January 5th, 9AM on the dot. I wake up from my drug induced sleep and realize that joy of joys- It's Snowing!!! I can't believe that it's still snowing because it snowed all day yesterday. On a side note: you should know that few things make me happier and more optimistic than snow. Anyway, Erin and I are excited because we are going to the school today. We carefully pick out our clothes (not that that's a problem for me b/c as of yet I haven't gotten any of my luggage). We bathe and then go get breakfast. Breakfast was a small roll of bread probably 5" wide and 5" high. We were also left some strawberry jam and a 3 hard boiled eggs. Erin wondered if they wanted us to fight to the death over the 3rd egg. Erin and I decided that because it was already 11AM they probably meant for this to be our breakfast as well as lunch. When we finished our brunch we got dressed and waited for Pearl to pick us up at noon.
We kept waiting. Finally at almost 1PM Pearl and her sister showed up. Pearl glanced at me and said "your clothes are OK" then she glanced at Erin and said "your underwear is showing and we dress modestly in Korea". Erin looked at me with a bewildered look on her face. You see, Erin had a V-neck long sleeve T with a lace-edge tank top underneath. She had ZERO cleavage showing and everything was covered. She also had a pair of jeans on. Pearl then stated that she had to change because she wasn't following the dress code. Pearl then watched and waited as Erin rummaged in her suitcase for something to wear. Erin was flustered and visibly upset. When we were all ready we all climbed in the van and set off for the school.
The school is located in a very high traffic area in the city where there is a Starbucks (a Godsend) across the street. There are classrooms in every room as well as a teacher's kitchen, dining area, a parent's waiting area, and a study lab for the students. Every classroom is named after a famous university like Oxford, Harvard, etc...
The moment we came in and met the 3 American teachers that worked there I knew that we had the potential to be friends. The Parks had trashed talked about a particular teacher the second we got into their apartment on our first day in Korea. Her name is Tiffany and she seems to be in her mid to late 30's. They had told us that she was very disrespectful and that she was stupid, awful teacher, etc. I was given the impression that she was a ditzy, stupid, complaining, and bitter girl. The moment I met Tiffany I was tele-ported back to 2nd grade. Here was a sweet, soft-spoken, very kind woman who offered to show me around the place and help me with whatever I needed. She reminded me of Ms. Honey from the movie Matilda. I was like surely the Parks were completely wrong about her. I came to find out that they hate her. They absolutely without a doubt loathe her and treat her horribly (more on that, later).
Before Pearl left, she left some not so precise instructions. She stated more or less that she wanted me to give private lessons to a boy and she wanted Erin to go with one of the teachers. She then handed me a book with the teacher's key and told me to look it over before the little boy came in. I was like "uhh, okkaaay sure". She also told me that the boy was and I quote "a little bit retarded because he was left back a year at school". I said "no problem". Pearl then left the school to run errands and the little boy came in a short while later. I don't know why I was expecting to see quite possibly a kid with Down Syndrome or something but the little boy who I met was perfectly normal. He answered all of my questions and volunteered answers. I didn't know where the "little retarded" part of him was but it def. was not present with me.
After I finished with him I went to sit in a class that Tiffany was teaching and I had the Ms. Honey flashbacks again. She is the perfect teacher is all I will say. Kind and caring and never has a bad thing to say. These kids looked like they needed a little TLC. After the class I went to the teacher's office area and noticed that Erin looked really freaked out. I asked her what was wrong and she proceeded to tell me that she couldn't say cause Pearl was a few feet away talking to some parents. We then tried speaking in French but had issues due to the fact that Erin couldn't remember certain words. Luckily Andrew (a fellow American teacher) took us out to get lunch at a little whole in the wall. I managed to get a dish of beef with onions and peppers with noodles. When we got back I noticed that the beef is old and that the noodles have the look and texture of worms. It was hard to swallow but seeing as how I had no other choice and was hungry I managed to do it. Afterwards I sat in with other teachers in their classes.
That evening as we were closing up I found out that United/Asiana has officially lost my luggage and I was stuck here with nothing more than what I was wearing at that moment. I lost it at that point and started to cry. Pearl saw that I left the room and came after me to reprimand me about something but after she saw my face she got all maternal. At that moment I realized that I seriously wanted to get the hell out of this country. Tiffany then told me that she had no problem taking me to a store to buy the essentials. Pearl said "we will take you to the store". Erin then said "Oh no, Tiffany wanted to take us if that's OK". We then hauled ass and got out of there. Andrew and Bequer joined us because they had nothing to do. I must say that it was the most fun that I've had since I have gotten here. We walked past store lit up in neon signs. Also, you should know that most of the sidewalks in Gwang-ju are made of marble and since salting is not a priority we almost broke various body parts trying to walk down the streets.
We ended up and E-Mart another version of Wal-Mart and looked through the clothes and had to settle for a hoodie, socks, a blanket, a towel, 1 sweater, and 1 shirt. Ugh I look as though I belong back in 1985. At least I don't have to worry about my looks since 1. I am not scouting for guys and 2. I just don't care right now. Once we finished our shipping we took a cab back to the Park's place and once we got in were met at the door by both Pearl and her husband. She then proceeded to insinuate that it was my fault my bags were lost. She then saw the Kermit the frog green blanket and asked what was that. I said it was for me because I was very cold and I needed a blanket. She then gave us a dirty look and we proceeded to our room. We then heard them having dinner (we were never invited) and we proceeded to eat our rationed cookies/cereal. Had I had any Idea that we weren't going too be given dinner then I would've gone out. But we didn't know and so we went to bed hungry yet again for the 3rd straight day.
This morning they gave us their leftovers from last night: sliced carrots and a few pieces of broccoli and some shredded meat with mushrooms (less that 1/2 a cup). They also left us pureed clementines with pureed onions in the "beverage". It tells you a lot about how hungry I am because I drank it all. Erin almost threw it up over the dining table. Anyway I've got to get ready for work- Adios!
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