Pictures!!

My bedroom: bed, fridge, closet, behind the doors are my washer, drying rack, suitcases, and coats

 Closet that I jammed most of my clothes and shoes into

Bathroom

Shower (which is IN my bathroom)

Kitchen that leads into the bathroom

Typical Korea street

Caffe Bene: My coffee and internet heaven - plus they play some great American music like Sinatra

Biking/Running path along the river behind my apartment

First Couple Days of Teaching

The past two evenings I've observed Tayla while she was teaching.  I got to meet all my students and I'm excited to get to know them better.  Some of them I can already tell will probably drive me crazy, but there are some that I already adore.  There are a few girls who totally cracked me up with some of the questions they were asking me ("Were you born with yellow hair?"  "How did you get gold hair?"  "Do you know any Korean?"  "Did you go to a school like the one in High School Musical?").  On Monday, one of the main administrators, Sumi, gave me a bouquet of flowers to welcome me.  They also put a fake wreath on my door with two ribbons that said "Welcome Haley Teacher!"  The students hear call all their teachers "Teacher."  I don't really like it, so I'm going to try to get them to call me Ms. Haley instead.  We'll see how that goes.  Tonight I start my first night of teaching.  Thank goodness Tayla will be there to help.  The format for each class seems pretty simple and straightforward so once I've done it a couple times I'm sure I'll be fine.  I think there is a lot of room for improvement for the students and I'm also really excited to expand upon what they're already doing.  Most of the class periods revolve around reading the books, reading comprehension, and vocab and chapter quizzes.  I want to add in some more creative projects for them to do and I want to find some fun books for them to read (right now they are reading the abridged versions of a lot of the classics like Mary, Queen of Scots, Alice in Wonderland, and The Elephant Man).  Tayla's last day is on Friday, so starting next week I'll be totally on my own.  I have five classes and each one is 40 minutes long.  I teach from 5:20-7 p.m., then I get an hour long dinner break, and then my last two classes are from 8-9:20 p.m.  As much as I don't like working at night, it is kind of nice to have my mornings free.  I usually wake up around 7:30 (thanks to the bright sun that creeps into my room due to the complete lack of blinds throughout my apartment) and go on a run.  Then I shower, eat breakfast, and go to a coffee shop to grade papers, work on my TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) online class, skype, or update my blog.  It's not as lonely when I'm able to be out around the town and atleast see other people, even if I can't really talk with them.

The weather is definitely chilly.  Fall is here and it will only get colder as winter approaches.  Next weekend I'm going on a sunrise hike at one of the national parks with a friend of mine who's out here teaching.  We'll get on a bus around midnight, hit the trails around 3 a.m., get to the peak at about 7 a.m. (I think), and then climb back down around mid-day.  I can't wait to see more of Korea and to hike my first Korean mountain!  I'm heading to Bundang with Tayla tonight after I'm done teaching to meet some of her friends who will be here for the year.  Finally I'll know more than 2 people here!!  I'm excited to make some friends be social again.

I finally took some pictures so I'll upload them a.s.a.p.  Lots of love!!!

Address

Here's my address out here:


Haley McCoy
104 Newyork Ville, #1337-12
Poongdeokcheon-2dong,
Suji-ku, Yongin-city
Kyunggi-do, South Korea 448-172


Skype: hmccoy11


E-Mail: hmccoy11@gmail.com

Bumper Cars and a Blonde Joke

Let's just say that driving in SK feels like a life or death situation.  My boss has been so kind to drive me around, taking me to lunch, buying my groceries, and taking me to Church this morning.  However, getting to these places is honestly terrifying.  First of all, my boss drives about 20 mph slower than the rest of SK.  Secondly, she is totally oblivious to what's going on around her.  She never checks her mirrors, she'll put on her blinker even if she's not turning or changing lanes, and when she does change lanes, it takes her about 5 minutes to do so.  Even though she has a GPS, I think she likes getting lost because she rarely does what it tells her to do.  She skip turns, turn before she should, or go in the total opposite direction of where we're supposed to be going.  She constantly gets honked at but I don't think she notices because she just mosies (spelling?) around the road.  I seriously can't believe we haven't been hit yet.  Don't think I'm just nagging on my boss.  The other drives are just as bad.  Absolutely no one follows street signs or traffic lights.  It seems to be a free for all for drivers going in all directions and for the pedestrians. I'm one of the rare few who obeys the "walk" and "don't walk" cross walks, merely because I'm terrified that I won't make it to my 22nd birthday if I step one foot out into the street into oncoming traffic.  But I guess it doesn't really matter when I go since, as I just mentioned, absolutely no one seems to follow traffic signs.

I was able to make it to a Catholic church this morning for an English Mass.  My boss picked me up and then waited there for me until it ended so that I wouldn't have to brave the bus system that totally stupifies me.  Once again, I was the only blonde one in a small room of about 40 people.  The Mass was almost identical, with just a few differences.  The biggest difference was that we sat in chairs with tables in front of us.  There were about 3 or 4 people per table and we never knelt.  At the end of Mass, a man named Mike who I later found out is in charge of finding lectors (scripture readers), asked if there were any newcomers to the Parish.  I clearly could not get out of this one, so I had to say my name and where I was from.  There was a very nice older woman next to me named Elizabeth who asked me what I was doing out here and we chatted for a little bit after Mass.  After I introduced myself, the priest said he had planned on telling a dumb blonde joke at the end of Mass, but was glad he had heard a different joke earlier in the week to replace it.  Just my luck!  At the end of Mass, the priest asked me my name again and then asked if I could help with the readings next week because he thought the parishoners would prefer to hear a native speaker.  Obviously I wasn't going to say no, so he introduced me to Mike, whom I gave my name, e-mail address, and phone number.  As I was walking out, there was an American family leaving who had laughed and said the same thing had happened to them when they were new in town.

After Mass, Mrs. Kim and I picked up Tayla, the girl who has been teaching at my school for the past year.  We went and ate a traditional Korean lunch.  We sat on the floor and the waitress brought out so many courses I lost track after 3.  She had to continue clearing our plates and moving left over food into other dishes just to make room.  I love the salad they serve here.  It's basically just lettuce and shaved carrots but it has this awesome tangerine dressing type thing on top of it which is delicious.  I kept asking what everything was and my boss told Tayla that I was a very curious girl, haha.  One of the side dishes they brought out was shrimp, but much to my dismay, was still in the shell.  You're supposed to eat the whole thing, so I had one, and let's just say I probably won't be eating a whole lot more of those.

Unfortunately, I getting sick.  I think the plane ride here, combined with the lack of sleep that day, and the fact that my body is still adjusting to the time change has hit me a little harder than I thought.  Unfortunately, I forgot to bring cold medicine with me, so I'm going to try to ask someone here where I can find some.  I think the best course of action is to point to my throat and then cough, hoping they get the idea.  I'll let you know how it goes.

I've gotten over the shock of my apartment and am excited to discover more of SK.  I went on a run this morning on a bike/running path that runs along a river just behind my apartment.  They have a ton of these paths all over SK near the rivers.  The running side of the path is green and is made of a material that's softer than cement.  The cement bike path is marked in red.  I start my first day on the job tomorrow and I'm so excited!  Tayla is coming over to show me some stores that are close to where I live that she went to a lot and to help me figure out the bus and subway system.  Then around 4, we're going to the school where I'll just observe her for the first couple days.  The first book we're reading is the Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis.  I just started reading it last night and will probably be done with it tomorrow or Tuesday.

Hope everything in the States is going well.  Good luck to my Thetas who have greek week this week.  Football championships tomorrow and LipSync on Saturday...kill it girls!!!

I'm Here!

I got in safe and sound last night.  The flight was long, to say the least, and I was exhausted by the time I got to my apartment.  I didn't sleep at all on the plane, but luckily got to watch a couple movies, read a book, and played some sudoku on the tv.  The plane I was on was a double-decker, which is something I've always wanted to say I have ridden on.  That's my first check mark off list of things I want to do this year!  

A man named Pep picked a couple named Joy and James and me up from the airport.  I don't think he was expecting us to bring so much luggage because honestly we were crammed into the car.  I can't believe we managed to fit it all in.  I was honestly smushed up against the car door with my feet up to my chest, completely unable to move the entire ride.  It took about an hour to get to my apartment from the airport.  My boss, Mrs. Kim, was there waiting for me.  She is SO nice...I can't wait to get to know her better.  She cleaned my apartment for me and then went to TGI Fridays to get me dinner - fried chicken, a salad, and quesadillas which she said were for breakfast, haha).  She also bought me some cereal, milk, and fruit.  

My apartment is interesting, unlike anything else I've seen before.  It's not at all what I expected and it was a very humbling experience.  It makes me very appreciative of all the space I have at home.  I would even prefer my small college dorms over this place, but I'm grateful for what I have and that my boss is being so nice and helpful.  The shower is not separated by a door from the bathroom.  I literally shower right next to my toilet and sink.  The toilet paper got soaked as I was trying to figure out the best way to position the hand held shower head and the wooden door is completely warped from the moisture and water damage.  I have a queen sized bed, an enormous fridge, and a small desk that take up most of my room.  I have a wooden dresser/closet that I'm going to find very challenging to fit all my clothes in.  I only unpacked my carry-on and the closet is almost completely full...I still have two 50-pound bags left to unpack!  I'll post pictures soon so you can see what it looks like.  

By the time I got to bed last night it was after 6:30 a.m. in Denver.  I slept until about 5 a.m. in Korea, read a little, and then decided I didn't want to start unpacking yet, so I began walking around aimlessly trying to figure out where I could find a shop with internet.  I'm feeling a little like fish out of water but walking around this morning made me feel a little more comfortable. Trying to find internet was interesting considering most people don't understand what I'm saying.  I went into a french bakery called the French Baguette thinking someone might be able to speak a little English since the name of the restaurant wasn't in Korean.  Wrong!  The three girls in there didn't know how to tell me where to go, so I continued to meander around.  I finally found this really cool coffee shop called the Caffe Bene that I'm at right now.  The women were just opening up the store when I walked by asking them, "Internet?"  One of the ladies nodded, said yes, and then said "not open."  I said, "Ok, I can wait here or come back," and then she made an "x" with her hands and ushered me inside.  I'm not sure what the "x" was for, but I feel like this is going to be my form of communication for a while.  I will definitely be coming back here, though.  The shop is spacious with cool little wooden tables, leather and woven bamboo chairs, plus I can get a latte here!  I'm also getting a lot of long stares for my blonde hair.  I try to smile at people but I think they realize I notice they're looking at me and immediately look away.  Oh well.

It just hit me that I won't see anyone for a year and I'm feeling a little sad, but I know this is where I'm supposed to be and that I'll feel a lot better after I've been here for a couple days. Please stay in touch and send me lots of e-mails or comments.  I feel so disconnected from home already and I'm excited to make some friends and learn more about the town.  

Off to Seoul

I can't believe the day is finally here!!  In less than 24 hours I'll be heading off to Seoul to start a whole new life and I can't wait.  I'm so excited to live in a new country . . . especially one that is culturally so different from the U.S.  A lot of people have been asking me if I'm getting nervous or scared and I can honestly say that I'm not scared at all.  I can't wait to get there, meet my students, move into my new apartment, and explore the city.  I'm looking at this next year as a total adventure . . . I feel like I'm a little kid following a map, looking for my buried treasure.  I have no idea what I'll find at the end of the road, who I'll meet, or where I'll have travelled, but I can't wait for all that this next year brings.

I thought going away to school in L.A. was exciting, but this has no comparison.  Going to an out-of-state school was great for me at that point in my life.  I was ready to meet new people, participate in the California lifestyle, and soak up the sun on the beautiful beaches.  I don't think I would have been ready, at 18, to move to a place where I couldn't just pick up the phone and call my parents.  A 15 hour flight is a much bigger deal than a 2 hour flight.  Not to mention, the 15 hour time difference that will make phone calls and skyping a chore to figure out.  But, now, at the ripe old age of 21 (haha), I know I'm ready to be completely on my own.  I'm preparing myself for the culture shock and for the fact that I will no longer blend in with the many other California blondes.  Instead, no matter where I go, I'll clearly stand out as a foreigner.  But, I'm hoping that my blonde hair will help me meet new people and experience Seoul in a unique way.

I have two HUGE bags that I'll be checking, plus two additional carry-ons.  Once I land in Seoul, someone from Adventure Teaching will be waiting for me with my name on a sign (I've secretly always wanted to be picked up at the airport from someone holding a sign with my name - too bad I won't be swept off in a limo to a chic hotel with a comfy king size bed in my pent house suite).  He'll then take me to my apartment where I'll meet my boss, Kim, so we can go over my work schedule.  I'm really excited to meet her!  I'll have the weekend to get settled and then I go into work on Monday with Tayla, the current English teacher at my school, so she can start training me for the next couple weeks.

Thanks for all your well-wishes and your support!  I'll miss you all and I hope that you stay in touch.  Please feel free to comment on my blogs, e-mail me (hmccoy11@gmail.com) or skype with me (hmccoy11).  Lots of hugs and kisses!

Departure Date

I found out a couple days ago that I'm leaving Thursday, September 23!!  It's quite a long day of travel - I depart DIA at 9:30 a.m. and land in Los Angeles at 11 a.m.  Then I leave L.A. at 1 p.m. and don't get to Seoul until 6:10 p.m. on Friday September 24.  I'll be in the air for just over 15 hours.  That combined with the 15 hour time difference will make for an exhausting trip.

I'm so excited to leave but starting to get a little nervous!  Please continue to pray for me as I prepare to leave.

Taste of Korea

I just experienced my first Korean meal!  A few of my family members and I went to a Korean restaurant in Denver called Korea House to try out the cuisine.  It was interesting, to say the least.

The place wasn't exactly hopping.  In fact, we were the ONLY ones in the restaurant . . . a little daunting when you're hoping for a yummy meal in the company of loyal patrons.  We sat in a back room that was large enough to fit all of us.  We sat in chairs, but the other half of the restaurant required you to sit on the floor on little mats with tables that were about one and a half feet off the ground.  Looking at the menu, none of us quite knew what to order.  My Uncle David who lived in Japan for a couple years and his wife Julie were giving us the low-down on what was good, bad, and how some of the food was prepared.  There were three large bowls that were spread across our table where you could cook your own meet if you ordered the Korean bar-b-que.  Most of us opted for dishes that were made with familiar meats - like beef, chicken, and fish - as opposed to the ox tongue or octopus that we also found on the menu.  Just before our meals were brought out to us, the waitresses brought out an endless amount of side dishes.  There was enough food to serve a small army (I'll upload the picture soon)!  There was the traditional kimchi (gross), bean jello (absolutely disgusting), bean sprouts (pretty tasty), broccoli with a spicy red sauce (also very good), tofu (not for me), fish patties (not terrible but not great), an onion/shredded lettuce type salad (delicious), and some sort of soup (can't remember the name).  All these dishes took up the entire table!  There was hardly any room for our main meals.

Our meals came out in hot bowls that seemed to still be cooking our food - some of the rice on the bottom of the bowl was even burnt by the time we were done eating.  We had an array of beef, chicken dishes served over rice, shrimp tempura, my brother got a huge beef and chicken soup, and my cousin Breann and I both ordered seafood bibim bap.  There were yummy and repulsive parts to this dish.  First of all, the food was served extremely hot and didn't really cool down at all.  Secondly, it's pretty spicy but not so hot that you start sweating of that your tongue was left charred.  The seafood was served over white rice and on top of the fish was a soft boiled egg.  I scooted my egg off to one side and dug in to the rest of my meal.  The shrimp was delicious and I think there was some crab in there, too.  Some of the side dishes like the bean sprouts (which I ate) and bean jello (also carefully pushed to the side with the egg) were also in the bowl.  I should have known, but there was also squid or small octopus tentacles mixed in as well.  I was trying to be adventurous during this meal and tried all the side dishes so of course I had to try the squid.  It wasn't as bad as I thought but it had such a chewy texture that all I needed was one bite to satisfy my curiosity.  The rest of the squid was carefully pushed to my "do not eat" section of the bowl.

I'm not going to lie, I'm a little nervous about what exactly I'll eat out there.  Some of what we had was really good, but there were a few things I'm not too thrilled to have again (like kimchi, which I've read is a staple in the Korean diet).  It seems that most of their meals include beef or pork, and since I don't eat red meat, I'll have fewer options of seafood, chicken, and veggies.  I would like to try to avoid tongue and dog as much as possible, but I need to remind myself to keep an open mind this next year.  So if you by chance happen to come across some fermented cabbage, fish patties, or ox tongue . . . just think of me and say a little prayer!

Preparing To Leave

Hi everyone!  Welcome to my blog.  I'll be updating this (hopefully) a couple times a week as I embark upon the biggest adventure of my life!

For those of you who don't know, I'll be living just outside of Seoul in a small apartment.  I'll be about a ten minute walk from my school, the English Reading Club.  I'll be teaching 3rd and 4th grade students from about 2-9 p.m. Monday-Friday.  My friend Kelly has been there for a year already and will be staying for another year.  I'm extremely lucky to know that I'll have atleast one friend out there to help me adjust to the culture.  She has been very helpful in answering all my questions thus far.

I just received my Visa in the mail!  I'm still waiting to hear when I'm flying to Seoul, but my school wants me out there by the 24th of September so I'm guessing I should be leaving around the 20th.

Stay posted...I'll continue to update you all as I prepare to leave the U.S.