Crutches in Korea.

This weekend I was supposed to go to Gyeongju with Adventure Korea for one last trip with the tour company. However, yesterday I fell over and damaged a ligament near my ankle. I am currently on crutches. Considering how clumsy I am it was bound to happen eventually. The bonus of it happening here is that I get an amusing story to go with it, and I got to see that the kids are as attached to me as I am to them.

I met up with Viro after my adult class in the morning and we went to our new favourite café-Canmore-home to freebies galore and some interesting décor. As we were leaving I was joking around on the stairs (penguin dance), when we got to the bottom I stepped awkwardly and went over on my ankle. I sat there panting on the floor for a while as Viro looked on helplessly-partly due to me screaming “Don’t touch me!” before continuing to pant. An impatient Korean woman walked past and gave us such a dirty look, despite the fact it was obvious that I was in pain. Viro took me to the nearest doctor who happened to be a paediatrician. She got to experience sweary in-pain Jo. The doctor told me I should get to a hospital, have an x-ray-and probably see a doctor for grown-ups. I didn't have my insurance card on me and I was pretty certain that I had just sprained it so I got a taxi home and packed a bag for the trip. But when I saw my ankle, it was very, very swollen, and tried to walk to my hagwon, I realised that it wasn't alright.

I asked Charlie (the Korean English teacher) if he could take me to the hospital, and we took a taxi there. Bizarrely in a country where the taxis beep you every five seconds it was weird how they all seemed to vanish when we needed one. The receptionists panicked when they saw me, but thankfully poor Charlie could translate. The doctors x-rayed it and found out my ligament is damaged. I am not entirely sure how, but looking at the x-ray my bone is being pushed out of place by the swelling. So now it's in a splint, bandaged up and I am on crutches. The hospital seems to still be under construction because I was placed in a room full of odds and sods, and everyone who walked past came to nose at the crazy foreigner, and her hilarious attempts to use crutches. A shot in the arse later, and I am on my slow way. We grabbed a taxi back to the hagwon, eventually-the sight of Charlie in the middle of an intersection sighing and yelling “taxi” and “진짜!” will hopefully never leave my memory bank!

We got back to the hagwon and I had to teach all day as well as cover Christina’s lessons for the second day in a row. This is despite the fact I was clearly a bit woozy from the pain medication, oh and unable to stand up! I didn’t mind the teaching so much as the fact I had another day of combined level classes, which I had to control from a chair. Christina took my prescription sheet and said that she would be back before I finished, of course she wasn't and so I have no medication even now! She rung me today to say she couldn't move (she couldn't move?!) and she will hopefully be round before midnight with my medication.

I am gutted that I couldn't go on the trip, as I won’t get another chance to go to Gyeongju and I have already written off plans to go to Jeju Island. Thankfully Killian has gone in my place and he will give me the money which is very handy as medical care isn’t free in Korea.

The kids were so concerned when they first saw me on crutches, even the older kids, it was so cute! Andy looked like he was about to cry and when I asked what was wrong he just pointed at my leg. I had to improvise, more than normal, as I was sat down the whole day. Normally I am so active in my classes, so it was a real challenge. Still I got a few giggles with “What’s in Teacher Jo’s bag?” “Oh a shoe!” In one class we needed to erase little white boards and I hadn't been able to buy tissue, so I just cut up the sock I had no use for! But my favourite moment was when the more advanced students tried to figure out the English name for “crutches” we had everything from fake legs to imitation legs (these kids know their words!) thrown about.

I have to go back to the hospital on Wednesday and hopefully by then the swelling will have gone done and I will be crutch free for the rest of my time here.

Randomness times 25.

I have stolen this idea from Facebook. It inspired me with a story I have been working on so I figured that I would do one about me too. It’s a list of 25 random things about all me. Indulge me and feel free to ask me questions about it.

1. I’ll be there for you…

I am so lucky that I have so many people that I can consider true friends, and I hope that I am the same to each them. I sincerely believe that friends are the family that you choose. Each and every friend I have has shaped and influenced me in a way I can’t begin to explain. From my taste in music, books, movies and rice infusion Pringles, to my self esteem (Jersey Street chats), to my eating habits and awesomeness, to my love for just meeting up for a chat, every friend that I have made so far has helped me grow and change in so many ways and I am so thankful to each of them.

2. For Reasons Unknown…

I have never had a relationship with a guy….ever. I am not having man drought, I am the bloody desert during the hottest part of the day. At the risk of sounding like a bad chick flick I just haven’t met the right person yet. To be sure, there are moments when I think “Bridget Jones step aside because I wouldn’t settle for either of those losers.” But continuing with the cliché theme, I know that I will meet someone eventually. Besides, I am not planning on becoming someone’s other half, I am happy being a whole. I will never be one of those girls who cries into her vodka and coke because she hates being single, because she is normally the first girl to dump all her friends the minute “the perfect guy” comes along. I hope I never feel the need to put a guy on a pedestal either. I find it sickening when someone describes their partner like they’re the best thing that ever graced the earth. No one is that bloody special.

3. Soul...

I am an atheist who gets pissed off when someone tells me they will pray for my soul and my sins. If someone wants to include me in their prayers of course I have no problem with this, it doesn’t hurt me in any way, but if someone tells me they will pray for my soul or for my sins I find this offensive. With one person in particular I always felt they were trying to insult me while taking the so-called “moral high ground.” I don’t ridicule your beliefs, don’t please feel the need to “pity” me.

4. Oops I did it again...

I was at the train station in Suwon a couple of weekends ago meeting some friends and I was thinking about my clumsiness as I sipped a coffee, and just as I was thinking about it I dropped the coffee all over the floor. You have never seen so many people stop what they were doing to see what was going on. There would have been some severely cricked necks the speed at which some of the heads turned. But as I sidled away, face redder than the Valentines hearts that adorn ever static object in Korea, I couldn’t help but marvel at my own clumsiness. I mean, give me a stretch of nothingness and I can trip over it!

5. Disease…

My name is Jo and I have a problem with alcohol. No, I am not a raging alcoholic, but in the past I drank too much and made some very foolish mistakes. Since I arrived in Korea, I can count the number of times I have had alcohol on my fingers. This isn’t going to turn into a confessional, suffice to say I hope that I have learnt from my mistakes, at last, and in the future I won’t get myself into anymore “stupid situations that don’t happen when sober.” But I am just surprised it took me so long to recognise that I have a problem.

6. I Am Who I Am….

… “and you can’t change me.” I don’t wear high heels, I don’t wear make up all the time, and I am very opinionated. None of that is going to change any time soon, and why should it?

7. You’re so fake, I bet you think this song is about you...

To me being fake is one of the worst personality traits you can possess. It’s so unnecessary and in many instances disrespectful, there’s just no need for it. To be sure, in the wise words of House “everybody lies” and I am no exception, but I am referring to people who are so over the top and insincere that they would be right at home on ANTM. Telling me that I look lovely when clearly I have just rolled out of bed, splashed water on my face and pulled on the least creased clothes will not score you brownie points. Finding everything from plain rice to eyeshadow “amazing” and “wonderful” will not endear you to anyone. Just be honest, and don’t act like you are trying out to be a porn star every time something new happens.

8. Mr Writer...

I love writing and the freedom it gives me, but while I crave for praise for my work, I am also wary of letting others see it. Like many people I can be my own worst critic, which is why this has already taken me over a week to get this far. I have been writing stories since I was teenager, and was embarrassed when my Mum told my English teacher, partly because I didn’t want to be told I wasn’t any good. I get inspiration for ideas at the most random times, and it usually has something to do with walking. One of the best compliments I have had was when someone told me I should be a travel writer, so thank you to that person.

9. Compliments...

This relates to point 7. I am not good at complimenting people, unless it’s coming direct from my heart. If someone is fishing for compliments-either by complimenting me first or putting themselves down I am no longer going to take the bait. Of course I will cheer someone up if they need it, but I am not one of those gushing girls who will validate the fact someone is feeling sorry for themselves. If you want unconditional love, buy a dog.

10. No Regrets…

Ok maybe one. I really wanted a First. I know that there is nobody to blame but myself. Don’t get me wrong, I learnt more from university than any book can teach me, but I put a lot of work into that degree and I came away with the same grade as seventy-five (yes I am making this figure up) percent of my fellow students, including the ones who thought the library was just another building on campus. I am very proud of my grade, but deep down I think I will always regret that I didn’t rock my final exams.

11. Talk…

I can talk, I can babble, I can ramble on until you have to tell me to shut up, but sometimes I am awkward, nervous and quiet. I love it when you know someone so well you don’t need to talk in their company, but the same time I am only truly open when I know I can trust someone.

12. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing…

I have forgotten so many details about my life, but I can recall the embarrassing moments with a clarity that would shame the HD Department at Samsung. This year I tried to keep a journal of my time here so I can remind myself that I was once this courageous and independent, and that I ate kimchi everyday, but as is so often the case when things become routine I stopped writing in it. If I forget someone’s name I am usually too self-conscious to ask them again. So much so that in my first term at university I had conversations with a girl and never knew her name.

13. Patience…

This year has dramatically increased my patience. Don’t get me wrong, I will never have the patience of a saint, but I have seen a great improvement in my ability to cope with stressful situations, and also to tackle a rather large language barrier. I will still occasionally be the one in the queue tapping my foot impatiently and rolling my eyes, but I am less likely to blow a fuse in under 60 seconds.

14. Keep the Right Profile…

Facebook….with all the evilness and addictiveness, and did I mention the evilness? I don’t even know what I do on it anymore, but I just know I spend far too much time on it. Sometimes I want to go on a rampage and cull half my friend list-“friends” from secondary school who have added me but not bothered to make contact or “friends” who are friends of friends. In some respects Facebook is good for me, because at times I am better at communicating through the written word rather than the spoken. However, will all its crappy applications and settings it’s just become another chore rather than a network for people to keep in touch.

15. The Alphabet Song…

I like the alphabet, some people use chronological order, but for me it’s the alphabet. My CDs and DVDs are organised alphabetically, I am really good at filing, and I have to fight an uncontrollable urge to re-arrange people’s media collections. I am a stickler for maintaining CDs and DVDs and I cringe when I see people leaving them lying around without a case.

16. She Moves in Her Own Way…

I can’t dance, I have the rhythm of a three legged giraffe. I can’t sing, I am more tone deaf a litter of cats in a sack. Furthermore, my train of thought is a lot like the Korean rail system-there are three speeds, three levels of comfort, and sometimes there are unexplained delays. Still at least it’s not like British Rail-otherwise I would never get anything done!

17. Don’t Get Me Wrong…

This is closely linked to point 2. I have a tendency to put up a barrier when guys try to chat me up. I come across as uninterested and arrogant, a “can’t touch this” look, which is not what I intend to portray. I am working on it. Give me just a little more time.

18. Girl on The Wing…

I was in the Air Cadets and I made it to the rank of Sergeant. I really enjoyed the activities that I got up to-from flying a plane (and panicking a lot when it moved slightly under my touch) to assault courses (with some funny “accidents” from being kicked in the face and splitting my lip, to falling and landing on the rocky bank of the river rather than in the river itself). I would have progressed further but I was unwilling to brown nose. But I made some great memories. I decided long ago that the military life was not the life for me, but I had a lot of fun pretending.

19. Second Hand Stores…

When it comes to shopping I work better alone. That’s not to say I don’t really enjoy going shopping with someone else, in fact sometimes I prefer it. But, I buy more things when I am on my own. I love browsing second hand book stores as they combine two of my favourite things-“cheap” “books.” I am an impulse buyer, but I don’t follow the latest fashions or trends.

20. Caring is Creepy.

I worry too much. If a loved one or close friend goes on a trip (car journey, holiday etc) I get paranoid that something terrible will happen to them, but I get paranoid as though thinking about it will stop a bad thing from happening. Yes, I know that it’s irrational and illogical, but I can’t switch it off.

21. Seaside…

I feel at home at the seaside and I can stare for hours off into the horizon. I can watch the waves and the path of the sun without ever feeling bored. I can even put up with the evilest sea gulls Brighton has to offer-unless they try and steal my chips!

22. In The Morning…

…My hair is a mess, (more so now I have a fringe), my brain definitely isn’t in gear, and if I haven’t slept well I am very grouchy. I tend to perk up very quickly though and once I am awake I can’t get back to sleep. I think that this year has screwed up my internal body clock because I used to be so much more productive in the mornings and now my brain is on overtime until 2am.

23. Listen…

I hope that I am a good listener, and if someone has a problem I will give them my undivided attention. However, if someone comes to me for advice and consistently ignores it I only have so much patience. I am constantly amazed by the rudeness and ignorance of some people, and this year has been a real eye-opener. “Hate to say I told you so…..”

24. I Miss You…..

…Yes you dear reader, I miss you. In an age where it’s easier to keep in touch than ever before emails gets neglected, responses get put on the backburner, and you realise you haven’t spoken to someone for 6 months. It’s a two way street though….so get in touch! I find it hard to email people when I don’t get any response, but I honestly try to reply when I do get an email.

25. Tell Me Ten Words….

Ok, I am turning it over to you, tell me something random you like/don’t like about me.

Viro and Jo Do Thailand.

One of the things I like about leaving South Korea to explore another Asian country is the feeling of familiarity and ease I experience when I come back. The latest time round that wasn’t the case. Partly because I spent the first 24 hours back in Korea vomiting and feeling very crap, and partly because I was aware of the unpredictability and annoyances I am going to face in my next three months. Mainly because of the vomiting though.

I went back to Bangkok for Lunar New Year-or Chinese New Year as it’s more commonly referred to-and this time I had a travel buddy in the form of the lovely Queen V. It was the last perfect “out of Korea” adventure to have before I make my trip to Incheon airport on 28th April 2009 and start my next adventure. And I am grateful I had such a good friend to share it with.

24 January.
Our journey began and ended in an icy, snow covered Hongseong, with a brief and fabulous interlude in hot and sunny Bangkok. Once we arrived at the airport we sorted out Viro’s re-entry visa-and took it nice and easy. Although I think it’s fair to say we were both day-dreaming away to the end of April when we would be back at Incheon with a lot more luggage. Our flight was with Korean Air whose questionable motto is “Excellence in Flight.” I should hope that this is the case for the pilots but as an airline I would give it a “Could Do Better in Flight” motto. For starters the in-flight entertainment did not include mini TVs for each passenger but a big screen per section which was barely visible if you were sat over 5 ft away from it. Normally I don’t find this an issue, but it’s a five and a half hour flight to Bangkok, and apparently I, like most people, don’t have the ability to sleep in an uncomfortable space when the flight attendants are making pointless announcements every 5 minutes. “Ladies and Gentlemen, for your information the sound system works and we will now make this announcement in two more languages. Thank you for flying with Korean Air.”

We arrived in Bangkok at 9pm and I was struck by how familiar everything was. It was as though I had an internal GPS for the city, it was slightly unnerving in a step aside Lonely Liar you have been usurped kind of way. We made our way to Khaosan Road and on to our guest house. Roof View Place was about 10 minutes from the atmosphere of KS Road but clean and friendly with comfy beds and an ensuite bathroom. There was annoyingly loud lovers tiff in the room next door at around 3am-which Viro quietened by banging on the wall, but apart from that it was a great place to rest our weary feet after a couple of long days of shopping!

25 January.
Aware that we only had a little bit of time in Thailand we got an early start and took a tuk-tuk to the weekend market. A ride in a tuk-tuk means that doing your hair in the morning is pointless and ensures that your face is caked in pollution faster than you can say “no stops.” But it’s definitely part of the Bangkok “experience” and since there was only two of us in the tuk-tuk I spent less time with my arse hanging out clinging on for dear life. The weekend market was as sprawling and overwhelming as I remember but I was quickly introduced to Viro’s inner shopper. We were more productive before midday than we have ever been in Korea.

We ate at Oh My Cod, the British café I frequented on my last visit-after 9 months of Korean food point me in the direction of a Cornish pasty, mushy peas and chips and I am happy. I am cheap date! After our fill of food and the BBC we asked a tuk-tuk driver to take us to a jewellery shop, but we quickly discovered that jewellery is cheaper in South Africa. Instead we did some sightseeing taking the tuk-tuk to the Golden Mount, and then we took a walk back to KS road for some more shopping. By this point we were developing a tag system of haggling-the best tactic being “It was …..Baht at the other stall.” After a cheap manicure we made the mistake of following the Lonely Planet in the quest for food, we ending up in a restaurant with three times more waiters than customers and dim lighting in an attempt to cover up an inability to complete orders. After my trips to Taiwan and Japan it was just nice to have company while I ate.

That evening we had a Thai massage. I think the last time I got one, with Sarah, we were being punished for the racket me made when we got the oil massage the previous night because this one was a lot less painful. It was still funny though, and I think the only way to go for a massage is to have someone you know in the cubicle next door. After explaining that we were teaching in Korea Viro was told”잠깐 만요” which means wait a minute. It was a nice feeling being in a different country and being spoken to in Korean and understanding what was being said. Well it was for me anyway!

26 January.
We had a later start to this day, and following a full English breakfast (I am all for experiencing other cultures foods!) we got ourselves trapped with the most annoying tuk-tuk driver in Bangkok. Imagine the most annoying person you know and then imagine them driving you around in a vehicle made from scraps, and refusing to accept payment because they want free petrol coupons, and then imagine an hour with them. We just wanted to go to the shopping malls of Siam Square, but we ended up on a motorway switching tuk-tuks and being asked “one stop?” We had already been to two, so a sharp “No” saw us taken to a shopping mall, and then being ripped off for a journey that should have only taken 15 minutes. Word to the wise, just take one journey for the experience and then take taxis ok!

MBK was an awesome shopping mall, with tons of shops and handicraft stalls. Oh, and air conditioning which is always nice. We stayed there for about three hours and we definitely got more than our money’s worth. We then explored the shops of Siam Square as we made our way to Erawan Shrine to see some traditional Thai dancing. After the tuk-tuk ride that blighted our morning we took a taxi to the Suan Lum Night Bazaar for some more shopping. One reason why I probably couldn’t teach in Thailand-all my money would go straight after I got paid. I was more than happy to watch Viro work her magic, occasionally nagging her to buy more for herself.

For dinner, we had some more Thai Food near KS Road, and decided that Thai Food isn’t anything to write home about, though maybe there is space for it on the blog. It’s not the best cuisine in the world, but it’s probably not the worst either. The best thing about sitting outdoors, aside from inhaling all kinds of fumes from the traffic, was that it allowed us to people watch and by people I mean lady-boys! Bangkok attracts all kinds of travellers, from the young to the old, and from the backpackers to the retired couples. And all of them wear the same clothes, brought off the streets of Bangkok.

After we ate we made our way to a different massage place on the same street as our guest house and we each had an oil massage. Since I spent my last oil massage giggling like an 8 year old who has just discovered that you can write “80085” on a calculator I was interested to see if this would be any different. It wasn’t and the calculator wasn’t wrong either. Me and Viro were once again in neighbouring cubicles and the curtains were strategically placed so we could chat and make sure the other was still awake. Viro’s masseuse mistook sighs of contentment for sighs of pain and switched to “soft-soft” mode, while mine gave my chest area “special treatment.” It wasn’t until afterwards we realised that Viro didn’t get the same attention, and she wasn’t best pleased.

27 January.

The previous night we planned our last day in Bangkok. When we woke up we made an executive decision to just take a taxi to the airport. This gave us more time to begin the sightseeing portion of our trip in earnest. We went to the Grand Palace and took loads of pictures, the buildings were as intricate and beautiful as I remembered. This time round I got to see the Emerald Buddha too, all dressed up in his winter outfit and in an incredibly stunning hall, with elaborate paintings on the wall. Then we took a walk to the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho. On the way numerous tuk-tuk drivers tried to dissuade us telling us it was closed. If this happens to you just ignore it, 9 times out of 10 they are lying because they want to take you for a ride both literally and figuratively. I have four words to describe the Reclining Buddha-very big and shiny. Suffice to say he’s very laid back. Groan.

In a bid to incorporate all the famous types of transport in Bangkok we took a river ferry to the Central Pier. The excessive number of people was explained by the fact it was so cheap. Only love could explain why a middle aged woman on crutches was on the ferry. We made our way to the Sri Mariamman Temple, a Hindu temple built by Tamil immigrants in the 1860s. As the Lonely Planet says “Thai Buddhism still honours its mother religion of Hinduism.” We then had the best meal of the holiday in a restaurant down the street, mutton Biryani. Though in reality it just a precursor for when I visit Viro in South Africa. We took a taxi back to KS road for some more, very chilled out shopping and then made out way to the airport with a lot more than we started with and with some great memories too. The less said about the 28th January the better.

Cheers for the awesomeness Viro! It was more legendary than I was expecting!

You Guessed It-Schedule Woes.

Well Christina has excelled herself this time, no doubt about that. My next entry was going to be about the fabulous time I had with Viro in Thailand, but I need to get this out my system first so bear with me. I looked back through my blog the other day and I know most of my time here has been blighted by schedule changes. But honestly I am surprised Christina bothers to put anything to paper, since before the ink has dried it is being changed to suit her. At least that’s the conclusion I am drawing, having not been told anything to the contrary.

Aside from the split in my day between the adult class and the children classes I was enjoying the lessons and I like most of my students. In all truthfulness I think this is the best bunch of kids I have taught so far, and aside from the fact I have to drag myself out of bed to teach them in the morning I like the adult students too. Only one class is a chore, and that’s because the girls in it are so quiet you can hear a pin drop from Japan. But, as has been the case here too many times, just when I get into a routine the carpet is pulled out from under me and I am left lying on a bed of useless lessons plans and straddling a gap wider than the space between Christina’s ears.

Although I know hagwon schedules are dependent on demand, pushy mothers and the Korean public school calendar, I don’t know anyone who has had to undergo the same number of adjustments and last minutes frustrations as I have faced here. I think that it would be a lot easier to deal with if I was given some kind of explanation now and again, never mind a warning. Even with a schedule Christina teaches her classes to her own time zone, which essentially involves running over my into my class time and expecting me to combine two different levels and age groups into one class. I gave up politely reminding her what the time was and used the time “researching” on the BBC website and messaging on facebook. Despite the fact she is the manager she literally comes in to teach her classes and then disappears faster than you can say-“Would it be possible to have a staff meeting so we can discuss the students and the schedule?”

Although it’s been chopped and changed today’s schedule is pretty indicative of what occurred in January. (This is largely just for my own memories so feel free to skip it!)

10-11 Adult Class. This early morning (for me) class consists of three ladies in their early to late thirties, plus one intermittent guest who shows up when the others blackmail her. They all have a fantastic grasp of the English language although one only talks using idioms and random phrases. This is where my poor teaching skills are apparent. For the most part I understand what they are saying and trying to convey which make it’s difficult for me to correct them. But through this class I am given a small insight into some Korean customs, including those surrounding Lunar New Year. Worryingly one of students is absent at least once a week because she gets so drunk the previous night “she has a blackout” and can’t remember what she had did. After this class I head back home until around 1.40 when I head back into the hagwon for the classes with the children.


2.20-3.10 Beginners. See the picture above. Five of the cutest kids in Hongseong (sure I am biased. I still haven’t met Henry!). Jenny (the blur-she is camera shy), Jullea (“Hello, Miss Jo”), Cindy, and the twins Alice and Diane. I am supposed to spend 50 minutes teaching them what’s on a random collection of flashcards-which would be as much fun as pulling teeth with a blunt tooth pick. Instead I am teaching them how to ask and answer simple questions. Can you….? Are you…..? Do you……? And so on. Despite the fact she knows all the answers left, right and centre Jenny is very patient and understands that she should let the others answer too-she’s the youngest in the class and she’s my little star.

3.10-4.00. Basic Speaking. Ann, Lita (yes really and no explanations that her name sounds like a measurement of liquid will persuade her otherwise) and Sarah (the opposite of Jenny and as such my least favourite child). This is the most frustrating class, mainly because Lita makes everything an uphill struggle. She is one of the family of five siblings, the rest of which are a joy to teach…but hopefully she will grow out of it.



4.00-4.50. Intermediate One. Andy, Jinny and Sally. See above. I have not been consulted about any of my students and their abilities, if I had been I would have suggested Andy is too weak for this class. A factor not helped by the fact Jinny (or Rachel as she was called at New Briton) can be a little bully. Looking at my new schedule it looks like this has been taken into consideration which should mean less tears of frustration from the poor chap. Sally is the reason I love teaching because she has such a thirst for English and a real desire to learn.

4.50-5.40. Intermediate Two. Yun Seob, Sonia, and May. Yun Seob is the first student I have had who doesn’t want an English name, which is perfectly fair enough. A bigger concern came when it appeared that he didn’t like anything….at all.
Me: Yun Seob, do you like music?
YS: No.
Me: Really? Why?
YS: Just.
But after a couple of weeks he warmed to me and I can even coax coherent sentences out of him. Sonia and May work well together, (see below) and make every lesson a good laugh. This is the one class where there is not even the pretence of a book yet with these kids 50 minutes flies by.


7.10-7.40. Intermediate Three. Branden, Tom, Jun and Angela. It annoys me that the time with my best class is so short-sometimes Christina overruns so much I only get 10 minutes with them-other times I have to combine their class with the Middle School one. They have the best English ability, and since Angela was put in this class-after 2 quiet weeks in the Middle School one- everyday has been an eye-opener. I am just working on their sentence formation at the moment, but they are a very bright bunch-although Branden is imitating my sarcasm-which can only be a bad thing!

7.40-8.30. Middle School-Park Gun, Seok Jae, Jae. My main job with these boys is getting them to talk-they all know lots of English words, but when it comes to expressing themselves they are a lot weaker. They also think they can cheat when we play “Hot Seat” by talking in Korean. Awww bless.

But as of tomorrow this all change, and the only reason I know this is because I happened to spot an altered timetable over Charlie’s shoulder. During my break between lessons I sit in the main room planning the lessons for the next day. This is made apparent by the books around me (it’s not like I am trying to learn English from them) and the fact that when the kids crowd around me and ask me what I am doing I respond “Jo Teacher is planning lessons for tomorrow.” It would have taken less than ten seconds for Christina to say “tomorrow, new schedule” but that would have been too easy. It appears that I will no longer be teaching either the beginner class or the middle school one. But crucially my first class (after the adult one) won’t start until 4.50-so if I hadn’t noticed the new schedule I would have gone in at 1.40 for no good reason. I think the reason Christina didn’t tell me anything is because I will be finishing at 9.20-which is something I have been fighting since the first draft of the schedule 2000 drafts ago.

The truth of the matter is 3 months ago I would have been more pissed off than a kimchi farmer after a bad harvest but now I am just blah. Aside from the impending knackeredness my biggest gripe about finishing so late is it means I won’t see anyone on a school night. I don’t get the pleasure of a lie in and I give it two days before the schedule is changed again due to the warm, wet, westerly winds. Writing this blog entry I realise I will be very sad to say goodbye to all the kids, and of course I am glad I will have the kids to say goodbye to. But looking at my calendar I am just relieved that there are only 12 more weeks until I am one that plane home.