"Korea has robbed me of the ability to speak English"

~a FB quote from someone who worked here, I don't remember who~

Fun Fact!

The War between North and South Korea broke out on July 25th, exactly 60 years from this date. It was a sad and brutal war that tore families apart.

I would like to reccommend to you the film, Taeguki (also known as The two brothers), an amazing drama about two brothers who end up fighting in the war.

It is extremely well done and totally accessible to nonkorean audience.

As everyone knows, Korea is split into two incredibly different countries, and as time goes on, the two Koreas follow separate paths; ever diversifying, changing, separating.

Can you believe it? there are people in this country who honestly really remember before the War? and people whose living family members may or may not be living on the other side. rest assured, most people (if not all) Korean people have some type of relative--however removed--These two countries, dedicated to their culural identities as Korean peoples and predominatedly dedicated to marrying and procreating within it, are bonded by blood closer than anything else someone could imagine.

Days like this remind me--with a resounding boom--that I am living in a foreign world, even three years later. I interact with it, walk around in it, make friends in it--but I'm not a part of it. I can do my best to participate and understand, appreciate, but I will never be more than a weygookin foreigner in this country.

it's summer but it doesn't feel like summer.

school is in session till mid-July.

My allergies as so bad right now...I couldn't wear my contacts for the past two days.

my eyes are dry and I wake up every morning exhausted and dehydrated.

I teach every day in humid heat and work with a teacher who adamantly believes in fandeath--therefore she never uses the Aircon sitting, and I end up sweating thru head shoulders knees and toes. grrrr. I have a lesson to plan before classes begin. lesson 7 unit 2: Who is She?

In this lesson we watch Minsu perform as Alice in his school production of Wonderland. All the kids think "she" is very beautiful, and guess who they think she is...then the wig falls off and Minsu blushes. Aigu.

have a great day!

Sus

At Dodeuramsan; Hiking, Climbing, Rice Krispie Treats

A few weeks back I went out of the city to Ichon. It's actually not too far away. Mikhail, a friend who I saw on a weekly basis here in Seoul actually lived and taught out there, while his girlfriend lived and taught up here. So anyway, theres this lovely little mountain--which I'd rather more call a "bump" out there that we'd heard of from KOTR (Korea on the Rocks--the waygookin access to rock climbing in Korea site). If you want to know how to get out there, check out http://www.koreaontherocks.com/

The mountain, Dodeuramsan, has three minor peaks, labeled 1,2, and 3...and one major peak. we passed one and two easily and looped way around three to find ourselves at the main peak, asking random Korean hikers for direction to the bolted area of the mountain. They didn't know, but we were offered cucumbers and kimchi and soju along the way--always rely on the kindness of strange mountain-people.

So here's how you ACTUALLY get there:

after you reach the MAIN peak (not 1,2, or 3), pass it and walk along a little ridge. you'll find yourself at a little wooden fence--there is a sign saying that 8 people were injured and one person died in a rock slide. Climb under that sign and you will see one of the most interesting sights I've seen in a boulder-path here in Korea. Shiny metal bars, like ladder rungs you might see coming out of a pool are bolted right into the rocks. So you wedge yourself down and around--we threw our backpacks down ahead of time, as ropes are heavy--then you have two options. KOTR directions tell you to head right down the metal stairs. which will lead you to a GORGEOUS but incredibly eerie tunnel of massive boulders. you can see the wooden steps have been smashed, like in an old-timey western mining tracks ride at some theme-park somewhere. this is where the accident occurred. your other option is to go over the top, hang a right immediately as the path splits off onto dirt trails. Cut right thru the fence just after the barbed wire ends. you'll see the rock-face there, in the shade and overgrown by ferns and bell-shaped purple flowers.

The rock was dusty and there was hardly any chalk to give away an idea of handholds. I did some leading, and it was Fantastic. Lead climbing is not so difficult, but it's the fear that gets me--mind control--as they're always telling me in the gym. I need to work on my mental game. So I took my first real outdoor lead fall. and it was a doozy. The last bit had very few and narrow footholds. I was several feet from my last quick-draw, and the climb was positive (meaning sloping forward, rather than out), so when I fell, it was quick and dirty. I screamed a bit, scraped my arm, and as I was falling I remember telling myself, "This is a part of the leading experience, just chill out and let it happen." and then I was free falling for a millla-second, but it felt like forever. and then I had to go back up, while shaking. and my adrenaline was on a major high. it's why I climb. To beat myself. To "serve" that mountain, make it my mistress.

We explored the folk village, ceramics festival (Ichon is famous for it's ceramics), and generally participated in a bit of goofing off after climbing.

This is us posing next to the city's mascot--a giant block of clay....Seriously.

btw, these are all Liam's pictures. I stole them. Thanks, man!

Sports Day at School

In front of the school on Sports Day. Left to Right: Kyeonghee(my co-teacher), Me, HyoSeon (science teacher)...Sohyeon (other English teacher) is taking the photo. We wore team colors (blue & white) and bet on the two racing teams :)

Traditional stretching routine. If you went to elementary school in Korea, you know this routine. It's based on the fundamentals of Taekwondo, and is actually a little difficult, but fun.

Chasing down and stamping the 1st place winners' hands.

in the Top 5

Top 5 of worst days I've had here in Korea.
Got slapped twice in the face.
I have three scratches on my right arm.
and a vehemently violent little nine year-old trying to destroy
my classroom and screaming obscenities at me.

I'm fine.
Tired.
Disappointed at his behaviour, that he punched a kid in the jaw;
In his mother, who is an educator in this school, and should communicate to her kid who has Anger issues what to do when he has these intense feelings inside him.

Ultimately, I am happy how I handled a difficult situation.
I just got the apology I insisted on if he is to return to my class.
I hope he knows why and how I will handle a repeat occurance.
Discipline can be a very difficult situation when you don't speak the child's native language.
It can be frustrating on both ends. Esp. when the kid feels like he can't explain himself.
Welcome to childhood. well, welcome back, eh?
barriers are infuriating.

But today I chose careful words. This student can definitely understand. we communicated just fine. He was pissed and I was stone-calm. holy hell I'm a good teacher. And iot seems I just keep getting better.

still....thanks be that the day is nearly finito.