back. I then had to repay the 'favour', only he requested that I try not to get his hair wet.

I’ve since been assured that this is totally normal here.

August 29th 2010

So I have finally arrived in Daegu and it’s freaking hot. One of the advantages of this is that because I sweat so much I now only have to go to toilet as much as a normal person. Which is nice.

I met my co-teachers Friday – Mrs Shin, Miss Oh and Miss Young – and visited my school for the first time. My co-teachers are all ridiculously nice. We went out for dinner and Miss Young asked if I wanted to get up at 4 o clock the following morning and drive two hours outside of Daegu with her to take a photo of the sunrise over a harbour. Once I’d stopped laughing and realized she wasn’t actually joking I said yes. Unfortunately due to an inclement forecast we were forced to post phone.

Instead I accepted my other co-teachers invitation to English Club. This is a group of around 25 Korean people who meet once a week for a couple of hours to speak English together - There is however, one other english guy in his 50's who seems quite obviously to be a recovering alcoholic/crack addict, only no-one but me seems to have noticed - Apart from that, it’s very nice and very civilized. Everyone sits on the floor, sipping tea discussing the conversation topics provided.

Afterwards we all went out for drinks, which were slightly less civilised. The night ending with the man sat next to me (who everyone kept calling Kim Jong-il due to his unfortunate resemblance to the diminutive dictator) vomiting into his own hands after downing 18 shots of soju.

Funny in any language.

August 25th 2010

Finally my week long EPIK orientation is almost over. As much as I love my fellow EPIK teachers I'm rather glad it's coming to an end – there are only so many times I can feign enthusiasm as yet another rousing rendition of 'Vindaloo' reverberates around the packed bar, complete with table banging and the sound of smashing glass. Being English, of course everyone looks at me to check that I'm enjoying this homage to my beautiful culture, so I smile weakly, give a thumbs up, and mime a few “Na Na Na's”.

Enough said. Bring on Daegu.

Class photo

I loved it really