Farewell Korea

I've gone over what I wanted to write for a "farewell blog" time and time again, but somehow it never seems to stay with me long enough to write it down. To say Korea has been an amazing opportunity is an understatement. I'm not sure a word actually exists to describe this past year of learning, teaching and growing. It's been surreal at points, unbelievable and devastating all at the same time. My expectations have been far surpassed and my knowledge of Korea has increased by 200%. I never thought I'd be in Korea teaching English and I doubt anyone would have even expected it from me, the habitual mind changer. A year in one place and I'd have to stay? I did it! And I want to shout that from my rooftop to the city that bustles below the haze of pollution and ever present neon lights.

Still, the question remains: what do I write to sum up a year of living, teaching and learning in Korea? A list of things I'll miss? A well thought out essay style piece of blogging? Nothing? Theoretically, this should be my longest piece of blogging, a summation of a year in Korea. So here goes.

Goodbye food: kimchi, bulgogi and rice, donkas, curry and rice, mandu guk, kimchi mandu, dokkbokki, twigim, jjajagmeyon, ramyeon, kimchi jjigae, kimbap, bibimbap, samgyeopsal, omurice and so much more. Butterfinger Pancakes, On the Border and McDelivery. Goodbye shopping: COEX, Myeongdong, Dongdaemun, GMarket, Namdaemun, Yongsan (illegal DVD's!!) and subway stations. Goodbye efficent public transportation: subway (which seriously ROCKS), buses and cheap taxis. Goodbye fun stuff: affordable movies, Dr. Fish, photo booths, board game cafes, people watching at Subway, noraebang, baseball games, Hongdae and Gangnam. Goodbye cheap weekend getaways: Jinju, Jeonju, Samcheok, Busan, Damyang, Boseong, Boryeong and the DMZ. Farewell to my job: adorable children who love me unconditionally, a great boss who would help with anything, teaching and shaping young minds, crazy moments where I have to ask why I did this, funny things children say, steady and reliable income, friendly and fun co-workers, a nice place to live and a free gym. Goodbye inexpensive international travel: Japan, China and Thailand. Goodbye people: people shoving on the subway, people bumping in the street, people helping in every way they can even if they don't speak English, people bowing, people looking out for each other, people drunk in the street, people without umbrella manners, amazing bank man, people who I have grown to respect. Goodbye things I don't like: dried squid, fish flavored crackers, grubby kid hands, communication mishaps/lack of communication, surprise apartment visits, the exchange rate, yucky street smells, lack of central air and monsoon season. Goodbye convenience: transferring money via ATM, street food, ice cream in a bag, convenience stores everywhere, transportation everywhere and key less apartment entry. Farewell to things I love: my friends, cheap medications, affordable national health care, Korean food, ondol floors in the winter, my apartment, random acts of kindness, public transportation, cheap food, soju cocktails and bus travel. Goodbye to things I've grown accustom to: Korean beer, grubby kid hands, communication mishaps, soju, language barriers and overcrowding.

Monsoon

I remember when my knowledge of a monsoon being heavy rain was slightly debunked as being high winds (both are characteristics of monsoons) and I recall making sure everyone around me knew this fact. Since the beginning of July, Seoul and the rest of Korea has been getting pounded with rain. Our weekend trip to Mud Fest on Daecheon Beach in Boryeong was cut short due to the rain and wind. I don't remember the last day I actually saw the sun. While it hasn't rained everyday, it has been hazy and overcast for the entirety of the month. The nice thing about the rain is that it has often brought thunder and lightning, something I missed last year around this time. However, the rain has caused all sorts of problems with the Han River (the river that cuts Seoul in half). The river has flooded in various areas and has even flooded bridges that are used to cross the river. My walk to work often leaves my shoes soaking wet and me looking a little less put together. I like the rain though, it's not as humid and it's much cooler when it rains. I've been very satisfied with my Korean weather experience.

This blog post is actually rather short and uneventful, but since the rain has become a huge part of my daily commute, I thought I'd take the time to comment on it.

손준호 (Son Junho)

Since the very beginning of the new semester (back in March) I have been having a hard time dealing with Junho, one of the students in my kindergarten homeroom class. He's a very spirited kid who not only loves to be the center of attention, but when he's not, tantrums ensue. In a way, he's a bit like me as a child. However, Junho has a hard time listening to the teacher, he's constantly out of his chair and he tries (and succeeds) to get a rise out of all the other students in our class. Every day is a huge challenge and while I try not to make a big deal out of it and send a note home to his parents on a daily basis, sometimes I break and must send said notes. Normally, Junho's mother (whom I also not so fond of) writes me a message back apologizing for Junho's behavior and blaming it partly on the fact that he's a young boy. He's also an only child and this is clearly evident in Junho's behavior (I do have 2 other only children in my class and you'd never know it). Part of me, the I know all there is to know about children part (please sense the sarcasm in that statement), believes that Junho is highly babied at home and probably gets exactly what he wants when he wants. In my opinion, and the part of me that knows everything there is to know about parenting (again, sarcasm), Junho's parents are just as much as fault with his behavior as Junho is. He's used to getting everything he wants and in a class of eight and with me as a teacher, he doesn't get anything he wants and this is extremely difficult for Junho.

The point of this entry is to say that on Friday, I wrote this to his parents: Junho has been having a really hard time listening in class lately. He is constantly out of his chair, worried about the other students, rushing through his work and not focusing on what he should be doing. I know Junho is a very spirited child, but he would benefit from a bit of focus. Of course, this is not exactly what I would have written given a choice and a lack of professionalism. Today, when I walked into Universe class Junho informed me that he had a present for me. He proceeded to pull out a tin of cookies and a letter. He suggested that I share the cookies with the class (good idea as I easily could have eaten the whole tin) and that I read the note out loud to the class. I did both. Junho's letter was sincere (as sincere as a 5 year old can be) and was decorated with a very nice picture. He apologized for his behavior. Later, I was handed a note from Junho's father that also apologized for Junho's behavior and said that the note and cookies were entirely Junho's idea, that he and his wife had not told Junho to apologize but he did it on his own. This, to me, makes up for all of Junho's past behavior. It takes a socially aware child to realize that they must apologize. For Junho to apologize, he undid his only child-ness, he became selfless and apologetic. Something new for 손준호 and I only hope he will continue to grow.

Work Frustrations

I think I'll start things with my favorite pastime...a countdown, or three. 17 days of teaching left, 24 days until Thailand and a mere 34 days until I touch down in America. I can't believe how fast time has flown by and how much I feel like I have accomplished, but also how much I have yet to accomplish. It's been crazy at work lately and while I didn't intend for this to be such a (probably) spiteful blog, it will almost certainly turn into that.

Let me start off by saying that overall my experience at BIS has been fabulous. I get paid on time, I live in a highly coveted location, I have a very nice apartment and I have an amazing boss who will do anything for me (and my co-workers). My students, for the most part are great and they have come a long way in the time I've taught them and I don't mind my working hours. So, what's the problem? Report cards. Seemingly pointless schedule/class changes. "Changing" the way I'm supposed to teach a certain class. Workload overload.

1. Report Cards- Yes, as a teacher in the States (which is what I aspire to be) I will have to do report cards so why am I complaining? It's the way we have to do the report cards, when I first arrived I was responsible for 5-7 classes (45 students) worth of report cards, just general commenting on their ability and possible a recap of the term. Now, I have to write report cards for 14 classes (roughly 100 students).

2. Seemingly pointless schedule/class changes-The schedule was changed due to some sort of scheduling conflict with the kids. Justified. However, what I find pointless is having us teach 6 classes in a row on Tuesday and Thursday while only having 4-5 on Monday, Wednesday, Friday when one of the T/TR classes has three yes, THREE students in it. Why couldn't they be added to one of the other T/TR classes of the same grade level? It's to challenge the students, while they aren't the same level, they are close enough and the class I teach (the same for both sections) is taught the same. Same material, same homework, same everything. I challenge both classes in the same way and I get the same results regardless of class. If this class of THREE were to be consolidated into the class of FIVE it would be a nice, well-rounded class with plenty of challenging material AND an extra break for teachers who already teach 34-35 classes a week...again, probably close to what I'd be teaching in the States, but a lot of English teachers in Korea teach anywhere from 15-25 classes and earn as much or more than I do.

3. "Changing" the way I'm supposed to teach Trophies-Trophies is a reading class with stories, vocabulary, corresponding questions and a workbook. Since I started at BIS I have conducted my Trophies classes in a manner similar to this: 2 weeks on a story (2-4 classes depending on the grade level), day 1-introduce the reading and vocab, read story in class, assign workbook pages. day 2-talk about reading, read story in class, assign workbook pages and write vocabulary sentences. day 3-spelling test on vocabulary words, story map w/ summary (to identify important parts of the story), go over Think & Respond (questions in the book) assign reading and Think & Respond questions. day 4-workbook test and assign next reading. So, today my boss came in and told me that I need to "change" my approach to Trophies because "the students will learn better Engrishee if you change the Trophies teaching." How am I supposed to change it you ask? Well, apparently I'm supposed to spend 2 weeks on a story, assign vocab sentences, give a spelling test, assign summaries, assign reading and Think & Respond questions. I suppose I can change.

As my work frustrations mount, my excitement for Thailand and home also increase. I am sooooo thankful to have this job and I didn't want to complain because as I said, it's not a bad job, but I'm burned out and that's the source of the frustration. I need a vacation. Not having a decent break since the end of December can really wear a person out. I'm sure I'll look back on this blog entry in 4 months and think, "Hey, it wasn't that bad...and you miss it."