I've been thinking a lot about where I would like to move after I leave South Korea. While I'm not 100% sure where I'll go, I do know that I'm not thinking a whole lot about coming back to the states. I was speaking to my grandmother this weekend and she asked me what things I don't miss about America. It was hard to come up with a few. Sure, one of the main reasons for not coming back straight away is that I am young and I'm travelling, which is something I've always wanted to do. After hanging up with her, I really thought about it some and came up with a few things that I don't miss about my motherland.
While I miss the occasional Sunday drives down backroads, I don't miss all of the driving. I don't miss traffic. I love that there is an extensive public transportation system in this country and that people utilize it. Sure, one can argue that it's a small country, much smaller than the state of Texas, that makes it easier to create and execute such a system. I don't expect the states to try to make a bus system that runs from the small town area I grew up in to the nearest city. It's just not feasible. However, the transportation system in most of the medium to large cities area atrocious. I'm not talking about New York or Chicago. I'm talking about cities such as San Antonio, Dallas, Miami, Seattle, Portland, etc. Each of these places are nearly impossible to traverse without a vehicle. When I was in Seattle, I could spend two hours and three bus transfers to get between destinations whereas if I used or rented a car, it would take less than half an hour in bumper to bumper traffic. That's ridiculous. Trains across country cost 3 times as much as an airline ticket. If I wanted to get from New York to Los Angeles, but wanted to stop in a few key places along the way, it would be easier and cheaper to fly to each place. Why is that? Why can Europe and Russia and China create massive rail systems that are affordable for the average traveler but the US can't?
It's also not all the lack of a system that's at fault, it's the total reliance on private vehicles. I'm the first that would cringe at the idea of giving up my car back home. However, if I could give up all of the infuriating hours I spend getting on and off freeways, sitting behind a bunch of idiots that stare at an accident inside of going smoothly past (yup, I'm one of the idiots, too), and swearing at half the people on the highway, I definitely would. I would start waking up 15 minutes earlier to catch the bus across town to a job. I would gladly pocket the money saved on gas. But without a legitimate system in place, being reliant on a personal vehicle is a necessity.
I also don't miss supermarkets. I don't miss the crowds of people pushing their way to buy genetically modified corn and corn syrup products. I don't miss the disgusting appearance of the chicken on the shelves, people choosing potatoe chips over brocoli. Farmer's markets are so few and far that it seems nearly impossible to eat well, support your neighbors, and pay less in environmental damage. In New England, where I went to college, farmer's markets were nearly like a trend. They were literally everywhere and each Saturday, I would make my way down to buy some in season fruits and veggies as well as a couple of meat products. This isn't the case in the majority of the United States. More often than not, we are forced to shop at supermarkets where the dazzling array of variety isn't much variety at all. In Samoa, I had one, two if I were lucky, choice in brands for nearly all products. Actually, most things weren't branded. People just brought things in to the stores from their farms and sold them there. When I got back to the states, I was mesmorized for a moment in the grocery store because it seemed like the choices were overwhelming. But looking further, everything was the same brand, just decorated with a different label.
Here in Korea, I can walk downstairs and there are ajummas selling nearly everything I could ever want in my kitchen. I get all of my veggies and fruits on the street, most of my meat products. The best part is that its still dirty from being freshly harvested. On Saturday and Sundays, I hate listening to people yealling into their megaphones but they are telling me which produce they've brought into town each week. I can run down, grab the items I need, and then spend a joyful hour cleaning each item in the sink. I love that feeling. If I have to live in a place of mostly concrete, a place where I cannot have my own garden, then I want something that feels fresh. I also like that I know all of the seasons that things are grown here in Korea and can plan my menus accordingly. I get nearly disgusted when I see a perfectly rippened banana in the middle of winter because I know how it got that way.
But the number one thing I do not miss about the states is the ravaged condition of our health care system. We are the richest country in the world and yet we have a system that is crumbling faster than the Berlin Wall did back in '89. When I had insurance, I would make an appointment, typically one that was weeks or even months away, get to the appointment 15 minutes early just to fill out paperwork, wait an hour to see the doctor, spend ten minutes with the doctor and then still be stuck with a bill. My insurance company gave me a list of providers I was allowed to see and if I chose a doctor on my own, more often than not insurance wouldn't cover it. Insurance also wouldn't cover any number of things. A friend of mine developed an operable brain tumor. The surgery and recovery was tens of thousands of dollars. She had the policy for more than three years but her provider determined that it was a pre-existing condition since most of her doctors visits had been about symptoms relating to the tumor. She'd probably been living with it for years but doctors would not do brain scans because more often than not, they were not covered. In the end, she had to travel hundreds of miles to find a doctor and hospital that would do the surgery after her parents mortgaged their house and sold all of their belongings. RIDICULOUS!!!
I had staph infection in my legs in Samoa. I went to the doctor, saw him in minutes, got my antibiotics, and that was that. I had a serious stomach issue in Korea. The same thing occured. I waited no more than half an hour at the busiest hospital in town, saw the doc, got half a dozen tests, X-rays, and scans done, and got my diagnosis. With my insurance, a national plan, I can go to any, ANY, doctor in the country, and I have. Yes, I pay out of pocket on top of paying a (small) monthly premium, but it's worth it. In addition, the number one form of healing here in Korea is all about preventitive care. Eating right, excercising often, and many other things are part of the prescription for getting better and remaining healthy.
I'm all for the health care overhaul in the states. I was on the fence before, but I have heaps of friends from other North American, Western and European countries that don't have the health care system problems we in the states have. While I don't think any of these countries have it absolutely right, what they do have is the access to health care and that access won't cause them to fall into a miserable hole of bankruptcy. They go to the doctor when they need to go instead of waiting until the problem is so bad that they are lying deathly ill in an emergency room bed.
But all of these things are interconnected. Our food, our way of getting around and our health care system. The connected by the large corporations that control it all. Maybe this isn't true, but I'm willing to bet that food companies such as Pepsi and Tyson hold hands with insurance companies such as Blue Cross and Humana who hold hands with the drug companies such as Merck and Pfizer and they all hold hands with the federal government. If people eat cheap and crappy foods, the food companies win and their profit margins go up. But in doing so, people become unhealthy and ill. They must go the the hospital where after paying extraordinarily high premiums, they must pay more out of pocket expenses for the doctors to treat the symptons. Insurance companies earn profit. Treatments are presciption drugs that are monopolized by a few companies. Drug company profits go up. Throughout all of this we are clogging up freeways and gas stations in cities with our cars, spending thousands of dollars a year to maintain and run them and then we have to find a way to cut corners and the grocery store seems the most logical place and the cycle continues. In a market economy such as ours, this is good and a true sign of success.
I'm not saying that I don't want capitalism. In fact, I'm mostly all for it. I just don't like the direction its gone. How about instead of subsidizing large scale farming operations, we help out the little man in towns such as where I grew up? Lets get him (or her) able to sell their products to those in a 100 mile radius. The foods are good and fresh. They are cheaper than junk food and our bodies are healthier. Let the government subsize health care instead of giving millions in tax benefits to insurance companies that don't do much for us anyway. When we are sick, we see a doctor and get the health care necessary. Our doctors are able to help us prevent illness instead of just treating symptoms. The insurance companies will still be there for those that want it but it will no longer be a necessity to treat cancer or diabetes and those high levels of cases may fall anyway if we just change the way our food is produced and delivered. Preventing diseases will make the drug companies find alternatives to earn their profits. It all seems like a win-win situation.
22 November 2009
16 November 2009
'Tis The Season For Reading
As one season fades into another, I take the time at the beginning of class to discuss seasons. It's been said that Korean seasons follow specific calendar dates. I've never bothered looking at the calendar but this is one of those Korean things I accept without any legitimate research.
It's freezing outside. Literally. Sleet fell from the heavens today. My heater needed to be turned on for an hour last night. The weeks forecast shows a similar weather pattern, with probable snow. Thus, in this foreigner's mind, it's winter. Not so for my dear little punks. I asked them what season it was. They happily replied "Fall!!!!" Pointing out the weather wouldn't change their mind. It's not winter until the day they change to their winter uniforms and add turtlenecks and leggings underneath. Whatever, I figured, fall went by so quickly that I forgot to discuss it so I let them have their day of fall discussion.
I asked punks to tell me two things about fall. Hands went up and the usual answers ensued- colorful leaves, cool weather, beautiful skies, etc. Two strange answers kept coming up. Picnicking and reading. Apparently half the students went on a picnic at the weekend, when it was equally cold, and also read many books. The only reason they could come up with for doing these two things exclusively in the fall is because the weather is good for it.
When I relayed this story to my friend Kate, she told me she has been invited to attend a picnic this coming weekend. She's Canadian and although back home she lives in an igloo and spends her winter ice fishing, she declined on the basis of it being colder than Cruella Deville's heart. Her invitees suggested that instead she stay home and read a book.
Two things dawned on me: the lack of a reading culture in Korea as well as how every season has specific activities that one must do. My friend taught at a camp out of town. The teachers were put up in a hotel. One evening, she spent reading while her Korean roommate tore up th the wirless waves talking on her cell phone all evening. The next day, her co-workers asked what she was studying for because when one is that deep into a book, they must be studying. This reminded me of the number of times I've been caught with a book outside of class time and have been asked if I have to study for an exam. It's rare to see anyone sitting on a park bench or a bus reading to pass the time. I remember being all excited about seeing readers in the metro while I was in Taiwan but I couldnt quite place why I would notice something so simple.
In the summer, everyone was hiking or going to the beach. I did neither of these because I enjoyed them before 50 million others were crowded into the areas. After summer vacation, every student told me they hiked a mountain and went to the beach. In winter, they all build snowpeople or go ice skating. In spring...well I can't remember what they did in spring because it went by before I could chuckle at fan death but I do recall all of the similar answers.
This pleases me. I didn't swim in the summer or ice skate last winter. But now I have at least a few days left of the official fall and I can spend it with an open book without extra staring because I'll be doing the exact right thing at the exact right time. Unless, of course, the official winter begins tomorrow.
It's freezing outside. Literally. Sleet fell from the heavens today. My heater needed to be turned on for an hour last night. The weeks forecast shows a similar weather pattern, with probable snow. Thus, in this foreigner's mind, it's winter. Not so for my dear little punks. I asked them what season it was. They happily replied "Fall!!!!" Pointing out the weather wouldn't change their mind. It's not winter until the day they change to their winter uniforms and add turtlenecks and leggings underneath. Whatever, I figured, fall went by so quickly that I forgot to discuss it so I let them have their day of fall discussion.
I asked punks to tell me two things about fall. Hands went up and the usual answers ensued- colorful leaves, cool weather, beautiful skies, etc. Two strange answers kept coming up. Picnicking and reading. Apparently half the students went on a picnic at the weekend, when it was equally cold, and also read many books. The only reason they could come up with for doing these two things exclusively in the fall is because the weather is good for it.
When I relayed this story to my friend Kate, she told me she has been invited to attend a picnic this coming weekend. She's Canadian and although back home she lives in an igloo and spends her winter ice fishing, she declined on the basis of it being colder than Cruella Deville's heart. Her invitees suggested that instead she stay home and read a book.
Two things dawned on me: the lack of a reading culture in Korea as well as how every season has specific activities that one must do. My friend taught at a camp out of town. The teachers were put up in a hotel. One evening, she spent reading while her Korean roommate tore up th the wirless waves talking on her cell phone all evening. The next day, her co-workers asked what she was studying for because when one is that deep into a book, they must be studying. This reminded me of the number of times I've been caught with a book outside of class time and have been asked if I have to study for an exam. It's rare to see anyone sitting on a park bench or a bus reading to pass the time. I remember being all excited about seeing readers in the metro while I was in Taiwan but I couldnt quite place why I would notice something so simple.
In the summer, everyone was hiking or going to the beach. I did neither of these because I enjoyed them before 50 million others were crowded into the areas. After summer vacation, every student told me they hiked a mountain and went to the beach. In winter, they all build snowpeople or go ice skating. In spring...well I can't remember what they did in spring because it went by before I could chuckle at fan death but I do recall all of the similar answers.
This pleases me. I didn't swim in the summer or ice skate last winter. But now I have at least a few days left of the official fall and I can spend it with an open book without extra staring because I'll be doing the exact right thing at the exact right time. Unless, of course, the official winter begins tomorrow.
15 November 2009
I May Have Agreed to Marriage in a Country With No Dr. Pepper
I had intended this weekend to be one where I explored a few possible hobbies/interests. I was able to check two off the list.
The first was collecting accidental fiances. It started out innocent enough. I was in a hurry and not in a mood to chit chat but my taxi driver wanted my life story. I was brooding. He kept asking me to smile. One is physically unable to frown when someone is begging them to smile. It's impossible. Believe me, I tried. We exchanged the important facts; name, age, relationship status. After we exhausted our abilities in one another's language we exchanged numbers. What harm is there in exchanging numbers with someone who was kind, brightened your day, and even gives you a free cab ride?
I met up with him over the weekend. After ten minutes, we had nothing to say. He spoke to me in rapid-fire Korean, I spoke in a language that may have sounded like English. Neither of us really knew what the other way saying. Later he called saying his mom is ready to meet me. Meeting the family usually means one thing in Korea; probable marriage. My Korean friend called him to get the scoop for me and apparently he said he fell in love with me from the first moment and asked to marry me and I said yes. Oops. I broke his heart by telling him I wasn't interested. He cried. Ten minutes later he texted to say he had a new girlfriend.
On Sunday, I went to my usual Dr. Pepper dealer. It's like a little Black Market Dr. Pepper store. Only the prices are cheaper than back home and I don't worry about being arrested or having to sell a kidney to afford the product. Anyway, all hell broke loose when I realized they were out of stock. I frowned a bit and then started to worry. I haven't had a Dr. Pepper in a while and the last time I bought some I ended up sharing with all of my friends (who didn't even appreciate the tastiness!) so really I haven't had any in a looooong while.
I decided to make looking for a new dealer of Dr. Pepper my other hobby of the day. I walked (yeah right, I rode the bus) around the city trying to find a new place to buy my tasty carbonated beverage. It was nowhere to be found. Cold, tired, and hungry, I started to crawl my way back to my apartment. I stopped into a convenience store to get a hot coffee and just out of curiousity, I checked out their soda section. Wouldn't you know it, there was a Dr. Pepper sitting on one of the shelves. I think I heard the angels singing for a few seconds as I opened the door to grab the two cans they had on the shelf. Check Dr. Pepper hunting off the hobby list.
I went to pay and as I was walking out the door, someone held my arm. "Kristen! I love you!" The arm holding was one where I knew I must have known the person. Perhaps a student, or a friend I hadn't seen in a while, or Johnny Depp. "Yup," I thought to myself, "surely it's Johnny Depp coming to carry me away to a life of red carpets and luxury."
Can you guess who it was? Yes, my dear readers, it was my accidental fiance. I got a bit creeped out and assumed he'd followed me all day. Turns out he lives right next door to the only store in the city that is selling my drink of the devil. And it also turns out that I misread his message (which was in Korean) and that he didn't have a new girlfriend, he said that I can just be his girlfriend. I managed to get out of meeting his mom with the magic words "I have a meeting." He was just so darn sweet and said, "I like your mind, I like your face," which quite obviously means that I have a fantastic personality and I'm a smokin' hot beauty. He said he will learn English so he can talk to me which I think is an excellent idea because then he will discover that I'm actually quite boring and I have nothing meaningful to say.
I figure I have two options now. I can either agree to meet him again and see if we can make a friendship out of it or I can learn to like the occassional coca ~cola. Monday's hobby will be making a pros and cons list of the two options.
The first was collecting accidental fiances. It started out innocent enough. I was in a hurry and not in a mood to chit chat but my taxi driver wanted my life story. I was brooding. He kept asking me to smile. One is physically unable to frown when someone is begging them to smile. It's impossible. Believe me, I tried. We exchanged the important facts; name, age, relationship status. After we exhausted our abilities in one another's language we exchanged numbers. What harm is there in exchanging numbers with someone who was kind, brightened your day, and even gives you a free cab ride?
I met up with him over the weekend. After ten minutes, we had nothing to say. He spoke to me in rapid-fire Korean, I spoke in a language that may have sounded like English. Neither of us really knew what the other way saying. Later he called saying his mom is ready to meet me. Meeting the family usually means one thing in Korea; probable marriage. My Korean friend called him to get the scoop for me and apparently he said he fell in love with me from the first moment and asked to marry me and I said yes. Oops. I broke his heart by telling him I wasn't interested. He cried. Ten minutes later he texted to say he had a new girlfriend.
On Sunday, I went to my usual Dr. Pepper dealer. It's like a little Black Market Dr. Pepper store. Only the prices are cheaper than back home and I don't worry about being arrested or having to sell a kidney to afford the product. Anyway, all hell broke loose when I realized they were out of stock. I frowned a bit and then started to worry. I haven't had a Dr. Pepper in a while and the last time I bought some I ended up sharing with all of my friends (who didn't even appreciate the tastiness!) so really I haven't had any in a looooong while.
I decided to make looking for a new dealer of Dr. Pepper my other hobby of the day. I walked (yeah right, I rode the bus) around the city trying to find a new place to buy my tasty carbonated beverage. It was nowhere to be found. Cold, tired, and hungry, I started to crawl my way back to my apartment. I stopped into a convenience store to get a hot coffee and just out of curiousity, I checked out their soda section. Wouldn't you know it, there was a Dr. Pepper sitting on one of the shelves. I think I heard the angels singing for a few seconds as I opened the door to grab the two cans they had on the shelf. Check Dr. Pepper hunting off the hobby list.
I went to pay and as I was walking out the door, someone held my arm. "Kristen! I love you!" The arm holding was one where I knew I must have known the person. Perhaps a student, or a friend I hadn't seen in a while, or Johnny Depp. "Yup," I thought to myself, "surely it's Johnny Depp coming to carry me away to a life of red carpets and luxury."
Can you guess who it was? Yes, my dear readers, it was my accidental fiance. I got a bit creeped out and assumed he'd followed me all day. Turns out he lives right next door to the only store in the city that is selling my drink of the devil. And it also turns out that I misread his message (which was in Korean) and that he didn't have a new girlfriend, he said that I can just be his girlfriend. I managed to get out of meeting his mom with the magic words "I have a meeting." He was just so darn sweet and said, "I like your mind, I like your face," which quite obviously means that I have a fantastic personality and I'm a smokin' hot beauty. He said he will learn English so he can talk to me which I think is an excellent idea because then he will discover that I'm actually quite boring and I have nothing meaningful to say.
I figure I have two options now. I can either agree to meet him again and see if we can make a friendship out of it or I can learn to like the occassional coca ~cola. Monday's hobby will be making a pros and cons list of the two options.
10 November 2009
My Stupid Seven Days a Week
The past seven days have been Stupid Days. You know the ones. Where everyone around you is stupid, so stupid, and only you can be the one to identify the stupidity of their ways. If I could have spoken my stupid thoughts aloud, here's how some of my conversations would have gone:
- Misoon, calling on Friday morning, "Hey, you know how I told you of the 60+ cases of swine flu at the school and how we are shut down for five days? Well it's not really true. The principal wants the healthy students and teachers to be here so they can work and learn more and also cough disgusting virus all over everything." I would have replied, "The principal is stupid." "But it's Korean rules." "Korean rules are stupid."
- At the grocery store, I bought trash bags. I also wanted grocery bags (which you pay 50 cents for) because the grocery bags are smaller trash bags, perfect for weeks when you don't accumulate much rubbish. The lady wouldn't give them to me. I finally gave up and walked away but this conversation could have happened if my brain didn't have a filter: "Two bags please." Cashier says, "No, you are buying big trash bags, just use them." "I understand but I also want two bags." "But," she would have patiently replied,"you can use the large garbage bags." "Are you stupid? I'm willing to spend my money to support the garbage collectors." "But you already have garbage bags!" "You're stupid."
- Taking a walk through the hood, where I have walked nearly everyday for over a year, the same old ajumma shielded her grandbaby from me by saying "Foreigners smell." "You're stupid," I would have yelled out, "and you smell like kimchi too!"
- I was out for an evening coffee with a friend and had to walk over a drunken man who'd passed out on the sidewalk and was using his vomit as a pillow. "You're stupid! And you smell. And you're a pitiful excuse for a man." Wait...I actually did say that.
- I took a cab to a well known landmark that has an English name. When you are speaking in another language and you are trying to say a word that is actually in your native language but the host country language butchers it when it's translated, well it's difficult. The cabbie didn't get me. I was butchering a vowel somewhere in there so I finally wrote it and I may have wanted to say, "Korean sounds are stupid."
- Misoon calls me incessanty. I don't answer if it isn't working hours because, well I don't feel like it. She knows she can email me if its important and I'll try to get to it. Usually I don't because it's stupid. She called all weekend. Sunday she came over. She walked into my apartment. It had been raining and she walked with her nasty dirty shoes across my newly mopped floor. I asked her to remove them. She said she thought all foreigners wore shoes in the house. "You're stupid," my eyes said to her. I pointed to my shoes at the entrance and reminded her that not are Westerners are the same. She asked why the English textbook at school says people should not remove their shoes in Westerners houses. My explanation was good, but I would have rather said, "Because the books are stupid. And the stupid people that wrote the stupid books are stupid."
Happy Birthday!!!!!
As I was talking with a bunch of friends this week about parents, I realized that my parents are quite young compared to the parents of other people my age. Who woulda thunk it?
Today is my mama's49th 39th birthday! She doesn't look a day over 32. Seriously! Every time I see a picture of her, she looks like she's regressing in age. I got to spend some quality Skype time with her over the weekend and I was shocked at how lovely and beautiful she is! I think having her two terror rugrats completely mostly out of the house helps. It looks like she's enjoying the empty nest.
Mom, I hope you have a fantastic 49th year. My birthday wish for you is that you do something special and fun every week (because who knows when Michelle and I try to move back in, haha).
Love ya!
P.S. I don't have any recent pictures of Mom and I. This needs to be corrected ASAP!
Today is my mama's
Mom, I hope you have a fantastic 49th year. My birthday wish for you is that you do something special and fun every week (because who knows when Michelle and I try to move back in, haha).
Love ya!
P.S. I don't have any recent pictures of Mom and I. This needs to be corrected ASAP!
05 November 2009
That's it, I'm definitely not in Korea anymore.
I didn't have any classes today. Obviously I've been internet browsing all day, planning a vacation or two, checking on jobs post-Korea, figuring out if I should go home this vacation or next and watching copious amounts of TV. Oh, and I finished a book too. I'm the master multi-tasker. I could have been working on lesson planning but I figure since I'm planned up till the end next semester, I shouldn't bother.
So, as I was in my classroom all day, alone, I didn't see any of the students in the school. I heard them, but didn't see then. And then I went to lunch. School lunches in Korea are yummy and scrumptious and I can't get enough of them. Mmmm. I'm going to die when I don't have access to Korean school lunches.
But lunches aren't important. What was super strange was that there was half the usual number of students there normally are. Half. I asked around. "Did the students have a field trip? Are they taking exams? What's going on?" I was stumped by the answers. They were told to stay home and the teachers were sending any home that said they didn't feel well. What's more, my school will be closed and I now have a lovely five day weekend. Surely we'll have to make up these days at another time, but it's still nice that the punks are getting a chance to rest up and hopefully recover from these nasty winter viruses.
So, as I was in my classroom all day, alone, I didn't see any of the students in the school. I heard them, but didn't see then. And then I went to lunch. School lunches in Korea are yummy and scrumptious and I can't get enough of them. Mmmm. I'm going to die when I don't have access to Korean school lunches.
But lunches aren't important. What was super strange was that there was half the usual number of students there normally are. Half. I asked around. "Did the students have a field trip? Are they taking exams? What's going on?" I was stumped by the answers. They were told to stay home and the teachers were sending any home that said they didn't feel well. What's more, my school will be closed and I now have a lovely five day weekend. Surely we'll have to make up these days at another time, but it's still nice that the punks are getting a chance to rest up and hopefully recover from these nasty winter viruses.
04 November 2009
Pig Worshipping
I'm so confused today. I felt like I was in a new world. Surely not in Korea anymore.
There were five students missing from my first class. Four from the next and another few in a later classs. I first assumed the worst. The punks were gobbled up by an earthquake in the middle of the night. They were kidnapped by aliens. Having punks absent from school was a sure sign that we'd entered the twilight zone.
I nearly passed out when I found out why they were gone. They had colds or even the swine flu. Huh? They were sick and were being told to stay home? This never happens. Last week I had a student pass out because he'd had a high fever for so long and his poor little body just couldn't take it. There have been students daily passed out at their desk because they were too sick to keep their heads up. The accepted thing to do was the come into school or work unless you were actually in a coma in the hospital. I was even chastised once for calling into work when I had a high fever and was coughing so bad that I couldn't even breathe. I was in the hospital at the time and the principal had my co-teacher come and check me out so that I could teach. I didn't teach. I went home and continue with my fever and cough.
Apparently on Monday or Tuesday, the schools got a memo from the health department that any sick students needed to stay home. The definition of sick was broad. If they were coughing or had runny noses or even a hint of a fever. If they said their throat was sore or their big toe hurt, they also were required to stay home until all symptoms were gone. This is a big move on the health departments part. This is a huge move in the right direction for a country as 'advaced' as Korea. This is the beginning of something grand. No longer will I die a little inside when a punk faints from fever and is just sat right back in his chair.
This was good news, yes. I was even sent home early along with 4 other teachers, two had fevers and three of us had coughs. I was baffled beyond belief and my jaw still hasn't left the floor.
More interestingly, despite sick students and absences, and more punks covering their mouths when they sneeze or cough, all of the windows in the school were open. It's bloody cold outside. It's the first freeze of winter. Why can't we just shut the windows? Welllllllll, in the health memo, it also suggested keeping a window open to help with air circulation. My school, in all their amazing logic, has decided that if one window open is a good thing, then EVERY window open must be a wonderful thing and gives them that much more protection against the flu.
I have news for them. It's not a wonderful thing. It's just a stupid thing. It's cold and I know that if I'm shaking like a building in an earthquake, then this poor little kids are just about dying. Why on earth would one assume that sitting in a room that is colder than an igloo could be a good thing? Why? Why the hell didn't even one teacher question this stupid piece of policy from the principal? Why didn't one just ignore it and crack only one window? Surely the teachers were all cold too. I just didn't get it.
My job now has new responsibilites attached to it: window closer and hygiene teacher. I walk around the school closing windows. I start the beginning of each class closing windows. I leave one cracked. I continue to teach the students about covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze, blowing their nose in tissues instead of flicking boogers on their peers, and washing their hands. Somehow I have become the brain of logic, the beacon of reason at my school. God help us all.
There were five students missing from my first class. Four from the next and another few in a later classs. I first assumed the worst. The punks were gobbled up by an earthquake in the middle of the night. They were kidnapped by aliens. Having punks absent from school was a sure sign that we'd entered the twilight zone.
I nearly passed out when I found out why they were gone. They had colds or even the swine flu. Huh? They were sick and were being told to stay home? This never happens. Last week I had a student pass out because he'd had a high fever for so long and his poor little body just couldn't take it. There have been students daily passed out at their desk because they were too sick to keep their heads up. The accepted thing to do was the come into school or work unless you were actually in a coma in the hospital. I was even chastised once for calling into work when I had a high fever and was coughing so bad that I couldn't even breathe. I was in the hospital at the time and the principal had my co-teacher come and check me out so that I could teach. I didn't teach. I went home and continue with my fever and cough.
Apparently on Monday or Tuesday, the schools got a memo from the health department that any sick students needed to stay home. The definition of sick was broad. If they were coughing or had runny noses or even a hint of a fever. If they said their throat was sore or their big toe hurt, they also were required to stay home until all symptoms were gone. This is a big move on the health departments part. This is a huge move in the right direction for a country as 'advaced' as Korea. This is the beginning of something grand. No longer will I die a little inside when a punk faints from fever and is just sat right back in his chair.
This was good news, yes. I was even sent home early along with 4 other teachers, two had fevers and three of us had coughs. I was baffled beyond belief and my jaw still hasn't left the floor.
More interestingly, despite sick students and absences, and more punks covering their mouths when they sneeze or cough, all of the windows in the school were open. It's bloody cold outside. It's the first freeze of winter. Why can't we just shut the windows? Welllllllll, in the health memo, it also suggested keeping a window open to help with air circulation. My school, in all their amazing logic, has decided that if one window open is a good thing, then EVERY window open must be a wonderful thing and gives them that much more protection against the flu.
I have news for them. It's not a wonderful thing. It's just a stupid thing. It's cold and I know that if I'm shaking like a building in an earthquake, then this poor little kids are just about dying. Why on earth would one assume that sitting in a room that is colder than an igloo could be a good thing? Why? Why the hell didn't even one teacher question this stupid piece of policy from the principal? Why didn't one just ignore it and crack only one window? Surely the teachers were all cold too. I just didn't get it.
My job now has new responsibilites attached to it: window closer and hygiene teacher. I walk around the school closing windows. I start the beginning of each class closing windows. I leave one cracked. I continue to teach the students about covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze, blowing their nose in tissues instead of flicking boogers on their peers, and washing their hands. Somehow I have become the brain of logic, the beacon of reason at my school. God help us all.
01 November 2009
Embarrassing Moment #18579985784893293485
I'm prone to embarrassing moments no matter where I live. It seems that those moments that happen in a foreign country are more pronounced because everyone watches. Except everyone laughs at me and I'm never quite sure why.
I got a wild hair for some ice cream and decided that Baskin Robbins was the only place to satisfy this want. I have no idea why. It was cold and windy and I mistakenly went out with no jacket or socks. But that's not the embarrassing moment.
I ordered my ice cream; a pint of pumpkin cheesecake. I figured that would last me a week. Or an hour, depending on any number of factors. When I went to pay, they kept asking "Time. How long?" Confused, I simply replied, "Now, please." They kept asking, I kept replying. "Why would I buy ice cream only to come back later to pick it up?" I wondered.
The customers behind me got involved and all of them starting chanting, "Time? Time? Time?" I was getting irritated. I wanted my ice cream NOW, dangit. Were they aware that I would very surely consume a pint of ice cream within the hour? Where they worried for my health? Did they want me to shop around before taking my precious tub of dairy heaven home? What? Why wouldn't they give me my ice cream?
Finally I said "Give me ice cream, please. Now. I want ice cream NOW." In short, I got rude. When you keep a lady from her ice cream on a cold Sunday morning, I mean...ummm afternoon, bad things might happen. Surely the ladies behind the counter knew this. I saw the dirty looks from the people in line behind me, but I didn't care. I just wanted to get home and back into my flannel pajamas and spend the day coaxing my washer, Bertha, into action. I wanted to eat some ice cream and read a book in front of the window and watch as Winter wormed her way into every nook and cranny. "Give me ice cream!" I said, so loud and rude that even I wanted to slap myself.
I heard murmuring in line behind me and knew pretty much what they were saying, "Why is that waygook girl so rude?" As I walked away, I called a friend and told her the ice cream story. Very quickly she told me that they only wanted to know how far I had to travel so they could pack it with the appropriate amount of dry ice so it diddn't melt on the way home. Doh. I looked at the line of people staring at me and I wanted to melt into the floor. I ran back quickly to apologize and then walked as fast as I could home.
In my defense, I've never gotten more than a scoop from Baskin Robbins. They also were only asking "Time?" and not asking anything about how long it would take me to get home. I know enough Korean to have been able to understand that without difficulty. In their defense, I still would have had no idea why they were asking and still would have demanded my ice cream immediately. Because I'm dumb that way. Because I didn't watch the ten people in front of me and see that the ice cream shop was so kind and making sure our treasured goods got home in pristine condition.
As punishment, my student and his parent were also in line and saw the whole darn thing. The poor kid may have had no idea what was going on, but everything I taught him about asking questions was thrown right out the window. I teach them to ask, "Why" as much as possible because that's how I want their English education to go. I want them to ask me why 'scent' is spelled with an sc but sounds like sent while 'scant' is pronounced as it's spelled. It helps me learn to explain things better.
If I'd only asked that one simple question, "Why?", I wouldn't have made a fool of myself, would have gotten my ice cream quicker, and wouldn't have made a mockery of one of the most valuable lessons I've taught my students. I would have passively learned how to say "dry ice in box" in Korean. Most importantly, my ice cream probably would have been fully frozen by the time I walked home. It might have even tasted better, too.
I got a wild hair for some ice cream and decided that Baskin Robbins was the only place to satisfy this want. I have no idea why. It was cold and windy and I mistakenly went out with no jacket or socks. But that's not the embarrassing moment.
I ordered my ice cream; a pint of pumpkin cheesecake. I figured that would last me a week. Or an hour, depending on any number of factors. When I went to pay, they kept asking "Time. How long?" Confused, I simply replied, "Now, please." They kept asking, I kept replying. "Why would I buy ice cream only to come back later to pick it up?" I wondered.
The customers behind me got involved and all of them starting chanting, "Time? Time? Time?" I was getting irritated. I wanted my ice cream NOW, dangit. Were they aware that I would very surely consume a pint of ice cream within the hour? Where they worried for my health? Did they want me to shop around before taking my precious tub of dairy heaven home? What? Why wouldn't they give me my ice cream?
Finally I said "Give me ice cream, please. Now. I want ice cream NOW." In short, I got rude. When you keep a lady from her ice cream on a cold Sunday morning, I mean...ummm afternoon, bad things might happen. Surely the ladies behind the counter knew this. I saw the dirty looks from the people in line behind me, but I didn't care. I just wanted to get home and back into my flannel pajamas and spend the day coaxing my washer, Bertha, into action. I wanted to eat some ice cream and read a book in front of the window and watch as Winter wormed her way into every nook and cranny. "Give me ice cream!" I said, so loud and rude that even I wanted to slap myself.
I heard murmuring in line behind me and knew pretty much what they were saying, "Why is that waygook girl so rude?" As I walked away, I called a friend and told her the ice cream story. Very quickly she told me that they only wanted to know how far I had to travel so they could pack it with the appropriate amount of dry ice so it diddn't melt on the way home. Doh. I looked at the line of people staring at me and I wanted to melt into the floor. I ran back quickly to apologize and then walked as fast as I could home.
In my defense, I've never gotten more than a scoop from Baskin Robbins. They also were only asking "Time?" and not asking anything about how long it would take me to get home. I know enough Korean to have been able to understand that without difficulty. In their defense, I still would have had no idea why they were asking and still would have demanded my ice cream immediately. Because I'm dumb that way. Because I didn't watch the ten people in front of me and see that the ice cream shop was so kind and making sure our treasured goods got home in pristine condition.
As punishment, my student and his parent were also in line and saw the whole darn thing. The poor kid may have had no idea what was going on, but everything I taught him about asking questions was thrown right out the window. I teach them to ask, "Why" as much as possible because that's how I want their English education to go. I want them to ask me why 'scent' is spelled with an sc but sounds like sent while 'scant' is pronounced as it's spelled. It helps me learn to explain things better.
If I'd only asked that one simple question, "Why?", I wouldn't have made a fool of myself, would have gotten my ice cream quicker, and wouldn't have made a mockery of one of the most valuable lessons I've taught my students. I would have passively learned how to say "dry ice in box" in Korean. Most importantly, my ice cream probably would have been fully frozen by the time I walked home. It might have even tasted better, too.
29 October 2009
Pictures! not really
My parents sent a new camera for me with my sister. It's pretty sweet. I carry it everywhere and I have (had) more than 200 pictures ready to upload on my computer. These included some random Korea moment shots, ajumma shots, pictures of my school and students, the beautiful fall weather, 100 pictures of me trying earnestly not to through the victory sign (most attempts were utter failures). In all, I was excited to start posting with pictures again.
I have too much free time this week because my students are taking exams so I figured it would be the perfect time to skim through pictures and dump them on this dumb blog. You wanna know what's even dumber than this dumb blog? Me. I'm retarded. I know why I gave my parents and teachers headaches for most of my life; I simply cannot follow instructions.
There were a few questionable photos on my camera that needed to be deleted. They weren't bad. They were just the type that I had no idea what the heck they were. They could have been the rings of Jupiter or a close up shot of my TV. Either way, they weren't needed. I went to delete and in my click-happy state, I ended up deleting all of my photos. I nearly cried. It was terrible.
Ok, I did cry because it WAS terrible. 200 pictures gone in the blink of an eye. Pictures of pretty fall leaves. Pictures of beautiful sunsets. Pictures of an old man asleep on the sidewalk.
Now that I know exactly which button is delete, you can bet I'll be out in full force for the next two weeks capturing these precious moments before winter comes in and zaps all of the beauty out of everything.
I have too much free time this week because my students are taking exams so I figured it would be the perfect time to skim through pictures and dump them on this dumb blog. You wanna know what's even dumber than this dumb blog? Me. I'm retarded. I know why I gave my parents and teachers headaches for most of my life; I simply cannot follow instructions.
There were a few questionable photos on my camera that needed to be deleted. They weren't bad. They were just the type that I had no idea what the heck they were. They could have been the rings of Jupiter or a close up shot of my TV. Either way, they weren't needed. I went to delete and in my click-happy state, I ended up deleting all of my photos. I nearly cried. It was terrible.
Ok, I did cry because it WAS terrible. 200 pictures gone in the blink of an eye. Pictures of pretty fall leaves. Pictures of beautiful sunsets. Pictures of an old man asleep on the sidewalk.
Now that I know exactly which button is delete, you can bet I'll be out in full force for the next two weeks capturing these precious moments before winter comes in and zaps all of the beauty out of everything.
27 October 2009
Death of the Gossip Mill?
I grew up in a small town. There were less than one thousand souls in my town when I was a youngster. I grew up with a large family. Family for me doesn't consist of Mom, Dad, Brother, and Sister. It's a couple moms, a couple dads, a couple of sisters, a couple of brothers, nearly a dozen grandparents, scores of cousins, and all those that got picked up along the way for the ride.
Small towns and big families sort of go hand in hand. Both of them have one very important trait in common; people in each can talk your head off. You can't do anything without someone else knowing. I used to hate it. But I now love it. Maybe its just because I like talking and I know there's someone to listen or its because I have developed a very strong interest in wanting to know every little details of my cousin's brother's uncle's grandmother's dog's life. I've never known how to explain how my mind works and I ain't about to start now.
I have a question. Did you feel cold today? Did you walk outside and suddenly the mist from your breath froze midair? The joints in your fingers started creaking? If so, have no worries. I know what that was all about.
Ladies and Gentlemen, dear old Dad is on Facebook. Yes, Hell has officially frozen over. It wasn't a solid freeze because Grandma also got on Facebook a few weeks ago. We should be back to regularly programmed Fall weather shortly.
It was surprising seeing Dad's name pop-up on Facebook. I honestly assumed it was another soul out there in the world with his exact name which is strange because he has a strange first name coupled with a not so common last name making it pretty much one in a trillion which gave me the idea that the aliens must have landed. I told you, don't make me try to explain how my mind works.
I think its cool that my so much of my family is on Facebook. I still know what my cousins have done before they realize that the news made it a mile down the road let alone 10,000 miles away. I get to see all of the parties and holidays and events without the inconvenience of post. But it makes me wonder if my beloved gossip mill that I grew up with is a dying tradition.
Will I go home to silence? Will we all just keep it in our heads that Susana saw a picture of Charlie's brother's best friends's uncle who is also my uncle making out with Ruth's daughter's aunt who is also my aunt? Will we not sit around a bonfire or in a barn or in front of the fire at Grandma's analyzing every detail and talking about the kiss until we all agree that it's perfectly ok for a married couple to kiss on their front step? Will my younger brother only have to make sure that there are no cameras around when he starts driving and sneaking off to the neighbor's house because if it's not on Facebook then it didn't happen and then we won't have anything to talk about?
Gosh, I desparately hope not. Because talk and gossip are what makes large families and small towns exist in peace.
Welcome to Facebook, y'all!
Small towns and big families sort of go hand in hand. Both of them have one very important trait in common; people in each can talk your head off. You can't do anything without someone else knowing. I used to hate it. But I now love it. Maybe its just because I like talking and I know there's someone to listen or its because I have developed a very strong interest in wanting to know every little details of my cousin's brother's uncle's grandmother's dog's life. I've never known how to explain how my mind works and I ain't about to start now.
I have a question. Did you feel cold today? Did you walk outside and suddenly the mist from your breath froze midair? The joints in your fingers started creaking? If so, have no worries. I know what that was all about.
Ladies and Gentlemen, dear old Dad is on Facebook. Yes, Hell has officially frozen over. It wasn't a solid freeze because Grandma also got on Facebook a few weeks ago. We should be back to regularly programmed Fall weather shortly.
It was surprising seeing Dad's name pop-up on Facebook. I honestly assumed it was another soul out there in the world with his exact name which is strange because he has a strange first name coupled with a not so common last name making it pretty much one in a trillion which gave me the idea that the aliens must have landed. I told you, don't make me try to explain how my mind works.
I think its cool that my so much of my family is on Facebook. I still know what my cousins have done before they realize that the news made it a mile down the road let alone 10,000 miles away. I get to see all of the parties and holidays and events without the inconvenience of post. But it makes me wonder if my beloved gossip mill that I grew up with is a dying tradition.
Will I go home to silence? Will we all just keep it in our heads that Susana saw a picture of Charlie's brother's best friends's uncle who is also my uncle making out with Ruth's daughter's aunt who is also my aunt? Will we not sit around a bonfire or in a barn or in front of the fire at Grandma's analyzing every detail and talking about the kiss until we all agree that it's perfectly ok for a married couple to kiss on their front step? Will my younger brother only have to make sure that there are no cameras around when he starts driving and sneaking off to the neighbor's house because if it's not on Facebook then it didn't happen and then we won't have anything to talk about?
Gosh, I desparately hope not. Because talk and gossip are what makes large families and small towns exist in peace.
Welcome to Facebook, y'all!
Solving Problems....Maybe
A few months ago, my co-teacher started in with my landlady on getting the washer taken care of. I heard the back and forth exchanges, the threatening, the laughter, the yelling, the laughter, and threatening, etc until finally I just stopped listening altogether. It went on for a bit. Nearly 4 months to be exact. One day, there was yelling so bad that I was thankful guns don't exist in Korea because surely one would have killed the other. After the yelling, my washer was fixed (although that's debatable but I don't want the yelling to start again!). I assumed these two women wore sworn enemies and would never talk again. Not true. When all was well with the washer, they sat down to some tea and biscuits and laughed away the afternoon. They held arms and acted as thoug they had been the very best of friends since they were both just a twinkle in their daddy's eye. I was....confused?
I see this scenario being played out all the time and I know that it's often how things are solved but I have never dreamed of trying it out for myself. It's just...difficult. I'd rather get things done without having to yell and fight and hurry up so we can drink tea and eat cookies. You know, sorta makes sense right?
My old co-teacher (EH) and a good friend of mine (JM) came to my school with me this morning for some support and help with the talks. EH and JM talked and made sure that they were on the same page as I was, and then we all went to speak to the principal and vice principal. There was a lot of talking, some raised voices, a couple of threatening/guilt inducing comments, and then some laughter. To make a really, really, really long meeting-story short, I ended up retaining my job and getting all of the pay (including other things they hadn't paid me for) deposited into my account. It was a good feeling and I'm really glad I never backed down. After it was all said and done, tea magically appeared and apparently we were all suddently the best of friends.
I suppose if I had remembered how arguments went in Korea, I wouldn't have spent the weekend and Monday with my stomach in knots and worrying about what would happen. I would have enjoyed the beautiful fall days a little more. Oh well. It's settled now. I still have a bad taste in my mouth, obviously, but hopefully I can just shrug my shoulders and stop dwelling on it. I'm not naive enough to think that my bosses suddenly adore me again and think I'm number one. In fact, I am certain they are sitting with a bottle of soju cursing my name at this very moment. I'm the first and so far only foreign teacher taht has legitimately stood up and said "Enough is enough!" Let's hope when they say "I think maybe....it will never happen again, maybe" they truly mean it.
Felt good. Feels good. Now if I can just get this punks to stop playing around with their cell phones then I will consider myself to be Teacher Extraordinaire. I'm not holding my breath. :)
I see this scenario being played out all the time and I know that it's often how things are solved but I have never dreamed of trying it out for myself. It's just...difficult. I'd rather get things done without having to yell and fight and hurry up so we can drink tea and eat cookies. You know, sorta makes sense right?
My old co-teacher (EH) and a good friend of mine (JM) came to my school with me this morning for some support and help with the talks. EH and JM talked and made sure that they were on the same page as I was, and then we all went to speak to the principal and vice principal. There was a lot of talking, some raised voices, a couple of threatening/guilt inducing comments, and then some laughter. To make a really, really, really long meeting-story short, I ended up retaining my job and getting all of the pay (including other things they hadn't paid me for) deposited into my account. It was a good feeling and I'm really glad I never backed down. After it was all said and done, tea magically appeared and apparently we were all suddently the best of friends.
I suppose if I had remembered how arguments went in Korea, I wouldn't have spent the weekend and Monday with my stomach in knots and worrying about what would happen. I would have enjoyed the beautiful fall days a little more. Oh well. It's settled now. I still have a bad taste in my mouth, obviously, but hopefully I can just shrug my shoulders and stop dwelling on it. I'm not naive enough to think that my bosses suddenly adore me again and think I'm number one. In fact, I am certain they are sitting with a bottle of soju cursing my name at this very moment. I'm the first and so far only foreign teacher taht has legitimately stood up and said "Enough is enough!" Let's hope when they say "I think maybe....it will never happen again, maybe" they truly mean it.
Felt good. Feels good. Now if I can just get this punks to stop playing around with their cell phones then I will consider myself to be Teacher Extraordinaire. I'm not holding my breath. :)
26 October 2009
Monday
I was worried about going into work. I'm pretty lax in the work environment. I let things slide. I don't 'get' a lot of stuff, but whatever. There is a line, though, and the line was way crossed on Friday. It's a big problem when I don't have what I need to adequately teach a class. I improvise and do lots of other things. I listen to the 'feedback', let them know they need to provide, and then mentally roll my eyes and move on. The kids are learning and are passing their exams and that's all I'm concerned about. I don't care about them telling me last minute about everything. It's how Korea works and I've gotten used to that being a constant and just rolling with the punches.
It is a huge deal for me to work and not be paid for it. This happened before. The excuses they give are just ludicrous. This is a very wealthy public school and associated with a university. There is blatant corruption going on in the accounting office. Even I can see it. I decided that the threatening wasn't working so I consulted with my foreign and Korean friends. I asked Korean teachers that I know what they think I should do and I kept getting the same answer.
Stand firm and say that I will come to work, but I will not teach. On top of that, I must file a complaint with the Ministry of Labor. I did all of this today. I went in an hour early, made sure I had my notes to discuss with my co-teacher, had my translated letter for the principal and asked that she accompany me to speak with him. She refused. She's a kind lady and I know that no matter if it was her fault or not, she would be the one that would take all of the blame from the principal. That's just the way it works. Even if I brought in a friend to translate (and it was offered) Misoon still would have be in deep crap for this. And so she refused and threw some hard guilt trips on me. It was super difficult to stand strong and say that what they were doing was not right.
She spent the entire morning pleading with me to just forgive the 'mistake' and assuring me that within a week or two I would be paid. This angered me more. I'm a forgiving person but they have screwed up so royally in the accounting office that they won't have money for maybe two weeks. I went ahead and said with or without her I was informing the principal and that I was filing a complaint. And I did just that. Filing isn't so difficult, so long as you are able to provide all statements and forms in Korean and English, which I am.
I began the formal complaint during my lunch hour. When I returned, all hell had broken loose. As suspected, Misoon was pretty harshly attacked. To make a long story short, the day ended with me being told I would be fired if I continued with the complaint. I should point out that I have always maintained good rapport with my school. Previously, there was an issue with another teacher but when she started in on the other foreign teacher at the school, they realized that it was the other teacher that was actually the problem, not either of us.
I've had knots in my stomach all evening. I've never been fired before and although I don't love Korea, I decided only a month ago that I would stay. This school is supposed to be pretty much the top in the city and I gaurantee their reputation will be dented, albeit only slightly, if they actually decide to follow through with the firing. Just about every foreigner in town knows about this and their Korean co-teachers and co-workers are finding out. It's not good at all, for anyone involved.
It is a huge deal for me to work and not be paid for it. This happened before. The excuses they give are just ludicrous. This is a very wealthy public school and associated with a university. There is blatant corruption going on in the accounting office. Even I can see it. I decided that the threatening wasn't working so I consulted with my foreign and Korean friends. I asked Korean teachers that I know what they think I should do and I kept getting the same answer.
Stand firm and say that I will come to work, but I will not teach. On top of that, I must file a complaint with the Ministry of Labor. I did all of this today. I went in an hour early, made sure I had my notes to discuss with my co-teacher, had my translated letter for the principal and asked that she accompany me to speak with him. She refused. She's a kind lady and I know that no matter if it was her fault or not, she would be the one that would take all of the blame from the principal. That's just the way it works. Even if I brought in a friend to translate (and it was offered) Misoon still would have be in deep crap for this. And so she refused and threw some hard guilt trips on me. It was super difficult to stand strong and say that what they were doing was not right.
She spent the entire morning pleading with me to just forgive the 'mistake' and assuring me that within a week or two I would be paid. This angered me more. I'm a forgiving person but they have screwed up so royally in the accounting office that they won't have money for maybe two weeks. I went ahead and said with or without her I was informing the principal and that I was filing a complaint. And I did just that. Filing isn't so difficult, so long as you are able to provide all statements and forms in Korean and English, which I am.
I began the formal complaint during my lunch hour. When I returned, all hell had broken loose. As suspected, Misoon was pretty harshly attacked. To make a long story short, the day ended with me being told I would be fired if I continued with the complaint. I should point out that I have always maintained good rapport with my school. Previously, there was an issue with another teacher but when she started in on the other foreign teacher at the school, they realized that it was the other teacher that was actually the problem, not either of us.
I've had knots in my stomach all evening. I've never been fired before and although I don't love Korea, I decided only a month ago that I would stay. This school is supposed to be pretty much the top in the city and I gaurantee their reputation will be dented, albeit only slightly, if they actually decide to follow through with the firing. Just about every foreigner in town knows about this and their Korean co-teachers and co-workers are finding out. It's not good at all, for anyone involved.
25 October 2009
It's Not Always Sunshine and Roses
Friday wasn't a good day. In fact, it might have been one of the emotionally worst days I've had in Korea. There was crying, there was anger, there was the very real thought that I would simply say "Enough!" and just head on out of here.
Working at my school isn't always fun. I'm lucky in that I truly enjoy my job. I adore my little punks, I get great pleasure out of making up new lessons and activities and then seeing the punks actually learn new things. It's a job absolutely suited for me. Still, the school drives me bonkers.
There have been problems in the past but after listening to a lot of my friend's stories, I decided to just suck it up, grit my teeth, force a smile and move on. I can't change the fact that procrastination is an integral part of the work environment. I'm a procrastinator by nature, but this is an entirely new level. For example, my supervisor will receive a form (about me) to be filled out and returned in one weeks time. She will sit on it and do other stuff, like teacher dinners, and teacher volleyball, and teacher meetings that turn into teacher dinner and volleyball and teacher soju drinking nights. She will not let me know about the form until the day after it was due and then she's frazzled because I do not have the information that is needed. I have to check paperwork at home, call friends, search for all of the stuff. I used to get annoyed and remind her that simply giving me the form right away, whether its written in Korean or not is the best method. Now, I just keep a form at my desk with every piece of information they could possibly need.
I used to hate that I didn't get my schedule for the week until Mondays. I have never received an English version of the national textbooks or a copy of the school calendar or even a plan of the math and sciences courses I am to teach. I end up just guessing. Most often my guesses are wrong and I'm informed after I teach a class. I've begged for a meeting with the teachers to receive and outline of all of the 'extras' the school asks that I teach, but the reply is that they are too busy. It's the kids that suffer, and I've gently let them know this.
Although my school is a public school and there should be no pay or contract issues, there always is. Last January, I didn't get paid until a month later. They didn't even know when I would be paid. It was infuriating to say the least, but I hoped it was a one time thing. It wasn't and I soon got used to receiving my pay a few days later than what I was supposed to. Nothing I did go me paid on time.
Friday was my boiling point. At 10:30, my supervisor/co-teacher/Korean Mom/general wonderful lady came to me to say that I would not be getting paid as scheduled. She wasn't sure I would be getting paid. She also had to break the news to me that the schools in Mokpo have decided to change the contract without talking to us first and our winter vacation was severely threatened. I stared at her with anger in my eyes. Bless her heart, she's a fantastic person and goes out of her way to help me when she can and I am so sorry that she's the one that has to bring me bad news and that she's the one that has to listen when I'm angry. I had a class to teach them but she also informed me that for the 5th time this semester all of the teachers needed to take a teacher photo. I said "With all due respect, no. I am going to teach my class and we will talk later." Two other Korean teachers came in to beg me to take the photo. I just walked out.
To me a photo is not a big deal. Knowing what I'm supposed to teach IS a big deal. Having a classroom with all that I need IS a big deal. Being paid IS a big deal. Having my contract honored IS a big deal. A stupid photo can bite me. When I returned from teaching there was a note on my desk that said she and the other two Korean teachers wanted to meet with me in the afternoon.
I went, and was immediately yelled at for not taking the photo. They were upset because the principal was upset with them. The principal and vice principal never have any idea what's going on. When I was in the hospital with pneumonia a few weeks ago, they assumed I was just being lazy and didn't want to work and had me discharged from the hospital so I could go teach. I refused, obviously, and spent the rest of the time in bed at home. They were never informed how seriously ill I was. They have no idea that I haven't been paid, or that I'm constantly paid late, or that my vacation plans have been altered since the contracts were changed. And so, instead of explaining things, the Korean teachers just allow the principal to yell at them and then I get yelled at.
I'd had enough. For 40 minutes (FORTY!!!) we sat there discussing the photo I missed. I did my best to say "It was only a photo and what's more important is....." I apologized for making things difficult for them because of the photo but kept trying to bring up what I thought were far more pressing concerns. I mentioned how ridiculous that we were spending so long talking about a stupid photo instead of discussing ways to make the classroom environment and lessons better for the students and getting me paid.
The didn't get it. I didn't get them. They told me multiple times I must respect Korean culture. I agree. I've chosen to live and work here. However, I pointed out that even after a year, there were things I just don't understand or have no desire to follow. I will not shrug my shoulders and say "Oh well. I don't know what the students are supposed to be learning, but maybe I'll play volleyball instead." I can't do that.
After forty minutes, I was so angry and upset that I finally started to cry. Normally, if I need to cry and I'm not around my family, and especially if I'm in a work environment, I will go to a private area. I just couldnt' hold back. It wasn't just a few tears, it was the oh-my-god-I-can't-even-breath-and-the-tears-are-blinding-me type of cry. I was embarrassed and even more angry. My co-teacher said she would transfer money into my account from her OWN account so that I would have money. She said she would talk to my friends and family about my vacation time and explain that it just has to change. I was thankful with her for attempting to help the situation, but it's just not her job. She shouldn't have to shell out her own money to pay me. She shouldn't have to be the one to say that my contract is actually a useless piece of paper. I felt terrible for her.
When I started crying, I obviously excused myself as quickly as possible. It wasn't easy. The two other teachers were undeterred and still felt they hadn't resolved the photo 'crisis'. They wanted to continue talking about it and were trying to guilt me to stay when I finally had to say as politely as I could muster, "I don't care even a tiny bit about your stupid photo" and just walked home. Thank goodness I live less than a block away because I don't think I could have managed a long walk. My co-teacher texted later to say that she transferred money into my account. It was a kind gesture and I'm grateful for it, but by this time, it didn't matter.
I was hosting my friends birthday party that evening, so I put on my best party face and went out. I've spent the rest of the weekend wondering what to do and how to move on from the anger that I feel. I had a few friends that said "Oh, don't get all upset over this. There are millions of people in the world that don't even have jobs and could never dream of vacation." These comments irritated me to no end. Yes, I feel for those less fortunate than myself, but I don't think there is anything wrong with being upset over something that is happening to you.
I've already written a message for our provincial coordinator. He's supposed to be the liaison for the Native English Teachers and the province. I don't think he can do anything because the one before him wasn't able to do anything. I've written two letters for the principal and vice principal of the school and am in the process of having them translated by a close friend of mine. I've written letters to my co-teacher and the two other Korean English teachers just so they can see on paper what the problem is. For some reason, I doubt any of this will make a difference. I've considered not going to work until I get paid and I get a list of the lessons I am to teach. But I don't think that's a viable option. I've wondered if I've made the wrong decision in choosing to renew my contract with this particular school. It was a gamble considering I'm the only one that's ever chosen to stay. I'm just not certain of what I should or even want to do and the weekend hasn't help make things seem better.
Any words of advice would be greatly appreciated.
Working at my school isn't always fun. I'm lucky in that I truly enjoy my job. I adore my little punks, I get great pleasure out of making up new lessons and activities and then seeing the punks actually learn new things. It's a job absolutely suited for me. Still, the school drives me bonkers.
There have been problems in the past but after listening to a lot of my friend's stories, I decided to just suck it up, grit my teeth, force a smile and move on. I can't change the fact that procrastination is an integral part of the work environment. I'm a procrastinator by nature, but this is an entirely new level. For example, my supervisor will receive a form (about me) to be filled out and returned in one weeks time. She will sit on it and do other stuff, like teacher dinners, and teacher volleyball, and teacher meetings that turn into teacher dinner and volleyball and teacher soju drinking nights. She will not let me know about the form until the day after it was due and then she's frazzled because I do not have the information that is needed. I have to check paperwork at home, call friends, search for all of the stuff. I used to get annoyed and remind her that simply giving me the form right away, whether its written in Korean or not is the best method. Now, I just keep a form at my desk with every piece of information they could possibly need.
I used to hate that I didn't get my schedule for the week until Mondays. I have never received an English version of the national textbooks or a copy of the school calendar or even a plan of the math and sciences courses I am to teach. I end up just guessing. Most often my guesses are wrong and I'm informed after I teach a class. I've begged for a meeting with the teachers to receive and outline of all of the 'extras' the school asks that I teach, but the reply is that they are too busy. It's the kids that suffer, and I've gently let them know this.
Although my school is a public school and there should be no pay or contract issues, there always is. Last January, I didn't get paid until a month later. They didn't even know when I would be paid. It was infuriating to say the least, but I hoped it was a one time thing. It wasn't and I soon got used to receiving my pay a few days later than what I was supposed to. Nothing I did go me paid on time.
Friday was my boiling point. At 10:30, my supervisor/co-teacher/Korean Mom/general wonderful lady came to me to say that I would not be getting paid as scheduled. She wasn't sure I would be getting paid. She also had to break the news to me that the schools in Mokpo have decided to change the contract without talking to us first and our winter vacation was severely threatened. I stared at her with anger in my eyes. Bless her heart, she's a fantastic person and goes out of her way to help me when she can and I am so sorry that she's the one that has to bring me bad news and that she's the one that has to listen when I'm angry. I had a class to teach them but she also informed me that for the 5th time this semester all of the teachers needed to take a teacher photo. I said "With all due respect, no. I am going to teach my class and we will talk later." Two other Korean teachers came in to beg me to take the photo. I just walked out.
To me a photo is not a big deal. Knowing what I'm supposed to teach IS a big deal. Having a classroom with all that I need IS a big deal. Being paid IS a big deal. Having my contract honored IS a big deal. A stupid photo can bite me. When I returned from teaching there was a note on my desk that said she and the other two Korean teachers wanted to meet with me in the afternoon.
I went, and was immediately yelled at for not taking the photo. They were upset because the principal was upset with them. The principal and vice principal never have any idea what's going on. When I was in the hospital with pneumonia a few weeks ago, they assumed I was just being lazy and didn't want to work and had me discharged from the hospital so I could go teach. I refused, obviously, and spent the rest of the time in bed at home. They were never informed how seriously ill I was. They have no idea that I haven't been paid, or that I'm constantly paid late, or that my vacation plans have been altered since the contracts were changed. And so, instead of explaining things, the Korean teachers just allow the principal to yell at them and then I get yelled at.
I'd had enough. For 40 minutes (FORTY!!!) we sat there discussing the photo I missed. I did my best to say "It was only a photo and what's more important is....." I apologized for making things difficult for them because of the photo but kept trying to bring up what I thought were far more pressing concerns. I mentioned how ridiculous that we were spending so long talking about a stupid photo instead of discussing ways to make the classroom environment and lessons better for the students and getting me paid.
The didn't get it. I didn't get them. They told me multiple times I must respect Korean culture. I agree. I've chosen to live and work here. However, I pointed out that even after a year, there were things I just don't understand or have no desire to follow. I will not shrug my shoulders and say "Oh well. I don't know what the students are supposed to be learning, but maybe I'll play volleyball instead." I can't do that.
After forty minutes, I was so angry and upset that I finally started to cry. Normally, if I need to cry and I'm not around my family, and especially if I'm in a work environment, I will go to a private area. I just couldnt' hold back. It wasn't just a few tears, it was the oh-my-god-I-can't-even-breath-and-the-tears-are-blinding-me type of cry. I was embarrassed and even more angry. My co-teacher said she would transfer money into my account from her OWN account so that I would have money. She said she would talk to my friends and family about my vacation time and explain that it just has to change. I was thankful with her for attempting to help the situation, but it's just not her job. She shouldn't have to shell out her own money to pay me. She shouldn't have to be the one to say that my contract is actually a useless piece of paper. I felt terrible for her.
When I started crying, I obviously excused myself as quickly as possible. It wasn't easy. The two other teachers were undeterred and still felt they hadn't resolved the photo 'crisis'. They wanted to continue talking about it and were trying to guilt me to stay when I finally had to say as politely as I could muster, "I don't care even a tiny bit about your stupid photo" and just walked home. Thank goodness I live less than a block away because I don't think I could have managed a long walk. My co-teacher texted later to say that she transferred money into my account. It was a kind gesture and I'm grateful for it, but by this time, it didn't matter.
I was hosting my friends birthday party that evening, so I put on my best party face and went out. I've spent the rest of the weekend wondering what to do and how to move on from the anger that I feel. I had a few friends that said "Oh, don't get all upset over this. There are millions of people in the world that don't even have jobs and could never dream of vacation." These comments irritated me to no end. Yes, I feel for those less fortunate than myself, but I don't think there is anything wrong with being upset over something that is happening to you.
I've already written a message for our provincial coordinator. He's supposed to be the liaison for the Native English Teachers and the province. I don't think he can do anything because the one before him wasn't able to do anything. I've written two letters for the principal and vice principal of the school and am in the process of having them translated by a close friend of mine. I've written letters to my co-teacher and the two other Korean English teachers just so they can see on paper what the problem is. For some reason, I doubt any of this will make a difference. I've considered not going to work until I get paid and I get a list of the lessons I am to teach. But I don't think that's a viable option. I've wondered if I've made the wrong decision in choosing to renew my contract with this particular school. It was a gamble considering I'm the only one that's ever chosen to stay. I'm just not certain of what I should or even want to do and the weekend hasn't help make things seem better.
Any words of advice would be greatly appreciated.
23 October 2009
If My Kindergarten Teacher Could See Me Now
I had the most amazing and successful drawing class tonight. It seems that I really enjoy the art thing. When we were first given the assignment, I nearly started crying. We knew we would be drawing faces and we all brought in a random head shot from a magazine. Still, sitting there with my blank sketchpad wondering exactly how I was supposed to get that image transferred with only my hand and my pencil was daunting. My very first head shot turned out quite nice, I think.
Not quite finished, but nearly there. Had a terrible time trying to get his lips with just enough smirk to make it somewhat match the picture.
Many of us in the class decided that my friend Annie's drawing of a woman should date my drawing of a man. Thus, the cheesy Korean style photo. Side note: the instructor seems to really, really love Annie. He took one of her drawings of a beer bottle and an apple and asked to have it framed. He fawns over her. It's adorable, if not a bit strange/funny (because 90% of the stuff he says to her doesn't get translated for some reason).
All of our masterpieces. Annie (South Africa), Nikki (Ireland), Me, Sarah (Canada) and our instructor. We were missing our dear New Zealand friend but she had to leave a bit early.
Not quite finished, but nearly there. Had a terrible time trying to get his lips with just enough smirk to make it somewhat match the picture.
Many of us in the class decided that my friend Annie's drawing of a woman should date my drawing of a man. Thus, the cheesy Korean style photo. Side note: the instructor seems to really, really love Annie. He took one of her drawings of a beer bottle and an apple and asked to have it framed. He fawns over her. It's adorable, if not a bit strange/funny (because 90% of the stuff he says to her doesn't get translated for some reason).
All of our masterpieces. Annie (South Africa), Nikki (Ireland), Me, Sarah (Canada) and our instructor. We were missing our dear New Zealand friend but she had to leave a bit early.Needless to say, this class has thus far been worth every single penny. In fact, I probably would have paid much more than 100 dollars it cost for the semester.
I've been interested in piano for some time now. Wonder if it's too soon to throw another weekly artsy/creative thing into the mix.
I've been interested in piano for some time now. Wonder if it's too soon to throw another weekly artsy/creative thing into the mix.
22 October 2009
Learning Korean
I had a heated discussion with an acquaintance recently. He arrived in Korea about a month ago and was disgusted to find out that I am not fluent in Korean. He believes that if one chooses to live in a certain place for longer than a few weeks, they are required to learn the language. I passionately disagreed.
When I first arrived in Korea, my priority, apart from being a good teacher, was to learn Korean. While I knew for sure that I would be in Korea for a year, I suspected that my stay would be more like two years. Fluency wasn't my goal, but enough to get by with everyday conversations was what I sought. I mean I live in a foreign country for crying out loud, I thought I should at least try. Not knowing English is practically a sign of terrorism back in the states (English is hard. I teach it. I don't even know good English. So I can't see myself ever giving the evil eye to someone back home that can't speak it so well).
Dude, it never happened. I think I spoke better Korean when I first arrived than I do now. While I can get to places, ask for things, tell my students to please shut the heck up (in a kind way, of course), I can't say much else but I definitely can get by and fake my way through some small talk. There are many reasons learning Korean is no longer on my top priority list.
1. I did a few language exchanges with Korean university students. When it became clear that they were unwilling to prepare lessons or topics for the Korean part of the exchange and were only interested in the English, I quit them. I have no time to give away free lessons.
2. I have an affinity towards languages but I've yet to become fluent in any of them. I've studied Spanish, Japanese, and Samoan. I can speak Samoan the best, Spanish so-so and can now only recall a few phrases in Japanese. One of my bestest friends in university was Turkish and she always taught me new words and phrases so I have a couple of those that come out at times as well. Also, I am now in the process of teaching myself Russian because I have a strong interest in Russia and I'm mildly obsessed with Russian literature so I figured why not. If I can read Dostoevsky in Russian by the time I'm 80, then I will consider my life to have been full and complete.
3. Not being fluent in any language, and only somewhat able to talk good in English, I end up stringing together weird Korean sentences that have the structure of Samoan-Japanese, Spanish pronunciation with a Turkish twang, and the harshness of Russian consanonts. It doesn't bode well for Korean language learning. I have decided I want to focus more on languages I love or want to know more and it just so happens that Korean isn't one of them.
4. Although I don't want to actively study Korean, I am still constantly learning things. My students teach me new words or phrases, I learn in my drawing class, I listen to the TV and read along with the subtitles and pick up new stuff here and there. I'm picking up what I've decided is necessary to ensur that I not only enjoy my time and experience but also to learn and understand this insane culture.
I think learning languages is vitally important. I think its even more imortant to learn one that you are interested in or that you will actively use throughout your life. I used to judge others that moved to a new place and did not work to become conversational in the native language. I judge no longer. While I believe language can be a doorway to a new culture, it is by far not the only door.
I have come to Korea and have learned so much. My friends, co-workers, students, and random folk on the street teach me through my own native tongue or through observation. I don't feel that my time in Korea will be any less rich because I chose not to learn the local language.
So for those that come to Korea, or live for an extended period of time in any other country- be it Russia, Argentina, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia or even the United States- it's OK. It may be difficult at times, but truly only you should be the one to decide if learning the language is an absolute necessity. Others may disagree with me, and that's their right.
For now, I'm off to study more Russian.
When I first arrived in Korea, my priority, apart from being a good teacher, was to learn Korean. While I knew for sure that I would be in Korea for a year, I suspected that my stay would be more like two years. Fluency wasn't my goal, but enough to get by with everyday conversations was what I sought. I mean I live in a foreign country for crying out loud, I thought I should at least try. Not knowing English is practically a sign of terrorism back in the states (English is hard. I teach it. I don't even know good English. So I can't see myself ever giving the evil eye to someone back home that can't speak it so well).
Dude, it never happened. I think I spoke better Korean when I first arrived than I do now. While I can get to places, ask for things, tell my students to please shut the heck up (in a kind way, of course), I can't say much else but I definitely can get by and fake my way through some small talk. There are many reasons learning Korean is no longer on my top priority list.
1. I did a few language exchanges with Korean university students. When it became clear that they were unwilling to prepare lessons or topics for the Korean part of the exchange and were only interested in the English, I quit them. I have no time to give away free lessons.
2. I have an affinity towards languages but I've yet to become fluent in any of them. I've studied Spanish, Japanese, and Samoan. I can speak Samoan the best, Spanish so-so and can now only recall a few phrases in Japanese. One of my bestest friends in university was Turkish and she always taught me new words and phrases so I have a couple of those that come out at times as well. Also, I am now in the process of teaching myself Russian because I have a strong interest in Russia and I'm mildly obsessed with Russian literature so I figured why not. If I can read Dostoevsky in Russian by the time I'm 80, then I will consider my life to have been full and complete.
3. Not being fluent in any language, and only somewhat able to talk good in English, I end up stringing together weird Korean sentences that have the structure of Samoan-Japanese, Spanish pronunciation with a Turkish twang, and the harshness of Russian consanonts. It doesn't bode well for Korean language learning. I have decided I want to focus more on languages I love or want to know more and it just so happens that Korean isn't one of them.
4. Although I don't want to actively study Korean, I am still constantly learning things. My students teach me new words or phrases, I learn in my drawing class, I listen to the TV and read along with the subtitles and pick up new stuff here and there. I'm picking up what I've decided is necessary to ensur that I not only enjoy my time and experience but also to learn and understand this insane culture.
I think learning languages is vitally important. I think its even more imortant to learn one that you are interested in or that you will actively use throughout your life. I used to judge others that moved to a new place and did not work to become conversational in the native language. I judge no longer. While I believe language can be a doorway to a new culture, it is by far not the only door.
I have come to Korea and have learned so much. My friends, co-workers, students, and random folk on the street teach me through my own native tongue or through observation. I don't feel that my time in Korea will be any less rich because I chose not to learn the local language.
So for those that come to Korea, or live for an extended period of time in any other country- be it Russia, Argentina, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia or even the United States- it's OK. It may be difficult at times, but truly only you should be the one to decide if learning the language is an absolute necessity. Others may disagree with me, and that's their right.
For now, I'm off to study more Russian.
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