oK! For all of those people who are impatient about my updates... here it is!
I want to talk today about the Korean education system... First of all, you should all know.... it sucks!
Koreans focus on memorization, rote learning and objective interpretation. They just want the students to spit back out the information that they pump into them... and trust me, they pump the info into them!
They don't believe in intrinsic motivation, they're just content with spoon-feeding the kids what they need to know. They don't care about comprehension or critical thinking. I think this is the worst possible form of learning there is. My whole career choice was based on my love for critical thinking and subjective interpretation. I HATE THIS FORM OF LEARNING!
Also, most of the teachers carry around big sticks. I, in fact, carried around a stick for a while. But, I did so that I could point to things on the screen and bang it on the table so that students would stop talking and listen to me. However, after one of my co-teachers asked to borrow my stick so that she could BEAT a student with it, I stopped carrying it around.
Yes, these teachers beat students... they beat them with sticks. Normally, they wack them on the back of their calves, sometimes in the back of the thighs. I've witnessed several beatings... sometimes the students cry, sometimes they don't. Sometimes the teachers seem to take pleasure in the beatings, sometimes they don't.
I, personally, don't beat students... it is against my principles... and besides, I might be too tempted to wail on them when I'm especially made and cause some real damage! The educational system here "does not allow teachers to beat students" HA!! It's the same kind of rule that banns students from having cell phones.
*Sigh* Things here are just really different.
On a positive note. I think I've turned a corner with one of my co-teachers. She doesn't speak great English, and though she's been really sweet and lovely to me, she's always been really afraid to talk to me. However, lately, she's been really making an effort to talk with me and communicate more with me. I'm really excited!
And, I've found out that she is a magician. This week, we had speaking tests. Therefore, all of the students must be quiet while their classmates give speeches in English and I grade them. One day, a student was talking during one of the speeches and my co-teacher without talking and with her stick, made this student stand up, walk to the back of the room and turn around and face the wall. It was amazing. I was inspired!
WELL, I hope you are all doing well. I love you and miss you all TERRIBLY! And, I promise to try and update more often! Scouts honor!
Hil
Nov 30, 2007
Nov 11, 2007
Looking for Shoes here is like Hunting for Pheasant...
Most of the time you can never find any, and the few times you do, they're hens.... or in the case of shoes, they don't fit! But, every now and then... you get one... or you find some (shoes) that work just perfectly! I found some shoes today... red and blue Nike's....
ANYWAY!
I had an interesting week. Nothing extraordinary... but I found myself grumpier than normal all week long. The reason... I hate surface relationships! What a cause for someone to be grumpy; I mean, at least I have friends, right? What more could you ask for in a country where you can't even communicate with 90% of the population!
But, I find myself longing for depth to my friendships with my co-workers. I think this is frustrating for everyone involved.... they don't speak perfect English... it's work for them to communicate with me.... I don't speak ANY Korean... it's work for me to communicate with them! I can sense that we like each other; that we're curious about each other and that we care... but there are no words. We're reduced to beating on our chests in frustration.... I'm not even kidding!
Last week, some of my colleagues and I were talking about different things. One teacher has MOUNDS of work to do and no time to do it. Another has family problems that are difficult for her to deal with. One said things along the lines of; "I am so busy. I have no time for anything but work. I'm so tired, but I have to work. But, it's ok." the other said something like; "My son is sick again. I worry about him so much. I don't know what to do. Sometimes I am so tired of having to take care of him all the time. I am stretched too thin. But, it's ok." We all noticed how, even though our lives are difficult and things are hard, everything is still "ok!" We know it's not "ok", we know that it's hard. But, we don't want to put pressure on anyone else to have to do anything for us... so it's ok.... when really... it's not! It's not ok! I wish there was more I could do to encourage my co-workers, to help them out. But, I don't know what to do other than pray. I don't know.
On a lighter note... I almost died on Friday. Ok, that doesn't sound like a lighter note, but it was really funny! Jess and I went shopping together on Friday. I was looking for shoes and ended up with a hat and a scarf, but anyway.... on our way home, we both bought a beverage from a vending machine in the subway. I got some juice and Jess got some.... chewy juice (her juice had chunks of fruit in it... it's quite good really!). We were talking and.. honestly I don't remember at all what she said, but right after I had just taken a big gulp of my juice she made me laugh.
Now, I was faced with two choices. I could either spit up all of the juice that was in my mouth onto the subway floor in front of a ton of people... or I could choke down, and nearly die from, the ENORMOUS amount of juice in my mouth and hope for the best. Looking back, I think it would have been more sensible to have just spit the juice out... but I didn't. I managed, somehow, to keep it all inside of me and suck it all down my lungs.
Now, you have to understand that I had a BIG mouthful of juice. It was like a... my cheeks are bulging with juice, huge mouthful, half the can, sort of gulp!
I had to lean against the wall. I was wheezing! I had snot coming out of my nose... I can tears coming out of my eyes... I was drooling all over the place! I couldn't stop coughing! Every time I breathed in, you could hear all the fluid in my lungs.. all the juice bubbling in them! There were a few moments there when I honestly though... "I'm going to drown! I can't breath! I'm going to die from choking on juice!" What made it even worse was I couldn't stop laughing and neither could Jess! I was laughing and crying and coughing and choking all at the same time!
Honestly, who does this? I mean... who chokes on juice in the middle of a crowded subway? I've always wanted to be one of those kinds of people who never lose their dignity. One of those kinds of people who are always graceful and composed... I'm always a dork! Boo for being a dork! I blame my father!
Well... I think that's all for this time! More later, and hopefully more pictures of my co-workers. One of these days I'll get all of my co-teachers to sit for a picture together! They're so hard to track down!
Please pray that I'll continue to have a better attitude at work and a positive mind set towards my students. I miss you all and think about you constantly!
Love you!
Hil
P.S. Did you know that many of you have Korean twins???? Last week I met a Korean version of Aunt Holly... she's a teacher too, which makes it even better!
Ok, peace out, for real!
ANYWAY!
I had an interesting week. Nothing extraordinary... but I found myself grumpier than normal all week long. The reason... I hate surface relationships! What a cause for someone to be grumpy; I mean, at least I have friends, right? What more could you ask for in a country where you can't even communicate with 90% of the population!
But, I find myself longing for depth to my friendships with my co-workers. I think this is frustrating for everyone involved.... they don't speak perfect English... it's work for them to communicate with me.... I don't speak ANY Korean... it's work for me to communicate with them! I can sense that we like each other; that we're curious about each other and that we care... but there are no words. We're reduced to beating on our chests in frustration.... I'm not even kidding!
Last week, some of my colleagues and I were talking about different things. One teacher has MOUNDS of work to do and no time to do it. Another has family problems that are difficult for her to deal with. One said things along the lines of; "I am so busy. I have no time for anything but work. I'm so tired, but I have to work. But, it's ok." the other said something like; "My son is sick again. I worry about him so much. I don't know what to do. Sometimes I am so tired of having to take care of him all the time. I am stretched too thin. But, it's ok." We all noticed how, even though our lives are difficult and things are hard, everything is still "ok!" We know it's not "ok", we know that it's hard. But, we don't want to put pressure on anyone else to have to do anything for us... so it's ok.... when really... it's not! It's not ok! I wish there was more I could do to encourage my co-workers, to help them out. But, I don't know what to do other than pray. I don't know.
On a lighter note... I almost died on Friday. Ok, that doesn't sound like a lighter note, but it was really funny! Jess and I went shopping together on Friday. I was looking for shoes and ended up with a hat and a scarf, but anyway.... on our way home, we both bought a beverage from a vending machine in the subway. I got some juice and Jess got some.... chewy juice (her juice had chunks of fruit in it... it's quite good really!). We were talking and.. honestly I don't remember at all what she said, but right after I had just taken a big gulp of my juice she made me laugh.
Now, I was faced with two choices. I could either spit up all of the juice that was in my mouth onto the subway floor in front of a ton of people... or I could choke down, and nearly die from, the ENORMOUS amount of juice in my mouth and hope for the best. Looking back, I think it would have been more sensible to have just spit the juice out... but I didn't. I managed, somehow, to keep it all inside of me and suck it all down my lungs.
Now, you have to understand that I had a BIG mouthful of juice. It was like a... my cheeks are bulging with juice, huge mouthful, half the can, sort of gulp!
I had to lean against the wall. I was wheezing! I had snot coming out of my nose... I can tears coming out of my eyes... I was drooling all over the place! I couldn't stop coughing! Every time I breathed in, you could hear all the fluid in my lungs.. all the juice bubbling in them! There were a few moments there when I honestly though... "I'm going to drown! I can't breath! I'm going to die from choking on juice!" What made it even worse was I couldn't stop laughing and neither could Jess! I was laughing and crying and coughing and choking all at the same time!
Honestly, who does this? I mean... who chokes on juice in the middle of a crowded subway? I've always wanted to be one of those kinds of people who never lose their dignity. One of those kinds of people who are always graceful and composed... I'm always a dork! Boo for being a dork! I blame my father!
Well... I think that's all for this time! More later, and hopefully more pictures of my co-workers. One of these days I'll get all of my co-teachers to sit for a picture together! They're so hard to track down!
Please pray that I'll continue to have a better attitude at work and a positive mind set towards my students. I miss you all and think about you constantly!
Love you!
Hil
P.S. Did you know that many of you have Korean twins???? Last week I met a Korean version of Aunt Holly... she's a teacher too, which makes it even better!
Ok, peace out, for real!
Nov 6, 2007
Not Since My First Few Weeks Here Have I Wanted to Blog this Badly!!!!
I was struck with how normal my day was today. Just an everyday, day. I mean, I get up late... normal, right? That happens in normal life. I go to school, I teach. I lesson plan, I teach. I talk with my colleagues, I teach, I learn a little Korean. My days are so normal.
BUT I"M IN SOUTH KOREA!!!!
Yesterday I was able to talk with one of my co-teachers. I want to lesson plan with her because she has the most advanced class and I need to be able to keep her students busy. So, she comes to my desk and we plan. I like this teacher so much. She is so cute and she is the one that helped me when I was sick. She took me to the doctor and took care of me. She also helped me at the bank. So, basically, this teacher knows a lot of my very personal and private information.
Our lesson planning took probably 10 minutes, but we talked for probably 45. It's difficult here for me in strange ways. I have a support system of Americans, Canadians and New Zealanders that I can talk with if I need to, but it's nice... so nice... to have Korean friends too. I want this teacher and I to be friends but, I don't know how to get to know her better. I don't' know what to do (other than get sick; which she jokingly suggested) to be able to spend more time with her.
I told her this:
"I'm not very good at dropping hints."
"Dropping hints?"
"I'm not good at being subtle... I'm a very direct person."
"Oh, oh yes. You're not good at going around a topic. Me either. I'm direct."
"Yes. We call that beating around the bush!"
"Yes, yes! I know that expression."
I told her that I wanted to get to know her better, but that I didn't know how. I struggle here because I need a support system. My old support system all live in the U.S. I need a new one. But, I know from experience that when a foreigner comes to a different country, it's harder for the natives to feel really interested or devoted to getting to know the aforementioned foreigner. The natives all have a support system already. The natives have a life here, hobbies, interests, families, friends. I just have an apartment.... a small apartment.
I'm hopeful now. Sometimes I'm amazed at how much honesty is just so much more beneficial than "dropping hints" or playing games. I think it just takes a little courage to be vulnerable... I think a lot of people see vulnerability as a weakness... but it's not! It's honesty. I appreciate honesty so much! My co-teacher, Yu Mikyung, opened up to me a little, and I feel so privileged to know a little bit more about her. She's so surprising to me.
Below is a picture of me with two of my co-teachers and another English teacher. The two teachers I am standing between are my co-teachers. In the picture the one on my left is Yu Mikyung, the one on my right is Kong Changok. They are the two I have most contact with... they are both very important in my life here! I just can't get over how much of a GIANT I look like compared to these women. I normally don't feel that huge next to them... but my GOSH, I'm ENORMOUS!!
Well, peace out! More to come soon!
BUT I"M IN SOUTH KOREA!!!!
Yesterday I was able to talk with one of my co-teachers. I want to lesson plan with her because she has the most advanced class and I need to be able to keep her students busy. So, she comes to my desk and we plan. I like this teacher so much. She is so cute and she is the one that helped me when I was sick. She took me to the doctor and took care of me. She also helped me at the bank. So, basically, this teacher knows a lot of my very personal and private information.
Our lesson planning took probably 10 minutes, but we talked for probably 45. It's difficult here for me in strange ways. I have a support system of Americans, Canadians and New Zealanders that I can talk with if I need to, but it's nice... so nice... to have Korean friends too. I want this teacher and I to be friends but, I don't know how to get to know her better. I don't' know what to do (other than get sick; which she jokingly suggested) to be able to spend more time with her.
I told her this:
"I'm not very good at dropping hints."
"Dropping hints?"
"I'm not good at being subtle... I'm a very direct person."
"Oh, oh yes. You're not good at going around a topic. Me either. I'm direct."
"Yes. We call that beating around the bush!"
"Yes, yes! I know that expression."
I told her that I wanted to get to know her better, but that I didn't know how. I struggle here because I need a support system. My old support system all live in the U.S. I need a new one. But, I know from experience that when a foreigner comes to a different country, it's harder for the natives to feel really interested or devoted to getting to know the aforementioned foreigner. The natives all have a support system already. The natives have a life here, hobbies, interests, families, friends. I just have an apartment.... a small apartment.
I'm hopeful now. Sometimes I'm amazed at how much honesty is just so much more beneficial than "dropping hints" or playing games. I think it just takes a little courage to be vulnerable... I think a lot of people see vulnerability as a weakness... but it's not! It's honesty. I appreciate honesty so much! My co-teacher, Yu Mikyung, opened up to me a little, and I feel so privileged to know a little bit more about her. She's so surprising to me.
Below is a picture of me with two of my co-teachers and another English teacher. The two teachers I am standing between are my co-teachers. In the picture the one on my left is Yu Mikyung, the one on my right is Kong Changok. They are the two I have most contact with... they are both very important in my life here! I just can't get over how much of a GIANT I look like compared to these women. I normally don't feel that huge next to them... but my GOSH, I'm ENORMOUS!!
Well, peace out! More to come soon!
Nov 2, 2007
Two Taxi Rides!
Ok folks, hang on for the ride because this is a dusey! Also, be warned, there's converstaion about VOMIT.. so if you have a weak stomach, refrain from reading!
In the past two weeks I've had to take a taxi home because the subway's stop running at 12 and the buses stop running at 1. Now, I've been meeting with friends for coffee and at each meeting the time seems to just slip away from us and before we know it... it's past 12. I find this slightly frustrating because it feels like I have a curfew... which I don't appreciate!
Now, last weekend, I had been out to dinner with one of my adult students and she and I had dinner at a restaurant and then I had left to meet up with friends from church. The longer the night went on, the more my stomach started to hurt, and the less comfortable I felt. But, I don't often get to see these people, so I just sucked it up and went on with my evening. But, by the time I finally caught a taxi to go home, I knew something was wrong... as in I had food poisoning and a bathroom was going to be needed in an urgent way, soon!
Now, I'm uncomfortable folks. Like, I'm focused on not barfing, but this taxi driver was just chatting away at with in Korean. I just kept saying "Ne, ne." (this means yes in Korean) but I had no idea what he was talking about. Soon, it's clear to me that he's circled the block... several times, to rack up my fee and it's also clear that, if the taxi ride lasts much longer I'm going to loose it all over the back seat. (Not to mention that this man drove like a bat out of hell and anyone would have felt sick after riding with him!)
Finally, 13 dollars later, he pulls up to my street, I pay him and get out. I'm half way up my road when dinner decides it doesn't like my stomach, and it lands all over the street. Now, I know it sounds (and it looked) like I'm drunk! But, honest to goodness, I had no liquor in me, just poisoned food.
To finish the "sick" story, I called one of my co-teachers and she came and took me to the hospital. She took good care of me... I think she treats me like a niece... I like her very much. And, I got better.
Now, last night, I had to take another taxi home. I was visiting with my friend, Rachel, and, again, the time just got away from us over coffee. However, this taxi ride was the SO MUCH FUN!
Almost the entire way, this taxi driver and I are speaking to each other in my broken Korean and his broken English. He taught me new words, he corrected my bad pronunciation, he told me when the buses stop running... he was GREAT! I told him that I was a "Hakkyo Sungsamnim!" (School teacher) "Ahh... Sungsamnim! Chweyo!" (Oh, teacher! Good!) And then, after a I learned a few more Korean words, I told him "Nonun, chweyo Sungsamnim!" (you are a good teacher!) "Ani, nonun chweyo!" (No, you are good!) *Sigh* It was just fun. I never knew taxi drivers could be so amiable. I think I have a new friend!
Well, that's all for this time! I hope and pray that you are all doing well and are safe back in the U.S. I miss you all and love you more than words can say!
Hil
In the past two weeks I've had to take a taxi home because the subway's stop running at 12 and the buses stop running at 1. Now, I've been meeting with friends for coffee and at each meeting the time seems to just slip away from us and before we know it... it's past 12. I find this slightly frustrating because it feels like I have a curfew... which I don't appreciate!
Now, last weekend, I had been out to dinner with one of my adult students and she and I had dinner at a restaurant and then I had left to meet up with friends from church. The longer the night went on, the more my stomach started to hurt, and the less comfortable I felt. But, I don't often get to see these people, so I just sucked it up and went on with my evening. But, by the time I finally caught a taxi to go home, I knew something was wrong... as in I had food poisoning and a bathroom was going to be needed in an urgent way, soon!
Now, I'm uncomfortable folks. Like, I'm focused on not barfing, but this taxi driver was just chatting away at with in Korean. I just kept saying "Ne, ne." (this means yes in Korean) but I had no idea what he was talking about. Soon, it's clear to me that he's circled the block... several times, to rack up my fee and it's also clear that, if the taxi ride lasts much longer I'm going to loose it all over the back seat. (Not to mention that this man drove like a bat out of hell and anyone would have felt sick after riding with him!)
Finally, 13 dollars later, he pulls up to my street, I pay him and get out. I'm half way up my road when dinner decides it doesn't like my stomach, and it lands all over the street. Now, I know it sounds (and it looked) like I'm drunk! But, honest to goodness, I had no liquor in me, just poisoned food.
To finish the "sick" story, I called one of my co-teachers and she came and took me to the hospital. She took good care of me... I think she treats me like a niece... I like her very much. And, I got better.
Now, last night, I had to take another taxi home. I was visiting with my friend, Rachel, and, again, the time just got away from us over coffee. However, this taxi ride was the SO MUCH FUN!
Almost the entire way, this taxi driver and I are speaking to each other in my broken Korean and his broken English. He taught me new words, he corrected my bad pronunciation, he told me when the buses stop running... he was GREAT! I told him that I was a "Hakkyo Sungsamnim!" (School teacher) "Ahh... Sungsamnim! Chweyo!" (Oh, teacher! Good!) And then, after a I learned a few more Korean words, I told him "Nonun, chweyo Sungsamnim!" (you are a good teacher!) "Ani, nonun chweyo!" (No, you are good!) *Sigh* It was just fun. I never knew taxi drivers could be so amiable. I think I have a new friend!
Well, that's all for this time! I hope and pray that you are all doing well and are safe back in the U.S. I miss you all and love you more than words can say!
Hil
Oct 26, 2007
These Pictures Say It All!
Liuyan and I at dinner. She's on of my adult students and probably my favorite student! She just invited me to go out with her... I'm not sure what we're doing, but I'm excited to be meeting with her.
These are four of my adult students, Kim Ok-soon, Liuyan, me, Hay, and Kim Yun-hee. I like all of these ladies so much. Hay is so funny, she's so little, but she's a fiesty little one!
Ok... I was in a dance with some of my co-workers... notice how I'm going in the opposite direction as everyone else! I rock at dancing!
Here I seem to be doing the right thing... I had so much fun, but I definately look like the chubby kid in the back! *Sigh* Koreans are tiny!
The two guys in the dance were so funny! I was hoping they would stand out more than me seeing as they were wearing skirts..... sadly my RED hair is just unmissable in the back there!
I'm having a good time here. What's going on with you??
More to come later! MUCH love!
Hil
Oct 22, 2007
Random Sights...
* A young man stumbling along the sidewalk... bloody, scraped up and disoriented... I think he was hit by a car!
* Two adolescent girls having a HUGE FIGHT on the subway! I got involved in that one... I helped this guy shove one of the girls and her mother off the train to separate the two. Hair, buttons, shoes and random articles of clothing were all strewn on the ground after that! WHEW!
* Two crazy Korean men checking me and Leigh out while we waited for a subway car... one on each side of us. We laughed, tried not to look at the guys, and left.
* A subway car SO full that there was no possible way anyone else could fit in it... somehow 5 Koreans managed to squeeze in while Leigh and I stood and looked on in amazement! There were faces, literally shoved up against the windows... very comical until we dove in ourselves and realized that our hands had to find some place to rest... and it was normally right against the butt of the person in front of you... not to mention the many hands grabbing and pulling on your legs, coat, and... other areas! Leigh's' breath smelled nice, thank goodness!
* My adults students turn from just my students into my friends!
* My middle school students turn from just kids in my class to my kids in my class!
* Such wonderful generosity and kindness that I am speechless. I know I like to share the shocking and bizarre stories... but I can't express to you how wonderful so many people have made me feel here. The generosity and consideration is beyond anything that I'm accustomed to. I have been truly blessed. Thank you, God.
Thank you all for you love. I feel I am a very rich young woman in love and friendship. I don't know how to express my gratitude and appreciation, but know that I am both very grateful and appreciative! I love you!
Hil
* Two adolescent girls having a HUGE FIGHT on the subway! I got involved in that one... I helped this guy shove one of the girls and her mother off the train to separate the two. Hair, buttons, shoes and random articles of clothing were all strewn on the ground after that! WHEW!
* Two crazy Korean men checking me and Leigh out while we waited for a subway car... one on each side of us. We laughed, tried not to look at the guys, and left.
* A subway car SO full that there was no possible way anyone else could fit in it... somehow 5 Koreans managed to squeeze in while Leigh and I stood and looked on in amazement! There were faces, literally shoved up against the windows... very comical until we dove in ourselves and realized that our hands had to find some place to rest... and it was normally right against the butt of the person in front of you... not to mention the many hands grabbing and pulling on your legs, coat, and... other areas! Leigh's' breath smelled nice, thank goodness!
* My adults students turn from just my students into my friends!
* My middle school students turn from just kids in my class to my kids in my class!
* Such wonderful generosity and kindness that I am speechless. I know I like to share the shocking and bizarre stories... but I can't express to you how wonderful so many people have made me feel here. The generosity and consideration is beyond anything that I'm accustomed to. I have been truly blessed. Thank you, God.
Thank you all for you love. I feel I am a very rich young woman in love and friendship. I don't know how to express my gratitude and appreciation, but know that I am both very grateful and appreciative! I love you!
Hil
Oct 20, 2007
Connections... It's All About the People!
I had one of the best days ever on Friday. I'm slowly beginning to realize that my co-workers really do care about me.... really. They're not just putting on a show.
The teacher who sits right next to me... In-ji... she stays late at school almost everyday. Really late and on Friday, I asked her how late she would be at school, fully expecting her to say that she wouldn't be there that late because it was a Friday and she had plans or something like that...
"In-ji. When are you going to leave school today?"
"Umm.. Maybe 9 0'clock."
"WHAT??"
"I KNOW! But, I very busy!"
"You're a nerd!"
"NO! I opposite of nerd!"
"No, you're a nerd! How do you say nerd in Korean?"
"Bumsing. I am no Bumsing."
"In-ji, you're a bumsing!"
At this point, when I called In-ji a bumsing, other teachers in the area popped their heads up and started laughing because they knew what I was talking about and agreed with me! Pretty soon, there were about six teachers standing around and they were all telling me how to say "I am a nerd, I am "cool", you are a nerd and you are "cool" in Korean." Then some of the other teachers were saying that they were "Nalari" (which is cool) or bumsing. It was so much fun to connect with them... many of the teachers didn't even speak English, but they understand a lot of what was being said.
Then, the cool music teacher whose desk is in my row, said something in Korean and looked down, as if she were pouting...
"She said, she is jealous of the English teachers."
"Why?"
"Because they can speak to you and spend time with you often."
My heart was full. Not that I like it when people are jealous, it's just great to know that the teachers think I am someone worth getting to know and invest in.
Also, there's an interesting... project that I'm working on with some of the other teachers... I'll just say that the dance parties that I had at Bethel (and we had some good ones!) were nothing compared to what's coming... more on that later!
Below are some pictures of me with some of the younger teachers at school who are working on the secret project with me. In-ji is the one with her hood up in one picture and on my right in the other... she is, most definitely, on of the neatest people I have ever met! And, she's so popular at school too... she's really not a nerd... she's Nalari!
The teacher who sits right next to me... In-ji... she stays late at school almost everyday. Really late and on Friday, I asked her how late she would be at school, fully expecting her to say that she wouldn't be there that late because it was a Friday and she had plans or something like that...
"In-ji. When are you going to leave school today?"
"Umm.. Maybe 9 0'clock."
"WHAT??"
"I KNOW! But, I very busy!"
"You're a nerd!"
"NO! I opposite of nerd!"
"No, you're a nerd! How do you say nerd in Korean?"
"Bumsing. I am no Bumsing."
"In-ji, you're a bumsing!"
At this point, when I called In-ji a bumsing, other teachers in the area popped their heads up and started laughing because they knew what I was talking about and agreed with me! Pretty soon, there were about six teachers standing around and they were all telling me how to say "I am a nerd, I am "cool", you are a nerd and you are "cool" in Korean." Then some of the other teachers were saying that they were "Nalari" (which is cool) or bumsing. It was so much fun to connect with them... many of the teachers didn't even speak English, but they understand a lot of what was being said.
Then, the cool music teacher whose desk is in my row, said something in Korean and looked down, as if she were pouting...
"She said, she is jealous of the English teachers."
"Why?"
"Because they can speak to you and spend time with you often."
My heart was full. Not that I like it when people are jealous, it's just great to know that the teachers think I am someone worth getting to know and invest in.
Also, there's an interesting... project that I'm working on with some of the other teachers... I'll just say that the dance parties that I had at Bethel (and we had some good ones!) were nothing compared to what's coming... more on that later!
Below are some pictures of me with some of the younger teachers at school who are working on the secret project with me. In-ji is the one with her hood up in one picture and on my right in the other... she is, most definitely, on of the neatest people I have ever met! And, she's so popular at school too... she's really not a nerd... she's Nalari!
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