Foothold

Hello everyone!

So I have my first week of teaching under my belt and so far it has gone famously.  I'm in the midst of what they call the honeymoon period when I am a local celebrity and everything seems golden.  I'm just waiting for it to finish...  The kids all stare in wonder as I walk down the hall and some manage to squeak a "hello" before giggling with their friends and scurrying away.  I've had some moments when it was hard to hold back laughter especially as they pull on my arm-hair and ask if it's real.  My Grade 6 class had already chosen their English names which I have to refer to them by. Calling out attendance on my first day I got a rude awakening as I came across Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Daisy, Illusion, Lishita, Monkey, Monster, Red Power Ranger and Black Power Ranger among others.  Each was greeted with a roar of laughter from both myself and the classmates.  This went against my intention to not smile for a week as we had been instructed during training.  All in all though, I'm enjoying being in the classroom.

Since my last post I've managed to settle in to my new place and get to know the city a bit more.  Daegu has been alive since we got here due to the IAAF Track and Field Championships at the Daegu Stadium.  I managed to catch a full day of events with some Canadian friends, decked out in red and white.  I couldn't turn down the opportunity to see Ussain Bolt run the 100m dash and Oscar Pistorius run a qualifying heat for the 400m.  Unfortunately Ussain Bolt false-started in the final which meant he got disqualified automatically.  A wholehearted sigh that crossed every language barrier heaved through the stadium as he ripped off his shirt and stalked about in a huff.  I have to say, I was really disappointed but at least I got to see his qualifying heat a few hours prior.  Watching Oscar Pistorius run was really special.  All eyes in the stadium were on him and his metal leg attachments following a double amputation.  The struggles that he has had to go through his whole life as well as the obstacles he has overcome in the face of doubters and detractors in the athletics world really showed as he powered his way to a second place finish in his heat.  It was cool to watch history happen and I can't wait to see him at the London Olympics in 2012.

I've also managed to get to the downtown area a few times to be surrounded by the neon glow of the signs, the smells of countless restaurants and the thump of music emanating from all the clubs.  This city never seems to sleep.  Whether it is enjoying a drink in a bag (the name speaks for itself), and sharing a bulgogi bbq dinner with some other EPIK teachers, I've really enjoyed getting out there and discovering more of what the city has to offer.  Through a contact I made during Orientation, I looked up a local soccer team, The Daegu Devils, and managed to nail down a tryout.  The team is in a foreigners league and the core of the team has been together for quite a few years.  They said that they were impressed with the new talent coming in and were looking forward to the upcoming nation-wide tournament.  They also iterated at the end of the training session that they were more than just a team on the pitch but that they all hung out on a regular basis.  They seem like a great group of guys from Ireland, England, USA and Canada which I am looking forward to being a part of.  There are even a few people from Halifax of all places so it will be good to have a Maritime presence!

This upcoming weekend is the Chuseok Holiday which is the equivalent of Thanksgiving.  I have 5 days off! I'm planning on heading down to Busan to meet up with my friend Tom, from Carleton who is going to show me around hopefully and then venture to Wolchulsan National Park where there's great hiking, a waterfall, and apparently some hot springs. Say no more!  We just have to figure out how to get there but that's all part of the adventure.

Until next time!
D