The Busy Week

November 18th-22nd
This week was crazy busy and stressful. Main reason... observation days this week and report cards. And your's truly had 3. The most of any teacher. I had one on Wednesday and 2 on Friday. The one on Wednesday was okay, but the parents thought the material (US government, constitution, voting, et.) was too hard. That and the class froze up with the moms there. Normally Denmark is loud and rambunctious, but not on observation day. Also in normal class, the kids knew most of the answers.
Friday... I stayed after school on Thursday to prepare for Friday. Friday I had 2 in a row. I had France, then right after France I went to Australia. No time to refocus or double check. As you might know from previous posts, France class is not easy. Australia is full of bright kids, but the moms were not happy with the last open class because they were afraid their kids were not happy and not enjoying school. So I would have to shine.
Luckily France went well. A few students froze.... but luckily it was the students that really did not know the material as well. Almost all of the moms gave great comments and marks. The one mom that gave average marks... well I think she has uber high expectations, and I know that she pushes her daughter to do really good and also has her daughter going to multiple hagwons (which makes her daughter stressed and tired).
Australia we pretty darn well. The students answered questions, and I got the students to participate, laugh, and have fun. They were not as giggly as I can normally make them, but they were happy enough and laughed enough in my class that the moms were happy.
Other stuff went on that week, but nothing really of consequence (or, that I can remember). Most of my mental energy was on the open classes (and report cards).
Several of us teachers went out Friday night. We went to a bar called vent, and then headed to Joons. It was nice to blow off some steam and stress.

Saturday November 23rd.
A nothing day. I watched some movies, cleaned (I wanted a huge cleaning undertaking, but that did not happen), went to the hardware store and I bought something... I bought an electric water kettle. I never though I needed one. But I have used it numerous times already. It boils water so much quicker than a kettle on my oven. Great for ramen and tea. I am sure other things too, but that is what I used it for.
At night, I hung out with Taylor, Hudson and Sam, and we stayed up till nearly 4am playing Mortal Kombat on Xbox. Kinda nerdy, but super fun.

Sunday November 24th.
Woke up and went to World Cup Stadium to watch the FC Seoul game with Karen. I really enjoy going to the soccer games. It is super entertaining and super cheap.
I came home and took a nap. I started laundry, started doing more report cards, and then skyped with my parents. After the skype, I continued to do report cards.

Monday November 25th.
Its going to be a good but busy week. Good because no open classes, busy because it is the last week of the semester so not only is there a lot of school work to do, but also all of the other events that happen during the last week.
Ronnie spoke to me about resigning with ECC. I told him I was interested and that I wanted to see the contract first.
No criers today. I had several close calls with France, but nothing became of it! My afternoon students were good too! It was a review day, so pretty easy academically. I stayed after school to talk to Christina and Christine about the open classes from Friday.
Walking home I got pizza school for dinner and a beer to drink with it.
I watched Star Trek into Darkness, ate my pizza, drank my beer, and went to bed relatively early.

Tuesday November 26th.
Busy morning with my Kindy kids. I was going to do art with France... the project was drawing a scene from Aladdin. The girls complained and wanted to draw other princesses. We did not do art. This shocked them. It made me chuckle.
Australia worked hard in both periods of class, and we got a lot of work done. Denmark was okay but we had to take the storybook quiz. A pointless quiz that does not get graded. It takes over 20 minutes, and it was on a book that they did not read. So wasted time.
During my break in the afternoon, I went to an international food mart that one of my older students told me about. I had been there before. I needed more Sriracha for lunch. They have the actual stuff from the US (AKA cock sauce, rooster sauce, or just Huy Fong Food Sriracha) there.

Ronnie gave me a contract. I read it and asked a question. This contract did not have them paying for a flight home at the end of this contract, and a flight to Korea at the beginning of the next. It is how Rob was able to fly home on the companies dime for a week and a half). Its actually not what I was asking Ronnie about (I was asking about how if I flew home it would effect my end of the year bonus). But anyway, it was brought up, and he said he would have to call corporate to see if they would approve it. He asked what would happen if they couldn't and I told him I did not know. I think he was surprised to hear me say it. I really love where I work and the people I work with. It is a bargaining chip. If they are not able to fly me home, would I really not re-sign? I don't know. The cost of them hiring a new person, flying them out, training them, etc would cost lot. Granted that cost is negated by the 100 dollar month raise I would be getting. But I also view it as what do I bring to the table at ECC, and how much am I worth to them. I know english teachers are in a sense a dime a dozen, a commodity.
I was talking with Rob. He said the ball really is in my court. If I dont resign with Mokdong, they still fly me home. I could then apply for another job and then just fly back out with a new company and a new contract (I could even still work for an ECC). With one year experience, I would be about to get a job that pays a little more. So as I sit, there is no harm for me to try to get a little more out of it. Lord knows I have spend a pretty penny of my own money for the kids experience. So we will see in the next several days what happens.

After work, Ronnie took us out for a chicken and beer party to celebrate the end of open classes. The 5 foreign guys went and 3 of the Korean teachers went, as well as Ronnie and Steven. It was good food and a good time. I wish we did this more. I feel bad about setting them up. Korean culture, the oldest person buys it all. I am not sure if Ronnie pays out of his own pocket or if it is a company account. I love free food and beer, but I hate to make someone else responsible for it.  This was his treat... but if I set it up, it would be his treat, though it might not be what he wanted to do.
I came home, ironed, showered and shaved, then I typed this, now I am heading to bed.

I have the Busan post typed... it is on my phone, so I just have to transfer it... hopefully soon.