It started when I was explaining that “restaurant” is originally a French word and me showing my students my rusty French pronunciation which gives them a vital cultural awareness which is one of the main reasons why we “foreign” teachers get jobs in Korea. Anyway a certain other non- student (look no names) had a conversation with the students in Korean while I was left standing there trying to figure out what exactly what going on. May I emphasise that one of the main reason why we foreigners are hired in Korean is to give the students a POSITIVE impression of other cultures. 

So when I saw the students gasp, look embarrassed and then look at me with their adorable sorry face I wondered what had just been said. Thankfully this other non-student has no tact and just repeated what had been said in English which went something like this:

Me: “You’re being mean, students don’t listen!” 
 

Now, I’m fully aware that British food has a bad reputation but ask yourself non-Brits… what British food have you actually eaten?… and for my non-Brit friends who have experienced PROPER British food and not just fish and chips, I think you’ll find that they love it! So fuck you that nob who thinks they have the right to comment on my country just coz they went to London for 4 days! Fuck you! You don’t know shit! Not once have I said I hate Korean food not even when live octopus and seaworm has been put in front of me or when (tonight) I was pressured to eat boiled octopus heads!!!

AND!!! Not just that! Not 20 minutes later…

That same person: “Yes that’s you”

I live in the other Gwnagju. Which is apparently 20 mins away from the big city… well, in reality it’s 40 mins away from the edge of the big city and that’s if you get a bus straight away and the traffic is ok. Which it never ever is.

Update –

School: My school is called Tanbeol Elementary and it’s the biggest elementary school in Gwangju. Which means we get two foreign teachers which is nice. I’m also working so much more than I wanted… expecting to be able to study, write and facebook in the afternoon I was quite disappointed to be teaching 30 hours per week. However the extra money is nice. There are 6 English teachers, Louise, Miyoung, Haeleon, Mrs Bae and Sally. Sally and I have become good friends and as she has a beast car we drive around a lot! The kids are nice… and I mean nice. They even do their homework, mostly. I have to catch a 15 min bus to school every day which enables me to grab a latte and be early for work for once coz getting the 7:45 bus means I get a seat and avoid heavy traffic.

Ste’s school: Is practically perfect the only thing they don’t do is let him off early and clean his boots. He’s having a great time at Taejeon school and they really appreciate him. He also only has to walk 2 mins to his school but that also means his students see him all the time and walking into taejeon on a Sunday afternoon means being shouted at from every direction….”Suuteebunn!... Hi!” they’re very cute.

Apartment: we have a good apartment. We live in the apartment that Ste’s school has provided as the one that my school provided is just for a single person, single bed and one chair. But Ste’s apartment has a separate bedroom.

Moving: We left a lot of stuff in Yeosu and so we went to pick it all up. Crazy! Driving down was fun. Moving the stuff was tiring and stressful. And our most prized possession, the amazing pavv tv got smashed. Ste broke the news to me, and I cried. Thankfully the very nice people at Samsung helped us out and fixed it! Everything else got here ok.

Being back in Korea: Well it certainly feels like nothing has changed. I’m not in city I’m in a coutry-ish place near the big city and going to the city is a big effort. Leaving early and wanting to stay late but having to come home early. It’s kinda like being in Tod. It’s not what I want. So staying here for another year is really unlikely at this point. The apartment is great! The schools are great! The place is a dump! There isn’t even a coffee shop in walking distance from my apartment or a gym…two things I need. The little Kimbab place is crap too. The first month here I really hated being here, and now that I have cable and internet at home life is a little better.  We’ll see how it goes.