School Kids

We have just come of the end of our first semester at Pagoda, which simultaneously feels like one of the longest and fastest 3 months of my life! In some ways it only feels like yesterday since we arrived but we have learnt so much since we got here in terms of the job. I definitely feel we will be much more prepared for our next semester and it will also be nice to have a change in schedule, classes and some kids! We are enjoying  a little 3 day break before our next semester begins which is a nice treat. Although it's not quite long enough for a trip abroad we are going on a weekend trip to an Island off the west coast which should be fun! Here are couple of pics from school, unfortunately I forgot to take anymore but I will try and remember next semester!

Joy (in the red coat) said we should have a party in the last lesson so she brought a balloon!

One of my fun older classes!

Souper

Contrary to popular belief there are many activities in Korea that don’t involve drinking however every now and again Imogen and I do have a few ales, well, beers and Soju mainly. After one heavy night of drinking in Seoul we crawled out of the house to one of our regular cheap fast food joints. I knew what I wanted before I order its called bibimbap. It’s very healthy,  rice, vegetables and egg that you mix together. The menu is in Korean but Imogen and I can read enough to select what we want, or so we thought. Imogens meal comes out first,a beef and rice dish that looks delicious. Mine then appears in front of me in a metal bowl, with condensation on the outside. While my sore brain tries to figure out if this has any relevance, I take it from the waitress. It’s freezing and its not bibimbap. It basically looks like thin brown eels in iced pond water with half a boiled egg sitting a top like some kind of demented cherry. My stomach rolls backwards knocking into my kidneys. I like to think I’m a polite person and I know other Koreans in the restaurant are watching me so I  try a mouthful. All I can say is it tasted as good as it looked, imagine eating a mouthful of rubber bands, ice and meat soup. I had one mouthful then shared Imogens dish. Iced noodles, not for me.

Noryangjin Fish market

On Saturday I visited one of Seouls largest seafood and fish markets (not my idea!). Although there were some squirmy sights it was actually quite fun! After browsing through the mussels, oysters, fish, crabs and various other seafood delights we, or actually  the people I was with chose a selection of fishy food which we then took up to a restaurant. In the restaurant they take your goods and cook them to order, the grilled salmon was definitely my favourite although I did try sushmi (raw fish) too, must have been feeling brave!

In the fish market with an old Korean lady!

Some of the produce!

In the restaurant

Pagoda

Some pictures of our school, I  haven't managed to get any of the classrooms or children yet but I will try soon.

This is the building our school is in, it is actually 6 floors up though!

My desk

Staff room

A real Korean lunch

I went out with my friend Annie to a Korean buffet, which was an interesting experience! It was all you can eat for 4.00, although there was only so much I could handle! It was great to go out with someone from Korea who could guide me through some of the dishes, although I think our taste buds are quite different :-)

yum, brown jelly squares!

Dessert in a cafe later!