A shakeup

Well, just a little update. Not much has been happening. Work is still work... Its stable... but a shakeup is happening...
My Greece class is losing Ben (family reasons). His last day is Today, Friday the 25th. We have vacation from Saturday to next Thursday. As soon as we get back, that Friday, a new girl starts. Not that I don't like new students, but I was happy at the prospect of having 10. Even numbers are good. 10 is still too many... So, this new girl is supposed to have gone to a hagwon before... So, she is supposed to be have some knowledge of English. Then again Mino went to a hagwon for a year and yet... wow. He is getting better. He almost knows the alphabet. Speaking, writing, listening... well he is still so far behind in everything. He still stays after and Aness and Louise help him. In class it is still so hard because he is so slow and does not get it. It makes class stressful. Hopefully this new girl is not like that. Hopefully she has some English experience... We will see.

Next shakeup... this one is the one I am not happy about. I am getting a new baby class on Tuesday and Thursday. They are 7, not 6, but still very first time learners. When I say new... I mean, literally new. We are using the same book as the 6 year olds.  AHHHHH. I just want 1 class of advanced learners. 1 class of students I am not talking at, but am talking to. One group that can form their own opinions. So still, my smartest an most advanced kids are 7 (western 5 or 6). Camille said its because they like me... Kids like me and moms like me. When Louise was telling me about them, she said they are going to be like my babies. I think it is misunderstood when I say my babies when talking about them.... it is not a term out of love, but a term born of frustration. But... I just... I dont know. I will get out earlier on MWF because they are taking a class from me (book club... not a class per se but mostly just daycare and helping kids write book reports after we watch a movie or bookflix or something). But I will stay later on TR by 40 minutes. I just... I dont want to complain to the school. It just wears on me. I wish I would stay late just for 1 class of upper level students. But I am on the edge of going over hours. I like the kids... but I just want to have someone to talk to. My life is my students and fellow teachers.  For 5 days a week they are all I see. In those 5 days... I am able to talk to my coteachers for pretty much less then an hour. And its pretty much in passing or preparing for class. So what does that leave. My students. Mental stimulation is needed. Kids can have great thoughts and interesting opinions. Just, that my kids, even if they can form them, can not communicate them to me.

I think one of my problems this year is that I really dont have a special relationship with a class or a student. Last year there was always one class that I just 'got' and they 'got' me. Sense of humor, work ethic, and the likes. Similarly there was several students last year that I really feel I had a good teacher student friendship/relationship. This year, I have neither. Denmark class is full of prima donnas and princesses. The one that isn't, is a space cadet. I say that as a term of endearment. She is in her own world so the relationship she has with the others is different. There is still drama, but when she causes it, it isnt out of malice, its just cause she is so awkward.
With Greece, I do have kids that I like. I am still a teacher and they are still students... but there is less of a kinship and more of a me being a spectacle/fun/new experience. Kids that wave and say hi and run up and hug me, but not kids that can talk to me. Part of it is language... part is they are 6 (4/5) and even if we could speak... there is not much to be said.
Then there are my afternoon classes. They are either 3 days a week for one class or 2 days a week for one class. Its just not enough time. That, and they all I teach now are first year learners. My oldest class was given away to make room for my new baby class. I used to complain about their lack of ability to communicate with me... and now I crave even that.
There are some students that I feel I could have that ability to just talk to... but I teach none of them. They talk to me in the hallway or call me into their class during break. Some of them are the students from last year, some are kids I have never taught.

It may sound like I am looking for friendship with kids... Its not friendship... but I look back on my education and there were some teachers that just 'got' me.  Teachers that I can look back on and just remember their passion for teaching and helping me. People that helped shape my life. People that I emulate. Forgive the Star Wars reference, but I want a padawan. Someone that I can pass my knowledge onto, and yet someone that can also teach me. I am just lacking it... and without that... It makes it tough. It takes part of the passion away.

I would love to say something to the school. I just dont want to be that guy. I know this is not a career. I am not making any moves to the top. I am here as a puppet, and I know that. I am here to keep kids coming back, to keep moms happy, and to teach these kids some English. I am good at what I do. I play my part. All being said, my complaints seem great, but in real life... I have it pretty well.

This is my last post before Japan. Matt and I fly out tomorrow night. I'm stoked.

Here are 2 pictures. One of my babies, and one of my Greece class.

 Here are my Babies. 6year old Tuesday Thursday class. We made grabbers for science.

Sophia, Andy, Emma, Chris, Robert, Rachel, David, Sophie, Daniel, Ethan, Amy

Here is my Greece class. We made Raccoons in art.

Jake, Sally, Claire, Andy, Olivia, Sean, Mino, Amber, Ben, SunJoon (Rosie was sick).

Time for another post

July is already coming along real strong... Its amazing we are already 1/3rd done with it.

Not much has been happening with my life..... Sad, but true. Life has gotten into a pattern, a pattern in which I live. It is not a bad pattern, just not incredibly interesting. 

Work is going okay. We picked up another new kid. This one is a boy. Mino. So, we got Amber adjusted (the new one last month) and class was starting to get normal again... now we have a new kid. 11. 11 kids. Tied for the most at ECC. Okay, whatever.... this kid had 1 year at another English hagwon... so it should be easy right? Nope. He does not know his ABC's, how to speak, listen or write.... or anything else. I am sure he is a sweet kid, but just not a good addition. Yes, my kids started off the same as him, but that was 5 months ago. Now my kids can speak, read, write. They can come up with individual thoughts, express their needs and wants in English... their improvements are awesome and amazing! But now we have a beginner, so the class cannot move at pace. I know some of the other kids are frustrated because it takes him so long. Amber, while slow at some things, since she had some English was able to sync quickly. Mino stays after every day and Aness tries to help him catch up. She was in tears this week. Literal tears because of it.  I understand the frustration. We are under a lot of pressure, and she more than I.... but somethings in life, we cant do anything about so all we can do is smile and do our best. We got given a square peg.... we just have to shape it to fit into the round hole. Besides that, I love that class now. It can still frustrate me and stress me out a bit, but just seeing how much has changed, it makes me smile. It has been only 5 months... but wow.... absolutely amazing.

My Denmark class is the same ole same ole.... Still tough for multiple reasons... but the kids are good.

There was a note that was given to the teachers about letting kids sit on your lap. We were told not to let girls do it. I get it in a sense... but all kids naturally want to climb and sit on your lap... if they were older I get it... but these are kindy kids. the oldest I teach is 6 and the youngest is 4. Kids will run up and hug, some even start to climb me. After that note it was interesting to see how all of us reacted... guys actually. Girls still have free reign. But anytime a kid tries to sit on our lap we have to come up with an excuse or stand up or something. Its kind of sad. For example my Sally from last year france class would sometimes come in the teachers room, crawl on my knee and tell me about her day at school. I taught her from when she was first learning... I dont even see some of these kids as students, I see some of them as my own kids (I know that can be bad because of a work/life disconnect). But now... I am not supposed to let her. With my Denmark class... as soon as I sit down, they all try to sit on my lap or climb on me. Now I cant let them. There is no problem with girl teachers doing any of that... they even poke kids in the ass (its a Korean thing.... poop needle.... dont ask) and thats hunky dory... But God forbid a kid from sitting on my knee telling me about their day. I know a lot of us don't really like it.

Lets see what else... for our long July break, >(the one I was originally going to go home for but that was nixed by the school) is now a trip to Tokyo with Matthew.  He threw out the idea last monday and we made flight reservations that night. 1 week later the fares were already 100 more expensive.  This week we booked a room for 25 per person per night in a good area. So not bad at all. Im pretty stoked. I loved japan last time and im sure this trip will be awesome too!

currently I am headed out to a beach on the east side of Korea. Not sure which one. Taylor and Huddy know and im going with them. We left straight from work.

I dont think I put a pic of me any my new girl up in the last post, so I am here... I still need one with my new boy.

But yup... just a quick update.  Id type a little mote but typing from my phone isnt the easiest.