"Haizlett? Like the nut?"

Annyeongehaseo, everyone!

After nearly six months of announcing a plan that, admittedly, sounded a little outrageous even to me, I'm settled in Gwangju, South Korea. It feels like an amazing dreamcometrue! :)

To answer the most frequently asked question I heard prior to leaving: No, I don't speak Korean (yet). It is, however, surprisingly simple to navigate sans common language. For example, at restaurants, I point to any advertising with an image. Yesterday, that method resulted in the waitress ripping a large poster off the wall and carrying it back to the chef. It was a generic noodle image, so I'll assume she didn't feel at liberty to guess exactly what it was.

On the topic of food, it's time to squelch any rumors that I've eaten dog. I know I did start the rumor, but the scene followed something like this:

Shortly after arriving in Gwangju, three nervous Americans sit at a table with their Korean co-teachers. Eager to impress the people who will help them to navigate every important detail of the next year, they sample from the wide variety of food placed on the table before them.

Bethany: This looks nice. What kind of meat is it?
Co-teacher: Ohhh it's really good meat! It's "da".
All Americans: Dog??
All co-teachers: Yes! Da!

The Americans, not wanting to feel rude or miss this special opportunity, proceed to sample the meat. They shyly admit to LOVING it, and feel really weird about it for nearly a week. That is, until an enlightening conversation takes place between Bethany and another Korean teacher...

Korean teacher: What food have you tried?

Bethany: I've sampled all kinds of Korean food! I tried dog for the first time, and I was surprised to think it was very delicious. We don't eat dog in America.

Korean teacher: Really? You do not? But you have the turkey? It is like "da".

Google images are referenced, and it quickly becomes apparent that "da" is DUCK, not dog. Not dog at all.

Korean teacher: (laughing) We do NOT eat those! I have never eaten dogs!!!

OOPS.

So, yes, the language barrier does occasionally result in confusion. For opening a bank account, obtaining a bus card, setting up internet in my apartment, initially locating my apartment, and learning how to find the school from my apartment , I've relied completely and utterly on my co-teacher, Younga. I can't imagine arriving in Korea for the first time without her support.

Younga will share a classroom with me at different times throughout the week, and there are four other teachers who will do the same. This afternoon, we will learn the exact order of classes for the upcoming semester. While they will each see the students every day, I will show up to one of their classes per week, totaling 22 classes in all.

The Korean English teachers are pros at reading and writing, but one of my EPIK orientation instructors described the situation like this:"If you took a group of students and made them study every last detail of basketball: the history, the rules, the physics behind throwing, and put them on a court with a group of students who had been physically practicing the game for the same length of time, the first group wouldn't have a chance of winning the ball game. It's a very different skill set." I've been told that it's my job is to get the students talking!

One last note on the language confusion (haha, ok, who am I kidding? This entire blog will likely be dedicated to it). When I introduced myself to the other English teachers, they were delighted to learn my last name. After some giggling, Younga said, "Haiz-el-lett. Like the nut? Are you offended? I'm sorry, it sounds the same!" I assured them all that I wasn't offended in the slightest, and promptly returned home to resurrect the haizlnut blog that I'd used to post photos pre-facebook.

I'll end today's story time with a few quotes for your enjoyment:

- "When you want to brush your teeth, you can use the teacher's lounge. There is a nice place to keep your toothbrush."

-"Since we don't have personal space, we don't have problems with the touch." (Referencing the western habit of apologizing when we accidentally bump into each other in crowded spaces. We've been told to drop that, unless we plan to apologize constantly)

- "When you enter a building, you take off your shoes and wear slippers. Here is the place to put your shoes when you enter the school..."

annyeonghekeseyo! :)