If the teacher pops a test, I know I'm in a mess and my dog ate all my HW last night

So it is three days into this experiment of being an ESL teacher and I don't think a verdict will be reached as to if I am made for it, or even if I like it, for a few months still.  See, Jinju SLP, where I am working, is a start-up as I have mentioned.  The SLP chain of language schools has been around for a years but never had a Jinju branch.  Now it does and I am here for the ride as well as the others that work there.  We were hired to work with the influx of kindergartners that will be at the school.  Unfortunately those kindergartners aren't arriving until March so until then we have classes of one or two students.

Schooling in Korea is different than the U.S., mainly because they to school for the morning and then come to Hagweon's after school.  SLP is a hogwon and these students have already gone to school for a few hours and then come to us for extra English practice.  So with such few kids to teach and worry about until March, the ultimate verdict about whether I like what I'm doing will be left incomplete.  For now, it isn't that challenging.  March will be the real test.  There was talk today that they are hiring six other foreigners for March so that could be fun.

Going to work on Monday though was certainly weird.  As most of you know, that was my first day of actual "work" since April of 2009.  The year and a half plus of unemployment was tough and hard and at times very frustrating but I came through it with a job halfway around the world and an experience that will hopefully be worth the wait it took to get a job.  But it was very relieving getting dressed again (nicely) because I had work.

Below are a few pictures of my school that will employ me for the next year:

Front desk in the "lobby"

The kids are not wearing these strapping uniforms now.  Perhaps in March when the Kindergartner's arrive they will.

A sample classroom from one side.  The classrooms are all names of Ivy League schools.  I asked where the Quinnipiac room was.  They looked at me like I had 6 heads.

Another view.  Each room comes with those big TVs which are also computers.

Our library.  Observers can see the Very Hungry Caterpillar in the center there.  Classic.

Our multi-purpose room.  I actually liked the windows there with the map of the world drawn by using the names of the countries in their specific shape.  Mr. Jeong (the boss) said it cost a lot of money.  Recession my ass.

Some other notes:

These are the bikes that the McDonald's delivery people drive around in.  Cause the only thing lazier than not cooking dinner and relying on McDonald's for a quick meal...is relying on McDonald's for a quick meal and have someone else deliver it to you

• I know I'm a few days late on it but haven't blogged since but anyone that has my Facebook saw my brief status about it.  But if there still is possibly someone that I'm friends with that hasn't seen Airplane! or The Naked Gun movies then now is the time to do so to realize the brilliance of the late Leslie Nielson.  He has a special place in my Mt. Rushmore of comedy heroes (The Marx Brothers, Woody Allen and George Carlin are the others).  So pop in one of those four movies and realize how great he was.

• Bus drivers here are insane.  They drive about 80 miles an hour and don't wait for people to sit down after getting on.  It's the exact opposite of the New York City buses which stops at every light and sits and waits and takes 45 minutes to get 15 blocks.  But you get on, pay the fee and then hold on cause he isn't waiting for you to find a spot.  It's extremely efficient, if not incredibly dangerous.

• The cliche about older Asians walking around with surgical masks covering their face is not a cliche or a stereotype.  It is true and very much a way of life here.  Apparently they are concerned about the polluted air coming over from China but I find it to just be an overreaction

• Some of you know I usually slept with a loud, obnoxious fan that sounded like a jet engine.  Well, I didn't bring it with me but buying a fan is out of the question too.  There is old Korean folklore that if a fan is kept on all night, unattended, that it will create a vortex and suck you up when you are sleeping so the fans come with timers.  I am not making this up as this is very serious and all fans have timers on them.  So I will be fanless for my stay here.  Crazy things this culture believes in.  Oh well, it's less crazy then believing some of the shit we believe in...like Sarah Palin, or really thinking Derek Jeter will not be back with the Yankees.

Alright, I'll check in later.  As usual please leave comments or let me know somehow that you are reading.  Your feedback, good or bad, is always welcomed