Really random ramblings

Today when walking to lunch I had a conversation with one of the Korean teachers.. in my head. You might ask why it was in my head and not an actual conversation. Well folks I'll tell you, because we don't speak the same language. I'm working on it, I'm slow and no one is helping me learn. So, our hypothetical conversation went like this:
me: Hey, so remember that time I had no idea what your name was and this is my 3rd month at this school?
Korean teacher: I know your name, why don't you know mine?
me: oh I don't know, no one told me I guess.
(the walk to the cafeteria is really long... making the silence kind of awkward).
me: So, it's pretty sunny and nice out today.
Korean teacher: it's cold and sun is bad.
me: well, I like the sun, it warms me up. And let's be honest that school is freezing. It's colder in there than it is outside.
Korean teacher: yeah we do that on purpose, keeps the students awake.
me: really? that's odd. It makes me do less work.
Korean teacher: haha, you seem to have it pretty easy anyway
me: touche!

I'm not lying when I say it is a long walk to the cafeteria, totally seems longer when we can't communicate. If we were in America I know how this would go.
"You're in America speak English!" -all the ignorant Americans
Luckily, Koreans are pretty nice people and so they understand. Although, I'll never understand why they do the things they do. Like setting a foreigner up with a bank account at the "Farmer's Credit Union" when they don't allow foreigners to send money home. Instead said bank will send you to another bank. Cue headache, stupid extra paperwork and when the hell am I going to have time to set up a new bank account when the banks close at 4:30 and I'm at work until 5?(plus they open at 9 and I'm at work by 8:30). I think they get enjoyment at watching us try to jump through these silly extra hoops. (For the record, I attempted to send money home, to which they said no go to a different bank. gah!)

My co-teacher just came to me and said that my building owner is going to sell my apartment building. And then he told me if I'm not going to be home tomorrow to leave my key with some officer. I've never seen a building officer before. I've only seen the ajummas (old ladies) sitting outside in a huddle hanging out chatting. I feel like they are the unofficial building watchers. As I get near they stop talking and watch my every move. It was awkward at first and then I gave them rice cakes and I'm pretty sure I'm their favorite foreigner now. I also bow to them and say hi (in Korean). Luckily, I will be home tomorrow so I'm suppose to let some stranger in my apartment to "have a look around." Just a guess, but I'm pretty sure ALL of the apartments in that building are the SAME. Maybe they just want to see how a cool American girl lives? Yeah, that's it. I hope I don't have to move apartments. I've come to love my spider infested place. I decorated the walls with tacky stickers in hopes of being more Korean-ified. I've covered my bedroom window with cardboard in hopes of keeping the cold air from coming in. I've made it my home and have no intention of moving to a new place (unless of course the new place is just as big BUT cleaner, then I'll totally be okay with that!)

Speaking of being Korean-ified. I may or may not own an i-phone and carry a mirror in my purse at all times. Occassionally, I pull both of them out. While checking myself in the mirror, I can send text messages. Koreans, turns out, are brilliant. Don't judge, it's all in good fun. Although, I think I've become more Korean-ified then I am letting on. It's okay, really.

Anyway, so my Korean teachers are totally cool. At lunch today it was not at all awkward while they surrounded me speaking in Korean to each other, while I tried to slump in my chair to finish eating my rice, meat, weird lettucey thing, mini hard boiled eggs and seaweed soup. And then they began to tell me that my chopstick skills are impressive (they have to be our else I'd starve or have to use my fingers which is gross unless you are eating pizza or sandwiches, Koreans don't believe in that for lunch. They aren't like Americans who think pizza is a vegetable, Koreans eat healthy. America, learn a thing or two!)

Did I tell you I'm not teaching today? 3 of my studens went to a speaking competition at the Office of Education. They were going to be interviewed in English and given a writing test. The winner gets a free tour of... China. This totally doesn't make sense to me, so you're telling me these kids are getting interviewed in English for a tour of a country that doesn't speak English? They need a new event planner, take the students to America, England or Canada. That seems more fitting. Anyway, so on Wednesday I asked my co-teacher if there was after school English class that day. He gave me his usal half laugh "um, I don't... I don't think so" This is the regular answer I get. Finally I asked him why not? "The students are bad, they don't feel like speaking." Oh good (I'm getting to the point I promise). So then he asks me to help him. We go upstairs to the English classroom where 2 girl students are waiting. I interview the first one, she does well, but needs improvement (plus she totally just memorized the random questions, that's not helpful). Then I interviewed the 2nd girl. She spent more time trying to have perfect answers. What I don't understand (like many of the things that happen here), if this is such a huge deal why are you asking for my assistance 2 days before the competition?! These 3 students should have been working with me for weeks getting comfortable speaking and having a conversation. So they come back from the competition, I try to have small talk with my co-teacher, so I ask how it went. He shakes his head no and walks away. Dude, this is why your English is horrible and your students. too!

One of my students at Geumcheon has no idea how to speak English. Well, okay he has a basic knowledge of "hello, how are you?" But beyond that, like a response from me, he's totally lost. A few weeks ago we walked together, he eventually parted from me on to his apartment and I kept going across the bridge. We had a basic chat where I tried to teach him how to answer 'how are you" - It was actually fun walking with him and he is really quite cute. He found a walnut on the ground, picked it up, examined it, found a large rock broke it open and offered it to me. I refused and he ate it while we tried to chat. Everyday since then he asks me how am I. Wednesday in class the students were given a worksheet of vocab words. Some kids were smart and came to me to ask for my help in pronunciation. After 10 minutes of doing nothing this kid calls my name. I go to sit by him and he just said "I don't know, Megan!" We spent the rest of class reading the words together. Hey, at least he asked for him... I'll get through to him soon!

Welp, back to reading hilarious blog entries at Thebloggess.com <--- seriously, I read an entry and mid way through I burst out laughing. I'm pretty sure the Korean teachers think I'm insane.