This will be a quick post. A streaming of thoughts, if you will.
Final exams were December 7-10, 2010.
What has happened since December 10th?
3 weeks of class: one week of which I had none due to going over the exam, another week of which I was on my death bed, and one week of a Christmas game
Then school let out for winter vacation. Ah, but you are on the other side of the world. I need to explain further.
vacation- n. a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess or holiday
vacation in Korea- v. a period of suspension of rest, recreation or travel, usually used for extra studying at academies, winter English camp, or group study in a freezing classroom
Remember when I said that final exams were December 7-10th?
Well, today is February 7, 2011, which clearly means that kids should come back to school for one week.
This is not the first week of the new school year. This is the last week of the school year. The one with the final exams on December 7th.
"What the hell is going to happen this week?" you might ask.
Today is Monday. The first day back after over 6 weeks of no public school classes. So naturally, students have end of year exams. These won't count for anything due to the the final exams already being taken and recorded.
The next three days, class is as usual. By usual I mean kids will not listen and be stir crazy due to the fact that they literally have no reason to pay attention. And by usual, I mean I will be teaching another holiday lesson, because the book only has enough information to fill approximately 2 weeks out of a school year.
Friday is Graduation day. This means the principal and a few 3rd grade students will go into the video room and have their ceremony, while other students sit in the classroom and watch it on TV. Then kids will stay until sometime after 4:30 (my ass is out the door after that), studying in freezing classrooms.
Showing posts with label venting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label venting. Show all posts
17 November 2010
Miscommunication? Try No Communication.
This should have tipped me off.
But my coordinator told me I had to come to school today. And at dinner last night with three of my co teachers, they all seemed confused when I told them I still had to go to work and said they were sorry.
This also should have tipped me off.
You see, today is Korea's national SAT day. So instead of having the SAT on multiple Saturdays throughout the year for high school students to take, they only have one and every high school student takes it on that one day. Its an all day event. So it has kind of turned into a holiday for everybody else, even middle schools. I knew this, but since my coordinator said I still had to come to school, I woke up, got ready, stopped at Starbucks, and headed out a little later than usual. Since, you know, there wasn't any reason to get there as early as I normally do.
20 minutes later, with a now cold scone in my purse and my toffee nut latte at slightly less than room temp, I walk up to the school. It's locked. The halls are dark. No cars are there. But, I'm not fooled. I was told by multiple people I still had to come to work. I was looking forward to this. A full day of no interruptions so I could lesson plan and prepare the room for my open class.
But like I said, the halls were dark. The doors, locked. I rang the bell.
Security dude: confused look on his face, nods his head no
Me: confused look on my face, pointing upstairs "me, teacher, work"
Security dude: makes the ex-uh gesture with his hands (no)
Me: see above
Security dude: Hakyo (school), NO! again makes the no gesture with his hands
Me: annoyed look on my face, ok.....
I text my coordinator to let her know what happened and that I will work from home, but she's supervising the SAT all day. So, obviously, there won't be a reply.
I start walking back, and see some of my students near the sidewalk practicing Shinee's Hello dance...I'm tempted to join them, but I don't want make them feel bad with my awesome Kpop moves when its their day off from school.
Middle school girls: "Teacher, you no have to work today. Test day!"
Me: "Well I was told I had to come to work, but you're right, nobody is there. So, if anybody asks tomorrow, will you tell them that you saw me here?"
Middle school girls: "Yes, yes!"
So I walk back getting more annoyed with each step. I text my friend who teaches middle school nearby. She tells me her school told her to come in at 10am.
Is that the case? If so, my school is going to be one English teacher short today when 10am rolls around.
But my coordinator told me I had to come to school today. And at dinner last night with three of my co teachers, they all seemed confused when I told them I still had to go to work and said they were sorry.
This also should have tipped me off.
You see, today is Korea's national SAT day. So instead of having the SAT on multiple Saturdays throughout the year for high school students to take, they only have one and every high school student takes it on that one day. Its an all day event. So it has kind of turned into a holiday for everybody else, even middle schools. I knew this, but since my coordinator said I still had to come to school, I woke up, got ready, stopped at Starbucks, and headed out a little later than usual. Since, you know, there wasn't any reason to get there as early as I normally do.
20 minutes later, with a now cold scone in my purse and my toffee nut latte at slightly less than room temp, I walk up to the school. It's locked. The halls are dark. No cars are there. But, I'm not fooled. I was told by multiple people I still had to come to work. I was looking forward to this. A full day of no interruptions so I could lesson plan and prepare the room for my open class.
But like I said, the halls were dark. The doors, locked. I rang the bell.
Security dude: confused look on his face, nods his head no
Me: confused look on my face, pointing upstairs "me, teacher, work"
Security dude: makes the ex-uh gesture with his hands (no)
Me: see above
Security dude: Hakyo (school), NO! again makes the no gesture with his hands
Me: annoyed look on my face, ok.....
I text my coordinator to let her know what happened and that I will work from home, but she's supervising the SAT all day. So, obviously, there won't be a reply.
I start walking back, and see some of my students near the sidewalk practicing Shinee's Hello dance...I'm tempted to join them, but I don't want make them feel bad with my awesome Kpop moves when its their day off from school.
Middle school girls: "Teacher, you no have to work today. Test day!"
Me: "Well I was told I had to come to work, but you're right, nobody is there. So, if anybody asks tomorrow, will you tell them that you saw me here?"
Middle school girls: "Yes, yes!"
So I walk back getting more annoyed with each step. I text my friend who teaches middle school nearby. She tells me her school told her to come in at 10am.
Is that the case? If so, my school is going to be one English teacher short today when 10am rolls around.
03 November 2010
A Happy Day for China
Visit me! --> www.whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com
1993: Clinton
1994: Clinton
1995: Clinton
1996: Clinton
1997: Clinton
1998: Clinton
1999: Clinton
2000: USA budget SURPLUS = $46 billion
2001: Bush
2002: Bush
2003: Bush
2004: Bush
2005: Bush
2006: Bush
2007: Bush
2008: USA budget DEFICIT = -$438 billion
We tried it one way for 8 years...lets give them a little more than 2 years, eh?
1993: Clinton
1994: Clinton
1995: Clinton
1996: Clinton
1997: Clinton
1998: Clinton
1999: Clinton
2000: USA budget SURPLUS = $46 billion
2001: Bush
2002: Bush
2003: Bush
2004: Bush
2005: Bush
2006: Bush
2007: Bush
2008: USA budget DEFICIT = -$438 billion
We tried it one way for 8 years...lets give them a little more than 2 years, eh?
18 September 2010
Korea
I'll write a blog about my trip to Gyeongbokgung Palace soon, but for now, I need to get some random happenings down on screen paper before I forget.
After lunch and Starbucks in Insa-dong with Hesang and Lilith, I went to the Kyobo book store. While peacefully browsing in the history section, this guy starts talking to me. At first I thought, oh he's very friendly. 30 minutes later...I'm ready to scream and run away.
Robert is a Seoul University English teacher from New York. He's 37 but looks 28. He happens to be obsessed with Texas. He refused to believe that I didn't know Jailbreak was filmed in Dallas, or that I didn't watch X Files and Walker Texas Ranger growing up. Seriously, he asked me MINIMUM 3 times if I had ever seen Jailbreak, X Files, and WTR. He also went into detail about how Dallas was a good area for prisoners to escape because of the small towns and different racial groups. Why was he telling me this? Why was he telling me about the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Stars, Texas Rangers, and football? I'm the one who said "I'm from Texas". Why was he going on and on about these things? Why did he ask me 5 different times if Friday Night Lights is a true depiction of Texas culture? Were my first 3 answers not sufficient?
Did I mention he has never been to Texas? Did I mention he told me he used to wear a cowboy hat during college (in Long Island, NY) because he liked Garth, George, and Clint. This is a SUMMARY of the 1st book store encounter.
2nd book store encounter: I am now in the classics, holding a book, when an old man walks up to me and asks "Is that easy for you?" pointing to the book I'm holding. I had no idea how to answer the question, but I said yes. Immediately he pulls out his English homework. This guy has to be at least 60. He then proceeds to have me check every single one of his answers. I can't just walk away...this is a sweet old man. But geez I was about to scream at this point!
On the subway ride home, a vendor lady is in my car. She is selling a massager for your arms or neck. Two old ladies buy one after testing it out on their arms. Then she walks by me and I see her cart. There's something written in Korean, and below that is the word "orgasm".
One more before I fall asleep...Friday night there was a free salsa lesson nearby. On Facebook it had about 25 white people attending, and I went with two other teachers I met the previous weekend. We get there, and there are only 2 other white people. The rest are Koreans, and they are all dressed to the 9s. We, being grungy westerners, are wearing casual skirts and flip flops. The lesson is in Korean. Toward the end of the lesson we have to rotate partners, so I have to dance with 3 different Korean guys (not young and not cute). Whatever, that's fine. Then the instructor starts bringing out girls to dance with him as he's leading the class. After two different girls, he points to me. I nod my head..no, no,no...he points and motions me to come, then grabs my arm and pulls me into the middle.
I just want to take this time to say sorry to all of the girls at the lesson watching my steps!
After lunch and Starbucks in Insa-dong with Hesang and Lilith, I went to the Kyobo book store. While peacefully browsing in the history section, this guy starts talking to me. At first I thought, oh he's very friendly. 30 minutes later...I'm ready to scream and run away.
Robert is a Seoul University English teacher from New York. He's 37 but looks 28. He happens to be obsessed with Texas. He refused to believe that I didn't know Jailbreak was filmed in Dallas, or that I didn't watch X Files and Walker Texas Ranger growing up. Seriously, he asked me MINIMUM 3 times if I had ever seen Jailbreak, X Files, and WTR. He also went into detail about how Dallas was a good area for prisoners to escape because of the small towns and different racial groups. Why was he telling me this? Why was he telling me about the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Stars, Texas Rangers, and football? I'm the one who said "I'm from Texas". Why was he going on and on about these things? Why did he ask me 5 different times if Friday Night Lights is a true depiction of Texas culture? Were my first 3 answers not sufficient?
Did I mention he has never been to Texas? Did I mention he told me he used to wear a cowboy hat during college (in Long Island, NY) because he liked Garth, George, and Clint. This is a SUMMARY of the 1st book store encounter.
2nd book store encounter: I am now in the classics, holding a book, when an old man walks up to me and asks "Is that easy for you?" pointing to the book I'm holding. I had no idea how to answer the question, but I said yes. Immediately he pulls out his English homework. This guy has to be at least 60. He then proceeds to have me check every single one of his answers. I can't just walk away...this is a sweet old man. But geez I was about to scream at this point!
On the subway ride home, a vendor lady is in my car. She is selling a massager for your arms or neck. Two old ladies buy one after testing it out on their arms. Then she walks by me and I see her cart. There's something written in Korean, and below that is the word "orgasm".
One more before I fall asleep...Friday night there was a free salsa lesson nearby. On Facebook it had about 25 white people attending, and I went with two other teachers I met the previous weekend. We get there, and there are only 2 other white people. The rest are Koreans, and they are all dressed to the 9s. We, being grungy westerners, are wearing casual skirts and flip flops. The lesson is in Korean. Toward the end of the lesson we have to rotate partners, so I have to dance with 3 different Korean guys (not young and not cute). Whatever, that's fine. Then the instructor starts bringing out girls to dance with him as he's leading the class. After two different girls, he points to me. I nod my head..no, no,no...he points and motions me to come, then grabs my arm and pulls me into the middle.
I just want to take this time to say sorry to all of the girls at the lesson watching my steps!
07 August 2010
Seongnam, South Korea
An update on where I will actually be living for the next year:
Last week, I started looking for jobs in Thailand and Taiwan, because my recruiter said my application for the Gyeongbuk province was declined (he didn't see why it would, but that tends to be my luck lately). I had 3 interviews to schedule and I was feeling pretty good about staying in this awesome country. But then...Alas, an email from Henry came with a contract for me to sign! I will be teaching in Seongnam, which is just south east of Seoul. I'm so excited I finally have a job lined up, and that it is close to Seoul. Alex and Jodi will be in Daegu which is in south central Korea, so we will be about 3 hours away. Natalie and Charlie are going to be in the north east corner, so I'll be fairly close to them as well for weekend trips. And Brad and Kyle are a little east of Daegu, so I'm guessing I'll be about 4 hours away from them. Justin is still waiting to hear something from Henry, but there's a good chance he'll be in or near Seoul, so that will be awesome. Lots of great weekend trips will be planned to the various places throughout SK!
I also don't have to be there until September 2nd, so getting my visa in Bangkok is no longer an issue as far as timing goes. Right now I'm thinking I'll go to Bangkok with everybody else right after to get my visa out of the way, and then after they leave for SK (they are in a different program so their orientation is very soon), I am going to head down south and beach bum for a week or so.
Last week, I started looking for jobs in Thailand and Taiwan, because my recruiter said my application for the Gyeongbuk province was declined (he didn't see why it would, but that tends to be my luck lately). I had 3 interviews to schedule and I was feeling pretty good about staying in this awesome country. But then...Alas, an email from Henry came with a contract for me to sign! I will be teaching in Seongnam, which is just south east of Seoul. I'm so excited I finally have a job lined up, and that it is close to Seoul. Alex and Jodi will be in Daegu which is in south central Korea, so we will be about 3 hours away. Natalie and Charlie are going to be in the north east corner, so I'll be fairly close to them as well for weekend trips. And Brad and Kyle are a little east of Daegu, so I'm guessing I'll be about 4 hours away from them. Justin is still waiting to hear something from Henry, but there's a good chance he'll be in or near Seoul, so that will be awesome. Lots of great weekend trips will be planned to the various places throughout SK!
I also don't have to be there until September 2nd, so getting my visa in Bangkok is no longer an issue as far as timing goes. Right now I'm thinking I'll go to Bangkok with everybody else right after to get my visa out of the way, and then after they leave for SK (they are in a different program so their orientation is very soon), I am going to head down south and beach bum for a week or so.
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