Weigh it Out

So, I've been reading some online forums about teaching ESL in Korea.  Many of these posters are "old timers" and some are "newbies." One question that was brought up (for the old timers),  "If you were to teach as a newb in Korea, would you come now?"  The overwhelming majority of posters said no.  Why? Because the exchange rate is horrible.  2,000,000 Korean Won is roughly equivalent of only $1550 in the United States.  The wage for the terrible working hours and the amount of work and stress put on you, plus the sub-par treatment from hagwon directors all make the answer "no."  This is also in addition to the heightened tensions between the two Koreas - which some old timers say is higher than they have ever seen it. So, this got me to thinking - is it really worth staying here? I mean, in the time I have been here, I have yet to be paid on time, and the time in between paychecks is increasing each time.  My September-October salary didn't come until October 25, when my payday was the 23. Not too bad. But this time - my October-November salary, supposed to be paid on the 23, has not yet arrived. Tomorrow is the 30 - exactly one week late. So, we will see if I get paid tomorrow. I was promised to be paid today at the latest, but it didn't happen.

So, is staying in Korea, taking into consideration all these factors, worth it? I have some thinking to do.

Ain't No Shame in Your Game

Obviously, by now, everyone on the planet knows the tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at an all time high considering Tuesday's artillery on South Korea's island of Yeonpyeong is the first artillery shelling since the "end" of the Korean War in 1953.  To add insult to injury, North Korea is now claiming that the South used civilian deaths as a method of propaganda. Just how insane and maniacal are these fools up north? According to both CNN and Fox news (I had to sample both sides to get a fair and balanced reading...right?), North Korea offically stated, "It is regrettable, if it is true, that civilian casualties occurred on Yeonpyeong Island..."  Needless to say, South Koreans are enraged, infuriated, angry, pissed off, however you would like to put it.  Demonstrations were held today (Saturday, November 27) in Seoul as the funeral for the two marines (South Koreans don't capitalize the term) ensued.  Here's a photo I found especially interesting during those protests.

Clearly South Koreans are fed up with the North's antics.  Even the citizens want a war! C'mon, USA...give 'em what they want! It's not like China will come to the rescue of North Korea when all North Korea really is is a leech.  China has way too much to lose to back up this pitiful country/regime.

"Every man, woman, and child lives under a nuclear sword of Damocles, hanging by the slenderest of threads, capable of being cut at any moment by accident, miscalculation, or madness." - JFK

Here's an amzing website to check out - www.takepart.com
Also, I highly recommend watching Countdown to Zero

In the Spirit

In the spirit of the amazing season...or actually year...that the University of South Carolina Gamecocks are having, and with the impending defeat of Clemson, I decided to turn my students into Gamecock fans.  So, I compiled some clips of them doing various cheers for the Gamecocks.  Here they are!! I hope you enjoy :)

In other news, Amanda found a website with a few options for a traditional American Thanksgiving meal. No worries, Mom, I'll be well taken care of. There is a cooking school in Itaewon and we are going to attempt to go there.  It is 30,000 won, but if you bring a homemade dish, you get a 10,000 discount. So, I'm going to bring some mashed potatoes. That's easy since I have no oven to bake.

Things are going fairly well.  I still haven't gotten paid. I have yet to get a paper bill for my cell phone, so I don't know how I'm to pay it...I guess I'll see if it gets cut off or what not. I'm not too worried about it, honestly.  Being without a cell phone is actually quite liberating. I frequently forget mine at home when I leave because now that I know my way around decently, it's not completely necessary to have it on me.

The weather is getting colder here, and I'm loving it. Although I'm enjoying myself much more, it's difficult being this far away from family and friends during the holidays. I think it's worse that the same customs are not held here.  I'm sure I would feel less lonely in a more Western country...pretty much Western Europe, but I'm thoroughly taking advantage of every opportunity presented while I'm here. I'm thankful that I am over here and that I have such amazing friends and family to support me and my decisions. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers - they are much needed and appreciated. I love you!

Frustrated

Wow, so for the past two days, my boss has really been micromanaging me. Yesterday, she complained that I was moving too slowly in my middle school classes.  Just a few weeks ago she was saying that I was moving too fast and some of the students could not understand me and didn't grasp the material.  There is no pleasing her.  She also recommended that I meet with other English teachers and ask them how to teach. I was very offended and told Jung wha.  To which she replied, don't take it too seriously.  Then today the boss comes to me to tell me that I need to have the students write an essay every week.  Really?! That's extremely excessive considering I only teach each class two times a week.  There is no way that she can expect me to have them speaking, finishing the lesson, and writing an essay EVERY WEEK!

First of all, I'm offended that she wants me to ask other English teachers how to teach.  Secondly, she is late again on my payment. Thirdly, I don't see how her expectations of these students writing an essay a week are feasible.  She is not a teacher, knows zero English, yet thinks that this is best for the students.  This is turning out to be a horrible job placement.  I love my students (most of them, anyways), but my boss is irrational, I believe.

Update: She is now interrupting every class to ask the students if I am making them write essays.

Whatever.

Reverse Coffee

I believe coffee has the reverse effect on me than it's supposed to.  I drink an Americano - nothing more than espresso and water - and I'm ready for a nap or a long night of sleep. I don't get it. Why do I get sleepy after drinking coffee (not decaf)?! But it's so gooooood! :)

Meet Up

The other weekend, I miraculously found this amazing website meetup.com. It's a site where people organize groups via interest, location, etc. I joined a few groups relating to South Korea, and there just so happened to be a meet up that Sunday to see the Lantern Festival in Seoul.  It was the last day, so I was even luckier because the festival was definitely on my to do list.

I left for the meet up extremely early, because with my previous track record - odds were that I was going to get lost and end up missing out. Not so, my friends! I actually arrived extremely early, so I went out of the subway station to walk around in the crisp autumn air and grabbed an obviously world famous Dunkin Donuts coffee. (I know you're jealous, Mom!) Then back to the subway to meet the people.  Amazing people they were. There were Koreans and foreigners alike. Mostly teachers, but a few military personnel sprinkled in there. I met a guy, Ju Bong Lee, who moved from Korea to the US at age 16 and spent 11 years there with a BA in biology and a MA in biomechanics. Unfortunately, he had to come back to Korea to do his obligatory 2 years in the military. He left for basic training Monday. I gave him my address so maybe we can be pen pals. I also met Rebecca, a second year ESL teacher from Chicago. She's pretty cool and I think we'll be going snowboarding together, and perhaps a trip to Singapore for Christmas holiday. The last person I met whom I still keep in contact is Amanda.  She's from Arizona and has been here only 3 weeks.  She's a "full figured" woman, so I offered to help her with some shopping since she was in great need for a coat. Then we had dinner the other night at her place in Guri. She found some highly coveted avocados, so we (and by we, I mean she) made some guacamole, chicken, and made from scratch tortillas.  The tortillas turned out more like flat bread, but the goal was semi-achieved - a Mexican-inspired, Korean-influenced, American-made meal. Amanda has a black lab named Sirius (or Serioius?) who lives in the teeny tiny apartment. He's a sweetheart though. The lantern festival was pretty cool. I'll post some pictures.  The Chinese display greatly overshadowed the Korean display. Who knew?

I'll also post some pictures of my too cute kindergarden students I taught for 2 weeks. I miss them so much!!

 4 year olds

 6 year olds

 5 year olds

 7 year olds

 Myself, Ju Bong Lee, and Rebecca

 Korean

 Korean

 Korean

 Lanterns!

 Chinese

 Chinese

Chinese

Awkward Situations, Awesome Students

So, I realize I have been seriously lagging on my blogs. I need to step it up, but it's often times I find better things to do with my time (such as sleep). I kid, but I hope to make a conscious effort to be more consistent with my blogs. So much has happened since I last wrote.

I met a guy from Egypt in Seoul.  We had lunch at an Indian restaurant in Itaewon and then walked to the Korean War Memorial Museum which was extremely interesting. The down side - this guy kept talking about relationships/love and asking me if I had a boyfriend, etc. To which I promptly responded "No, and I like being single and don't want a boyfriend." Then I had to tell him I didn't want kids, I enjoy being by myself and I think that boyfriends are just a hassle at this point in my life. So, I thought I was not giving out any mixed signals.  However, the entire time we were walking, he wanted me to put my hand in the crease of his bent arm (like old school courting couples would walk...or how you walk down the aisle). I was extremely uncomfortable with this for a number of reasons, one being that I just met this guy, and two, I don't like being touched.  After he grabbed and guided my hand to where it should be on his arm, I took out some tissues, wiped my nose, and kept my hands in my pockets. I cut our outting short saying I had to meet my Korean sis for dinner and it takes 2 hours to get home. I don't mind stretching the truth to get out of uncomfortable and awkward situations.  Obviously this guy thought I was into him because he proceeded to text message me EVERYDAY saying "Good morning, how are you?" I guess that is friendly, but I found it too much. Then on Thursday he says "I know its over to text you every day, I don't know why I do it, but I do. Good morning." I didn't respond. Friday at 6 am I receive a message telling me to call him. I don't do it. Friday morning at 7 I get a message that says "Good morning honey, how are you?" I don't respond and I snarl in disgust at him calling me honey. Friday afternoon at 3 I receive yet another message saying "Do you mind meeting me this weekend? I need to talk to you. I miss your eyes." Okay, completely officially creepy. I respond with an I'm busy text and immediately get a "nevermind, have a good weekend." What's a girl to do? This is where my completely awesome students come in. I decide to tell them the story and boy were they supportive of me! They immediately groaned in disgust at the "honey" name and missing my eyes. They adamently told me to respond "I don't like you. Stop contacting me." They said, "Teacher, don't talk to him! Stay away. He's from Egypt?!" So, the racism in Korea was definitely portrayed, but their advice - invaluable. These kids are genius and blunt. I love how they tell it like it is. Then, one middle school class showed me how to make the guy's phone number a spam number so I will never again receive a text message or phone call from him. AWESOME!

Corporate Conspiracy

Today was "Pepero Day."  You may ask yourself, "What is a pepero?" Well, it is nothing more than a skinny chocolate covered biscuit stick.  I made out quite well, thanks to Pepero Day.  I got a lot of chocolate covered biscuit sticks as well as other chocolates.  A good day, if you ask me. I'll be tipping my hat to this corporate-created holiday.  Who knew something would be such a success. Oh wait...hello Valentine's Day.

My wonderfully decreased stash of Peperos.

Anna and Sam created a picture book of my FAVORITE song, "Down by the Bay." (Thanks, Mom for singing it to me when I was little)  Anyways, now they can no longer get the song out of their heads which is good, really.  They learned bay, watermelon, whale, moose, goose, and dare. Success? I'd say :) DISCLAIMER: ANNA IS A STUDENT - NOT ME.

I'm sure you can tell the difference between the ones Sam did and the ones Anna did.

For You Curious Folk

So, I have been uploading some photos as I've been blogging, but in reality, those photos don't hold a light to the amount I have been taking. So, I created a photobucket account purely for my  time in Korea. Hopefully, Mom and other teachers, access won't be forbidden. Please let me know if it is - (tips my hat to Big Brother).

http://s1082.photobucket.com/home/okelleyas/index

Check 'em out!

Just a Quck Reflection...

Many times Koreans that I have talked to have said, "I'm so sorry. I lost many English words. I can't talk well."

I actually started to feel really guilty.  Here I am - coming to THEIR country, yet expecting them to speak English to me.  I have come to their land for an opportunity, yet don't speak any Korean.  Perhaps I have been too critical of the immigrants coming to the United States - expecting them to know and learn English.  Maybe we as Americans should try to compromise a little more.  Nearly every developed and developing country in the world is multi-lingual, yet many, if not most, native born American citizens speak only one language - English.  I think I have a new goal. Of course I will be learning Korean while I am here (although I do not know the extent of my understanding and vocabulary will be), but I will strive to be fluent in at least one other language.  It can only be a benefit - especially in this globalized society where, however unfortunate it is, America's lead is waning.

On another note: this past weekend I went to a village a bit north of Icheon to a celadon pottery place.  Celadon (cheong-ja in Korean) is an ancient form of pottery.  This region (north of Icheon) is rich with clay, which the artisans dig themselves.

Here's a little history: http://www.korean-arts.com/about_korean_celadon.htm#The%20History%20of%20Korean%20Celadon

My bowl (apparently for tea)

The female teachers!