One down (under), two to go (soon). Teachers, that is.

After sitting on my classes on Monday, one of the new teachers was nowhere to be found Tuesday. Apparently my wild classes and my blunt honesty about our frustrations over the last year sent her home packing. Not everything i said was bad, but the lack of communication from the other teachers didn't help i'm sure. No one told the new teachers a gathering was planned for that evening. At the gathering, as usual, the Koreans sat around talking to each other. They didn't attempt to engage the new arrivals much. Some basic communication skills would really help this hagwon.

After the new arrivals left few stragglers sat around drinking for a bit. To my surprise Julia showed up to say goodbye. While other people expressed there goodbyes in words, she showed hers on her face. As we were saying goodbye on the street, she burst into tears. We don't speak anywhere near the same language, but she will be the one i miss the most.
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To quote Peter and Lawerence from Office Space: "Fuckin' 'A'." Too bad we'll be in Thailand for the finals. :(

Went to Seoul and sold some stuff and bought a suitcase big enough to fit a good sized body inside. Now maybe C's irrational packing fears will be eased. Whenever i have tried to calm her fears she would just get more pissed off. Damned if you do...

Forgot the most important part of the work i have left to do before we go home at work this weekend. Fuck. I'll have no time to show the new teachers around before work tomorrow. Maybe C can take both of them. I still have to write a test to write for Tuesday, on top of my syllabi that were due last Thursday, on top of the folders i have to finish. Once again, fuck.

THREE MORE DAYS.
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It election time in Wonju, and they've rolled out these portable stages on the backs of trucks to get the word out. Eventually someone will get behind the podium and start informing everyone on the street why candidate X is the best. I took this downtown on our last trip to the Exchange Bank to send some more money home.

I've spent the last two weeks in a foul mood. A year of frustrations has mixed with a lack of giving a fuck to make a shit stew. For a week everyone from work was planning on doing something on Friday night for our last weekend in Wonju. Robert, on the other hand, was worried about the World Cup friendly between Korea and Senegal. He also used the fact that he had to be at work at ten today and then pick up one of the new teachers from the airport in the afternoon as an excuse. This from the guy who was hungover (like every weekend) and got up at eight a couple of weeks ago to drive us to Gyeongju. The Friday night get together was no go. You should have seen the way the guy shot out of the hagwon as the last bell sounded on Friday. I'm missing my team's run to the Stanley Cup and your panties are in a bunch over a friendly. No one else offered to do anything with us, leaving us with a bitter taste. We're leaving soon and no one seems to care. Meh.. fuck them. They say they want to do something Monday night with us and the new teachers, but with packing and tests before we leave i'm not sure that will be feasible. Off to Seoul again tomorrow.

We have started selling some of our stuff before heading home. Within a day of posting the stuff online it had almost all been spoken for. It turns out the guy (a Canadian) who bought our bike and some other stuff also tutors a few of our students. When he came over he asked us if we had any plans. Confused, i told him no and he promptly invited us to his place for lunch. We met his wife and daughters and talked about Korea as we had Samgyeopsal (삼겹살). He was really nice and we wished we had met him a year earlier. Having a total stranger invite us over for a meal probably compounded the lack of sentimentality shown by our coworkers. Three more days of work...
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Delicious? Not so much. After our "date" with Julia and her friend we headed downstairs from the theater for some drinks. On the menu was "Mexican Nachos" which we proceeded to order, figuring they should be safe. We were wrong. They started out fine, but something went horribly wrong in the kitchen. Take a nacho, cover with spicy chili sauce and cheese. Then add a banana slice, whipped cream and a cherry. What??? How is that Mexican? It was an interesting taste to say the least.

As for the night, the movie (Da Vinci Code) was all right. I'll probably like it even more in English. No English subtitles for the French and Italian dialogue. After the movie was a little awkward at first. Neither Julia nor her friend speak much English, and we know even less Korean. Julia is really shy and even brought two Korean-English dictionaries to help. I thought that was cute. After a pitcher of beer things seemed to flow more smoothly, as they always do. We took some pictures and had a nice time. Unfortunately C and Julia's friend were tired so we parted at 2:30, but i hope we will see her one last time before we go.

Today was off to the director's country house for a little gathering and food. More fun was had. I'm not looking forward to working on thinking about packing and getting ready to go when i wake up. A week and a half of work left to go...
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I think it's time to go home. I need some real food. Right now i'm Livin' on a Prayer (and ramen). Our diet is really boring and starting to get to me. Maybe if i had some idea or desire to cook it could be improved somewhat.

I've given up worrying about being nice to some of my rowdier classes now. I've taken to shouting at the top of my voice sometimes, and i've surprised even myself at the volume in the last few days. It feels nice to finally get an unruly groups' attention. We had a "point market" the other day where kids buy pencils and things for the points they get for homework. C got quite a few little gifts from her students, while i got one. I think if i had been harder at the beginning the kids may have liked me more now, instead of the other way around. Whatever. Next time, if there is one, i'll do things differently.

This pic of me sandwiched between two giant walking soju bottles is from our night out with Julia a few weeks ago. I never realized what a dork i look like in my work clothes. Give me a t-shirt, jeans, and a baseball hat any day. C may disagree, but my opinion won't change.
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We've passed a year working in Korea, and the next few weeks will get even busier before we head home. On Saturday it was off to Seoul after three hours sleep to pick up our Thailand tickets and do some more shopping. I have yet to get a traditional Korean dress for my niece, since she is growing like some radioactive child. I only see dresses for small kids and pre-teens, not much in between. I fear the Disney t-shirt i bought at Christmas for her will be about ten sizes too small by the time we see her. I hope i can get some other stuff to make up for it.

On Sunday, after another night of three hours, we headed south to Gyeongju with Robert and the director for some sightseeing. This temple and palace was built in 751 and rebuilt after the Japanese destroyed it in 1593. It wasn't completely restored until the early 70's and is designated historic place number 1. Korea was ruled from Gyeongju long ago when it was first united. Most of the buildings, and even the toll booth, have Korean style roofs. We had a very nice day checking out temples and buying more crap. (I think we'll need our own plane to get it home.) Along with the sights we also saw three different accidents including a Kia SUV that rolled on the highway.

In other news we have a date. I guess the (former) secretary (English name Julia) had a good time with us a few weeks ago because she wants to go to Da Vinci Code on Friday. She's about the only real friend we have here and we don't speak anywhere near the same language. We should have another interesting time to say the least. I may post the pic she sent of me today from the last time we were out sandwiched between to giant walking Soju bottles. For another time i suppose. I know i still haven't updated about the Jeju trip.

How about that Oil? Hear that sound? That's the fucking blue and copper freight train picking up speed. I'd suggest you get out of the way. I would have grown a playoff beard, but the way they're headed i'd look like Grizzly Adams and they wouldn't be half way done. Besides my employer, i don't think C would be too happy either. I'm such a dedicated fan i get up in the morning to listen to games. There's not much that gets me up before noon when i can help it. If they make the finals we'll probably be in Thailand. Of all the years to move halfway around the world...
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I might as well update since i'm up. I was shocked into consciousness just before 3 when C had an asthma attack. So much for my first night of being asleep before 6am in a week. And it was going so well...

We finally have booked a hotel in Phuket. We found many good reviews for this one, as well as bungalows near the beach. C really wanted to stay in a hut on the beach, but this is as close as we'll get. The majority of the bungalows were redone after the tsunami. The resort is supposed to be very nice, with two pools, gardens, a spa, etc. as well as American style buffet breakfasts that are said to be great. I'm really looking forward to the breakfast and maybe a massage by one of the pool. I don't plan on doing much sightseeing. I don't plan on doing much of anything, except maybe getting some colour on my pasty white body. Sorry for that mental image. We leave on June 5th and go back to Korea a week later, before heading home on the 14th. Oh, yeah. The director finally booked our tickets home and it must have cost him a fortune. C freaked out on him last Friday when we were talking about going him and he said at those prices it would be "impossible." I know impossible wasn't what he meant, but that set C off. By Monday he had booked tickets. We go straight from Seoul to Vancouver, then on to Regina. Going to Vancouver instead of San Francisco should cut a good fours hours of time off the flights. I forgot another thing. We've also passed one year in Korea over the weekend. Less than three weeks of work to go!
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No, that's not the moon. That's the sun obscured by yellow dust. The dust blows in from China and people end up walking around looking like amateur doctors wearing face masks. So far i've been surprised that it hasn't seemed to effect C's asthma much. I haven't noticed any breathing problems myself, but it can't be good for you. On our plane back from Jeju you could see the dust accumulate on the wings.

Even though we have a long weekend thanks to Children's Day. I haven't felt like writing much. We were supposed to go on a trip, but that ended up getting canceled. I may write more someday... or maybe not.
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I know. I didn't update when i said i would, but i had a good reason. We were surprised the other evening when the former secretary of the hagwon decided to visit for a night out on the town. She was really worried about the lack of a common language when no other teachers could come out. So much so that she wanted to bring a dictionary out with us. I tried to assure her that with a little beer we would be fine. After six liters or so between the two of us a common language had been found. She was feeling much more social and ended up coming back to our (filthy) apartment for some Uno. I think the beer really helped her loosen up a little, and i think she had a good time.

Yesterday was a trip to Seoul to book some tickets to Thailand and do some shopping. Today was laundry/cleaning and relaxing. Since i don't feel like writing much, I thought i'd give you a taste of what we experience on a daily basis. At the soccer game a couple of weeks ago this little girl spent the majority of her time looking at us. I managed to sneak this pic of her. I hate being so damn good looking.
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