Another one

I thought I would post this image to give myself something to talk about. Prior to going to Korea to teach English I began taking taekwondo classes. I thought it was a beautiful art form and a great way to stay active. When I took classes at Dal I thought it was interesting and became good friends with all those involved. a class consisted of some kicking, punching drills followed by some running. Well... it was all well and good until I got to Korea. When I started taking classes in Korean I was shocked by the enthusiasm for the sport. I did realize that taekwondo is the national sport in Korea but had no idea how seriously it was taken. For example... when I attended my first class I was the only foreigner and the only one that spoke English. During the sparring portion of the class I was summoned into the center of the mat and given sparring gear. I on the gear and was matched with a kid of about nineteen years of age. We started sparring and out of no where he kicked me in the face causing me to bleed profusely... in other words I was ill prepared and looked like a wimp. Anyway, if you go to Korea do not step into a sparring match with rusty skills.  

keeping busy

This week I have been basically just keeping busy. Going to classes and serving banquet functions part time. I am currently living outside the city but will soon move into the city into an apartment on Brunswick Street. I suppose the commute from home to the city can be trying at times but I guess unavoidable. School seems to be going well although I am still getting used to the Adobe CS3 applications. I am finding them useful and more accurate than any drawing that I could produce on my own. Th weather is getting colder and it is nearly sweater weather which is a great break from the humidity and heat. Anyway, thought I would keep this one short to conserve energy for the rest of my assignments.

 

To travel or not to travel...

This past year I was teaching English in South Korea. I really enjoyed the opportunity of traveling and being somewhat of an instructor for children ages kindergarten to high school. When I arrived in Korea I was excited but also really quite nervous. I knew that I liked children but I hadn't had the chance to spend time with them in a classroom setting prior to going to Korea. Mind you, my Bachelors degree is in Urban Planning not Education so I knew that it was going to be a challenge. I agreed to teach in a small town called Cheon- Cheon Dong, which was loocated approximately fourteen subway stops south- west of Seoul. When I arrived I was a little shocked to see learn that the town I agreed to teach in was quite small and Seoul where all the expats were living was about a fourty five minute subway ride. With a sick feeling in my stomach I decided to make the best of the situation that I had gotten myself into. Anyway, I began teaching and slowly losing interest but experiencing anothe culture very much unlike my own. I traveled South-East Asia and studied martial arts. I would say that my overall experience was enjoyable but I'm not sure that I would ever return... to teach English anyway!