Finally started one...
After much procrastination, I have finally started one of my own. Most of the delay was caused by my not knowing how blogging works...but I finally figured it out! Here we go!!
It’s hard to believe that I have already been here for a month! I can’t believe how fast that time has flown by! There are several things that you learn very fast when you move not only to a different city, but also to my city:
1) Always bring your umbrella or raincoat anywhere you go. I happen to live in a city where it rains almost constantly. You might start out a walk and it is dry, but minutes later, there is a deluge outside.
2) Get used to shirts that are stiff. Since there are not dryers here, everything has to air dry. Thankfully, for now, it’s warm enough that stuff dries fast. However, I’m not sure what it will be like in the winter when it is really cold…
3) There are times when you go out to a restaurant, that you have to just offer up arrows, and hope that the food is cooked (if meat), or clean (if fresh fruits and veggies).
4) Be ready to change your lesson plans due to activities taking longer than expected, since you have to explain things differently because of the lack of English skills.
5) Expect the unexpected. You can think that something will go one way, but at the last minute, things take a 180ยบ. About 2 hours before the end of school today, I was told that one of my students would be flying back to Korea for 2 ½ weeks…so I had to hurriedly put some activities together for her, from what I knew we would be doing.
I have been teaching for going on three weeks now, and I wanted to show you all what my walk to school is like every day.
After leaving the building, there is a really pretty bush that I always pass. This is the “butterfly bush” as everyone calls it since a lot of butterflies always take up residence on it. Here is one of the butterflies on the right.
Between my apartment and the road to school is a little dip. There are a few ways to get across: via bridge (left) or seesaw (below and right).
View of the skyline after getting over the bridge or seesaw. 
Something that is quite unique—there are several random sculptures all around the place. This is one of the many. And in the background, you can see the street that I have to cross, FULL of busses and cars…
Street that I have to cross getting closer…
After crossing the street, I turned around…it is difficult crossing that when it is sooo busy.
The road that I walk after the busy street…I have seen a lot of…interesting sights along here that you wouldn’t see in America :-)
This is the view from the bridge. I got it on a good day…normally the water looks a lot greener.
Just like back home: Cranes and construction everywhere!!
Get to cross another street soon….
The outside of our new gym. I forget when it was built, but it is newer than the school.
Some pretty flowers that I see every morning. Not sure what they are, but they look nice!
While these are nice to walk on when the ground is wet (which is often, since I live in the rainy city), they are very unevenly paced. Some are far apart, and others are really close together. Not made for the cadence of a normal person, but very helpful!
The front of our school. That’s my roomie on the left, and my principal on the right.I hope you enjoyed “walking” to work with me! This walk should become interesting when the weather turns colder…
And I am very glad to hear that everyone back home is safe, after Irene swept through. Please know that you all were in my thoughts through the entire time.
Until next time!!
Sarah
