As part of training, we have to teach lessons for a camp held at our university, where students from all over Korea ranging from elementary to high school, beginner to advance, spend two intensive weeks learning and speaking only English. Today, I taught my first lesson of three. It was chaotic and tiring (and pathetically only an hour long), but hopefully the kids had fun! The students in my class were incredibly advanced--one girl randomly asked me to define "vivacious" (thank youuu violin lessons and all those "vivace" music commands!) which sort of caught me off guard. But if you know anything about the Korean education system and the 16-hour days these kids put in during their grade school years, I guess that's not too surprising.
Anyway, this week has been a blur so far. So much running around and planning and working and oh dear Zeus SWEATING (air conditioning in other countries is a wee bit spotty, I've come to realize). A couple meetings here, a few lectures there, throw in 2-4 hours of Korean language class each day and you've got yourself a full on schedule. But it's good to keep busy. I'm sort of enjoying it.
One thing I wasn't enjoying as much though, regrettably, was the food. It just hasn't been working out as well as I'd hoped...and yea...I'll leave it at that. But then yesterday some concerned (and amazingly thoughtful) friends bought me peanut butter and bread, and I got free pizza tonight at the "Being Korean American in Korea" talk. So today, thankfully, has been much easier than the few days preceding it.
We spent the weekend in Haeinsa at a Buddhist temple, which awesomeee. We watched them perform chanting and drumming rituals, were given a tour by a monk who had studied in the States, and ate a silent vegetarian lunch there one of the days, during which we were required to eat everything on our plate (to the last grain of rice). It was beautiful and interesting and kind of brought back memories of times I'd spent with my family traveling to temples throughout Asia (I think it was the incense). A relaxing weekend calm before the storm, I guess.
Well, as I mentioned, it's go time, so I still have a busy schedule that stops around midnight tonight. two more meetings, a reflection to write, and one last assignment before I get to sleep!
And now, for your viewing pleasure, some pictures from Haeinsa...
3 comments:
A/C is spotty even in other states that don't normally use it year-long... I've had some REALLY sweaty summers in Pittsburgh and NYC. Makes me ridiculously thankful for A/C whenever I have it!
Thanks so much for sharing, Allison! I'm going to share with my multicultural club and students when the new school year begins.
Hi Ali..... It all sounds very interesting. Sorry about the food dilemma. I know it must have been very hard to eat everything off of your plate when you are not use to doing that home (as I have tasted your mother's home cooking, I am sure there was plenty left on the plates). Just Kidding :)
Hope to read more of your adventures
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