My School Placement

I am headed to the 5th largest city in Korea: Daejeon.  With nearly 200 schools for elementary, middle, secondary, vocational, and special education, you would think I would be placed at a very unique-sounding school- I was not. I was placed at one of the best high schools in the city, the all-boys school "Daejeon High School." I was told it was very big and welcoming.

It is located in the old downtown section of the city.  I am very excited!

More Orientation

Orientation has been very informative the past few days, consisting of lots of classes on teaching methods, Korean culture and history, and lesson planning.  We even took a field trip to Jeonju Hanock village. an ancient village dating back 600 years.

More Orientation

Daily Schedule:

Breakfast (7:30-8:45AM)
Morning Classes (9:00AM-12:20PM)
Lunch (12:30PM-1:45PM)
Afternoon Classes (2:00PM-5:20PM)
Dinner (5:30-6:45PM)
Evening Korean Class (7:00PM-8:10PM)

Star Tower -- A dorm/cafeteria building I'm staying in at Jeonju University

Korean Won (1000 is about one US dollar)

Orientation

For the next 7 days, I will be at Jeonju University for orientation and training.  I would say that there are about 300 GETs (Guest English Teachers) in all.  Upon arrival we were given a class number based on which province or city we were placed.  Those placed in Daejeon like myself are in class #3; there are about 50 of us.

Day #1 of orientation:


~Medical Examination
~Opening Ceremony - (Guest Speakers/Introductions of the EPIK staff/Taekwondo, music, dance performances)
~Class #3 Meeting
~Dinner Banquet

Taekwondo Performance

Safely Arrived!

24 hours after beginning my journey in Philadelphia, I arrived at Incheon International Airport.  Phew!  All of my baggage made it as well, what a relief!  After registering at the EPIK desk, meeting my advisor Phil with whom I have spent the last year finalizing all the paperwork, and exchanging money, I loaded a bus for yet another leg of my trip: a 3 hour drive to the orientation site.  Orientation is being held at Jeonju University for the next week.

Some observations/experiences from today:
~I had a soft drink that was pine needle flavored.
~All water fountains are touchless-automatic and very awkward.

Phil and I