KLB - Friday...Finally
Finally it's Friday and the weekend is here. Too bad the weather turned cold again. Not a lot to report on, really - as you can already tell by my reference to the weather. I'm waiting for Julie to come home so we can go out and eat some kalbi or sam gyeop sal or something. We may or may not go out afterward. I don't want to have a hangover tomorrow when I go to have my photos taken for Seoul Magazine. I look horrible enough as it is in pictures (but super handsome and cool in real life, of course).
Speaking of photos, my sister got her camera today, or I should say last night. Only I can do something so stupid as to have it sent to her previous address, which Amazon.com had kept on file from when I ordered her some books and toys for her kids. The UPS tracking said it had been delivered yesterday, exactly on her birthday...which would have been perfect, doh. I just realized what happened today when we were trying to figure out where it was. She didn't know what I got her either. I had told her to be on the look out for a gift in the mail, but kept downplaying what it was. But when I realized what happened I had to tell her. So, at 10PM her time, she trekked all the way across town to her old house. Sure enough the package was sitting right there on her old doorstep (apparently you don't have to sign for UPS ground packages anymore?), outside right by the sidewalk. Anyone could have taken it, but luckily nobody did. Turns out nobody is living in the house yet. Once she figures out how to use it, hopefully I can get some photos of my niece and nephew and shots from around exciting Watertown, NY. Won't that be a treat!
Well, I've been sitting and staring at the screen for the last 10 minutes trying to figure out what else to write about. Work has been pretty ordinary. I kind of miss the days when I'd come home heated and worked up over something, but everything seems to have mellowed out since I said I'd quit. Nobody bothers me lately. Cathy seems to have really calmed down finally. Who knows what's to come, but for now it's been nice.
The kids are as cute as ever - especially those little girls. I feel like a rock star the way they follow me around. Damn cute. I hate to say it, but when I have kids - I'll be somewhat disappointed if I don't have a girl. Maybe it runs in my family. My father was always closer to my sister than me, except when it came to sports and fishing. My mother ways preferred me over my sister, and with good reason. My sister was a handful growing up compared to me - and my father was at work most of the time so he didn't get that part of her. I was always very shy and quiet.
Anyway, I'm kind of looking forward to the new class I have starting next Wendesday. At that time the kids will be in the appropriate levels again and we're getting real books again finally too. I've ignored the new "books" all I can and stretched the English Time books as far as they will go. That's not such a bad thing, though. I've learned it's better to use one book for a very long time. They know all the material inside and out and probably won't forget what they've learned as they would if I hurried through the series. It still amazes me how much they have retained. Of course the most important thing I've taught has been phonics. It's a nice feeling when your students can read because of you. I never thought I'd care about something like that, but I do. All this talk about loving kids and being a good teacher - yikes! What's happening to me suddenly? I guess I'm growing up. Well, time to get off the computer and play some Xbox games. Gonna watch The Smurfs DVDs later too. Whoo hoo!
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written by shawn matthews
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KLB - Three Witnesses
Today I went into work to find three women standing in the back of the room. They're from another program and watched my classes. I just love how almost every week someone or other comes in to watch me all day. However, it's getting so that I'm so used to this that it barely bothers me anymore. I just smiled and introduced myself then went about the usual teaching routine. I didn't even cringe when Cathy started taking pictures of me.
Afterward the women told me how handsome I am and how kind I am to the kids - so it wasn't so bad. I'm going to get an ego working at this school.
Good news on one front: I emailed Bonnie and she called and said I don't have to write the report cards again. She didn't know we just did them two weeks ago, because - guess why? Cathy didn't bother to tell her. I guess when Bonnie had told her we should write them, Cathy simply agreed without mentioning that we just did them two weeks ago. Bonnie thanked me for telling her.
Julie and I had a nice dinner at TGIF tonight. We go there about once every three or four months, I guess. And every time we leave there I think about how I could have eaten big meals like that on a regular basis when I lived in New York. The food seems so big and we felt completely stuffed. She's about ready to fall asleep now and I'm about ready to flip on the Xbox.
Oh, I forgot to mention that a couple of us bloggers will be doing an interview for Seoul Magazine this weekend. According to Julie, who handled the phone call, we will be getting our photos taken somewhere on Saturday and will be featured on the cover of the next issue. I know one of the other guys is this year's third place winner for best Korea blog, Mr. Swiss James, over at Lost Bowls. I'm pretty sure that, according to traditon, the third place winner is required to buy dinner and lots of beer for the first place winner and his girlfriend and then put on hanbok and bow three times before handing over the prizes (digital camera and mp3 player). I'm not sure if he's aware of that yet though. Somebody better tell him quickly.
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written by shawn matthews
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KLB - The Excuses Continue
I've gone through phases before where I don't update the blog regularly, but the difference is I'm feeling less and less guilty about it these days. To be honest, I just don't have all that much to say. Nothing really interesting that I can write about has been going on. However, I do forecast things will pick up soon now that spring just about here - as long as I get a camera soon, that is. Or if I change jobs.
The job is going fairly well. The principal must have felt guilty because she told Cathy yesterday we can use the coffee machine and copy machine too again. I don't know, though. It's nice of her, but I haven't rushed downstairs to the office yet.
One thing pissed me off today. I just filled out 50 report cards less than 2 weeks ago, so when Cathy handy me a new stack to fill out again today, I was, of course, less than thrilled. Apparently Bonnie wants me to do 50 more for the end of the semester. I told Cathy that I'm not doing them because nothing has changed in the past 2 weeks and I'd just be writing the same comments again. As you can imagine, Cathy panicked and said I have to do them because Bonnie said so. I'll call Bonnie tomorrow and personally tell her to forget it. Maybe I'll wait until Friday, since Thursday is payday.
As you can see, there's not a lot to report on. Keep checking in though because at any given moment you may stop in to find the update of a lifetime.
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written by shawn matthews
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