It's been a slightly different week for me at school, as I had to write monthly reviews for every child that I teach.So, the good news was, less telephone calls to make (as we get to use this time to write the reviews), the bad news was that I had to remember the names of all of my students and think of something different and insightful to write about them all!Now I don't have the best memory for names, and some of my classes I have only seen 3 times, so at the beginning of the week this seemed quite a daunting task.All you teachers out there will not be surprised when I say that I knew the names of the naughty kids, and I had a pretty good idea what I wanted to write about them!I also knew the names of the really good ones; it was those that did not fit into either of these categories that I was struggling with.So, I decided to make brief notes during my classes so I could then type them up later.This worked pretty well, and I only have 5 more students to write about on Monday, not bad out of 15 classes.

At work the foreign teachers do not have their own computers, so we have to go into the Korean teachers' office to use theirs to complete our reviews. I usually choose to sit at the back at one of the Maths teacher's computers, as it is quiet back there and I can get on with my work.However, this week I found out the downside to sitting back there.The area is near to the principal's office, and last week I witnessed my first hearing of a child being punished by him.The sound of smacking and the cries of a child were something I really did not want to ever have to hear.I think I'll take my MP3 player next time!

As we now have a little more furniture, we had guests around to our apartment for the first time this week.On Tuesday my co-worker dropped by after work to raid our hard drive, and on Friday we had a pizza (the Koreans have difficulty with this word and say 'pijja') and Peter Kay night with a few friends.It was so nice to host again, even though we did have to lay out our duvet on the floor in the lounge to sit on - kind of Korean style and kind of like a picnic!Just hope we did not disturb out neighbours too much, no-one came round to complain though.

On Saturday we took a bus to another reservoir, which Graham had seen earlier in the week on his travels.It was a really sunny, but cold day, so nice for a walk.There was also a big ship docked next to the reservoir, which we think must be a restaurant.We then took the bus to the big department store near to where we live as we needed a few toiletries and they have the best selection.People in Korea seem obsessed by cleaning their teeth - the Korean teachers at work are constantly in the bathrooms brushing their teeth.The bizarre thing is though that Korean toothpaste does not contain fluoride!We had been told by other westerners that this department store did sell one kind of western toothpaste, and at last we found it.Cost about 3.00GBP a tube, but it's worth it!I also thought I'd take a look at the selection of shampoo's etc for future reference, but was talked into buying some.Everything tends to come in huge containers here, like in the US, and there was a special offer on a multipack of shampoo and conditioner, plus some free small bottles.Whilst looking at this, a Korean shop assistant came over to say I could have a different combination (ie an equal amount of conditioner and shampoo) and when I said 'yes' meaning that I understood, she took it as that I wanted it, so started ripping open other boxes and transferring the products.She then took some moisturiser off the shelf, and said 'you want?' and she rammed this into the box too.So, I ended up buying enough shampoo and conditioner to last us at least 6 months!Graham did wonder if she was trying to set us up by hiding other products in the box, but no alarms went off, so I got a pretty good deal.

That evening we went to a different district of Gwangju for my co-workers Birthday celebrations.We went to a Korean restaurant for Samgypsal, which is thick strips of fatty pork, cooked in the centre of the table.You then cut it up with scissors, take a lettuce leaf and put in the centre of the leaf some of the meat and anything else from the array of small dishes that you want.You then fold it up like a parcel and eat it whole.It was really nice, but a little messy!After the meal we went to the 'Ice Bar.'The beer comes in an ice glass, with a plastic cup inside the glass, and a plastic holder.Not only does your beer stay ice cold, but when you have finished it, you take out the plastic bits and get to throw the ice at a target.If you hit the target, the board around it flashes and then lights up your free prize.This might be fries, octopus, a free beer, a mystery prize, etc.I managed to hit the target with my last throw and won a free beer voucher!So, we've got to go back there now.

On Sunday we took the bus again to the May 18 Liberty Park.This is in memory of the Gwangju Massacre of 1980, when a mass demonstration and protest against the authoritarian regime ended with 154 civilians dead and 74 missing, presumed dead.The park contains a huge monument, walking trails, and the Mugak-sa Temple and Owolru Tower.After spending some time in the peaceful temple we then sat in the park, in the sun, watching the many Korean families that were out for the day.The most interesting part of this was watching the bizarre dog fashions.The 2 best ones were the dos dressed as a bumble bee - wings an all, but to top that was the small white dog wearing red boots!

Last night we went to our local 'Millertime' bar to meet some friends for a couple of drinks and a game of darts.As usual this ended up as being more drinks and more games of darts. On the way home, Graham and Darrell managed to find a very comfortable armchair which had been dumped, so we now have another addition to our apartment! Sunday nights seem to be the best time to find furniture here.I guess it's the only day a lot of people have off work, so a good time for them to sort out their rubbish.Bring on next Sunday……….