Kay is super great to have around. She's someone to come home to, and she loves me a lot, and is SUPER cute.. but is also a lot of work. we have gotten the pooping on the puppy mat downpat, but not the peeing.. and thats what i want (yes, i feel like a mum because all i can talk about it my baby, and she keeps me awake often). She is sleeping downstairs by herself, but that means that I usually wake up to some puddles.. I am debating leaving her in the bathroom at night, but I think that would be a lot of stress, for both of us... she went into her crate tonight with the door shut after peeing on the floor.. and she DID NOT like that.
So things in my life OTHER then Kay.
Well, I am becoming more and more like a teacher (its taken me a month, but we will see what happens with what I am about to do). I am working on making themes for the month, for example our first month will be introductions.. and then from there a lesson for the week. For my grade ones I have 45 min, and with my grade 2's I have about 20 min. Which is cool.. now we just have to hope that the students learn from it, and that I can make good enough lessons :P
This week at school was super long feeling for me. I was just tired and wanted time to work on the lessons that I was creating.. I'll give an example of stress... there was a meeting on Thursday of the english teachers at the school. This meeting was in Korean, but they wanted me there.. so I had to sit there and listen to the first bit while I really wanted to go work on my lesson. Then BANG "Melanie, what do you want to tell us about making your teaching better".. my answer was Um, I have to think of this.. but NOOOOOO they needed me to answer then.. so I said nothing (i really couldn't think of anything and still can't).. and before that, I guess they were talking about me and such.. saying that my teaching and confidence has improved since I've gotten Kay.. I don't think its JUST Kay.. because I have been here a month now.. and I've accepted my situation.. I'm ok here, heck, I'm even ok with the losing of contact with friends... (slowly, but yes.. there are season, and Dad I already knew that.. its still frustrating).
OH! I've also started learning Korean, I go to class on Thursday nights with a whole lot of foreigners.. i have to study this week!! (thats a note to myself)... Its HARD!! the sounds are so different, and every time I try to speak it, it sounds like I am speaking french or spanish... but Korean is NOT supposed to be like that. So more studying, and I will learn this.
Another more Korean Mel thing.. I am going to start getting the lunches here at school... yep.. Korean food daily.. Mel using chop-sticks daily.. and there will be days when I can just eat the rice.. but I will bring snacks with me.. and then i can just eat bread for dinner :)
Oh.. I turned 22 on Saturday.
My birthday here involved getting up at 8 from my doggy... and then talking to my family for a long nice time, and a quick chat with the people in Hamilton.. which it would have been nicer if it was longer. But they were kind enough to go and try Korean food (after i sent them a list, and felt like i may have guilt-ed them into it).. Then I was picked up by the head teacher of my office, Mrs. Hmm, and she took me to her home in Yogisan.. really high end housing etc. She and her daughter and I went out for lunch to a Pasta place, and then we went for ice cream.. and then came home and watched some of National Treasure and napped... then played Rummy (i am still awful at that game, and it made me miss cold noodles and Ranch dressing) and another game. By then I was just emotionally exhausted.. its hard when the teacher doesnt speak english well, at least her daughter did :)... and I just wanted to go home and be with Kay.. and you know, let a few tears out because i was tired, and i missed being at home for my birthday... well, missed my family.. but not really the whole shin-ding about birthdays... So then I was home by 8, grabbed some ice cream from the shop downstairs and watched some mythbusters (new favorite show to watch).. then went to bed.
Sunday involved a trip to Dongdaymun... SHOPPPPING! I didnt take any pictures because it was CRAZY. Its super hard to explain.. but lets say that it was about 8 blocks of outdoor shopping.. on both sides of the street, and all of it SUPER cheap! Like i bought 3 long sleeve shirts 2 North Face, and one NIKE for only 15,000 won (which is 15 dollars).. a pair of Uug boots for 20,000 won (20 dollars), a cute bag for 10, 000 won (10 dollars), and 4 pairs of socks for 2,000 won (2 dollars).. the most expensive thing of the day was food and travel :P
But what was so crazy about it was the amount of PEOPLE and the lack of space... and for those who don't know.. I hate small spaces and large crowds.. then mix them together, and its freaky.. and then add some funny smells everyone and a while.. and yeah.. so super intense. You defintaly get pushed and shoved everywhere, and thats normal.. like you have to do it to get anywhere.. and so thats why pictures were impossible.. one could not stop and stand still for long...
So i was rather exhausted again.. but that was a nice day, what could have been called my birthday in Canada... spent with new friends. and now cuddling with Kay.. aka, Puddles....
Thank you to those who remembered my birthday (and let me know that you did)...
and thanks again for all the thoughts that come my way... there will still be rough days, and those bad days that will just get over-emphasied... but I am getting much more at home here. I dont think i will call them roots.. but its not a daily battle with myself here.. the shock is wearing off.. which is great.
I miss everyone muchly.. and I wont say I am counting down until I can come home.. but I am counting down till school is out for winter break, and super hoping that Mom and Dad can come to Korea to visit.. because it might make it harder, but it will help, because then I can share "my Korea" with some people, directly... not just through my notes.. because it doesn't do it justice
(kay is snoring right now, but she would say bye if she was awake)
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