A Week of Goodbyes: Wednesday

Today was the big goodbye.  It was when I finally said goodbye to my co-workers and all of my students.  I came in earlier to say goodbye to the kindergarteners one last time and finished up my student evaluations.

Then, I had to run around applying for my pension refund and then close my bank account.  Luckily the won had partially rebounded from its lows last week.  I didn’t get hit as bad when I sent my last paycheck and my severance pay home.

Back at school, I said goodbyes to each of my classes, giving them some candy, and getting some notes and things.  My highest elementary class threw me a party.  They had been asking me over the past week questions like what kind of food I like and what I like to drink and things like that.

So, while it was no surprise that they had planned a party, I was surprised at how expensive it was.  When I came into the room, they had put balloons all over the white board, and on the walls.  They had laid out all the food: ddeokbokki, grapes, cookies, kimchi, and mandarin oranges.

I had probably gotten the closest with this class since since there were only 4-5 of them in class at any given time and they were in the highest ability level.  They gave me some fun gifts.  Below is a picture of my bounty: 20 dried squid, a Mickey Mouse notebook,  2 semi-dried squid, and small cell-phone doodad.  Unfortunately, I had to leave the squid behind because I didn’t want an issue with customs (and they have a very pungent aroma.)

I got a round of applause from my adult class and then a hurried goodbye from my last class.  When I returned to the teacher’s office for the last time, I realized I hadn’t really packed my desk.  I rushed everything into my backpack or the trash and left with my bosses.  It wasn’t until the elevator ride down when my boss was telling me that she couldn’t believe I was going that I got choked up and teary.

I really had been a great year at the school.

I closed the night with packing and a visit from my chicken feet friend.  We have had some really good conversations from different ends of the political spectrum.  He’s the first person to hold his own in a political debate with me in a long time.  that sounds arrogant I know, but I am pretty stubborn in my views (too much so probably) and most people shrink away.  But he called me out when I was wrong and full of it, and he let me do the same to him.  We left knowing that we probably will keep in contact, and that we really might just see each other again, and that made this bye really good.

A Week of Goodbyes: Friday

My last Friday at school went so fast. I said goodbye to one student for good. Apparently, he’s taking a break from our hagwon and going to another instead. He’s a very bright and articulate kid, but also a lazy brat. This kid is one of these Korean kids whose mom’s treat kind of like those toy dogs they carry around. by that I mean they take the kids to the salon and get their hair all did.

This kid has the most put together kid of any 10 year old, much less any 10 year old boy, that I’ve ever seen. He has little highlights in his hair, and all class he’s playing with his hair more than most of my girls do. So, imagine my surprise when he came up to me today and said, “Teacher your hair is very awful.”

I had just buzzed my hair, preparing for the heat of Southeast Asia. I looked at him square in the eyes and said, “Really Antonio? You are no one to talk about bad hair.” At the end of class, when were saying goodbye, I wished well, and told him, “Have fun with your hair!”
Maybe I gave the kid too much of a hard time.

After school, my bosses took the teachers out for a goodbye dinner. In addition to me, there is a Korean teacher leaving next week. I have to say that I enjoyed the dinner more than all the other company dinners. When walking home, the two other American teachers and I decided to go out for a drink.

I insisted on the Hollywood Westren Bar (where the above picture was taken). The couple invited a few friends of their friends and I invited one of mine. I got to put a few faces with names and got to meet some readers of the blog. It was surreal to meet so many people who had read my blog and who knew who I was without my knowing them. One guy actually said, “I feel like I’m meeting a celebrity.” Wow, if I meet many more readers, my head my get so big I’ll have to buy an extra seat on the plane.

But really, its satisfying to hear that what began as a way to keep my friends and family back home updated, turned out to be useful for other expats coming to Korea.

A Week of Goodbyes: Thursday

Today I began my week of goodbyes with my last Thursday at school.  (My final "last" day is October 15th).

Tuesdays and Thursdays at my school are more laid back.  On these days, we have elective courses with smaller classes and, for the most part, more motivated students.  I teach three grammar classes and a kindergarten class.  One of my grammar classes is made up of 11-13 year olds.  They are good enough at English that they I can joke with them and them with me.

For example, they asked me if a new teacher would come when I left.  I told them that the school was looking at a Canadian teacher.  One girl said, "Canadians are kind."

Then I said, "Yeah, but watch out if you accidently call them Ameicans."

Then we joked about how I had my head bitten off on a few separate occasions here by accidentally referring to a Canadian as an American.  So, if there is a new Canadian teacher, and you read this, sorry if they do it just to get under your skin.  Its mostly my fault.

Then, I went to a movie at the newly re-opened CGV and then to Homeplus for the last time.  I can honestly say I will not miss Homeplus one bit.  First, I never got used to the "greeter" who greets you loudly using a microphone/speaker setup!  I don't want it to be announced that I'm coming in.  A simple welcome would be nicer.  Then, a couple things I was looking for were out of stock.  This lady started pushing me in the line.  Finally, right when I got checked out, another customer stole my shopping cart (I put in a 100 won deposit).

While I won't miss the shopping experience at Korean megastores, I will definitly miss my students.

You’re Welcome: The cost of living (Part 1/2)

Today, I received this e-mail from a future Geojite (or is that Geojean?):

American in Korea,
I am set to come to Korea in January to teach English in Geoje.  I found your blog by performing a Google search and I wanted to ask you a question.
Can you give me an idea of the cost of living in Geoje?
I'm sure that you are busy, but if you find time, it would be great if you could help me out.
Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

CW

Well, CW that’s a good question.  And of course you’re welcome before you even thank me.  I want to answer your question in two parts.  Today, I want to look a a general snapshot of Korean money compared to US money.
I don’t know your situation but if you are paying off any loans or debt or have the goal of saving up dollars—or any other currency for that manner—Korea is going to be mighty expensive.
I previous wrote about the sinking Korean won a few weeks ago.  Then, I took the hit and exchanged my money and sent it to America.  I’m glad I did then, because its gotten much worse.  The won is now at a 7 1/2 year low against the US dollar!  The only time its been worse in recent history is when it was forced into an IMF loan in 1998.
Here’s today’s chart from Google Finance:

Its down about 33% the past year, and down about 10% the past three weeks.  I re-did my end of term budget to plan in my final payments from Korea (last paycheck, severance pay, and pension disbursement) and was shocked at the results.  I lost $600 compared to what I would have received if September had been my last month!  That’s what a 10% drop in a currency means for ex-pats sending money back overseas.
Teachers with prior experience or a teacher’s degree usually get a 2.2 million won a month contract.  When I first came, this was worth about $2,400 a month.  Add in the benefits—health, the severance pay at the end, and the paid housing and the deal was good.  Now the same 2.2 million won month contract is worth about $1,600 a month!  That’s $800 less than the beginning of term!  Because of the sinking won, many teachers have taken a de facto pay cut of $800 a month!

	Korean Won	US Dollars
October 2007	2.2 million	$2,400
October 2008	2.2 million	$1,600

Those wanted to save money or send money home are at a serious disadvantage.  However, if you are looking to travel around Asia during breaks, around Korea on the weekend, and be immersed in a foreign culture, Korea would still be a great choice.  It just might be a good idea to keep the money you earn here until the won goes up a bit before sending any of it home.
Also, while the weak won hurts the exchange rate, it hasn’t caused a huge inflation.  I’m speaking as a consumer here not an economist.  So your won aren’t as worthy overseas, but here in Korea, they are just right.  Tomorrow, I’ll talk more about.
You’re welcome.

Accidentally Profound

I believe that the children are our future.  That if we teach them well, and let them lead the way, and show them all the beauty they possess inside, then their laughter can remind us how we used to be.

So, it should come as no surprise that occasionally, one of these well-taught youngsters will come up with something truly profound.  This past week, I’ve come across two such cases.  One student is a current pupil of mine, and the other is a recently former.  I’d like to take all the credit for what they’ve said, but I know that might come across arrogant (even if it is the truth.)

The first, is from my student Pretty (and no I did not give her that name).  I gave the glass, which is reading on a first grade level, the task of copying vocabulary words off the board, and then writing sentences for two of the words.

We’ve been studying a book called “Things that Go.”  Here’s what Pretty came up with for the word “people”:

People is transportation.

My jaw dropped when I first read it.  At first glance, it would appear that the subject and verb don’t agree.  People is third-person plural, while is is the third-person singular form of “to be".

However, I think this presents us with something to ponder.  In this 21st century world with jets that get us across oceans in hours instead of months, and the Internet where we can connect with people instantly, are we really a plurality of people, or are we just one.  One people, together, singular.

Then, this metaphor.  People is transportation.  How true.  Transportation is the very thing that makes us a singular people.  Without transportation, we are all just plural individuals hunting and gathering in solitude.  With transportation “things that make us go” we are singular people.

Well done Pretty!

The next profound statement comes from one of my favorite former students Daniel, another first grade level reader.  I used to think him a pain in the butt when I encountered him in the halls, but after having him in class for a couple months, I found him insightful and funny.

On a recent test for another teacher, Daniel wrote the following:

Flowers are not funny.

The question he is responding to is irrelevant.  What matters is the sentence.  In four words, Daniel captures one of the deep truths existence.

Upon reading this, I have had second thoughts about pursuit of a career in writing.  At one point, my finger came precipitously close to using the delete button on my novel.

Daniel, you are a prophet and a scholar.

Floating to Work

Yesterday it rained almost all day. The rain started around mignight and went through until about six or seven in the evening. When I was going to school around 1pm, it was a downpour. My house is just up the street. By up, I mean literally uphill. With the rain, and poor storm-water system in Gohyeon, my street became a river. Here's a video I took on my cellphone:

The rainy day also saw kids wearing some funny costumes. Here's Oscar in his rain gear. It sports a clear vinyl visor, and even a space on the back to go over his backpack. Very handy. And the brightness provided safety crossing the street. The pic was also taken on my phone.

"Hen" is what happens when

"Hen" is what happens when a 8 year old Korean girl assigns names to a character. This is not my fault.

This Old House

During a class with some of my more advanced students, came an interesting insight into Korea. Koreans lay claim as a nation to a long history stretching back nearly 1400 years. What I know about their history didn't prepare me for this discussion.

We were reviewing a story about a girl who was going to stay with her friend overnight at a farmhouse out of town. The friend was telling this girl that their hour was over a hundred years old. The girl was afraid of old houses since they might have ghosts.

When discussing whether this story was realistic, the lone boy thought it was. However, the girls all thought that there was something that wasn't realistic. I asked one of them, Lucy, what she thought.

"A house can't really be 100 years old."

I chuckled until I realized that she was serious. I thought a little more and realized that it may be true in Gohyeon at least. I've seen photos from during the Korean war, and the entire valley was undeveloped land that was used as a POW camp. Certainly nothing in the city--save the POW museum--could be more than fifty years old.

However, is this true for the rest of Korea? I've certainly seen, since my time here, that construction goes up cheap and quick. Buildings are demolished and rebuilt in the manner of months. I've seen entire blocks torn down remade in the one and half years I've been in Geoje.

I told the students that the house I lived in back in the US was about forty years old. They gasped. None of the students lived in homes that were more than seven years old. I wonder how old some of those farm homes are out in the very rural interior of the country. Does Korea really rebuild itself so often, or are my students just ignorant?

"Dung whore"

This is the first in a new series I hope to populate with many funny stories about what my young students say.

One of my favorite little guys has the English name of Adam.  I teach language arts to his class of four-year olds.

He constantly says this phrase 똥구멍 "dong-ku-meong."  I never knew exactly what it meant until a couple days ago.  See, dong, is very close to an English word, "dung."  And as far as I can tell, like "dung" is in English, "dong" is acceptable word for feces.

I've asked a couple Korean teachers what this meant and none could explain exactly what it meant since they were so embarrassed.  Then, Christmas eve, I went out with some people from work.  I asked the Koreans about the phrase.  They were shocked that our little Adam was saying that.  Funny thing is, he says it A LOT.

A conversation with Adam will often consist of, "Dongkumung Joshua, this, donkumeong class, donkumeong candy" you get the idea.

Then, the Korean woman said, "Dongkumeong means Dung Whore!"

Me and the female American teacher started laughing.  We are the two Americans who teach Adam and hear the brunt of donkumeong.  What she had said was funny, but then, we realized what she had meant to say: dunghole!   Even Koreans who are excellent at English will occasionally invert L and R sounds when speaking English.

Dong is of course feces, and "ku-mong" means hole, opening, slit etc.  So, this kid was literally going around saying, "poophole, poophole, poophole."  In practice, it means a**hole.

 

The things kids say....

Pinishi!

At the school where I work, students feel the need to announce every time they complete a task--even if its something as menial as writing their name or the date on the paper. This announcement usually comes in the form of "pinishi" which is a Korean pronunciation of "finish."

I have been trying to break my students of this habit, or at the very least compromise by having them say, "I am finished."

As I had mentioned before, I have been participating in the National Novel Writing Month. The goal of the contest is for participants to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. There were many times when the task seemed so far away. My procrastination combined with writer's block is visible from my word count chart below from the nanowrimo website.


On the 15th, I should have been at the halfway-point at 25,000 words, but was only at about 14,000. You can also see that I wrote about half of the 50,000 words in the last five days. I spent 12 hours straight writing this past Sunday and that helped me get back on track. After Sunday, words just flowed out.

I actually have quite a bit more to write just to tie everything together and to flesh out some of the themes I've been working on. But tonight, after I cruised in with those final few thousand words to put me over the line, I celebrated the only way that seemed natural: I stood, punched my fist in the air and shouted, "Pinishi!"

So, I got this little image to display on the site. Its just a completion award but its one of the most beautiful logos I've ever seen.

America!

It has been 26 hours since I left my hotel room in Korea. Three flights behind me and one still ahead, I am incredibly thankful to be back. I made it in time for a BBQ holiday and just after the oppressive heat of Missouri's summer has past.

During my layover in San Francisco, I made a B line to a Mexican food place. I had a huge burrito with real guacamole, and black beans, and salsa. Man I have missed Mexican food. After I visited my bank's ATM (such a joy to get US dollars from a machine!) I spoke to the lady at the food counter. She had a Spanish accent! Yeah!

All around me there were English conversations--too many to listen to. I'm so used to tunning out the Korean spoken around me that I forgot what it's like to understand what people are actually saying! I forgot what its like to be able to focus my hearing on differing conversations and hear and understand what they are saying.

In Korea, I usually only start trying to understand what people are talking about (in Korean) when I hear my name in the conversation. The way most of the people in the school system treat me in much like Buster in Arrested Development.

There's a great episode titled "Bringing up Buster" where there are several instances where two characters are having pretty harsh discussion about Buster and then the camera pans out to show that Buster is right there in the same room. Below are highlights from that episode. Fast forward to about the 1:00 mark to find the first example and then 3:00 to see the other. Again, imagine me as Buster and my Korean handlers as Buster's family.



Now, I'm at some cheesy sports bar at the Kansas City Airport waiting for my final flight right into Joplin. I'm loving me some free wi-fi, my Sam Adams, and some famous Aurthur Bryant's KC style barbecue.

Yes. It is good to be back.

Leaving Korea: Saying Goodbye

Friday was my last say of work. I spent it at my main school. This is the school that I had spent three days a week at. The whole week was odd. I was saying hello after not seeing the students for the two months of summer vacation, and then saying goodbye as I prepared to leave.

The day was pretty casual, with me spending class time chatting with students and showing funny YouTube videos. I got some nice notes, and some "I miss yous" and "I love yous" from the students. Then, during my last class of the day, I was interrupted. I was called into the hall and was told that they want me to say goodbye to the school.

They took me down the hall to a waiting video camera on a tripod, and a microphone. I was a little confused, but understood quickly that I was going to be saying my goodbye to a camera. Somehow the camera was connected to all of the school's TVs. As I made my impromptu speech into the camera, students would lean out the classrooms and wave at me. I could catch just a glimpse of my image on the TV through one of the classroom windows. Very strange. At the end, I said, "Goodbye" and waved. After that, I could hear the classrooms up and down the hall erupt with "goodbye."

After that, I began to leave. I say began because it took me fifteen minutes to walk out the front door. Right after my farewell address, the school's cleaning time began. Students poured out into the halls with brooms, rags, and mops to clean the school. In my attempt to make good on by goodbye, I was hindered by dozens of students. It was quite touching. They were hugging me, shaking my hands, and trying to block the door. Students followed me all the way off the grounds.

Back on my first day of school, I discussed receiving the rockstar treatment

I still get the rockstar treatment as I walk around school. The boys bow at me as I walk by, and when I leave, they hang out the windows and shout, "Bye-bye Mr. Friel." I've even had some bold girls come up to me and say, "You are so handsome," and then run off giggling. It can definitely be awkward.

So fitting with the way I was welcomed in, I got the rockstar goodbye when I left. Then today, I walked by the Geoje Office of Education, where a year previous I began my time of teaching. Down the drive, I could see a western woman surrounded by education officers. I assumed she was the new native English teacher. I chuckled, but didn't stop. She couldn't have any idea what she was getting into.

Meerkat Manor Lesson Plan

As the semester neared the end, I tried hard to keep my students attention. I brought in one of favorite shows, Meerkat Manor. This might be useful for you ESL teachers out there with summer camps to teach, or those last-week classes.

Meerkats are amazing creatures and very interesting. I can't believe how complex their social behavior is. Meerkat Manor is a fun show, and also very educational.

I put together a mini-unit on Meerkats, and wanted to share the first lesson in the series. Let me know if you find the information useful in your classroom.

Materials:

• Copy of Meerkat Manor "A Family Affair" Season 1, Episode 1 (this is available on DVD, or on file-sharing networks.)
• Flash presentation about Meerkats (I created)
• You also might want a map of the Meerkat territories (Optional)
  
• Worksheet on Meerkats (I created, featuring a picture from Enchanted Learning)

Old Zealand

(Update: Mixed up the Dutch province of "Zeeland" and the Danish province of Zealand. Despite the spelling similarities, New Zealand is named after the Dutch province.)

Today, I had a great class (surrounded by some duds). This class was made up of first-year middle school students who are 13 years old. In the English text, there was a dialogue to the effect of:

Mino: What's the weather like there in New Zealand?
Anne: Well, its cold and snowy.
Mino: That's very surprising. Here in Seoul, its very hot.

Then, being the social studies teacher I am, I felt it necessary to explain the reason for the difference in temperatures--mainly that the two hemispheres have opposite seasons. Then, I had a student ask a question that made me so happy, "Teacher, where is Old Zealand?"

It made me stop in my tracks. I know I must have cocked my head and scrunched my nose. Not only had this student asked a question using a complete sentence, but it was a good question that I had never considered before.

Well, there's two "Old Zealands" The first is an island of Denmark:

For those geography nerds out there (Dan) this is Denmark. The dark red area is the island of Zealand.

However, the namesake for New Zealand, is the Dutch province of Zeeland (picture below). New Zealand was mapped by the Dutch, but the name was Anglicized (spelling changed from Zeeland to Zealand) when Captain Cook arrived.

So, next time you think of New Zealand, don't forget the original (spelled Zeeland).

The Popcorn Machine: a rant

I am a popcorn machine.


Okay, stay with me. For about two years, I worked at a medium-sized movie theater. I served in every position from an usher tearing tickets, to managing entire shifts of employees. Apart from a projector breaking down, the second biggest nightmare of a movie theater is running out of popcorn.

As a manager, I'd often have to bark at my employees to keep the popper running while we were busy. It make take a few minutes to get the next batch of popcorn going, but it'd take a whole lot more time appeasing customers if we ran out of popcorn.

However, when we weren't busy, we'd only use one popcorn popper. Sometimes, we'd make a bunch of popcorn in the morning, and wouldn't need to pop any more until the late afternoon or evening. We didn't keep the popcorn machines running just because we could--just because we owned them.

Back to me and my nature as a popcorn popper. I am officially contracted my my province's office of education, who in turn assigned me to Geoje. The Geoje office has assigned me to three main schools, which I travel to on alternating days of the week. During the vacation times, I'm still contracted to work even though the Korean teachers are free and clear. Last winter I had some frustrations with the system, but all in all it worked out okay. I did some traveling around Korea on my week of vacation, and taught half-day English camps around Geoje.

For the summer, my Monday-Wednesday-Friday school starts vacation a week earlier than my other two schools. So I was happy, I thought, wow three day off there. Then, I found out that Tuesday that week is a national holiday--no Tuesday school. So, I had one school left. I worked things out with that school, and they said it would be okay for me to miss that day. Its the last day of classes before vacation, and there wasn't going to be any serious lessons anyway. Last semester on that last day of class, an hour after someone was supposed to pick me up, they said I didn't have to come to school.

So, I had chipped away a week of unofficial vacation where two of my schools were still in session, but I didn't need to go. My mom and brother were dying for a trip to Asia. So we planned the Japan leg of our trip for that week.

Then, last evening, I went to a meeting at the Geoje Office of Education. I met the other American English teacher on the island and we were ushered into different rooms from our co-teachers. While we discussed plans for this English camp in a few weeks, my handlers discussed (without me present) what I will do for the rest of the summer vacation time. Then, I found out second hand (later confirmed) that they had taken away my unofficial vacation. They found about my free time, so assigned me to other schools for those days.

I am a popcorn maker. Since they have me, they will make me make popcorn whether they need the popcorn or not. The plan is that I will go to these schools for extra days that week. So, during that last week of school before summer vacation--where very little learning happens anyway, I am supposed to show up and do what?

In my case, as with most labor contracts in Korea (and the rest of the world I assume) all of the flexibility lies with the employer and none with the employee. I have no choice whatsoever about anything. My handlers see in the contract that I am only promised "seven working days of vacation in the summer", so they feel obliged to make sure that I only have seven working days of vacation.

As I have pointed out many times, without the standards, objectives, and assessment that are cornerstones to an educational process, the idea of having a native speaker come to a class is just entertainment--a novelty. This is especially so, if these are unplanned, non-routine days I'm expected to teach.

If a teacher in American has a day off because their particular school is closed, are they required to travel to a different school to teach there? No they aren't. Neither are Korean teachers.

The question must be asked, "Just because they can contractually force me to work, does that mean that they should, or need me to?"

Peter Rabbit

I don't remember exactly who introduced me to the stories of Peter Rabbit, though I do have a vague memory that it might have been my great-grandmother. In any case, one of the aspects of the stories that always stayed with me was the cutting off of rabbit tails. I always imagined just a little cotton ball being cut off these talking rabbits.

There's a scene from the Tale of Peter Rabbit that speaks to this:

Then some one [sic] began to sing 'Three blind mice, three blind mice!' It sounded disagreeable to Peter; it made him feel as though his own tail were going to be cut off: his fur stood on end.

---The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Memories of that story are buried my subconscious from when little. Imagine my surprise when I examined the knife used in my school's teacher's office for cutting food:

My Sick Day

My Wednesday began like most: I fought with the alarm clock and the alarm clock won. However, when I got out of bed, my head started spinning. It was that sick headache that comes with the flu and bad colds--where your head seems removed from your body.

Well, I fought it and got to the shower and felt better. I fixed myself a couples eggs for breakfast and went about my routine. I don't normally have breakfast, but the medicine I've been taking the past few days for tonsillitis has to be taken with meals. In the picture are the standard medicine packets containing all the pills for each dose. Included are a couple Tylenols to fight my fever, an antibiotic, a digestive aide (I guess the antibiotic is hardcore), and an anti-inflammatory.

I swallowed my pills with some water and left the apartment. I was very upset to find that my empty water bottle that I had left out to be exchanged by the water delivery man had been kicked down the stairs to the landing below mine. I suspect that it might have been my drunk neighbor across the hall. He likes to come home drunk and kick the door loudly for hours if his girlfriend locks him out, then when he gets in the house, he likes to kick her around. I replaced the bottle and left. I still couldn't shake the sick feeling though.

I get into school fine and go into my first class. Wednesdays are pretty straight-forward. I teach straight from the book for each of my classes. The teachers save the "conversation" portions for me to teach. My first class was really awful. Three students in particular really got on my nerves. There was a kid who was throwing bits of eraser across the room, pissing off another student in turn. I employed textbook class management techniques. I made eye-contact with him. Then I caught him a minute later and told him to stop and took away the bits of eraser in his hand. Two minutes later, I caught him again and sent him to the back of the room to stand for the rest of the class (this psuedo time-out is pretty standard in Korea).

I made the same progression with two girls who were discussing drawings they had made with one another. This time though, when I walked over to them to ask them to stop, they ignored me! I was right next to me, and they kept talking like I wasn't there! I had them go to the back on time-out as well. The class was a little better with these disruptive students out of the way.

Then, a most annoying thing happened. You know that "if daddy says no, go ask mommy" trick? Well, these girls played it on me. I teach with a Korean co-teacher who is notoriously lax on discipline. Her concept of classroom management:

1. Have the students sit next to their friends
2. Put the "bad" students in the back of the class and ignore them
3. Speak in a normal speaking voice so only the first two rows can hear.
4. Ignore students who are talking
   

When I saw her tell these students to sit down, I was not happy at all. I continued with the lesson though and then went back to my desk after class to cool down. I felt even sicker. Waves of nausea began to hit me. I took a few drinks of water before the bell rang and felt better. Then, I went to class with my other co-teacher. I got about ten minutes into the lesson before I had to leave the students to go hug a toilet. When I felt I could stand again, I grabbed my things, and rode the first bus home.

On the way home, I considered returning to the doctor to see if it was a bad reaction to the medicine. But, his office is on the other side of the island, and I wasn't up for the long ride. I considered going to a clinic in town, but there was no guarantee they'd speak English. Just the thought of having to pantomime my condition to a receptionist and a waiting room full of curious Koreans made me want to puke, so I plopped back in bed and tried to sleep it off.

I'm still not sure what it was that made me sick: the medicine, those eggs I cooked (or undercooked possibly), or being overridden by a soft teacher. I'm pretty sure it wasn't the medicine; that night, I fixed myself a little something to eat and popped another package of those pills. I decided that potential nausea is better than swollen tonsils I've had for a week. Ah, to be sick in Korea.

Absence

I started this blog back in August as a hobby to chronicle my adjustment to Korean culture. I blogged about my job as an English teacher and what it was like to live in rural Korea.

Now that I've acclimated myself to Korea culture, the ideas I have for blogs seem less urgent. So while I have many things to write about, they don't seem as pressing as they did back when I first arrived. Plus, this past month I've been a big nerd and have had my nose buried in books. I've re-read through the Harry Potter series in preparation for the upcoming movie and final book, I've read Cormac McCarthy's The Road, and began re-reading my favorite books as an adolescent, the Mars Trilogy. Like I said: big nerd.

However, now with the school semester winding down, and my plans for next year decided, I have some more time to devote to writing. So hopefully, I'll get back into blogging after a three-week absence.

Shut your mouth...

Korea, this is yet another reason why you are struggling to compete in the area of English education:

A fellow English teacher/blogger is being sued for libel by his former Korean employers. Libel here in Korea is different from our American concept. In America, libel is saying something that is harmful and untrue. Here, it just has to damage a person's reputations. Get this

"Unlike the United States, Korea does not exalt free speech as a constitutional right. However, the Korean Constitution does recognize a right to reputation. In other words, reputation enjoys higher standing under Korean law than free speech." -- Brendon Carr, a law consultant quoted in the Korean Herald

I used to subscribe and link to ZenKimchi. I was alerted to this situation by a fellow blogger, Torgodevil, at A Geek in Korea. After reading about this, I switched that last blog about one of my bosses to friend-read-only mode on Facebook.

This is scary stuff. I can't imagine what I'd do if I ran into major problems like this with my employer. Overall, my complaints are minor--normal work problems. The only big problem I had was at the beginning of my job when I got paid a week late. I had tried to contact people to find out why, and I got ignored and blown-off.

A Geek in Korea recounts a story about a Korean friend of his:

She went to the labor board twice to complain because her school refused to pay her wages due...In fact, the hakwon that refused to pay this woman actually demanded an apology from her. They said they’d pay only if she apologized for them to court.

Unbelievable! The thief demands an apology for being exposed as a thief.

Korea, you expect great things from your foreign English teachers, but don't protect us when we are wronged. Then, you allow those who have wronged us to come after us for pointed out their wrong.

---
Links:
ZenKimchi
A Geek in Korea
Korea Herald's Article

The Boss: "You better hang out with me or else."

You can kind of tell from the title, what this post is about. However, to keep my job safe, you have to go over to my facebook account to see this posting. Click here, login, and read away.