Week2

The week started off and ended with sickness.
On Monday Tedd had a kidney stone bout, which required him to go to the hospital. Since Tedd is the teacher I am replacing, I ended covering for him and teaching 4 hours of classes. This was a bit unexpected because I am in training, so I have mainly observed and assisted during classes. I wasn't completely prepared to teach, but I gave it my best. I felt quite silly because my grading took foreverrrrrr. Thankfully Tedd made it out alive and now I know what to look for while I am watching the other teachers.
The next two days were primarily unremarkable. During the afternoon, before work, I go on walks in the area around my apartment. I love seeing all the youngsters run about; it reminds me of my own childhood. Jen and I would bike about or create adventures in our alley. For the most part, young American kids don't play outside anymore. There is a certain amount of magic that the outdoors possesses and I think it's a shame that some kids miss out.
On the subject of children: When i am out at the market or on a walk, eager kids frequently approach me and ask me my name, how I am doing, where I am from. Most likely these are the questions they have learned in school. It is super cute! With all the stares and random smiles I feel like a celebrity. At the moment I appreciate the friendly attention, but I can imagine that it could get tiresome........
The weeks turning point arrived on Wednesday: Since we work from 4-10:30PM, the school provides dinner. I have courageously sampled many new dishes each night. Besides a few plates that I find agreeable, I resort to the rice and the fruit in my purse. Anyways---- On Wednesday I tried this raw fish that was really revolting. Following dinner my stomach was slightly upset. Then Thursday when I woke I had a headache and some stomach pains, which basically subsided following my morning workout.
On Friday when I woke up the pain was worse and I didn't go away. To minimize the discomfort I curled up in a ball and slept most of the day. The sickness on Friday was a huge reminder of just how far I am from home. I have no clue where to locate Common remedies that sick Americans implement. It is a classic story of you do not know what you have until it's gone. I realize chicken noodle soup is probably ineffective in demobilizing viruses and other various pathogens, but psychologically it helps in a large magnitude. The distance from Korea to California is also more apparent. I am conflicted at moment; is the the distance good or bad? The distance could help me grow more independent and all that mumbo-jumbo I have heard repeatedly. However, I believe it is one-dimensional to claim any human person exists without the assistance of others. Currently I think that every adult must be substantially independent. Nonetheless it would be short-sighted to assert that people exist as lonely mountains. There are moments in every person's life, in which lack the energy or resources to handle certain situations. I believe that it's acceptable to relinquish independence in those moments. So all that inner-reasoning is to say, I realized complete independence is not necessary or even reasonable.
Saturday I slept basically the whole day, except for 2 episodes of America's Next Top Model( Sending my love Jordan!)
Now it is Sunday. The pain is less constant and I am praying(although I don't pray) that it will terminate tomorrow. I hope I hope I hope! At the moment the stomach discomfort is minimal if stay immobile, but I cannot stay in this chair forever.
Well I am sure this painting a fantastic picture of Korea for everyone:) My new plan is to bring my own dinner to work and forgo all this madness.
Much Love,
-Holly-
P.S. I hope someone will go to El Torito and Mimi's, where they serve cooked food, in my spirit.