Day 13

I have been in Korea for just 13 days, but I'd like to say that those days have been pretty spectacular!
 
Orientation was long, at times a bit boring, but it allowed me to meet some really great people!  The lecturers kept comparing it to summer camp, but I never went to summer camps, so I'm thinking if summer camps are like what I experienced at EPIK orienation (of course without all the Soju) then send me back next summer! 
 
Our last day of orientation was on Friday (2/25).  We were given our placements (mine: Daepyung Elementary School on Yeongdo-gu island (sidenote: is it on or in when speaking about islands?  My school is IN Yeongdo-gu island OR My school is ON Yeongdo-gu island... ?!?!) ), signed our contracts, got our pay grade, and were told we'd be picked up by our co-teachers and taken to our apartments/schools.  I was one of the first to be picked up from orientation by an older gentleman... wasn't what I was expecting, but I can roll with it... open and flexible!!  His car was blocked in, so I start making what I thought was polite small talk - asking him about the school, the grade levels, our class, etc.  It would have been polite conversation if that man didn't happen to be my Vice-Principal!!  Awesome start!! In a country were honor and respect are top of the list, I'm speaking to my superior's superior's as if he's a regular guy! Good thing I brought gifts for these people!! I'm going to need to rebuild after that!! 
 
Thank goodness for volleyball!  Apparently the school is in a league and they are pretty competitive about it... especially the VP!!  Phewww!  Saved!
 
After I got my foot out of my mouth on Friday, I was introduced to a few more teachers at school and was taken out to eat with my VP and another teacher.  We went to a Japanese restaurant that was very good - got raw fish and an assortment of side dishes, had a beer with the VP... that can only help too, right?!
 
At ~3 I met my co-teacher, Ms. Jang.  She is an extremely nice woman, and I'm looking forward to working with her this year. In addition to working with Ms. Jang, I also will be teaching with Andrew Pek!  Andrew is a TALK scholar from Texas.  He's Korean-American and a lifesaver. I probably will abuse his Korean skills while we're together.  Knowing only 'hello' and 'thank you' is nice, but doesn't help you get food or the items you need from the market!  Objective #1: learn some Korean!
 
The weekend was pretty quiet.  I went exploring with Phil (a friend from orientation who also lives on Yeongdo-gu and in the same apartment building as me), met up with some fellow EPIKers for drinks Saturday night, and spent most of Sunday walking around in the rain with Gareth. 
 
Slowly, I'm learning where I live, where things are, how to get around and just building confidence.  Knowing Korean would definitely help my confidence, but I've only been here 13 days!!  God built the whole world in 7, so me only knowing 'hello' and 'thank you' is pretty much comparable to that pace! ;)