As I've mentioned, they are painting my school. This afternoon they decided to finish painting the teacher's room. Not in the morning when there is no one there but in the afternoon when we are all working. This wouldn't be such a big deal if paint fumes didn't make me nauseous and/or high. It brought back memories of my studio art class in Paris. One day I made the mistake of sitting next to a girl who was overly enthusiastic about her turpentine. Upon leaving class, this conversation ensued: K (my friend): Are you okay Alex? Me: ~Giggles stupidly~. I think so, why do you ask?
So this was probably the least successful first day. It was the most successful in that we actually got every single planned activity done and hit up everything from my filler list. This class was far more advanced and smaller than the others so they went through the material much faster. I managed to make it work but I wish I could have some idea of class level before walking in. Wishful thinking, I know but it would be nice. I also have several students who ended up with my relative's English names...and I didn't chose them. Very random and yet easy to remember.
I was told by the Swedes that marängsviss is thought of as a children's desert because it's so simple and it stars tasty treats which on their own, children love in a big way.
Manila has a reputation for being a bit of a shithole, and I can't say that it's unfounded. It's rotting, crumbling, and loud, with filthy sidewalks and air that tastes like a diesel pizza. Yes, a lot of travelers do poo-poo Manila, and while they're not wrong, per se, I think that the city has a bit of charm if you scratch a bit beneath the surface.
Keep in mind I have only been here for less than ONE DAY.
Yulim invited us to a Christmas Eve pot-luck party, which we were going to go to. So at around 7pm I made some nachos for us to bring, but we later found out that we wouldn't be starting until 10:30pm. So Heather and I stared at the nachos for a while and then decided it best to have our own 2 person Eve party at home.
How do you turn a plate of nachos into a party for two? Open 2 cans of beer and cook some ramyeon.
I'm off to the Philippines for a month, where I shall learn to scuba dive, eat balut (chicken fetuses still in the egg), and get some serious writing done. Or silly writing done. Whatever the case, I'm bringing a laptop with me and intend on using it.
Keep your eyes peeled to this here blog for, hopefully, some amusing posts about my adventures. The Philippines is a new country for me, in that I haven't been there before, so things should be nice and fresh.
The one set of Koreans who all seem to speak English perfectly are the Jehovah's Witnesses. If you get stopped in the street, in a shop or on the bus and the person's English is fantastic, it's a Jehovah's witness. They worm their way into your conversation with very polite and engaging questions about where you are from, your life, etc and then finish it off with a pamphlet and invitation to come to a meeting or church. Saying you are Jewish or any other religion has absolutely no effect. The best thing to do is take the pamphlet and run.
Lately, this article has been all over the expat blogosphere. Basically it is an "expose" (stupid Korean computer won't give me a traditional accent over the 'e') on how difficult it is for foreigners to access basic services, especially online and with any type of banking. It's kind of a 'no shit Sherlock' for foreigners to read about but apparently breaking news for the rest of the country.
Today, in the Korean Times, Jung Sung-Ki reports the possibility of a preemptive military strike against North Korea if they suspect a nuclear attack being planned. Does this reek of disaster to anyone else? Let's go blow up nuclear facilities...because that's a great way to keep the peace (and the environment) happy. Granted, the tension between the two countries has been running very high
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