Rants

I'm not sure if it's the fact that I'm on the other side of the world or if it's the blatant fact that the American government is in ruins, but I've become enthralled in politics. I miss it, actually. I haven't actually missed politics since I came home from D.C. and the players decided to become partisan protagonists' with their own agendas, but nonetheless, the train wreck that has become our country captivates me. I know that seems harsh, but what happened to the country our Founding Father's fought so gallantly to establish? Obviously the world has changed quite a bit since the mid to late 18th century, but aren't the ideals, supposedly, supposed to be the same? Aren't we supposed to be "the Greatest Country" in the world? Did we not fight for the Bill of Rights? As I read the news, I cringe as I see that little by little each and everyone one of our rights is being threatened. It seems as though the livelihood of the American people is being threatened with an out of control budget and the "left" feeling threatened to the point that they're proposing and backing legislation that could threaten the free speech rights of those that don't agree with the current administration. I wonder too, does everyone think that allowing the government to have so much control, over everything, will actually solve anything? The government has a hard enough time over-sighting the government, let alone, making sure that it can be a health care provider too. The governments bailing out corporations, lending establishments, with money, they don't have, so they're in a sense do the exact same thing that the previously mentioned enterprises engaged in, and yet because they're the government, it's okay-there's irony for you. Why can't we as American citizens, understand that for the government to work efficiently it has to work at the local level and then the state level. The federal government exists only at the leisure of the states. Why is it too, that the American people refuse to get involved, whether it's voting or volunteering, and yet are so quick to blame the government for not solving their problems. This democracy was founded on the basic concept of community and everyone participating. I'm not a fan of Hilary, and this is maybe one of the most over-quoted phrases of the 1990s but "it (does) take a village". The concept of community participation is what democracy is all about, not just voting but for all aspects of life. If we can't effectively keep our communities together and teach our children how to participate, how do we expect our country to survive? I'm part of the small percentage of people that feels our country is heading in the wrong direction. I'm anxious to get back to the States. While I'm enjoying my time abroad I feel completely useless during this heightened political time-we have a new POTUS and a democratic majority in Congress. I want to get involved but am obviously at a loss, and yet, while I wish I were there to get involved and participate more, I'm glad I'm in another country, so that I can avoid our country's messy politics. I think I feel that way because I'm scared of where the U.S. is headed. One more thing... Why do we, American people, put up with the medias tactics of scaring us into believing the world is coming to an end (okay maybe not that extreme, but close enough) due to a flu bug? And while it may be a threatening virus, the CDC has stated that it's treatable via the same drugs that are used when treating a normal flu virus. Why do we stand for this outrageous melancholy to invade or headlines and TV’s? I realize that a lot of people are completely unaware of this nice little ability; we have, called common sense, but start using it! Wash your hands and stop buying into the hype!

Too much running?

Shortly after I moved here, I started really running. Running has become my outlet for getting rid of all of the pent up stuff that builds up throughout the day of working with children and having to listen to Korean and not being able to communicate with Koreans. I'm thoroughly enjoying my runs and I apparently was a little to aggressive and too ambitious, because, about a month ago, I ran around 7-10 miles, one evening, without properly building up to that mileage. That's not a good thing to do, as I am now suffering from hip tendonitis and haven't been able to run for the last week and still have another week to go before I can start running again. The orthopedist here (he happens to practice right across the street from my apt.-how convenient?), even told me no yoga, which I was really starting to get into, until next week as well. I'm so bummed and bored! I usually run 2-4 times a week and instead I've been watching tv-ughhhhhh-Korean tv sucks-obviously because it's in Korean! Besides my hip, all is well...Spring has arrived and it's beautiful here!

Easter Sunday

Easter was very different this year. Mainly because I was away from my family and in America, Easter is one of those big holidays, throughout the year, religious or not, that most people come together to have family time. Here they don't commercialize Easter, at all. So there wasn't any build up to it. It didn't feel like Easter because I wasn't constantly reminded that it was coming up. This is shallow, but I didn't have a new Easter dress this year, and when I arrived at church everyone was severely dressed down, including me. The service was good and that should be all that matters, but I'm so used to seeing everyone so dressed up on Easter Sunday and the little girls with their new white shoes and the women with their hats, it just wasn't the same. I didn't have a traditional Easter dinner. They don't really do that here. There was no brunch to attend or dinner to look forward to-I had mondoo, a Korean dish, for dinner that evening. It was different. I was told by a person, at church, that if I thought Easter was a let down, just wait for Christmas-it's even worse! When it comes down to it though, Easter isn't about all the above mentioned things, it's about the eternal life we've been given through Christ's death and resurrection and for that I am eternally thankful!

Korea Club Nite #3,4

I only have a few things to say about these two little adventures out... Korea Club Nite #3 was a mistake! It took place in Itaewon, which I loathe. It's so dirty there and this is my own personal opinion, it's the armpit of Seoul. Itaewon only has a couple of redeeming qualities (1. I can find shoes and clothes that fit me there and 2. there's a market not far from there that you can buy American food and stuff-Lays BBQ potato chips and People magazine-expensive but completely worth it!). The people that come out at nite are ughhhhhhhhh. I will never go back, after dark, again.
Korean Club Nite #4 was another trip to the booking club and this is significant, only for the fact that Amanda, one of the other foreign teachers I work with (and she's from TN), and I went to the booking club (same one we've been to previously) on our own, without a Korean chaperone. We're either incredibly stupid or we've adjusted well. It's probably more that we were incredibly stupid, but hey, we made it out alive and made some new Korean friends (girls, at that). It's probably not too often that girls leave the booking club having gotten other girls numbers...? They only wanted us for language exchange. Either way the nite was a success!

When all else fails, you just have to come to terms with the fact that "It's Korea".

During my, almost, 3 months of living here in Korea, I've been educated on the severely different culture that I've jumped into. I've mentioned previously that I received a promotion, at work. I was apprehensive and uncomfortable with receiving the promotion, but I wasn't exactly asked if I wanted the job, I was just told I was the "head teacher". I was completely unaware of what I was to be doing and what my new position entailed, but was finally given the opportunity, a couple of weeks ago, to observe at another school-one of our flagship schools and meet with a teacher, there as well, who was able to give me some insight as to what my new position entailed and who gave me some information regarding how the school should be run and what my role, in that, was. I was so excited! I finally had information and ideas of what I was supposed to be doing and I couldn't wait to tell my director, Helen, about the suggestions that were made and ideas that were given that could make our school run more efficiently and make me, as well, as the other teachers better educators and administrators. I met with Helen on a Friday and after, I felt great about our meeting. On Monday, I was at school, bright and early, ready to start making some changes (it's amazing, how even small changes make the biggest differences); only to be told that changes were not going to be made and that she appreciated my suggestions but that she wasn't going to implement them until next year. I was so disappointed. It's so hard having knowledge of something and not be able to sufficiently use it. I mean, I observed a close to perfectly run school, and granted the one that I teach at is new (only 2 months old), there were definite changes that could be made and make us that much better. On top of that, Helen told me that they no longer needed a "head teacher". I don't think I've ever received a demotion before, but I can tell you that it usually helps to not have wanted the job (promotion) in the first place, so the feeling of having something taken away from isn't as bad when you approach it from that angle. With that said, I still encountered the same emotions that someone, who did want their new job, would face. I was shocked and felt like I'd done something wrong-like I wasn't good at my job (which I know I am) or that I'd let her or someone else down. I felt embarrassed and then I thought, why am I feeling embarrassed, I didn't do anything wrong. Helen told me that she wanted all of the teachers to be considered equal and that since we were a new school she didn't think we needed a head teacher, at this time, but that if I stayed in Korea, for another year, that I would be "head teacher". Still, though, I felt a mix of emotions, that even the most secure and self-confident person can't avoid. My dad gave me some great advice though and it really helped me change see things differently. Also, I have a great friend, who actually just left Korea and completely gets what I'm going through. She talked me through some of my emotions and reassured me that I was doing my job well and also told me something that basically sums up any situation, experience or problem that may occur here-"It's Korea". There's no real rhyme or reason why they seem to do some of the things that they do here or why they handle situations like thay do- it's Korea! Honestly, I'm completely relieved about my demotion. I never wanted to be head teacher and I certainly didn't want the crazy work hours that came with it. So things are back to normal around here. I work from 9-5, and don't feel the least bit guilty when I leave at 5pm.

Korean Club Nite #2

It's been a few weeks since I last posted...a lot has been going on...and then again, not so much. A few weeks ago, my director, Helen and I took two of the other foreign teachers we work with, Tammy and Amanda, to the Korean Booking Club. I've mentioned my adventure there previously, so I won't go into complete detail as to why this is such an interesting experience, for those of us who have never entered a Korean Booking Club before. Needless to say, the other girls were intrigued and weirded out by the entire concept. I don't care who you are (Korean or American), no body really likes being grabbed and dragged from their table to be taken to a random male-stranger's table to be shown off; and auctioned off (that's kind of how it feels). The girls were not quite sure what to expect but at least they had me explaining to them what was going to happen and not a Korean, who wasn't exactly explaining the concept very well. We arrived at the same club Helen and Bonnie had taken me to several weeks ago and they were completely in awe. Like me they'd never seen anything quite like it and while they weren't too keen on the idea of being taken to table/room after table/room, they really enjoyed themselves. I was looking forward to the booking club because I hadn't really enjoyed the entertainment the previous time I had gone. This time, I knew what to expect but had seen a glimpse of the what the entertainment had been like during our previous trip, so I was there for the boy bands and other groups who were gracing the stage. The entertainment was worth the entire trip! I'd love to share more details but it may be a little risque (some of my kids read this blog, so if you want details, you'll have to email me). All in all Korean Club Nite #2 was a complete success and the girls loved it!