Boy do I......

Feel sorry for some Korean students.........

The One Place I HATE....

It was time for my 6 month check-up at the dentist.  I HATE the dentist, but they gotta do what they gotta do.

Like my first visit, because I traveled so far to see them (about 2 . 5 hours), I got my fluoride treatment for free!!

The final result.....NO CAVITIES!

When it was time for me to pay the receptionist asked me if I wanted to make my next appointment, which would be in 6 months.  I smiled as big as I could and replied, "Oh no. I will be back in my country, America. I leave in August!"  She made a sad face like don't go and then asked me if I wanted to stay longer......ya'll already know what my answer was!

And then there were 79....

Line Drawn...

In addition to teaching elementary school and middle school, I also teach at the high school, two sections of English...

A few weeks ago, I told who is supposed to be my "co-teacher" at the high school that I would no longer teach the second class of high school students.  Before this I had gone to her on three different occasions asking for assistance and giving her a "report" on how the day's class went.  Each time she tried to reassure me and told me that she would come and "help out" with the next class.  At first I told her not to worry about coming to help because I knew that she too had additional work to do.  The last time she offered, I took her up on her offer; however she never showed up.

It was time for a line to be drawn.  After yet another dreadful class, I went and spoke with her.  I explained (again) students' behavior and lack there of.  I also explained to her that I didn't come to her country to babysit, I came to teach English (of which I was not doing).  I went on further to explain that I know I am in a foreign country and that things are different here than in America, but I do no believe in wasting time.  If I take the time to plan lessons, it would be nice to be able to teach those lessons.  I know that students are under a lot, probably too much, pressure here.  Keeping that in mind, I always try to make learning English fun and not so tedious.  Needless to say, I told her that I would no longer teach this particular class due to extreme rude behavior and laziness.  No teacher, let alone a foreigner should have to tolerate this.  I know that our American kids can be rude at times, I've experienced that.  I know that a few can be lazy, I've experienced that too.  But when this is the case, I am able to work things out for the better.  This here is a totally different beast of an animal.

I found out Monday that she, the high school "co-teacher" would take over the class for the remander of the semester.  I thanked her and apologized at the same time.

I thanked God for deliverance and mercy!

And then there were 83.....

Now THAT is a Garden!

After learning of my mom's new garden that my pops started for her, I wanted to show her what a "garden" (if you will) looks like in Korea.  The photos below are next to or on the sides of houses, and in one case a Buddhist temple.

Area next to Buddhist Temple

Garden on the side of house

A few steps down from the
garden in the picture above....

It's amazing to observe how Koreans plant.  After plowing the soil,
they cover it with black or white plastic (I imagine it is like an incubator),
and after a few weeks/months holes are made so
that the vegetable can grow upwards. 

I have no idea what this is (some kind of vegetable),
but I noticed it as I was walking down the stairs at my apartment.
Whatever it is has been left out to dry.  

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; 
courage to change the things I can; 
and the wisdom to know the difference. 
Living one day at a time; 
Enjoying one moment at a time; 
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; 
Taking as He did, this sinful world 
as it is, not as I would have it; 
Trusting that He will make all things right 
if I surrender to His Will; 
That I may be reasonably happy in this life 
and supremely happy with Him 
Forever in the next. 
Amen


--Reinhold Niebuhr


Why does it always seem that the closer you are to almost finishing something, the harder it gets?  Things seem to be getting ugly at one of my schools, but I press on and will continue to pray this prayer.

Beauty....

Spring is here and Summer is knocking on the door......bring on the heat!!!

Here are a few pictures that I took while in between classes at one of the elementary schools....nature here is breathtaking especially now that it is getting warmer (not to mention it rains like every other day...)

I took this in my Co-Teacher's classroom....
I only took it because it's an IVY! :) 

Short Vacation.....YES!

NO SCHOOL!

Last Thursday was Children's Day.

Monday we just had the day off, though I'm not too sure why...

And today was an off day because of Budda's birthday!

Rest, relaxation, and reading....NICE!