Now is the Winter of My Discontent

Written by Kyle about Korea, Republic of. Feelin' annoyed

Let's cut to the point: I'm not happy here at this moment. I can't really pinpoint one thing that is really getting me down. There seems to be a growing list of annoying/inexplicable things that I've realized or that have occured lately that have attached themselves on me like joy leeches.

It could be the shock of coming from a country where people went out of their way to say "Hello" (Philippines) to a country that goes out of the way to ignore your existence (Korea).

It could be that I have to teach 11 preschool kids (ages 3-4) everyday from a Kindergarten level book where everyone is on a different page and none of the kids can sit in their chair for more than 5 minutes.

It could be that I've been plowing hours into our other site, http://WiseGifter.com, and I seem to be making very little progress.

It could be the realization that the air in Korea is so bad it's hard to take a deep breath without coughing.

It could be that we had to work on a Saturday to make up for a snow day on Tuesday.

It could be that on that Saturday none of my pre-school aged kids were abset. Zero. Nada. I was shocked to see how many parents valued education over family time.

It could be that I spend most of my efforts in class to get kids to fill out the books (which are usually a grade or 2 above their level) rather than actually learn them because the parents want to see progress.

It could be that I can only think of one thing that I like about Korea, which is the food, and that I'm even tiring of that.

It could be that I have male PMS. But it's probably not, because that's one of the dumbest things I have heard.

It could be that we have a neighbor who smokes outside our window because A) you can't smoke in the apartment and B) he wouldn't want the smoke to get into his apartment.

It could be that I need to get a haircut, but I'm afraid to go because I'm afraid that I'll get a bowl cut or a mullett, both of which are extremely popular.

It could be that I like a good beer but the beer in Korea tastes like fermented horse urine.

It could be that the next day after drinking the aforementioned beer also makes me feel like someone opened my head and left my brain in a desert for a couple of days.

It could be all of those things. Or it could be none of them. I don't now. All I know is if someone offered me an opportunity to go to Siberia to be a yak-shearer, I probably would go.

For all of you Shakespear scholars

Ok, so the full quote goes like this:

Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this son of York;
And all the clouds that low'r'd upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.

Maybe there is hope that given time my clouds will be buried within the bosom of the ocean. Maybe my family will also take over the throne of some country just like Richard III. I have a feeling, though, that the clouds will clear in the near future but there won't be totally blue skies again until the ocean is the Pacific and I'm flying my way out of here.

« One Guiness and One Gigantic Burger Later

A BiBimBap Build for 2 »

January 11, 2010 Alex: When I had the winter blues I went to the Philippines for a weekend to ease them...but you just came back. What works best for me is actually spending a little money on yourself to help provide some creature comforts at home. A little bit of home goes a long fricken way when you are abroad and starting to get frustrated with everything.

I know how you feel about the books. I had that last year at my hagwon and it drove me fricken nuts. I just try to alternate the book pages we have to do with short games/coloring exercises so they are more likely to want to sit still when they have to write.

January 14, 2010 Bessie: leaving for a week really helped, and we both feel more like ourselves, but it's just made us realize that there are a few places we'd rather be in the world, but they don't have the same pay checks!

I'm digging the creature comforts idea. I can't think of anything in particular, but I know I want to have people over more. Some how, the "misery loves company" thing applies well here. :)

January 11, 2010 Greg Wesson: I have been through similar winters of discontent when travelling before. I used to do a lot of travelling with 3 to 6 months contracts in a place, giving me a quasi-living abroad experience. If ever I was in a place for longer than the 6 months, though, I would get very antsy and restless. For me, I finally traced the melancholy to the fact that I was doing what I wanted (travelling and working out of my country - i.e. being an expat), but that I hadn't gone far enough to actually settle. Now that I have actually moved and settled abroad, with no plans to go back, I am finding I am quite enjoying being in the same place.

This might not be what is bothering you, but I thought I would share to give you something to think about.

Normally, I would suggest a good beer to address the problem, but that doesn't appear to be doable in this case. As Homer says, "Beer... the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems."

January 12, 2010 Kyle: I like being an expat and I can't say that there is too much that I miss from home (other than the people, of course). I think coming from Latin America to here is a difficult transition as they are completely different cultures.

In any case, after drinking some Guiness and eating a hamburger, I feel better!

January 11, 2010 Drew: Sounds like you guys should come home...and stay (we still miss you a lot)! Mollie and I got together with Rachel & Norm at Hopleaf last Friday night and enjoyed two rounds of delicious drinks, food, and talk (sorry to rub in the beer part a little bit, but I have to remind you of what you are missing here back in Chicago's A'ville). Hope the website makes some progress and you start to find some things that make you happy...go give Bessie a nice big hug, I bet that will make you happy :) ---Drew

January 11, 2010 Bessie: you have no idea how we'd have wanted to do this a dozen times over this past year! truly. miss you guys loads!

January 11, 2010 DADDIO: As my thoughts became a short story, I was forced to submit it via e-mail due to the 2000 character restriction on comments. I hope you received the e-mail and are now feeling a bit more hopeful and enthused about life. You and Bessie are the finest of human beings and champions of almost everything you try! God Bless you now and always........

January 11, 2010 Linda: Ah Kyle.....welcome to adulthood complicated by the challenge of teaching...further complicated by being so far from the familiar...family, friends, English language, Americanisms and all the creature comforts that this great country provides, mobility, and, to top it off, the least desirable season...ugh...winter! This season is always my "season of discontent." I miss being able to sit on the deck and watch and hear the birds, to pull a weed, to pick a flower, to hear the wind rustle through the leaves, to walk Mai Ling to the pond to chase frogs, to have a myriad of fresh fruit at my fingertips, and to leave the house without enormous preparation...layers, coat, gloves, boots, scarf, hood or hat. After Christmas I mentally begin the countdown to Spring. Many of life's irritation are always around but somehow they seem more trivial as warm weather approaches. Until then, have a "picnic" with your friends at your apartment, construction paper trees and sun, blanket on the floor....something silly. I find silly at times like this really helps. At school, if you have any leeway to stray from the curriculum, do projects at their level so the book stuff doesn't way you down. Make construction paper flowers, have Spring in your classroom, start a made up story (like "The Adventures of Buzzy Bee") and have them make up the plot....you write it, they illustrate it, bind it with a cover, read it every day. Just some ideas from an old teacher who hit the doldurms many times in 30 years. Or...you could just have Bessie amuse you by doing some of her pop-up faces with sound effects from behind a chair like she used to do to entertain Russell! Hard not to cheer up and laugh with Bessie around. Oh yes, buy an air filter for your apartment...better breathing through technology and have Bessie cut your hair. :) Just a thought!

January 14, 2010 Bessie: Good suggestions :) Sadly the kids' success are measured in by finishing the books, which involves a lot of writing, but it's what we get paid to do... I can't wait until spring comes though!

I have cut Kyle's hair every month since we've been here, I think this time he's feeling sophisticated.

January 12, 2010 India Steve: Sorry to arrive here and read that you are having not too great a time in Korea. I lived there for six months or so and found it challenging and hard to "break" into the culture. I never did succeed in doing so, despite living with a Korean for the duration.

So a few suggestions to brighten up your day:

-Korean beer is indeed pisswater. Check out the export beers in HomePlus or E-Mart (the former has a better selection). Enjoy the Aussie beers - VB (Victoria Bitter) and Cooper's are available and come recommended. Run a decent Aussie beer across your palate before going out and then the beer you drink at the pub won't taste so bad...

-To beat the air, get out into the country! Korea is packed full of gorgeous green rolling hills and island getaways like Hong-do or Heuksan-do, or Jeju. I appreciate it may be difficult in winter, but get out and enjoy the trains for a weekend getaway to somewhere rural. It will do your pipes the world of good!

-Seoul has a Toni and Guy, an international hairdressers. Their prices may make you cry, but the stylists there will know a hell of a lot more about western hair (and hairstyles) than your average Korean barber shop.

All the best... you have a new blog follower!
cheers,
Steve

January 12, 2010 Kyle: It's good to hear that we're not the only ones having a tough time "breaking" into the culture.

Thanks for the tips! I did feel better after drinking a pint of Guiness...it set me back 8,000 won but it was worth it.

Thanks for following the blog as well! We'll have more cheery posts coming up :)

January 13, 2010 Kyle: By the way, you have new blog follower as well! India has always piqued our interest but it's a whole other challenge. For now, we're content with watching you do it :)