I made it through another month and another week. I only have 8 weeks left! Possibly 7. I'll have to make up my mind very soon on whether I want to leave a week early or just use a week in February for my vacation. I kinda wanted to stay till the end, but I could finish everything up a week early. I have plenty of time in class to double up on lessons if I need to. The last week in February I really wouldn't be teaching anything anyway. decisions. decisions. I know what decision my mom would make if it were up to her!
Current Temp (im writing this on Jan 1st): 10 degrees
Exchange: 1172 krw = 1 usd
I got up early today to go get my passport renewed. I hated getting up at 9am esp. when I was still awake at 3am.
I finally finished my book which is one of the reasons I was still awake. I was so close to finishing it and I just had to stay up and finish. I wanted to know what happened.
I got out in the cold and caught 2 different buses to get to the American Embassy. When I got there I had to show my ID and they took away my cell phone because you can't have it once you are inside the embassy. My pocketbook was put through the machine-like what they have at airports to see the contents. They also had a metal detector. Lots of security. I go in and get my number and wait for my turn 16 people were ahead of me. I finally get up to the window and the woman tells me my passport photo is too small. I told her that I asked for a passport photo when I got it took. She said it was the size of a korean passport photo. Why in the heck would the guy at E-mart give me Korean passport photos? Do I look Korean? So she told me where I could get passport photos taken near the Embassy. So I had to leave and go take my photo. The photos costed 6,000 won at a photo booth at a building near the Embassy. Then I had to go back and wait in line again. I gave them all my documents and paid my fee. I signed up for a courier service to deliver my passport to the school. Then I headed out and got a bus back to my place.
I got home just in time to fix my hair and put on my makeup and head out the door and go to school.
My first class was good. Today we had our writing test. a few people told me they didn't study. I told them we always have a writing test at the end of the month. I gave them some time to study. Then we read an article from the newspaper and answered questions about the article. Then I gave them some free time. They all did pretty good on the test. The new girl didn't do too good on the test, but I realized that she had only attended one writing class. I'm not going to count her grade this month. One student was absent so I only have one makeup test to get.
My 2nd class was pretty good. I gave them their quiz on the newspaper articles we read on Tuesday. The boys just treat it like its a joke and guess on every question. thats why they make a 50 on it. The girl actually made a 90. The grade on the quiz doesn't count towards their grade in the class. I just give it to see if they were paying attention in class. Then we took our writing test. They did pretty good but they dont follow directions very well. I know they don't study for the tests. I offered to give them time to study but no one wanted to. One of the guys who is always talking during class actually made a 91. One of the boys was excited to make a 64. Then we read one more article from the newspaper. They kept asking for stickers. I told them if they would be quiet and read that I'd give them a sticker. 3 of the boys were playing on their cellphones so I didn't give them one. They were the ones who were begging for stickers.
My 3rd class was good. When I came in they asked if they could have the whole class as free time because it was the last day of the year. I said no. Today was our newspaper class. I prepared 4 articles. We usually listen, read and answer questions. They dont want to listen and read so I just let them read. They go around the room and everyone reads one sentence. Today's topics were hedgehogs, The princess and the frog, dancing traffic cop, and foot binding. They were all surprised by the foot binding photo that I chose to show them. It was kinda graphic but I wanted them to see what happened. Then I gave them some free time. They were looking at my laptop asking me about a picture of my dog. Then I showed them a picture of Candace so they could see my sister. They said we looked the same. Then they wanted to know if I had any pictures of when I was a child. I did. They liked those. They were looking at other pictures I had on my computer also.
here's the picture of foot binding:
My last class was good. When I came in the boy was talking to me in Korean. Then they wanted to know if I knew any Korean. I told them what I knew then they want me to say words that they wrote on the board. They were putting curse words on the board. I wouldn't say some of them because I knew what the word meant. They try to get me to say other things. I have to get them to say it really slow. They make it sound effortless, but to me its difficult! Then we took our newspaper test and writing test. They keep asking me for hints so I help them out and show them examples of things that are on the test. One student made 100 on the test.
My school was not even going to tell me that we had to switch to morning schedule on Monday. I knew we were going to switch times, but I wanted someone to actually care enough to let me know. It would have been funny if I didn't show up at 9am on Monday morning. I could totally say "no one told me". I'll have to make sure I get a schedule on Monday because they didn't give me one. Koreans put everything off till the last minute. They are expert procrastinators. They just let it slip their mind that they should tell their teacher that "hey you need to be here at 9 on Monday". Am I suppose to be psychic and just know. I actually had to ask them if we were switching to morning. Then all of a sudden while I'm about to head out the door the Korean teacher remembers to remind me that I have to be there at 9am on Monday.
I really wanted to go out for New Year's Eve. There's a huge celebration in Seoul, but I decided not to go. I didn't feel like being out in the 14 degree weather. They estimated that 150,000 people were there. A lot of people didn't mind the cold. I can't stand the cold. The chilly air is back. My face feels like it will freeze and thats one part that I can't cover up. I can put on tons of layers but I can't cover my face. I just stayed at home where it was warm. It was my last chance to celebrate the New year in Korea, but its just way too cold!!!
My friend, Lesley, is leaving next Saturday. She wants to meet tomorrow for her going away shindig. I don't know who else will be meeting with us but I know she invited our Korean teacher. When she is gone, I'll be on my own for my last 7 weeks.
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