First full weekend in Jeomchon

We finally stayed home this weekend instead of traveling around Korea. Jared is still recuperating from a bad cold, two weeks now. He just can't seem to shake his cough. So we stayed home and relaxed. Since we finally got paid, we also purchased some big ticket items...a fish tank (two fish at the moment), a table for two which should arrive on Monday, and a Scooter. We've had alot of fun setting up our fish's new home and driving the scooter around town. Jared's picked it up the balance thing really quickly. It's been so nice sleeping in the last two days. I can't remember the last time we were even capable to sleeping in.

This week after we got paid we went to the bank and set up debit cards. It took about an hour for them to figure out how to get me one, but they did. So when Jared went the next day, it was a breeze for them. They also mentioned my name to Jared. It's amazing what we can get accomplished here with no Korean on our part and very broken English on their part.

School days are going by smoothly now, I think we have both found somewhat of a system to get us from one week to the next. My favorite classes are third and fourth graders. It takes alot of energy and planning but their excitement in the classroom is worth it. I've also started teaching teachers on Thursday nights. It's suppose to be 3 hours but my goal is to get us out of there in 2.5 hours. I'm teaching them English and teaching methods. Most of their English isn't good so I'm going to try to keep them engaged in what's being taught.

Getting Settled In

Well, we have been teaching now for a whole week, and we both are starting to feel more settled in. It has been an adjustment for both of us, it is difficult enough to deal with cultural changes but when you throw in new jobs teaching English it becomes even more difficult. Our teaching experience is almost non-existent so it has and will continue to be a lot of trial and error. The difficulty in communication is so tiring...even our Korean co-teachers who teach English don't speak it or understand it well. I find myself coming home and talking to Alisia using simple forms of English and speaking ridiculously slow like I would to the students in class--it makes for some funny conversations. With all that said we do like it and enjoy this new experience, it has been a nice "break" from our former jobs and has really taught us to trust the Lord in so many more things. We continue to lean on Him as he guides our steps in this coming year--what a blessing change and trials can bring! Here are a few videos, one of our place right after we moved in (so it doesn't look all that great), and one of my school Jeomchon Boys Middle School and the English Zone. We will try to get one of Alisia's school Jeomchon Elementary School. We will also add some pictures of our recent trips to Seoul and Daegu soon.
Later!