Teacher Training Complete

I have just completed my first teacher training course. It is sad to see my students go but a relief at the same time. We had 100 English teachers attend this camp. It was such a change from teaching middle and high school students. The teachers had an excellent grasp of the English language - probably why they are English teachers. hehe. The ages of the teacher trainees varied (24-65). They had great senses of humour and a desire to learn even if this professional development was cutting in on a month of their winter vacations!

My homeroom class was a lot of fun. Nine women and one lucky man. They were all in their 30's. Most of them were married and had children but we just clicked. They were able to handle my thunder-loud voice and my sarcastic sense of humour. On one of our last days of school they took me out to enjoy some food. That was the idea I thought. I understand now that it was just to get me drunk. A good time was had by all. I got to know them outside of the classroom and I can't wait to hang out with them again. IFTC is pretty quiet now. The trainees are enjoying the rest of their winter vacation in their first language and we are left with no students to teach. What does that mean? Back to the same old, same old.

Today was a little different though - Jason, Jen, Trevor and I were trasnported to a hotel in Incheon. We were there to edit some national tests. These tests are pretty important to the Ministry of Education because apparently they are the tests that will dictate whether a student will move on to the next grade. It wasn't the most exciting day but I don't mind the extra 70,000 won in my bank account.

Pictures of my last month.

At the Lovre exhibition at a museum in Seoul.

My class on our final day of classes.

Dinner with my class!

Fatty McFatterson

How many times does it take for one white girl in Korea to hear that she is overweight before starving herself?

Well, let's do the math. These numbers are, of course, approximate. They could be higher or lower depending on the mood of the people involved. The fat calls are as follows:

2 times a day at school by students,
2 times a day at school by adminstration and other teachers,
2 times on the way into her apartment building,
3 times on msn messenger each day and,
2 times on the street by random Korean men.
= 11 times a day, on a good day.

+ weekends at 3 times a night in Seoul x 2 for Saturday and Sunday = 6.

11x5+6 = 61 fat calls/week.
61x52 = 3172 fat calls for a year.

3172 times during an ordinary year! There goes my self-esteem.

Okay, this is a bit of an exaggeration but COME ON! Just stop telling me to eat kimchi because it will make me thin. I don't like it, I'll never like it, move on.

Nothing is going on in Korea at the moment but I AM alive and DEFINITELY not starving myself!

Cheers,

Diane

12 Million People in a Square

Seoul has a population over 12 million and I'm pretty sure all of us were at Jongno to bring in the new year. It was INSANE. I have never been somewhere with so many people before. The crowds would pull you with them leaving your friends behind. It was well worth the struggle though. To see thousands of happy people and thousands of fireworks at the strike of 12 was something I'll never forget.

Some pictures. I don't know how to put a video in this thing or I'd show you one.

Hundreds of police lined the streets.

The subway station after midnight.

Nicole, Emmanuella, Jen and me.