So I have 120 days left in Korea. I spent a while trying to figure out my new life plan, should I settle down, stay in Korea, teach some where else, apply for a PGCE, travel....the options are endless!


I was toying with the idea of do a Spanish course in Spain and trying to find a TEFL job there. I was also thinking about Italy. I thought that learning Spanish would be more useful and open up places in South America as well. I was also thinking about applying for a PGCE, however being in South Korea meant I could not attend interviews, so I would have to wait to apply until 2011. If I was in Spain it would be really easy to pop back to the UK for the interviews.


I had been applying for jobs and uploading my CV on to various teaching websites. I had some response from a job in Spain and had someone get in touch with me about a few jobs in Korea.


A friend then posted an opportunity in Joinville, Brazil starting in February ending in July. My contract doesn't end until May but sent off my CV anyway saying I would be available in July, if another position opened up.

I got a really positive response and lo and behold, looks like my next TEFL oppourtunity will be in Joinville, Santa Catrina, Brazil!



















The school has been going to 20 years and has kids from 18 months up to teenagers. I will be responsible for teaching the pre-teens and teens! What I really love about the school is that they teach English through science and art projects. They do lots of different and meaningful projects, as opposed to following a text book.


Apparently the teenagers are going to start in February a project about "The Wave", talking about autocracy.


I get my own studio (phewww! I love having my own little place, SK spoilt me!), they pay for my flights, and will also pay for me to study Portuguese at a university!

I am sooo excited about this opportunity, it combines teaching, art, and Brazil. I have always wanted to go back to Brazil and I now I get to!

Joinville is going to be completely different to Salvador. About 50% of the population is from German descent. I think this might be good that it will be totally different. I am not sure if I am just remembering Salvador and Brazil through rose tinted glasses as it was my first solo travel experience that pretty much kicked off my life. So it being a brand spanking new place means I won't compare it to Salvador, yet I will still be in Brazil!


Have a look at this video tour of Joinville here. and one here.


So 2010, so far seems to be bringing some amazing opportunities and again I feel so thankful that I am able to do all this travel, experience new cultures all under the guise of teaching English!


This job just sort of happened and fell into place, so my luck still continues...... :D

One thing I do love about Korea is the free stuff you get. Everywhere! I bought some makeup at a shop and got a facemask, hand sanitiser, shower gel smaples, foundation samples and moisturiser free with it!

I also did lots of games on Friday with the kids, they really enjoyed them and this is a couple of students playing a kangaroo game where they have to collect pieces of sentences then, put them in the right order. The video is off my phone and the sound never seems to transfer over......

Also had an interesting lesson with my adult class where Paul asked me how to pronounce 'beach' and 'b*tch'! She also wanted to know what the meaning behind the words were as well!

I did a bit of shopping at 'Super Girl' which is a very small shop with 'large sizeee'. The lady there is really nice and has a couple of kids, who just kept wandering in and out of the changing room, while I tried things on. Koreans really have no idea of person space at all!

English names for Students

I got a new student in my adult class this week. Her name is Paul.... Yes, HER name is Paul. I wasn't sure whether she meant Paula, so asked her to repeat it a few times but it was most definitely Paul. Then I started to doubt her gender and had to confirm with my co-teacher that she was a woman. I don't really know what to do now, having had 3 lessons with her I can't really say now 'oh by the way your name is a man's name'

At the start of each term, if I get new kids, I always give them an English name, this sounds really arrogant but all English Academy's do this. It does make it easier when you have names like Ji Eun, Ji Won, Joo Young, Joon Young etc etc.

Unfortunately, if I am not there when the kids are being given their names, they can end up with some pretty strange ones.

I have a couple of best friends called Bella and Fella. A Jade who somehow became a Jada, another class that is named after the cast of Gossip Girl. Once I forget my list of names so also have a class named after all my family!

It did get a bit confusing when one of my students who I had named moved over to the other academy and was given a new name!

Other names I have heard off fellow teachers are:
Harry Potter - (at an all girls school)
Satan
Hitler
Hulk
Drunken Sheep (The reasoning behind this one was that she has curly hair, like a sheep, and goes pink in the cold and so looks drunk)
Golem
Crazy Grandfather Dinosaur,
Brother, Sister (who are in fact brother and sister),
Umbrella

There is a facebook application that works out your Korean name, as sometimes the kids do ask me what my Korean name is. Apparently it is Gi (기) meaning "brave one". Pretty easy to remember!

I think that South Korea is a pretty safe place, crime is really low, and I feel safe walking home in the dark.

This photo shows how trusting South Koreans are:

You can steal the bike just not the bike lock!

Another example was when I accidentally left my keys in my bike basket, came back an hour later and they were still there.

One of Korea's cultural nuances is that you take your shoes off when going into someone's house, some restaurants and work places. For the past 6 months, I have taken my shoes off at work and left them in the shoe rack outside work. For six months, at the end of the day, my shoes have always been there.

So imagine my surprise when on Thursday somebody had stolen my size 7 black ankle boots. I WAS NOT IMPRESSED!! For a start, it is really difficult to find shoes to fit me here as the biggest they go up to is a skinny 6 1/2.

Also it has been snowing for the past week.

So I had to walk the 15 minute walk home in snow a foot deep, in my SLIPPERS!

I hope the tiny footed Korean who stole my boots, falls over on the ice and hurts themselves!

Also, I actually got off my lazy bottom to go to the gym this week. Having been successful in going on Tuesday, I headed out at 7am on Wednesday morning to find even more snow. Seeing as I was up and trying to get back into going to the gym, I ploughed though the snow looking extremely sexy in all my layers, leg warmers, hat and scarf. I had trudged up the hill to the gym when a bus went past and covered in me in brown, slushy, dirty, wet snow.

Needless to say I went home and didn't make it to the gym that day!

So note to self always keep an eye on your shoes and only walk on wide footpaths, walking as far from the road as possible!

Let's hope the weekend it better! :D

Integrating with a new Foreign Teacher (FT) can be hard, be sure to follow these simples rules and tips for a happy and harmonious relationship!

Always ensure that the FT feels completely smothered and overwhelmed
Goods ways to achieve this are:
- go round to FTs apartment all the time without invitation.
- Enter FTs apartment without knocking
- Read and go through FTs emails
- Go through FTs rubbish
- Rummage through papers on FTs desk while FT is in the bathroom
- Telling FT that you are going out for dinner but really take them to a Korean Bible reading meeting

Make sure FT has transport
This may include driving the FT on the wrong side of the road, stopping in the middle of a motorway, driving through red lights and doing make up while driving.
If the teacher becomes a nervous wreck due to the driving, get the FT a bike. However be sure to follow the FT home on the 5 minute ride, shouting directions out of the window, stopping traffic and completely embarrass them.

Socialise with FT
Guilt FT into going out for drinks. Offer to drive home FT home while drunk and in 2 foot of snow. When FT refuses and walks the 5 minutes home. Consistently call FT every 5 minutes and wait outside their apartment. Ensure that FT catches a cold by waiting outside the apartment for at least 10 minutes while FT hides behind a lorry.

Make sure FT has lots of friends
Introduce FT to your friends and then ban FT from seeing said friends as they are a bad influence and drink too much.

Make sure that the FT knows that you are ALWAYS watching them
Good ways of doing this is to subtly ask about a new restaurant in the neighbourhood. When FT confirms its existent. Tell FT you know they already know the restaurant as you have interrogated the chef about how many times FT has been there and who with.

Insist on knowing everything about FT personal life.
Persistently ask why FT does not have a boyfriend. Insist that FT must be a lesbian if FT says that boys are too much trouble.

Value your FT
An excellent way to do this is to sleep in class while FT is teaching. Nothing shows interest like a sleeping co-worker!

Ensure that proper English is always taught.
Especially sentences like ‘Can I take a bread/milk.’ If FT disputes the grammar of these sentences then tell FT it is American grammar. If FT still disputes, then tell them it is Canadian grammar.

Detailed ‘lesson planes’
Always ensure the ‘lesson planes’ are thorough and included in-depth information such as ‘student wriing difficult thinking'

Help to increase the confidence of FT.
An excellent way to do this, is to break FTs chair to give them a complex about their weight. Be sure to break their chair at least twice but DO NOT tell them. This is much more amusing when they sit on it and fall on their arse in front of students!

Communication
Ensure that communication is great by forcing Korean lessons on FT. Have lessons at the FT apartment and turn up with lots of friends and force FT teach your friends English. When FT complains about having their house invaded and wants the lessons some where else, ask them ‘is it because your house is dirty?’

Give great advice and support to FT when they need help
Great ideas are helpful tips like ‘Hit the kids or give them crackers if they don’t answer questions’.

If FT comes to you for support because one of the students is being naughty. Be sure to just send the student back into the classroom allowing you go back to sleep.

Always be late.
A FT will always work better if they have been waiting outside in the cold for 30 minutes.

Respect FT personal space
Always invade FT personal space, this can include trying to dress them, trying to hold their hand and general shoving around.

Ensure your personal life is kept personal
Feel free to have personal conversations within the office. Especially ones that include trying bribe your professor to change your grade to a higher one to ensure you have more TOEFL points for a new job you are applying for.

Holidays
If FT questions why they have to work during their holiday time, scream and shout at FT and tell them it is their responsibility to. If FT has already booked flights, demand that they change the flights. If FT asks if they will get paid for working during their holiday accuse them a being a lazy money grabbing foreigner.

Following these tips will definitely lead to a happy FT who will absolutely re-sign to build upon the joyous relationship that has been formed!

This time last year I was in Ghana about to embark on an amazing and life changing experience. It was in Ghana that I realised I loved teaching, met amazing and inspiring people and totally changed my career path, leading me to teach English in South Korea!

After reminiscing over all my photos, a year on I decided to finally put them into an awesome montage which of course had to accompanied by my favourite hip-life song Angelina!



I have been so lucky in my life to have such amazing experiences and met so many interesting and inspiring people, resulting in many fabulous friends all over the globe!

Let's hope the luck doesn't run and see what 2010 has in store........ :D

New Year and nakedness!

New Years Eve was a pretty typical Korean affair. In that it involved a random eclectic bunch of people from various countries! I spoke to people from Columbia, Ecuador, Barbados and the usual Korean, American, Canadian!



We just headed into Bar street, had a few drinks and nearly set TLC on fir with sparklers and balloons!

Yesterday was my first experience at a jjimjiibang. It is a Korean bathhouse, with saunas, hot pols, movie room, oxygen room, massage room, restaurant, sleeping room. Basically everything you would ever need. We did spend some time discussing if it would be cheaper t live at a jimjambang or pay rent somewhere!

Click here for a really good article that explains them a bit better.

I had been a bit dubious about going as you have to naaaaked! Some you are naked for the whole experience (in single sex ones) and some just while you shower, as the saunas etc are co-ed.This was was co-ed.

When we got there, we took off our shoes and put them in a locker, we then swapped that locker key for another key/tag, towels and our uniform of shorts and a t-shirt. We then went to the locker room got completely butt naked and went to the shower room.



It was a massive room with showers along one side, a sauna at the back, a couple of hot tubs, an area for scrubbing yourself and lots of naked women! I am totally self conscious about my body so it was all a bit daunting. But after showering and chatting to my friend, while a small baby boy sat in a tub near my feet, me and his sister was running around with her naked mother chasing after her, I started to get over it! We then put on our uniforms and headed to the sauna, there were 3 saunas one of 72c, 60c and 42 and then an ice room.

The outside of the saunas

We spent some time in all of them but I didn't even attempt the 72c one. We went and got some ice cream, the tag with the key, has a barcode on it. So if you buy anything, get a massage etc, they can your tag and then you pay for everything when you leave.

We sat in the 'oxygen room' eating and chatting, then headed back to the saunas. After we all then showered again. There is also a section in the shower room to totally scrub and exfoliate, I was pretty much done with the whole nakedness so I headed home, while my friends all sat in the hot tub naked with with some random Korean women! One step at a time for me!......


It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I had been groped on the thigh by an 'ajamma' (old women) while being fully clothed at a bus stop, so the thought of being naked made me wonder what else they would grab!! You do realise that actually no one does stare at you because you are a foreigner. We also learned that if you travel in a group people will come into the sauna see a group of foreigners and run away, leaving you to have the whole place to yourselves! I was also with a girl who had lots of tattoos and both her nipples pierced, so if they were going to stare at anyone, I am guessing she would be the main attraction!