EPIK Orientation

EPIK Orientation began Wednesday, the 19th of February. Because I applied through a recruiter, I met my fellow applicants a day prior near the Incheon Airport. The 18th and 19th were hectic days with lots of hustling and bustling luggage around, but I began meeting other EPIK teachers who were also ready to take on this new adventure of teaching!

Orientation was held in a very nice hotel in Hwaseong, a small city south of Seoul. It is both hotel and event venue, and became our last minute host about 2 weeks before hand. The previous venue was meant to be a university.. To this day, I do not know why the venue changed, but have a sneaky suspicion it was due to Coronavirus…

The past days have been non stop lectures, and lesson demonstration presentations. Monday was the day to show off our teaching skills.. It was a nerve-wracking day for all, but we survived! The evenings have been easy going, once we finish dinner. Many will walk to a local convenient store to grab an ice cream, or coffee shop for a latte.

A few of us ventured to the Yungneong and Geolleung Royal Tombs. They have a complicated history (as roral tombs tend to) regarding a king who was locked in a rice chamber where he died, and his son who fought endlessly to honor his father’s stolen royal title and honor.

The vibe of orientation has been interesting. We make up group 1, and group 2 began just a day after us in a separate venue. Group 1 consisted of approximately 300 people.. About half of which will be going to Daegu with me. Of these 300, I’d wager 75% are between 22 and 28 in age. I fall into the remaining 25% who are 29++. Although we were not with group 2.. I imagine their numbers are around the same. With such a large array of ages, I feel as though we were back in 4-H Congress, or AYC. There were rules to follow, attendance was checked, and everyone broke off into their appropriate social cliques. The cliques would mingle with others during our lunches, when the venue would seat us according to when we arrived versus allowing us to choose a seat. It was a lovely way to meet people and be forced even farther out of our comfort zone!

Tomorrow, the 26th, we are to disperse and be bused to our respective cities/provinces to meet our co-teachers, coworkers and see our apartments for the first time. As I am with Daegu, where the largest outbreak of Coronavirus currently is, our plans are subject to change at any time. We shall meet with the Metropolitan Office of Education tomorrow morning, and hopefully be on our way to our apartments, where we are expected to self-quarantine through the 8th of March. At this time, our instructions are to avoid leaving apartments unless absolutely necessary, and practice safe hygiene, wash hands and wear a mask whenever in public.

I hope to receive the text book tomorrow so I may begin prepping lessons during the quarantine period. If not.. I will focus on studying Hangul (Korean language) and probably watch too much Netflix! I also hope to find more Kit Kat flavors. Mandarin Orange has been my new favorite snack food this week!