0^C
Clear, starry night with wind chill!
I just came back from a seminar for the Yeongwol English teachers and their co-teachers. The seminar was held over two days and one night at a Ski Resort called High1, in Gangwon Land. I arrived with Linda (my co-teacher, at least for another week), and the others from Yeongwol came on a chartered bus about ten minutes later. First thing was to get all our gear into the conference room and hear a welcome speech and the first lecture. They had asked a teacher (Chris; been teaching here for the past 10 years) from Sokcho to come in with another very good Korean English speaker, and they demonstrated the perfect Team Teaching class to us. At 12:30 it was time for lunch, of course it was provided though me and a couple others were treated to another restaurant because we were vegetarian. After that there was free time until 530pm, at which time we would head over to the casino for dinner. Brett, Kurt and I weren't really in the mood for skiing (and they didn't have my size boots), so we snuck out and went for a beer. As soon as we had cracked open a couple of tallies, we - within the space of 6 seconds - were each called by our respective co-teachers. They were going up to the top of the mountain via the gondola and said that we had to come. We weasled out of it and sat back with our beers (although it took a lot of persuasion!).
We met at the bus stop and were taken by bus down the hill to the casino where, at the Grand Banquet Room, we were treated to some of the finest food I've had in Korea. Everything was served on a silver platter, in buffet form. Entrée's, mains, soups, stews, a whole table full of deserts! Everything! Waiters in their fine white suits serving wine to each table and the down-lights providing a warm yet sophisticated feel to the evening. They had booked the entire hall for us, and while we took everything in, we had to be mindful of the Korean dining and drinking customs (refer to previous entry regarding drinking). As could be guessed, by the end of three hours we were all gloriously pissed. Then came the shocker.. we were to go back to our apartments with a topic and discuss it.. our discussion would be presented to the lecture in the morning. It so happened that Kurt, Brett, Mason, and I were in the same discussion group with a couple of Korean guys.. I bet you could guess what happened next.
We ended up hosting a huge party in our apartment where Kurt and I would go to each room and invite over the others to our little gathering. We recruited about 30 people, and I even persuaded the Heads of Yeongwol Education Office to join us at around 11pm (admittedly, it didn't take all that much persuasion). We ended up staying up till around 2am, then heading to sleep. After everyone was asleep bar Steve and I, we decided that we needed to make some memories.. so I grabbed an unopened bottle of Soju from the freezer and poured it all over Mason.. then turned around and went to sleep. Needless to say, Mason didn't wake up.
The next morning, Brett and Kurt made up some crap on the spot about what we had discussed the night before (meanwhile Mason was silently freaking out about having wet his bed).. I think Supervisor Che (who set up everything), forgave our dismal effort since we had hosted such a big bash the night before. After that came a couple more lectures and then at 230pm we headed home. I came to Yeongwol to have dinner with the boys and then will go home at around 10pm.. at the moment I'm sitting at a PC Cafe in Yeongwol, killing time.
I have been granted the morning off tomorrow so that I can sleep in / pack for my trip to Yangyang for the EPIK teachers orientation which I missed out on. That will begin on Friday and go through to Monday at another Resort on the coast. It has been a busy time, I'm sure I'll be grateful when the semester begins.
We met at the bus stop and were taken by bus down the hill to the casino where, at the Grand Banquet Room, we were treated to some of the finest food I've had in Korea. Everything was served on a silver platter, in buffet form. Entrée's, mains, soups, stews, a whole table full of deserts! Everything! Waiters in their fine white suits serving wine to each table and the down-lights providing a warm yet sophisticated feel to the evening. They had booked the entire hall for us, and while we took everything in, we had to be mindful of the Korean dining and drinking customs (refer to previous entry regarding drinking). As could be guessed, by the end of three hours we were all gloriously pissed. Then came the shocker.. we were to go back to our apartments with a topic and discuss it.. our discussion would be presented to the lecture in the morning. It so happened that Kurt, Brett, Mason, and I were in the same discussion group with a couple of Korean guys.. I bet you could guess what happened next.
We ended up hosting a huge party in our apartment where Kurt and I would go to each room and invite over the others to our little gathering. We recruited about 30 people, and I even persuaded the Heads of Yeongwol Education Office to join us at around 11pm (admittedly, it didn't take all that much persuasion). We ended up staying up till around 2am, then heading to sleep. After everyone was asleep bar Steve and I, we decided that we needed to make some memories.. so I grabbed an unopened bottle of Soju from the freezer and poured it all over Mason.. then turned around and went to sleep. Needless to say, Mason didn't wake up.
The next morning, Brett and Kurt made up some crap on the spot about what we had discussed the night before (meanwhile Mason was silently freaking out about having wet his bed).. I think Supervisor Che (who set up everything), forgave our dismal effort since we had hosted such a big bash the night before. After that came a couple more lectures and then at 230pm we headed home. I came to Yeongwol to have dinner with the boys and then will go home at around 10pm.. at the moment I'm sitting at a PC Cafe in Yeongwol, killing time.
I have been granted the morning off tomorrow so that I can sleep in / pack for my trip to Yangyang for the EPIK teachers orientation which I missed out on. That will begin on Friday and go through to Monday at another Resort on the coast. It has been a busy time, I'm sure I'll be grateful when the semester begins.
2 comments:
While the whole five star dining experience was more suited to Deemis and I for bra'a nights, I reckon it would have been a welcome change for you! You lucky man.
What's with all the conferences all of a sudden? Sounds like you're not enjoying them? Maybe go lighter on the booze and you will =P
Wogggey
It was great, I absolutley loved it! It was prolly more suited to you guys, though it really reminded me of back home!
Conferences: the one we were just in was in an effort to increase the English of all schools in our county (our province has the lowest scores in Korea). The next one was what I was supposed to have when I got in to the public school system, just an orientation! And I dont know what gave you that impression hey.. I love it! I cant wait till the next one!! Maybe my livers' the one infusing a negative feeling into my post?
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