week two.

My first full week of work was replete with the dramatic underpinnings of a virgin teacher learning the ropes. Each day I felt myself get more and more confident with the process and my ability to organize and categorize helped me immensely. The seemingly simple task of learning almost 60 students' names was a great undertaking; especially when some names were more popular than others: Harry, Sally, Tommy, Jenny. We also had some gems: Kobe, Spiderman, Highstar, Rice (who just recently told me he wants to change his name to Lice - I had to break the news to him that Lice is not really all that desirable of a name; it's unclear whether or not he got the picture). That is the other brilliant part of it, the kids often want to change their names, AH! Just when you think you've got a handle on it all!

All of the curriculum, tests, and material are prepared for us. So, our job is to transfer that information to the kids in the most efficient and effective way possible. My issue came not with the transmission of information so much as the control of the students. I, erroneously, was under the stereotypical impression that Korean children would be obedient and respectful - oh how wrong I was! Once they realized that I have NO idea what they are saying when speaking in Korean (actually, Hangul), all hell seemed to break loose. Some of my classes were much better than others but I had a few precious students who felt that dancing, singing, and generally creating mayhem was the better way to spend their time with me than sitting, listening, and repeating. The fatigue that coupled with the constant abrading of children who laughed in your face or looked at you in total confusion was immense. At the end of the day I was ready collapse.

During that second week I did not do much more in the evening than go home, make myself something to eat, and pass out from shear exhaustion.