All Hallows' Eve, Buan Elementary.

Must pay the gate keeper in candy to enter the room.

A favorite student. 

Fun horseplay.

Giving out candy.  Big mistake, screaming always follows quickly.

My first class.

She says we are going to get  married.  She is going to divorce her old teacher.  She knows divorce but not the word apple, hmm.

Never yelling at him again. Apparently he is possessed.  Look at the face.

Gagging on cider, thanks Molly.

Class number 2

Payback is a biotch.  No more HW for this kid.

Class 3.

The stereotypical plump class clown.  Without a doubt one of my favorites. 

Three kids ;)

Class 4.  People heard we were having a party.  So a few extras showed up for the free candy and cider. I would have done the same thing 15 years ago.  (Cider is like 7up, or Sprite)

Three of my advanced English students.

Here are some shots from the Halloween party at my school.  It was a crazy day of sugar highs, tricks/treats (the kids love the trick part) and a lots of candy wrappers on the floor.

100 days in Korea.................with this some jew guy.

Today is my 100th day in Korea! It has gone by rather quickly.  I feel like I have done more the past 100 days than I did in the year and a half after graduating college.  

Sungjoo (some jew, his nickname) and I refer to these first 100 days as round one.  We are boxers so it fits us nicely.  I will describe my plans for round 2 below. 

I am sorry I have not written on here in over two weeks.  I have had nothing out of the ordinary (I say that tentatively as I am 7,000 miles from home) to write about not previously covered in my updates.  I have been settling into teaching well.  I know 60% of my students names, public transit has been mastered, my Korean is improving, and I am exploring all my options for the next few years of my life.

It looks like I will be here longer than planned.  I am highly interested in Korean graduate school.  The differences in grad school here and at home are numerous.    Grad school at home means a great education.  America is number one in the world for masters programs.  However you pay for it.  30,000 dollars in yearly tuition is common.  I also have expensive habits.  Eating a lot and preferring to sleep inside cost money.  Tack on a few more grand for living expenses.  American grad schools do not allow you to work, debt debt, debt.  A big bonus is that American grad schools do teach in English!  That could make things easier. 
Going to school in Korea means a good education, and only 3,000 a year in tuition.  I can work as a tutor teaching English and save some money.  However my Korean will need to dramatically improve as my classes would be in 한글 (Korean language).  Korean graduate school would be incredibly difficult.  I would really like to try and make it work.  The goal after graduation would be drum-roll please...........(교수님) English professor!  With a few years of experience under my belt I would come home and start some business plans I have with friends.  Nothing is set in stone but I really looking into every option.  

I might be moving to Seoul in the next few months.  New and better opportunities to make more money are becoming apparent and I would like to capitalize on them.  I also enjoy the city.   I will have another post up tomorrow with pictures from my classes Halloween party!
Deano

You just have to stop and ask yourself........

It boggles my mind that I have been in Korea for 75 days today!  The time has flown by.  I have been working for over a month and have traveled all over this country.  I have many new friends.  I am making various connections and  doing well at my job.  I am Sungjoo's first roommate ever.  I am glad I have not worn out my welcome at the apartment.  I have become a master artisan with an iron, (our washer and dryer do not like my clothes) and I feel strange when holding a fork.  Surprisingly I am better at using chop sticks with my left hand even though I am right handed.  I am not intimidated by using the subway or bus system and have adjusted well to living in the city.  I am very glad I came over.

This past Friday I went on a picnic with all of the Korean and English teachers in my district.  On the way I looked around and thought to myself,  "How in the hell did I get here?"  I am on a bus in South Korea at 10 in the morning, surrounded by Canadians, New Zealanders, Americans and Koreans.  Everyone is drinking Cass (Korean Beer) and Soju (Korean Vodca).  There are disco balls, LED screens, lights pulsating to music, and Koreans blasting away on a karaoke machine.  It was hysterical.  For those who do not know, karaoke is huge over here.  There was a young Korean lady on the bus who was turning 27. Guess who was chosen to sing happy birthday and bring her a cake.  Yep, that would be me.  I made the mistake of carrying a tune when I sang happy birthday.  I had to bust out "You're Way to Beautiful Girl" by Sean Kingston a few minutes later (my boss' choice for me).  "You have no shame, do you buddy?" was the quote from a joking New Zealander.  I am really glad there was no video tape.  When playing by Korean sociological rules you have to do what your superiors tell you.  Korea is hierarchical based society to the max.  Age, sex, job, and looks dictate how you carry a conversation with someone.  When your boss in America asks you to go out after work you can say no, in Korea, no dice.  You have to go or you will be labeled disrespectful.  It can change the demeanor of a relationship instantly and is difficult to fix.   Sungjoo is struggling with that in his current position.  He is a young professor.  His older associates ask him to eat out all the time.  He cannot say no.  Alcohol flows like Niagara Falls at dinner parties here.  He hates drinking but is forced to all the time.  

Mr. Lee showing some mic skills

Flat screen and karaoke machine

I found out I have some big decisions to make.  I was just offered a position managing all of the English speaking teachers in my district.  I do not know the details yet but the head boss asked me himself.  I never thought about managing people except for enlisting in Army or Navy OCS, which is still an option (sorry M and J).  I know I am not over here to become a pencil pusher in a cubical (nothing wrong with that but it is my personal hell).  I also have the amazing option of studying the next few years and trying to achieve my Masters in physical education.  I am not sure I am ready to be in school again until I am 29.  Lord have mercy, I remember being a dumb 18 year who knew everything.  Now I am in my mid-twenties and realize my parents are always right.

I am going to a fireworks display in Seoul this Sat.  Look for some cool pics here soon.  Hope you enjoyed my post.
Dean the Karaoke Machine