Blogs from Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea, Asia - page 4

Before I left California for Korea, the Vibram FiveFingers was the "it" accessory for outdoor lovers. Vibrams are a lightweight shoe that fits your foot like a glove so that one gets the feeling of running or hiking barefoot. Running barefoot is supposed to be more natural, seeing as that's what humans did until the invention of footwear. This footwear that keeps our feet soft and supple in its protective cocoon. This has led to our feet being more sensitive to rocks and pebbles in the path and so while some go au naturel, others opt for the safety of the Vibram. Personally, I thought this running barefoot fad was total crazy talk. I enjoyed running in tennis shoes because I felt like I could throw my feet all over the place and not worry about ... read more

There is an OUTRAGEOUS flaw in the TEFL 100 hours course. Sure, it teaches you grammar, classroom management, and lesson planning but there is virtually NOTHING about being a game show host. Not one word on how to find the best videos on youtube. Naught a clue on what the cheapest candy that will still get your students excited is. You know, the important things that ACTUALLY pertain to real life as a teacher in Korea. I sure could have used a brochure entitled "things to keep your brain from melting when you are deskwarming." And there would be one word: Facebook. English teachers in Korea do impart knowledge, but a lot of the time we are highly esteemed babysitters who have to keep the kids entertained with bright colors, candy, stickers, and personally, exciting outfits. ... read more

High atop the craggy mountains it stands; the fresh air toying with the fabulously curly wisps of black magic that poufs out of a practical neon orange visor that blocks the hazy sun from its eyes. Both hands clench a sharpened stick that is said to help thrust its body up the steep trails but is basically a ski pole in the right place at the wrong time. But the clothes are what make this specimen really shine. Starting at the feet we see state of the art hiking boots. The chunkier the better. Tight black pants which may have a pink stripe up the side if they are feeling saucy. The windbreaker will most certainly match the pants pulling the outfit together in some inexplicable harmony. But what makes this creature so mysterious and yet ... read more

The zealousness of my Korean students towards their studying this winter break worried me. As a teacher I suppose I should be supporting this, but instead I tried to convince them to go outside, muddy up their knees, or have a snowball fight. But they shook their heads and spent the good part of the day studying in a mostly deserted school. In America, students don't stress about academics until high school when the pressure of getting into a good college hits. But Korean students are already feeling the heat in middle school; worrying about how much more they will have to study in high school (is it possible to study more than they do now??) and seeing their grades posted on the wall in comparison with their peers. When I ask my students what they ... read more

I hate having people over to my house. This may seem like a negative way to start a bog, especially one about Thanksgiving, but it is imperative that you understand this, for it will shine a light on my forthcoming madness that is soon to be described. As a kid, I found it much more exciting to go to other people’s houses, play with their toys, be doted on by their parents, and not have to worry about MY parents nagging me. As I got older and entered high school, I would have friends over and be worried the whole time if they were having enough fun, cringe when they looked at baby pictures of me, and sigh when my mom chided me for using curse words and my brother flirted with my friends. In college, ... read more