So...I'm kind of a big deal, right???

11.07.2008
Still US bound: Brief break between flights
Right now I’m sitting in San Francisco’s airport, about to board a flight that will completely remove me from any familiarity for the next year. I am scared shitless. But not enough to actually regret my decision; I always knew that leaving would be hard, adjusting to a new culture would be challenging, but I completely believe it will be worth any complications or trouble it may cause. I prefer to be optimistic about the whole idea, although waiting for a flight to carry you thousands of miles away from home tends to put a damper on any optimism.

11.09.08
Mood: Very overwhelmed, somewhat lonely
Opinion of the day: Korean drivers make New York cabbies look like driving instructors. Turn signals, staying in one lane and courtesy are completely optional here.
I got in to Seoul yesterday night, after nearly 24 freaking hours of flying. My body hurts, I’m suffering from acute jet-lag and I spent the 14 hour flight to Korea watching Get Smart 3 times in a row and occasionally dozing off. My flight did have some Americans (white and black), but mostly Asians on board. Honestly, I was hoping to sit next to a younger native English speaker so that I could exchange information and have an abroad-buddy from the jump of the trip. Not so. LOL. The Korean airport was surprisingly not hard to navigate (San Francisco has the most retarded international airport ever. I couldn’t find shit and I spoke the native language. Go figure); I just followed all the white folks to what I assumed was customs and then baggage claim.
The school sent a very… colorful cab driver to pick me up from the airport. His English was sparse and my Korean nonexistent, so we communicated via hand gestures and speaking loudly (as if volume helps comprehension). The airline “left” one of my bags behind, so I am essentially clothes-less right now besides what I wore on the flight and a few extra sweaters that I had half a mind to put into my carry-on. Sigh. My first day of teaching will likely to place in Pink-label sweat pants and a cardigan.
Brightside of the trip thus far: The family who is essentially hosting me are the Lees and are the sweetest people ever. Mrs. Lee stocked the refrigerator for my arrival and they have been super helpful. Mrs. Lee is one of the English teachers at the school, which is a bit surprising because her English isn’t that great. Good, but not great. I guess that’s the purpose I serve is to help her help the students. Also disturbing: Mrs. Lee told me that her she and her students don’t like speaking in English. Hello, don’t you teach English? This does not bode too well with me. Rosetta Stone will be my friend.
Mrs. Lee said that the other school she works at has a native English teacher and she will introduce to me to them sometime in the next week. This person has no idea what’s about to hit them, cause I will be on their ass like none other. They will be my friend, whether they like it or not. =) I need someone fluent in English to explain everything to me, cause although the Lees gave it their best shot, I really don’t understand a lot of what they’re saying. Sad, but very true.
We went to the shopping mall today, where I was repeatedly stared at by almost everyone. I was expecting that, but it doesn’t make it any less unnerving. The mall was tres cool and I soon as I can figure out how to use won and get their without getting lost in a Korean ghetto I will go back. Maybe with my soon-to-be English-speaking friend? Hopefully they know how to get along better then I do….
BTW-- Mortifying incident at Customs…apparently tampons aren’t that well known here. Upon checking my bags for illegal substances, the Customs agent found my Tampax Pearls nestled discreetly in the side of my bag and didn’t know what the hell he was looking at. He pulled one out of the box, examined it closely enough to read a manufacturer’s number if he so desired. Eventually I got tired of the scrutiny and said loudly “THEY’RE TAMPONS” before he decided to call over another agent and investigate Blood Gate further. A lady agent took pity on my purple-hued face and said something into Korean to the man and he calmly replaced my tampons. If only my pride were equally able to so easily replaced.

Nov. 10, 2008
Morning: G. Middle School
First day of school! My nerves were almost as bad as my real first day of high school…Basically, imagine walking into a new school, where no one looks remotely like you and doesn’t speak your language. First day of high school on acid, pretty much. The kids are redeemably adorable for any discomfort that I am feeling. They all bow at my when they see me, which is so cute its ridiculous. I am still trying to get used to the proper way to greet everyone, cause there is propriety involved in every activity, according to age, class, etc. Some of it seems, frankly, unnecessary, but this is their country and I’m just a cash leech here so I’ll follow their rules. Well, as best as possible anyway… I havent had a full day here yet, so I cant report too much that I haven’t experienced.
BTW-- Being that I havent received my bag with all my clothes in it, my first day of class is going to be spent in an American Apparel T-shirt emblazoned with the Simpsons, leggings and ballet flats. I am a classy broad, arent I? Heheheee. The vice principal and principal seemingly didn’t see the humor in the situation that I did. My crazy American sense of humor, maybe? Dunno.

A little later….
Ok, so basically I’m chilling out in my office which I share with Mrs. Lee while the other Korean English teachers prep their classes for my impending arrival in their midst. So far, kids have gathered outside the office door, staring in and smiling waving or saying “Hello!!” very loudly and enthusiastically. Its so charming I cant even take it seriously. ;-) One students even jumped 5 freaking feet in the air to glance into the unusually high windows at me once Mrs. Lee closed the door. LOL. Weird, but oddly flattering. I may have a complex once I get back to America at this rate (J/K! Well, at least I think so). Being here also makes very clear that I need to learn Korean, cause its retarded that I cant even communicate with anyone except for the English teachers, and them on a superficial level cause most of the their English ain’t great. And clearly neither is mine. The one person who seems to have the best grasp of English is the head of the dept., a youngish pretty teacher who heads the department and told me to call her “Alison.” Honestly, Alison is likely the only name I’ll remember this week, cause everyone else gave me Korean names which have a billion syllables and pauses. Til I learn, I’ll smile and bow. Hhehehee. Okay, I’ll stop being tedious and write after the day is over and I have more perspective on my new school.