Well, howdy-doody!

Long time no type... I decided I wanted to write something, even if no one reads it (since I do not regularly update this bad boy).

I hadn't been a partaker in "reading for fun" for a long time now, but after being in Korea... I have been reacquainted with the wonderful world of literature.
It all began with a book my mom gave me entitled, The Shack. She gave it to me sometime in 2008 I believe. I finally finished it in August of 2009! WOOOO! What an accomplishment, seriously.

Well, that got the ball rolling, and the next book I had in my possession for an extended amount of time was, A Child Called "It." Once I opened its pages, it was already over a mere 3 days later. Whoa baby! I'm doing good! It was very impelling; although, after doing some research, the story has some debate regarding its authenticity. This book was also finished in August.

The next book I was to read however, was not in my possession. After a 'movie day' and summary activity with my kindergarten class, I was inspired to read J. M. Barrie's Peter and Wendy! That's right...and it was filled with adventurous excitement and imagination! I actually was able to read this book on a tropical island in Thailand - what joy...do you see the relationship here?! It took me about 3 months to finish this one.

My most recent read has been John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress. It was exceptional. Even though it was filled with words that I was compelled to look up on every page - it was filled with symbolic narrations that one on a pilgrimage of their own can fully appreciate and relate. This took me about 3 months to take in; however, I know I shall surely open its drama-filled pages once again for better comprehension and no-doubt a different experience.

A couple days ago I opened up C.S. Lewis' The Magician's Nephew; the first book in The Chronicles of Narnia series. I'm pretty excited to see what religious tones and symbolism will be brought forth and unveil itself... and of course experience the incredible visual language that will power my imagination!

Another book I'm interested to read in the near future is Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe! The English language has always intrigued me, and with these older books, finding words/phrases that have changed meaning over time, are archaic or are just new to me, both humbles and thrills me!

More to update soon about...??...

1 yr anniversary

That's right. I've now been in Korea for 1 whole year! YAY... that's my blog... maybe more later - I like facebook better!

A new job!

Here's the 411:

I've been looking for a new place of employment for my post-GATE School experience. My contract ends at the end of February, so I applied for the Department of Defense Schools (DODDS). I had all my documents, references and whatnot turned in at the end of January. I was planning on returning home in March/April after touring Europe. However, Jonathan found an opening at his school a couple weeks ago, so I applied there, too. I was thinking I MIGHT not receive an offer with DODDS because I hadn't been teaching for 2 years; a "requirement."

I found out this morning, after an interview on Saturday, that they want me for the teaching job at Jonathan's school. It's a great school he says. It's a private elementary and I'll be teaching 1st or 2nd grade.

It's definitely a step-up from my current job. It's a real school and not an academy (hagwon). It's departmentalized and not a self-contained classroom, so I will be teaching Language/Arts. I'll be teaching from 8:30-2:30, which is also better than 9-5:30. There's also 6 times the amount of paid vacation (oh yeah!). I'll be getting slightly less pay, but it's not enough to care. God is so patient and generous... especially when we are not... yes, me.

So yeah, since I won't be traveling Europe to see some people nor going home, I HOPE to do both during the summer! I will surely keep you updated! Thanks.

Updates-

So in early November, I went to watch the leaves change color in this mountainous region 3 hours from Seoul. It was spectacular. They don't have those color-changing trees in Texas. It's okay, Texas sunsets are still the trump.

I started using the heater in my house for the first time 3 weeks ago. At first I thought it was broken; mainly due to it not heating the floor. (Yeaah... what??) But no, no, no, no.... after at least 4 visits from engineers and the "handy-man" guy at my school, it works, but just not that well. I think there's some type of governor on it. It's max is way less than my co-worker/neighbor across the hall. After about 2 hours, it get's warm. Alas, it's only mid-December and January and February will be colder.

Last week, right after the kids left, I started get a very mild stomach ache. That night, it transformed into the worst stomach pain I've experienced. It rivals the Earache of 2008 and the Headache of 2007. Henceforth, it shall be known as: Abdominal Pain of 2009! So it is written, so it shall be done! (Name that movie!) It really wasn't an aching in my stomach per se)! What are your thoughts on the matter? Stomach ache of 2009? Although it's not technically accurate??? Anywho... It was pretty bad. I used one of my sick days and went to the Ear/Nose/Throat Clinic (only clinic in near proximity). He thought I had appendicitis... which was one of my suspicions. I went to the hospital the next day, and after a blood test, x-ray and another test, it was 90% confirmed that it was not appendicitis, thank God. Seriously, thank You. I prayed so much on that painful night I tell you what...

My school had a Musical Night. Our kids were forced to memorize 10 songs with motions and a script play. These songs weren't kindergarten songs, either. Some were extremely fast, over their head, or just not appropriate. Their motions were advanced, too. Their poor little motor skills were not yet ready to take on these moves. They had 5 weeks to memorize all of this. We tried to talk some sense into the people in charge, but having sense is not their strong point. Core classes were canceled leading up to the big day (sometimes, letting us know the day of). ... I could keep going, but I think for what was set for my little Onyx students, they did a fantastic job during their musical premiere! It was sure tough, but they seemed to have fun and I (and I hope they) didn't take it too seriously.

3 more days till vacation!!!!
I'm going to Thailand on the night of the 23rd! I have work the day of...

I'm hoping to find employment with an international school (great pay, more similar education philosophies, more vacation), and school doesn't start 'till August; thus, I would have a few months to travel and visit home.

Keep ya posted... Until then

sofk,
Brandon

updating...ALL Hallow's Eve

Ok, so Halloween was fun! I dressed up as The Scarecrow and actually made me own hat! It was a good time!
REWIND to 10ishpm<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< At the station, we rent lockers to put our change of clothes in (including my cell phone and house key).
FAST FORWARD to 2:30am>>>>>>>>>>> Sadly we're callin' it a night as we go down the stairs to the station to retrieve our clothes. The station is locked. It does not open again until 5:30 am. Since my keys are locked up I have a couple options:
1) go to Jonathan's apt and come allll the way back here IN MY COSTUME in the morning... I don't think so.
2) Sleep at a nearby Jimjilbong, which is a public sauna that also has mats to sleep on. YES. I check in wearing my costume, well actually REWIND<<<<<< I go back to the club and see if anyone interesting is there, but no... so back to the Jimjilbong... I sleep for a couple hours and leave at 5:30. I walk down to the station and find out that I need a friggin' password to open the locker!! Now, who has this password - other peeps, not me. But can I contact them?... NoOooOo. Now trying to communicate to a Korean worker at 5:30am that you don't know the password to a locker is hard enough... doing it while wearing being a Scarecrow is something else. He probably thought I was another totally out of it.
Finally, after much waiting and gesturing, he retrieves the password and I am able to change out of those clothes. I get home at 7:30am. Yay Halloween!

More updates soon to come...

...CONTINUED...

Anyway, in a polite and professional manner, I address the issue regarding this mom's concerns about my correcting/teaching/philosophy. I then go on about how I am teaching as best as I am able with the knowledge and skills I was given and acquired over the last few years. The mommy had a mask of disbelief written all over her face -- like "how can this be happening?!" I did not use any "you" statements or put any blame or anything of the sort on her... used all "I" statements. :) Well, towards the end it looked like she was looking pretty fragile. Our conversation lasted about 3 minutes. Well, I later found out that she went to the principal's office in tears - which I felt bad, that was certainly not the intention I meant for it to have; or the response for that matter. The mommy accrued a couple more visits after the "incident." I wasn't worried... I said what needed to be said... what others could not do. The day after the fact, the principal told me she needed to talk with me, but wasn't ready to do so. It sure sounded fishy, but I knew I did nothing wrong. Finally, I asked her if she was ready to talk, so we talked.
((To summarize: "In Korea, teachers do not talk with the parents directly & vice-versa. Instead, they (parents) bring their concerns to the supervisors and then relay the message to the teachers." Well, here's a thought... let's cut out the middle man and get down and dirty! Let's be real... let's get honest! Also, "these parents have lots of money and they should be held higher (than you and I)... because they went to THIS school and grew up in THIS neighborhood... and are Korean." I told her that I wasn't down with that philosophy and actually guide the children in the complete opposite mentality. I told my principal that she hired an American, so you will get an American's point of view. She hired a certified teacher... same applies. She hired a man from Texas, I'll be more honest and I have my methods and strategies. Anyway, she asked me in not so many words to write an apology letter to which I declined to do so.)) BUT, to ease tensions... on both sides, I wrote an "I regret" letter instead. It was pure sweetness. To the untrained English eye & mind, it appeared to be an apology of some sort, but for us, ha, we know better. I got to "stick it" to someone in a respectful way and get over this ridiculous nonsense at the same time. Good stuff!

Things are better now! Keep it right, keep it tight!

"HOMEY DON'T PLAY DAT!"

Korean moms. Wow. Sumaschedshee!!!!!
So, I had my parent-teacher conferences last week; they seemed to go swimmingly. During one of the meetings, one parent pondered (in her broken English) why there were mistakes in her daughter's writing; her daughter is 5 years old. I explained to her that although I guide them in their writing and give them some verbal ideas (ooo I had to stop writing for a bit b/c I got so angry!... grrrr... ok...), they will make mistakes... they are children and they often learn through their mistakes. I then went on to tell her that usually after they write their first draft, I correct it while giving them a new paper for them to finalize their "composition." I then added, “Since every child has different strengths and needs, there’s going to be more mistakes in some than others…” I finished up by saying since there’s only a limited time for our writing class, I don’t want to neglect other areas and subjects by staying on one too long. At this she gave many nods and an awkward smile. She then noticed another paper which had the term, "gonna." I told her that sometimes kids will use that word because they hear it from others and they’re probably writing it phonetically, but stated that I do not teach that word... obviously. She then said, "Yes, please teach the proper English." to which I said, "Oh, I do!" nodding many times for reassurance. She then went on and said, "...because I no want her learn those words... so please, please teach the proper English and not that one..." I again insisted that I do. Two minutes later while speaking about her family's recent trip, I heard, "... we gonna go to..." I ALMOST STOPPED her and said, "Excuse me, you just said 'gonna'. Do you see? Kids hear others say it and pick it up." SUMASCHEDSHEE RODITALEE!

Anyway, that was just the beginning. The next day, my supervisor comes in and says that they've received many complaints about my PTCs. I was absolutely shocked. After 10 minutes, I found out that it was mainly from the mommy above. BTW, these supervisors and administration don't back you up worth &*$#! They will always bow down to their little mommies wishes... literally too I'm sure. They run the school…err… business. The supervisor informed me that this little mommy was concerned about my teaching methods and how there were mistakes in her daughter's writing. BTW I ADORE her daughter, can't say that about the mom however... I have some other words in mind... maybe I could use this moment to teach this mommy about antonyms for the word "love." Eh? I was infuriated that this mommy, again, demeaned my intelligence, concerning English and teaching. Remember: Worsmitum? Just a smidge? Fib? –same mommy. It's one thing to be involved, but it's another thing to be intrusive. I'm leaving out many stupid, angry parts of the story, but I don't have time. After calming down, I vented to my fellow teacher and told her I was going to speak with this mommy. After talking with her a couple times and writing down my thoughts so I would be as polite and professional as possible... the mom walks in to pick up her daughter. As I step out into the hall to greet her, I say, “May I have a word?”

TO BE CONTINUED...