Last night was our end of the year party.

It started at 5pm sharp with speeches. Most were fairly dull, but the retiring vice principal put the room to sleep. His voice was monotone and fast and his speech was very, very long. He had a lot to say. I swear the other vice principal and principal were sleeping. I know I saw closed eyes. After he finished talking, we were allowed to hit the buffet. The pickings were weaker this year. The "steak" we were served was dreadful. It was hamburger meat pounded flat, overcooked and allowed to sit and cool for about 2 hours. I made it about 3 bites in before I surrendered and hit the buffet.

Then, the drinking and singing started. Thankfully, I wasn't forced to sing OR dance this year. I met the new 6th grade teacher that we hired for next year. He hated me instantly. I could just tell. I asked him his name and he spat it at me. This continues to confirm my theory that Korean dudes between 23 and 29 years old are assbags.

I didn't meet the new English teacher. I know her name though. I know exactly how the meeting is going to go. I'm dreading it. She's going to be amazed that I'm capable of doing even the most simple tasks and I am going to resist the urge to punch her in the face for her subtle racism. I can't wait.

I drank with everyone. The retiring VP stopped by more than once to raise a glass. Good times were had by all. After the party, I was invited out with my now former coworkers. Before hitting the bars, I apologized to the woman that screamed at me for giving her a dirty look for screaming. These were the first words we've spoken to each other in almost 5 months. She accepted. Whatever. I'm a decent human being and the look of surprise on her face was priceless.

We hit the bar and proceeded to destroy what felt like 50 pitchers in 3 hours. The two 20-something Korean dudes that tagged along acted like assbags. The 40-something Korean dude that tagged along was great fun. I made it home around 1 am. I called my buddy Patrick in Seoul. If I was this drunk, someone had to know about it. A good time was had by all.

I woke up at 7am with a sour stomach and a small headache. I made some tea and watched the first 30 minutes of The Karate Kid before passing out again. I woke up again at 12 and got some Mickey D's and took a shower. I felt like a human being again.

I've got 5 more months at this school before I have to decide what to do. I know I'm going to stay in Daegu, but I'm not sure where to teach. If this year goes well and the assbags lighten up, I might stay. If not, it's either moving up to middle school, taking an office job with the DMOE or get a job at a hagwon for adults and make some real cash. Decisions, decisions.

I thoroughly enjoyed this post. They were at it again last week.

The latest hit from the guys who brought us this.

Not much to report this week. Although there is a naming contest for Korea's first rocket. 3 million won, eh? Let's see here. I'll just try to tie it in with the marketing plan for Korea. Just call it the "Dynamic Sparkling Hi! Rocket."

Also, Korea had its annual(?) hamburger festival in Gangwon last weekend. I wonder how many kilos of shrimp, kimchi, chocolate and whatever else they decided to use that doesn't belong on a hamburger was used.

Yesterday was graduation day for our 6th grade students. Graduation was held outside. Outside was terribly cold and windy. If graduation took more than 30 minutes, I would have ran inside. I remember it being chilly last year, but I don't remember being as cold as I was yesterday. I brought my camera with me to take a few pictures, but I was too uncomfortable to walk around snapping pictures.

I was informed today that the 6th grade English teacher will be leaving. I hate to say this, but good riddance. She was very professional, but her attitude and communication skills absolutely sucked. It was obvious that she didn't like most of our students and the kids picked up on it. I don't know what went on when I wasn't there, but I'm guessing there was a whole lot of silence. She wouldn't give detailed instructions or talk at a pace our kids could comprehend.

She would go over the monthly schedule with me, but she'd leave out the important bits. For example, she'd spend 5 minutes telling me about the event the 5th grade was having to spread awareness about internet addiction, but give only bare bones details on our teacher field trips. The Pohang Fiasco will always stand out in my mind. Her ability to be completely insensitive to the feelings and concerns of others, while at the same time being completely stunned that others were insensitive towards her feelings was absolutely appalling. I'll never forget the chilly response I got after she felt I yelled at her. I overslept for work. She called me. I said, "I'm on my way." She said, "You're running away?" I may or may not have raised my voice. "No, I'M ON MY WAY." It's not my fault she can't listen. Either way, she was upset for a week and it was left up to me to guess why.

I can't wait to erase her from my phone. It won't be a teary eyed, Gork affair. "Good-bye, Jason." (deletes Jason from his phone)(sobs uncontrollably for 10 minutes). "Good-bye Matt"(snif)(deletes Matt's number) "Good-bye, Brad"(blubbers for 6 minutes) (deletes Brad's number from his phone).

I spent the weekend in traction because I pulled a muscle in my back/shoulder/neck area on Saturday morning. I couldn't turn my freakin' head for 2 days.