Friends

Hoon and his friends :) So funny :)

Hoon- my first friend in Seoul.

HI :)

What's new with me:
So I was getting really homesick for the past couple of weeks. I really miss my friends. I miss coming home to my zoo and friends. It is not the easiest thing ever. I am not used to this sort of thing anymore. I used to be when I was younger and moved frequently. Many of you understand what its like going to a new city where you don't know anyone, i.e. Michelle, Katie, Paul, Eddie, Maya, Suzanne, Laura. Its good and bad, as with anywhere you are. Good connections are difficult to make. They are much easier when you are home, because you have commonalities, even just proximity helps in building relationships. Also, genuine laughter makes everything better.

It was exciting, overwhelming and new when I got here. I was very fascinated by Seoul. There is a lot to figure out, when not being able to read or speak, it becomes a bit frustrating. Then work got tough, not difficult, just so many hours (part time my ass). I was exhausted. It was taking a huge toll on me. I was really exhausted and consistently sick. So, I joined a gym. Yeah not the best idea when you are to sick to go. I have gone since, but at first it was difficult. My job was long, and as many of you know, running after kids is very difficult. They get sick, you get sick.

Well I happened to meet 2 good new friends. I ventured out again. It was good. Laughing is definitely the best medicine. They are helping me explore more, food, places and people. I feel the rest of the year will be different. I am hopeful, plus my brother-in-law will be here soon, and I can show him what I have seen and learned so far :)

Well big hugs, if anyone wants to send anything postcards letters, please send to my school:

Attn: Ms. Rosemary Houston
YBM ECC Sungbuk ECC
143-5 Udam Building 2nd floor
Somun-dong 6 ga, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul 136-036

LOVE YOU BUNCHES!

June 3, 2009

Hi hi hi :)
SO the week and a half of hell is finally over! We had to do end of the month evaluations. I didn't have the most kids to evaluate, but I did have a lot. I had 58 or 53 kids to evaluate. THAT BLOWS! Because, it isn't during our normal scheduled hours, it time before/after work. Some teachers do them from home, as I said before. But, I won't work if I try to do it at home! So I spent some days working past 8pm. Since I am the newest, I have no idea how the other teachers have done this for so long!! Its going to be a tough year. But, I never said I was expecting to have a year vacation. I realize I have to earn my keep. But, sometimes I just don't want to! Especially when you hear, "teacher, teacher, teacher look, teacher he did this, teacher he is speaking Korean, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher." There is a reason I am not a parent at this stage in my life! I deal with a lot of different ages too: from 6-14. The most prominent age is 6 years old Korean, which is 5 American. I can't explain when the dates switch or whatever, I can just say they believe you are alive in the womb, so they count that into the age.

SO another stressful thing is, on top of my evaluations (OH AND BEING SICK!), I had to prepare for this open class. Which (I mean no disrespect to the school) I think they blow. It makes the teachers have extra work (that they don't get compensated for), and added stress of having the parents in the classroom! Which I know that ALL the "main" teachers hate it, but we are so glad when it is finished. Not all teachers have to do the open class, just the main Kindergarten teachers. Mine is finished! My co-teacher for the class (she is the Korean teacher for the class), witnessed me getting super stressed! SO glad its over. I hate extra work. WE already work so much!

Anyway, we have a 3-day weekend coming up, so I am looking forward to not going into work!!!!!YAY!

K- little update BUH BYE!