A bee enters the class room.
A bee flys.
37 16 years old boys scream
and run
and throw books
and shoes.
I stare.
Awestruck by the mayhem unfolding before my eyes.
Are you serious?
Yes, quite actually.
Madness ensues.
A bee is killed.
A dead bee is thrown around.
Another boy squeals.
An annoyed teacher picks up the bee and puts it in the garbage.
Can we please continue?
No.
The squealing, punching, ranting continues...
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
A bathroom Attack
On my way to the john before my after school class I am bombarded by the boys. Teacher, we need to talk to you. OK. 37 obnoxious boys from the bee incident begin to tell me how sorry they are. Bowing incessantly and practically chanting 'I'm sorry teacher'. By this time I feel awkward standing in the bathroom doorway and looking at the clock. I finally get them to stop and go away.
After school class has started. A knock on the door.
Teacher can I talk to you?
I guess- but I'm kinda in the middle of something.
Teacher we're sorry
Yeah I know.
Can you teach us the class again?
Why?
Because the home room teacher said we have to make up the class. When do you have time?
I don't have time. I don't want to.
Teacher, its a different culture. So when can you do it?
Uh, OK. 415 everyone get here on time. We will study for 15 minutes. I really don't want to do this.
Its a different culture. Also teacher said we must pay you because its an extra class.
What? No, you don't have to do that.
Its a different culture. What do you want? Candy, money?
Uh, whatever. I don't understand. OK. I gotta go. Bye
They stagger in late; some without pens and papers. They were angels. I didn't think they had it in them. Honestly they weren't any crazier that any other day, so I was basically over it by the time they all exited the classroom. I think they only had to come and repeat my class because they also pissed off the math teacher- which is where they were headed to next..
Its a different culture teacher.
I know. I know.
p.s. still haven't got paid;)
After school class has started. A knock on the door.
Teacher can I talk to you?
I guess- but I'm kinda in the middle of something.
Teacher we're sorry
Yeah I know.
Can you teach us the class again?
Why?
Because the home room teacher said we have to make up the class. When do you have time?
I don't have time. I don't want to.
Teacher, its a different culture. So when can you do it?
Uh, OK. 415 everyone get here on time. We will study for 15 minutes. I really don't want to do this.
Its a different culture. Also teacher said we must pay you because its an extra class.
What? No, you don't have to do that.
Its a different culture. What do you want? Candy, money?
Uh, whatever. I don't understand. OK. I gotta go. Bye
They stagger in late; some without pens and papers. They were angels. I didn't think they had it in them. Honestly they weren't any crazier that any other day, so I was basically over it by the time they all exited the classroom. I think they only had to come and repeat my class because they also pissed off the math teacher- which is where they were headed to next..
Its a different culture teacher.
I know. I know.
p.s. still haven't got paid;)
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Inn Keeper
Ever since we moved into our new place the one Inn Keeper has taken a certain liking to me. He is a cute old man with lots of energy. He knows that I am with Mark- as we quickly established that on moving day. He is not a creepy guy, but he certainly could be. He will often greet me with a sly grin and a weird hand gesture. He taps his thumb and pinky finger together several times, while giggling and making "oooohhh" sounds. I believe he is thinking that I'm going upstairs to get lucky! YES that is what his weird laughs are insinuating.
Back to the first day we met... He noticed that we only had a twin bed. Well, that got him excited! He started to gigle and pretend as if he was hugging something- suggesting that we would have to snuggle pretty closely to sleep- dirty boy!
He is hilarious. I think he is hoping that one day I would suddenly understand what he is saying. He only speaks in Korean.
Today:
He timed my run. I went for a run and found a new trail near the Nakdong River. It was nice. I walked up to the apartment and he tells me 45 minutes. OK! I get into the apartment and then the doorbell rang. What? HI! Pointing at his shoes. I pick up my runners, and hand them to him. NO NO NO. Suggesting I should put them on. OK. Lets take the elevater to the 9th floor. OK. We go to the roof. He starts running laps- motioning for me to do the same. He continues to yack in Korean- and quickly.
This is What I think was the conversation that we had.
You should train on the roof instead of on the trail. You can do push ups and everything. Or you should run up the hill around the ice rink and cultural center. Why would you want to go so far from the apartment when you have everything right here?
Funny guy- stay tuned- I know there will be more from him.
Back to the first day we met... He noticed that we only had a twin bed. Well, that got him excited! He started to gigle and pretend as if he was hugging something- suggesting that we would have to snuggle pretty closely to sleep- dirty boy!
He is hilarious. I think he is hoping that one day I would suddenly understand what he is saying. He only speaks in Korean.
Today:
He timed my run. I went for a run and found a new trail near the Nakdong River. It was nice. I walked up to the apartment and he tells me 45 minutes. OK! I get into the apartment and then the doorbell rang. What? HI! Pointing at his shoes. I pick up my runners, and hand them to him. NO NO NO. Suggesting I should put them on. OK. Lets take the elevater to the 9th floor. OK. We go to the roof. He starts running laps- motioning for me to do the same. He continues to yack in Korean- and quickly.
This is What I think was the conversation that we had.
You should train on the roof instead of on the trail. You can do push ups and everything. Or you should run up the hill around the ice rink and cultural center. Why would you want to go so far from the apartment when you have everything right here?
Funny guy- stay tuned- I know there will be more from him.
Baby Panty
(Background: Teaching a lesson about the flood in Pakistan along with natural disasters. Explaining what aid is-no not AIDS kids.)
What supplies do we need if there was a disaster? food, water, clothes, medicine.
A particularly cute student is trying to explain something. He said 'baby'. Then he adds a motion across his belly. I say surgery- surgical tools. No teacher. He continues to wiggle and then motions between his legs like a baby was coming out. What?! He repeats the actions. Finally he says "baby panty" - hahaha- awe diapers- Yes those are important. Good.
What supplies do we need if there was a disaster? food, water, clothes, medicine.
A particularly cute student is trying to explain something. He said 'baby'. Then he adds a motion across his belly. I say surgery- surgical tools. No teacher. He continues to wiggle and then motions between his legs like a baby was coming out. What?! He repeats the actions. Finally he says "baby panty" - hahaha- awe diapers- Yes those are important. Good.
Dog, Ddak, Dak, Duck
My two best Korean friends had lunch with us. But sometimes we have to laugh at the communication gap.
Ddak= Korean Rice Cake
Dak= chicken in Korean
Dog= small furry animal
Duck= water fowl
We were telling them that we were going to go for a meal of duck meat. All of the words are pronounced similarly. It took four of us about 10 minutes to figure it out. So funny
Ddak= Korean Rice Cake
Dak= chicken in Korean
Dog= small furry animal
Duck= water fowl
We were telling them that we were going to go for a meal of duck meat. All of the words are pronounced similarly. It took four of us about 10 minutes to figure it out. So funny
Chinese Characters: Endurance
A note from a student: Hi teacher. You look bad. Cheer up! You can do it.
(Real Message- I know my class behaves badly. You looked stressed. Keep it up. Fighting!)
Korean Thanksgiving and Poutine
Jack and his niece came over for some genuine Canadian cuisine. I served the classic poutine- french fries, cheese and gravy. The idea of gravy sauce grosses most Koreans out. But luckily I had a pack of gravy mix and just added water. They said they really liked it.
I hope they can come to Canada to experience the real thing.
I hope they can come to Canada to experience the real thing.
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