Adjusting

The last week has been one of adjustment. The first few days of panic and homesickness here have given way to a more tempered outlook. Though I have to say, I still have some degree of panic within me - the same panic that I've carried all these years. The question of "what am I supposed to do with my life?" has not gone away, and I don't expect it to. I have enough rationality within me to know that I am not supposed to know what to do with my life at 23, and should instead be concentrating on my role in Korea as an ESL teacher, as well as to enjoy life. But I'm also a highly emotional person on the inside. Life needs balance.

I spent the week getting used to school and meeting the classes of wee ones that I'll be teaching. I've gotten some very excited reactions from the students, as the whole cafeteria of 400 students bursts into euphoria when the Great White Gorilla walks in. I've never seen anything like it. Further, students in one of the 5th grade classes that I'll teach erupted into boisterous applause when I informed them I was over 200cm tall. A hearty congratulations to me for being born tall.

The most interesting person I've met here in Jinandong (where I live...I work in Dongtan - both are in Hwaseong City, which is about 45mins outside Seoul) is a little Filipino woman in her 40s who was born in the Philippines and holds a Canadian passport. Her name is Edna. Once a magazine editor for a periodical in Manila, she grew tired of her work and went to Canada to become a teacher. She has a number of interesting stories to tell, including being shot at by Al Qaeda sympathizers in the Philippines. After about 16 years in Canada, Edna left to teach ESL in Korea and hasn't looked back. Edna can best be described as a free spirit who is very grounded, particularly in her faith. Edna has basically taken me under her wing and helped me to find everything that I've needed, and has proven to be an extremely agreeable companion. It's funny to see the two of us walking in Korea, as we're very different on the exterior - tall, young, and pasty white ginger with short, middle-aged, and Filippino. It's great.

Edna and I climbed Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon this Saturday. It was a very scenic trip, and did well to quell the restlessness inside me. We went on a day filled with students on field trips. Needless to say, they all adored me. We walked past at least 3 groups of 50 students, all of which shouted "Hello! Nice to Meet You! I love you!" at me. This celebrity is a bit much, but I take it as it was meant to be taken - with a smile. Give me a year or two, and I'll be mayor of the city.

I come home for a two-week vacation mid-August. It's been less than one week in, and I already miss everyone back home. I've already planned my first meal back - a steak and baked potato with all of the fixings. I love Korean food - don't get me wrong - but I already miss some Western fare.