Well, today was the first day of class. Brian met with me again and we walked to campus. We stopped at the bookstore and bought our books for class-a textbook and a workbook. I found my classroom and sat down. A few minutes later I hear some English and turn around-hey, it's Brian! So, he was even put in the same class as me, even though it appears there are many, many level 1 classes. (I'm still confused because I actually never found my name on the list, but asked someone in charge what room I should go to.)
The morning is split up into 4 classes/sessions, each 50 minutes long. The first chunk of 2 has one teacher and the second chunk has a different one. The first two classes we worked on all the vowels and diphthongs. The last two classes we practiced consonants and didn't even get to all of them. So, like I was dreading, it looks like several days of the alphabet. I wish they had done a better job of placing us within in the levels. For example, if you have had no exposure to the Korean language before, then those students should all be in the same class, and if you have studied at all before with their program or somewhere else, those students should be in another level 1 class. And if you were close to passing into level 2, those students should also be in a different level 1 class. But, maybe that is too much organizing for them. Anyway, classes went fine and I had no problems.
At 1, when class was over, I walked back to my residence. I stopped at the Daiso (dollar store) for a notebook and the kimbap shop for lunch to bring back.
In the afternoon, I texted back and forth with an Korean friend in the area. Now mind, you texting on my new phone is quite the task for me. This was an activity that took about 30 minutes or so. (In the US, it probably would have taken 5 minutes, 10 tops.) After the texting escapade, I did some exercising in my room. I was able to chat with Jenny/Jung Yoon, my roommate from last year, and then studied some.
In the evening, I went to the Paris Baguette to see if they have the bags of bread at the end of the day like the PB in Gimhae. I went at 8:15 and there wasn't any. I took a walk around the area, stopped in a few clothing stores and came back to the PB around 8:45 and there still weren't any bags of bread. Sad. Guess I'll stay on the look out for them though in the next few days.
1. Glad to hear that there were "no problems" with the first morn of class. 2. I like that expression "Mind you." Not enough people in our area use it. 3. That was really something, enduring a 30-minute texting challenge which would have taken only 5 or 10 minutes in the U.S. 4. Good for you, exercising in your room. That can relieve the day's tension and promote good sleep. 5. A note on the monetary exchange rate: It could be a humorous shock to a foreigner to be told by a waiter, after the meal, that his bill is Four or eight THOUSAND W! Cousin Mike and Aunt Ruth.
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