KOREAN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Well orientation is over and I just had my first day at the school! It's strange but I haven't felt that nervous yet, despite having very little idea about how I'm going to teach several large a classes of teenagers everyday.
The teachers here are all really nice and the principal too, most speak English well but they were still pretty relieved when they found out that I speak Korean. I haven't met many kids yet, they seem pretty rowdy but thats pretty normal for teenagers.
Because of Korean thanksgiving I wont begin teaching until the middle of next week, but i've been told I can prepare lessons on any topic I want which is great but it would be nice to have a starting point of some kind. Anyway my first lesson is just introducing myself and my country.

I'll try and upload some more photos soon, I just don't want to be a tourist at school.

ORIENTATION

As far as I could tell everything went well at the immigration office... although I still have no visa stamp in my passport, but they have given me a date to come and pick up my alien registration card.

This week I have 5 days of 'Orientation', there are about 20 other English teachers-to-be here and we will be having lectures and korean lessons and cultural events to help us transition into life in Korea and prepare us for teaching. 
Since I've already been here for a while and I can speak korean fine the orientation can sometimes feel a little unnecessary, especially since I have a house to stay in not too far from here (we're in a kind of hotel), but it's good to share in the excitement of a new adventure, and I need to gear myself up for teaching.
For most people here it's their first time in Korea and they've all just arrived off the plane so they're pretty jet-lagged. Some people have taught in korea and have come back for a second time.

Today we had a full medical check up - Eyes, Ears, and Cognitive tests as well as measurements, urine sample, blood test, and chest x-ray. 

I feel like I might haven almost failed the eye test! I could read the small numbers/letters fine until I had to cover up one eye and then I couldn't read it at all. I think it was because of the poor lighting...

Unfortunately it's also my birthday during this orientation ㅠ.ㅠ (thats korean crying eyes by the way)
But I'm thinking I might try and sneak out of the korean class in the evening and go meet Eun-mi somewhere in Busan.

NEW SEASON

I'm currently sitting in the Busan Immigration office awaiting my number (i've been waiting for a couple of hours), after a long long process of gathering documents and job hunting it's all boiling down to this moment - getting my Working Visa.

Summer has come to an end and Autumn is beginning to show here in Busan, and rather appropriately I too feel as tho I am moving into a new season. The 'settling in' period is over and I'm no longer the struggling freelancer or adventurous filmmaker... I am to become an 'Alien' in korea and hopefully a respectable English teacher.

I'm still not sure what it's going to look and feel like, but i'm excited all the same. A huge answer to prayer is that my school - Gyeongnam Middle school - is very near to where Eun-mi works!! in fact you would probably struggle to find a school that is nearer! This was a big concern for us as I could have been placed anywhere in Busan (it could have been a 2hr commute!), so we have tried our best to pray and trust God in my placement. Hurray.

Ok i've got to go... as they say "my number is up"

MAYBE

I think we have found the place where we want to get married! It's called 'MAYBE'. It's a lovely 3 story house with an amazing view over the sea.

EMPLOYED - AGAIN...

I got a Job!
As of September 26th I will be an English teacher at a Korean Public School. I'm very lucky to have this position last minute, so thank you to everyone who has been praying. I've been thinking a lot about the whole journey and process of me getting to this point and it's really been amazing, i'm encouraged by just how much God's has been looking after me, I wonder where he's going to take me next!

Working in a public school I will have large classes of about 30-40 students and I will be helping them with their spoken English. I will also co-teach my lessons with a Korean teacher.
Unfortunately I won't know which school I have been placed at until I sign the contract so I'm praying that the location will be not too far and also that for good relationships with my teaching colleagues / seniors.

I'm sure that Teaching will present many tough challenges and take some time to get used to, but I'm keen to give it my best effort and I'm sure there will be many positives to enjoy, also I am very grateful have a job (a comparatively well paid job for Korea) since this means that we can get married in the new year. which I'm very excited about!