Adventures of ShadKat!

I know. I’m the worst blogger ever. I can’t get Shadi to post either. He’s got his own blog now and so he has abandoned this one. His blog can be found here: http://www.shadimirza.net/

Anyway, back onto the blog!

We just got back from our three week trip to America. I have to say, I’m happy to be back. Yea we had a good time with friends and family, but to be honest, I didn’t miss America as much as I thought I would. The food was okay, some of it was excellent, but some wasn’t very good, and most of the time we were bored. I think a lot of it was because we weren’t working and we just felt lazy. I think if we stay another year, we might plan some more trips. Maybe we’ll go to DC or New York or some other place instead of just going from house to house. We need to keep busy!!

Now that we are back in Korea, I’m so happy! I’m happy to be home in my own space. I don’t have to worry about being in anyone’s way, I don’t have to worry about being too loud, and I don’t have to be on anyone’s schedule. I do, however, miss family already. I also miss my puppy! Bailey melted my heart when she saw us. She was like whimpering and going like nuts. I miss her already!!!

So this week we are under quarantine from the H1N1 virus. We’re supposed to be staying in our house, but we’ve left it a few times. We got paid yesterday and sent money back home. Also, last night we went out to dinner with my co-teacher and his wife. I bought some grapes for them (they’re back in season and they are the greatest grapes in the world!!), and we also got them key chains. They were so happy. Also, dinner was amazing, and the walk around the river after was lovely. I really like my co-teacher and his family. They have some of the nicest hearts of anyone I’ve ever met.

I got some back news at dinner though: the principal at my school is leaving on Monday. Friday we are having a teacher dinner, and I’m really sad. The principal is so loved at our school. He is kind to the teachers and students, and he seems like he really cares everything going on at his school. I’m worried about what the new principal will think of me, and of our school. The reason I’m worried is because if he/she doesn’t like me, I could lose my job. It’s up to the principal of each school if they want a foreign teacher or not. If something were to happen, we’d be okay and I’d be able to find another job, but I love the teachers I work with, and I love my students, so here’s hoping for the best!

Back in March, the head of our program in our province, asked Shadi and I to come to Seoul to welcome the new teachers coming to teach in our province. We went to Seoul, had lunch, and then got back on a bus and talked to the new teachers about the province, being in the classroom, and about any other questions that they might had that weren’t answered at the orientation. Well Angela, the boss, as asked us once again to come and welcome the new teachers into our province. So tomorrow Shadi and I are going to meet Angela in Daegu, and go to the University (this time it’s not in Seoul, it’s in the Southwest part of Korea…somewhere we haven’t been yet) to meet with the new teachers and assign them to their schools. Also, we’ll be answering any questions about their towns. On Friday, we’ll be doing the same Q&A session on the bus back to our province. I’m excited to go and do this again. This is the third time Angela has personally picked us to help with something important. I’m glad that she feels like we are responsible, friendly, and professional enough to be chosen to help her out. Shadi and I have talked about the possibility of staying a third year. Most of it is based on how much money we have saved and if things are better in America. We’ve talked about maybe if we stay a third year, perhaps we can work for the program in an administrative position instead of in the classroom. It would be good to be able to call and interview people before bringing them over (try to weed out those that might leave in the middle of the night), and helping with proofreading documents, and coordinating events. I think it would look really good on a resume, and it would help our chances of getting a job when we are ready to come home. We love our jobs, but we have to think realistically and for our future. I really think doing stuff in the background will look better on our resumes than the teaching English…because really that usually equals a black space in your resume.

So I’m looking forward to our next year here. I think it’ll be go even faster than this last year because I’ll be going home in February for Randy and Sarah’s wedding!! I’m in the wedding party, and I’m so excited to stand up there and watch them get married. So for this year, I’ve got some goals for myself:

-I would like to lose at least 30lbs (I have already lost 20lbs since last year, and I’d like to lost at least 30-40 more)

-I would like to take more advantage of the fresh food that the farmers are selling on the streets. I’d like to eat more fresh veggies and fruits each day. I’d also like to try to attempt to cook more Korean foods, or at least to cook things from our grocery store. We’ve been going to Costco, and I’d like to not have that expense, and the hassle of going there and hauling our things back.

-I’d like to take my knitting skills to the next level. I’ve set the goal of making my first sweater and socks this year. Also I’d like to make some gloves.

-I’d also like read at least one book a week. I’ve been thinking of maybe starting some sort of book club with other foreigners. Maybe meet once a month after reading a few books and discussing them. I’ve tried a knitting thing, but no one in my area knits so that’s out. However, I can knit at our monthly book meetings!

Alright…Shadi has I have written a novel, and has called me Dickens a few times too…so I suppose I’ll be off. I need to pack for tomorrow anyway.

Kat