Elissa Teacher!

Well I made it through my first week of teaching in Korea and know for a fact that I made the right to decision to come. My students are great (for the most part), I'm in love with my hours because I can sleep in, and my co-teachers and the other native teachers are all wonderful at helping me get acclimated. I couldn't ask for anything more.

Most of my students are in middle school with the exception of two elementary classes on Tuesdays. The about 13 to 15 years old in Korean, which makes the 12 to 14 years old back home. My levels of classes range from lower levels of English to higher. Some students have no problem writing a paragraph and holding a conversation, while others struggle with basics. It's quite the task teaching some of these kids when they don't necessarily understand what you are saying to them. I have to speak with very basic vocabulary and short/choppy sentences. Perhaps the most frustrating part is the book I have to use to teach from. The vocabulary words in the book are ridiculous. They are not words that I would normally use in a conversation and some of the words, I have never heard of. For example, mawkish. How am I expected to teach these words when I myself don't necessarily know what they mean? On the bright side, I did luck out. Many of my kids will talk in class and read for me. A lot of times, the students are very shy and quiet at the age I have them. Elementary kids are easier to have speak. They willing volunteer to read their answers out loud.  Whereas middle schoolers are much more hesitant. For the most part, my classes are very talkative. One slight problem, if you will call it that, is that I teach 28 classes a week. I never have the same class twice. So times 28 by however many students per class. I teach anywhere from 150 to 300 students a week. That is a lot of faces to remember and a lot of names.

When I introduced myself to my classes as the new teacher this week, I told them they could ask me any questions that they wanted. However, the questions were slightly different that what I might expect back home. Almost always the questions came in the same order in every class. How old are you? Do you have a boyfriend? What is your name? Where are you from? By the end of the week I could predict what questions I would get. One student even asked me if I was from Mexico... Figure that one out! Another odd question I was asked was what is my blood type. When I responded "I don't know", all of the students gave me a dazed look. Apparently, your blood type is equivalent to your horoscope back home. It can tell a lot about a person. The rest of the questions were more on the lines of what I expected. How long have you been in Korea? Do you speak Korea? How long will you stay in Korea? etc... 

My co-teachers are all amazing. I work with 6 Korean co-teachers throughout the week and they are each very different from one another, but all in good ways! My co-teachers and the other native teachers have made my transition to Korea and teaching a smooth one. The only downside... I am the ONLY person in the building that cannot speak Korea. I know hello. Thank you. And the directions to tell my cab to get me to school.  Hopefully soon enough I will be able to venture out on my own without getting lost in translation! Pictures coming soon! Stay tuned...

Peace & Love,
Elissa Rae

Finally made it!

Well I finally made it to South Korea! I can't believe I'm actually here! I'm so excited to have finally of made it and excited for the plane rides to be over.  It was quite the adventure getting from Pittsburgh to Seoul. Having to be at the airport at 5 a.m. allows no time for sleep between packing, having to say my goodbyes, and the nerves kicking in. Needless to say, I was tired by the time I got on the first plane. Packing is never easy for anyone when going away for such a long period of time. One year, 2 suitcases under 50 lbs. each, and my closet of shoes?? Not going to happen. After a long night of debate and annoying everyone around me, I finally was able to pack enough to make the weight limit. (Only to find out my scales were wrong and I could've packed more!) The morning arrived that it was time to pack up the car and hit the road. I've gone away before for lengthy periods of time, but this was more than before, making the goodbyes a little tougher. Knowing you'll be able to talk to my loved ones through skype is comforting, but it's not the same as seeing them in person and being able to physically give them hugs. One year with out seeing my family is the longest I have ever had to go. But the idea of what I was doing made me believe I was still making the right decision to move. It's giving me a chance to see new things and to embrace a new culture by living and not just reading about it. After making it through the baggage check, we came to security. This was the point were my parents and my boyfriend and I were forced to say our final goodbyes for sometime.  I was more put together than I thought I would be. I think I mentally prepared myself for sometime so I would be able to keep myself together. I made it through security and to my terminal with a short while until boarding time. I used my time to reassure myself that this was what I had wanted for some time and that it was something I felt I needed to do or I would later regret my decisions of not going.

 7:30 approached and the plane took off. Next thing I Knew I was in Chicago. An hour went by and I was back on the plane headed for Los Angeles.  After 4 and a half hours, we reached our destination. I had roughly two hours until my next flight took off. I had to take a bus at LAX to a different building where international flights took off. I got on the bus with the directions I was given, only to get lost. Luckily I found a guy my age moving to Australia in the same boat. With the two of us working together we finally found our stop and the departures area. At that point, we parted ways to our different airlines. My thinking was, make it through security, then find food. I had a long trip ahead of me. That was a bad plan. Once you make through security, food is hard to find.  I sat in the terminal as the plane approached. It was a two story plane that I had heard about but never been on. Lucky for me, there was a baby in front of me and a dog behind me that did not like flying! I also had a girl in the same position on the other side of the aisle. It was comforting to talk to someone else in the same position. We were both heading to the same country for the same job, (reading the same book). After a grueling 12 and a half hour flight. I reached the sign that said, "Welcome to Korea!".  I couldn't of been happier for that flight to be over, but my travels weren't over yet.  After 22 hours of waiting in airports in flying in planes, I had two more hours of driving through rush hour to get to my school's home office. Followed by one more short cab ride to my temporary apartment.

I have been here for four days now. So far, I have made the right decision.  I have sat in on many classes the last few days, both elementary and middle school ages, and even taught a few classes. It is nerve wrecking to teach since it is something I have never done before, but at the same time, I feel like it is something I am going to love.  I got my schedule and books today and have begun making my first lessons plans for my classes that begin on Tuesday evening. (Yes, I work 4:50 p.m. to 10:50 p.m.!) All in all, the long trip has proved worth it. (Minus getting lost a few times on the subway already!) Can't wait to tell you about my first week of teaching!! Stay tuned...

Peace & Love,
Elissa Rae

Less than 10 days!

I cannot believe how fast time flies! Everything if officially set and ready to go!  This past week I took a trip to New York City to get my VISA. What a crazy experience that was! After an 80 minute train ride from New Jersey into the NYC, I thought we would be able to walk to the consulate rather than waiting for a cab. We ended up getting in quite the workout. I rushed to the Korean Consulate as fast as I could only to realize that there are in fact TWO Korean Consulates in New York City, and I was indeed at the wrong one! We hailed a cab and sped through the hectic traffic and flew to the 4th floor to the correct consulate!  I waited in line for some time, reached the teller that I had to give my information to, only to be told to sit down and wait some more. Finally, it was time for my interview! It was quick and painless. We had a few conversations about my reasoning for choosing South Korea and I was sent on my way with my VISA approved. All that was left was to book a plane ticket.  Within an hour I received a phone call that confirmed my ticket for the August 17th at 7:30 a.m.. 


Once everything was done, it was time to relax and enjoy the trip. Nick and I grabbed some lunch and headed to Central Park for a picnic.  Trying to escape the 90 degree weather, we sat next to the water under trees.  We took a stroll and soaked up the sights until it was time to meet up with Christopher. We walked through Times Square and made it to the New York Times Company building and went to a small cafe for dinner before heading back to New Jersey for the evening.


The last two days of the vacation were wonderful. Friday was spent at Spring Lake Beach in New Jersey. It was just what I needed. It was a nice quite beach where I could read my book, lay out, and be at peace, finishing up with margaritas on the beach and parasailing in Point Pleasant and a nice Italian dinner.  


Now I only have 9 days left before my journey begins and still have to figure out how I am going to pack a years worth of clothes and shoes into 2 suitcases!

Peace & Love,

Elissa Rae