A Photo Challenge

I've been slacking on my documentation of life in Korea... Therefore, the next 8 days will be dedicated to the cause.  I've decided to upload one photo a day for the next week,  each one a representation of what I choose to be the defining moment of the day.  Hopefully, this will inspire me to focus on the significance of everyday life here,  portray the randomness and routine of a normal week,  and get into the habit of sharing those experiences more with friends and family at home, or if nothing else, for this next stretch of 8 days (Friday-Friday).

Day 1 starts today.  The last day will be next Friday, November 4th.  The week in photos begins.

Day 1: Friday 

DON'T BE FOOLED! I'm not actually clutching my broken neck or being rushed to the ER after a tragic accident.... I am however, on a little excursion to the hospital with my co-worker and friend Chloe. Since our little local hospital does not have an MRI machine, they offered us free (ambulance) transport to a bigger city 30 minutes away. Naturally we took advantage of the prime photo-op. The day was also complete with a (free) beef BBQ lunch in the hospital cafeteria, kindly hospital staff, and a 50% cash back on the MRI fee if the results turn out to be burdening.

Unfortunately, I needed the MRI to confirm the torn meniscus I unknowingly had from the car accident this past summer. (Usually a quick recovery, hopefully back in action in a few weeks...And how many people can say they get a discount on healthcare JUST for being injured?)


Day 2: Saturday

Pre-Mokpo Halloween party. Yet another night of Jeollanamdo teachers gathering in the masses from our representative locations for crazy, international, always memorable, dancing-all-night celebration of.........Whatever it was we gathered for.


Day 3: Sunday 

My favorite kind of free time :  Spending it around the Jangheung mountain valley and the place I call home.



Day 4: Monday

Hall-o-ween
Welcome to the first graders' first Halloween party. They were scared, there was screaming, they scared me back, they ate, they trick-or-treated at Sara Teacher's desk several times over, and their English room Halloween Round 1 put veterans to shame. I love my job, days like this are a simple and regular reminder.


Day 5: Tuesday 

Today was full of schedule changes and business. Then, two co-workers and I left school to catch the last day of a traditional art exhibit from local artists on the old side of town. We only had ten minutes to see the art before they closed for the day, and were lucky enough to see some of our own art teacher's featured work. On the way out I was handed an inked brush and told to sign the guestbook (handmade paper in a wooden binding - above).  I did, and was then asked to sign again on the next page, this time the horizontal way. I asked why.

"Welcome."


Day 6: Wednesday 

Guess who? Coffee, dinner, and apartment hangouts...Becoming a routine evening with this girl. Living in the same 30 mile radius for roughly 20 out of 24 years of life? I would say that's hard to beat. 




Day 7: Thursday 

The trust-walks
I came up with the idea to do trust-walks a year ago instead of the inadequate out-of-the-book "go two blocks and turn left" approach for learning directions. That day has since become my standout favorite for lessons I've taught, and has also turned into the most anticipated unit in the first grade class..Who acquired all their expectant knowledge from the second graders who did it last year.

 So the walks resumed today. The teams navigated across some serious area, surpassed the success of last year, and made for an awesome full day of 4 groups (120 students) learning English with battle scars to prove it.


Day 8: Friday 

The annual all-school festival at the coed and very rural school where I teach on Fridays. The school prepares performances for weeks and invites the community to watch. Essentially, it's a community-wide talent show involving anyone and everyone who wants to participate. The 30 students who make up the school's entirety danced,  acted, sang, and the like for a solid 4 hours...Followed by an afternoon of various sports competitions. 


...And here ends my eight-day photo journal. I wouldn't call it a challenge, but more of an enjoyable project. Conclusion: I woke up every day automatically thinking about the coming experiences of the day, and anticipated the things that would make it unique. On the day I wasn't sure what I'd use for a picture, I made sure to get out and do something. I'm not an avid journal-er, but it's always interesting to feel how your days change when you consciously want to remember them. Personal challenge #2: Remember that indefinitely.