Ahh... I have my own computer.. at last!

Hello everyone! I know it's been a while since I've last posted, but now finally, I have my own computer and am no longer dependant on the dinosaur of a computer that my school has generously provided.

It's been an exciting couple of weeks! First and foremost is that on Friday I was paid! I'm not telling how much I make, but I will say that I've made more in one month here than I ever have at one time in my life! I was sitting at my desk at school after receiving my pay stub and I was almost giddy with excitement. Of course, the natural thing to do is go off and blow half of the money on a computer mere hours after receiving the money... right?? Right!

Well now, let me catch you up on a few things! In the past few weeks I have settled more and more comfortably into teaching my 7th graders. I'm learning that 7th grade boys do not like to bath regularly... and they do like to run. They also have this tendency to sweat quite a lot and then come into my classroom and ask question of me where I have to stand quite near the sweating, unbathed boy. THEY STINK!!! But, I am having so much fun with my classes, especially the upper levels who can interact with me and find that I can, sometimes, be fooled into giving them candy.

I was also called by the Nambu district office to see whether I would be interested in teaching an adult class. I was, so on the 20th, I made my way to an elementary school where there is an English lab and proceeded to "teach" 9 adults English. It was VERY intimidating seeing as Korea is very much based on a hierarchical system, the older the person, the more respect they deserve, and I was the youngest person in the room. But, I think teaching adults will be fun and will help me with my lesson planning at school. Not to mention the extra money that I'll be making as well!

I'm reading "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis and he talks about right and wrong in his first few chapters. He says "You would not call a man humane for ceasing to set mousetraps if he did so because he believed there were no mice in the house." In the same way, I think the people who drive in Korea do not run me over when I'm walking across the street, not because they don't want to maim or kill me, but because it would slow them down more if they had to deal with a dead body rather than if they just stopped and let me pass. Korea is every person for themself... it's interesting that I'm reading this book because Lewis talks about how everyone eventually benefits when you do the greater good for society... Korean's don't seem to do that... at least not with driving!

I'm also having a problem with Korean stairs. I've shared with some people already how two days in a row, I couldn't seem to manage the stairs at my school without falling flat on my face. I was walking up some stairs with one of my co-teachers and almost fell FLAT on my FACE! Thankfully my father passed on his genes for agility and non-dorkiness because otherwise I would have looked like a total fool! I assure you, tripping up the stairs and almost falling three times in a row has never looked more calm, in control, and intentional than when I do it. Thank you, Dad!

I'm NOT a dork! I swear!

Ok, that's all for now! As always, thank you for your continued support and prayers. I couldn't make it one day without them!

Love you, miss you, praying for you!

Hil