October 19th marks 3rd month in Anyang

So it's been three months!!! Horrahhhhh haha

Honest to God, I thought time would go by a lot slower but really...time flies by when you are teaching. Can you believe it's HALLOWEEN?!?! Teachers are still mean right now hahaha...if you missed the teacher not-funny joke, the saying goes, "Be mean 'til Halloween". This is based on the assumption that if you are strict enough and able to keep the kids in a regimented routine until this time...the kids will obey your every word and command. I must say, this is only true for 12 per cent of classes...and that statistics...I made up.

But yeah, back to the point.

We are already planning for Halloween and the decor in the front foyer is superb. I will have more photos up shortly. I meant to take photos of the walls and things hanging from the ceilings but my kids were dancing and singing to Mamma Mia and well...here I go again...

OKAY...the video upload is not working.
If you know why it's taking so long to upload, let me know okay?

Anyway...when I figure out why it's not working, you are supposed to see Jun and Thomas sing their little hearts out to Mamma Mia! Thomas is saying as he finishes his Phonics workbook and tries to help Jun complete his page during the dance sequence when there's no singing...

Thomas is one of my favourite kids. When I told him that his mommy was happy about his report card, he looks down at me (because I'm squatting next to him) and he just plants a kiss on my face. He's smart and adorable...he's mine!

Jun was a problem but after a conversation with Angela about his autistic tendencies...let's just say his behaviour has changed after some modifications and accommodations. I am so proud of Jun...I wish I could talk to his mother in Korean. *Sigh*

Not being able to talk to the parents was not something that I thought I would miss. In Canada, I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the phone light flash red. Here, I only wish I could tell them not to worry so much about their writing and reading...but to worry about their social abilities and emotional health. All they seem to worry about here are test scores and class placements...it's definitely one huge cultural difference. So our professors were right afterall...learning is a culture and pedagogies reflect the differences...okay, back to more news...

As for my third month anniversary, I celebrated with everyone from work. It wasn't anything official but it was a nice way to remember and celebrate how long I've been able to live on this peninsula...

The bosses treated us to a weekend retreat near Ocean Castle Resort. We went to the spa & sauna and had a great time. This visit to Ocean Castle was definitely one of those been there, done that items because I don't think I can take all the nakedness anymore.

Angela, Hannah and I were complete morons in bathing suits while everyone else was eating, walking, talking and socializing in the nude. In fact, we got stares for not being naked. We looked unsanitary...not eating in the nude. Not that we could eat anyway...

After the spa, we went back to the house to have a cookout. Jamie, a guy that used to work with Justin, cooked up something with other admin. staff and provided us with delicious pork. We had Korean bbq with lots of soju. I went shot for shot with Michael (the boss) for about six drinks and then I had to invent ways of disposing the shots. Needless to say, we had a great time.

More to come...Maggie Teacher's wedding. She invited all the teachers from the school to attend her wedding this coming Saturday. It will be the last time we get very fancied up with Heather, a teacher that we met earlier. More pictures to come following this event.

Hope everyone is doing well and recovering from any sicknesses...I just had a cold and had to use one of four sick days. How I miss calling in sick...but one thing we don't have to do is write supply plans. Our plans are already written out for us!

Hope to have more time to write again soon...

H.