New Semester Brings Lots of Changes at Milju in Miryang

Well it's been a long time since I've written and I have so much to share with everyone. Let me first start by saying how wonderful it was to have Flo come out here and spend her 2 week vacation with me. We really did have a magical, fun, and adventurous time together. It was fun to be able to show her around my town, go to my school, play volleyball with all the teachers ("nice bodyline" they would say to Flo), go hiking, singing in Nore Bang (Karaoke Room), bowling, etc. Two things Flo forgot to mention was going to Bugok Hawaii, a "beautiful" (kinda old) resort area that contains many bubbling hot natural springs. The water here is so therapeutic and rich in minerals, that I could feel the smoothness of the minerals on my skin the second I dipped my hand in. It felt like soaking in an Epsom Salt hot bath. We enjoyed the amenities of the indoor/outdoor co-ed Jungle Spa sauna where we enjoyed the lush surroundings of bamboo tree, palm trees, etc. We saw part of the acrobatic dance show and enjoyed a delicious pork BBQ dinner.
The other exciting thing I took Flo to was Dr. Fish (fishee in Konglish). This is a place at Home Plus (Target type store) where you can dip your feet in one of three different pools that contain these "very hungry" silver fish that will nibble at your feet, ankles, toes, EVERYWHERE!!!! After 20 minutes of getting this constant tickling sensation, you dry your feet off and enjoy your pristine, dead-skin free feet (the fish supposedly eat the dead skin off your feet). This is a wild experience only to be found in Korea as far as I know. Flo was brave, and made it though 20 minutes worth (we went twice b/c we didn't bring the camera the first time hehe).

2008 School Semester Update:

So now that the New School Year started on March 3rd, there has been lots & lots of changes since we broke for winter break back in December. First of all my main co-teacher, Sunny, who was responsible for picking me up, getting me settled in with a cell phone, bank account, etc. got transferred to another school. There is a law in Korea which prevents teachers from staying at any one school for more than 5 years. This caused a great deal of shuffling amongst many teachers & administrators. The vice-principal left (he got promoted to Principal at another school). The 1st Grade teacher got switched to the 6th Grade, while the other 1st Grade teacher (Moonlight) left Korea, sold her house, took her two young boys, and her husband and moved to China! She got hired to teach English at a school in China. Moonlight had been at Milju Elementary for 5 years and had to switch schools, so she took this opportunity to transfer her & her entire family to China. This is the typical, last minute, running around routine that is very common in Korea. I didn't know who my new co-teacher would be until one week before the semester. Mintzi taught 4th Grade last year, and is now the full-time English teacher with me. And since the gym teacher married the 6th Grade teacher, they both couldn't stay at Milju because there is a rule (whether unwritten or not) that "says" a married couple can't teach/work at the same school; so she transferred to another school down the road. But the craziest off season move (in my opinion) was the Music teacher (a very talented, musically gifted woman) who was asked (told/forced) to become the Science teacher. Can you believe that?? To go from teaching music, (a very creative, right-brained, artsy, imaginative, feeling based subject) to Science (a very left-brained, a very logical, detailed oriented, fact-based subject) seems complete wild, extreme, and unfathomable. They are at two completely different ends of the spectrum!! But this is the way it works at all elementary schools here. Any teacher is (should be) qualified to teach any subject and any grade level. My co-teacher now, had no idea that she was going to selected to teach English with me and she was surprised when they picked her b/c she felt that her English wasn't that strong. This is what I find so remarkable about these Koreans. They are so creative & resourceful, and willing to jump right in and help out wherever needed. For example did you know that a few years back when the Korean government was in a financial crisis, the Korean citizens VOLUNTARILY collected money to donate & give to help out the government. Can you believe that?? This is the strong, patriotic, nationalistic fervor many Koreans are proud to live by. Also during the 2005 APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Conf) the city Busan asked the citizens to please refrain from driving their cars on alternating days. They used an odd/even system based on people's license plate; WOW!!!

There are definitely a few things I had to get used to as the new semester started in March (new school year for Koreans). The 6th graders from last have graduated and are down the block at the Middle School where Ken (English teacher from Liverpool) tells me kids are well behaved & good in class, speak English well, etc. But he says the only problem with my kids are that they are ALWAYS asking for candy: "Teacha, teacha, candy please!" I can't imagine why they would say that....ooops ooops, sorry Ken. I guess I spoiled them a little too much during my first 6 months here.
Let's see, what other changes can I tell you about....Oh yes, how can I forget one of the most exciting changes (at least for me anyway) is that we got NEW silver metal lunch trays in the cafeteria. What's really exciting is that these new trays have SIX slots for food whereas the old one only had FIVE slots!!! I'm telling you, that was one of the biggest highlights of the new semester. And extra serving of some yummy, savory, Korean dish for me to enjoy each day! Yippee!! I'm proud to say that I'm still wiping my tray clean each day when it comes to school lunches.
The 3rd graders (2nd graders from last year) are now being introduced to English for the first in their public school careers, and needless to say, it's a real trip!! So so basic, simple stupid stuff like: "Hello Zeeto, Hi Julie" "Bye-bye Minsu, good bye Mina" Lots of cute little songs and chants to keep the kids attention. The basic goal in 3rd & 4th grade is to get these kids EXCITED to learn English. And from the looks (reactions) of my children, I'd say I'm accomplishing that task quite successfully. Like another English teacher said, "I can't believe they pay me for doing this!" Karri from Canada says the secret to teaching elementary school, is to not be embarrassed to act like a little (a big) kid. To jump up & down, making funny faces, gestures, body postures, etc. the wilder, the sillier, the better. I can't agree more with Karri; 3rd & 4th grade kids are my absolute FAVORITE grades because I feel totally at peace, comfortable, and fully self-expressed and in my element with these students. They are so young, impressionable and are so pure & innocent. They are has concerned about "looking good" as the 5th & 6th graders are. Because of my experience here in Korea & the time I spent substituting in NJ, I have decided I want to obtain y Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education (K-6). This is shocking for me to actually want to go into elementary education b/c of my horrific experience back home. My very day substituting was a nightmarish, experience. These wild, little, crazy 8 year old 3rd graders ran me ragged for the entire day. I was so shell shocked, that I began to wonder whether I was getting my "payback" (paying my karma) for all the many times times I spent torturing my substitute teachers when I was in school.
But now that I've been working work young elementary kids for so long, I really feel as if I am finally finding my calling in life. It's just so clear to me that this is what I'm here for. I'm finally discovering the gifts the God has given me, and am open cultivating the gifts that God has blessed me with.
The expereinces that I incur everyday at school are a true miracle, blessing, and treat for me. Everything from from the kids yelling my name, saying hello to me from the classroom windows, to having one boy grab my hand, hug me, and jump into my arms, wrapping his arms around me while he is suspended in mid air. Today I had several students come to my desk and say: "Darren, teacher, I love you". They don't really know what it means, but it's nice to hear. Than, last week I had a young lil 2nd grader, smile at me, say hello, and then stick his MIDDLE FINGER in the air at me!!! I smiled back, a bit in shock, and said "Don't do that!!" (haji ma!!! in Korean) I just had to walk away shaking my head & smiling at just what had happened. You definitely can't take things too seriously when dealing with these kids, esp when they have no idea what it means, and are just copying what they see on TV.

I'm also excited to report that because of this new dance move that I've been mimicking from one of the hot new Korean pop bands, I've gained even more increased fame & popularity, esp. among the girls. The song is called, "Baby one more time" by Jewelry and they do this one move move where you wave your right arm up and over towards your left and until your two index fingers touch. I'm getting many requests from my students asking me to sing this song & do the little dance move. It works really well after we finish the "Head, shoulders, knees, and toes" song. They all put their hands over their mouths and gigglein awe. It really doesn't take much to impress Koreans (esp the kids).