April Bloomings (Monthly Report)

The conclusions of my 10th month in Korea has left me with a lot of things to ponder and mull over for the month of May. As of May 11th this will be the official marker of the 11th month I have spent in Korea. While working 6 days a week hasn't left a lot of time for exploration my growth is coming in many ways.

Work Happenings
I have realized the routine that I have gotten in for the last 9 months. The first few months I was out of sync but the truth of the matter is, is that I have a rhythm that I do whether its for the best or not. My boss is never completely satisfied. He always gripes about this or that and working for him isn't enjoyable by any stretch of the imagination. I really hope that Christina and I leave this place and build a stronger future elsewhere. I am willing to put forth so much effort to see that happen esp. this month of May. April was Vicki's first full month and I think I have corrupted Vicki because I told her of my plight and she has started to see things the same way Christina and I do about YALE. I just hope that we can make everything work. My 4 classes are dissolving and dwindling in class size. I couldn't care less but I just wish I had respectful kids who at least tried. Its not worth the teaching effort because the kids don't care how much work is put forth into the lesson plan.
The last Saturday of the month I didn't do a very good job and nothing happened good or bad.
The sad fact of the matter is that the students don't really care about my teaching or me at all. Most of them barely awknowledge me and look to me as just the teacher who makes them understand the concepts better. In other words, I don't really teach them. To learn English you have to understand the translation directly first. Hello, An yung. same. etc. My repore with the kids is far from satisfactory but when I make a breakthrough its dully noted.
Sometimes I wonder if I am actually preparing them for the real world. My teaching is only confined to the realm of what's in the book. So if I say: Where is he from? he is from Missoula Montana. They can answer but unless the reading says Missoula is in America the kids don't know how to answer. This is a poor example but every reading material is the same.

This month I taught 25 days. I had 4 Sundays off and a Wednesday that was elections. It was nice but I wish that I didnt have so many teaching days. It makes travel impossible. I have my Darling beside me literally all the time at work. She is the cornerstone of my Life and the centerpiece of things to come. Teaching so much has made a burn out almost inevitable. I am slowly regressing into a lackluster state

The work day goes by pretty fast when you realize that things aren't going to change. Its just cut and dry and always to the point. I compared it to meatball teaching. The kids come and go and I get ready for the next onslaught of casualties. When I find out that kids will drop I am happy only because it means less telephone teaching and maybe some quiet in the classroom. My boss is so stubborn and dutifully unaware of teh shabbiness that surrounds and percleates through the plastered walls of Yale that he is oblivious to Logical courses of action. I scoff at his idea that this is a place to prepare students for College English. Its a self insured way to bring money home to support his family. His college prepatory program I am calling B.S. on this one. Everyone including myself works literally to bring the bacon home and thats it plain and simple. Thus far I feel my teaching has warranted uneffective.


My humble Abode
I have many good ideas heading into May. I think April has been a really good month and one of my best ones in Korea. I am looking forward to trying more possibilities in May. I am upgrading my blog constantly. I would like to write more compelling stories and try to make sense of my place and hopefully make a positive influence on someone's life, anywhere and everywhere. As I said I am also trying to put together more videos and share more with the world what's going on in the corner of Hyung gok dong Kyungbok province in Gumi. I would like to put Gumi on the map.

Elections happened this month or was that in March? At any rate I miss the music trucks that would pass on by and help me get through the classes. When there is a No Rae Song going I like it because its a distraction that no one can pass up. I need all the help i can get because its hard to muster the energy of the kids day in day out.
Following my Dreams
This month I went to Daegu more, I enjoyed some nice quiet relaxing Sundays. I finished a couple good books about Afghanistan. I decided a lot of personal things. I will not give up fighting for my Dream. I will go back to school at some point. I will work a good job if I can find one. I am really nervous about this. I am considering many things right now. I am leaning on my Pillar of Strength though as I always find solace and comfort through everything We do.



Plans for the Month ahead

I will write more and try everything I can to enjoy Korea. I think there is a lot of things left to try and do in Korea. Its my hope to do all of them that I can.