School, Weather, Albert in China

It is regrettable that I can't post to my blog during the week. I will mention something of school, of weather, and add a few pictures from hiking.

The school year ends next week. I won't get a break because we will continue English classes. This will be my last week of classes with my current students. They have made progress in English, and I have made progress in teaching. There is a little more rhythm during class, more participating, and my patience/tolerance is improving. I look forward to starting the new year. I have a better outline and vision for what I want to accomplish. The administration wants dialogues and use of the English 'lab.' We will do modules on "My Family and Me," "Around Town," "Doctor's Office," "Sports, Leisure, and Entertainment," "Travel," "Time, Seasons, and Weather"... and more.

I thought Spring was setting in when it rained all day. Then two days later it was below freezing. Everyone says that you can't predict the weather here because it is so variable.

I believe my fraternity little brother, Albert Marinas, just started his contract teaching English at a Chinese University. He came to the US from Cuba at 19, joined the Marines not knowing English, but was lead to believe that military service would expedite the citizenship process. Now he is teaching English in China.

Dodge Ball

My blog is now blocked from work. Updates may come more slowly, or irregularly. The Korean school calender is somewhat, or completely different than the American. March begins the new school year.

I have three types of students. The shy students who are little more than ghosts. Some have made progress at the cost of time to the rest of the class. Then, there are students who are a delight to be around. They focus on lessons, participate, and help to get the whole class involved. Finally there are those who are wild Indians. I mean no offense to Indians, or to my students. Indians jumping off chairs, running around, violating personal space, committing battery against the teacher.

A typical class starts by posing a question and throwing a 10 inch yellow ball. "What's your name?" Then a student catches and responds. Then a lesson follows. Inevitably, it isn't long before students ask for a game. I use games avidly to reinforce, incentivize, and to pass the time. I implement point systems to get students to take greater interest. I also confer titles, which has raised the level of competition... "Simon Says Champion Felix."

On a few occasions I have entered the class and the students had taken it upon themselves to play 피구, or pigu, with the class ball. Pigu is dodge ball and it is not a game but a sport. There is strategy and the girls compete as hard as the boys. In some cases the girls may be faster and more agile with better strategy. Though, one strong throwing arm can be the difference. I had to ban the game when I noticed the walls were getting dirty.

A small but lively festival occurred in a parcel park placed in the middle of rice fields. I saw a few of my students with their families even though Hwasan Elementary School is on the other end of town. As usual people get a little startled when they turn around and see a Westerner standing behind them. Their looks of surprise and curiosity is yet to get old. Kids and adults flew old fashioned kites and played a game of balance using a seesaw as a spring board.

American Embassy Seoul

I would have taken pictures of the American Embassy in Seoul, but it wasn't much to look at. Then there was also the factor of Korean police surrounding the building with their clubs out. I thought it best not to be standing near police lines lingering and taking pictures. I cleared security and entered the 'compound' crossed an inner parking lot and into the main building. Inside it felt, and looked much like a tax collector's office, or autotag agency. I took a number '125' and filled out my forms while I waited to renew my passport.

The man behind the window reminded me of a typical quirky post office employee. Nice enough, makes small talk eagerly, but seemed to be smarter than he put on. A young Korean-American woman was just ahead of me and I overheard her business. She had passed the Barr exam in Massachusetts, and New York, having graduated from BU law school. She was being sworn into the Massachusetts Barr by the quirky employee. The quirky employee happened to mention he practiced law in New Orleans, but left 4 years ago. He said he wanted to see the world and now he worked behind bullet proof glass in Seoul. The young woman, in her mid-late twenties, volunteered that she wanted to work in Seoul but had not found a firm yet. She seemed confident that she would find work, I expect she is right. The oaths she took were interesting, and she seemed sincere/proud to be taking them.

I wrapped up my business and asked if there was a Diplomatic Courier post at the Embassy, I knew there was. The woman behind the window seemed baffled by this question. I had to explain my dad was a courier for ten years. Then I added this was over 40 years ago. She seemed more baffled. I said I wanted to introduce myself and say hello. She seemed more baffled. She asked if I wanted to apply for a job. I said no, but regretted that answer. She disappeared and came back with a phone number to call, and said they are in a different building... clearly she didn't want anything to do with this.