John’s Diary – Part 6 Uijeongbu
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Sunday 15th April 
Gail keeps finding things. Perhaps I should explain. In the first place, our apartment, although small, does not have sufficient furniture and storage for more than one person. In the second place, Koreans, when they purchase new furniture items, do not trade in the old ones but simply put them outside where anyone who wants/needs can collect them at their leisure, on a first in first served basis. When you put the “first place and the second place” together you will see what I mean about Gail finding things – and bringing them home.
It’s springtime and, of course, spring cleaning means lots of tidying and getting rid of unused items or replacing them with fancier ones. Weekends are the most likely time for this sort of thing to be done. So last weekend Gail kept finding things outside other peoples homes etc and dragging me off to help carry them back here. We have gained a queen sized mattress (after 3 sleeps on it I can state that its firm, comfortable, and nothing came out of it during the nights that was wanting to live on us or to eat us), a computer chair (a little dusty but otherwise fine), a movie-theatre-styled chair (red and looks new) and a chest of drawers (broken, but by chance we purchased a hammer and nails the day before and hence we were able to effect repair quickly so that it now looks to be the best item in our apartment).
Australians do something similar, putting pre-loved items on their nature strip, but often there is a sign asking for money too. I felt a little embarrassed and very “noticed” (I think we are the only Caucasians in the area) but Gail was determined (isn’t she always) and although some items were heavy (our legs are still recovering from carrying them through the streets and up the stairs) they were items that we needed and are all at the right price.
At least we finally have the Internet in our apartment – The previous tenant accidentally took the modem with him, but we have it back now, thanks to a friend. We had not needed a modem anywhere in Korea (we did in China) so didn’t consider that as the possible solution. The speed, broadband by cable, seems pretty good too, so I am happy about this big improvement in our access to the outside world. For a while though, we had to disconnect the TV to use the Internet, as the same cable provided both broadband access and cable TV; we have now purchased a splitter and extra cables so that problem is solved. We have about 60 cable TV channels and have found, so far, 5 that are exclusively in English and another 11 that have at least some programs in English. Jodie would be impressed as House, Dr Phil and Judge Judy are regulars. There are many movie channels (Shaun and Jodie will both remember, with some exasperation, the one I just saw – “Gattica”), along with Discovery, CNN and AFN (American Forces Network – there are 8 US army bases here in Uijeongbu city, more than in the rest of Korea combined).
Gail continues to be personally and professionally amazed each day at her school. A new school in a new country has many challenges but remaining positive is Gail’s main goal, something at which she is exceptionally good, fortunately.
Outside our 3 story villa (we are in apartment 201) the streets here are narrow and are criss-crossed with ugly wires of all sorts – our cable TV including our Broadband Internet is just one of these.
We are located on the very edge of the metropolitan area and mountains almost surround us. Some housing is in towers but much here is not, being 1 to 4 stories only. As Gail walks to school each day she passes a bright-looking elementary school, a skating rink, a gymnasium, tennis courts, a soccer and athletics stadium and a cycling velodrome – all quite new. So we went for a walk and took some photos of that school and also the local sporting facilities.
The road on the way to the school is quiet. Although it’s almost halfway through springtime the trees etc are just starting to blossom.
Gail also walks past agricultural land which is just starting to be worked. About 10 temporary buildings are being erected there (one day is all it takes to put one up); plastic lined and covered with black mesh. Some are probably hothouses for seed-raising but others are clearly intended as accommodation for workers.
Uijeongbu (pronounced wee- jong- boo) was formerly the market centre for agricultural products grown in the surrounding area. It developed rapidly after the Korean War (1950-1953). The Uijeongbu Science High School is set against a backdrop of mountains and is new (opened in 2005) with accommodation for all its 300 students and some 50 staff.
There are excellent specialist science facilities and an entire wing which is for “display” only – a sort of “Science-Works” – although when it is open or used I cannot say (but not often, apparently). Gail has had the “tour” and is very impressed with all physical aspects of the school – including her office (shared with 3 others) and the 2 language laboratories in which she does most of her teaching of students; teachers have their lessons with Gail in ordinary rooms or in conference areas.
Wednesday, 4th April
Getting out of China was “interesting”. After a traffic-jammed trip by taxi, we queued in place after place at the airport. Every step was so slow and inefficient. There was insufficient space, insufficient equipment and insufficient personnel to handle the day to day international air traffic; how they will manage the Olympics is impossible to imagine. It took almost 2 hours from arrival at the terminal to get on the plane – no wasted time, no coffee etc, just queuing and quietly panicking.
The aircraft was so far from the terminal that a bus was needed to take us to it (the same as when we arrived in China) and we finally entered the plane exactly at take off time, but many entered after that.
Then there was a further delay whilst they checked some doors that they weren’t sure were properly closed. (I was glad they checked carefully, though.) As a result they missed their departure access to the runway. There was so much traffic on the runway that a further delay was inevitable. 90 minutes late, we took off.
It was a rough trip, lots of turbulence. The food was “rough” too – a sandwich and a choice of coffee or juice. On our way to
China there was a delicious meal with wine etc but, on the same airline, on the return trip, everything was very different.
As always occurs we were advised to fill in the Cutoms Declaration Form and when I enquired about a second (the official Korean Immigration entry form) I was told that their was no other form needed. Of course that was incorrect and on arrival at Incheon International Airport, and after waiting in the queue there, we were sent off like errant school children to complete the second form that the airline (Air
China) had seemed to know nothing about.
Into Korea
We stayed 2 nights at our “old” residence (third time around) at Oh-Mok Gyo after sampling the Airport Limousine Bus service – comfortable bus and, at a little over 10% of the cost of the Callvan (deluxe taxi van with extra space) we used on Jan 4th, excellent value.
Then on Sunday a Callvan, organised and paid for by the Uijongbu Science High School, collected us, (with all our mountain of luggage most of which was in storage during our trip to China), and took us to the school where we met Michelle (an English teaching Korean staff member) who escorted us on to the apartment. She also, showed us where the nearest shops were located and then walked us back to the school so that Gail would know how to get there the next morning. We then walked ourselves back to the apartment (Michelle does not drive).
Missing a few essential items (sheets, pillow, doona, towels etc) at 4 pm we headed off to buy those – spending lots of money – and on our return found a sheet and doona had been dropped off by the school office lady, who had seen the apartment the previous day and had decided that it needed these extras. Great, very considerate and helpful.
On Monday we were taken to get Gail’s Alien Registration (needed to open a bank account which, in turn, is needed to get Gail paid) and my Spouse Visa (so that I do not have to leave the country every 90 days). Michelle accompanied us and the office lady drove us. We explained that we had almost no cash and Michelle was kind enough to lend us some money. We were taken directly to the Immigration Office (there is one about 20 minutes away) where we had to pay much more money than we had in cash. Scraping together all of her money with ours, including coins, and just made it. We then went to the bank which turned out to be only 100 metres away, just around the corner from the Immigration Office, and immediately repaid our brief loan. We pick up the documents, including our passports in 2 weeks. Gail had missed one class whilst away so had to make that up; it was rescheduled for later in the afternoon.
Gail is teaching and has been for 2 days. Prior to starting she was given little information about what was expected (curriculum) except for a timetable which showed that she teaches 5 classes at level 1 (year 10) for 50 minutes each, 5 classes at level 2 (year 11) for 50 minutes each and 10 classes of the school’s own teachers for 50 minutes each. Teacher group sizes vary from 1 to 3 and student class sizes are at 20 each with about 80% being boys (it’s a specialistScience High School).
Gail usually has a Korean teacher accompany her to her student classes. Students also have another 3 periods of English with a Korean English teacher (without Gail). Communication about most things at the school seems minimal, probably because she cannot read notices or understand announcements. But …… people are friendly and students are nice.
Gail is patient, smiling even. She knows this is relatively easy work, although she’s a bit out of practice now. The year ahead is long and those aggravated at this time will remember it later on – so she takes no offence, expects nothing and is surprised by nothing. She is much better than I would be. She is tired at the end of each day just because of the effort to concentrate on understanding what each person is saying – and some slip back into speaking Korean without realising it too.
She is to eat lunch with the students and other teachers each day. We have had considerable experience with Korean food, including 3 weeks of camp teaching, and adjusted to quickly and enjoy many dishes.
Home – is an apartment with one tiny bedroom and a relatively spacious living area as well as a kitchen, a balcony which is the laundry area with a new washing machine and a bathroom with a stand-up shower. To explain further, the shower is not separate – the whole bathroom, toilet included, becomes drowned whenever the shower is used; this makes it uncomfortable to use the area afterwards when you are then wearing clothes. Furniture is minimal – a kitchen table with 2 chairs, a good-sized desk with a computer chair and there are 2 single-bed mattresses which we have on the floor. There is an air-conditioner (cooling only), floor heating in the living room, a smallish TV but no internet access (hopefully we can pay to change this). There is a vacuum cleaner but no carpet. There is a small fridge/freezer, an electric rice cooker, a microwave and a 2 burner gas stovette. Storage space is not sufficient for 2 sets of clothes, so our cases are not fully emptied. Overall it’s clean and warm and we are trying to learn the intricacies of the hot water system. We get the morning sun in our living room and that is very pleasant.
Location is off the main drag and even off the next-to-main drag but, as I’ve said before, in Korea we feel safe in laneways and alleys as well as where there are bright lights. Gail is able to walk to school each day (20 minutes) and, apparently, she has made it one of my roles to arrive at the school just before 5pm each day so I can walk her home. A bus passes nearby, every few minutes, which would take her to/from the school for ~Aus 85cents but she doesn’t want to use this. There are 2 supermarkets (and lots of other stuff) for daily needs within 5 minutes walking and for simpler purchases there are Seven-Eleven type stores and a bakery within 150 metres. The same bus service which would take Gail to school, when going in the other direction, takes us to the subway station which, with many bus-stops, is about 25 minutes away; then the subway train takes another 40 minutes to get to most of central
Seoul’s stations.
