Happy Anniversary to me. Time has been flying!
Today was a pretty standard day. My kindy classes went well. No drama. The kids did work pretty well. My one on one with Chloe went well. She was very talkative. Good thing to hear. In my greece class (3rd graders) we were talking about foods, so I brought them yogurt and waffles (not hommade, just prepackaged ones) since those were two of the foods we were talking about.
At night I had to type goodbye letters for my classes. It was tough to think of the right words to day. It is all I did all night.
Thursday December 5th
Gym Day. Fairly standard morning for a gym day.
Niamh went home early. She was not feeling well. I had to take one of her classes in the afternoon. These were young kids. Not full time kindy kids, but kindy age kids. It was an interesting experience. One of the kids is a crier. While Rachel was teaching, the kid cried. Mom knows she is a crier, so mom was at ECC. Mom comforted the kid in the hallway. When it was my turn to teach... mom sat in the classroom next to her daughter. Not only was it mom, but a baby. Though for me, the girl did not cry. Rachel was surprised. I was even able to get the girl to answer questions (albeit quietly). But I was feeling super judged. I have only taught those kids one time, so there is no rapport with the kids, any ability to manage the classroom with kids you do not know is difficult. But I think I succeeded.
Today the air quality was bad. Chinese dust.
After work, Rob, Hudson and I went to a billiard hall. They had a pocket table (standard pool). From what I hear, there are not many billiard halls that have pocket tables. We then got pizza for dinner. There was some extra, and I declined, instead of being the human vacuum cleaner.
Friday December 6th
Busy day. In my kindy classes, we are writing a book. So I have to do it with 3 classes. Only graduating classes do it, and I have 3 classes that are graduating. Aye aye aye. So we have to use class time to do this. And of course, I have and am responsible for all of my other classwork too. So, I will not really be able to teach anything this month. I hate that. Don't get me wrong, the story book is really cool. It gets printed really nice, and looks professional. It will be a great memory for the kids. In the long run, it is a better thing (rather than a dumb story that we have to read) for the students. Its just that I am still responsible for all of the classwork.
My afternoon classes all went good. Nothing big or exciting happened.
After work Scott, Rob, Hudson, and I all went to a gym over by Bobo. We all joined. 200 bucks for 4 months. Not cheap, but not expensive. Camille pays 100 a month for hers. So we all did a workout that night. I am taking this diet/get healthy thing seriously. It is going to be a lot easier because the other guys want to go to the gym and work out. So it will help keep me honest and keep me with it.
We had dinner after gym.
Then we played some Mortal Kombat, then went to a 노래방 (karaoke room) that is by Bobo. After singing for an hour, we went and got some 해장국 (haejanguk- a type of soup)
Saturday December 7th.
I did nothing. I woke up not feeling well. I was super congested. I laid in bed with my humidifier on for most of the day, coughing, spitting up crap. I was going to go to Joons for his anniversary party. But I decided that being responsible was more important. So, did nothing.
Sunday December 8th.
I felt much better today. I did not end up doing much. I met a person from Craigslist that was giving away free kitchen stuff. Not that I needed any... but I do only have one plate, and plates (even cheap ones) are 4 bucks a pop. I figured what the heck. So I went, got 3 plates, some chopsticks, and 2 forks, 2 knives, and 2 spoons. It is funny. I have chopsticks, knives and spoons, but no forks. So shazzam. I walked all the way home, which took nearly an hour and a half. It was chilly outside, but exercise.
I did some writing for the story book. I skyped with my parents at night.
Monday December 9th.
Not much of an exciting day today. But, Sharon and David were pushing each other so I took a star away from both. Sharon started to cry (which she hasnt done in a while). Anyway as soon as she started, I sternly asked if she needed to go to Korea class (the 5 year olds). She said no. Then I told her to stop crying right now. She stopped. She was still sniffling on the verge of crying. I told her to stop that or I would take her to Korea class right then. She stopped.
I do not know how I will be when I am a parent. But from where I sit, some of these kids are coddled so much. I get crying. It makes sense. But enabling a kids to do it (especially when they do something wrong) by coddling and hugging them just makes them keep doing it. It trains them. I still walk past France and see them crying for Christine (and sometimes Sam). For the most part, they are not crying for me much anymore. Or when they do tear up, they do not make a big deal out of it.
Australia class went well. Denmark class on the other hand. Not. Australia likes math, and they want to do it. Denmark does not like it, does not want to do it, does not know it, and is very slow. I spent both periods doing math working on catching them up. Eric {{{the one I have talked about before that is super slow. He has not has his birthday yet, so he is still 5 years old everyone else is already 6. All of them are Korean 7. The way the age system works here really puts some kids at a disadvantage. Eric was born in December. When you are born, you are 1 years old. Then, on January 1st, everyone gets a year older (its everyone birthday). So when he was 2 weeks old, he was a Korean 2 year old. Just developmentally he is behind. Almost everyone in the class can draw compound pictures (fine details and multiple elements), can write nicely, and can do some math. He was not able to do 7 minus 5. This makes me feel like a complete failure as a teacher. These skills were supposed to be taught when he was a 6-1. Our 5 year olds can do it. He is a 7-2. I just assume that he has been faking it or cheating in class. I wish we could give the kindy kids homework. Oh, he is also the kid whos mother was not happy when Christina said that he needed to take a mentor class (1 on 1) to catch up with the rest of the class.....}}}
My afternoon classes were good. We tried to make paper dolls from the book in my England class. Failure. It was overly difficult. Even for me. My Greece class did the Write it Right book. Meh.
After school we went to the gym.
Came home, worked on the stories. Watched Back to the Future.
Tuesday December 10th.
We were working on our storybook for France class. It is so weird... The boys were good. The girls... They all have to conform to what each other says. It is a cancer. The girls will have their own idea, but then change it to be the same as everyone else. When we were practicing for open class. One girl wanted to be a nurse, one a doctor, a ballerina, a figure skater, and a singer. The next time I asked, they all wanted to be the same thing. Exact thing happened today. What kind of food do you want to eat. Instantly, all of them wanted to eat the exact same thing, dress the exact same way, do the exact same thing. The boys are good at being individuals. The girls are not. I eventually told the girls they were not allowed to talk and that it was okay if they did not know how to spell something, to just try (this way, they would not hear what the other people were saying). I also had them cover up what they were writing. It went from everyone wanting to be a figure skater that likes rabbits and wants to eat strawberry ice cream, to more of individual thoughts. Common themes (princesses, pink, etc.) but not copies. It was very difficult.
We went over the story that I typed, and all of the kids liked it (except for Amy who was not here last week, so she had no idea what was going on). They decided on a few changes.
Denmark had a lot of energy today, so getting them to focus was near impossible. Pretty much par for the course with Denmark. I wish I had one class with them in the morning. I think it would be a little easier for them to focus. Lunch, playtime, class, class, go home time. Calming them down after playtime is hard... cause they are kids and like to play. Then the last 15 minutes of class are tough, cause focusing before going home is tough. oh well.
My afternoon 4th grade class was okay. We our debate topic is attractiveness vs intelligence. Jenna in the answers wrote that she wasn't attractive or intelligent. She also made several references to not being attractive being a problem. I know how to make the kids feel smart... but how do I give them self confidence when it comes to being pretty. She is 11. It bothers me there is already this pressure on her that is definitely bothering her. I can understand why some kids think they are ugly, but she is not one that I would think to have that problem. What kind of positive reinforcement can I give her so she does not think of herself as ugly? With a Kindy kid, if they say they are ugly or is someone calls them ugly (does not happen often) you can go up give them a hug and tell them they are super cute/beautiful/handsome. Not so much with an adolescent. I know it is not my job... but if I can raise her confidence, make her feel good about herself, then she might just go back to reaching her potential. Oh, and for intelligence, she got the best score on our test.
I came home, and took a nap. I much needed nap. I was so tired all day. Then I worked on the stories.
Wednesday December 11th.
Last week, Sam had me go into France class and take away science because they were misbehaving. Today was science day, and all of the kids were surprised that we did not do science. A few of them remembered why, but seemed to still be shocked that we didn't do it. Hopefully that will help France learn consequences.
In Australia, we worked the entire time. I am satisfied with their pace.... while I wish I had more time, they are able to do the work and mostly understand what we are doing. Denmark, it was a pretty decent day too. They were hyper, but not too hyper. We got some work done, not as much as I wanted... but with them, it is hard no matter the circumstances.
Today again I made an observation... it may be an observation that I have made before, but I might as well share again... It is about maturity. We have 4 different levels of 7 year olds at ECC. 7-1, 7-1.5, 7-2, and 7-3. It is amazing to see the different mannerisms between the levels. They lower the number, the more like younger children they act... in all aspects. The 7-1s have many of the same difficulties that all of the first year students have (5-1, 6-1). It doesnt matter that they are older, the same hang ups exist... but at school we just pretend they don't. Our 7-3 kids (7 years old, 3 years at ECC) act really good. They are mature. They write well, they draw well, and the are able to come up with ideas and show complex thoughts. Our 7-2s (7 years old, 2 at ECC) are able to comprehend a lot of things. It is easy to have basic conversations with them, Our 7-1.5 are almost 7-2s. They are 7 years, and the 1.5 means an academy that was not ECC. They are proficient at some things, but not all that ECC does. Then there are the 7-1s. 7 years, first academy. While it is still Kindergarten in Korea... in the US, these kids would be first graders. It would be like sending a child to the first grade in the US without any prior education (US kindergarten or preschool). Motor skills and the likes are different than the other 7 year olds. A lot of their (7-1) abilities to draw or write mimic the first year 5 year olds. a lot of them can only draw one character. One color scheme, one facial expression. The few 7-1s that are able to... I know that they actually either go to an art hagwon (academy) or an after ECC art program).
For me, just seeing the difference between the same age and the levels is pretty incredible. I went to preschool, Kindergarten, and then 1st grade. I would have been a 7-3... I am not a fan of over-educating or forcing kids to be miserable... but there is definitely a difference between starting too early and too late (right on-top of ECC there is a daycare hagwon (not just babysitting, but schooling Koreans that are younger than 5 (so at most Korean 4, so western 2 or 3). It is so complex.
My afternoon kids were okay. It was a review day. Review days are tough. During a review, my students are good at figuring out answers. Both my England and Greece class. But as soon as it is test time... they cannot answer the same questions... thankfully this review was not before a test. We played bingo in my England class and a board game in the book in my Greece class.
After my Greece class, one of the girls was waiting for her mom at ECC. I tried talking to her. She was to shy/nervous to talk to me. In class, she'll try (though sometimes I have to force it out (ie keep asking and not letting her give up)). After class she did not. I need to think of a way to tell them to not be shy or embarrassed. I think it is because they do not know the right words.... They have a thought, an answer, but are too scared to say it. I understand it... I experience it. But for them, I wish I could let them know it is easier to try in school with a teacher than not trying at all.
After school, we worked out. Tough.... the machines at the gym.. some of them are not big enough to handle me. Blah... We did find one that did fit... but it was not near the others.... Oh well... more motivation.
After gym, I came home and worked on my stories.
Thursday December 12...
Gym day!
In France, we read the story, they all liked it. We assigned the pictures. Juliet almost cried... but she was able to stop herself... It felt great knowing that several months ago she would have been balling. I could see the disappointment in her face.... but she fought through it. Great. Australia class, we assigned the drawings. Not too hard. They understand how to play paper rock scissors, and they accept the results. Denmark, I only had them for gym and for cartoon. So no storybook there.
Today was a snowy day. Before lunch, it started to snow. While Denmark was in gym, I went up to the roof. Korea class was there, as well as New Zealand class. It was fun. They all went back to class. After Denmark was out of gym, I took them up. I wish I could have gotten to see Australia class up there. Denmark is happy go lucky... and I love that.... Australia is the class that gets joy from wonder, which is also great. Just seeing them in snow I imagine would be very uplifting! Denmark wanted to have snowball fights (fun) but I think most of Australia would have wanted to just look at the snow, and see what it had done. I love both of them... they are just both different flavors....
Here are the kids...
New Zealand Class
Korea Class
Denmark Class
(Soo, Chloe, Joshua, John, Angelina, Eric, Erica, Jayden, Shawn)
During my break between Kindy and my afternoon classes, I got to get my journals and diaries done. My afternoon class went well. Much better vocabulary test grades. I talked to the other vocab teachers, and all of us think the class is crap. We are going to try to talk to Louise about it. Last time I did, the reason they dismissed it was that all of the Vocab classes are doing 2 units a week (40 words). But all of the vocab teacher are tired of it. We would rather teache 1 chapter a week, and be able to explain the words to the kids and actually teach them. 40 words in 50 minutes, but 3 pages of work... it doesnt teach kids. Even 20 words, is a stretch... but it would be better. The kids have questions.... but we do not have time to get to the questions because there is so much expected to be accomplished.... hopefully it changes. None of us feels like it does any good.
After work, Rob and I went to Costco. dinner and shopping. They had a bbq brisket sandwich that we both got... Regrets. It was absolutely delicious.... but when I looked it up. 710 calories. I have never been a calorie counter before, but not I am trying to be so I can lose my spare tire. 710 for a small sandwich. It did not fill me up. I easily could have eaten 3 (yes, as I said, they are delicious). 3 would put me over my calorie goal (with nothing else included). Depressing. Sacrifices....
Got home and spent several hours finishing Denmarks story. Out of all of the classes, they had the least information and the fewest descriptions. I know I was talking about France conforming... Denmark did the same thing... but they came up with all of it independently. It made it pretty hard to pull a story out of what they wrote. I will go over it tomorrow with them... hopefully they like it....
Friday December 13th
Today was a mostly wasted day. In France, we did math. Then we worked on the storybook. In Australia, we did the storybook for both periods. In Denmark we did the storybook for both periods. The stories are all done, now I just have to do some editing and drawing pictures with them all.
My afternoon classes were okay. It is hard to judge their progress. I like to think it is going okay, but I have no real way to judge it. It is easy to see kindy kids see and do more. My England class still speaks a lot of Korean. What they are learning... it is just like 'He is a police officer' or 'That is a hospital' so it is not really things that they would say conversationally.
My Greece class is okay. Just like with the England class... we are learning things, but not really things that I find very useful. We are talking vaguely about different foods that are eaten in different places. So, in theory, if I ask them "What to they eat in England" they should be able to respond with "In England, they eat fish and chips." That being said, I cannot tell if they are learning anything from it. They do not speak like that in class.
Gym after school was much more difficult. I am not just out of shape, I am pretty physically weak. I know that will all change... as well as losing the weight (my main goal).
Friday nigh, I just had a simple night in with some wine. I had rotisserie chicken for dinner.
Saturday December 14th.
Stayed in bed and watched movies for most of the day.
Went to dinner in Hongdae. We were going to get Jerk Chicken... it was closed for a private party. We went to a place that we had seen exploring. It said Asian Street Food, and it was named Utsav. It looked like a little hole in the wall. When we walked in, it was spectacular looking. Big and fancy. It was all Indian food. It was delicious and expensive (It was a fancy place). The food I got did not fill me up. I had a goat curry... delicious but high in calories. When we left, we went out another door. We walked out the front door. Turns out, the door we went is was the back entrance. The front made it look really fancy.
We didnt want to do much, so we were going to go back to bobo and all hang out and play video games. Well, half of the group fizzled out. When Taylor and Hudson got home, same and I joined for Mortal Kombat. We drank gin and tonics. They ordered mcdelivery, and I did not place an order because I was almost at my calorie limit.
Sunday December 15th.
Hungover. I do not often get bad hangovers. Today, I did. It appears that since I am eating less, my body is not as good handling alcohol. I have also been drinking a lot less, as alcohol is high in calories. I did not drink much last night... much less then I normally do. If I had ordered mcdelivery last night, I am sure the hangover would not have been. But it was a great lesson for me. So, now I will be much better at gauging.
Today was also a do nothing day. I went to the hardware store to pick up a timer for my heater. Now the heater will come on in the morning before I wake up, so I will wake up to a warm apartment.
I have started watching M*A*S*H*. I always liked it. But being in Korea (where the show takes place) makes it kind of surreal. I know it was filmed in California 20 years after the war... It just gives a new perspective.
I worked for a while editing the stories for the classes. Watched some more MASH, ordered McDelivery.... wow. I always knew it was high in calories. I ordered about half of what I normally do. It was nearly 1000 calories. Its amazing to see and actually pay attention to these things. I really love to eat... Too bad that eating without limits and till I am full made me so unhealthy. Everybody says your metabolism slows in your late 20's and early 30's. I had always been able to eat an unlimited amount and stay around the same weight... not any more. Ba humbug.
Now, time for a shower and bed.
Friday December 13th
Today was a mostly wasted day. In France, we did math. Then we worked on the storybook. In Australia, we did the storybook for both periods. In Denmark we did the storybook for both periods. The stories are all done, now I just have to do some editing and drawing pictures with them all.
My afternoon classes were okay. It is hard to judge their progress. I like to think it is going okay, but I have no real way to judge it. It is easy to see kindy kids see and do more. My England class still speaks a lot of Korean. What they are learning... it is just like 'He is a police officer' or 'That is a hospital' so it is not really things that they would say conversationally.
My Greece class is okay. Just like with the England class... we are learning things, but not really things that I find very useful. We are talking vaguely about different foods that are eaten in different places. So, in theory, if I ask them "What to they eat in England" they should be able to respond with "In England, they eat fish and chips." That being said, I cannot tell if they are learning anything from it. They do not speak like that in class.
Gym after school was much more difficult. I am not just out of shape, I am pretty physically weak. I know that will all change... as well as losing the weight (my main goal).
Friday nigh, I just had a simple night in with some wine. I had rotisserie chicken for dinner.
Saturday December 14th.
Stayed in bed and watched movies for most of the day.
Went to dinner in Hongdae. We were going to get Jerk Chicken... it was closed for a private party. We went to a place that we had seen exploring. It said Asian Street Food, and it was named Utsav. It looked like a little hole in the wall. When we walked in, it was spectacular looking. Big and fancy. It was all Indian food. It was delicious and expensive (It was a fancy place). The food I got did not fill me up. I had a goat curry... delicious but high in calories. When we left, we went out another door. We walked out the front door. Turns out, the door we went is was the back entrance. The front made it look really fancy.
We didnt want to do much, so we were going to go back to bobo and all hang out and play video games. Well, half of the group fizzled out. When Taylor and Hudson got home, same and I joined for Mortal Kombat. We drank gin and tonics. They ordered mcdelivery, and I did not place an order because I was almost at my calorie limit.
Sunday December 15th.
Hungover. I do not often get bad hangovers. Today, I did. It appears that since I am eating less, my body is not as good handling alcohol. I have also been drinking a lot less, as alcohol is high in calories. I did not drink much last night... much less then I normally do. If I had ordered mcdelivery last night, I am sure the hangover would not have been. But it was a great lesson for me. So, now I will be much better at gauging.
Today was also a do nothing day. I went to the hardware store to pick up a timer for my heater. Now the heater will come on in the morning before I wake up, so I will wake up to a warm apartment.
I have started watching M*A*S*H*. I always liked it. But being in Korea (where the show takes place) makes it kind of surreal. I know it was filmed in California 20 years after the war... It just gives a new perspective.
I worked for a while editing the stories for the classes. Watched some more MASH, ordered McDelivery.... wow. I always knew it was high in calories. I ordered about half of what I normally do. It was nearly 1000 calories. Its amazing to see and actually pay attention to these things. I really love to eat... Too bad that eating without limits and till I am full made me so unhealthy. Everybody says your metabolism slows in your late 20's and early 30's. I had always been able to eat an unlimited amount and stay around the same weight... not any more. Ba humbug.
Now, time for a shower and bed.
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