Hey pals,
I have settled into the Korean thing quite nicely if I do say so myself.
My thoughts about the job so far:
I live with/am responsible for 21 middle school girls, grades 6-8. I'm alone with them for three out of five nights a week. There are so many gals with so many questions, and I often have the distinct feeling of herding cats. I have developed a twitch of constantly counting everyone, all the time. 21. Good. 21. Good. 20!? WHO IS MISSING?! 21. Good.
 |
| This is where you can usually find me |
These girls are LOVELY though. An eye roll is considered the height of rude behaviour (which is pretty dreamy compared to some of the other demographics I've worked with). A few of them have been a bit sneaky, but who isn't a little sneaky in middle school? I feel very protective of them already. And I'm starting to know their quirks (perpetual lateness, for example), and their hidden interests (amazing anime drawings or a huge closeness to a sibling, for example). It's nice.
Some quick pros/cons:
PRO: I am entirely competent when it comes to this job. The girls and I seem to be pals 90% of the time. They generally listen to me, and this feels like a valuable way to spend a 40 hour workweek. I also really love my coworkers.
 |
| Snatched this from our website. I'm the person on the far far far right. |
PRO/CON: It's really interesting to live and work in the same space. When I'm off and walk through the lounge, ALL the girls wants to know where I'm going/what I'm doing/why I'm wearing that outfit/and can they come with me pretty pretty please? It's also interesting because every single friend I have here is also a colleague. The professional/personal boundary gets a little more blurred all the time.
 |
| A rainy day in the court yard. |
PRO: I am making music with some excellent folks and play my ukulele to myself in my room. Xara Choral Theatre is starting soon (without me, GAH) so I'm working overtime to fill the gap in my time off.
PRO: I do a fair amount of programming with the kids. One super fun thing: Pop Music Covers Club with Ms. Shila!! The kids meet me on Saturdays to work on a cappella covers of pop songs (since this has become a thing I do now, apparently). Details to come!!!
 |
| Mid-session during our first rehearsal. SO EXCITED FOR THIS. |
CON: Study hall. I have to supervise six hours of study hall a week. Ideally I would be a resource to kids while they study, but realistically I just walk around and perpetually redirect kids who are wasting time/on Facebook/chatting with their friends online. The second I approach there is an instant swipe on the mouse pad and the evidence of being off track is gone. I never actually catch them. And yet as they smile at their laptops (while apparently doing algebra), I have a very difficult time trusting that they are studying. I feel like the Facebook police. And it's silent. And dreadfully boring. I feel bad for the kids.
There's gotta be a better way! I'm working on finding a way to help pass the time. Maybe some cross stitch? Knitting? Or something.
 |
| Yeah right you thought your math homework was funny. |
PRO: I'm informally teaching yoga classes every Wednesday for the dorm staff. One gal told me that the classes are affirming, which is really up there as far as compliments go. It's a lovely way to spend a morning!
CON: My Korean is coming along horribly. The girls try so hard to help. I struggle so hard to remember. When I leave campus I'm 100% an awkward and confused tourist. I can, however, count to 10 (basically), which has proven to be 0% useful while out on the streets. Explaining quantities is low on the priority list when you're like WHERE AM I. Also, fingers work pretty good for counting.
BUT HEY I get an E for effort.
PRO: The time change (12 hours behind for Haliwood) works well for FaceTime/Skype. Being so connected is a fantastic thing. Hit me up, let's chat!
CON: Everyone reading the news and thinking I'm in a bunker somewhere. Yes, I agree that the events between SK and NK are a little questionable. But guys, everyone is chilling out, I promise.
PRO: All of the following things that have happened to me so far.
 |
| Sanbangsan- WHAT A VIEW |
 |
| Buddha and I are pals |
 |
| The trek up the mountain comprised of many, many stairs. |
 |
American Sushi, a western import. Sushi isn't
traditional here but it's still DELISH. |
 |
| How cute are we?! |
 |
| The first time in my entire existence that I truly enjoyed a beer- a gose, aka sour beer. YUM |
 |
| This is the view from my window. It's our neighbouring Canadian/British boarding school. Tuition there: roughly 60K. |
 |
| We went to see these amazing falls |
 |
| Fwendz! Blake and I dont have the same days off, which is honestly so sad, but we still have lunch most days and hang out when we can. |
 |
| YES |
 |
| Someone PLEASE take me here. |
 |
| At the tea museum, which was SO lovely. Think David's Tea on steroids. |
 |
| Green tea ice cream with these two lovelies. |
 |
My perfect garden of amazingness which brings me great joy every day! <3 <3
God they are so cute and happy looking!
The little imported jade sprig seems to have survived the flight. FINGERS CROSSED. |
 |
| This is a real place. |
 |
| This is also a real place. |
 |
| Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas. |
 |
| There will be a blog post about food. I'm fairing decently, but Blake is struggling, to say the least. |
 |
Ask me sometime about my experience eating raw horse.
It was... a conflicting experience. Very memorable! |
 |
A handful of us went to celebrate Kat's birthday. There were endless courses of raw horse in various forms, including (but not limited to): raw horse sashimi, horse gelatin, raw horse steak, horse extract (unsure of what that is, exactly, but the lady working was vehement that I drank it), horse meatballs, horse soup, horse stir fry,
horse paté, and seriously lots of other horse foods.
... again, conflicting experience. |
 |
| Exploring Jeju city |
 |
| The deli (aka my salvation) on campus. Coffee coffee coffee coffee! |
 |
| We went to a market in Moseulpo. Some insects for a side dish, I guess. |
 |
| Blake double fisting these amazing cinnamon pastries. Given his food struggles, he is taking the wins whenever he can get them. |
 |
| A nearby grocery store where I can read absolutely nothing. Is it body wash? No, laundry detergent. Maggie who works with me is SO HELPFUL ALL THE TIME. |
I also met the cutest street dog the world has EVER SEEN and I literally just couldn't deal. LOOK AT HIS FACE YOU GUYS HE IS PERFECT IN EVERY WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! He turned down my pringles offering, which leads me to believe that he is doing okay on the food front. I really hope our paths cross again soon because THAT FACE.
 |
| Just casually hanging with THE BEST view |
 |
| We had pizza and it was the first time I had "normal" cheese in a month. HEAVEN. |
 |
| Koreans COVER UP while swimming to avoid sun (because the whiter your skin, the better). Meanwhile, I'm in a sports bra and bottoms with tattoos and body hair. LOL. |
 |
| I found the world's best store, Art Box. I will likely dedicate an entire entry to this magical paradise that I hardly believe even exists in reality. |
 |
| The gender segregation here is INNNNTENSEEEEEE. |
 |
Rory and I are FaceTime gold medalists right now. Thankfully Korea
has the world's best WIFI. Rory I miss you. |
 |
Speaking of an exceptional human named
Rory, he sent me mail and I
WAS SO EXCITED |
 |
Until I read the back and panicked about my
already terrible ability to be patient. TORTURE!!!
(but it was really thoughtful and I'm excited, I swear) |
Rory is an inspiration to us all and gets millions of gold stars for sending that to me. Wouldn't you like millions of gold stars?!
In case you forgot (come on guys, it's such an easy one):
Shila LeBlanc
Korea International School (L214) 34 Global Edu-ro 260beon-gil,
Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, 699-931
Be my pen pal!
Or email, which is still a lovely thing: shilaleblanc@gmail.com
I'm having a ball. I have moments of homesickness but lots of moments of contentment and happiness.
MORE TO COME!
