Conjugating adjectives and the Korean daily grind

(Written Oct. 25, 2009)

I hear it's snowing at home. Here, cooler weather has arrived, though cool is relative. It's still T-shirt weather during the day, though the frequent, stiff breezes make a hat a necessary accessory. At night, throw on a hoodie or light jacket and you're good to go. Unless, of course, you're Korean. Then, instead, it's the season for miniskirts and fur jackets.

I'm so relieved by the onset of fall. It's finally pleasant to take a walk or hike, instead of just brutal sweat equity. I no longer sweat while watching TV. They say it was a mild summer, and thank God. I don't know if I would have survived a hot summer. Of course, it's not so much the heat as the humidity, and I'm slowly acclimating.

Along with the season, the face of ECC has changed since I arrived five months ago. Four teachers' contracts have ended, including my roommate, Sarah's. Three went back to their homes in the United States and Canada, while the fourth followed his girlfriend to Norway. They were replaced by Krista of Nova Scotia, Max of New Rochelle, New York and my new roommate, Steven, of Glasgow, Scotland. Steven and I generally accept that we don't like each other very much and try to be civil, despite our drastically different views on cleanliness.

Like, I've mentioned before, most of the people I met when I arrived in Korea have left the country. I'll admit I enjoyed a fair share of alone time for quite a while. But through events hosted by groups like Couchsurfing and Meetup, I'm expending my social circle once again.

Most of my classes are second nature to me now, though we get new books every once in a while that need to be learned. I plan lessons, teach, grade journals, do evaluations, and every 24 days, the cycle repeats itself.

I love my little kids best. I could happily teach those little people all day. The older, mute ones still prompt periodic rages and drive me to drink.

Life has established a comfortable rhythm. 1:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, I'm at school. Weekends are peppered with little trips and outings. I go to the gym Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings (and on Saturday, if I'm feeling motivated). And Tuesday and Thursday mornings are occupied by Korean classes.

Yup, for the first time in several years, I'm a student again. I started Korean classes in mid-October and now know a bit of patchwork Korean, though things can only get better from here! It's nice to be able to tell when my students are talking about me and know a few phrases to throw out at them. They're floored by any amount of Korean I speak.

"Teacher! Korean speaking!" squeal the little ones. The older ones snicker into their hands or look at me like I've lost my mind.

Koreans have two number systems, just to complicate things. One system is for counting things, like one apple, two horses. The other system is for everything else. When telling time, you just one system for the hour and the other for the minute. That makes me cry a little inside. You also conjugate your adjectives in Korean, which has illuminated why my students seem to think, "Dog cute" is a complete sentence.

I really want to get to the point where I can proficiently read a menu or have simple conversation with a non-English-speaking Korean. Wish me luck!