Yonsei Day to 서귀포

서귀포= 'soggy-poe' = Seogwipo (where I now live)

The six weeks of Orientation ended with a bang on Yonsei Day. Yonsei, because we gather at Yonsei University at Seoul, + Day, because it's the big day when we meet our school officials (principal, vice-principal, and co-teachers).

Everything was very official, so much so that we had a debriefing the night before. Luggage downstairs by 7:40am, shuttles leave at 8:30am and 9am, quick meeting at 9:30am, then ceremony, then lunch, then leave...make sure you have nylons, girls wear make up, boys be clean-shaven, look your best, noserings out, etc. We had to make sure we had our game faces on--first impressions, especially in Korea, are very important.

The big ceremony with everyone, ETAs, school officials, Fulbright staff, started at 11am. We (ETAs) filed into the auditorium where all the school officials were seated. The school officials had been given our pictures, and we're eagerly looking around for their ETA. We however, had no idea who we belonged to. Our instructions were to, once our name was called, step out of line, bow (70-90), then wave to our school officials who would be standing. The Orientation coordinators had put a lot of stress on the ceremony, and I had imagined something quite different than what actually happened. I had expected for Yonsei Day to be very serious and straight-faced, whereas it was quite the opposite; it was fun, light-hearted, and most of all celebratory. Many of the school officials had brought flowers for their ETA, one group had made a sign, another ETA got flowers and a hug, and another a little "July 4th" popper. They were all very enthusiatic and happy to meet us. Only my co-teacher, Sue Yeon, had come to Seoul from Jeju

After the ceremony, we all ate lunch with our new co-workers and superiors. The meal was really good, and, likewise, probably very expensive. It was a long series of small dishes. What really stood-out was the bulgogi--delicious! I can't wait to eat more, probably when going out. There was also a weird Korean dessert, almost like a pastry....guess what it was....a rice cake with sugar. Rice is everywhere...

It was a sraight shot to my Seogwipo homestay after that. Bus to airport, Seoul to Jeju City, Jeju City to Seogwipo and my new home, complete with family. It's an interesting new life...