Day 3: Introducing Phillip Teacher

After weeks of waiting, today was finally my first day at MapleBear. My day started at 8:10 a.m., when I met Kim teacher and Tyler teacher to help me navigate my way to school. We walked about four blocks to the bus stop to catch bus number 911. While we were waiting, Olivia teacher joined us. Thankfully, Kim teacher gave me a preloaded bus card for the fare. After a short ten-minute ride, we arrived just one block from the school.

The teachers’ morning ritual is to grab coffee at the café near the bus stop. Kim teacher was kind enough to buy me a delicious strawberry yogurt smoothie before we headed to school.

As the teachers settled into the workroom, the hallway began to fill with the chatter and laughter of students arriving and making their way to their classrooms. When I stepped into the hallway, I was immediately filled with joy as the little ones greeted me with cheerful “hellos” and “good mornings.” The staff has clearly taught the children to greet adults, and the teachers made sure to introduce me as “Phillip teacher.”

My assignment for the day was to observe Kim teacher’s class. There were five students—two boys and three girls. The classroom was inviting and filled with bright colors. The group was lively, friendly, and welcoming. They were well-behaved and clearly accustomed to their daily routines. Even though the school year ends on Wednesday, the students remained engaged in the lesson.

I also had my first Korean school lunch today. Teachers eat the same meals as the students. Lunch included rice, chicken soup, fried chicken nuggets with sauce (similar to General Tso’s chicken), a small seafood pancake, and kimchi. I was brave enough to try everything, and it was delicious. Unfortunately, the kimchi was a bit too spicy for me. In the future, I may need to choose the less spicy student meal option.

After school, Olivia teacher kindly took me to a small grocery store in the neighborhood. Since she is from America, she helped me find some familiar foods from home, as well as a few Korean items to try. It’s very convenient to have a supermarket just two blocks away.

I really enjoyed spending time with the teachers and students today. It was a wonderful first day—an opportunity to make new friends and continue adjusting to life in Korea. The day was filled with moments when Korea stopped feeling foreign and started to feel a little more like home. Tomorrow brings another opportunity to observe and spend time with the littles. Then, next Tuesday, I will be leading a class of my own. It’s all so exciting!