Our 2nd Birthdays in Korea

This past week we celebrated both mine and Fred's birthdays. To celebrate mine, my mom brought ice-cream to school for all of my Kinder students. In the afternoon the Korean Teachers gave me a cake and made all of the afternoon kids sing to me. On Saturday, my actual birthday, Fred, mom, Ann, Stephy and I went out to dinner at my favorite Italian restaurant near Suji. After dinner we went to Batman bar for about an hour to meet up with my other co-workers. I have been sick for the past week so it was a pretty low-key evening. Yesterday, for Fred's birthday, he brought ice-cream for his Kinder students. A few of them gave him cards and treats. For his first grade class one of his students moms came with pizzas and soda. He also got a nice LG Twins sweatshirt from a first grader and a Starbucks mug from another. During his 3rd and 4th grade classes they had cookies and snacks. The Korean staff also brought him a cake, which poor Fred, it was chocolate, and made the students sing to him. After work we met up with Ann and Colin and headed to dinner. We went to a duck galbi restaurant where you cook your food at your table. We then met up with some of our other co-workers at Batman. Overall we had great birthdays but we can't wait to celebrate at home once again!

Meet Genie

This past Thursday I walked into my classroom before classes started to find a new student. Her name is Genie and she has studied a little bit of English before. She seemed very cute and quiet but I soon realized that she is going to be a handful. She likes to kick everyone and she tries hitting those around her, including me. I am hoping that once she becomes more comfortable she will behave better! Only time will tell!

Genie

Chloe and Ariel from my 2nd grade class

Joonsuh, Eileen and Sarah from my 2nd grade class

All of my first graders: Foco, Dave, Anthony, Kun and Kevin

Aroa, Alice, Jackie and Anna

Cheny from my old class and her sister Sally

Fred's Class on the Field Trip

Elizabeth, Jessica and Jasmin

John and Sean

Jasmin and Vicky

Ray and Julianna

March Field Trip

Waiting for the show to start

This past Thursday we had our first field trip of the new school year. We went to see a magic show. All of the kids were excited and the teachers were nervous. It is always hard to watch over all of your students while you are in a place filled with tons of distractions. Add in that many of the kids have only been in school for three weeks and the stress is high. I had told my kids that they would get twenty sticker if they were good. It worked! My kids lined up perfectly. They followed all of my directions and they were so well behaved. I rewarded them with candy once we got back to school. Overall, all of the kids loved the show. We got back to LCI and we were very exhausted but it was worth it!

My bus buddy Ms. Judy with her new glasses

All lined up

Hailey and Olivia

Simon from my old class

Brian and Daniel

A Few More Pictures

Patti. She wants to spell her name Pat-T

Zion

Claire

Daniel

Four of my five first grade boys:

Dave, Anthony, Foco and Kevin

Getting Better

As the days go on they get better at school. We are adjusting to our new classes although the transition is still hard. This past week was good but not wonderful. I am know that each week will get better. This coming week we have a field trip which will be very exciting. I am nervous to take my students, whom barely speak English, into a busy place that will be filled with distractions but it will be fun. We are going to see a children's play.

This past weekend was very fun. On Friday night we went out for 'duk galbi' which is simply chicken and veggies that are cooked at your table.

Before


After
After dinner we went out for some drinks at Batman. On Saturday we woke up early and watched some basketball games on TV. In the afternoon Ann and I went shopping then met up with Fred and Tom to see 'The Fighter.' Today we watched a lot more basketball and have been relaxing. Overall, it has been a great weekend.

Fred's Class

Julianna from my old class.



John



Jessica who tells Fred to drink his yogurt in "one shot" and Elizabeth



Jasmin and Vicky



The boys: Jamie, Sean, Chris and Ray

Weekend

After a very stressful week at LCI it was finally the weekend. On Friday after work we came home, ordered pizza, watched movies and did not leave the apartment. We were both so exhausted from the long week. On Saturday we woke up to a very nice warm spring day. It was almost 60 degrees here all weekend! We decided to take advantage of the nice day and do something outside. We found out that the Suwom Bluewings had their first home soccer game. We called three of our co-teachers and we headed to the game. Fred and I bought season passes so that we can go to a lot of games during our last few months in Korea. It was very exciting and Suwon ended up winning 2-1. After the game we all headed to dinner at a Mexican restaurant for tacos and margaritas. On Sunday Fred and I went into Seoul to walk around and do some spring shopping. It was a very nice and relaxing weekend.

A Very Stressful Week

This past week has been the most stressful time that I have had in Korea. The change in Kinder classes has been very hard for me. I went from having one of the smartest classes in LCI, whom I adorded, to having a new class that knows VERY VERY little English. I was not prepared for the reality of teaching kids that speak no English. It has been so hard to get them to understand what I mean. It was a very shocking week that was at times filled with a lot of frustration. I like my new students but the teaching situation has been hard. I have also had a hard time moving on from my old students. I loved teaching them over the past year and I am very attached to them. It has been hard to not have them in my classroom each morning. Along with the new Kinder class, all of my classes have changed except for my highest level 4th grade class. I don't deal very well with stress and new pressures so this week has been taking a toll on me. My stress is causing my arthritis to act up. I have had an excruciating amount of pain in my hands and knees. I hope that once I adjust to my new Kinder students I will have less pain. I know that it will get easier with time but for now it has been a very hard transition.

New Kinder Students

Today was my first day with my new Kinder class. It was a very weird feeling walking into a room of children who have no idea what you are saying to them. All of the children walked into my room and I had to remove all of their backpacks, coats and shoes. It was a long process. I then sat them down and started teaching them "hello" and "goodbye." After a few minutes of this we moved onto, "What is your name?" The kids understood these so we moved onto, "My name is..." Overall it went well. As the day went on I learned that a few of them know a decent amount of English. I even got a handwritten card from Olivia telling me how excited she was to meet me and study with me. That was very impressive! It was also weird knowing that my other kids were down the hall in another room. They came and gave me hugs but it was weird to not be teaching them. I know that each day will get easier!


My SUPER cute student Claire


Zion. She kept telling the students that I don't speak Korean.


Patti. She might be trouble. She went to the 'bathroom' and somehow ended up in playgym.


Hailey. She seems to be the class leader and knows a good amount of English.


Olivia. She is very sweet and knows the most English in the class.


Brian D. He is going to be the class clown.


Brian Y. He is very kind and quiet.


Dana. She is very focused and follows my directions.