Okay I am now home and dry. I went out to one of the street markets late this afternoon only to discover that while I was underground on the subway it had started to rain. So I ran around – diving from awning to awning – to get the few things one my list. Then I made a run for the subway again. By this time I am pretty wet – but then I reached my stop – and did the rain slow down at all? – oh no – oh contraire monfraire – it was raining harder. Well from the subway it takes a little under 10 minutes to get to my front door – They say some people walk in the rain and others just get wet. I tried very hard to be one of the first, but I must say I still got soaked.
Anyway, there are some new pictures and video up – so please check those out. There are a few pictures of Busan. Like it mentioned in the previous posting, I have forgotten to take my camera out with me the first day. The majority of the new pictures are from this past Friday. The school had its annual Field Day. Now the way the Korean school year works is that the new year starts at the beginning of March. Your are in school from March to June – then you have summer break – you come back in August and have class through the end of December – then have winter break January through mid-February. So right now the school is winding down its year. And at the end of every school year they have a Field Day. It is an all day event with sports competitions between classes in the mornings and then grade three dance performances and teacher events in the afternoon. The kids have been practicing for these events and dance performances ever since I got here.
I had a blast. Make sure to check out the pictures. They are mostly of the 1st graders that I teach. I did also get video of the drum crew’s performance on the morning and one of the 3rd grade’s dances.
Enjoy.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
I will be a happy bride - the old man said so.
Hello all! I have just gotten back from my weekly salsa lesson. It is proving to be quite fun. Since the little dancing that is available here is more on the lines how loud club crap – which hey has its time and place – it is nice to dance to something with a bit of soul and a better use of hips. Had a lovely weekend. I will get the few pictures that I took up as soon as possible. I took the train down to Busan.
Busan is located at the southern tip of South Korea. The coolest thing it that the express KTX train will get you there I about 2 hours and 45 minutes. So last Saturday I got up at 4 AM to catch the 6 AM train. Probably not the smartest thing since I was so tired by mid-Saturday.
Now I must admit that knowing what I know now, I wish I had moved to Busan instead of Seoul. It is just beautiful. First of all it is right on the ocean. In fact I spent most of Saturday on the beach or sitting at a Starbucks in soft oversized chair with an Earl Grey tea looking out over the shiny blue water reading Hemingway. Oh yea I was in heaven. I also went to their aquarium on Saturday – it was okay. The coolest thing about it is that it is all underground – all four floors. Oh they do have an awesome shark exhibit. Long glass tunnels with all the big fishies swimming over your head. Unfortunately, I was so tired on Saturday that I left my camera in my hotel room. So I do not have pictures from the first day.
Crashed rather early, but before I did I went searching for food. My plan was to eat near the beach; however, the two place I was interested in were an Indian place that was way too expensive and a Vietmese place that surprisingly had a really boring menu. So I headed back over to my hotel. Earlier I saw a sign for a Chicago Pizza Factory – yea there was no way it was going to be real Chicago, but I figured I needed to give it a try. Now one thing to let you know about pizza here – and these are the reasons I have not really eaten much of it here – some of the toppings for choice here are corn, potatoes, squid, and mayonnaise. Yea – not cool at all, but this place had pictures of their stuff and it looked safe. Oh yea and it did not look anything like Chicago pizza – It was flatter than a cracker, but it was rather good. Anyway while I was placing my order, I feel this ever so slight tug on the bottom of my jacket. I look down to see this button of a not even two year old at my side. So in my bad western accented Korean I say Anyong Hassayo (hello). She then giggles and runs behind on of the booths. Hey I warned you guys there is much giggling here. So I sit down to wait for my pizza at another booth and watch some Korean TV. And out of the corner of my eye I see a little head peak over the top of the booth closest to the kitchen. So I turn and say hello – the head quickly disappears. So I creep as low to the floor as I can to the other end of that booth. And as I am peaking around the booth I see the back of the little being who is peaking her head around the booth to find me. So I whisper shilla hamnida – yogeeyo (excuse me – here). And there is now a squeal and giggle. So for the next 20 minutes or so I play one mean game of peek –a-boo with this little girl. She did finally get enough courage to come over and sit by me. The best ever. Just goes to further prove that children and old people love me – everyone else stays away.
I happened to me again yesterday. Many of my fellow teachers have talked about felling like a walking ESL lesson. People see you and want to practice their English – so they stop you and ask where you are from and what you are doing here, Blah Blah Blah. This also makes it really hard to practice the Korean you are learning. Anyway this does not happen to me. I get all the little kids who come running up or the old people who take a liking to you. I have had many an old lady at church talk about me and giggle (yes they do it too). The funniest thing is they sit there and talk about and to me in Korean – the English speaking Koreans who go to my service will translate for me. It is very funny. The best was after a few minutes this old woman looks right at me points and says “I like you” Oh thank you – Although there is something slightly scary coming from someone who might decide to make you Fish Eye Soup.
Anyway I was on the subway yesterday, I am standing there reading book, and I hear this little voice say “May I talk to you?”. And there beside me is the loveliest old man ever. I tell him yes of course he may speak to me. Well he begins to comment on my reading a book. I tell him I love to read. He says that is very good – it means I must be knowledgeable. Well I was not sure about that but I do love to read. He asked me if I was a student – I said no I am a teacher. I got an OH very good. Asked me how long I had been here – was I adjusting to Korean culture. Then he asked me if I would stay longer than my year contract. I told him that I could not because I was going home to get married. He asked what my fiancé did and I told him he was a College History Teacher. At this the man lit up – “Oh you are very lucky to have someone with such a respectable position. You will be a very happy bride.” At this point I fell on the ground laughing inside. I know what the man was trying to convey and he had such great intentions, but I loved it. I told him that yes I was very proud of my fiancé. At this point I was at my stop. He then wished me luck and happiness. Like I said kids and old people – love it.
Had an interesting event at work this week. One of the 3rd grade students (about 16 years old) hit and then tried to strangle one of the female math teachers in class. The office was turned upside down. This kind of behavior towards a teacher is unheard of; however, let me express a few things that I find backwards. I asked what was going to happen to the kid. Would he be suspended? No, that was not harsh enough – good I agree. Would he be exspelled – No you cannot do that. So the next day both this teacher and the student were back in school. I think the boy was kept in a room off of the main office all day, but really. Would this at least go on his permanent record as he went to high school? Yes, but being that he has already taken his exams and knows what school he is going to – it does not matter.
Now this has brought a few interesting topics among the foreign and native teachers. First, the kids here in Korean are so violent with one another. Now mind who is writing this and the rough-housing family I come from. We have perfected a good family expression of love-beating between siblings into an art form, but these kinds pound on each other. And there is no issue with boys hitting girls. Now also take in account I am not talking western girls here –hit me in school and I could have pounded you – but these girls are little and some of the boys are bigger than me. I went off on a boy who hit a girl up side the head in class today. I asked one of my co-teachers if this event was surprising given the violent among student – she response is that these are children playing. Please I know child’s play – these kids can do some serious damage. But them again what should I expect with the number of kids getting smacked as punishment in the office each day. And I am talking for thinks like wearing finger nail polish, hair being too long, and oh I loved this one. A boy and girl were caught walking arm in arm down the hall. Not Hand in Hand – Arm in Arm. They had to stand in the corner of the office with arms in the air for 20 minutes. Try that sometime - it is not pleasant.
Busan is located at the southern tip of South Korea. The coolest thing it that the express KTX train will get you there I about 2 hours and 45 minutes. So last Saturday I got up at 4 AM to catch the 6 AM train. Probably not the smartest thing since I was so tired by mid-Saturday.
Now I must admit that knowing what I know now, I wish I had moved to Busan instead of Seoul. It is just beautiful. First of all it is right on the ocean. In fact I spent most of Saturday on the beach or sitting at a Starbucks in soft oversized chair with an Earl Grey tea looking out over the shiny blue water reading Hemingway. Oh yea I was in heaven. I also went to their aquarium on Saturday – it was okay. The coolest thing about it is that it is all underground – all four floors. Oh they do have an awesome shark exhibit. Long glass tunnels with all the big fishies swimming over your head. Unfortunately, I was so tired on Saturday that I left my camera in my hotel room. So I do not have pictures from the first day.
Crashed rather early, but before I did I went searching for food. My plan was to eat near the beach; however, the two place I was interested in were an Indian place that was way too expensive and a Vietmese place that surprisingly had a really boring menu. So I headed back over to my hotel. Earlier I saw a sign for a Chicago Pizza Factory – yea there was no way it was going to be real Chicago, but I figured I needed to give it a try. Now one thing to let you know about pizza here – and these are the reasons I have not really eaten much of it here – some of the toppings for choice here are corn, potatoes, squid, and mayonnaise. Yea – not cool at all, but this place had pictures of their stuff and it looked safe. Oh yea and it did not look anything like Chicago pizza – It was flatter than a cracker, but it was rather good. Anyway while I was placing my order, I feel this ever so slight tug on the bottom of my jacket. I look down to see this button of a not even two year old at my side. So in my bad western accented Korean I say Anyong Hassayo (hello). She then giggles and runs behind on of the booths. Hey I warned you guys there is much giggling here. So I sit down to wait for my pizza at another booth and watch some Korean TV. And out of the corner of my eye I see a little head peak over the top of the booth closest to the kitchen. So I turn and say hello – the head quickly disappears. So I creep as low to the floor as I can to the other end of that booth. And as I am peaking around the booth I see the back of the little being who is peaking her head around the booth to find me. So I whisper shilla hamnida – yogeeyo (excuse me – here). And there is now a squeal and giggle. So for the next 20 minutes or so I play one mean game of peek –a-boo with this little girl. She did finally get enough courage to come over and sit by me. The best ever. Just goes to further prove that children and old people love me – everyone else stays away.
I happened to me again yesterday. Many of my fellow teachers have talked about felling like a walking ESL lesson. People see you and want to practice their English – so they stop you and ask where you are from and what you are doing here, Blah Blah Blah. This also makes it really hard to practice the Korean you are learning. Anyway this does not happen to me. I get all the little kids who come running up or the old people who take a liking to you. I have had many an old lady at church talk about me and giggle (yes they do it too). The funniest thing is they sit there and talk about and to me in Korean – the English speaking Koreans who go to my service will translate for me. It is very funny. The best was after a few minutes this old woman looks right at me points and says “I like you” Oh thank you – Although there is something slightly scary coming from someone who might decide to make you Fish Eye Soup.
Anyway I was on the subway yesterday, I am standing there reading book, and I hear this little voice say “May I talk to you?”. And there beside me is the loveliest old man ever. I tell him yes of course he may speak to me. Well he begins to comment on my reading a book. I tell him I love to read. He says that is very good – it means I must be knowledgeable. Well I was not sure about that but I do love to read. He asked me if I was a student – I said no I am a teacher. I got an OH very good. Asked me how long I had been here – was I adjusting to Korean culture. Then he asked me if I would stay longer than my year contract. I told him that I could not because I was going home to get married. He asked what my fiancé did and I told him he was a College History Teacher. At this the man lit up – “Oh you are very lucky to have someone with such a respectable position. You will be a very happy bride.” At this point I fell on the ground laughing inside. I know what the man was trying to convey and he had such great intentions, but I loved it. I told him that yes I was very proud of my fiancé. At this point I was at my stop. He then wished me luck and happiness. Like I said kids and old people – love it.
Had an interesting event at work this week. One of the 3rd grade students (about 16 years old) hit and then tried to strangle one of the female math teachers in class. The office was turned upside down. This kind of behavior towards a teacher is unheard of; however, let me express a few things that I find backwards. I asked what was going to happen to the kid. Would he be suspended? No, that was not harsh enough – good I agree. Would he be exspelled – No you cannot do that. So the next day both this teacher and the student were back in school. I think the boy was kept in a room off of the main office all day, but really. Would this at least go on his permanent record as he went to high school? Yes, but being that he has already taken his exams and knows what school he is going to – it does not matter.
Now this has brought a few interesting topics among the foreign and native teachers. First, the kids here in Korean are so violent with one another. Now mind who is writing this and the rough-housing family I come from. We have perfected a good family expression of love-beating between siblings into an art form, but these kinds pound on each other. And there is no issue with boys hitting girls. Now also take in account I am not talking western girls here –hit me in school and I could have pounded you – but these girls are little and some of the boys are bigger than me. I went off on a boy who hit a girl up side the head in class today. I asked one of my co-teachers if this event was surprising given the violent among student – she response is that these are children playing. Please I know child’s play – these kids can do some serious damage. But them again what should I expect with the number of kids getting smacked as punishment in the office each day. And I am talking for thinks like wearing finger nail polish, hair being too long, and oh I loved this one. A boy and girl were caught walking arm in arm down the hall. Not Hand in Hand – Arm in Arm. They had to stand in the corner of the office with arms in the air for 20 minutes. Try that sometime - it is not pleasant.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Latest
Okay first off there are some new pics up and I have also put a brief video taken of a peasant dance at the Folk Village outside of Seoul. I was there last week with one of the Korea teachers. Also there are pics of my neighborhood and school as well.
Also the Reading Adventure TV show that I told you about was on today. Oh my - well it was interesting. I am hoping to get an online link so that you can see it. It is truly a piece of work.
So I have seen here now for a month and a half. I have heard the stages of living abroad talked about before: first the honeymoon - the oohh aahh everything is so new, second the Oh I am not going home anytime soon , then the possible slip into what am I doing here which can turn into "I wanna go home" but if properly treated can become the "okay find your niche and routine".
That was were I was last week. I had seen most of the major sites in the city - had a whole lot of Korean food and was kind of wondering what was I doing here. Never was I regretting the move not at all, but I was wondering what I wanted to get out of all of this. Yes I was here and teaching and interacting, but that was now the habit of work and I needed something that was for my - oh hell I needed a project - something new to start planning - I was at risk of a possible bored spell - and we know how those can turn out for me.
So my plan was to try and get one scheduled activity for each night of the week so I would welcome staying at home. So here is how things are currently set up:
Mondays Korean Language Lesson (yes me and Sarah, the teacher from Ireland, have a tutor who comes to the school to teach us Korean) and I am going to be teaching a private English lesson on Mondays and Wednesdays starting next month
Tuesday yoga (the class in taught in Korean and I am the only non-Korean in the room - it is a hoot)
Wednesday salsa (there is a dance studio in Itaewon that is taught in English by a guy from somewhere in North America)
Thursday yoga again
Fridays don't have anything yet
Saturdays well I teach every other Saturday morning (extra cash) and those weekends I don't I try to go out of town or hang out at Hahwa. It is this very cool artist and university area. I hang out in the park, drink tea (Starbucks Earl Grey - I know so wrong but Korean green tea tastes like dirt), read or crochet. Knitting and crocheting are not popular here at all - so it is very funny to watch the people who stop to watch me. There are also a couple performance groups that are fun to watch around there as well.
Sundays church and catch up day
This weekend the plan it to take the train down to Busan. I have been told there is a great Russian community and market down there. I am so looking forward to that. Another mission of mine is to find a Russian tutor here. I live right next to Korea University - I am hoping there is a college student looking for some extra cash. I have also recently started looking into two week language intensive programs in Moscow. I thought that might be a good stop over trip on my way home next year.
So let me tell you what I learned about Korean methods of dealing with confrontation and management styles. One of the Native English teachers is leaving at the end of the month. She has been at the school for a year and in Korean for two and she will be going back to Canada. She has a great apartment in Itaewon that is rather cheap and in a great quiet location. Now it is in the contracts here that the school will provide you housing and if you choose not to accept that housing, you can find your own place and they will give you an allowance of 450,000 won (about 450 dollars) and month. Well, to be honest the house I have was a bit of a surprise. It is in a very new, nice building and has free Internet and cable; however, it is small - even small for Korean standards. There are college student who have bigger spaces then I do. So the teacher and I were talking and thought it would be great if I could get the school to let me move into her place. Well as it turns out the school paid for the whole year at my place plus a huge deposit so there was no way I was moving. Consequently, this (the request and me sort of following in the step of this teacher) seemed to have pushed a button with some of the administration. Friday, morning my head teacher pulled me aside. She first explain why I would not be able to move (no big I can deal) - then she proceeds to tell me this list of things that the school does not like about this teacher. From her dress, her teaching style, her professionalism, her inflexibility, and on and on. And I am sitting there - I actually told the teacher at one time - "you know you do not need to be telling me all of this" - and then she says that in a way this teacher is not simply leaving but is being fired, but she does not know that. What she is being fired but does not know it? Seems that if she actually would have wanted to stay longer they would not have renewed her contract. The my head teacher tells me not to tell her because she wants her to have good memories of the school plus they are worried how she would react if she was told. Then she let me know that I have done nothing wrong but she wanted me to know how the school felt about this situation.
Now the teacher she is talking about is very sweet but is rather irresponsible. And I am glad that the head teacher told me how she is viewed because as new teachers at this school myself and the third Native English teacher - have been taking this woman's cues on how to go about doing things and what was and was not allowed. And I can see why I was told all of this (and I made sure to tell the third teacher) but man if these things are a problem why not just talk to her. Especially since they seem to have been a problem for a while. But not embarrassing someone is such a thing here. Instead of simple confronting them - you will allow a situation to continue and then tell someone else about it. ARG!! Now here I sit in the office with this teacher knowing what is thought of her by people in the administration and knowing she has never been given a chance to change. Most of what they do not like she does because she simply think she can get away with it because they do not care.
But all in all things are very good. I am looking forward to Josh coming to visit in two months and two days. Not that I am excited or anything. I have another cool trip planned for late in November that I will tell you about later. And all is good.
Take care all. And Hey send me postcards my kids get a kick out of them!!!
Also the Reading Adventure TV show that I told you about was on today. Oh my - well it was interesting. I am hoping to get an online link so that you can see it. It is truly a piece of work.
So I have seen here now for a month and a half. I have heard the stages of living abroad talked about before: first the honeymoon - the oohh aahh everything is so new, second the Oh I am not going home anytime soon , then the possible slip into what am I doing here which can turn into "I wanna go home" but if properly treated can become the "okay find your niche and routine".
That was were I was last week. I had seen most of the major sites in the city - had a whole lot of Korean food and was kind of wondering what was I doing here. Never was I regretting the move not at all, but I was wondering what I wanted to get out of all of this. Yes I was here and teaching and interacting, but that was now the habit of work and I needed something that was for my - oh hell I needed a project - something new to start planning - I was at risk of a possible bored spell - and we know how those can turn out for me.
So my plan was to try and get one scheduled activity for each night of the week so I would welcome staying at home. So here is how things are currently set up:
Mondays Korean Language Lesson (yes me and Sarah, the teacher from Ireland, have a tutor who comes to the school to teach us Korean) and I am going to be teaching a private English lesson on Mondays and Wednesdays starting next month
Tuesday yoga (the class in taught in Korean and I am the only non-Korean in the room - it is a hoot)
Wednesday salsa (there is a dance studio in Itaewon that is taught in English by a guy from somewhere in North America)
Thursday yoga again
Fridays don't have anything yet
Saturdays well I teach every other Saturday morning (extra cash) and those weekends I don't I try to go out of town or hang out at Hahwa. It is this very cool artist and university area. I hang out in the park, drink tea (Starbucks Earl Grey - I know so wrong but Korean green tea tastes like dirt), read or crochet. Knitting and crocheting are not popular here at all - so it is very funny to watch the people who stop to watch me. There are also a couple performance groups that are fun to watch around there as well.
Sundays church and catch up day
This weekend the plan it to take the train down to Busan. I have been told there is a great Russian community and market down there. I am so looking forward to that. Another mission of mine is to find a Russian tutor here. I live right next to Korea University - I am hoping there is a college student looking for some extra cash. I have also recently started looking into two week language intensive programs in Moscow. I thought that might be a good stop over trip on my way home next year.
So let me tell you what I learned about Korean methods of dealing with confrontation and management styles. One of the Native English teachers is leaving at the end of the month. She has been at the school for a year and in Korean for two and she will be going back to Canada. She has a great apartment in Itaewon that is rather cheap and in a great quiet location. Now it is in the contracts here that the school will provide you housing and if you choose not to accept that housing, you can find your own place and they will give you an allowance of 450,000 won (about 450 dollars) and month. Well, to be honest the house I have was a bit of a surprise. It is in a very new, nice building and has free Internet and cable; however, it is small - even small for Korean standards. There are college student who have bigger spaces then I do. So the teacher and I were talking and thought it would be great if I could get the school to let me move into her place. Well as it turns out the school paid for the whole year at my place plus a huge deposit so there was no way I was moving. Consequently, this (the request and me sort of following in the step of this teacher) seemed to have pushed a button with some of the administration. Friday, morning my head teacher pulled me aside. She first explain why I would not be able to move (no big I can deal) - then she proceeds to tell me this list of things that the school does not like about this teacher. From her dress, her teaching style, her professionalism, her inflexibility, and on and on. And I am sitting there - I actually told the teacher at one time - "you know you do not need to be telling me all of this" - and then she says that in a way this teacher is not simply leaving but is being fired, but she does not know that. What she is being fired but does not know it? Seems that if she actually would have wanted to stay longer they would not have renewed her contract. The my head teacher tells me not to tell her because she wants her to have good memories of the school plus they are worried how she would react if she was told. Then she let me know that I have done nothing wrong but she wanted me to know how the school felt about this situation.
Now the teacher she is talking about is very sweet but is rather irresponsible. And I am glad that the head teacher told me how she is viewed because as new teachers at this school myself and the third Native English teacher - have been taking this woman's cues on how to go about doing things and what was and was not allowed. And I can see why I was told all of this (and I made sure to tell the third teacher) but man if these things are a problem why not just talk to her. Especially since they seem to have been a problem for a while. But not embarrassing someone is such a thing here. Instead of simple confronting them - you will allow a situation to continue and then tell someone else about it. ARG!! Now here I sit in the office with this teacher knowing what is thought of her by people in the administration and knowing she has never been given a chance to change. Most of what they do not like she does because she simply think she can get away with it because they do not care.
But all in all things are very good. I am looking forward to Josh coming to visit in two months and two days. Not that I am excited or anything. I have another cool trip planned for late in November that I will tell you about later. And all is good.
Take care all. And Hey send me postcards my kids get a kick out of them!!!
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