A Month Has Passed???

Wow. I know I've been putting off blogging, but one month in between posts is far too long - many apologies!

Things here have been going well, but it is definitely a grind. The hours at school are long, and there aren't enough holidays to keep morale high. I have one Tuesday off in May and one Monday off in October. That's it!!! There are vacations in July and December, but the typical school schedule does not apply here.

Now that I'm done complaining, I think the reason I've put off blogging is because I don't feel that I've done enough during my time here. I think my biggest issue is not learning the alphabet and being able to read, which I am told is fairly easy to do. I really need to get my act together on this front, as it will greatly improve my life here in Korea.

My teaching experience has also been mixed. Like many foreign teachers here, I do not have considerable teacher training. I am not certified in my home country, and I don't have a bag of tricks to reach into to help solve some problems. That said, I do feel I am improving overall, but too often I am frustrated and tired at the end of each day.

Switching to good news, the band, Yu Seok, has been great. We took part in a show this past weekend and it was a lot of fun. They had a makeshift stage at the bar, there was a good crowd, and we didn't make any big mistakes! Leading up the show, everyone was determined to put forth a good effort, so rehearsals were efficient and the band was focused. For any "locals" who know the history of the band, this is certainly encouraging news.

Check our cover of Rockin' In the Free World here.

Looking ahead, there are some trips on the horizon. Next weekend, a group of us are making a trek north to Seoraksan Mountain, one of the best-known hikes in Korea. Also, in May, another trip will be to the DMZ, which requires a deposit and Passport information. That's all the info I have now, but I'll be sure to blog about this experience for the readers.

Concerning the scenes of Gangneung, spring is definitely here. The Cherry Blossoms have bloomed, farmers have planted the fields, and the weather is definitely improving. I even wore shorts a couple times this past week! There were some Easter activities at school, and weekend sports are starting to pick up with the people here. I'd love to get a glove and play some catch!

Until next time!