Hump Day!

Wednesday was an exciting day, as I was able to go to Korean class again! However, this time it made my head want to explode. We are already a full two weeks behind in this class, so the teachers have flipped the switch into hyper drive to catch up. Unfortunately that means learning way too much for one day. My head was spinning, but honestly I kind of like it. One of the reasons I took on this adventure was to challenge myself intellectually in a way I never had before.

Communication has always come easy to me. My parents maintain that I taught myself English by watching TV. A point that certain people (Anna that means you) contest fiercely. Regardless God has gifted me the ability to communicate well, and I pride myself on that to a certain extent. Learning a foreign language is no exception to this. I knew it would be difficult going in, but I'm willing to do the work. In fact I'm excited to be challenged. I haven't struggled with anything in a long time, but I openly admit that learning Korean is hard.

Yes, I understand it's hard. People have told me this. I've seen it before I even went into this, but you never really know until you're living it. I can attest that this will be quite a challenge, but not impossible by any means. I just cannot wait until I have enough fuel to hold even the most rudimentary of conversations with a native Korean. Honestly, I could probably do it now if I really tried, but they have thrown so many things at us I'm still trying to get my bearings.

We haven't even started verbs or conjugations yet. Just explaining your nationality and asking about someone else. I have been blessed with a small (4) class of students, and teachers that are willing to go through and explain any confusion. Ok, enough about Korean.

Today, I had a new dish to eat. It's called 돼지쌈정식(Dwae Ji Ssam Jeong Sik) I even had to have my roommate type that one for me haha. This meal is giant leaves that you put seasoned pork, rice, and bean sauce into. This also seems to be a meal specific to this particular cafeteria since I can't find a recipe for it online. However, it was wonderful and I give it a 10/10 just like every other meal I've had. (Except for you my little Tangsu JJajang Bap you're a million/10).

Mmm homemade and excellent, I love eating here.

Finally, to the most exciting part of the blog and the whole reason I'm here! The students! I haven't really had a chance to participate with them up until this point. I'm around them in the dorm, but I can't really talk to them due to the language barrier. Also, I hadn't gotten a chance to do any job shadowing...UNTIL TODAY.

I got a message on Kakao from my roommate YJS during class that the K-PACE students were going to have a conversational English class at 4pm and that I was invited to check it out. Well hell yeah! This is awesome. I get a chance to see my dream job in action, and meet some of the professors. So of course I say yes, and head over to the K-PACE center about 3:30.

I walk in and head up to the third floor where the class will be held. The professors are in there getting setup along with most of the students. They're quick to identify and introduce me, and ask if I want to participate. Absolutely I do. So the plan is to make musical instruments. It's been a long time since I've been in an arts and crafts type class so they pair me up with Kate a Canadian teacher who has been in Korea for 15 years now. (I found all this out by the end of the class as I was talking to her.) In fact a lot of the teachers seem to be Canadian. I even got a chance to talk to some of them about hockey. THEY EVEN HAVE AN ICE RINK IN DOWNTOWN DAEGU! Unfortunately that's still around 30 min away from the school, and I don't have a car but it's a start!

My group is making drums, so we grab the materials and bring them to the desk. There are around 5 students per group. The different instruments are drums, rain sticks, pipes, and flutes. We make our drums by rolling up cardboard into a tube shape and stretching balloons over each end. Pretty clever if you ask me. Here are some pictures from the event.

Our group (best group) with the drums!

The rainstick group. Flutes in the back right.

The tube group. Flutes in the back left.

As you can see there is even a camera crew there taking video and doing interviews. The other teachers let me know that they do this every Wednesday at 4pm and I'm welcome to join. What a fortunate occurrence, that I'm sure is not an accident. One of the teachers even offered to drive me over to the rink to check it out when they have a game of rat hockey.

In the middle picture there's a guy dancing with his back to the camera in a white shirt. That is Park Jeong Bin. I actually met him when the K-PACE students visited Concordia University Wisconsin a year or two back. He was a student then. Now he works in the administrative office for the University. That is a testament to what this program is accomplishing. Not only here, but Bethesda College at Concordia, and all the other programs all over the world. These teachers and aids are incredible people with loving hearts who give their lives to bettering the lives of others and I couldn't be more grateful and in awe of them.

Spending this time with the students allowed me a chance to bond with some of them and converse. Some of them are quite good in English and I can already share some of my story with them and bond. Some may have to wait until I am good enough at Korean. xD <--tongue out smiley with eyes x'd.

After this class we went back to the dorms, and it was time to hit the gym! I am consistently going with the other RA's to watch over the students while they work out at the rec center. Yet another chance to bond with the students, and in a place where I have some experience and knowledge. Plus I can get a workout in myself if I want.

Wednesday was a breakout day in more ways than one! I'm really happy that God is giving me challenges, but also rewarding ones at that. I can't wait to see what else comes my way! Stayed tuned, Thursday is sure to be a doozy!

Korean Word of the Day: 저는 (I am (Jeo Neun)) 미국 (America (Mi Guk)) 사람이에요.(Person (Sa Ram E Eh Yo)) (This one is actually a phrase of the day because that's part of what we learned today.)

TL:DR I'm in Korea.