Hi y'all!
Hope everyone keeping well despite the cold over there. Weather my side is still fluctuating....(my colleagues are stuffing me with biscuits first thing in the morning again!). As I was saying....yesterday was a Cape Town summer, then thunder and rain. But not cold at all. So, soon, I'll be experiencing my first monsoon. Of course, I'll keep everyone informed....
Here in Korea, all the high schools wrote mid-term exams last week. This week, it's the middle schools' turn for exams. At the end of exams, the students - (now I've been handed warm, green rice cake! You don't need bubblegum when you have rice cake!) - at tthe end of exams, the teachers have some team-building activity (last week at high school was volleyball). Today, at middle school, it's the final day of exams, so we are going hiking afterwards, and then off to dinner.
Yesterday, I went along on a high school outing - the school takes the students out for a day of fun after exams. The 1st Grade students all went on a 3-day tour of the country, while 2nd and 3rd Grade went to an amusement park for the day. Apparently, amusement theme parks are really big here. (You see, Korea models itself sooo much on America.) Anyway, almost all the teachers who can speak English confidently had gone on tour, so, needless to say, I felt kind of left out of conversations, neglected, ignored to a point....like the invisible alien...quite literally! I eventually excused myself from the teachers, since they were being boring anyway, just sitting and eating and talking. It was my first time there...a bit of thought and conscience would have been appreciated. (I'd like to think we would treat them a bit better if the situation were reversed.) My now-almost-friend American Geoff's theory is that Koreans are still pretty much closed off from the international world, hence they need training in how to deal with foreigners in their country.
So off I went for a 'walk'. Throwing a mini-tantrum (how else do you know me?) Marching along, muttering to myself, like a typical crazy foreigner! At least I did this along a quiet deserted footpath. After a few deep lungsful of 'fresh' air, I decided to explore. Ended up eating at KFC - out of pure revolt I assure you - then went to sit at a fountain to read my book. After I'd recovered sufficiently, I decided to walk back to where they were. But along the way, some students came up to me and tried to get me to go on a rollercoaster with them. Of course, this simple request took at least 10 min to communicate due to their poor English. Eventually, it was ok, I went along with them but not on the ride. One ride on The Cobra at Ratanga more than satisfied my curiosity re rollercoasters. After that, things started to look up. I met some more students, and managed to have some conversations with them. And this shook me awake a bit...my purpose here, is to enrich the lives of my students, not to socialise with teachers. That change of perspective helped tremendously. I then ended up at the NATURE PARK, which is really a sorry thing to see. It was terribly hot, and the animals could have been taken care of much better. There were dogs, asses, ducks and geese, rabbits, goats, chickens, pheasants and peacocks. The furry animals had matted fur and they were in pens with concrete floors. I didn't even take any pics cos it was just too sad. Later, I joined the rest of the teachers again, and yes, they were eating again....lunch this time. Thereafter, I stayed with those teachers who were spending time with the students and so it was much better. So thankfully, a not-so-amusing amusement park expereince turned round. (Hey! At least my parasol came in very handy for the hot sun!)
Next week, Monday, the middle school will be going to the same amusement park. Let's see what that'll be like...
So for today, I have a relaxed day again, sitting at my desk for a few hours, browsing the internet, maybe working a bit, hmmmm I don't know...the life a Foreign English teacher in Korea. We'll have an English market a bit later. Those students who have excelled in class have progressively earned 'dollars' which they can spend on stationery. I'll play the shopkeeper, and they have to speak good English in order for me to grant their resquests. The question is, what mood will I be in? Benevolent fairy OR hateful witch?
Till next time....
Love, hugs and kisses...
Andrea
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