August 31^st 2013

The first day of STG course turned out to be a bit of a rough start. I arrive just in time for class, albeit last, and run into a group of professors and lecturers, who will be guiding me in this sixteen week endeavor. On my panting and sweaty arrival, I’m informed in front of the entire class (on the first day when first impressions count), that I’m the only one who didn't sign up for blogger, sugar sync, and Google +. Furthermore, I’m the only one who did not do the homework. Not good.

On receiving a forwarded email from Young, one of my helpful classmates, I finally figure out that my email address on the send list is incorrect. This little snafu (not sure who dropped the ball) has now had me named and shamed on the first day, as well as causing me to have to catch-up  two weeks reading and homework within a one week period.

The cherry on the cake, has to be that in the first email I did actually receive (you know, on account of it being the correct email address that time) gave a book list with four textbooks. But the new email I didn't get, has only three textbooks to buy. Unfortunately, ‘Tasks For Teacher Education’ by Green and Tanner, has already been delivered to my house for 47 000 won. I must now repackage and return it, also paying the postage fee.

Despite the bumpy start, I feel invigorated and that this STG program has been the right choice for me. I feel like the people in the class are all within my social sphere, and we are looking for much the same thing. Once we started the course material and class discussions, I mentioned to one of my classmates that I felt like a man in a desert finally getting a drink of water. I knew I needed to take this action, but I didn't fully realize how much I needed it.  Although the seven hour instruction block is brutal, the time flew by a lot faster than I thought it would. I found my instructors to be challenging and thought provoking. I am trying to push through this backlog of homework, but I am honestly looking forward to our next class.