Mixed bag of Thoughts

Yesterday the lost sailors of the Cheonan were laid to rest in a military funeral. On the several occasions I've eaten out over the past month the Cheonan was nearly the only thing on restaurant TV's. There have been strong reactions throughout the country... many critical of the government's reaction, salvage operation, and dissemination of details. The country's tone changed as more details were released, and it becomes more apparent that an external event (likely a torpedo) caused the ship to go down. It seems this is a delicate topic, but the country is united by it. From the local English papers I read, it sounds like the sentiment is to not forget the incident but lay it to rest and approach the enemy economically and internationally. The economy looks bright, the currency is climbing, and I don't think young men would like to go to war at this time against this threat.

Tonight we have a staff dinner for Teacher's Day. We'll eat raw trout salad... same as last year. I don't think the atmosphere will be right to ask their opinions about the event mentioned above... or speculate on what is to come. But I'd like to.

In the background I've been reading 1984, and have begun "Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader, North Korea And The Kim Dynasty." The books are frighteningly complementary.

Homework Assignment

I assigned the adult/parents class homework. They are to bring in a picture. Being a diverse group of people, as far as Korean diversity goes, I'm looking forward to see what will be presented. I hope to see some old photographs... photos from 30's- or 40's. Of course even pictures from the 60's may be interesting.

Who is it?

"He was the country's leading novelist, philosopher, historian, educator, designer, literary crtic, architect, industrial management specialist, general, table tennis trainer, and agriculture experimenter...." Legends say, "He was a guerrilla general astride a white horse, carrying an enoumous sword, cutting a big tree down as if slicing soft bean curd." Another legend said, "He walked on water, turned grains of sand into rice, and crossed a large river riding on fallen leaves."

Who is it?

Qualities of the Ideal Man, and Woman

I have been wanting to do some classes on the Korean perceptions of the ideal man and woman. I would have liked to explore the sources of these perceptions, and what effects these have on us. In a little over my head.

I hatched the topic in parents class today, as the lesson was on eliciting responses, expressing opinion, agreement, and disagreement. "In your opinion, what are the ideal qualities of a man?"

Rich, tall, smart, generous, has hair, strong

......

and of a woman?"

Tall, skinny, charming, pretty, sexy, good manners, nice smile

I brought this topic to the 5th and 6th grade advanced class. They had similar, but more detailed sketches. "Man" should be a little bad, funny, stylish, smart, handsome, rich, good manners, nice smile, have hair, not fat. "Woman" should be 40-45 Kg and 170cm, pretty, big eyes, long hair, rich, have good family, good cook, stylish, wear high heals, nice teeth, long legs, kind, smart, and have light hair.

We didn't get to talk about sources of these perceptions, but it was still interesting.

Worth Mentioning

John and Angela took my co-teacher and I out to lunch last Wednesday. Those are the English names adopted by two of the students in our parents class. John is 64, and his sister Angela I'd say is in her early 50's. John is a retired police officer, and Angela is an avid golfer. She missed class last Monday because she hit her first hole in one. Not bad for a girl in her 50's. I get a little anxiety before these occasions because of cultural barriers, language barriers, and in this case generation barriers. Never quite sure how, or if, the awkward moments will fade into exchanges of pleasantry, information, ideas, and/or opinion. My co-teacher did a fair bit of translation. However, I tried to speak in simple English, and understand the Korean that was said.

John is of particular interest to me. He is at every class, always early. He brings an electronic dictionary, takes notes, and reads the handouts ahead of time. He pays attention, but doesn't understand everything. He has shown some improvement since last semester. Namely, more relaxed when trying to communicate. I know from class he likes hunting, fishing, and I've seen him at least once walking for exercise with his wife in the evening.

So seniors are of interest to me partly through my work experience, challenges/opportunities forthcoming related to US demographics, and my own "poor old mother and father."

I asked if his peers, including those he retired public sector with, are as happy as he?

He gave an emphatic no. He sited his hobbies stating the seasons he does each one. Then pointed out they were year round. He then mentioned he's also taking Japanese, and has only studied English for 2 years. I asked what his peers do, and he said watch TV. I believe he has grandchildren who are school aged... but he only talked about them once last semester.

So, it was a nice lunch and we manged to communicate. He extended an invite to his house sometime in the future for dinner.

Portraits w/ 270mm Lens

Bingo: Regulation Vs Laissez-faire

Now we are playing Bingo frequently. The kids write out words, or letter digraphs, to fill in their Bingo cards. The students enjoy Bingo something fierce. I call the word and the kids navigate the groups of unfamiliar letters till they find what they are looking for. Now and again i'm faced with a dilemma. Do I fix the games so that a student of my choice will win?

Example. "Jinny" is a 3,4 B student. She is tiny, maybe meek, and I don't think i've heard a sound come out of her since she joined our class a few weeks ago. Not a single sound. I scanned her bingo card and decided i'd interfere. I called the word that would give her BINGO, and there was no sound. I waited... waited... waited some more... and then the girls next to her got excited, "Say Bingo! Say Bingo!" It was too much for meek "Jinny" to bear, so she stared crying. Then a couple of the less meek girls got angry because this other girl won... this only magnified the negatively charged emotions for "Jinny" who was now sinking down into the corner in which she sat.. and cried more.

It is anecdotal to the other times i've thrown (fixed) a game of musical chairs, or hot potato... More often than not i think I do more harm than good.

Objects & People

"Teacher, teacher. Play Seetcom. Seetcom. AFV. Sheetcom.

You know, hahahahahahahaha, sheetcom."

Oh, America's Funniest Videos.

Koreans enjoy physical comedy.

They can have a good laugh.

They really enjoy comedy.

The kids like America's Funniest Home Videos.

It's dangerous teaching in ROK public elementary schools.

"Did he say, 'Clean up. Clean up. Everybody clean up.

Time to put your things away.' This means time for class."

You've just won a new washer!!!! "Aaaasah!"

Preparing the students for better futures.

Doing some shopping before class.

Just because it is a fake mango doesn't mean they won't

eat it.

She is barely taller than my desk.

Google; US Dollar to the Korean Won in the background.

Keeping track of things.

Trying to decide if playing the puzzle is fun.

Great glasses. Should see them in color.

Pencil sharpener and air freshener in the background.

Kids love the air freshener.

A sofa back that has caved into the demands of children climbing

on it, jumping off it, or sitting on it.

Milk for my coffee.

Dark hallways, and then there is the orange, yellow, and green

of the English center.

Pull up bars.

Is it a cannon? No, it's the dip bars.

A rusty lock.

A nice blue roof that is uneven like the swings.

47 layers of yellow paint.

Guarding our English Library

A collection of pencils and erasers standing ready.

Today's Menu

Lunch in the school cafeteria.

Lunch before it gets to my tray. The proper response is

something like, "Maush-ee-ket-osoyo"

Spicy soup from the Chinese Restaurant near the school.

Aftermath. Part 1...