Halfway There!

A week ago today, I finished my first semester as a Guest English Teacher in Asia and already feel like I have a lifetime of memories. There have been some weird and wonderful moments. I have met some amazing people, tasted interesting foods and experienced a whole new way of life. Today I want to share with you some of the random highlights, in no particular order, that may not be big or bold to you, but have certainly been imprinted in my mind.

Here goes:

Sharing pavement with cars - As my dear friend Keke aptly put it, Korea does not have road rules, just guidelines. It is not uncommon to walk on the pavement but feel as unsafe as standing in the middle of the N1 wearing all black at night.

Weird compliments - "You have a nice forehead", Oh ok, thanks - I guess.

In Korea, you don't go window shopping but you do go "eye shopping"

The 3 in 1 bathroom - Simply put, your bathroom has a toilet, a basin but no shower. The shower head is attached to the wall and your entire bathroom becomes the actual shower. At first, this didn't make sense, but for a country so strapped for space, I now realise its ingenious and you never have to mop the floor.

Visiting the capital city, Seoul which has a population larger than New York, to date the biggest city I have travelled to.

Hillsong (Aftermath) Worship Night in Seoul

Eating French Fries with chopsticks

Rice served at every meal!

My first 4D Movie

Accepting that the funny emails that were sent around the office about bad spelling or the incorrect use of English on billboards in foreign countries are quite possibly true. At orientation, the door to the fire escape of the university residence we were staying in had a sign boldly put up. From that moment, I realised our work as English teachers was cut out for us.

Watching the first of many Cirque de Soleil (Verakai) shows- following all of them around the world has suddenly crept into my bucket list.

Realising that there is no such thing as "Ching Chong Cha" (Rock, Paper, Scissors). Students use it all the time to make life changing decisions. I always assumed "Ching Chong Cha" is from the far east, possibly China, but if they don't even say it in Asia, I don't know where we all got it from.

T-shirts with sayings that don't make sense. One of the T-shirts I bought here says,

I have a classic car

Classic Car driver

My life is classic car

The answer to every question is preceded with a maybe.
Foreigner: "Can I leave early this afternoon, I need to go to the  bank to sort out a few things?"
Korean: "Maybe, yes, maybe"
Foreigner: ??????

South African: Ek is lis for some pap and vleis
Westerner: What is Pap? How would you describe it?
Keke: (with no hesitation) Its like a white cloud
Westerner: Wow, I cant wait to visit South Africa, so I can taste the cloud meal

Creativity of students:
Q: The part of the body where you wear a watch
A: Hand neck
Q:What is the difference between which and witch
A: The other one is a "bad grandma"
Q: If a dentist is a doctor for teeth, what is an eye doctor?
A: An Eyetist
                                    
And lastly embracing my new title: "Teacher Phumi"

Quitting a great job of four years, leaving a comfortable lifestyle in a great city, friends and family and parting from my best friend and soul mate to make one of my many dreams (of working and travelling abroad) come true, was not the easiest decision to make but it sure has been the best.  Thank you to everyone who helped and supported my decision to come here. Thank you for the skype dates, emails and Facebook messages that make me feel ironically closer to home than ever before.  I am truly grateful.

Final Thoughts:

"To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries." - Aldous Huxley