I started this over a month ago... then stopped. Then I started updating a week ago... but I dont want to delete it... so I am posting in its entirety. (So when I start off with 'so last week... it's more like a month ago.)
So last week was the best week so far off this school year. Ronnie finally stopped being in and observing my Greece class. Why? Well I was drawing stars on the board and erasing them when the kids did something wrong... Well I started giving stickers in accordance with their stars. Well one day Andy had a little paper cut... Not even a cut but more a scratch. He wanted to go get a band aid. I said no. Andy went to Ronnie. Ronnie was going to take him. I told Andy if he left I would take away a star. Andy thought about it and I think he was not going to go. But Ronnie took him. He came back and I took away a star. Since then, no Ronnie. It finally gave me some power back.
Also baseball started. I watched 2 Nexen heroes games. Great weather.
All of my classes are starting to come into it. I still have some issues with my afternoon 6 year old class. But... They come in 2 times a week and I only see them for 40 minutes. My 6-1 kindy class is improving so quickly! It's amazing to see. We got a new kid. Energetic. But coming a month later makes it difficult. All of the other kids have a rhythm. He is an new chaos factor... It also brings the class count up to 9. That's pretty big for a first year class. The other 6-1 class only has 6. Smaller class sizes are so much better... Easier to do one on one and help each student.
This year is definitely starting to get better. Nothing big has been going. Soon, hopefully. Looking to go to Daejon in several weeks.
One of my friends in OK sent me Flat Stanley. There is some story about a flat person that can go all over (or something). So I have it and took it out last weekend to take some pictures. Ill post them up. Some cool pictures... granted all of them have Stanley... but oh well....
....
.... okay. That was written a long time ago. So school is going good. Still only complaint is it is all the younger kids and first year learners. I just wish I had some kids to talk to. It is just so different from last year. Having conversations with kids and hearing thier unique perspective was a pleasure I took for granted last year. Its still great teaching kindergartners and first year learners. There is just less of an outlet to speak and to listen. Other than the few minutes between classes(when we are rushing around) the most advanced conversation I have is with Korean 7s(western 5 or 6). They are 3rd year learners so they speak very well, just topics and comprehension of different subjects, and themes other than Disney or children's stories are pretty lacking. Other teachers talk about current events; I talk about Frozen.
Other than that.... my 6-1s are doing great. Still of course there are problems... but their abilities in English are progressing amazingly fast. I can ask simple questions. They can ask simple questions. Its amazing how much they have learned in 2 months.
I went to Daejeon to see my friends Lyn and Alex. We hung out, went to a science museum (it was awesome) and saw a baseball game. Daejeon was pretty awesome. I had a fantastic burger (Lyn and Alex said its the best in Korea. Out of all I have had... they are the best (Gonnys is the best in Seoul still).
We went on a field trip to a garden. 1.5 hrs there... the foreign teachers were there for less than an hour, and we had to come back to do our afternoon classes and cover the classes that our coteachers missed on the field trip. So we spent 3 hours in a bus for taking a class picture and eating some lunch. The kids got to stay for a long time though, so that's good.
We had a long break this weekend. Childrens day and Buddha's birthday. It was a great and long needed escape.
On Saturday I went with taylor and Hudson and two of their friends to the DMZ and the JSA. The DMZ is the area between North and South Korea. Its the demilitarized zone. The JSA is the Joint Security Area. It houses the un buildings that go across the border where the two countries can talk and negotiate face to face where they are still in their own country. So during the tour we got to go in the building so technically I was in North Korea. Granted... the door was locked and there were South Korean soldiers in the room. The soldiers look fake. They stand still and do not move at all. Their job is to look intimidating. Everything is very strict about what you can take pictures of, where to stand, and there are even rules about pointing at north Korea (they said if a person makes a gesture NK sometimes photo shops it to look like they are pointing guns for propaganda). We were also able to see the propaganda village (where nobody lives) and different landmarks in NK. The tour also took us to the 3rd tunnel which is one of the tunnels that NK was making to tunnel under the DMZ to make an attak on SK easier. We were not allowed to take pictures in the tunnel (idk why). I only got in trouble a couple of times taking pictures in the wrong places and walking outside of the designated area. The downsides of the tour was the rushed nature of it and that the JSA tour guides are US Military. Nothing against the military... but they are not the best showmen nor tourguides. But I would go on it again. It is surreal to see it... to see the border of 2 countries at war with each other.
On Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday I did a temple stay. It is where you go to a temple and stay and do traditional things that the Buddhist monks do. I really want to do it again... I had a great time... but did not get the full experience. Tuesday was Buddha's Birthday. So the days we were there the Monks were all super busy and everything at the temple was chaotic (or as chaotic as monks can be). But it was a discounted temple stay... so I guess they knew what it would be like.
From the beginning I was a hit. I went with every intention to being just one of the participants. But I radiate. The first thing we did was a tour of the temple grounds with a volunteer. An older guy. He instantly loved me and asked me all sorts of questions and used me as an example for all different things (there is a 33m Buddha so he compared me to it, etc). He was so excited and he commented on how nice and happy I was. So... me being an anonymous person went away. And as it goes when people ask questions Ill raise my hand. So in group I did what I do. I know what its like to be up in front of people too scared to raise their hands....a lot of people commented about how happy I am, smiles, being friendly, kind...
On top of a of this one guy brought his 2 kids. Kids flock to me. The older one especially. But both were enamored by me. The youngest was more enamored with the volunteer that translated for us. The younger one speaks a lot more korean. But if he wasn't with him or his dad. He was with me. The older one was by my side just talking up a storm. When we went on afternoon hikes/walks he always wanted to be my partner. He said he never thought he would meet someone as kind as me. I think the dad liked that he got a little free time. Their dad was super nice. He expressed great gratitude for Albert and I. He is a jewelry maker and he gave each of us a handmade bracelet with different stones on it. He messaged ne later and asked if I would come to a surprise party for Kaya on Saturday the 17th. I said yup.
After the temple stay... it seems to have reset my body clock. Im going to bed earlier and waking up earlier. Im eating healthier and drinking less. I cleaned and rearranged my apart. Even though it was not the complete temlestay experience... it hit me good. I want to do it again. I think part of it was just living with no worries nor responsibility. I also got a nice confidence boost there...
There is much more I want to say... but if I keep putting off posting, I never will. I might continue these thoughts later or I may start new ones. Ill also post pictures sometime!
So last week was the best week so far off this school year. Ronnie finally stopped being in and observing my Greece class. Why? Well I was drawing stars on the board and erasing them when the kids did something wrong... Well I started giving stickers in accordance with their stars. Well one day Andy had a little paper cut... Not even a cut but more a scratch. He wanted to go get a band aid. I said no. Andy went to Ronnie. Ronnie was going to take him. I told Andy if he left I would take away a star. Andy thought about it and I think he was not going to go. But Ronnie took him. He came back and I took away a star. Since then, no Ronnie. It finally gave me some power back.
Also baseball started. I watched 2 Nexen heroes games. Great weather.
All of my classes are starting to come into it. I still have some issues with my afternoon 6 year old class. But... They come in 2 times a week and I only see them for 40 minutes. My 6-1 kindy class is improving so quickly! It's amazing to see. We got a new kid. Energetic. But coming a month later makes it difficult. All of the other kids have a rhythm. He is an new chaos factor... It also brings the class count up to 9. That's pretty big for a first year class. The other 6-1 class only has 6. Smaller class sizes are so much better... Easier to do one on one and help each student.
This year is definitely starting to get better. Nothing big has been going. Soon, hopefully. Looking to go to Daejon in several weeks.
One of my friends in OK sent me Flat Stanley. There is some story about a flat person that can go all over (or something). So I have it and took it out last weekend to take some pictures. Ill post them up. Some cool pictures... granted all of them have Stanley... but oh well....
....
.... okay. That was written a long time ago. So school is going good. Still only complaint is it is all the younger kids and first year learners. I just wish I had some kids to talk to. It is just so different from last year. Having conversations with kids and hearing thier unique perspective was a pleasure I took for granted last year. Its still great teaching kindergartners and first year learners. There is just less of an outlet to speak and to listen. Other than the few minutes between classes(when we are rushing around) the most advanced conversation I have is with Korean 7s(western 5 or 6). They are 3rd year learners so they speak very well, just topics and comprehension of different subjects, and themes other than Disney or children's stories are pretty lacking. Other teachers talk about current events; I talk about Frozen.
Other than that.... my 6-1s are doing great. Still of course there are problems... but their abilities in English are progressing amazingly fast. I can ask simple questions. They can ask simple questions. Its amazing how much they have learned in 2 months.
I went to Daejeon to see my friends Lyn and Alex. We hung out, went to a science museum (it was awesome) and saw a baseball game. Daejeon was pretty awesome. I had a fantastic burger (Lyn and Alex said its the best in Korea. Out of all I have had... they are the best (Gonnys is the best in Seoul still).
We went on a field trip to a garden. 1.5 hrs there... the foreign teachers were there for less than an hour, and we had to come back to do our afternoon classes and cover the classes that our coteachers missed on the field trip. So we spent 3 hours in a bus for taking a class picture and eating some lunch. The kids got to stay for a long time though, so that's good.
We had a long break this weekend. Childrens day and Buddha's birthday. It was a great and long needed escape.
On Saturday I went with taylor and Hudson and two of their friends to the DMZ and the JSA. The DMZ is the area between North and South Korea. Its the demilitarized zone. The JSA is the Joint Security Area. It houses the un buildings that go across the border where the two countries can talk and negotiate face to face where they are still in their own country. So during the tour we got to go in the building so technically I was in North Korea. Granted... the door was locked and there were South Korean soldiers in the room. The soldiers look fake. They stand still and do not move at all. Their job is to look intimidating. Everything is very strict about what you can take pictures of, where to stand, and there are even rules about pointing at north Korea (they said if a person makes a gesture NK sometimes photo shops it to look like they are pointing guns for propaganda). We were also able to see the propaganda village (where nobody lives) and different landmarks in NK. The tour also took us to the 3rd tunnel which is one of the tunnels that NK was making to tunnel under the DMZ to make an attak on SK easier. We were not allowed to take pictures in the tunnel (idk why). I only got in trouble a couple of times taking pictures in the wrong places and walking outside of the designated area. The downsides of the tour was the rushed nature of it and that the JSA tour guides are US Military. Nothing against the military... but they are not the best showmen nor tourguides. But I would go on it again. It is surreal to see it... to see the border of 2 countries at war with each other.
On Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday I did a temple stay. It is where you go to a temple and stay and do traditional things that the Buddhist monks do. I really want to do it again... I had a great time... but did not get the full experience. Tuesday was Buddha's Birthday. So the days we were there the Monks were all super busy and everything at the temple was chaotic (or as chaotic as monks can be). But it was a discounted temple stay... so I guess they knew what it would be like.
From the beginning I was a hit. I went with every intention to being just one of the participants. But I radiate. The first thing we did was a tour of the temple grounds with a volunteer. An older guy. He instantly loved me and asked me all sorts of questions and used me as an example for all different things (there is a 33m Buddha so he compared me to it, etc). He was so excited and he commented on how nice and happy I was. So... me being an anonymous person went away. And as it goes when people ask questions Ill raise my hand. So in group I did what I do. I know what its like to be up in front of people too scared to raise their hands....a lot of people commented about how happy I am, smiles, being friendly, kind...
On top of a of this one guy brought his 2 kids. Kids flock to me. The older one especially. But both were enamored by me. The youngest was more enamored with the volunteer that translated for us. The younger one speaks a lot more korean. But if he wasn't with him or his dad. He was with me. The older one was by my side just talking up a storm. When we went on afternoon hikes/walks he always wanted to be my partner. He said he never thought he would meet someone as kind as me. I think the dad liked that he got a little free time. Their dad was super nice. He expressed great gratitude for Albert and I. He is a jewelry maker and he gave each of us a handmade bracelet with different stones on it. He messaged ne later and asked if I would come to a surprise party for Kaya on Saturday the 17th. I said yup.
After the temple stay... it seems to have reset my body clock. Im going to bed earlier and waking up earlier. Im eating healthier and drinking less. I cleaned and rearranged my apart. Even though it was not the complete temlestay experience... it hit me good. I want to do it again. I think part of it was just living with no worries nor responsibility. I also got a nice confidence boost there...
There is much more I want to say... but if I keep putting off posting, I never will. I might continue these thoughts later or I may start new ones. Ill also post pictures sometime!
