Entries in January 2010
Trying to make Fun with Kids > Stress of Teaching
Written by Bessie on Thursday, January 28, 2010 in Korea, Republic of
Feelin' annoyed
With 4 weeks left of the school year, I foolishly thought the hectic pace might calm down a bit. You know, review and wrap things up for the end of the year. Ha.Feelin' annoyed
Rather, this week I gave my students a 1.5 hour test. Then there's the weekly 20 word spelling test. They have to memorize 3 pop songs and a 15 minute play for graduation in February. Every week for homework, they read 3 books, write book reviews, and do about 3 hours of homework. I could go on and on. And these are just my kindergartners. They get two weeks of vacation a year, and each week, they're allowed 20 minutes of recess and 30 minutes of taekwondo. To say the least, the bar is set really high at private schools in Korea, and the pressure is on.
First Jesus, then K-Pop
Written by Kyle on Thursday, January 28, 2010 in Korea, Republic of
Feelin' confused
One of the small joys that I get in my day is reading students' diaries. I'm always amazed by the inner workings of a kid's mind. For example, yesterday, I read a diary entry that was about this student's role model. Here is the paraphrased excerpt:Feelin' confused
"I need to choose a role model. So, I will choose Jesus. But Jesus is not a person. So, I will choose Park Bom from the group 2NE1"
Kindness in Korea? Really?
Written by Bessie on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 in Korea, Republic of
Feelin' normal
Just when I'd thought all posibilities for kindness from random strangers were impossible in Korea, suddenly it's there next to me. Feelin' normal
Koreans aren't what you'd call a friendly culture. Hospitable, generous, loving, yes, but only if you know them. One of the hardest adjustments to make upon coming to Korea was not exchanging random pleasantries; you know, making eye contact, smiling on the elevator, and basic considerations for other humans. Pretty much non-existant here. And trust me, when you're a foreigner in a country, exchanges with strangers make a big difference.
Happiness is One Purchase Away
Written by Kyle on Monday, January 25, 2010 in Korea, Republic of
Feelin' confused
"Love for women".Feelin' confused
If you saw this sentence and thought it was an advertisement, what product do you think it would be advertising? Go on, guess.
My Wife is Skewing my Decision Making!
Written by Kyle on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 in Korea, Republic of
Feelin' confused
Bessie for a long time has always wanted to go to the Southwestern part of Korea to see the ocean and some of the little islands around there. So, she sent me a link to a tour set up by a Korean company: http://www.adventurekorea.com/ouradventure/calendar_content.asp?id=calendar&RowNo=460Feelin' confused
Basically, what it comes down to is a trip starting on a Friday night and ending on a Monday night with most things included (lodging, transport, food, etc). They take you on hikes and tours of the relevant tourist spots while feeding you some local food. In other words, it's not unlike any other tour. All of this for about $300/person.
