7 sleeps left...

I picked up my newly officiated passport for a one time entry into China. We leave for Shanghai on February 6. Leesa, Denise and I are so excited. This will the first time I've travelled with Leesa. We're all really laid back people and I don't anticipate any problems (fast forward 2 weeks: "We fought the whole time and are no longer speaking").

We have done no planning. We bought plane tickets and booked accomodation. The Lonely Planet strongly advises against travelling to China during Chinese New Year. I've never even been to a Chinese New Year celebration in Vancouver (my apologies to the Chinese community), but how bad could it be? (Fast forward 2 weeks:"We were trampled by millions of Chinese citizens and spent the rest of the trip in hospital".) I did hear on the news (CBC.ca radio live, woot represent!) that the country's train stations are shutting down and refusing to sell any more tickets. Good thing we don't plan on any train travel.

Anyway, here is a picture of my visa. Because its the only picture I've taken of anything lately.

More Job Drama

I was torn a new ass hole yesterday because I let my class line up before the bell rang. God forbid the children are educated while standing in a line instead of having their bums in seats for 90 seconds. I came to the conclusion a while back that this is a business, not a school and the people who run it are the decision makers. No matter how much I disagree with the things I have to do, at this point, I'm going to do it without question. However in the last few months, I have given an inch and they've taken a mile. For the remainder of my time here, I will obey my orders, within reason, and get the job done. The discipline and order I have worked hard to establish in my classrooms will diminish, however it is not worth losing years of my life stressing over.

Denise and Stephanie also got some super news today. Both had decided to extend their time here by about one month. Steph would have left at the end of April and Denise would be leaving when I leave, at the beginning of September. Denise and I were then heading to SE Asia to travel. Now she has to have an interim plan between her leaving here and me finishing my contract, for 6 weeks. To everyone, extending their contracts seemed to benefit the school, in getting some more time out of qualified teachers. For the teachers, a little bit more money. However they were both told today that their contracts would not be extended and they are to leave on their original dates. The news floored us all. Its seems as though all the new regulations with visas and immigration would make it too hard for the school to keep a teacher on a bit longer. However other teacher-friends of mine have had their contracts extended since the new regulations were put in place. Their excuses parallel another situation that came up when I first got here. There are video cameras in every classroom and they say its to protect the children. However why would the head teacher be looking at the monitoring screen in the teacher's room all the time? Is she that concerned about the students? No. Hence, me having my balls served to me yesterday, for lack of a better term. So, as my brother says, git 'er done Steph.

A Rant

What kind of elevator system, with 2 elevators, has one for even floors and one for odd. The one in my building.

Whoever owns this building, probably a nice person, hires good security guards, not that smart.

Things to make habits of

1. Yoga, even doing it for 10 minutes, I always feel better after.
2. Taking up the WHOLE double bed, there's no one else in there.
3. Moisturize
4. Wash my hands even more. Especially required in Korea.
5, Tell people I love them.
6. Get my nails done.
7. Laundry
8. Write letters.

I Hate My Job

I like to think of myself as a positive person overall. However this week, dissatisfaction in my job is filtering into other aspects of my life. Perhaps its because its the end of January, which is never a particularly exciting time of year anyway. Maybe its the point in my year here; 4 1/2 months in, not yet half done and not yet half remaining. I am grateful for everything that I have here, and much of it is due to working for the school I am working for. However I don't have any patience and understanding left for the mixed messages, the waste of time tasks, the lack of communication, on top of all the teaching, baby-sitting, marking and data entry that I already have to do. I'm not alone in this. Its hard to watch co-teachers being hassled by management because of parent's pressure on the school. With high turnover with Korean teachers, I feel like I have nothing left to offer of myself when a new teacher starts. I feel terrible because I'm sure I come across as unapproachable, but I have nothing left to give.

I'm a firm believer that one has the power to change anything in their lives if they are not happy. But I'm not a quitter and am going to finish the year. I want to give it my best too. The best part is the kids, and going into class and being looked at like I am the god of all adults is very rewarding. Eww, I just admitted to being an adult.

RIP Heath Ledger

Japan Photos

I've posted photos from Japan on my flickr page, just click on the link on the right...

Now that Christmas is over, its just living life a day at a time. Its nice to have so much free time. I've finished several books and have a stack of new ones to get through. Work is going well. I feel comfortable with the work load and I have some lovely students. Some of them are so adorable that I want to pick them up and give them a hug. I can see the joy that having one's own children brings.

I've been going out lots with Leesa and some of her friends lots lately. Its fun to hot some clubs again. The most interesting guys I've met however are the two guys selling kabobs outside the bar. Sali is from Turkey and Abdul is from Egypt. I've just finished reading a book called "The Nine Parts of Desire", about Islam and women. Its a fascinating book and I've become very interested in the Middle East (more so than before) and Islam. So the kabob guys are both Muslim, and one night, Leesa and I spent an hour asking them all sorts of questions. They were so nice and offered info and their opinions on certain issues. We were just interested in what they had to say, not to get confrontational or to debate anything. It was better to talk to these guys than listen to some idiot inside the bar brag about how many beers he can slam. Sali is the one who owns the kabob business and he came to Seoul to attend university and study computer science. Now I see him every weekend and we say hi and chat.

I guess that goes to show my frame of mind lately. With all my new free time, I find myself reading more news, researching random topics, like Ayatollah Komeini, or Russian politics and foreign policy. I read a biography of Vladamir Putin from a Time magazine and I'm actually following the American election. Leesa and I always get into discussions about some of these subjects, but I love to hear what she has to say about stuff.

I went to a Korean bath house on the weekend for the first time. There are separate areas for men and women, and everyone goes naked. I thought that maybe the staring would be reduced because of the situation and lack of clothing. But no. All the ajumas (older women) just kept on staring at me, all of me. I ignored it as much as I could but I did enjoy shooting daggers out of my eyes at the ones who wouldn't look away. I love the idea of saunas/bath houses though. It was inexpensive ($6), and I could stay as long as I wanted. There is a cold pool, a hot pool and a warm pool with jets. There are two steam rooms, and for an extra $20, I could get a 90 minute massage. There is a DVD room, where you can chill and watch a movie, or have a nap. Why doesn't North America adopt this tradition? Almost every other part of the world does. I see opportunity when I come home! Anyway, I felt amazing when I left. I'll be able to handle the staring the next time I go.

Denise, Leesa and I just booked another trip also. We're going to Shanghai for 5 days in February. We've booked our tickets, so we have to get visas and a hotel now. Our other friend Michelle just went and said it was amazing.

And finally, merci beaucoups. Thank you to everyone who sent me Christmas cards, gifts and kind holiday emails. I was truly touched and it meant a lot to me. It was much harder than I thought it would to be away from family and friends during the holidays. I'm lucky that I have new friends that could create some new traditions with me.

Happy b-days: to the wife, and congrats on getting your gun, to Colleen, to the Barnes' sisters, and happy 9th anniversary to Andrew and J.

Japan

Denise and I went to Tokyo for Christmas. Japan has always appealed to me and been somewhere I've wanted to visit. Four days off at Christmas and a good deal on a flight allowed us to get away from Seoul.

The time went by so fast, and we were exhausted each night and when we got back to Korea. We did everything we could: the Emperor's birthday appearance at the Palace, Harajuku, shopping (finally some shoes!), walking, the fish market, people watching, eating, Mount Fuji and some hot springs. The weather was amazing the whole time we were there. It did not feel like Christmas unless we were in a mall. And Christmas Day was just another day for the Japanese, but some new Christmas traditions for us. But we loved every minute of it and can't wait to go back.

We also took part in some of the least Japanese things that could be done. We ate at Denny's twice. Christmas Day was spent at Mount Fuji, but we ate Indian food for the main meal. We went shopping at Lululemon of all places. We had Italian food and scoped out all the luxury European cars parked driving past a hotel. Christmas Eve dinner was sushi and sake. Then we tried to have a microwave cheese fondue later in the evening, but it was disgusting and went right to the garbage.

The people were warm and kind. The city was clean and the buildings were beautiful. Most trees still had leaves on them and the weather reminded me of a clear fall day in Vancouver. Denise and I got along superbly and are looking forward to traveling together lots more in the future. We still upheld some of our own Christmas traditions, like champagne and orange juice Christmas morning at our hostel.

We were sad to leave, and two weeks later are still reminiscing fondly about the whole trip. On the plane on the way home, I hadn't even gotten to my seat yet, and a woman shoved me aside to get to her seat. I knew I was going back to Korea.