Right after I arrived, I have to say that I was caught up in everything being so new, all was good and little was not so good. With more time, and only a little perspective, I can say that the majority continues to be great. Everyone asks what I miss and what I still love. Here is what I miss:
1. No question - Football on television and being able to read about
what the newspapers and commentators say about the teams.
I am still going to be involved in a football pool in
States, but hardly feel "qualified" this year because
of lack of information.
2. Second Hand Clothes Stores - Koreans love a bargain, but not for their
clothing needs. There are virtually NO second hand
stores here for clothing. Plenty of household stuff and
books, in Korean, but that is it. I have no idea where
I will donate my clothing, unless it is a church, which I
am working on finding.
3. Table lamps - Sounds funny, huh? But, it's the truth. No table
or floor lamps that aren't without fringe and sold at
antique stores. The lamps I have found are of a kind of
"tensor" type that have long flexible necks that we would
call study or "close work" lamps. And the nicest of
those are wildly expensive.
4. Wide Selection of Movies - Because this is a relatively small town,
there are only a select number of movies that arrive
every week. There are lots of theaters, but I am only
two that I am familiar with. And you know my chief
complaint...NO English subtitles on Korean movies, or
this issue would NEVER be on this list!
5. No City Map - I have yet to lay my hands on a city map. I cannot find
the local tourism office and keep forgetting to try a
travel agency in downtown. I have a huge map of Seoul
that I got before coming, but still no Jeonju map. Have
to say that I have never been anywhere, but here, without
a map.
So, you can see that the list is small and pretty much unimportant. The only other thing that I am disappointed about is the lack of hand use when people sneeze or cough. The former teacher in my room left a laminated picture of a stick man using a Kleenex and some words to the effect of use a Kleenex. It is nothing to see adults downtown coughing and sneezing without benefit of their hand or tissue. I am fully equipped if I encounter such a person. I am taking Airborne like crazy for additional protection. I am still vowing not to be sick this year!
As to the "good stuff" : I still love not having a car! I miss going for rides to "no where" just for fun, but after that, with buses and extra cheap taxis, getting around it easy. Not having a car just makes me plan trips to the grocery extra carefully as to what to get and what I can carry.
And, I am sleeping like a rock! I don't always sleep for hours, as my schedule is much different here than in the US, but I hardly wake up in the night and if I do, I am right back to sleep immediately! Unlike my waking up at 2AM and never being able to go back to sleep. Those days seem to be gone! If I could only remember all the dreams I am having, that would be a bonus!
And the last of the good stuff for now would be the personal accomplishment I feel in coming here, not knowing anyone, and making the most of it. The chance to explore and learn new things everyday will never end. The adults that I teach are a dream in that they are so hungry to learn and do better with their lives. All are so smart and aware of the world around them. They have the same life concerns that people have in the States, but family really comes first here in every since of the word.
The kids that I teach are a wonder as well, but in a different way. One of my classes of 6 little girls is a jewel in my week. I only have them 3 or 2 times a week, depending on the week, but in just the short time I have been here, their learning has been at lightening speed! I am learning more and more from the middle school kids as well. I know that from the high school students that I have encountered, that my middle school students will blossom with time and be successes as well. There are just some days that that blossoming seems farther away than others, if you know what I mean.
Didn't mean for this blog to be so long...but wanted to respond to some questions I have been getting. Hot and humid again today and the 15 day weather forecast says the same until the first of September. And so it goes!
Lastly, wanted to say that I talked to Phyllis Wilkins in Colorado last night. She is the mother and mother-in-law of my two friends in Jamaica. Hurricane Dean is bearing down on them, but they are expecting the winds to pass by Monday and they will be headed home. Hurricane parties seem to be the order of the day there!
Keep those cards and letters coming!!
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