The confusion that was my life is slowly starting to clear just as the river in the old part of my neighborhood did when people stopped polluting it.
My life in Korea for the second year around took an incredibly twisted approach to informing me that it was time for a change.
In regards to my school life, apart from living in the same city and teaching at the same school, things couldn't possibly be any more different than had I specifically planned for them to be. I am teaching the complete opposite side of the spectrum grade-wise, a brand new curriculum, there will be 10 new co-teachers, and I'll be teaching 5 more (soon to be even more) hours than last year...I feel as though there should be a partridge in a pear tree somewhere in this lineup.
Though I found all of this out just 4 days before I was to hop off the 100 foot tower into the 8 ounce glass of water in this three ring circus missing its ring leader, everything is going ok.
I think in being away from Korea for a month and a half, I temporarily strayed from the utterly flexible life that is necessary in order to live in any foreign country...and in my case, Korea. My school will never run smoothly. This is a given. I will not always get my way at the school. This has been proven. But what I am working to find my way back to currently, is my sense of survival. I will be fine no matter what I have to face. It is hard to see the needle in the haystack, especially when it is sticking you in the eye. The hay being the piles and piles of miscommunication and confusion that was dropped on my head and the key to sanity being the needle. Attitude. Every situation is about attitude. I can control every situation by the power I give it to affect me.
Ok...anyway...things are going well.
I'm almost completely settled into my apartment. I finally got my closet/wardrobe, so I was able to unpack my suitcases. It'll be nice not to live out of suitcases anymore. Although, now, I can't find anywhere to put my suitcases. There is no storage in my apartment whatsoever. I'll post pics on facebook one of these days when I get a free moment. I am one of those people who can't really feel settled in a place if I can still see suitcases and boxes lying around. I'm working on a method to remedy the situation.
I have internet now as well! This is why I can FINALLY update my blog. I will try hard to write in my blog a few times a week. At one point, it was every day. It can't be that way this year. I can almost guarantee I won't have time. I'm picking up extra classes to make a little bit more money this year for extra expenses now that I'm living on my own. Ex. Food, Internet, Heat, Water, Electricity, etc etc etc.
Living alone financially sucks, but I'm loving the independence!
Teaching the first week of sixth graders went well. I like them a lot more than I thought I would. However, in saying that, I also have to remember that this was the first week and we only did introductions. When I actually have to teach English, we'll see how well they behave. ^_~
Highlights of my week:
1. A student stayed after to help me clean up (we made nametags in class this week). As he was leaving, he said, "Take care, Stashi." Adorable!
2. A sixth grade teacher complimented me on my teaching style and told me that he learned many teaching methods by observing my class!^^
I went to the International Tattoo Festival on Friday with my co-teacher Hae In. Initially we were going to have to sit on the steps because we got standing room only tickets, but this man was nice enough to give us two extra tickets he had! The International Marching Band festival is only every other year, so I didn't get to see it last year. There were bands from Thailand, Canada, the US, Australia, and many from Korea. There was singing, dancing, marching, etc etc etc! At the end of the 3 hours show, Jewelry, a Korean girl group, performed! I learned a dance to one of their songs, "Baby One More Time," last year in Jazz Dance!
Random thought: As I lie here in bed, I feel like I am home. Not like home in Wonju...like home in South Bend. I hear the crickets and the occasional car drive by and I feel the comfort of my room and my bed next to the window and I feel..at home.
Anyway, after the festival, Hae In and I went to Jjoki Jjoki to meet up with the English club group. We have to meet there now because our Makoli bar moved to a different district. Sad!!! I don't care for Jjoki Jjoki, but we don't have many choices for as big of group as we are. I met many new Korean members and talked to them until we moved to a third round. Hae In and I took a pit stop at Kimbap Nara around midnight to get some food since neither of us had had dinner yet. We were out until 3 or so.
Backing up...last weekend, I went back to the Sharing House for the first time in a maybe two months. It was so awesome to be back. Lee Ok Sun halmoni talked to us for almost and hour and a half about her experiences in the comfort station. Malcolm gave the tour this time; I'm still trying to work myself up to being confident enough to give a full tour. I hung out with some of the other halmoni in the house for a while. We watched the discovery channel, I believe. One of the halmonis, we call the "Beautiful" halmoni because she always has makeup and a wig on. I think I confuse her; sometimes I speak Japanese to her and sometimes I speak Korean. She likes Japanese better because she lived there so long, but my Korean ability is quickly surpassing/has surpassed my ability to pull the long forgotten and unused Japanese words from my brain.
I have to stop there...tired...getting up early tomorrow. It's 4AM, so I guess I'm getting up early today. Bummer!
Write again soon!
Peace out!
-Title of this blog is in reference to a chapel talk from MC.
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