You have failed and now you must Daegu!

Monday, May 26, 2008












This bottle is way to happy about drinking itself.











A pack of smokes doing its impression of me after every class.












He was really proud of his haircut.











I don't think I want a cake that screams at me.












I can only imagine what this is suggesting. Actually it said be quiet, but I think the sign designer had other things on his mind when he made this.
















Pics from the 6th grade field trip.
















Pics from the 6th grade field trip.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008







I'm a little jealous. These are all phrases taken from the textbook that I use, except for all the bathroom stuff. These kids are a lot like mine.

These make for the perfect Teacher's Day post. I received about a dozen thank you letters, but only one from students that I actually teach. I'm not sure how to take that. Also, a few students from last year came to visit their teachers. They remember me and they took the opportunity to use some of the dirty tricks that I use in class. They're sweet kids.

If you haven't heard, I'll be back for two weeks in August. I can't wait. Dad and I have already planned out the ballgames we want to attend. We're doing both Milwaukee and St. Louis, on back-to-back days. I can't wait.

I had a 4 day weekend and did absolutely dick. I would have traveled, but the weather was miserable in Korea. I did hang out with Kyung-su and I studied quite a bit. So, it wasn't a total loss. Kyung-su and I really want to travel to Japan next year.

Friday, May 02, 2008

Last Friday we had a field trip to Gyeongju. It's essentially a tourist city with a lot of really old temples and museums. We took the entire 6th grade. I had fun, I hope the kids did too. Pics will be posted as soon as I give them to Su-jin and she sends them back to me.

This Thursday was Sports Day at my school again. Thankfully, I didn't have to play soccer. I got a job offer from one of the parents. She owns a hagwon and speaks dreadful English, but she's terribly proud of her English name, Cherie.

Me: Where did you study English?
Her: My name is Cherie!
Me: Great. Where did you study?
Her: It's a French name! It means love.
Me: Thrilling. Where did you study English.
Her: Oh, WHERE. Phillipine.
Me: Oh.

Then she tried to get me to work for her. After the week I had, her offer was tempting.

I'm reasonably good at getting two lessons out of a chapter, stretch it to 3 lessons and I start running low on ideas. That's what's happened the last two weeks and my coteachers haven't been terribly helpful. The younger one actually really hurt my feelings yesterday. She wants to give the kids a listening test next week, but she asked me to come late to class. How would she feel if I told her to not come to class for the first ten minutes? I was a little offended and I haven't spoken to anyone since yesterday. I hate sitting around. It's boring and I feel lazy. Also, my other coteacher wanted to make a teaching video on Friday. No problem, but she wanted to do it alone. Fine. She also wanted to use all my materials. Okay. Then she took a drink from the desk of a coworker and gave it to the video guy. Stop right there. If I go out, I usually buy drinks or something for the office. I watched my coteacher take a drink off the desk of another coworker without asking. She was fairly apologetic, but still, stealing? Is this "different culture"(doubt it) or dickbaggery. I say dickbaggery. I really wish this coteaching thing is optional instead of mandatory.

Welcome to Daegu. This didn't happen to my school, but it did happen in my neighborhood. I believe it occurred at Yongsan Elementary, which is just two subway stops away from me.