The Kids are Alright

The middle of the road is a good place to be, or so I hear. In Korea, the middle of the road (literally) is a very precarious place. Figuratively, its the same... a better position than a downward slope, but not quite to the top of the hill. I want to put out there, that, now that the adjustment period is starting to come to a close, I find myself being happy here in this new world. The main reason for a lot of my happiness is this:

Yes, dear readers, I came to Korea and had 6 children. From left to right that's Albert, Dana, Alex, Jefferson, Amber and Grayson. My babies. Everything I do, I do for these kids, from the time I get up in the morning to the time I go to bed at night. I work 9-14 hour days to make sure they are happy at school, and its worth it because I have fallen hopelessly in love with them. Is it gonna make going home more difficult? Yes. Is my heart going to break a million times over? Absolutely. Will it be worth every second? Most definitely. Because if it weren't for these kids, I would be absolutely miserable here. Coming to a new country and learning to live in it, being sick all the time because of new germs and new pollution, having to deal with constant cultural and communication issues, a Korean work ethic of "you'd better be working 14 hours a day!", helicopter parents, a change in diet, all of that and more is no picnic. I work a a Hogwan (private school), iSponge, and they can do whatever the heck they want because their paying the rent on my Husband's and my apartment. They feed us, provide for us and if they tell us to jump, we say how high. Independence is limited and close to non-existent.

But these little goobers make me like the long days and stress, all of it, worth it. 

So yeah, I've found out that the middle of the road is a good place, and It's because of these little lovelies that I can be okay here so far from home. I kiss their booboo's, I wipe their eyes, I settle their little arguments, I treasure their artwork, I clean them up, give them their food, listen to them, tell them stories, coo and cuddle them. In Korea, the teacher is considered a second mother. I take that job very seriously, from 9:30 when they get off the bus until 2:30 when they go home.



Then... These kids come in....

 

Clockwise: Jason, Elly, Julia and Bella are my 8-9 year old advanced English class. I'm lucky enough to have them for a 2 45 minute period block during the day, and I work super hard to make sure that they get the full honors treatment. That means art projects to supplement their books, videos, special play-time and added curriculum i've written personally. At my granted request to the director, we are reading Charlotte's Web and focusing on reading and speaking. These kids are smarty-pantses and it shows. They are my glory class, my true all stars. I get them 3 times a week (not enough in my opionion) but I'm a happy teacher when they come into my classroom. 

 

Twice a week, I also get my awesome middle, who, as you might be able to tell, won't let me take pictures of them. These kids (unshown) are 12-13 and I spend a lot of my time just trying to get them to keep up. I've been told though, that I've past their teacher test and that they like me, which I consider a good sign. More on them in later posts. 

Other days of the week, I get these little ones... 

 

From right to left, Andy, Sarah and Elise are my youngest kids, and the most work! They are 6 in Korean age, In american age they just turned 4. They are small and sensitive and a huge handful, but I get candy from their pockets and sticky kisses at the end of every day I work with them, so it works out pretty well. I actually was the one to give Sarah her English name. Her mother wanted a common English name and she liked it very much, I'm quite proud of that fact.

Korea gives me a new opportunity to stretch my limits as a teacher. I'm currently hooking my old students up with Jason, Bella, Elly and Julia (above) for a pen-pal program in order to help the kids with their writing. I get to teach the way I want, and I love the challenge. Every month I build curriculum for international day, Think and Tell projects and Circle Time. This months theme was Africa, and I was able to pull together great material which made me both proud and excited to come to school every day. With the help of my Co-workers (and husband), I get a lot done in this new and exciting evironment.

 Liz, Pete and my husband Curtis pictured here, are the Foreign teachers working at the school. Liz is from Ontario, and Pete hails from Virginia. The Korean teachers we work with are Karen and Joy, who are from here in Pohang. I couldn't ask for better co-workers.

 That's my life right now. I hope you like it. I'm starting to. I think that now that I can settle in and really focus on what makes me happy, which is teaching, I can realize how good I got it. I know I live in a crappy apartment, I work crazy long hours and Korea can sometimes not exactly live up to my expectations, but, regardless of all that, I'm starting to find a way here so far from home.

I'll leave you then with some more pictures because I know that's what you came to see, and talk to you soon!