Heat. Speech Contest. Sports Day.

The last 7 days has seen a rapid increase in the humidity levels. It dawned on me when I was peddling into my second 10 minute stint on the exercise bike. I had already worked my way through one towel, and was in need of another. It caught me off guard. The next day, I stupidly wore jeans to work. I had just turned the corner of Oryudong High Street, on my way to work, when I realised I was going to be seeping sweat for the next 20 minutes.

Saturday arrived and the hottest day of the year arrived at the same time. It was 28 Degrees and not a 'little white fluffy cloud' anywhere in sight. We had a sports day at school. All the parents turned up in their team colors and the games began. It was an fantastic event. One of the highlights of my time here. It was breath-taking at times to see the passion in the parents faces. The kids were having fun, but not anywhere near as much as the oldies were. Tug-of-War, relay, three legged races, sprints, 15 legged races - numerous little battles with balloon popping, kiddy pushing. Press up endurance, dance offs - so many more I struggle to conjure them all up. The MC seemed to be thriving in her active role. She was bouncing around the dusty Elementary school courtyard from the get-go. 9:00 till 4:30 saw my forehead get a little rosey and my calf muscles a little tighter, but it was a thoroughly enjoyable day. Great to meet some of the parents on such a day. It was ended in great fashion. All the kids and parents had written wishes on a slip of paper, attached to a helium induced balloon, the countdown began and then they were released into the cloudless blue sky.

Whilst we were all in the summer heat, Glen, a ten year old Korean chappy was carrying out his speech in a contest across town. Just 9 days before I was asked to write a 3-minute speech for him. Below is what I wrote. Anthony Teacher did the artwork. Erin Teacher supplied the vocals for the CD recording. Christine Teacher guided Glen through numerous read-offs, leading up to his performance. On Saturday, as we were packing up the sporting left-overs, his mother, who is the school receptionist, received a call to announce he had come 2nd..... GREAT result......

A year of happiness

What does the year hold for you? As every New Year turns, new challenges, new goals and new adventures are within our grasp. As the cold and frosty winds of January and February blow by and we pack away our hats and gloves, the warmer fronts of March, April and May bring joy and happiness. Cherry blossoms take their stance on the trees, around the hills, valleys and mountains. The colors of pink, purple and white inspire artists and photographers to explore the beauty.

The Kindergartens, elementary and middle schools, high schools and universities change from the winter sweater to the spring shirt in time for the rise in heat. The water cooler becomes a place of rest, a moment to cool down and refresh. Children’s day and Teachers Day pass with many smiles, gifts and joyful messages. The feeling of love and care brings everyone together at a time of giving and sharing.

June, July and August arrive. The humid weather reaches its high and bows down on the nation. As the changma season of June and July swarms across the countryside, a sea of umbrellas rise above our heads, stopping the rain from soaking us through. As we reach and pass the middle months, it’s time to prepare for the festive season of September.

Chuseok is time for families and loved ones to come together. We depart from our cities in a wave and head to our homelands. We share food, presents and stories. We laugh, we smile, we hug, and we remember our loved ones. It’s a time for happiness and joy.

As the cold winds re-enter our daily routines, our walks, our journeys, our trips to the market, it’s time to cover up and brace for the winter months. The year has been a good one. I have smiled, I have laughed, I have taught, I have learnt. I’m now one year older and one year wiser. What does the next year hold for me? More happiness and joy? I hope so.

Alice hitting the second hurdle!!

The Fathers striding!!

Smiling Angela!!

Wishes!!

Milk. Bread. Toast. Skippy. Swimming.

Photo: Angela on the left. Kelly on the right. I think they're growing up way too quickly. They already know all my jokes and are clearly not impressed by my latest attempt at forcing happiness upon them.... haha.

Her name is Emily. She's 7/8 years old. Korean. Using English as her second language. The class was creative writing. I gave her 3 key words. The 1st being a person (Chris Teacher), the 2nd being a place (Candy Shop) and lastly, 3rd, was an action (Swimming in Milk). No more information or guidance was given. Just think, brainstorm and write until I say stop. This is what she did.

Once upon a time, the Chris Teacher was live in the milk world. The every where is Milk. Example, there's a swimming pool. But It's not water, it's milk. Understand? There don't has water. They only drink milk. And they take shower with a milk! So one time, Chris Teacher is swimming in milk. And he sees a candy shop. He like candys, so he out of the milk swimming pool and went to the candy shop. And buy the candys.

Genius. Even I wouldn't have come up with 'Milk World'. Her use of 'Understand?' is so cute. I was speaking with the other teachers and we think that she has just picked this usage up from us teachers as we are constantly bombarding the kids with it! to see if we're making any sense!!

Going back to the world of Milk. My new world in Korea has a big void. MILK. For those of you that know me well, i.e. Family and Himley Towers crew, you know how much I used to guzzle the cows white stuff. Well, I have given it up. You can get it here, I've tasted it, and it tastes good. I dabble in it now and then. Like an ex gambler and fruit machines, every now and then you throw in a pound or two. I've also given up toast. This one is VERY hard. It's made a little easier that your average loaf of white isn't that tasty here. But a good loaf can be found and has been found in the past.

A trip was made recently, by Anthony and I, to Costco. On walking down one of the high rising aisles I noticed 'Skippy' peanut butter (Crunchy and Smooth - another dilemma in itself). It was perched on the shelf like an over-sized lepricorn on it's pot of gold. It had a big sign above it saying 'Toby, what is wrong with?? Milk?? Bread?? surely you're not going to forget me as well!'
I picked it up, smiled, looked at Anthony, looked back at Skippy, frowned, sighed, looked back at Anthony, whose expression was 'why not?'..... I couldn't do it. The little lepricorn lives on.

Teachers Day

Picture, of me, courtesy of Patrick Duce, who is sadly leaving Korea in under 10 days.

Thursday 15^th May was teachers day in South Korea. I wasn’t too sure of what the day entailed. It turned out that not much was different to the normal routine of 9-5:30 of boundless fun teaching the cutest kids on planet earth. What was different was the entourage of gifts, cakes and generosity from the kids and their enthusiastic mothers. I received the following.

· 50,000 won voucher.

· Clinique for men set. Includes large bottle of aftershave and cream.

· Aveda – bar of soap

· The Face Shop – creams

· Aromatherapy set from a Korean department store

· A mug

· A red rose

· A few roses in a gift set

· A freshly made cheese cake

· Clinque for women set. Slight mistake on behalf of the mother. Not a problem though. I wear make up and am interested in anti-wrinkle cream. Joke.

· Clarins for men – après shave lotion.

· And finally, some whitening cream. Again I believe the mother made a mistake here.

The above personal gifts were accompanied by numerous large cakes, packs of biscuits, rice cakes, candies, homemade food packages and vitamin drinks. All were scattered around Kids Herald school. Every corner you turned there was another inviting calorie laced snack reluctantly hovering its way into your mouth.

However, I've saved the best till last. Don’t get me wrong I’m very grateful and was very happy to receive all these gifts, even more so as I had run out of a decent smelling aftershave and also my Dove soap had just turned into a pea sized incompetent bar of soap in the soap dish.

Leena. You have all met her and heard her opinions on international relationships, and also seen her advice for me on matters such as dating. Her gift was a letter. Self produced, self written and given with love. Word for word I regurgitate.

Dear Toby teacher.

Hello, toby teacher!

Teacher, I’m sorry. I spoke Korean everyday!!

And thank you, teacher. Teached us, and gave only 1-2 pg of workbook H.W.

Teacher, today is teachers day in Korean. So you can do any thing whatever do you want!

I’m very sorry, and very thank you.

Thank you, teacher! Buy!

From. Leena

My favourite part is the buy/bye slip up. Thanks Leena.

I mentioned above that the parents were enthusiastic and generous in their giving of the gifts. The last week has also seen some confirmation that, some of, the mothers are also very unreasonable on some certain matters. Sean left in non-smooth circumstances. A difference in opinion between Sean’s mother and everyone else on planet earth gave her, the motivation to wrongly and unreasonably, in one way of another, blame Christine Teacher for Sean’s departure. Also, my co-teachers Anthony and Silvia face loosing one, possibly two, of their kids due to more unsavoury and tasteless thought processing by mothers. But I’m not here to pass judgements on any mother. Mothers are very special people and have their own rights when it comes to their own little ones. Mothers are biased, but they have a right to be sometimes. Doesn’t mean we have to agree, but in this case (i.e. IN KOREA) you have to say yes, I’m sorry, you’re right, I’m wrong, let’s move on.

Next on the agenda is sports day. This Saturday brings the annual sporting event of Kids Heralds calendar. Running, jumping and I’m guessing a host of other verbs will make up a sweaty day in the ever increasing Seoul heat. The finale is a choreographed masterpiece by Christine Teacher, no sarcasm Christine (genuine thoughts). It comes in the shape of the song ‘ Hey Mickey, you’re so fine, you’re so fine, you blow my mind, Hey Mickey, Hey Mickey’………………………. I say no more………….

News..... Busan, Sean, Jeremy and MADE.

The longest weekend in my 25 year history came to an end last night (this morning) at around 1:00am. Usually when someone refers to something as being long, in terms of a time frame, they’re making reference to the emotion of boredom or an elongated waste of time, that could, and should of, been spent elsewhere or with more tact and planning. My long weekend was nothing like the above. It was a consistent flow of laughter, relaxation and consumerism (i.e. food, coffee, soju, beer, water, sand, etc). It was relentless in the same way that a cat paws its way into comfort on your lap. The only pause we had was the three hour train journey from B-A.

The weekend was spent between restaurants, the beach, hotel/condo rooms, noraebangs and a number of walkways, escalators and street crossings. Sleep deprivation was a problem, as was indecision, but not in a million years would it have been detrimental to the even-flow of the weekends activities. All in all a successful and thoroughly enjoyable few days away. Next stop???!!! Picture is of lots of happy teachers taking a photo with some eager Koreans.

Other news:

A small conversation worthy of a mention. This is only significant to me, therefore significant as a blog, as Giovanna and I have recently had numerous jokes to do with the amount of produce that is ‘MADE in China’. So one of my afternoon ESL classes consists of four boys whose ability is a weak as my ability would be, to handle a tarantula whilst walking a tight-rope over a 300ft drop.

This is how it played out.

Toby Teacher: (pointing at the door) What is that?
All class: Door.
Toby Teacher: What colour is it?
All class: Green.
Toby Teacher: What are doors made from? (obviously hoping for the answer ‘tree’)
Glen: Made in China.

Genius.

Also an update from Red and Blue class. In the last week Sean left. Sean was the boy that struggled to progress. I have taught him for 9 months now and he moved on last week. I wish him luck. His departure will create a hole, but it will also create more time for me to focus on those abilities that can and hopefully will progress.

I played ‘Simon Says’ with Red and Blue combined today. The little legend that is Jeremy, from Red class, only went a won the game. He has been in this ‘English as a second language’ malarkey 12 months less than ALL the others, but he cruised to victory, reminiscent to that of C. Ronaldo, scoring the most goals this season. Watch this space, Jezzer is here and he isn’t going anywhere.

Laters.

Bits and Pieces. Including an extract from Leena.

Photo of Soju Man at Gyeongju Station.

Hello. How are you? I'm fine thanks and you. Good Morning Robin, Good Morning Angela. Good Morning Jinny, Good Morning Erin Teacher, Good Morning. Good Morning. Good Morning Christine Teacher. (Nod, Bow, Bow Nod). Thank Mother, thank you Father, thank you Teachers, enjoy your snack. OK, hurry up and eat. Please get out your blue books. Student book time. Teacher, Homework stickers. Teacher, Weekly Phrase. Yes Angela. Yes Robin.

This is my morning. Every morning. Monday to Friday. It has become a poetic pattern of certainty every morning. It's beautiful in the same way that two buses come along at the same time. It's melodic. It has rhythm. It has soul. Most importantly I wouldn't change it for anything. I look forward to walking through the door at 9:15 and waiting for the chorus to begin. It's like a walk in the jungle. One bird starts to sing, then they all come swinging from trees, crawling out of the woodwork, singing in perfect formation. I smile and the day begins.

I had a conversation with Leena a couple of days ago that i thought was worthy of a mention. My relationship with this class is rising to new levels. They have become my insiders to Korean culture, from the perspective of a 10-12 year old girl. I ask them advice about stuff. They advise me on how I should dress. How and exactly when I should cut my hair. They even comment on the status of my eyes, and I quote;
"Your eyes look like you bored"
"Your eyes look like they're on spring and fall out of face" (they drew image to support)
"Your eyes look sleepy"
"Your eyes are crazy"
So the conversation with Leena went exactly like this. I have started to dictate our conversations on the spot to ensure 100% clarity.

Toby Teacher: Leena, I need your help. I'm going on a date tonight.
Leena: With a Korean girl??
Toby Teacher: Yes. Do you think I should pay for dinner?
Leena: Yes, because many men always go dinner.
Toby Teacher: Why shouldn't she pay?
Leena: You like her? Maybe you like her. Because you go to dinner to her. She is very, she will like you. Many men thinks, if you pay. My father too.
Toby Teacher: Shall I buy her a present?
Leena: Yeah.
Toby Teacher: What?
Leena: Ring? Necklace? marry ring.
Toby Teacher: What should I ask her?
Leena: Do you like me?
Toby Teacher: Should I kiss her??
Leena: NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!, you're only meeting first time. (shake of the head to symbolise disapproval)
Toby Teacher: Should I tell her she's beautiful?
Leena: Yes, say you're a beautiful women.
Toby Teacher: OK, Thanks Leena. Have you finished your work?
Leena: NO teacher. You talking to me.
Toby Teacher: Sorry Leena.

Last weekend it was Gyeongju with my Dad and Step Mother. This weekend it's Busan with a truck load, or should I say train load, of friendly teachers. Below are a few choice pictures from Gyeongju.

Not in Seoul

Not only am I not in Seoul but this is officially my first blog, that I've written, that hasn't been produced on my laptop, in my room. I'm currently sitting in my hotel room in a small city called Gyeongju. Gyeongju sits in the South Eastern sector of the country, a mere 30K from the sea. I've spent the last 40 hours cycling around the area, taking in tombs, palaces and grass mounds. The grass mounds double up as the tombs, therefore making the tombs not as impressive as advertised. Nevertheless Gyeongju has given my first taste of life in Korea, outisde of Seoul, and it tastes good. To add to the excitment of being outside Seoul,
Im with my father and step mother. Tomorrow is a holiday, so one more day of excursions then it's back to Oryu-dong for me and back to London for the rellies. Then a cushty four day week will be rewarded with a 3 day holiday in Busan. Busan is the second city in Korea. It lies on the South coast and, so I;ve heard, it has a couple of good beaches and plenty to do and see. This time I feel there won't be much cycling and tourist fuelled excusrions, but more drink fuelled lunches and student-esk adventures around the unknown southern lands of Korea. Those in the know have informed me that there will be around 30-40 of us training it down to Busan next weekend. I fear that many stories and pictures will be tagging their way around numerous facebook albums. Needless to say I'm very excited and looking forward to what the immediate future holds. As for right here and right now, I need to jump in the shower and then head out for some samgabsal with the folks.