What a Happy Weekend

I had a good time this weekend. Now it's back to school and working longer hours this week. Gotta prepare everything before I leave otherwise I'd have to get no work done over my vacation. 

Only 9 days now I think. 

40 Days and 40 Nights

I guess it's the rainy season. It's been raining like craaaaaaazy these past few days, which has driven the humidity up like crazy. The rivers are filling up and you have to be careful you don't get soaked by passing cars as you wait for the bus. 

I'm really excited for summer camp next month. We're going to do lots of fun things and make good memories (I hope). 

I'm incredibly excited for this weekend. I'm going on a quick vacation--one last fling before I go to North America. Can't wait!!

Big News

Hi Folks!

Lately I've been stressing about a couple of things. I've been worried about money lately, because it seems like even though I scrimp and save, I'm still only able to gather just a small amount to pay off my debts back home. I mean, it just feels like a drop in a bucket sort of thing. 

As well, the end of this contract period is coming up soon, and I've been wanting some reassurance that God is with me on this particular path of life's journey. 

In addition to that, I'm really worried that my school won't let me do a few hours in advance, so I can use my much cheaper, already purchased plane ticket instead of having to rebook it for Saturday. This matters because it'd cost hundreds of dollars more to get a new ticket and because it would conflict with going to Cannon Beach with my family (this is crucial). 

I've been praying about all of these things, especially the last one. I've requested a sign from God. 

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Recently, I had asked HyeongAh if it would be okay it I could work some of my hours on earlier days so that I could leave a bit earlier than when my vacation time starts. She wasn't sure, because she doesn't have the authority to grant me that request. She said she would ask Mimi. 

Anyway, that was a long time ago, and I didn't hear anything about it for awhile. 

I asked again recently, and she advised me to ask Mimi directly. 

So I asked Mimi today. I happened to catch her in a great mood (she's always in a good mood, unless her grade 6s are being brats). She said she would go ask the principal right away. So she did. I prayed. I was nervous because when I went to get my vacation time sorted out with my principal and vice, they were being sticklers about it. 

She came back to the classroom. 

"David, I'm so sorry. You can't go." 

My heart sank. 

Then she sat down, turned to me, and said "I'm kidding, the principal said yes, you may go early". My heart leapt. I didn't know what to do, so I just buried my head in my hands for a little bit, lol. Mimi said the principal emphasized with my plight and understood that it would be a lot more money to change the flight.

So much has been happening this week and all at once. As I was writing this post, I realized that God had delivered on the sign that I asked him for. He is still with me. His favour is still upon me. 

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In addition, my grade 6 girls were drawing on the board while I was talking with my co-teacher. They had re-written my class objectives to read: 1. Art Time 2. Game Time 3. Ice cream time. 

I was really happy at this point and was feeling spontaneous, so I said we would do the new plan, except art time because we didn't have enough class time. My co-scholar and I took them to a convenience store nearby and I got them some ice cream. Ah, what a wonderful day :):):):):)

Why Is This Bus Always Crowded?

Seriously, the 311 always gets really full in the mornings. Usually I can find a seat to myself but some days, like today, it's not possible :(

Also...I think the Garlic Lady may be nearby... You can imagine the fragrance of garlic in this bus. 

I saw Man of Steel on Sunday, and I highly recommend it to you. It was excellently written and the cgi wasn't over the top. I thought the story was compelling and the characters intriguing. And there was only a few brand placements to boot (looking' at you, Transformers). 

I found out that Chong Hyeon will be my co-teacher for the rest of the semester because he's out of school now. It will be kind of nice, and I'm sure Hyeong Ah appreciates a break. 

There's this girl in my grade 4 class. She's really talented with English and she's real smart in general. She doesn't have any physical problems wrong with her and she's not what Koreans would consider "ugly", but at the same time, I'm noticing that she might not have many friends. I mean, she comes to class alone and the people she plays with at lunch are in a younger grade. Still, she's my star student, and I very much want to help her succeed. I was thinking about this the other day, and how I would handle it if my child came up to me and told me he or she didn't have any friends. It's really sad :(

You should hear the guy chewing gum behind me, it's like a camel....

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It's after school now. I found out that all 3 of our speech participants has been accepted to travel with 22 other Damyang grade 6ers to a city in China for another English speech contest! Congratulations. 

As well, one of my kids was totally feeling up my arm today. The absence of body hair here is amazing. 

Finally, I want to tell you about an odd experience I had yesterday. I needed to make some calls to my bank to figure out a question I had about my credit card. I called using Skype (free calls to 1-800 numbers, you're welcome for that lifesaver) and talked to some nice Canadian folks. Now, normally, this isn't a big deal, but....I guess I've been away from dealing with English speakers for a bit too long. The oddest feeling happened when I was talking. For the first time, it actually felt unnatural to use fluent English. I felt like I was speaking another language; it required more effort than normal.

Strange. 

Another "I Love Korea" Day

Hi Folks,

First, the weather has gotten hotter. I want to stop complaining about it, but it's just so hot, and with the power shortages we're only allowed to turn on the A/C at school after school...

Some quick updates:

- Today was the resumption day of teaching with my Korean university co-teacher, Chong Hyeon. He recently completed a one-month internship at a middle school. He's a great teacher. Today though, my students were extra naughty, to make up for all the niceness they had during the previous 4 weeks (go figure). He told me some very sad news. The school (read: principal or vice) has not agreed to renew his contract for another 6 months. They said because he was only able to teach once a week (He was taking university courses that conflicted with the after school class schedule) instead of the regular 3, they wouldn't take him on again. That's merciless in my opinion. I will miss him, I sure hope he is able to help me during summer camp!!

- Please pray for the following: Ask God to soften the hearts of my principal and vice so that they will let me leave on the 18th (Thursday) instead of the 20th (Saturday). It's a matter of airline ticket price as well as logistics because I would meet up with my family on route to our annual holiday in Oregon. I've recently come across some new information which bolsters my claim to move my hours around, so I will bring it up again next week.

- I'm preaching again on Sunday. Yikes. Pray that God is able to speak through me...

- Today after school, we had the Damyang county teacher's workshop (read: conversation club). Afterwards, Hyeong Ah invited me to go with her and two other "seonsengnim"s (teachers) for Guksu!!! It's one of my top 5 meals in Korea because you can eat outside under the shade of giant Elm trees and watch the river go by. During the meal they asked me my blood type (It seems an East Asian thing to know one's blood type), but I didn't know, so they concluded I was a vampire. Afterwards we went for coffee and a walk along a dike overlooking the river, in the shade of even more grand old Elm trees. In a twisted tree trunk, I found some torn up money, so they concluded I had X-Ray vision as well as vampiric qualities. What a wonderful time :)

- Today is the day I find out if my contract is renewed for another 6 months or not. I haven't checked the TaLK webpage yet, but I'll do it after I wrap-up this post.

See you, have a nice weekend!

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Drum roll.

I received word today that I successfully extended my contract for another 6 months. See you again in January!

Farewell Fellow Students!

Hi folks,

Yesterday evening was the farewell party for the international students of CNU who will leave this semester. Irene and myself, having lived off campus this semester, haven't really made lasting connections with the students this time. Not like last semester. 

Anyway, a party is a party, and there's free pizza involved, so you can count Irene and I in. 

Afterwards we (a group of us) went for bingsu which is a Korean summer dish--it involves shaved ice, ice cream, toppings, and usually red bean. Mmmmm. Delicious. 

Before I went to bed, it started POURING rain. 

I set my alarm for 8:30 this morning so I could work on my lesson plans and start reading Harry Potter book #3. I must have turned the alarm off in the morning, because when I woke up, I was well rested. "Yay, I beat my alarm this morning!" I thought to myself. Nope. It was 12:47pm. I have to leave for work in 30 minutes. This is why people plan ahead..... :(

Talk to you after school!

My School Will Have an English Competition

Lol it's a rainy weekend. So happy!

My school is gearing up for this semester's English contest. We will send 3 students to compete at a municipal contest, and the winner(s) will get to go to China, to compete on behalf of Damyang-gun (county). 

Yesterday one of my students said my hair was awesome. The self-esteem boost since coming here has been through the roof. 

There was a humongous garlic harvest recently, so one can see truck after truck piled high with garlic stalks and illegally parked. All the housewives gather round and cackle/barter and then the reseller uses a cleaver to chop the bulbs from the stalks. I wonder what will be in season next month. 

This morning I discovered another unwelcome mosquito in my house. How did you get in, bandito? I kill you!

HyeongAh told me they will come from the sink. 

Today after the teacher's workshop, we drove back to Gwangju in HyeongAh's princess-pink sub-compact. Mimi wasn't in my group today, so she told us about her workshop class. She said they talked about men and what they wanted in a mate. 

Then that's what we talked about for the rest of the ride, lol. Since Mimi and I are single, we asked HyeongAh for some advice. Then, I asked HyeongAh what her best date was like with her husband. She told us about a time when they took a trip together and he was so focused on and devoted to her. Mimi was wriggling with delight in the front seat as the romantic details flowed. I always look forward to the times we drive together.