Teaching week 2...

Week two of teaching is in full swing. And my students are pretty much professionals at ushering me into situations where I put my foot in my mouth. We are doing a series that I am in the middle of constructing called, “Taking a Trip.” The students plan and organize a fictional trip that they would like to take to anywhere for any length of time. Then they have to create a budget, pack, go on the trip, write a diary about trip highlights and then give a presentation. Today we are at the ‘where’ and the ‘why.’ The students picked where they wanted to go and what they wanted to do. Then we used the present perfect progressive to do pair work: “Where have you been thinking about going?” Before the partner work we brainstormed things that you can do on a vacation. The students were on fire. They came up with great stuff: sleeping, visiting a museum, visiting a friend, studying, having a snow fight, and then one of the students (well, three, but one made the mistake of saying it too loud) said, “having babies,” which in all of my ESL teacher wisdom recognized as, “making babies.” So I said, “Can we keep this G-rated.” I went on to probe the US MPAA ratings: G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17… They were pretty spot-on: G-general, PG- parents, PG-13 (I helped… Parental guidance under 13), R- (I helped them with this too. Restricted), NC-17- No child and they got the 17 part). Then they asked me how a film gets rated NC-17. I wrote ‘sex’ and ‘violence.’ Someone said, “Together.” And I said, “Yea, together.” Many students began to laugh and I had to back track… 'Usually, in the film, both happen.' Haha, woops.

One of my students brought me a carton of milk today and I didn't have the heart to tell him that I don't drink milk. So I brought it back to my office and gave it to my co-teacher^^ I'm excited because one of my students is coming tomorrow during lunch and I'm going to introduce him to apples dipped in peanut butter; that's right. I hope he likes it. Most of the Korean people I have shared this magical concoction with don't like peanut butter. There is a great Korean word that describes the flavor/texture perfectly: 텁텁하다. They think it is has no flavor and is think and heavy, kind of like mud and not delicious. That is maybe the most important factor: not delicious. I look at this as a good thing- more for me ; )

I cannot believe I have friends coming from the States in 2 weeks. That is wild. It will be so amazing to get to see them!!! They haven't decided exactly what they want to experience, but we are constructing some great possible plans. Aaaand, of course, my goal is to introduce them to as much of the magic of this place as possible. O man, so good.

I am feeling a little bluesy today. I think it is from not going to the yoga studio every day. I mean less about the space and more about the people. When I am there hugs abound and when I am at school they are much less frequent. Twice a week I am without a hugging outlet. Boo. I have learned though, that this is not grounds to go buy a pet or get a significant other. This is something to breathe too and potentially heal with. I need to just mantra the crap out of this: "All you need is you." I am sure all of this will be remedied in an hour when I pass through the glass portal of the yoga studio doors.

A friend went to check out the studio and she liked it, but the Body Design class was out of her price range. Boo : ( Hopefully next month she will be able to rock out with the class. Money is frustrating when it limits. I wish life's limits were focused on in our society differently; I'm not sure how, but I'll post if I come up with something. I know that individuals can guide their experiences/limits to a large extent, but I also believe, as a member of society there is interdepence on outcomes.

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