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Published: February 15th 2009
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Last month was one of the most intense months since I’ve been in Korea. I was in Yongin for winter camp with about 170 little kids. It was crazy. I arrived at camp at the beginning of the month and the kids came right after. The kids arrived with their parents with a red carpet for them to walk down with the teachers on each side clapping and welcoming them. Man, it was pretty Korean. That day the students had a welcome ceremony where they had to walk through a balloon arch to leave the “Korean Zone” and enter the “English Only Zone”. The students were at camp for four weeks and expected to speak only English for the full four weeks. At camp the students had a sticker system; they got stickers if they did well. But if they were bad they got a yellow card like in soccer. Speaking Korean was a red card.
The first week was insane. The classes were intense for the students and teachers. The students were so emotional that we were like counselors. And to top it off we had no idea what to do with no support from our manager. I wanted
me and cindy
my old student from school to quit after the first day. On day two, all the teachers decided to get out and headed out of the mountain to get some beers. It was nice to get to know the teachers and share our feelings about what was going on. These guys turned out to be such an amazing support system and we have become so close.
After the first week, things started to turn around. My students were amazing. I had one kid that was obsessed with Hitler for some reason. Coincidentally each class was a country and our class was Germany. He would literally hail Hitler and draw pictures. When I first met this kid, I thought he was going to be one crazy kid. Liam turned out to be one of my favorite students. I also had the CEO’s nephew in my class, who was staying in the room across from us. He would monitor the halls from the inside of him room. It was pretty awkward to see him morning, noon AND night.
We stayed in dorms while we were there and one Sunday we had a birthday party for one of the teachers. We weren’t allowed to have alcohol
in our rooms, but we thought that it wouldn’t be a big deal to have a few people over with a few beers. Most the teachers showed up and we ended up playing Truth or Dare Jenga. It felt like college all over again. It started to get a bit rowdy, and our manger knocked on our door. And we were busted!
The rest of camp went by pretty quickly. We had our company dinner the third weekend and it was interesting. Our boss made us sit in alphabetical order so we would mingle with the Korean staff. Then he got really drunk and started talking about regrets. It was interesting.
The last week was pretty sad. After spending four weeks with these kids it made me really sad thinking about not seeing them. That Friday we had our live performances. My kids came up with a play about aliens attacking the winter camp. It was fun and stressful getting the kids together. But my kids won first place in our group. Later that night they had a dance party and it was nice to hang out with the kids and just have fun. I don’t know where
liam
my hitler kid these kids are learning their dance moves but it’s kind of scary.
Then that Saturday was graduation and I was a basket case. I was doing fine until one of my co-teachers told me that Liam, my Hitler kid, was crying. I went over to see if he was ok and he was bawling and telling me that he didn’t want to go home and wanted to stay at camp with me. At that moment, all the hard times at camp and the stressful first days were all worth it because I knew I made an impact on these kids’ lives. And for a split second I thought about having a career in teaching. That whole day was a sob fest. I never imagined that these kids would have that much of an impact on me. I will never forget them. People keep asking me if it was worth it, and it was definitely an experience I will always remember but I don’t know if I would ever be able to do it again.
So…the plan was to go to camp, stay a few weeks afterwards and then head back to the states. But again, life always throws
joseph's birthday
me and soojin's room was the place to be that night curve balls at you and things don’t always go the way you had planned. I’ve decided to stay in Korea for at least another six months. I really want to come home, but I know that it’s not the time right now. In the last two weeks so much has changed. I’ve decided to move in with my friend, Lily, from camp. I’ve decided to go back to the school I was working at. And I’ve decided to take on the management position that I turned down twice before. Change is scary. But it can also be an exciting time in your life.
I know each month I get worse at keeping in touch with you all. But I hope you know that you are all still in my thoughts and I continue to wish that you are living life to the fullest. I would love an update from you! I hope you are well.
Peace and Love!
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chitra
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puppies!!
awww, misha lil baby puppies...precious. :)