Happy Thanksgiving. This will be the 3rd Thanksgiving I am not at home. I guess it doesn't really matter since we don't celebrate any holidays anymore. Everyone is just too busy. We gotta work to put food on the table. Har, now there's no one around to eat that food.

I had an open class on Wednesday and the people watching were the principal, vice, and a few head teachers. The open class was for my first period, so I had to go in extra early to prepare. Not fun. Waking up is the hardest part of the day and waking up even earlier just plain sucks-ah! I wasn't too nervous. I actually don't think I felt nervous at all. I had many open classes with parents before back at Youngdo, so it really wasn't a big deal. I think it went pretty well. The 6th graders behaved wonderfully. They were actually learning and listening. If we had open classes everyday, then their English would improve tremendously. I guess we all act differently when being watch 'cuz Lord knows I don't smile that much and have that much energy when teaching at 9am class.

2NE4!

I was only 21 when I came to Korea my first time. Now I'm 24 and still in Korea. I haven't had a birthday at home for 3 years in a row. I miss Swiss Pastry.

When I was a teenager, I thought the perfect age to get married was about 27. I thought I would fall in love around 23, date for about 4 years, then get married. Then we will enjoy ourselves until we are 30, then have a baby. Well, if I'm supposed to fall in love by age 23, then I'm a year behind. I better get myself out there and start looking for my hubby. This feels like the Friends episode when Rachel turned 30. Time just keeps going and it doesn't wait for you. I don't know. I'm not lonely. I mean, I get bored sometimes, but I think I enjoy just chilling alone. I hope I don't end up alone, but for now, I'm just content. I think.

Public School vs. Hagwaon (Private academy)

Public School Pros

-Less teaching hours

-40 minutes per class

-School field trips

-Finish at 4:40pm

-Cafeteria food (I actually enjoy it and I don't have to think about what to eat)

-Internet time (School ends at 2:30 and I have about 2 hours to surf the net)

-More time with Ellie

Public School Cons

-Very hard to form a connection/bond with the kids

-Lesson plans (need to write one for each class every week)

-Waking up (People keep telling me I'll get used to it, but NO...I WILL NEVER AND I CANNOT!)

-Complete boredom from about 2-4:40pm

-Unable to think of any fun activities to fill up a class time

-Teaching with co-teacher (I'm bossy and I like things my way)

-Teaching 1st and 2nd graders

-Being the only foreigner!!!

-Sleeping early

-30 kids

-Need to smile/bow (I'm not really a happy person) everytime I see a Korean teacher

Hagwon Cons

-Extra work that is unpaid

-Teach/Tests all the time and no time for fun

-Schedule is packed!

-Finishing at 10pm

-Constant last minute changes by administration

Hagwon Pros

-Having other foreigners around

-Waking up at noon

-Get to go home after teaching

-No lesson plans

-Don't need to think of ideas for class too much since schedule is set

-10-15 kids per class

-Bonds with kids and teaching alone

I don't know why I made this list. People always asked me if I like it this time around more, and I don't really know how to answer. I like both, but I'm not really sure which I like more.

Mommy!

It's been a month since I last posted. Blame it on the laziness.

I was really sick this past Saturday. I woke up and I couldn't get myself out of bed. My head was pounding. I wanted to get myself to a hospital to find out if I had swine flu, but I can't even manage to get dressed. I didn't get any fresh air for 2 days except for the really quick walks with Ellie. I really wanted to be home this past weekend. I wished I was home in bed and that my dad was cooking congee for me downstairs. I wished that my mom was just sitting by my bedside putting a cool towel on my head. I wished that Terry was there for Ellie because I couldn't take care of her. I miss my family. It's terrible that I haven't called my mom since the end of August.

Well, I don't think it's swine flu. I went to the doctor's today and he gave me a bunch of medicine and if I have another headache, I will get test for the flu.

1 month

So my baby girl has a mild disk injury. I went to the vet in Itaewon today and they did xrays. The doctor didn't see any problems on the xrays but Ellie did make noises when the doctor pressed down on her back. So now she needs to take medicine and I can't walk her for longer than 2-3 minutes for a month. Ellie won't have a problem with that because for the last few days, she goes out and pees one-two times and drags me back to the apartment. That was a huge sign that I needed to take her to the vet because she normally loves walking. I just need to be extra careful with her and make sure she's not jumping on/off my bed. We're going back to see the doctor in a week. Itaewon is only 5 stops from me, but there is a lot of walking to get to/from the train, so it's about a 25-30 minute trip each way. I guess it's worth it to have an English speaking vet. The cost is not cheap, but it's not terribly expensive. I would have rather spent the 112,000won on other things but things happen I guess.

I'm dropping her off with Laura/Chris tonight since I'm going to Busan for a few days. I feel so bad I can't be with her and I really want to watch her carefully. She'll be in good hands though.

Jinxed

Remember when I said I loved my 2nd graders. Well, I absolutely cannot stand them now. I totally jinxed myself.

Thoughts...

I'm going to be a total showoff mother. My 3rd graders are learning about animals and counting for lesson 6. So I made a powerpoint of animals and for dog, I put Ellie's picture on that slide. I got so many "Awww" and "So Cute!" I'm such a proud mommy. I was soaking it all up. I love it when people compliment Ellie. I think when or if I ever have a child, I will show random strangers on the street how cute my baby is.

One more day of school, then 5 continuous days of not having school. I won't get to Busan till Saturday afternoon, but that's okay.

What is with the drama? I'll just concentrate on myself from now on.

Busy

I only teach 4-5 classes a day, but I'm so busy. This is a surprise because I thought I would be facebooking 3 hours a day after my classes. I even bought a book to school to read after my classes, but I didn't even have time to touch it yet. It's constant lesson planning, game making, powerpoint making, and just random things that take up my time. I'm a little grateful because I thought I would die of boredom after my first week. Now I'm too busy. I'll be even more busy in October when I take on 3 extra classes. The worst part is that they will be 6th graders. They are a bunch of little pricks. I don't like teaching them and now I'll see them 3 extra hours in additional to the 6 hours I already see them. I teach a Cultural Understanding class to the 2nd graders and ohmygoodness, they are the cutest! They're so fun to teach because they're so excited about anything. There's this one boy in my 2-2 class...I seriously want to be his mother. Hahaha. Sick. I pretty like all my classes except Grade 6. I guess when you're 13, you don't really want to learn and all you care about is the opposite sex and trying your best not to care about anything. I try to relate and understand, but I don't have to like them. Good riddance to them in March. I wonder will my 5th graders become little pricks when they get to 6th grade in March.

I really can't stand Korea's method of recycling. It just causes major stinkage in the teachers' room.

swine?

During the orientation, all 500 SMOE teachers were quarantined in a university. We had temperature checks everyday and also a medical check. During day 3 or 4 of the orientation, I thought I had swine flu. I had a runny nose, sore throat and a minor headache. I was scared. Maybe it was paranoia since we were all stuck in the same place without outside access and there were people who were sent to a nearby motel when they complained about having flu symptoms. I actually thought I had swine flu and thought I would be sent back to the States. I guess I just had a regular cold.

Swine flu is very big here. People are scared. A lot of my students wear masks and we still have daily temperature checks. It's crazy. Just craziness. I hope it all dies down soon.

The first teaching week is over and I start my second week tomorrow. I like the school, co-teachers, and kids. I just can't believe how low level the kids are. I don't think they understand more than a few random words. This is a big difference from Youngdo. At Youngdo, I had some great conversations with my students and I can normally get through a class easily. However, the kids I have now look at me blankly even with the simpliest instructions. The problem with the public school system is the korean co-teacher in the room. I think without them, the students are forced to try to comprehend what I'm saying instead of turning to the korean teacher for explanation everytime I say something. But what can I do?

I've been to E-mart so many times and yet I still need more supplies. I've already spent so much money for the apartment. The worst part of living in Korea is probably the trash system. You need to buy special bags to put your trash in and the bags are not cheap. The recycling system is a pain in my arse as well.

It's still so hot here. I don't like sweating.

Curious

So I'm in Korea now. I have orientation until Saturday, then I will finally know where I will live and how my apartment will look like. I am so curious. At least they told us what grade level I will be teaching. I will be placed in an elementary public school. I guess I'm happy with that. I would have like to experience teaching in a high school, just because the conversations can go much further than "Hello, how are you? and "What is your favorite color?" I am just glad I did not get middle school. Dealing with kids going through puberty is not fun.

I miss Ellie.

unpacked

I can't bring myself to packing. Actually, most of my clothes are piled almost to the ceiling on my bed. I just need someone to fold and put them nicely into my luggage. I really don't want to unpack either when I get to Korea. I just hate the whole process and procrastination doesn't help either.

I'm starting to feel really bad about taking Ellie away from the family. I can't believe how much everyone came to love her. She really is like the new baby of the family. She is so spoiled and she gets so many walks, belly rubs, and treats a day. I feel sorry that she will be left alone again when I go back to work. Poor Ellie. I'll do better this time around.

Smile...

Only 2 weekends left before I leave. I really gotta be nicer to my mom and talk to my dad more. It's hard. I hate talking. I guess I should reconsider my career path.  I will start being a dandy person tomorrow. I hope I won't scare anyone. 

I've been a little obsessed with online shopping lately. I have a very long wish list. If only I won about $5000 while I was in Vegas, it could pay for what I want. But knowing me, it'll probably go towards something more useful like mortgage and bills and all them other stuff that won't make me happy. 

Paying tax sucks

I can't be tax exempt since I didn't file my taxes for 2008. Crap crap crap. Procrastination gets you nowhere.

Hectic

Plane ticket: check

E-2 visa: check

Ellie's rabies shot certificate: check

Still need: 

-extra pages in passport

- Ellie's letter of health

I don't understand why the Korean consulate didn't give me a multiple E-2 visa. I got one easily last time and the only requirement to getting one was being a US citizen. Aish, ja jang na! More work to be done in Seoul. I wonder if I can get it done at Incheon Airport.

So I arrive in Incheon at 4am on Saturday. Problem is that SMOE won't be picking people up that early. So I have to wait till 6am until the luggage storage place opens, then have to catch a bus to Anyang to drop off Ellie. Then, back to Incheon Airport, get my luggage and go to the orientation place. I'll hang around Anyang with Ellie for awhile since I don't want to wake Ellie' dogsitters at like 8 in the morning on a Saturday.

It's going to be a hectic morning.

Almost

I got my plane ticket. It's a direct flight on Asiana from New York. The only thing left is to get my E-2 visa, which I plan to send in tomorrow. I only have one page left on my passport. I hope that will be okay. I'll add more pages when I'm in Korea. I cannot believe that 2 years ago, I only had one stamp in my passport and now I need more room. Going to Korea has given me so many opportunities to travel to so many places. I hope I can keep adding more stamps and I hope that Tokyo will be one of them again. I must meet Ryo Nishikido. I must. 

Back off!

I went shopping yesterday. I will really really miss salespeople not following you around the stores and commenting on any item you touch or glance at. Salespeople in Asia are the reason why I spend money on things I don't use or wear. The pressure is just too much.

Again?

Now that summer is halfway through, I realized that I don't have too many weekends left at home. Korea seems so near. It may be my second time around, but I think I'm a little bit more nervous. The first time, I was hired and had to go within two weeks. I didn't have much time to worry. I just had to pack.  Now, I still have about two months left before I go back to the land of kimchi. I'm also older. Last time I was only 21 and thought I would be back by 22 and looking for a career at home. Now, I'm 23 and still jobless. I'll be almost 25 when I return from Korea. Where did the time go? 

I will not be home for 3 Christmas in a row. I haven't celebrated my birthday with my friends for 2 years and it will be 3 soon. I'm just hoping for the best. Please let me be placed in a great school with an awesome apartment.

Getting ready...

I have been home since February 12th, 2009. I haven't done much. In fact, I've been extremely lazy and bored most of the times. Of course, there were vacations/mini trips/chilling with friends that were great. I thought about going back to school or getting a full-time job at a preschool, but I felt like I needed one more year in Korea. So, here I am. I'm preparing to send all my documents to my recruiter. Then, all I need is my visa and plane ticket. I guess I'm starting this blog to those interested in teaching English in Korea. 

Here are some tips/advice I guess...

If you're Asian, it's going to be much harder to get a hogwon job because parents want to see white faces teaching their kids. I have a bachelor degree in Education and previous experience in Korea, but I have been turned down by certain places because they said they were only hiring native foreigner (which I am by the way).  No hard feelings though since I probably am much better off not working in a hogwan.

If you're being offered anything less than 2.0 million won, I suggest you keep looking.

Well, there's actually a lot of advice I can write about, but it might take a while, so just email me if you have any questions. 

There are a lot of things I am worried about my second time around. I'll be in Seoul this time and I'm hoping whatever apartment I'm getting will allow dogs. Since I won't know what school I'll be placed in by SMOE, I will not have a guaranteed answer about my Ellie Bellie until the last day of orientation. I hope I can wake up for work. It's going to be so hard since I am not a morning person. Also, I'll be teaching with a co-teacher. That means no slacking off and having my students do crossword puzzles. 

I guess I'll update again once I send out all my documents. But if everything goes as planned, I arrive August 23rd (one day before someone's birthday <3).