Update: Teaching, Volunteering and Gyeongju

These past few weeks have been filled with new experiences teaching, a weekend trip to Gyeongju and my first time volunteering with the North Korean defector program, where Fulbright ETAs can teach English. Let me dive right in to updating you all on my life:

Mid October I finished my first round of teaching 4th grade, and started teaching 6th grade. The difference between the children is so marked. In just two years they turn from adorable little kids to teenagers who are tired of the system and don't mind telling you and showing you that they don't really care. The first week teaching 6th was a struggle, but I have since adjusted and am really starting to enjoy this grade as well. It is more challenging, because I have to work extra hard at engaging them, and I also have to discipline them more, something I don't like to do, but is necessary.
One of my 6th grade students gets up in the middle of class and starts hitting other students. This is unacceptable, so I had to keep him after class one day, to address this. Another of my students will start tearing out pages of his textbook in the middle of class...

Teaching one of my fourth grade classes 

Mid-October, Fulbright held its annual Fall Conference in Gyeongju, South Korea. All ETAs are required to attend various workshops on teaching, and other aspects of our grant year. The conference was a great reminder that I am here to teach, and offered new ideas and insights into our daily life as ETAs.

On Sunday the 16th, we toured Gyeongju and visited several sites, one of my favorites was Bulguksa Temple, which is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Two reasons  this temple is so special is 1: Its size, and 2: It survived Japanese vandalism during the colonial period.  

Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju

 My other favorite site was Daereungwon, where twenty-three ancient tombs of kings and noblemen of the Silla Dynasty can be seen. The tombs look like rounded hobbit hills, much simpler than the Egyptian tombs, but serving the same purpose. In one tomb over 12,000 artifacts including golden crowns, and jewels weapons, pottery and paintings were discovered.

Daereungwon, Gyeongju

Monday, the day of departure, a friend and I went to Wolji pond to spend a few hours journaling and sketching. Wolji pond used to serve as a "vacation" get-a-way for the royalty, and features beautiful buildings and landscape.

Wolji pond, Gyeongju 

 It was easy to imagine big gatherings of noblemen enjoying the finer things of life, while they gazed out across the water.

Wolji pond, Gyeongju

This past Wednesday, a friend and I took the bus to Cheonan, (about an hour away) where we volunteered with a North Korean defector program that offers English lessons to North Korean refugees for free. They are always looking for more teachers, and both of us have decided to commit our Wednesdays to volunteering. This means that immediately after work (4:40pm) we hop on a bus to travel the total 1 hour and a half to the language center. Then we teach one hour, and journey back to Cheongju. This means that we only come back around 10pm. So in other words, on Wednesdays I leave my house at 8:30am, and don't come back until 10pm. It's a long day, but definitely worth it! 

That is all for now! More updates to follow...

DMZ

Sadly, my camera batteries gave out after the first stop of the DMZ tour, so that explains the lack of photos for this post...

Two weeks ago, I joined a tour around the DMZ. The tour lasted from morning to evening, and we visited several locations along the DMZ. We did not have permission to INSIDE the DMZ, but we received permission to stay close to the outside of the fence. (DMZ is a 4 km zone stretching 2 km north and 2 km south of the Military line ACTUALLY separating north and south, I suppose one could call DMZ a type of "no man's land")

The two locations we visited that stuck in my mind most, were the 3rd infiltration tunnel, and Dora Observatory. I will explain why here:

The 3rd Infiltration tunnel was created by North Koreans in the 1970s to try and infiltrate the South (hence the name). In total there are 4 known infiltration tunnels, but more are suspected to exist.
The 3rd one is approx. 75 meters underground (25 story building) that we had to walk down to reach. All of us were told to wear helmets, for the height of the tunnel is probably know more than 1.5 meters or less at certain points, and I did end up bumping my head frequently.

Only 300 meters of the 1.6 km tunnel are open to the public, and we went down to view it. At the end of the long, cold, wet stone corridor you reach a door, through which you can glimpse the Military Line (I forget the exact name) marking North and South Korea.

The reason this tour stop sticks in my mind, is because of the vibe it gives off. The 3rd Infiltration tunnel is not a joke. It was truly, and actually made by North Koreans, in an attempt at future infiltration. It's almost like a bad movie. And now, hordes of tourists view it. Different languages can be heard drifting through the tunnel, as well as laughter and shouts. Now, this is not wrong, however I think the stark contrast between the actuality of the meaning behind the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, and the lightness with which it is treated by some tourists is striking.

The entrance and parking lot in front of the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel is surrounded by wire fencing and soldiers stationed periodically. These are not for show, they are actually there for control and protection.
Going to the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel was interesting for me, because it was a coming to terms with the fact that the North-South issues seem distant for us tourists, but they are a stark reality for the country of South Korea.

The Dora Observatory was breathtaking. Praise the Lord, we had a gorgeous day!! We could look across the DMZ, towards the mountains of North Korea. And it was beautiful.
Similar to the tunnel, I was confronted by two facts: North Korea seemed beautiful, and idyllic, and utterly paint-worthy, but the reality of the North Korean people's situation is anything but beautiful and idyllic.

Through the observation lenses (whatever they're called) I was able to see one of the propaganda villages, as well as the tall flag pole of North Korea (third tallest flag pole in the world). The buildings looked a little outdated, but clean, and peace full. This, coupled with the hazy mountains in the distance, the rolling woods in the front, and green fields in the back created a picture perfect world, that does not exist.

I have no real words for all the thoughts streaming through my mind, while gazing upon North Korea. I just know that I would love to speak to North Korean refugees one day, and hear their story personally; first hand facts of the true situation in North Korea.

Chart of the division of North Korea and South Korea

Freedom Bridge, outside of the DMZ where War Prisoners were exchanged after the truce

South Korean flags at the gate to the train tracks leading towards the
freedom bridge.

Me infront of the Freedom Bridge. I was unsure if I should smile or not, since this
is a serious subject, thus we have....Tessa's weird half smile! ;)