And then the training began...

Today was our first official day of training at Chungdahm Academy. Pretty interesting stuff, but includes long, draining days of lesson practice and mock lecturing. Really awesome to meet and get to know the different teachers (a mix of us native English teachers and the Korean bilingual teachers). Everyone is really friendly- it's great because we are all in the same boat so everyone is eager to support each other.

A little bit about Chungdahm April (the group I will be teaching with). April focuses on younger children ages 6-13, forming an after school program to teach children English. So far, it seems like an awesome system because it plays a very big focus on creativity when learning English (which is very different to what Korean children are used to). It makes teaching really fun, they have lessons created for you and then you get to have fun with presenting it and getting the children to enjoy it!!

For lunch, Kristen (my one roommate who is also in my training group) and I joined two of the bilingual teachers to a traditional Korean restaurant. Like, take shoes off at the door and sit at low tables kind of traditional so I was happy!!:) At the tables there were various sides (wish I had a photo, but will definitely go back there and then will post!!) including Kimchi (of course :P), cooked green cabbage, sprouts, this really yummy, flat fish thing (that until today I had seen on the streets and assumed it was intestines on a stick) and then dried anchovies and beans (not a fan). Then they served various divine soups, so demolished lunch before heading back for more training.

After training we stopped (and fell in love) with Paris Baguette Cafe! Awesome little tasty treats, salads and breads etc... Definitely going there to grab lunch (not too bad in price compared to sitting in a restaurant).

Well, enough for now, got to prep for tomorrow's mock lecture :)

The Challenge

After finally getting settled in my new room, and meeting my new roommates (two awesome girls from the U.S, and then later another really nice girl from Busan), we decided to go exploring in Seoul and search for some food.

Seoul is AMAZING!! Pretty huge, and still a bit intimidating, but there is just so much to see, from amazing architecture, to a world of technology. Also some familiar names (Body Shop, Lush and Accessorize) and some familiar music (OBVIOUSLY, Katy Perry). We eventually found a nice looking place called (insert unfamiliar Korean writing). Was nice and warm inside so we sat down for a meal.

Got to choose from a menu with Korean writing only and some strange looking pictures. Not wanting to accidentally order dog, we found  a waiter with some basic English and asked him which dishes were chicken and enough for three. He pointed at a few, but favoured one. When asking about the spice factor, he laughed and said "It's a challenge". When trying for other food, he kept going back to the "challenge" saying it's very good. So we braved it and ordered the challenge.

Before it arrived we got some Kimchi (a spicy fermented cabbage thing, not bad actually) and some cold "soup" thing that took a while to get the courage to taste as, well, I thought it might be used to wash your hands. Still not sure what flavour it was, but not bad really. As for the "challenge"...

Those of you who remember the chili popper fiasco when I decided real chilli's were a better option...well, that was mild. My nose was streaming, my chest started reacting, at one stage I entered a near euphoric state. But, in between the burn, it was really tasty! Chicken, noodles (that were definitely boiled in chilli oil and then doused in chilli sauce) and rice dumplings (kinda like chewy gnocchi). All really good. Although burn factor was insane. Oh, and eating utensils only flat metal chopsticks and a spoon. I will have to learn :P

On the way home we got slightly lost and ended up at the Gangnam station which is near to our hotel (turns out we merely needed to be on the other side of the road to avoid confusion). Anyhoo, at the station there is a GIANT tribute to Gangnam Style, complete with flashing lights and yellow light up feet on the ground to assist you when doing the dance!!! Too brilliant.

So another night in Korea done. On to training tomorrow!! That's when things get serious!

KIMCHI!! Actually not bad :) Kind of like a curried Sour Krout, but less pickled, more curry flavour.

Tribute to Psy's Gangnam Style at the Gangnam Subway station near the hotel! (See the light up yellow feet to help learn the dance?)

"The Challenge"- Looks harmless... suuuuuper spicy, but really yummy!!:)

McDonalds... Taste of Australia???

The Great Adventure- Arriving in Seoul

I have FINALLY arrived safely after a very long trip!! Managed to have all three of my flights delayed (one benefit of that though is that there was never much stress about missing the next plane). Once arriving at Incheon Airport, just after 5pm, the time came for me to harness all my (lack of) directional skills and get myself to my hotel near Gangnam.

This was really helped thanks to my dear Briony writing out what really was a fools guide of how to get there... although I managed to screw it up quite profoundly.

Step One: Buy a single ticket on the airport shuttle to Seocho. DON'T go Express as it is a rip off.

My interpretation: Couldn't find normal ticket stations so figured I would save time at the extra cost and take the express. Rookie error. The express takes you straight into Seoul where I then had to buy a second ticket to Seocho, merely going backwards towards to airport again to get back onto Briony's step two.

Step Two: Get off at the University stop and switch over to the green line two (to Seocho).

My interpretation: Managed to leave the terminal all together in search of line two, thus using up the second ticket I bought. Luckily, some kind Korean helped me purchase my third ticket to Seocho, right near line 2. At this wonderful point of frustration, the handle on my hand luggage bag decided that then would be an amazing opportunity to break. So there I was, looking like a hunchback with a limp, awkwardly making my way to the line 2 train (at this point regretting not changing out of my leggings and into jeans, more appropriate snow gear and all...) After all of this, I finally made it to step three.

Step Three: Take a taxi from the Seocho station to the airport (show airport address in Korean).

My Interpretation: Not sure how to hail a cab here. Never thought to ask. So, I wondered around the cold, dark street I was on, managing to jump in a cab as someone got out, thus FINALLY making it to my amazing hotel... at 8.30pm. After arriving at 5pm...

Plus side, I am here safely and tomorrow I get to go exploring in the day time :D

Chat soon my friends! :)

Halfway there!!

Halfway mark of the long journey to Seoul. Left George at 9.30am on my wonderfully delayed flight (sooo not stressed)... then lucky enough to see Alika and Dylan at the airport before heading over to international departures for my flight to Dubai... Having arrived at Dubai at 12.30am, I am struggling to stay awake for my 3.30am flight to Seoul...

Other interesting news, my internet here is all in Arabic, so will be interesting to see how this post comes out as, according to my screen, I am writing from right to left making things very confusing for my half asleep brain.

Once arriving in Seoul, I have to put my big girl pants on and navigate my way to my hotel. Then I can chill for a day before orientation starts on Monday...

I think that's a decent enough update for now.
Big love to the family and friends- am missing Africa already!!

Preparing to take flight!!

My visa and passport FINALLY arrived this afternoon!! Cutting it a bit fine for my liking (considering I booked tickets for 9am tomorrow morning). Then it's three flights before I arrive at Incheon airport and attempt to harness all of my (lack of) direction skills to navigate myself from the airport to my hotel in... GANGNAM, Seoul!!

Then, after a week of orientation in Seoul, I will head off to my little city, Gumi, where I will be teaching elementary (so ages 6-12). As nervous as I am, now that all my documents are in order (THANKS to the amazing team of people I had ensuring that everything arrived in time), I can finally let myself begin to feel excited!!

So, my beautiful family and friends, wish me luck on this blogging adventure. My last attempt, I managed one post so I am hoping for more success this time round!! :)