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Monday, July 30, 2007
Saturday, July 28, 2007
I Love Teaching
As I pondered about what sort of material I should write for this post, my kids just kept coming to mind. I feel like I'm reaching a place where I'm really starting to bond with the kids and really seeing and understanding their personalities. I think for the last little while I've been somewhat embittered by the education system back home and lost part of why I wanted to teach. Much of my training was spent really going over the theory of teaching and focusing on things like curriculum, the legal system, social politics and so many other things that complicate education. I'm not saying those things are unnecessary or unimportant, what I am merely trying to say is that I am recapturing some of the passion and enjoyment for teaching that lead me to choose this profession in the first place. I genuinely love spending time with kids and I find their perspective on life sometimes hilarious, other times profound, but most oftentimes refreshing. I love seeing their growth and their enthusiasm when they finally understand. This 3 month session is nearing the end and perhaps this is why I'm feeling somewhat sentimental. I just feel like I'm starting to understand how to make it all work with their personalities and then we're switching it up.
In other news...Blake is sick. Just a head cold, but he's feeling miserable. We have a day off tomorrow so hopefully that will give him a chance to really rest and get better. We're smack in the middle of intensives right now which means we're teaching in the mornings as well as the evenings on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The schedule is pretty tiring when you're healthy so Blake is really struggling. Unfortunately we can't find chicken soup and Blake won't let me get a puppy-of-healing for him. ;)
In other news...Blake is sick. Just a head cold, but he's feeling miserable. We have a day off tomorrow so hopefully that will give him a chance to really rest and get better. We're smack in the middle of intensives right now which means we're teaching in the mornings as well as the evenings on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The schedule is pretty tiring when you're healthy so Blake is really struggling. Unfortunately we can't find chicken soup and Blake won't let me get a puppy-of-healing for him. ;)
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Amusement Park
I realize I've been entirely slacking with posts these last few weeks and I sincerely apologize to our dozens of fans who eagerly anticipate our next entry. ;) When we first began our adventure here in Korea, everything was so crazy and new and exciting and so much came to mind to share when we wrote. We find ourselves growing accustomed to our lives in Korea and things just don't seem as strange anymore. Teaching continues to be an adventure, but we're growing, learning and getting better as each week passes by. Our students here in Korea are in some ways so much different than any kids we've had experience with back home. They are extremely motivated and classroom management skills don't seem to work the same as they did back home. In other ways, kids are kids wherever you go. I giggled the other day when I had an extremely active class (mostly consisting of 10 yr old boys) and after I dismissed the kids I went to take a drink of water from my mug and noticed crumpled paper floating on the surface. Despite keeping me on my toes, I absolutely love teaching that class!
I have also learned that celebrating the highest marks on tests is an extremely effective way to motivate the kids. I tried that method today during my Par Listening class and announced that Willy had the highest mark. He was so excited that he sat shaking in anticipation for the break when he could text message his mother about the news. It was pretty cute.
I have also learned that celebrating the highest marks on tests is an extremely effective way to motivate the kids. I tried that method today during my Par Listening class and announced that Willy had the highest mark. He was so excited that he sat shaking in anticipation for the break when he could text message his mother about the news. It was pretty cute.
We had a holiday this past Tuesday which means that we work 9-3 instead of 4-10. We spent the afternoon and evening hanging out at an amusement park nearby. They have rollercoasters similar to Wonderland- it was a lot of fun!
We've had some minor moments of homesickness recently. Actually...I should clarfy...I've had moments of homesickness. While I love being here in Korea, it makes me sad missing monumental events happening in the lives of friends and family. A few friends have gotten married, others are now pregnant and some others have gotten engaged. I'm not going to say who because it's still fairly recent news, but if you're curious...ask my sister about the pretty new rock on her finger.
Nevertheless, we're surviving and spending lots of time together just growing our friendship. 
Monday, July 16, 2007
Hey all,
Since Erin and I have been here we have noticed that many of the prices are significantly lower than in good ol' Canada. This is just a quick over view of the drastic price differences.
The other day, Erin and I went out to McDonalds to treat ourselves. (We hadn't been yet) I got a BigMac meal and Erin got a McChicken meal...get this..for both..$6 dollars.
Another example, Erin has needed new shoes for a little bit now and the other day we picked some up for $10 dollars. Most ladies high heel shoes, although sometimes ugly, are about $10. Good deal for the ladies!
Oh..and I think the greatest deal. I got a new watch for 5,000 won..about $5 dollars.
Here's a pic.
I thought it might be nice to share a few differences
We'll post more soon.
B
Since Erin and I have been here we have noticed that many of the prices are significantly lower than in good ol' Canada. This is just a quick over view of the drastic price differences.
The other day, Erin and I went out to McDonalds to treat ourselves. (We hadn't been yet) I got a BigMac meal and Erin got a McChicken meal...get this..for both..$6 dollars.
Another example, Erin has needed new shoes for a little bit now and the other day we picked some up for $10 dollars. Most ladies high heel shoes, although sometimes ugly, are about $10. Good deal for the ladies!
Oh..and I think the greatest deal. I got a new watch for 5,000 won..about $5 dollars.
Here's a pic.
I thought it might be nice to share a few differences
We'll post more soon.
B
Monday, July 2, 2007
Alive and Well!
We're alive and well!
Teaching is going well and we've been exploring the city a little these past few weeks. The middle school kids have been writing exams at their regular school so they haven't been coming to class...which means time off for us.
We had heard rumours that Costco was around the city and we finally found it the other day. It was a bit of a trek, but well worth it! We felt like little kids in a candy store because it was such a reminder of home. We found vitamins, Cheerios, nutrigrain bars and we also were able to get a good size blanket -the small old blanket was the source of a constant tug of war in our sleep, so we were really happy about that.
We are starting our sixth week of classes right now and we're gearing up for the summer break classes. The kids get one month of holidays and they are sent to school with us. Crazy I know!
Tonight we went out for Korean food again and we're really enjoying it. We tried a new restaurant and the staff seemed pretty tickled to have us. The one lady tried to show me how to wrap the meat in lettuce and then thought it was too much trouble and decided to just stick it in my mouth. It was a pretty hilarious situation and I think she thought she had to keep feeding me so we'd know what to do. I think she thought she was pretty funny and kept referring to me as 'baby.' (We're somewhat accustomed to 'going with the flow' in these types of situations.) When we were heading out the door of the restaurant she shoved a mint in our mouths and waved good-bye. I'd love to see someone try that in Canada! ;)
We are in the midst of some pretty stressful parent-teacher interviews. These parents are paying quite a bit of money for the child's education so they are VERY interested in who we are, what we look like (especially), and how their child is doing. We teach so many different kids right now that we're simply trying to remember who the kids are and match the faces with the names.
Teaching is going well and we've been exploring the city a little these past few weeks. The middle school kids have been writing exams at their regular school so they haven't been coming to class...which means time off for us.
We had heard rumours that Costco was around the city and we finally found it the other day. It was a bit of a trek, but well worth it! We felt like little kids in a candy store because it was such a reminder of home. We found vitamins, Cheerios, nutrigrain bars and we also were able to get a good size blanket -the small old blanket was the source of a constant tug of war in our sleep, so we were really happy about that.
We are starting our sixth week of classes right now and we're gearing up for the summer break classes. The kids get one month of holidays and they are sent to school with us. Crazy I know!
Tonight we went out for Korean food again and we're really enjoying it. We tried a new restaurant and the staff seemed pretty tickled to have us. The one lady tried to show me how to wrap the meat in lettuce and then thought it was too much trouble and decided to just stick it in my mouth. It was a pretty hilarious situation and I think she thought she had to keep feeding me so we'd know what to do. I think she thought she was pretty funny and kept referring to me as 'baby.' (We're somewhat accustomed to 'going with the flow' in these types of situations.) When we were heading out the door of the restaurant she shoved a mint in our mouths and waved good-bye. I'd love to see someone try that in Canada! ;)
We are in the midst of some pretty stressful parent-teacher interviews. These parents are paying quite a bit of money for the child's education so they are VERY interested in who we are, what we look like (especially), and how their child is doing. We teach so many different kids right now that we're simply trying to remember who the kids are and match the faces with the names.
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