Lately...

When my co-teachers open all the windows in the winter I'm just like:

 

Kikinitinkorea.tumblr.com

So...it's been awhile.

Things have been going pretty well lately. I have so much to write about and I don't have the time because I'm too busy desk warming (playing on Facebook and Pinterest). But good news: I'm over the homesickness I've been feeling this past month. I'll explain more later when I have time to give details!

As for the photo above, well let's just say I miss Western logic. Here in Korea 'fresh air' is the answer to everything. Well not really since the subways and buses are hot as hell because no one opens any windows. In schools the windows are left open (AND DOORS!) so that fresh air can flow through the rooms. I'm not really sure why, I've tried to ask and didn't get a clear answer. Some of my friends say it's so the students don't get sick from all the germs getting stuck in the classrooms. I can't imagine that being the reason since kids are forced to come to school with masks over their faces when the have the flu! That's right, the flu. 

So I freeze. I wear all my normal winter teaching clothes plus my coat, gloves, and sometimes my scarf if it gets really bad. By January I'm expecting to wear at least four layers and have adhesive hand/foot warmers stuck to me as the first layer. My Tuesday school allows the teachers to use their heat when they want. This is awesome! - I foolishly thought, because thirty minutes after my co-teacher turned on the heat the room was a stuffy oven.

Patrick's school told him their heat will only turn on when there is snow on the ground. This will be every other hour.

Oh did I mention that the doors are open to the outside even if the heat is on?

There is no happy medium.

Enough complaining. That's the last time, I promise. I have so much to post. Life here is so exciting and challenging. I'll make time!

Something to Think About.

Went to Seoul this weekend (trip #3)

Paper folding with little Yeo Won. The Keunsaem School for North Korean Defector's: English Outreach Program.

These are the best weekends.

This is a great video I borrowed from my friend. Take a minute and watch it!

Presidential Election 2012

I've been listening to the debates via internet with my coteacher when we have down time. They make me feel really uncomfortable! I have been asked some pretty weird questions about Obama and I never know how to respond. The best question was "is this a normal voice (accent) for a black person?"

It's really nice being away during the election. Seriously. And no I'm not voting. I blink and Monday suddenly becomes Friday evening. I'm not even sure what day it is right now. I missed my deadline for an absentee ballet. Sorry!!! I was distracted with life in Korea. I do care. I promise.

It's Fall in Korea

It's that time of year again. Except this time, I'm in Korea. The trees are beautiful and the mountains (are everywhere I look) are not too bad. I love this weather.
Patrick and I have completed our "everything here is novel" stage and we're in the middle of the "homesickness" stage. We're fine, don't worry. The days are long and our pillow talk has been about school and how to deal with..........things. The picture above describes the way I feel. Ha... which I don't even know what I feel anymore.

We'll be home in August, Missouri (ixnay on the extending our contract thing. Ha!).

I reblogged this gif from a friend in KC. Please visit his Tumblr.

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English Morning Show

Hello and welcome to the English Morning Show!!!

Thought I would post about my Wednesday morning show since we took pictures last week. Every Wednesday at 8:30AM I sit  in front of the camera along with my two buds, Tommy and Crystal. I don't know their Korean names since I nic named them the first day they landed this job with me, but they don't mind. We read from a script that I write about the Korean cartoon, Pororo. He's a little penguin that lives out in the middle of nowhere with other little friends. All the friends play together and usually run into situations that teach them morals. 

I think Pororo is really annoying but I have to watch each episode three times and I'm too old to appreciate his show.

Anyways, here's a picture of us in 'action.' We usually sit with our script in front of us and that's it, no weather or day cards and definitely no folders. But we had to look good for our article! Plus... the show is on Wednesdays not Mondays ;) ooohhh well.

Did I mention this is live?

Above is a script I made for this coming Wednesday. It doesn't relate to the episode below but you get the picture. *English key words and expressions!!!!

5th Grade Midterm Review: Gangnam Style

 It's midterm season here! I am in charge of making a review for the 5th grade (I see them on Fridays***today). Here in Korea kids will participate in class activities for candy, points in a game or any other reward. It might be a little wrong back in the states but rewarding works beautifully here. Most of the English teachers in our program use a website called Waygook for class materials. The biggest hit is the BOMB GAME! Some genius English teacher made a Psy version of the bomb game. Everyone is using it! Even me. Of course I used Andrew Bird in my Gangnam Style PowerPoint! Duh. I hope they like it.

The answer pops up after you hit the space bar.

 

All points are little cartoon Psy characters

 To get your question your team picks a letter.

Cross your fingers your team doesn't get this bomb!!!!

These guys do the horse dance too. It's brilliant. And they also give you additional points. Whichever team ends up with the most points at the end of the game gets to leave my class first! Wooohooo! Just doing my job. Changing the world one English class at a time.

  
adios,

It's Pay Day in Cheonan!

My plans for this weekend in Seoul.

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