6 months....DONE.

I can say I've been here for 6 months!! Can't say I enjoyed all of them but hey, 6 months is 6 months, half a year...6 more and I can get the heck outta here! :) Wont say I'll be coming home for sure, but I'm definitely not staying here!

Last week my 8yrs. old (Korean age) monsters, graduated! This means they move on to Korean kindergarten. I'd have to say it was a bittersweet moment. I loved each child, maybe some more then others. I admit it was an upward battle trying to teach them. When I didn't have to make them sit with both feet on the floor, chairs pushed in, backs straight, hands raised, not talking out of turn, only one at a time, etc. (which was the majority of the time, because I pick my battles and that was not one them! Hence, why I had so many problems with the Korean staff) we had fun! I might have lost 5 years on my hearing but, you know, that's ok!

Here's a picture of my kids before learning how to walk the stage!

Peter (L) and Tom (R)

Eileen 

Daisy (L) and Jinnie (R)

Jay

Pretty much the same as any graduation, director makes a speech, all of us teachers had to make a speech, the kids go up, bow (which made their hats to fall off...every time!), they'd shake hands, and then walk off stage....most kids forgot. :)

After, all kids would get some sort of bouquet from their parents and/or family members.  Alex got a fancy blue one! 

Honestly, I'd have to say I'm glad it's all over! The last few months have been ridiculous. About a month before graduation we had Festival. Festival is basically a broadway production for 8yrs olds and younger attending any English school.  All the teachers are expected to teach their AM- kindergarten an act. It could be a play, a song, whatever. But, it has to be good. Not American standards cute, like what you'd expect from kindergarteners, but good. Like choreographed dance with song, speech...I don't know how to explain but, let me just say the expectations they have for this "festival" is ridiculous. I choose to have the kids do "Oh, The Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss. Not the typical song, play, or dance done. I figured they were graduating so it'd fun. It was not fun. The teachers were told to do it themselves, but my co-teacher would come in and change it. I gave up...I've learned in my life time that if I someone doesn't think I do it right, then I wont do it at all.  When I put effort into something, then get told it's nots good, and needs to be different, with out having any guidelines to go by, then I say "ok, what should be different? Change what you want." and they change what the kids need to do every time we practice, so the kids are now super confused but yet the teacher is frustrated that they don't know (shoot, I couldn't even keep the movements straight), but knowing you are judged/ and will be blamed if the kids fail....it's a stressful, chaotic, disaster, that does not need to happen. In one of our teacher meetings my supervisor stated in front of the whole staff "This festival is very important for the parents, if kids don't do well they are very embarrassed and disappointed." Ummm, HELLO?!!!! How do you think the kids feel?? At some schools, kids are so nervous or have so much pressure on them that they lose bowel control, act up, do all sorts of "out of the normal things." And these are 8year olds, Korean age, western age 6 or 7. Sad. Oh....and the outfits they make them wear, Ohhhh man!!!  

These were the least ridiculous that I could find! I made them wear shirts underneath to make them more child appropriate.

Poor kids....

Now, that my kids have graduated, I get a new load. In E class (the class I teach), I will be teaching Korean age 6 yrs olds, who know zero English. Oh, Man! Class begins Thursday, I'll keep you posted on how well it's working out. At least I'll get to enjoy some peace and quiet!

Some pics of my kids that graduated.

It's an outfit that a famous Ko-pop drummer wore. Soooo many boys rock this outfit!

They like to make fun of me and play and play with my crutches. 

My favorite! If i had to choose one to take home with me back to the US, Alex would be it. 

Let it be known....

Things can ALWAYS get worse.

Everyone knows the saying, "when it rains, it pours." Well, the last few years of my life, I'm pretty sure it's just been a steady down pour...

I always try to keep my glass half full, but since I've been in Korea I feel like it's struggle to even keep it half empty.

I just found out that the health insurance, my insurance, provided by the school, stated on my contract, the insurance I haven't used because NONE of my health bills have met the minimum coverage standards (even though i spent 700,000w in January alone) is now, not available even though my bills with my knee  meet the standards, because...wait for it....they are "out of date."  Oh! And what's "in date," is not in my favor.

Just another day in the life...

It's official, Korea hates me! ...or do I hate Korea? I don't know, but either way, we DON'T get along. 

I FINALLY got healthy, only to ruin myself worse. Snowboarding last weekend, I went big on a jump. Not going fast enough, I landed on the flat (let me repeat I did not crash!! At least not until after). Upon impact, my knee gave out. It felt like my femur (thigh bone) went behind my tibia (lower leg bone). Not good. I can't decide if the reason I continuously hurt myself is because I'm awesome and I go BIG, I'm getting old and my body is telling me to F-off, or cause I just do stupid shit. No need to answer, it was a rhetorical question. :)  ANYhow..... Luckily, there was Grenade Korea snowboard competition going on, so after pulling myself together and collecting my board that slid half way down the park from taking it off from the intense pain in my knee. I slid my butt down the hill 15 ft. to watch the comp. Let me say, it was a pretty sweet way to go out. They provided free Somaks (beer and soju) and kimbop (think sushi roll except no fish, only veggies and maybe some spam) for lunch! Any other person would have got a ski ambulance ride down to the infirmary, but not me! Ohhh, no!  I just parked it on the snow, used my board to elevate my knee, a buddy got me a bag with chunks of snow, and I drank beer for the pain until my bus back to Seoul.

When I got back to Seoul, I went to the ER. My supervisor at work provided the teachers with a card with a hospital address in Korean for a taxi driver incase of an emergency. Sweet, right?!!  Well, to get to the hospital, yes. When the hospital's ER speaks no, or very limited English, no.  My service included having odjuma's (Korean Grandmas) help me get service because the front desk people wouldn't even look or acknowledge me. Finally, got service, was pushed in before all the korean people waiting..ok, now thinking this might not be so bad....to get a doctor who spoke a tiny bit of English, who had to keep looking up words on his computer...tells me no broken bones, should heal in a week. Really, doctor?!!!! Do you have your PHD in Idiocracy?!! I can not walk or put much pressure on my leg and you are going to tell me I will be healed in a week? He gives me no pain medication, no crutches, only a push out of the hospital in my wheel chair into a cab. 

The next day, I hobbled my self to work (because, again, zero sick/crippled days) and had Adeline, my Korean "savior" co-teacher find a orthopedic doctor. I got in the following day (Tues), because they wouldn't see me after i got there too late on Monday after they ALREADY knew I was coming at that time! And they lady was obviously annoyed, because she's spewing out Korean in the whiniest voice and her body language is just ridiculous. Yes, I don't speak your language lady but I'm not a f-ing idiot. I called Adeline for them to talk to her because they can't tell me about whatever they are whining about. Adeline tells me, it's too late and they have too many people already waiting. I maaaaybe start crying from the pain and frustration and now the jokes on the lady because she now feels bad. HA!! Good. She should feel bad! (Korea has literally brought the worst out in me.) I come back the next day, to see the doctor, have an x-ray and a painful injury massage, electro-treatment, and my legged iced. Doctor finds nothing wrong with my x-ray. Thinks an MRI is expensive and I should be fine if I come in and have the electro-treatment done as often as possible.  I get back to work, to have Adeline tell me, after talking to the doctor, that I should see a different one at the Foreigners clinic because this doctor is old and there has been lots of technology advances.  This made me laugh. Korea is soooo superficial.  It's all about your looks, your age, your weight, how you dress, etc. I take her advice, because A. I would like to be able to communicate with my doctor and B. I want an MRI done so I know what's wrong with my knee!  Thursday, I remind you I hurt my knee Sunday, I go to this foreigner clinic at a major hospital (which is the same hospital I went to for the ER).   The doctor looks at my X-ray from the last doctor, sees something, wants an MRI done, prescribes me pain meds, and tells me I need to wear a knee brace. I think, "OK!!! We are getting somewhere!" I get escorted off to another small room where a guy proceeds to make a brace for my knee. Well.....let me just tell you, or no, let me show you what I came out with....

I got myself a fancy pair of hospital shorts, too.

A full on toe to butt cheek cast!!!!! And they told me that I had to wear it until my next appointment. I asked if I could take it off to take a shower and they said no. I asked if my appointment was the next day they said no,  it wasn't until March 2nd! A WEEK with this thing AND no shower! Ya, right!!!  When I got back into the foreigner clinic the nurses were amazed that I came back like that. I'm pretty sure they did it just to laugh at me! The nurse asked how I was getting home, I said I was going to get a cab but I don't think I'd fit anymore. The cast was RIDICULOUS!!! Very unpractical. Luckily, it was only half a cast and it was ace bandaged on, like a splint and when i finally managed to make it home and up my 3 flights of stairs, it lasted about an hour before I took it off. Ya, right, i was going to sport that around, it's freezing here! I wouldn't have been able to put pants on, or a sock over my toes, I couldn't sit on the toilet to pee, not even mention how the heck I'd get to school plus, my school is 3 levels. It's horrible just getting around with the crutches. 

So, long story short (but not really), after I made fun of John for braking himself at the mountain, I broke myself. Go figure.... 

Salamat Philippines!

I absolutely LOVED the Philippines! Beach, warm weather, pina coladas, beer, fresh seafood, friendly people, $6 hour messages.....Ughhh, can I go back?!! I can't say enough good things about the island of Bohol in the Philippines. Only 4 days, a little short, but just what I needed. We managed to relax on the beach, scuba dive, scoot the island, hitting up the infamous Chocolate Hills and a local Tersier reserve (home to the world's smallest primate), getting a few messages, and conquering World domination on the pool table. All while slinging back tasty cocktails and cold beer! 

Getting there and coming back was a bit exhausting. Making the most out of our time we managed to book red-eye flights. Not so bad going there when you know you can sleep on the beach, but having to come back to face 9 little Korean monsters, not so much, though totally worth it! I, however, would not recommend EVER flying Cebu Pacific, as to, they suck. They might be cheaper but unless it's a short flight, not worth it. The plane was made to fit Filipinos. My knees hit the seat in front of me and my shoulders touched the person siting next to me. They charged for EVERYTHING, even water. My return flight I asked for a blanket, "We do ma'am but it's 290pesos (aka ~$6)," Really?!! I'm sorry but I just paid a not-so-cheap plane ticket, and now I have to pay more to be comfortable on it?" Not to mention on the way back, my seat didn't recline, so I had to sit basically at a 90 degree angle the whole way back with someone behind me with rancid breath, who kept coughing and my neighbor who wanted to cuddle. Needless to say, I got no sleep. I did manage however to get a laugh in when on our way to the Philippines they started selling souvenirs...really?

Here are a few pictures...

After arriving in Cebu, we took a ferry to the island of Bohol. We docked in Tagbilaran, and then got ourselves a trike to the little island Panglao, connected to Bohol by a bridge. 

Our Trike.
 It was a bit of a tight fit but we managed! Judith and I were in the cab and Christy got the luxury of sitting side saddle behind our driver, Ricky. Thanks, for taking one for the Team, Christy!

The powerlines.
 A little ridiculous, I think.

Heaven.

Alona Beach, Panglao, Philipines.
We have arrived.

Beer at 9am? Yes, please.

The weirdest starfish.  

Dinner (php250)
Expensive since we are eating on the beach, totaling $5

We rented ourselves a couple scooters. We all wanted our own (well, maybe not Judith) but Christy forgot her license so I ended up chauffeuring her around. It's wasn't too bad but it's definitely more stressful knowing that if you crash it's not just you you have to worry about.

Jut a couple of bad ass bitches on bikes....no big deal!

Everyone was SOOO friendly. All the kids and adults would all say hi.

Bohol is famous for its Chocolate hills.
Cuased from the earths plates shifting and rain fall these coral mounds were formed.

We had our own personal photographer, who took pictures for us. He'd tell how to pose and what to do and for me...what not to do! 

On our way back from the Chocolate Hills we tried to eat at the Floating Bistro. A restaurant that floats down the river while you eat. We got there just in time....right after it was over! But because Filipinos are soooo incredibly awesome, they let us eat on the boat while they cleaned it...the brought out the leftovers of the all-you-can-eat food served on the actual boat cruise.

The world's smallest primate, though NOT a monkey, a tarsier.  Think size of a hamster. 

                                          

                                                       Here's my big head for a size comparison. :)

   

The forcast was light rain Thursday, Friday and Rain, Saturday and Sunday.....Saturday and Sunday were the most beautiful!

I braved the risk of a ruptured ear drum to Scuba.  

We dove...we dived? (I don't know which one) off the coast of Balicasag Island, about a 30 minute boat ride of Panglao island.  Did two dives, the first at Santuary and the second in Black forest. 

The stroll along the beach, a couple of souvenir shops

The view off the beach, down the main road.

Finally!!!!  ...but Knitting needles, really?!!

I have LOTS more pictures, I've posted most on Facebook, but if you aren't a member and want to see more, let me know and I'll try to upload them somewhere else.

Going to the Philippines made me remember why I came to Korea in the first place. I've had a hard time here but to be able to see the world and experience it through your own eyes and not through a friend, a book, magazine, or the travel channel is absolutely amazing! If you tell yourself, its something you can't do, you are cheating yourself. Life is short, enjoy it! You're only in debt until your dead...