Back to Kenting, Andong, Freedom

Each day that we live there are little moments known to some people as appifanys which is not even a word.... An appifany is a sudden realization or truth that becomes known.

Regardless of what happens during the day these little realizations are the pieces that are important to understanding the entire puzzle picture.

In my mind these events, happenings, or sayings keep playing back in my memory like a never ending tape recorder.

It is important to log these occurences and improve your mental projection of the world.

Events that happened in Kenting, Andong and other places remind me that there is truly a better life.

Allow me to explain:

I told my boss that with any job there is complaints. Most people in America and probably Korea hate their job. Its only for the Benjamins, Chasing after the Benjamins. Ironically, I was showing my boss my American dollar I have (Its the only one) and its a 100 dollar bill with benjamin franklin on it.

This thirst for power and hunger for money is the root of contempt and stress. My boss and I talked about Work and our personal lives. He is an interesting man and at times I can count on him as a friend but there is so much I can't tell him because he is my boss. The personal relationship just isnt there as it could be under(different) extentuating? circumstances. I swear I am forgetting English....

Maybe I have to Quit my job. maybe I have to return to America and re access my life. So many people think I should throw in the towel and walk away. I am learning to never sell myself. I dont care about the contract I care about the people I love the most and what is truly right.

I know that there is something better for me, for everyone that I am around. I am working towards a better tomorrow.

i have a birthday present on my desk that has a bear doing some research and it says Fighting on it. The kids who gave it to me dont realize how appropriate it is for me. i am the bear a lone Grizzly (UM-Missoula) home of the Grizzlies. Fighting to improve oneself in mind body and spirit.

For the time being I am choosing to stick it out and fight through everything come hell or high water.
In all seriousness I no longer care so much about this teaching job since the problems seem unfixable. I came to teach but I also realize that I have to cultivate myself and see myself for what I truly am. In other words, I came to Korea to learn about myself and I found things that are worth fighting for and working for.

I believe I am going to VIPs for lunch and hope to learn more there. I will continue this at a later time...

Andong

Septmember Andong Mask Festival with Christina!

What a week. I had 3 quick days of work and a few drinks with my boss before finally being able to leave and enjoy another weekend.

My boss is a nice guy. He never stops working and when he criticizes he always has both positive and negative feedback sometimes its hard to appreciate his company especially when its all about work.

I had some Wine on the plane and watched other foreigners get drunk, I had my usual meal with Mr. Jeong a pitcher of beer and fried chicken.

To all of my friends out there in Missoula I dont drink anymore I am not the same person I was when I was in Missoula so you can forget about Nick the man who drinks 3 days a week or more. Stupid Stupid Stupid.

So Sunday Morning... Christina and I headed to Andong. We took the bus which only took an hour. Andong is in the East and its one hour away from Gumi.

ANDONG is amazing.... The flowers were in bloom, the weather was perfect even though it rained a little. Christina and I saw some people wearing masks and SERENATiNG the crowd. Or should I say Masquerading or both??

I am forgetting how to speak sometimes

We had some bibimbob at a local cuisine and it was great only because Christina and I could enjoy our meal in solitude and talk about anything openly.

In Gumi I dont feel everything is open. Its a covert operation (covert-op) lifestyle. I give a little and my boss gives us a little if we fall below that line its misery. I am surrounded by Academy all the time.

Anyways....

We walked the streets of Andong and saw beautiful bluffs in the distance followed by a nice sliver of blue the river.

Unforuntately the trip came to a close. I am not someone who likes to see things end. It just makes me want to work harder.

When I am on these trips I am seeing Korea and actually feel like I am learning and experiencing Korea. Christina makes all of this possible I am sure.

So another week in closing and the end of the month is upon us...its time to buckle down and try to become more authoritative in the class. ~~~

October is upon us...

Kenting Part 1

Pei-chen , Ryan and I at Kenting

This is the beach where we went boating. This was a little crazy for me since swimming isn't my type of activity....

Kenting is in the very Southern area of Taiwan and its amazing....

I arrived in Taiwan at 7 pm at the Airport in Taipei. Ryan, Pei and I shared some coffee at Starbucks before going to the hotel.

The next day we drove to Kenting and stayed at the Duggar Hotel. Some Hawaiian guy's personal establishment. Duggar wouldnt leave us alone for a long time unfortunately. We unfortunately ran into some trouble and were needing some time to figure everything out

The next day we headed to the beach and swam a little after the swim we went sightseeing at a lighthouse and a quick tour seeing some waves along the coast.

Kenting is the most beautiful thing I have seen so far in Asia as far as places are concerned.

After this we began the drive back towards Taipei since I was leaving the next morning.

After getting to Taichung we stayed at Ryans house and slept there for the night. It was really nice to spend the night here even though we were only there for 6 hours and didnt sleep much.

Peichen and I took the bus to Taipei where we waited until I had to leave :(

All in all my Taiwan trip was good. It left me with many more questions but it was a good break and I learned a lot. '

More later as it is midnight plus 30 and I need some sleep

Pre holiday

Well today marks the end of September as far as Work and Chapter Units are concerned.

I had 4 tests today and they all went well.

Some of the kids who are a problem are slowly making some progress towards becoming better students^^

After finishing work at the Academy I finished my errands for my trip to Taiwan and had a couple lunches. The first was by myself and from Lotteria and the second was a hearty meal of Gal bei with my friend Bryant.

It was a wonderful time and I hope that it can happen much more before Bryant and Traci leave.


After lunch I rested comfortably in my apartment. Christina came over to see me off for Taiwan.
I am excited about my trip but a little nervous and a little sad to be leaving. It will be nice to have a few days to relax and not work. Vacations always go to fast so I will be back in the grind before too long.


I am about to venture out on a wild adventure where I am unsure where its headed. But I am driven by my darling's love that is eminating through my heart and is there to help me get through anything.


I am anxious to get to Taiwan! Its time for another Palmer wild adventure

A Korean Birthday amidst Confusion

Well, yesterday I turned 23. It was my first birthday away from home and in a foreign country.


Since graduating from high school my birthday has just been another day and has also made me realize how old I am getting to be.

I wanted my birthday to be a small event since I am modest. I also prefer to celebrate like its a birthday everyday.

I believe spending time with family/friends is all that' s important.

Unfortunately, my birthday was a little problem. I wasn't wanting anything at work because I am rather shy and dont like attention. Unfortunately I made a mistake though.

After work, I went to dinner with Christina and Miss Jeong. My boss didnt know it was my birthday until after work and he couldnt go out because he had made plans to go to Daegu. I should have told him but because I am modest I preferred not to say anything.

I wish I knew more about Korean culture because at times I appear to no understand much of anything. Most of the time I feel right at home though and dont even realize I am in a different culture.

At work many of the kids made me feel special either saying happy birthday or giving me something nice.
Life continues to roll here and I am determined to make things better.

I talked to a few good friends in the morning before work and ended up going to bed early.



This week seemed to have dragged on forever. On Wednesday i had a teacher's meeting that left me feeling like a wreck. I am sad because I want to become a better teacher here but unsure as to how I can do this.

End all be all...I have a lot of unanswered tangibles lingering the background and I am waitin to see how it all adds up.


I am now 23 I feel so much older though and its just another day's passing. Nothing much more interesting than that. I am recovering from another minor cold germ and its raining heavily outside. I will be working again in 23 hours.

I will be writing more later.

Fried Chicken and Kids

Life here is taking many interesting turns.

To begin with, at work my boss hired a new teacher. Her arrival doesnt make my teaching any easier. In fact or on the contrary, it makes it a lot worse. I know have 31 classes and other than Thursday my days are long and arduous.
My favorite class TD1 was dropped on Thursday in order to accomodate the new teacher. My boss really didnt think this through when he hired a new teacher. She isn't necesary. I dont enjoy most of my classes because the kids dont learn from me as much as I would like.
TD1 is special for so many reasons. My star pupils (Rose and Jully) bring a twinkle to my eye everytime I see them. (I wish they would visit me because they are really special kids to me). I almost cried when I heard that i wouldnt get to teach them on Thursday. They get my jokes and enjoy my stories.

After Thursday at work I went to the Chicken Restaurant and ordered a tub of chicken. I ate 30 pieces and had a beer. It helped a little. It reminded me of the times my friends and I would put away 100 pieces of chicken at WOW Restuarant in paradise otherwise known as Missoula.

My personal life is getting much better. I am finding many things to enjoy in Korea nowadays.

My neighbor and adopted grandmother died a few days ago, I wish that i could have said goodbye properly.
You never know what will happen with the time that you have so its important to find a way to make the best of it and to work hard.


Its time I start thinking about a future with some real sense of direction.


Today at work was a long day. I had 4 classes on Saturday and was all by myself.

I felt really bad about losing my kids so i gave them some chocolate. I feel a little better.


Next week is going to bring some interesting changes yet again. Its going to be interesting to see what will happen next.

Now, its time to relax and enjoy the weekend.

Dropping Like Flies

Its amazing at what my job is becoming.


This is how I am looking at my Teaching profession these days. With how globalization is working and how the desire to make money is imbreded into our way of thinking it comes as no surprise that kids are now the latest money scheme.


I teach at a private institution where the rules are lax. Yesterday, our boss added another class for just 3 students. This means that I now have 18 classes to teach within the week. My total amount of classes are over 30.

It is necessary that I see each class at least 2 times in the week. The philosophy of herding 150 students and spoon feeding them some english lesson doesn't make sense to me. I would rather have 30 students and focus all of my attention on catering to them. Its all about the Benjamins, or money.

Yesterday, my worst class TC2 told me that they Hate me, they dont care if they disrespect me when I am in front of them teaching. One of the girls said I dont like this academy and I am going to quit.

Personally I dont care anymore. What does this mean to me if a spoiled insullent rich kid quits this academy because she has a problem with me, or the academy in general.

I have done everything I can. I tried many persona's in the classroom to no avail. I tried talking to my boss. I tried to tell them to write me a note or write one to Chrisitina about me so I could understand them better. I have been angry at them, sad because of them, tried to be super nice, tried to not care, and now its just a blessing when I am finished with them.
Its amazing how kids or people can make you love or hate your job.

I keep thinking that when they are older they will truly regret how they treated me. Its the dumbest things too. For example, Would you please read this passage? NO, I dont want to.

Then in all honesty why are you here?

of course i dont ask that.


I dont mind hard work and I dont mind long hours but i have a distinction between WORK and Free Time. I will not think more for kids who dont care about me.