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Location Date Thailand 1281826800 South Korea 
1269302400 Japan 1255734000 Jordan 1226361600 Israel 1225497600 - Daejeon
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Location Date Tue, 23 March 2010
1269343271 Sat, 06 March 2010 1267839430
It's been a month already!
This weekend I started my Korean cooking class, which was really fun. It's held at the Daejeon International Culture Centre, which puts on a bunch of different classes/events for foreigners in the city. It was way more professional than I expected, we had our own cooking stations and this really great translator. I'm starting yoga classes next week and a Korean language exchange! I have to say, it's really great how reasonable "extra-curricular" activities are here! My yoga registration cost $40 for 3 months!!! My cooking class was $50 for 5 classes! My gym membership is $3 a month! Basically, I feel like I can afford to do a lot of things I can't at home!
On saturday I went to a city called Cheongdo, it took about 2 1/2 hours to get there on a train. We went to see the Korean national bullfighting festival. I was already kind of on the fence about going, because I didn't know how I felt about the whole animals fighting each other thing, and I am going to say, never again. It wasn't particularly gory, I mean the bulls just basically pushed against each other until one of them got tired/gave up and turned away, but it wasn't really nice to see the animals getting stressed out by the crowds etc. I thought it might be like a "cultural" event, and I guess it is kind of unique, and the animals are totally beautiful and clearly well cared for (I mean they put the Costa Rican bulls to shame), but it was just kind of weird and sad.
Also, adding to the weirdness of the day were the token idiot embarrassing foreigners who you REALLY don't want to be associated with. There were a bunch of other foreigners getting wasted and acting like losers around this tiny little rural town and chugging beers at the train station. My friends and I were trying to avoid them and then we realized we were waiting for the same train back (remember... 2 1/2 hours..) and jokingly I said "ha ha, shotgun not sitting beside that guy." Well. The seats are pre-assigned and Murphy's law was in full effect because guess who I got to sit beside? You got it! The drunkest guy in Cheongdo!! Ugh. Thankfully he got up to go to the bathroom, got confused and passed out in the wrong seat about half-way through the trip.
On another note, I am absolutely in love with my students. They are sooooo smart and sweet and funny! Of course some of the boys are naughty, but the naughty things they do are actually completely adorable and endearing. There is no "attitude problem" with my students at all, the worst thing they might do is play with their pencil case while I'm talking, or maybe do homework from a different lesson during my class. They are such good kids. I can already tell that I am going to be ridiculously attached to them when they "graduate" from grade six! Awww! They are so sweet, it totally breaks my heart if I have to reprimand them because they are so earnest and respectful, so if I take them in the hall to have a stern word with them for something or other, their little eyes well up with tears and they just solemnly nod their head and apologize. If anything can melt your heart, it's a chubby little 12 year old Korean boy (Kyle) who is almost in tears! Aww..
All in all Korea is treating me very well!
- comments
Kelly AW! I completely understand about your students... when I ask a student to stay after class, they almost instanteously well up with tears...I almost can't go through with having a talk with them about whatever behaviour led us to that place! They are so cute and complimentary - there is this one girl who says, "Kelly Teacher, you many pretty"... So, payday is around the corner for me! Let's check our schedules and unite for a weekend! My city is definitely a LOT smaller than yours (I am outside of Busan about 45 minutes)! But we will have fun no matter where we are :)
Barb Hi Nic, Sounds like you're going to love your time in Korea, and it's great you and your students get along so well, it'll make things go so much more smoothly. I must say, I was surprised you went to a bullfight...doesn't really seem like something you'd want to see, but from your info here, it sounds pretty harmless since no bull actually dies, and it is an experience you'll never forget ! Please keep blogging, we love the stories, and the chance to live in Korea vicariously through you. Love you, Barb, Ray and Stacey.
Michelle Hi Michelle, I was wrong about the dates, but I will let you know when I go this week. It's in Doma dong at a community gym, but my Korean friend signed me up for it so I need to find out the exact address still! Nicole, May I ask where you are taking yoga? I also live in Daejeon, and the three places I've gone to check out were all abandoned! Also, if you've started the classes, how comfortable do you feel there as a foreigner? Thanks! Michelle
Emma Gallagher Hey Nicole, great to hear from you and to read of your travels. I sure do miss Korea. Ahhh, I broke my heart when I left my kids. Glad you are are having sure a good experience! xxxxxx
Kal Hey! I just found this blog while I was searching for things about Daejeon (there aren't many things). Would you please tell me if Daejeon has a lot of things to do at night, mainly the nightlife? Is it hustling and bustling? This is all relative to Seoul. Hi Kal, Sorry for the delay! The nightlife in Daejeon isn't as bustling as Seoul, but there are a few good nightclubs here, and a lot of great lounge/bars. Are you thinking of moving to Daejeon? Let me know and I can be more specific!
Mitchell Hey Nicole! I just did a google search for "gyms in daejeon" and discovered your blog. Im moving to Daejeon in a few days and your $3 a month gym sounds too good to be true! If it is true (or even if you meant $30 a month), can you give me the contact info for the gym? Thanks, Mitch
Marieke Hey Nicole, I have been teaching in Daejeon for about 3 weeks now and came across your blog online. All those classes at the Daejeon International Culture Centre sound really good! And the gym membership. Do you have any details on the Centre? And where is this gym? Are all gyms so cheap or is it just this specific one? Anyway, it would be nice to know where the Culture Centre is, as I haven't met many people here yet and this would be a good place to do so! Thanks! Marieke
Marieke Hey Nicole, Apologies if you have already sent me a reply. I have just realized that I've been deleting a lot of junk mail and wondered if your reply might have got in with those. If you have already sent me a reply, would you please send it to me again? Many thanks, Marieke
Liz Hi. We are considering moving to Daejeon. My husband will be on temp. assignment. I am trying to find out as much information as possible about the educational system for native English speakers. My kids would be in 1st grade and 10th grade. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to locate this type of information?
Kat Hello Nicole, I see you have a thread of similar comments- sorry for yet another... But, I just moved to Daejeon and I am having a hard time finding an affordable gym and yoga lessons- two big priorities for me! If you could steer me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated. Cheers
Meg Hi Nicole, would you mind sharing the information about the yoga lessons in Daejeon? Thanks so much. Meg