GoodMike

Over 4 months!

Well, sorry about the lack of updating I have been doing here on this site.  Come to find out i am actually a pretty busy person here!  Furthermore my computer randomly decided to blow up, but hopefully that will be fixed tomorrow.   As of right now I am sitting at work in between my classes just killing some time.

Lots has happened since the last post, I am much more accustomed to life here in Korea.  I continue to meet new people, and have new adventures.  My work situation has become interesting as my coworker disappeared (he is fine) and we had to find a new teacher.  The new teacher isn’t working out very well, so we are looking for another replacement for her.  That has added some stress to me, but my bosses sure do appreicate all the work i have been doing to pick up the slack.  I think, and hope they continue to like my performance here.

The weather itself in Korea has drastically changed. Not uncommon for it to be in the 90s, with 85% humidity right now.  We have officially entered the rainy season, judging by the massive storm that has just found its way to us.  Its been a long time since i have seen a tropical storm, this really brings me back to the time i spent in Malaysia.  I love it.  The thunder, and lightening in this kind of storm just isnt the same back in Idaho and Washington.  Good thing i love rain, it will be here for a couple weeks, followed by a large one day monsoon.  Then we will enter the really hot and humid days for a few weeks as well.  Not really looking forward to that, but luckily i have AC  .

Things here are much different that i could have ever expected.  For the better that is.  I was so stressed out my first few weeks, and now i just love it here.  Im now in a situation where i can’t decide if this is the place i want to stay in for a long time, or if i want to make the journey back to the states.  There are so many good things here that i just cannot achieve in the states…. its really hard to argue.  Never in my life have i been able to save money up like i am able to here.  Its simply amazing.  I have spent about 20% of the money i have earned so far at this job.   20%…… Back in the states 18% of my paychecks disappeared to taxes, and much more to food, and gas, and any other bills.   So that means, in 4 months time here in Korea, I have saved up an amount of money that would take me a year or so to save up in the states, and it would not be an easy task either. 

Even more than the money, is the amount of freedom i have.  I am able to do my job how i please.  Use my own methods, and own ideas.  My students generally seem to enjoy me, and my teaching.  I have several students that hate English, and will not pay attention in my coworkers classes, but in mine, they are the best student!  Its really a good feeling.

Anywho, thas my mini update, i really need to go before i get struck by lightening or something.  Take care, and leave me a message

Wow, 10 weeks already!?

Well, wow, i have just finished my 10th week of teaching!  I don’t even know how time has gone by so fast, still feels like i have just stepped off the airplane!  So much has happened in the last few weeks.  I have traveled to a few more temples (pics coming), went to costco again, had some interesting things happen in class, eaten some strange things, and even made friends with some neighbors.

As always, i love to go see the temples around here.  There is so much culture wrapped up in those places.  I have walked around a pilar that holds a piece of Buddahs skull, and stood at the food of a 50+ foot tall Buddah too.  It is all just great, so much history.

During this time, i also got to witness the blooming of the cherry blossoms.  It only lasted a couple weeks, but it sure was a beautiful site to see! (pics to come)  The people here are very proud of their cherry blossoms, almost as proud of them as they are of their kimchi and soju!  I understand why, it was the start of the spring season, beautful weather!

I went out with my bosses and co-workers a couple times, always had good food to eat.  One time i even tried bugs!  Yes, bugs. I ate silk worm pupa! YUM! ok…maybe not yum.  They taste about as good as you would think.  Slightly crunchy, but juicy in the middle.  I washed it down with some soju, and ate the fruit that was being served and called it good.  I really don’t intend on experiencing that one again.  Maybe next will be dog soup

So I said i had some interesting things happen in class.  Well, any time you are working with kids, you never know what will happen.  Usually good things happen, or funny things, things that surprise me in a good way…but not this time.  I was attacked by a student!  While i was writing something on the black board, there was a happening behind me, the part i caught was where a student got up and started hitting another student.  I told the kid to stop and sit down, he did not.  SOOOO, I grabbed the kid and removed him from the other kid, and proceeded to tell him to get out of my class.  He decided he did not want to leave cause he would get in trouble, so i blocked his path and opened the door.  That was when he grabbed me and started fighting against me!  I was shocked, for a moment i did not know how to respond.  I called for another teacher to come in (i did not really feel like hitting the kid!) and it was resolved.  That childs mother ended up calling and writing a letter of complaint against me, stating it was my fault because i was not paying attention (big eye roll).  Whatever mom.  Unfortunately, what she doesnt realize is that he child isnt perfect, and happens to have an anger issue, i do forsee more problems with him, probably resulting in expulsion eventually. But it is what it is.  Luckily, most of my students are great!  The ones who are not, usually dont stay long, like the girl who sat in class and cried for 45 minutes because she did not get to read the part of the book she wanted to! No one is sad that she left

I guess lastly, i have been making some friends with the people who live around me.  Its been nice, on the weekends we have been going out to play soccer or basket ball.  It is nice to make new friends, even if we dont really speak the same language!  We can still have a good time.  It is good for everyone, i learn bits and pieces of korean from them, and they learn bits and pieces of english from me.

Anyways, sorry for the long delay between posts.  I will let you know when i put more pics in my gallery, but for now im gonna lay down!