molayo...

means "I don't understand."

But the truth is, I think I'm beginning to understand. and I must stress the word BEGINNING, because I really still don't have any idea. But I can at least sense a little progress in my language acquisition. I even feel like being around Korean all the time is influencing the way I speak English. I was talking to some of the other ETAs today and it's impossible for any of us to believe that it was only 4 days ago that we arrived in Chuncheon and that less than a week ago we were celebrating the 4th of July in the States with our families. Time's been flying, but at the same time it seems like a lifetime has passed since we left home. In a way, maybe one has. Everything is so different here. All the workshops we're having have one thing in common: "you have no idea what you're in for. here is a clue, but we really can't help you that much. figure it out yourself." That isn't to say they're not helpful, but so much depends on us and on where we are placed and on luck of the draw in terms of homestays, co-teachers, principals, vice-principals, etc. Nobody can predict how this experience will turn out, and only one thing's for sure: none of us will be the same at the end of this year.

If I'm starting to sound preachy, it's because that's the kind of stuff I've been listening to, aside from Korean in my morning classes (4 hours long!). Outside of classes and workshops, I've had a little free time to hang out with other ETAs, members of the KEY club (who are so nice and a lot of fun) and eat delicious food. The pictures above are from the KEY club mixer we all went to, where we played games and then went out for patbingsu (shown in the last picture of me with all that deliciousness), which is like shaved ice with a lot of fruit and red bean paste. it's delicious. also yay for some Korean friends!

Last night I also went to my first workshop for samulnori, which is traditional Korean drumming. I'll post some pictures from there in my next entry, since it seems to be easier to separate my pictures and writing into separate entries. The woman who taught us didn't speak much English, so my friend Jane had to interpret. She did a nice job, and the class was awesome! We learned a fast rhythm and a slower rhythm, and we'll continue on to the slowest next time. She also demonstrated all the instruments for us (she's amazing!) and danced with one of the black hats with a long white ribbon that makes circles in the air. After the class, me and some other friends (chingu) went out for takkalbi, a delicious spicy chicken dish that Chuncheon's famous for. We also drank some soju, the traditional Korean liquor that's made from sweet potatoes. Mmmmm, delicious. After the meal, we went to i-cha! with the other KEY club members (second round!) at a bar where they ordered, among other more edible things, "chicken asshole." They weren't kidding. It's a part of the chicken they eat. That was the first thing I've actually turned down because I was too grossed out. It's already begun! I have to be careful to be more adventurous in my homestay, I don't want to offend anybody.

Anyway, my plan for tomorrow is to go to Seoul on an excursion with a bunch of other ETAs (just a day trip). It should be fun, but I have to get up early! So i'm going to post a few more pictures and then crash.