THE REAL WORLD

Jeonju University Resedential Building

The picture on the left is the residential building that all the EPIC's (english teachers) stayed at. The horizontal section is the dining hall which served buffets three times a day. Food which was interesting to say the least.

While staying on the third floor, in a room with my friend Ryan Stephen, I drew up some unrealistic expectations for my stay in South Korea. These being (1) I want a "great" apartment, (2) I want to be near to Giuli (my girlfriend who I applied with), (3) I want to be just outside a city, in a semi-rural area and (4) I want to get along with my co-teacher.

  

While staying at, "The Place For Superstars" (the quote on the building above) I met up with some really great people from all over the world! I made friends that were from England, Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Canada and the U.S.A. To the right are two friends Matt and John who are from the US and UK. We all hyped each other up so much that my expectations grew and grew and I became more and more exited to get to my school and become a part the the lifestyle that teaching in Korea had to offer!!                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                    

My best option for an apartment

The day finally came, we were going to sign the final contracts! Giuli and I were placed in the same "district" but were on different busses. mmmmm. We were super confused and enquired about it, we were told, and I quote, "its ok, it was just up to the co-teachers where to fetch you". So we reluctantly went with it.

Everyone raced to their dorms to see where it was that we were all being paced. It was not much help as it was school names and they did not register on google. Giuli and I did manage to find the district that was on both our contracts. It was pyeongchang. It seemed to be small but we applied together so at least we will have each other.

We jumped on the busses the next day, all eager to meet our co-teachers and find out where it was that we were being placed. The trip there was eventful in that the bus drivers truly feel that it is the BEST idea to drive as quickly and use as much road as possible when delivering live cargo.



Fish fields in Whenge

 I arrived at a city called Gangneung, where my co-teacher picked me up. We travelled to a village called whenge and I was told that I am teaching in four schools, I dont have an apartment yet and Giuli is over an hour away. REALITY HIT HARD!! I went with it and met the principle, vice-principle and the head teacher of Doam middle school which is my base school. I was then told that I have to go and look at apartments, the best option they gave me was the photo you see above. The inside looks in worse condition than the outside and it stinks of urine and fish. The fish smell is from the massive fish drying field conveniently located behind the building. I hit an all time low! Giuli was probably freaking out, im in the middle of nowhere, my apartment sucks and I cant show it as it might offend my co-teacher.

I was invited for a early supper and I went with my co-teacher, Young-Me and Rudy (the EPIC im replacing). The supper was about half done when I recieved a frantic call from Giuli asking where I was and that she wanted to see me NOW!! I knew the position she was in and could relate without having said a word to her.

SPELLING WAS NEVER MY STRONG POINT :)