English Competition

On Wednesday we took the kids back to Hwaseong Fortress to take part in the English competition.  The kids were really excited, and it was fun to see them work together to do well.  There were about 15 or 16 different locations around the fortress for the competition, and luckily ours wasn't at the top of the "mountain."  One of our kids was on crutches, and wasn't looking forward to helping him up the hill if we got Seojangdae (command post at the highest point).  Maeyeoul, my school, was the first group to go in our fleet, and it was evident that they were nervous!  Luckily the native English judges were very helpful and clear.  The students walked away from the questions jumping and yelling as they answered every question with quality answers.  I'm proud of how hard they worked, but I'm also happy it's over.  I get my lunch break and passing time back.  Some other teachers took photos from the competition so I'll try to get some from them and post them on here.  I do have some photos from last week when we took them around the fortress for practice.  

this weekend is the yearly school festival, so the school has been in busybeaver-mode.  Today we managed to hang about 100 pictures and put out another 100 plants.  It's quite the show, and all the homerooms put on a skit or dance or song.  I'm looking forward to seeing all the different songs and dances, the kids did a great job last year. 

Also, I was just penciled in to teach 4 more classes starting in November.  I'm not exactly excited to teach more classes, especially because the kids are so young.  This will be 1st and 2nd graders who speak zero English.  Personally, I disagree w/ having someone taking care of 20 kids when the adult can't communicate with the little kids, but they want them to have the opportunity to learn a bit of English at that age.  It's when some students begin English academies, but these kids don't have that option.  I suppose the silver lining is the extra pay.  I also have absolutely zero experience with kids this young, so I don't know what I'll do.  It'll be a learning experience for both teacher and student...

time for bed, g'night

keith

sunday funday

I just finished watching the Badgers get embarrassed at Michigan State... I think the Badgers were the better team, but if you have four straight possessions of turnovers/blocked kicks you're going to have a hard time climbing out of the hole you dug.  Still they almost did just that.  I have a feeling we'll be seeing the MSU Spartans again in the future.

On to more important things...

In continuing my effort of writing more I thought I'd share a couple recent things at school.  The kids stories seem to be more popular than stories from my day to day life, so I'll stick to those for today.

I began my Halloween themed classes on friday, and the kids went nuts for it.  I can't blame them because they're smart enough to know that Teacha Keiss is going to bring in copious amounts of candy to give them right before I send them home, or to someone else's class.  I certainly am not getting 10 year old, candy-deprived children a lot of candy before I ask them to sit quietly and listen to me.  Friday's class was mostly just pictures of autumn foliage and kids costumes to make them jealous of my country and american holidays which was quite successful.  I showed a lot of american cartoons about halloween, and even a clip about haunted houses which had the girls scared outa their minds, and the boys screaming to watch it again.  The last half hour we made halloween masks which was a lot of fun, and I noticed the kids getting more and more creative.  Creativity isn't common among young Korean students because there is no time for creativity.  It's a sad fact here, and I think most native teachers try to encourage creativity whenever possible.  Here are a few masks the students made:

more creative

less creative

My co-teacher put some of the projects about the fortress up around the room.  I never took time to really look at the posters, however I probably should since things like this get put up.  I decided not to take it down because it provides a quick laugh every time I pass by.

In case you didn't notice, it clearly says "Porn" on the bottom-center sticker.  As far as I know there was zero porn related structures in the Hwaseong Fortress. 

Next week is the Hwaseong English competition which I've been helping out with for the past month or so.  The two women in my office (Julie & Annie) have taken the grand majority of the work for this, but I help with the pronunciations and general tips to sounding more "american."  It isn't so much an English competition as it is a "who can memorize the most" competition.  So far my kids are doing pretty good.  Last Wednesday we took the kids to the fortress to walk around the entire structure and show them what exactly they're talking about.  I think it worked pretty well, but it lasted a long time.  The entire circuit is a bit over 3.5 miles so the kids were pretty exhausted afterwards.  Mt. Paldal is in the middle, and one leg of the wall runs up the "mountain."  I tried to explain to the kids that if it only takes 10 minutes to get to the top it probably isn't a mountain.  However, I didn't want to detract from their accomplishment.  It was actually really nice to walk the whole wall, finally.  I visited it a few times when I first arrived, but have found little reason to go back until now.  The last time I went there was with Chrissi and Enna which was october of last year.  WOW, how the time flies.  

Last week I was sick on Monday and Tuesday leading me to miss work on monday.  This was not good, and I plan on going to work even if I'm puking in the future.  Lesson learned.  I'm not going to delve into detail here because it wasn't a fun situation, and doesn't merit any more blog space.  

That's all for now.  Time to finish up some side-work that I'm doing to help a teacher at school.  

Hope all is well with those who read this.  

GO PACKERS

  

students' story

I gave some students a packet of pictures to look at and write about.  The only rule was to use past tense, however they've come to realize that I prefer funny stories.  Here is my favorite.

Bad Family

Once upon a time, a family lived in Canada, but they smuggled squirrels.  This bad family came to Korea.  They were arrested by policemen because they smuggled squirrels in South Korea.  They ran away to Suwon Station.  They took the KTX.  They went to Sokcho Station.  They climbed Seoraksan and they ate bananas.  But they were arrested again by policemen.  The bad family went to jail forever.  

The End.  

Those squirrel smugglin' SOBs... great story though!

hostage

thought of a story that happened about a month ago that I wanted to share.  probably the funniest hostage situation ever to happen.  Wolfish (my friend) and I were leaving my apartment to get lunch, so we hopped in the elevator.  A grandma and her grandson entered the elevator but the lady forgot something in her apartment.  the little kid walked out of the elevator and stared at wolfish and me.  We thought it was kinda cute and so we waved to the little guy who immediately started to laugh.  Then, the kid started pushing the elevator button to hold the door open... essentially holding us hostage on the 15th floor.  we laughed the first time and the kid burst out into laughter.  I thought it would end there, but the kid wouldn't stop... we said bye to him and eventually, after about 20 seconds he let the door close.  FINALLY.  Unfortunately, this kid had the timing down so that as soon as the doors closed he would hit the button again and keep us on the 15th floor.  It was like an epic game of peek-a-boo for him and wolfish and I were stuck there for his entertainment.  He did this approximately 10 times... It was the funniest thing I've ever seen a kid do, and I couldn't really be mad at him.  At last the grandma showed up and apologized to us.  I didn't really care, I kinda got a kick out of it.
Not much one can do either... go kick the kid so he falls over??? nope.
yell at a kid in public for pushing a button?  nope... just a funny event.

Monday is a holiday to celebrate the founding of the current government after the japanese occupation.  This allows me to watch football w/o having the longest day of classes, so it's a welcomed holiday.  I suppose I'm happy that korea found its independence from japan, too.  congrats korea, ya did it!  (with a little help from the state of the world in 1945...)

Big week in wisconsin sports as well.  I think all brewers fans are relieved that we finally made it to the post season with the ability to make a splash... we've had quite a few good years with little ability to do much in the playoffs.  Badgers are playing Nebraska in Madison in a night game... I'm almost happy that I don't live there anymore because I'm not sure I could handle the day's activities.  notice the emphasis on almost.. there's nothing I'd like more than to be in madison on a cool fall day celebrating the badgers with all my friends.  maybe next year.  Last, the packers stand to start the season 4-0 with the majority of our team all healthy, CRAZY!  Prediction:  GBP 42 :  DB 13.

I also predict wins for the brewers and badgers in what ends up being one of the best weeks of wisconsin sports, EVER.

enjoy the games!

keith

awesome day

I found my old barber who I thought retired.  awesome.

ROK update

G'afternoon,

I'll catch you up on some of the recent events in Korea.  The end of August brought a mass exodus of friends and fellow English teachers.  It was both fun and sad at the same time as we celebrated everyone's successful year in Korea.  Now that is all over and I am left to adjust to my new social scene (or lack there of).  I have not noticed my sudden lack of friends so much due to my recent discovery of a partially torn labrum in my shoulder.  I had experienced quite a bit of pain while playing volleyball at my school which led me to visit the doctor to solve the issue.  Eight x-rays, an MRI, and several hundreds of dollars later we discovered the problem, and I have been told to take a rest for the next few weeks.  I'm also on a heavy concoction of pain killers and muscle relaxers that leave my shoulder feelin' reaaaalllyyy good.  So far the process has been pretty good thanks to an awesome doctor who speaks nearly perfect English.  We discussed his English ability as he stuck me with the biggest freakin' needle I've ever seen.  I don't think he was purposely taking a long time to administer the three shots, but he was clearly in no rush, either.  So, I'm poppin pills like they're tic-tacs every day, and that has thrown a kink in weekend plans as I can't drink while taking the pills.  I had a couple beers during a recent holiday ending with poor results, but that story is for another time.  

The weather in Korea has taken a turn for the better as the temperatures have been hovering around 70 during the day, and mid 50's at night.  Finally, I don't show up to school with a darker shirt than when I left my apartment...  Sweating balls and trying to hide it really sucks at a school full of kids that feel the need to point out every imperfection the teacher has.  I usually respond to their jabs with my ability to pronounce the letters 'l' 'j' and 'z'.  But I digress... the weather is beautiful leading to more time outside.  Throwing a frisbee has been doable w/ my shoulder, but a football/baseball/basketball has proven to be a bit painful.  Hopefully this weather sticks around for a few more weeks before jackets are needed.  

A new crop of UW grads has landed in Korea to teach, but Korea is in the midst of downsizing the number foreigners in public schools.  Last year I landed in Korea with 50 or 60 other UW grads, and this year there was 20 or so.  It's too bad that this opportunity will not be available to young graduates in the coming years, as I do believe it has been and continues to be a unique opportunity.  I suppose many other countries offer such opportunities, however for less pay/benefits.   

Hopefully I meet some of these new UW people soon.  Perhaps we can watch a badger game or two.  

And lastly, this weekend is the big Oktoberfest weekend in La Crosse (probably Germany too) and I am jealous of everyone who gets to celebrate.  Hopefully the weather is nice, and the parade is sunny.  

over & out. 

keith

some vids of the kids

My first few weeks back from the US were a bit easier than regular classes.  I taught summer classes that lasted only 1/2 the day, then I got to go home.  That was a treat, and it was a bit difficult to get back into the swing of things once the days went to 5 O' clock opposed to 12.  

I thought I'd share a few videos that my kids did during the summer camp.  The students spent part of an hour making their own scripts, then they practiced, and finally we video taped them doing a morning news show.  Overall I was VERY impressed with the kids' abilities and composure.  Here are some videos from my 3rd and 4th graders.

If I get time I'll post a few more from different grades.  

In other news, everyone I know in Korea is departing in the coming days.  It's hard to believe that it has been a full year since I came to Korea, but indeed it has been.  It's a bit sad to see everyone go, however I'm sure the coming year will be good and full of surprises (it is korea, after all).  The last week or so we've tried to get together as much as possible, and had a solid day/night in Seoul yesterday.  

The weather has also gotten better.  It has actually been really sunny and a bit less humid, but still REALLY hot.  Anything is better than what we had for the entire month of July... that was simply torture.  

That is all for now.  I'll try to think of more things to say next time.

-keith