First day of school

All I can say is, if you don't like meat/seafood/drinking you can get the hell out. Of Korea that is. My first day of work began at 7:30 am when I arrived with my co-teacher. She picked me up in a taxi so we wouldn't be late. It was an early day because there was an opening ceremony with the Principal and faculty. All the new teachers, including me (and thankfully my co-teacher who stayed by my side), were introduced and had to say a few words.... in Korean. I'm pretty sure no one could make out what I read off the post-it note in the palm of my hand. We then had to issue another greeting to the students via video broadcast and walk up to the adjoining High School and meet the faculty there. Everyone smiled and one teacher with some English skills shouted, "Nice to meet you, Sullivan!" They call me Sullivan as last names come first in Korea. And apparently Helen Keller is a popular story in Korea because everyone keeps mentioning her teacher Ann Sullivan when they learn my name.

I didn't teach any classes today. Actually, starting next week I will be teaching at my other middle school on Monday and Tuesday. But, if the girls are as cute and excited as the ones I met today then I'll be just fine. In between classes pairs of students came into the teachers' office and talked to the teachers. I have no idea what this is all about, but I just keep thinking of how the teacher's lounge was forbidden unless of emergency in school at home. Even knocking on the door at recess or lunch was nerve-wracking. Well, here they just waltz on in. They all bowed and said hello to me if I looked at them. Most then giggled and scurried away but a few outgoing ones spoke a few words to me in English. Wow, your eyes!! How old are you? They really are adorable in their plaid uniforms (yes, public school uniforms) and they all share the same longish, thick bowl cut. I am excited to get in the classroom.

A couple of things I must mention for those curious about differences between school in the States and in Korea. First, there is an entire period devoted to cleaning. The students showed up again in the teachers' lounge, swept around our feet and washed our coffee mugs, watered the plants around the school (and there are a lot- like 50 potted plants on the ground in the bathroom), and did whatever other duties were assigned to them. And they did it with a smile. Squeals and giggles persisted for the entire hour. Second, teachers keep toothbrushes in a medicine cabinet in the bathroom and brush their teeth after lunch. Third, everybody bows- constantly. Fourth, the principal and vice principal are god.

So, I was a bit nervous when I found out there was an all-faculty dinner with the principals after school today. We'd been warned about eating/drinking customs throughout orientation. Never refuse a drink offered to you by an elder, accept everything with two hands, never pour your own drink... But, it wasn't nearly as rigid as I expected. How could it be with 13 bottles of soju circulating the tables? The vice principal was delighted that I opted for shots of soju instead of soda. I later made the mistake of turning down a second bowl of seafood stew and he told me (in Korean) that you must eat as much as possible in Korea. This is tough when you're sitting on the floor with legs folded in a tight pencil skirt that's digging into your full stomach, but I took seconds. After bulgogi (beef), vegetables, mystery seafood, and broth to your heart's content, they bring you an individual pot of rice. And, you eat everything again, this time mixed with rice.

Propped on a thin pillow amidst little bowls of saucy vegetables, steaming pots of meat, and shot glasses and green bottles rapidly swapping hands, all I could think was I still can't believe I'm here. That, and I'm so glad it's a short week.