Dan - Orientation Part 1

Sorry for the delay, things have been extremely hectic. The good news is that we have a multitude of stories, knowledge and experiences to share during our first week in Korea!

To review, our first interaction with the EPIK program in Korea is orientation. Orientation is a 10 day experience that is required to anyone teaching through the EPIK program in Korea. Half of the intake teachers (like us!) are placed in Jeonju University in Jeonju, which is about 3 hours south of Seoul. The aim is to get us acquainted with not only Korean culture and customs, but to prepare us for teaching in terms of educational philosophy and classroom management. It's also a great place to meet people from all over the world.

Catt and I arrived in Korea on a Sunday afternoon in Incheon International Airport (an airport that didn't exist 12 years ago; Korea Bali Bali!). It was humid and foggy but the sights of Dunkin Donuts, Jamba Juice and Bennigans (really?) helped to paint our first impressions of Korea. IIA is located on the island of Incheon, which is about 45 minutes west of Seoul. With six suitcases between us and assorted backpacks we got plenty of stares (and a laughing old guy who made a "Woo!" noise as we stepped off the elevator with all this in tow).

Incheon Internation Airport. They had a Bennigans. I know, I'm confused as you.

Our recruiter picked us up at the airport and took us on a shuttle to the Parkwood hotel, where we met our first fellow EPIK teachers. Many of them were as well traveled as us, and most even more. A surprising amount of couples (10-12 out of 20) were there as well. We exchanged stories over dinner, a noodle and shellfish dish that was provided for us by our recruiter.

The next morning, bright and early, we made way to the shuttle bus back to the airport. I made my first cultural faux pas there at breakfast. In Korea, food goes in a separate disposal bin than the garbage and I committed the cardinal sin by mixing the two. The look of horror on the poor hotel clerk's face is something that I will see whenever I close my eyes.

So yes, from the Parkwood hotel in Incheon to Incheon International Airport to the bus to my home for the next ten days: Jeonju. After 3 hours and a rest stop in the side of a mountain where I bought this AMAZING fish shaped ice cream sandwich with honey inside. When we arrived at Jeonju University we got our first big pleasant surprise from the EPIK staff. It went something like this.

"Welcome to Jeonju University! Pick up your name tag here, it is in alphabetical order. Go to this table to receive your room number and medical assignment."
"Thanks!"
Doot a doot da do.
"Hello room number people!"
"Hello! Do you have any special requests for your room?"
"Actually, yes! We're a couple, but were not married. Is it ok if we have the same room?"
"Oh yes, we can do that.!"
"Radical!"

Picture unrelated.

Yup. Catt and I, thankfully, got to stay in the same room for orientation on the couples floor with all the married folk. It was nice because we were put into separate classes and basically only saw each other during meals and the walks to and from classes (One again, I am in Daegu, a city of 3 million people in the middle south of the country. Catt is in Gyeongbuk, a province that surrounds Daegu. The classes were based on our location). It was a double edged sword; we didn't get to see each other as much but always came back each night with new experiences and friends to talk about.

The first night was lax, with us dropping off our luggage in our dorm and exploring the town a little. The second day was the opening ceremony and campus tour. It was pretty impressive. The ceremony started with a Taekwondo presentation. Flying kicks, breaking boards and inspector gadget music. It was extremely entertaining. There were speeches from Jeonju University's president and VP, as well as a very well-spoken Walter Foreman with a great speech introducing us to Korea. 

He broke the left board, but missed the right. Nobody told him because our jaws were  still firmly on the floor.

From there we settled into a fairly even routine. Breakfast in the morning at 7:30. Classes from 9 to 12. Lunch until 2. Classes from 2 until 6. Dinner until Language classes at 7:20. We get out at 8:30 and our day is done, unless we wanted to go out to many of the local bars (Many of which of whom were putting up "Welcome EPIK teacher" signs). 

Let's do a play by play.

Meals were for the most part, pretty good. Rice, Kimchi and Salad were always a staple, no matter if it was breakfast, lunch or dinner. The salad dressings they had were fantastic. My favorite was kiwi dressing and strawberry dressing, but there was orange, oriental, thousand island, sesame, peach, and the mysterious 'white' dressing. The food fell into two categories for the most part: very spicy or a little bland. Apparently they aren't too big on salt here. There were several spicy meat dishes that I very much loved, as well as a veggie pancake that I couldn't get enough of. I'm being told that real Korean food is much better, but honestly? Jeonju University cafeteria isn't too bad. Everything was eaten with metal chopsticks, spoons, and tiny tiny cups. I learned my lesson about where to throw away my discarded food. 

A typical cafeteria meal. (Hi Donna!)

Classes were surprisingly interesting. They ranged from classroom management to lesson planning to introduction to korean schools to life in korea to creating powerpoint games to korean culture to understanding the cultural workplace to basic korean phrases to Taekwondo classes... You know what? I was surprised. I went into orientation thinking I wouldn't learn much and it would only be good for meeting people. I certainly met people, but the classes were all very interesting in their own way. They were excellently paced and provided invaluable insight into our future year in Korea. Most of the classes were taught by former or current EPIK teachers themselves. 

My teachers, Ellie (left) and Song (right). They were fantastic.

After Taekwondo. This picture shows the people I spent most of my time with.

Not pictured: A poor girl slipping in a puddle of my sweat off camera.

The weather was exactly like this.

The people were really great. I expected most of them to be the stereotypical expat teacher who didn't care about teaching and just wanted to travel, but honestly? I met dozens upon dozens of the 350 future teachers at Jeonju and those who would fall under that category I can count on one hand. They were from the US, UK, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand and Canada. They were extremely nice, willing to share their life stories and were genuinely excited and nervous to be teaching. Special shout out to my new friends: Nick, Chelsea, Rosa, Dana, Donna, Matthew, Josh, Jason, John, Jake, Maria, Julia, Kyle and everyone else I'm forgetting. 

Continued in Part 2. 

Bedtime for Dan, can't write anymore! EPIK Staff, Field Trip and Impressions about Korea next!