On a Friday Afternoon

This week has been crazy: The school faculty played volleyball three days this week (On Thursday, another school came to play an actual game.). I’ve been having a hard time waking up all week. The students took midterm exams on Friday, so the class schedules were adjusted. And all week, my students have been more talkative than usual and more disruptive. I didn’t know what was going on because even the classes that are normally good were acting up. On Thursday, I was talking about it with Jessica (the other native English teacher) and I found out that her students have been crazy all week too! It made me a little relieved. Then, I started thinking, “Maybe my students are getting used to me…They were behaving well because I was still new, but now that I’m a familiar face, they are letting themselves get comfortable.” Just as I started to brainstorm disciplinary ideas in my head, my co-teacher brought it up! During one of our classes, she asked the students, “Why are you guys so talkative today? Are exams stressing you out?” I thought, “Oh my gosh! She’s right!” It was like an epiphany! I guess my co-teacher knew by her teacher instinct…? After our last class, all of the English teachers at the school talked about it in our office. Apparently, all of the students have been wild all week. Since the students finished their exams today and will have a weekend to have some fun, they should be settled down on Monday, right? Let’s hope so. :--)

This week, I finally got internet and cable TV at my place. I’m blogging from school, but I feel so happy knowing I could do it from home. Hehe Lately, I’ve been reminding myself to give thanks. The first 2-3 weeks in Korea were really rough and I was full of nothing but bitterness. It was very easy to complain and to question, but very hard to say thank You. After 2-3 weeks of this, I knew my attitude had to change. It was obvious that I was not fully surrendering to God and with that attitude, it would be hard to enjoy Korea. So, I started to pray a prayer of thanksgiving every night. I prayed over everything, even minor details. It’s been about a month since I started to do this and I know it’s helping: It reminds me to love the Korean teachers. It reminds me to love life. It reminds me that I live for His glory.  

Thank You for my new bed.

Thank You for my new TV.

Thank You for my new AC remote.

Thank You for my co-teacher who is just wonderful and so accommodating!

Thank You for showing me that I’m not the only English teacher who struggled here.

Thank You for all the friends I met at GEPIK orientation!

Thank You for Jessica’s honesty.
Thank You for transforming me in the small month I’ve been here.

Thank You for my internet connection and my cable TV.

Thank You for TV다시보기 so that I can catch up on my Korean dramas. Haha

Thank You for my first care package. ㅜ.ㅜ (완전 surprise and 감동.)

Thank You for the random phone calls from my relatives who call to “see if anything’s going on.”

Thank You for the variety in the delicious school lunches. ^__^

Thank You for helping me to love my students.

Thank You for allowing me wisdom and discernment each and every day I teach.

Thank You for my first paycheck. Haha

Thank You for giving me money when I go on business trips. (I did not know this until it showed up in my bank account. Plus, business trips are fun because you get to go home as soon as your business is done. Woohoo!)

Thank You for cleaning supplies.

Thank You for the wonderful Korean teachers I share the office with.

Thank You for all of the foreigners in my neighborhood! (Some teachers don’t have any in their neighborhoods. We have about six!)

Thank You for bringing Diana relatively close to me.

Thank You for BJ gsn. He reminded me of the grace I had forgotten.

Thank You for Heejeong because I feel less lost with a close friend nearby.

Thank You for reminding me how much I appreciate friends and family back home.

Thank You for protecting me.

Did you guys notice the first 3? Oh YEAH~~ Dad is good. <3

Update

Hello, friends in America (and maybe a couple of readers in Korea). I haven’t been able to update my blog as much as I’d like because I have no internet at my apartment yet. I’m secretly updating my blog from work because I’m exploding with stories to tell! There were so many “firsts” this past week: I met my Korean co-teacher for the first time. I met the teachers whom I will be sharing an office with for the next year. I met my students. I got my first haircut of the year in Myeong dong. I had my first drink in Korea with Jessica last night (she liked the Korean rice wine!). I went to my first kpop concert. I went to my first 회식 (staff dinner). I signed up for a cell phone. I made my first lesson plan. I checked out Young Nak Church in Seoul this past Sunday. I got lost for the first time. Etc~ But before I can blog about any of these things, I should update my blog about my housing status. Korvia recruiters came down to see Jessica’s and my apartments, but they couldn’t do much. They pretty much came down to show they cared, which was really nice of them because their office is about an hour away. We talked about the situation and decided that Korvia would pay for a cleaning service to work on my apartment. Afterward, they took us to eat Korean BBQ in nearby Yeong Tong. They wanted to show us around Yeong Tong because there’s so much to see and do there. It’s located next to a college, so the area is catered toward college students. During dinner, they were patient enough to listen to us vent. Haha Jessica and I were so dissatisfied with the whole situation then. Now, we can laugh about it (kind of). We’re trying to make the best of the situation. :--)


To make a long story short:
I asked the school to move us to cleaner apartments. The Korean teacher said no because the school had already signed the lease.
I asked the school to have my apartment cleaned for me because it was too difficult on my own. The Korean teacher said the school doesn’t have money, so Korvia paid for the service.
I asked the school to buy me a bed. The Korean teacher said this might be possible later, but that he would have to look at the budget books.
I asked the school for an AC remote because it can’t be turned on manually. The Korean teacher said the school doesn’t have money. It is missing because the Korean teacher didn’t inspect the place carefully after the previous teacher moved out.

At this point, I was really fed up, so I told the Korean teacher that the whole situation made me think that the school isn’t ready to have two native English teachers. I told him it made me question whether I should stay or not. He listened pretty calmly and he told me the school’s postition. I think honesty was the best policy at that point. He understands me better and I feel like I can empathize with the school. I decided to stick it out at the school for this year. I haven’t given up on the AC remote or a bed though because I know I deserve those two things at the least!

I think my first day at the school played a big part in my decision to stay here. The teachers whom I share the office with are all friendly and welcoming. One female teacher, in particular, is a really warm person. She told us to let her know if we need anything from Costco because she can pick it up for us when she goes. And when she gave me her phone number, she told me to call her if anything happens. <3 I was deeply touched. Hehe

Well, cheers to a more positive outlook! I received a lot of encouragement through the Word and from people’s messages throughout the messy situation. I’m feeling a lot better now and my appetite came back. I can say, with confidence, “God, I surrender.” I don’t know what I’m doing here, but rather than spending the year in bitterness, I’m going to discover His plan.