My school and kids

Thus far in my blogging I have covered many an adventure, but yet to have explained one major area in my Korean life. The one area being my school, my co-teacher and my kids! I have not written about them because I am perhaps so used to living with them that I've easily digressed into taking them for granted? Or maybe I've gotten tired of talking about them? Probably a bit of both, but more so the former as I love them dearly! They are my gargantuan rock in midst of the chaos that is Korea! The school itself and the other teachers are very sweet and shy. Some teachers hide from me because they're scared to speak English. Others are much more eager to practice their conversation skills and confront me whenever they get the chance. One might think this would be awkward or annoying, having to always speak in short, blunt sentences and talk about the weather. On the contrary, I have a great time with it and actually like talking with the pigeon English more than regular! (Though some breaks are needed! Sometimes desperately!) My co-teacher, Jin-hee, has greatly excelled at her English since I first arrived, and thus saves me from too much chopped up conversation with her translation. And, she not only saves me from awkwardness but facilitates nearly everything I do for school. Things such as paperwork and meetings elude me for I can neither write Korean nor understand it spoken. I couldn't even fill in a bubble worksheet on Korean vocabulary let alone do packet after packet of paperwork! This is where my shining, silvery panted co-teach rushes in with her sword-like pen waving valiantly. I duck and cover while she cleans out the unwanted scruff around me, much like a mother bird cares for her young? I know nothing of what happens until its all over, and I'm free to flit and fly around quite carelessly. I hop about the room saying my hellos to everyone and everything, then rush back to my nice nest of a cubicle to hide for a few hours. Honestly, I could not ask for a better job nor a better co-teach! No paperwork and a cool chick to see movies with? Talk about Korean guys with? Kill countless hours doing nothing at work with? I either was Ghandi in my past life, or I am terribly in debt to the universe because that is just my awesome co-teacher! I have not even mentioned the kids!

The kids are in one word: FANTASTIC. When I first arrived, I could not deny that I fell in love with their cute smiles and shy hellos. But now? Now it's grown into this all-encompassing, never-forgetting, happy rays of sunshine, love. Love everyday! They meet me in the hallways and chirp "Hello!!!" "Nice to meet you!" everyday and every time they see me. Meaning, they could have seen me a minute prior and still would scream "Hello!!!!" again just because they can. They're firstly entertained by their ability to communicate with a foreigner, but secondly (and I'm completely full of myself) they love me! :) And that love is, if not more so, reciprocated. We have class and I love them. We eat lunch and I love them. We meet on the street outside of school and I love them. They radiate all that is good in the world, and I'm the lucky bastard who gets to feel that everyday, all day.

Now, after having realized my luck and after having put it in perspective, I have taken on an entirely new outlook of where I want my life to be and to go. I don't think I can ever go back to school after this, that is most certain. I also don't think I could live in the states, or at least for that long (except for Alaska- I could vacation there!). But, like a person who has become used to steak and cake for dinner every night, I have grown accustomed to innocence and love, to silliness and energy. I could never again deny myself such happiness that I know exists within children and within myself. I am ruined, and damn happy to be. It's figuring out where to go from here, if I do go somewhere at all.

I've definitely decided to stay another year. There is no question in that. I may just stay for a third year as well, but that might be jumping the gun. I have given some thought to the Peace Corps, and have started to fill the application twice now. I think that if I could get an international teaching certificate, I could join their ranks with some know-how and help where is needed. I'd love to meet kids from other countries and to once again make a difference in another life. I'd love to travel more. I'd love to make it all career somehow. But this is where I lose focus and teeter on the edge of my future. I've never liked planning far ahead, and if anything I'm a spontaneous flake. Yet, I'd like to think my goals have narrowed, that I've grown up a bit and that I have more of a future planned now than I did six months ago. In fact, I'm certain of these improvements, and perhaps I'm also certain that I'll never grow up, nor settle down, nor ever truly be goal-oriented. Gah- the mind of an expat can be so confusing! The possibilities within one life are nearly infinite, just never really thought about because there is no time. I have too much time and therefore am rambling.

Anyways (best word in the dictionary), one thing is a fact: my kids, my co-teach and my school are some of the best things that have ever happened to me. I love them and I love Korea because they're in it. Below are some pics of us on an outing for summer English camp, and if I can find them- some pics of me teaching! Enjoy :D

My Korean co-teach with some of our lovelies at the entrance to Caribbean Bay (like the Dells).

Cute kids! ^^ This girl is so kind, though I need to help her more with her English!

Happy boys~ going swimming soon!!!

These two. Oh my! Their expressionless, ice cream sucking faces was just too priceless. They reminded me of the creepy twins in the movie, The Great Outdoors. Just a little less creepy, and a bit funny :)

The two cutie-clingons of summer camp. AKA Jenna's Groupies.

Soldier boy. I always solute my kids because a) the teacher yells at them so much that I make fun of their "station" as er..soldiers, and b) my dad taught me right!

Goofing around during summer camp. The dude putting bunny ears on me is actually not a kid, but a fellow English teacher that was hired as an extra for camp. I'd like to think we're all twelve here.

Line up soldiers! Knees high! Straighten those lines! What are you? Chinese?! ... This is our P.E. day a couple of months ago, but still can't get over their army-like routine.

Gifts from the students for Teacher's Day! Some wrote me letters, too. The younger ones writing Korean, but the older kids able to make a very sweet English version! So proud!!