I'm online and ALIVE!

2011-08-31T21:16:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!!
So I am currently at a PC Bong in Seo-gu, Gwangju, South Korea. I know it has a been a little bit since I have written my first post, but I will be doing a little bit more of it now...
First things first! this blog will contain the chronicles of my first few days in South Korea and EPIK orientation in Jeonju at the University.
After arriving at 11:30 Korean time (means that I was awake for approximately 28 hours) I got to finally sleep in my dorm room at 12:30. BUT I had to get up at 6:00 to go for a Medical Checkup, and the rest of the day was spent wondering the city and surviving jet-lag. Jeonju was a nice city with a very nice campus. Here are some pictures to give you an idea of the beauty of Korea.

Mountains are everywhere in Korea, when I upload my next blog you will see the ones around Gwangju, massive.
The hardest thing to get used to in Korea are the showers...

water literally goes just about everywhere.

I have two favorite memories of the orientation... the first being the high- flying, butt-kicking taegwondoo team. Anything that could be done involving boards and airtime was done.

An abosolutely breath-taking, and gravity-defying act.

PART II- I have nothing to do at school this week because I start teaching on Monday, so I will finish this post.

My second favorite part of Orientation, on Monday we visited a traditional Korean Town (this was our first time AWAY from the University). We got to make traditional korean fans,

After the village we went to an amazing Buddhist temple in the middle of the mountains... beautiful view. More pictures of that to come.

Ok guys well besides posting some pics (which i can't seem to access at the moment) I am done on this post for right now. I'll be probably blogging over the weekend about my first week in my new home, Gwangju. GET EXCITED!!!

Starting this Blog

2011-08-05T09:24:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,
First things first, let me introduce myself (for those of you just stumbling onto this blog or who are not too familiar with my backstory). My name is Mark Ashley and I am a 23 year old from a very rural area called Symsonia in Kentucky. My hobbies inlcude: Breakdancing, Soccer, and Starcraft II.

It is less than two weeks until I fly out to start the next chapter in my life as a Guest English Teacher through the English Program in Korea (EPIK). While getting ready to leave, I am following in the path of my sister and brother-in-law, who live in Leipzig, Germany, and creating this Blog. Through this Blog I will be keeping everyone updated on the current issues of my life in a completely different area with completely different customs.

At the current moment I am both nervous and excited all at the same time. I have already packed most of my clothes away in the 2 suitcases seen here (I realize it looks like a heap but there are suitcases there along with my new Kelty backpack suggested that i get by my sister :D)
Disclamer: One suitcase has just shoes and hats with a few summer clothes hahaha.

Here are some FYI questions and answers to inform everyone about my job and place of residency.
Where will I be living in South Korea?
-I will be living in the 6th largest city called Gwangju or Kwangju (in Korea the ㄱcan either be a "G" or a "K", you would say it just like saying a Q it seems *note- i've been thinking for the past few minutes how to explain it and had to have said it like 100 times out loud*
Is Gwangju where I wanted to be placed?
-Of course! one of the biggest reasons I decided to move to Korea, are my best friends who came to Murray State through and exchange program with Chosun University in Gwangju. I consistently keep in contact with them and am very excited to see them within the next month.
What grade level will I be teaching?
- 5th and 6th graders at 2 elementary schools *another note- one of my schools is within a mile from the cities Soccer Stadium XD*
Do elementary students make me nervous?
- Heck Yea!!! I'm going to have to dig deep and bring out my inner child (for some who know me, know that this shouldn't be too hard)

So this about wraps it up for my first post in the blog, Pass the Kimchi (after much brainstorming I decided this would be a good name). I'll probably post next on either my last day in the states or as soon as I can from Korea.

Thanks all for reading,
Mark Ashley

p.s. my Visa!!!!