My January schedule is wearing me down. My MWF, the classes slay me... then after gym... I have no energy. Tuesdays and Thursdays are easy... But when I get home at night, I have been doing school work. We are doing evaluations of all of the 7 year olds (I have 3 classes of them). So it is a bit of work. On top of that I am moving from my apartment to a different apartment, so I have to be packing and cleaning...
Needless to say life is buys. I will share something that I shared on Facebook on Friday.
Gallery....
There are a ton of these victories, Some more major than others... but this one made me very happy.
I also have that new class on MWF. They are all first year learners ranging from 1st grade to 4th. It is tough with such a variance in ages. It is an adventure teaching them. It reminds me of France class a little, at the very beginning. All of them have a great attitude. I am able to take my past experience with France and apply it to these kids.
I may try to start doing just a weekly update (unless there is anything major) or if I have some time and energy....
Here are the last daily ones I wrote....
I'll post a few pictures soon... but, yup... my life has been pretty same old same old...
Field trip day!
We went to a science museum. It was actually pretty awesome. I did not know know what anything said but I was able to get the general idea of it all. There were 3 floors (only 2 of which we explored). The 3rd floor was science. The second floor was kids getting to play (playing with water, bubbles, blocks, etc.) Both were hands on. The 3rd floor was for people a little above kindergarten, the 2nd floor was okay for kindergarten kids (no principals discussed, but the kids got to experiment and play on their own.
Being here, it is really cementing what I want to do after I am done teaching over here. I know I have talked about it before. I really want to work at a science museum. I did so at the Omniplex in OK when I was younger. For me... it really is my cup of tea. It combines teaching with inspiring and science... I just love it. When people ask me the age old question of what would I like to do if I was rich, my number one answer is build a science museum. I would love to build something like the Exploratorium in San Fran of the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Even if I cannot build something like that, being able to be a part of one... well I would be happy. The more I think of it, the more it calls to me.
I got to teach 1/2 a period of Kindy today with Denmark. It was okay. We are so far behind, it is not funny.
My afternoon classes were okay. England was good. My Greece, I felt really good about. We did not get to do everything I was supposed to... but it was a good day.
After school, instead of the gym, I helped Christina paint the pictures for the story book. She was stressing because she had to paint 2 classes. I helped. For me, I had to write and draw with 3 classes. But the painting was actually so enjoyable for me. I put on some classical music and just did it. It was very zenlike and relaxing for me. I could have painted for hours.
Rob, Yuri, Hudson, Taylor and I all got sushi for dinner. It was delicious.
I went home and watched Sister Act.
Saturday December 21st.
I woke up and went to ECC. Christina talked about painting on Saturday. I said I would help. I did. I loved it. I really like the painting. I could have stayed home and done nothing... but the painting was me doing something and relaxing. win.
I then walked around Mokdong, went to emart and homeplus. Just walked.
I came home and took a nap.
I woke up.
We were going to go out to dinner with Ama. We went to Jongno instead of Hongdae. I liked Jongro.... When push comes to shove, most neighborhoods in Seoul are the same... but it was still good to get off the beaten path.
Sunday December 22nd.
Another do nothing day. Sleeping. Eating. Watching some movies. I went to Itaewon with Hudson and Taylor. We went to some foreign food markets to buy some food for the Christmas Dinner they were having. We also went to a restaurant called Rye Post. They are known for Philly Cheesesteaks. I understand why. They were fantastic!
I went to Suwon to pick up a heater. Turns out, the guy selling was not in Suwon, but in Seoul (mis-communication). I went back to Seoul to get it. Well worth the time and money.... 50 bucks and my room is no longer cold.
Monday December 23rd.
Classes went okay... Except for the fact I did not get to teach Australia. Monday was Market Day. Basically they kids got money for completing assignments. Then the classes got to go to different stores to buy stuff. It was supposed to help them with speaking and asking how much things cost... it was a cluster. I was in charge of the toy store... it was pretty cool. The toys were all used toys that the parents donated. It was fun... but it was another day of not teaching.
I went to a store and got some presents for the older kids. It was a review day.
Went to the gym after school.
Tuesday December 24th.
Christmas Eve/Christmas celebration. Fun, but another day when I did not get to teach Australia. Santa came.... The different ECCs do a Santa exchange. The Santa we got was pretty lame. He did not interact with the kids that much and was not very jolly.
Taylor and Hudson had a Christmas dinner. It was delicious. Bacon wrapped pork loin, Ham and cheese sandwiches, mac and cheese, green beans. Our new teacher also got in today, and he came over to celebrate with us. We played dirty santa. It was a nice little get together. It is amazing how much like a family we are. I really appreciate it. It is a very special feeling, one that I do not know how to put words to.
Wednesday December 25th
Christmas day! Merry Christmas!
Today I did nothing. I slept, I watched movies. I did get out of my apartment and walked about 10 miles (2 5 mile sessions) just exploring and walking around. I really love walking around. No matter where I go, there is always something new to be seen.
Thursday December 26th.
Gym Day. I only got 1 class with Denmark and 1 with France... But I finally got to actually teach 2 Australia classes! I know there are some teachers at my school that like the times when they do not teach, but I really like teaching. I am not saying the curriculum is amazing, but when you see a kid understand something... well it is a great feeling!
My afternoon class went okay. We did vocab. This is the last time I am teaching them vocab! Yay! They are giving vocab to a Korean teacher (so she can give the Korean word to go with the English word). I think it is much better that way. I know we are English Only... but for the older kids that already have a strong Korean vocabulary, I think helping them draw a connection between the English word and Korean is a good thing. Especially since we are talking more abstract words. If I see an airplane, I think of it as an airplane, or if I am speaking Korean as a 비행기. But going to something where you are talking what a 'law' is. Without the concept of what a law is, it is much more difficult for it to flow in a dual language setting. We have been telling what a law is in English, thus using other descriptive words the students may not understand. But if they know that law is 법, they instantly are able to know what law is.
After work, we went to dinner with Matthew, our new teacher. We went to one of the all you can eat meat bars, then a hof and drank a bit. Fun night, but not good for my diet.
Friday December 27th.
Saturday December 28th
I wanted to do something Saturday. I did not do anything. I pretty much spend the day cleaning... actually cleaning... though only until I got distracted. I really dislike cleaning. I think my biggest problem is lack of space. I have a quasi dresser and quasi wardrobe. All of my clothes do not fit. I have no closets and no storage... What I am supposed to do with my stuff. It is frustrating. I wish I could be clean. I know if there is a will there is a way... but my will isnt that strong. I would like to say if I had a bigger place, I would be cleaner. While I want that to be true, I do not think it is. I would just get more stuff. But I would love a closet and a full sized dresser. One of the biggest messes I have is all of my clothing... stacked up and piled.
Taylor Hudson and I went to Samurai for dinner. I love that food. It is 갈매기살 (galmaegisal) which is marinated pork... but it is often confused with beef because of texture and flavor (and how it looks when cooked)
Sunday December 29th
I went to Sinsa with Karen. We had lunch, coffee and snacks, and just walked around that area. I have never really explored it before. She has been super bored because she has been applying for PhD programs. She left after coffee. Then I walked around more. Then I headed to Jongno and Gwanghwamun, and just wandered about.
