my view :)

This is the view from my humble abode.  You can see a little bit of the ocean if you look in the middle between the buildings (above the green netting).  Usually, you can see a bit more of it but it was hazy the day I took this.  The pictures are from left to right as you'll see by the captions.

to the left

 If you can see the big E, that's E-mart and my school is right across the street from that.  Its about a good 10-15 minute walk depending on how fast I decide to walk that day (or if I don't have to wait long for the traffic lights).

in the middle

Oh 2001 Outlets, how often I would be lost without you!  At the bottom of that building is my grocery store.  You can find everything you'd ever need in that building.  It literally is 2001 stores.  I love it.

to the right

More evidence of Haeundae New Town.  These were  just built and are starting to open.  Its crazy how many apartment buildings there are in this city and how many are being built as you read this.

near my building

These are picture of stuff around where I live.  I took them on my way home from school.

at night the brown building has lights that make it look like its raining

downstairs of my building

closer up

i miss my kitty

my school!

my school building - next to emart and jungdong station

So, this is the building my school is in.  We are on the 11th floor.  There are lots of businesses in this building.  Today, we went to the dentist's office on the 8th floor for a quick check up for the kids.  By the way, they do NOT use gloves in Korea during dental work.  I cringed watching the hands go in and out of each child's mouth especially since some kids were sick and some weren't.  They all got touched by the same unprotected hands.

Generally, I really like my school.  The only odd part is in the mornings when we have to do Christian things.  For instance, the day starts by them all SCREAMING this hymn in Korean with the chorus consisting of about 5 hallelujahs which they bellow with all their might.   Trust me hearing that in an enclosed space is a real treat.  Now, they have to learn that same song in English which is a little awkward since the English words don't fit the melody as well as the Korean words did.  Then, they have to say the Lord's Prayer in Korean and then in English.  Mind you, these kids can barely eek out "My name is...." but they are expected to know the Lord's Prayer perfectly.  Also, its a weird version of the Lord's Prayer which I seem to mess us every time since I was taught it differently.

Then, they are given a scripture verse to learn that changes every week.  Its just really difficult to teach children that don't speak English "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked."  After that, they are given prayers in Korean to put in their notebook.  I have NO idea where they get the cartoon pictures for them but let me tell you, I have to stop myself from laughing every day.  One pic was Jesus spraying a hose on children.  What was coming out of the hose you may ask?  Only a rainbow.... Another was Jesus leading a jogging group of children.  They were holding light sticks... No idea why... Today's was Jesus in bed with a little boy... yep... ummmm....   You draw your own conclusions. 

Altogether, I really like this school because it is an immersion based school so I teach the kids different subjects.  I get bored as easily as the kids do so its nice to change it up every forty minutes.  My favorite classes so far are Arts and Crafts and Science Kit.

Here are some pics of my little babies.  I spend the most of my time with them. Every day, I'm with them from 9:30-2:35 so I'm getting to know them VERY well.

Solomon

Ohhh Solomon!  This kid will grow up to be UBER emo.  He is super smart and sighs in class when he's bored.  He doesn't color; instead, he's the kid who just takes one color and colors until the whole page is indistinguishable.  He CANNOT for the life of  him sit through an entire class.  For some reason, he HAS to climb all over the tables.  I'm trying to break him of it.  Yesterday,  I made him take a time out (like supernanny) cause he would not stay in his chair.  He doesn't smile a lot but when he does it makes my day since its so hard to get him to smile.

Star

Star - aka the cutest kid ever!  I love EVERYTHING he does.  His motor skills are still being formed so everything he does is so slow and precise cause he's trying to be so perfect.  And his name is Star!!  Yes, he always draws a star next to his name.   He loves to play catch and sing.  Sadly, he's been sick these past few weeks so he's been in and out of class.

Side note: when Koreans say they went to the hospital, they mean doctor.  I was overly worried about this kid cause they kept telling me he went to the hospital.

Annie

 Annie- By far my brightest kid.  She finishes first before anyone else and she can generally figure out the next exercise which means most of her books, which are supposed to take month or more to finish, are already completed.  She keeps me on my toes cause I have to figure out ways to make it more challenging for her without seeming to give her more work.  Korean children ALWAYS have to do what their friends are doing - even if its more school work.  When I give her extra stuff to do, the kids think that I'm giving her special treatment and want to do the same thing.  Its aggravating sometimes.  This kid will go far though and she'll be super pretty when she grows up and is already by far the most popular student.

Yewon

 Awww little Yewon... I tried to give her an English name and we settled on Amy (even wrote that on ALL of her things) but her mom decided that she didn't want her to have an English name (so she now has two names on everything).  She knows the most English out of all the students.  I think her mom must have spent a lot of time teaching her which I REALLY appreciate.  Because of that, she helps out a lot in the class.  I try not to give her extra attention but its so hard cause she's so cute and she understands me the best.  She also hangs on to me like no other and she laughs like a baby which is sooooo adorable.

Quinn

Quinn, Quinn, Quinn... She is my challenge since she works slower then the rest of my students.  Also, I think their parents work with them at home and all the English she ever gets is in class.  She always makes this weird noise when she doesn't understand which is generally all the time.  However, today, she said her first English sentence, "I can do it!"  I nearly died with pride.

Well, that is all for now... i promise more later :)

-Melissa

welcome to haeundae :)

So, I would be writing more but I don't have internet or phone (everyday items that seem like LUXURIES to me now!).  I just wanted to show a little of my life in the past week.  I really like my neighborhood and I'm starting to get used to the food.  Everything is soooo cute here! 

Today, I went on a field trip to the LG Science Museum and it was so cool!  They let these kids eat dry ice (not sure if that is safe or not) but it was really funny to see it coming out of their noses while they ate :)

street view at dusk on my way home from work

I love my walk to work even though it takes a good 15 minutes.   I really love my job so much already that it makes it worth it.

my little room

This is my teeny tiny apartment...

my little kitchen

isn't it everyone's lifestyle?

random things i've seen

metro ride

oh i really really love ENGRISH!!

anyone want a pencake?

fantsy romance :)

car on my way to work

I'm here!!!!!!

I arrived in Busan at 9pm last night and was sooooo happy to see Sarah and Jin waiting for me!  Such a relief after 24 hrs of traveling!  Also, without Jin, I have NO idea how i would have found my school or apartment...(must learn Korean)...

Side note: Japan Airlines has the BEST food out of any airline.  I had chicken teriyaki for lunch and pasta for dinner with noodles as a snack later.  LOVED it.

Ok, so my apartment, smallest thing I have ever seen in my life!  I am debating whether I should ask to pay a little extra for a bigger place.  However, the location is soooo perfect.  Downstairs is a Starbucks and Paris Baguette (a Korean bakery chain).  Across the street is Baskin Robbins and lots of Korean restaurants.  Maybe I'm just in shock from everything being oversized in America...

Trying to find the place was really funny.  We went into the wrong building at first and although and ended up in an elevator that opened directly into a mini golf area.... cue Sarah and me dying of laughter...

My school: I think I am in love already!  I get 6 little babies :) they are between 4-5 actual American age.  2 boys and 4 girls!  Their names? Star and Solomon for the boys and Annie and Quinn for the girls so far (I got to name Quinn which actually turned out to be a bigger challenge than I thought).  The other girls don't have English names yet because one girl couldn't decide and the other one wasn't there today.

I get to teach 5 40 minute classes but they will alternate between English, Science, Math, PE, and anything else I can squeeze in there.  I'm soooo happy that I get to teach more than just English :)

So, since they are babies, they do not speak ANY English whatsoever.  I couldn't even get a "hi" or "bye" today from them.  They kind of just stared at me and Quinn and Solomon managed to mutter a few Korean sentences.  It was only orientation today and I'm so excited.  They have completely unformed (English-speaking) minds and its so cool knowing that by the end of the year (if I am a good teacher) they will be able to communicate in another language.  Most haven't been in any other kindergarten before so its very exciting for all of us.

I will write volumes more later I'm sure (with pics I promise!) but for now I'm off to E-mart to try to buy some stuff for the apartment.  Oh, and I have to figure out my shower problem.  I don't get hot water yet... talking to the apartment manager who I'm sure doesn't speak English should be a real adventure :)