Life in Korea....

 This week has been full of surprises and change. At the beginning of the week was the Korean Holiday, Chusok and everything was closed on Monday and Tuesday  which was a little boring. However I did take advantage of the fact that I could sleep in! I went to the palace Deoksugung on Monday and  watched a traditional Korean song and dance. It was beautiful.

 Deoksugung Palace

Many of the children dressed in traditional Korean clothes.

The song and dance Keely and I watched for a little bit.

 On Tuesday I did not do very much because I was going to be going on a tour of the city on Wednesday. So that's what I did! I went on a city tour with Falyn, Erin and Keely. We left at 9am and didn't get back until 9pm, everything was paid for and we went all over the place. We went to the Gyeongbokgung Palace, to the top of the Seoul Tower, Namsangol Hanok Village (a traditional Korean Village), Dongdaemun Market (it was cool to see but all the clothes were so tiny that there was no way any of us would be able to fit into any of it...maybe in a few months we will) and we went on a Hangang River boat at sunset (it was beautiful). After a long day out I slept pretty well that night.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

Gyeongbokgung Palace

The Palace guards.
 I feel so bad they must hate getting
their photos taken all the time.

They were on a field trip and were to
 cute to pass up taking a photo.

Falyn and I at the stream in Seoul.

Up yet another hill!! Seoul Tower is
at the top of this one though.

There was an act going on when
we made it to the top of the hill.

Me at the top of Seoul Tower!

    I went back to Soongin on Thursday. I got to school and settled in a little when my coordinator came in and told me that she was not going to by the coordinator any more and that someone else would be. Later that day I found out that I not only would be teaching seven classes of 1st grade and eight classes of 2nd grade, but also two classes of 3rd grade and two classes of 4th grade along with two after school programs for 5th and 6th graders. I didn't want to freak out right then, but later that night I was completely overwhelmed and didn't think I could teach 20 classes a week. I went to sleep that night just asking God to help me be a good teacher to all of them.
     The next day I got to school and decided I was going to do lesson plans all day and get as much information from the teachers about what they would like me to do. I had a plan and was determined to do my best. I was really enjoying the challenge. I also got to observe a 3rd grade class, in Korean and got lots of information about classroom management styles. I got to talk with the 3rd grade teacher and I think I will be helping her with her thesis for her degree which is very cool and will help me build my relationships with the teachers I work with. I was working on my lesson plans for Monday when my coordinator came back in and said that she is changing what I am doing again. I will still be teaching all the grades, but will be teaching 1st and 3rd grade one week and then 2nd and 4th the next, so only once every two weeks.
    I hope it goes well and that I am still able to build some kind of relationship with the classes. Relationships with my students is very important to me so this will be my new challenge. I will also be teaching an after school program for 3rd grade on Tuesdays and a 5 and 6th grade program on Thursdays. I will be helping in the Magic English Shop the school has to help students get more comfortable with speaking English and that will be Wednesdays and Fridays.
          I definitely have my work cut out for me. I can't wait to start!