Sorry, I’m listening to Journey and couldn’t think of a title to this post. So I figured I could just make it the song I am currently listening to. So now that the nightmare of last week is finally over, I’m in a blogging mood.
I’ve been really bad about exercising last week. I did a lot of walking, but I didn’t do my normal workout and I feel unmotivated to get back into it this week. I’ve been trying to walk, but the weather has been horribly hot and humid. It wouldn’t be so bad if I came home and the apartment was nice and cool, but alas, it’s hot as well. I need to get going on exercising because we’re going on vacation in a few short weeks. We have about 20 days left of the school semester, and I so can’t wait for the summer.
This semester has been really hard on me. Last year my problem was with the third grade, which was easily fixed by having the students who didn’t want to come to class stay in their classroom. I’d love to have my third graders from last year back if I thought they were terrible students. My first graders this year are horrible. There are about 5 or so students in each class who really want to be there, but are annoyed and bored because I spend the majority of my class telling students to stop talking, taking notes that are being passed around, and taking food away. It’s annoying and overwhelming. There is a Korean teacher in the room, but he’s the Chinese letters teacher and he sits in the back of the room with his back to the students, reading a book. What is the point of being in my classroom? Then when I’m to the point of kicking a student out and sending them to the principal, he gets involved. I think it wouldn’t be to bad if I didn’t have 3 of my 4 first grade classes on Monday…back to back to back. I just feel really bad for the students who really want to learn and be in my classroom. Oh, I forgot to mention two of my students (in different classes and on different days) have shouted, “F-ck you!” I just lost it. Needless to say, those students are now attentive in my classroom.
It’s just so frustrating. All of my other classes are good. Of course they get loud and talkative, but it’s because we’re all talking together and I can always calm them quickly so it’s not a problem. I just don’t understand what is wrong with the first grade. Is it me? It can’t be since my 2nd and third graders are fine…and we don’t even have a Korean teacher in the classroom. I think it’s just those students.
Yesterday my co-teacher told me he got my new contract for next year. I’m sorry to say this, but I’m really happy that this is our last year. I really like Korea. Koreans are warm and friendly people, the food is good and it’s easy to save money and travel, but I don’t want to teach. Actually, I should say that I don’t want to teach anyone under the age of 18. Even when I worked for the preschool and did substitute teaching, I never thought of myself as a teacher, or felt like it was something I could do. I’m sure if I took some ESL classes or classroom management classes things would be better, but for me, teaching just doesn’t feel right. I’m so thankful for the opportunities Korea has brought us (paying off my student loans in 2 years, saving money, and traveling around the world) and I don’t regret our decision to come here, I just feel it’s finally time to go. I miss my family. I miss holidays together. I miss being able to go to the movies anytime we feel like it. I miss being able to find food and being able to cook it.
On the flip side, I am really happy with the changes we’ve made in our lives. We’re exercising more, and making promises to do the same when we go home and when we have children. We’ve taken beef out of our diet almost entirely. We’re using almost all natural products, and being more conscience of our spending and wasting. Overall, Korea has been good for us. I just know it’s time and feel ready to go back.
So last week Shadi took the Foreign Service Officer exam in Seoul. We wont have the results until around his birthday, and I’m sure the wait is going to kill me. I know Shadi just feels glad it’s over and it’s done with. He now has some time to just relax and do whatever he wants to do, which is pretty much veg. 
So since we were in Seoul, we decided to spend the time with Erin and Renai. Renai was kind enough to let us stay in her apartment while she stayed with Erin in his apartment. It was nice to have our own space and not have to pay for a motel.
Friday night we went to our new favorite place to eat Mexican food. I had the taco’s again and those are the best freaking taco’s I’ve ever had. Saturday morning was early for me because I got up to call my family on Skpe. I got to see my grandmother and other family members and it was really nice to see everyone. After showering and packing, we called Erin and Renai and we left shortly after that to get some breakfast. After the long subway ride to the center of Seoul, we did some shopping. It was quite a miserable experience because it was pouring rain the entire day. We had expected a little bit of rain, but nothing like what we got. I was wearing a skirt, and some leather shoes. They are kinda nice shoes with a strap going around my foot…so lots of water got into my shoe and all over my bare feet. I’m a little sick this week because of it I think.
So Shadi has been looking for some barefoot shoes for running/walking/hiking. He wants these really ugly toe shoes (like the toe socks) but since they don’t have them in Korea and you need to try them on for the perfect size, he settled for Nike Free shoes. They are pretty much the same, but Nike and without the ugly toes. I wanted to buy the same shoes, but they were sold out. After shoe shopping, we went to get some food. Shortly after that, Renai and I went to the H&M and did some shopping before our knitting meeting. Erin and Shadi went off on their own for some sightseeing.
Saturday was Worldwide Knit in Public Day. I’m apart of a large knitting community online and I frequently talk to many expats living in Korea through that community. We had originally planned on knitting outside, but since it was pouring buckets, we went to a nearby coffee shop. It was a lot of fun! We met a lot of people and I also got some free yarn. One person was giving it away, so of course I had to have it!
After knitting for a few hours, we made our way back to the boys who were waiting at the bus station. We quickly ate dinner and Shadi and I left on the 8PM bus to Yecheon. We had a super great time!
This weekend, it looks like both Shadi and I have English camp on Saturday. Sunday morning we’re going on a tour of the DMZ with a bunch of people. It’s going to be a busy weekend, but I expect lots of fun.
Hopefully next week’s blog will be full of pictures. Bye for now.
Kathleen
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