Things have been hectic lately. This last full week of school was on full blast, and I had to maneuver getting tests ready, digging up information on leaving procedures (how much is going to be withheld from my paycheck for my flight here, what day I have to leave my apartment, when the director will take me to the immigration office, when I'll get my final pay for LAST month AND this month. That kind of thing).

My first length in Korea has been a bit of a bumpy ride, but I guess that's all part of the learning process.

Readers beware. Rant ahead.

Something funny. I've noticed that there seems to be some strange pissing contest going on between foreign guys in this country. I haven't encountered this at all with the gals. Older guys especially tend to be REALLY condescending towards new foreigners.

I love getting advice from people that have lived in this country for a few years. It can be good advice, and they've been through a lot of what new foreigners have complaints and qualms about. It'd be biting your nose off to spite your face not to listen to them. BUT, and I strongly emphasize the BUT here, when you start using your experience as a spring board into arrogance, the listening stops.

If your sentences begins with "Because I'm a qualified teacher...." then you're going to be better off talking to a spoon, because I certainly won't be paying attention to you.

I don't have an ME degree, I haven't been here for a decade, and I'm not married to a local... but that doesn't translate into me automatically being a transient, unqualified, crap teacher. I have a university degree, experience in working with ESL students, am TESOL certified, and I have a passion for teaching. But these guys think that what makes a GOOD and QUALIFIED teacher isn't the passion, or the hard work and determination, or the good attitude... it's a 2 year ME degree and a Korean spouse.

Please.

Your degree doesn't make you a teacher.

The only thing those guys have going for them is their experience. But even that gets wasted because they use that fact to continually boost their ego.

Anyone else met any guys like this? Am I the only one that gets irritated with them?! I may be green when it comes to teaching classes, but being new doesn't make someone the scum of the earth. Get over yourself, and start being helpful why don't you. For goodness sake.

Well, now that that's out of the way...

I've got 8 days left until my flight back to the states for my lovely 3 week vacation!

I was able to get this time off because I don't start at my new position until October. My last day at the current school is Tuesday (thank you God), so I've got a whole month of nothing to do before my training starts at the new place.

I'm admittedly going to miss my kindergarten students. I really adore them. They have been my little rays of sunshine at that school. I looked forward to seeing them every weekday morning.

They don't know yet that a new teacher is coming. They'll find out on Monday when she shows up in my class with me, I guess. I'm not sure how they'll react, but I'm hoping it'll go over well. I have people telling me that kids adjust well to new things and won't have a problem, and then I have other people telling me that it's hard for kids to make big changes.

I'll miss their hugs and kisses, their mischievous ways, their refusal to let go of my hand once they'd gotten ahold of it. They're bright. Very very bright. They've learned so much so quickly. I know that these little kids have a great chance at growing up well. I'll think of them often! And I'll find a perfect picture of them to add to the picture frames that will litter my new apartment.

Well, this was a bit of a catch up post.

I have some other stuff to blather about, but I'll leave that for a separate blog.

Everyone have a great weekend.

Until next post,

~A.