First day of training

So....

Today was the first day. The first class was sooo incredibly rambunctious! They are a funny bunch, but there are quite a few of them in the class and the teacher has absolutely no control. She hasn't set any rules and has let them run wild. They aren't bad kids, they are just excited, and just want to be outside playing. I wish I could give that to them. Today, i was speaking with one of the children and she told me her schedule. She wakes up at 7 a.m. to go to school, then she goes to math academy, then piano lessons, then English academy, then home to do homework! She doesn't get home from school until after 9 p.m. then she still has homework to do. Their lives are so intense for such young children.

When I spoke with my director about how I felt about this, she explained to me the situation from the Korean parents perspective. They are struggling now and they want their children to have the best of the best. So they spend quite a large amount of money from their paychecks each month so that their children will have a better future. I understand it, but I still believe children need to be children. Some of them are so serious and others are completely rebelling because they've been in school for over 10 hours. I honestly can't figure out which is worse: children in America who care so little about education, their future, and spend hardly anytime studying or children that are in school day in and day out with no time to be young and carefree?

Most people in Korea have NEVER seen a black person. Or anyone who isn't Korean for that matter. Korea is known as the most culturally homogenous place in the world with a population of 98% Korean! The students are very intrigued by me because I am Black and because I'm from California. I wouldn't call the people here racist, just uninformed. Most of the students here have never been outside of Korea and have never been exposed to any other cultures. Even a Chinese or Japanese person is foreign to them. They are extremely curious about me, (who knows what they have learned about Black people from their families or from the television). They lean out of the classrooms to wave hello to me! I feel like a superstar!

I live on the 5th floor of the school with 3 other teachers. I haven't seen much of them so far, but I hope to soon. The other two girls live near the beach. They don't have too many positive things to say about Korea, but I am going out with them tomorrow so hopefully I will see a different side of them and meet more people who live in the area. I am truly enjoying my time here. I love all of the change that is around me. I think that the fact that I will be able to deal with this transition positively will make me so resilient. I feel so strong for making this move on my own. I'm really proud of myself and happy! I want to accomplish all that I can while I'm here. It's really an amazing opportunity to learn about another culture first hand. 4 months ago, Korea didn't even exist to me, now I'm living, working, eating, and breathing Korea. Amazing huh?

Anywho, that was a long one, I was excited after class! I'm going to go out and buy some things tomorrow for the apartment, so I'll take some photos of the neighborhood to share.

I think I'm gonna get a kitty! The girl who is leaving needs to find a home for her kitty friend and who better to adopt a kiikii? He's a boy too!

I miss you all out there in the States. I miss diversity and people that know ME. Hope you all are doing well, drop me a line sometime... I'm always onlline :)

Love & Light

Nichole