Talking to Myself

Sunday, 3 January 2010

Tomorrow represents the first change in curriculum at work for around a year and the first significant for two. For the past two years I've been teaching the same material but repeated over nine months. What I mean is that I was teaching lessons then repeating the exact lesson some nine months later but to different students. I taught these lessons several times a week. This was both good and bad. Good because I became familiar with what I was teaching meaning preparation was down to a bare minimum, also I knew what worked and didn't. Bad because I hardly had to work on my teaching, thus not making any improvements at work at all, save for class management and classroom psychology. In short, work has been too easy (and that's saying something in this job!). In this job I have been on autopilot for too long.

A quick look at the actual changes and it seems about 85% of the weekly class curriculum has changed, maybe even more. From scanning the hand-outs, and recalling a meeting we had some three or four weeks ago everything seems fairly straightforward. Still, changes mean things can go wrong, people can screw up and students may not understand the new things being studied or how I am teaching. Things will be alright and I am not bothered about the new class structure. I am keeping all my middle school classes but there is a big turnaround in the elementary school classes I am teaching. All my best classes are going. Hopefully I will be getting somebody else's good kids.

Saturday, 2 January 2010

Window opens, nothing to look at

FA Cup Third round day. Surely the Reds can't screw this up. A simple away tie at Reading. Anyway there are no important matters at hand. The transfer window has barely been open and Liverpool have been linked with a selection of players ranging from the good to the good-god-please-don't-sign-him. IF reports are to be believed then IF Benitez can ship off the likes of Voronin, Degen and maybe even Babel he MAY have SOME money to spend. Possibly on loans. I hope to stand corrected but I doubt we can bring anyone decent into the club.

At the end of the last transfer window somehow we signed Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos. A defender so slow that I've seen milk turn quicker. I would fancy my chances facing him. Even if these jokers are shipped out of the club I can't see any of the decent names linked with us joining the club. Just where is the money coming from? Would any signings signal fresh investment in the club from an outside source? Intriguing but as things stand the status quo remains. Clearly we are broke.

Friday, 1 January 2010

No rest for the wicked

Feels like a Saturday today. For some reason, possibly complaining mothers, we have to go to work today when most ESL teachers have the day off. I know many of my students won't be there so what's the point? To cap it off, a new teacher is observing classes today even though it's the last day any of us will be teaching the present curriculum. Luckily only one of mine (a good one too) will be observed. Slightly hungover, I'll be hitting the coffee to perk myself up.

Thursday, 31 December 2009

End of year post. 2009 highlights

Like most people, the past decade has been full of surprises. I could never have predicted what has happened to me. Overall it's been a very good time with more ups and downs. Living in Korea for four years has been a true experience. I have also been lucky enough to have travelled to many wonderful countries too. I also managed to get my degree at the start of the decade which is one of the best moments of my life.

This last year in particular has been a very significant for one thing specifically. Before writing this post I felt that apart from one huge that, perhaps not too much had been going on in my life but on reflection that's not been the case. It has been a very good year. Here are some of the great things about my 2009.

I got married. I love my wife and feel I am an extremely lucky man.
Got my 2nd Dan hapkido black belt. I feel very proud of this achievement especially as most of my training has been spent on my own. I worked hard and made many sacrifices but it's all been worth it.
Travelled to Hong Kong and Macau. Had a good time there and would love to go back and see what we didn't have time to get around to.
Managed to go back home to England and see my family. Hadn't seen them for some eighteen months and felt much better afterwards.
Started taekwondo. I hope this will last because I have had a great time so far. There's a real family atmosphere and it's going well right now. Getting a third martial arts black belt would be fantastic.
I've managed to save a decent amount of money. Never a bad thing to be able to put the pennies away. I am lucky to have a job that leads to my outgoings being so low.
Continued to stay debt free. For over a year now there has been no debt above my name. It's a great relief and release that so many people don't have the luxury of enjoying.
I've been happy for most of the year. I also haven't been homesick very often. Most of the credit for that belongs to my wife.
Bought a DSLR camera and seen the benefit of much better photographs. I really enjoy this technology and love my camera.
Signed a new contract at work which gives security for both myself and my wife. In a time of Worldwide problems it's good to be in employment and allows me the chance to save a bit more for my future.
Worked with and met some good people. People come and go but memories remain.
Against expectations, most work days have been full of fun, laughter and good times. I enjoy my job and wish more people felt the same way about theirs.
Went to the DMZ. A day I will hopefully never forget.
Moved into a significantly better and larger apart and live here happily with my life. It's nice to have more than one room and some actual natural light for the first time in a long time.
Downloaded, watched and listened to some great films and music that I wouldn't have been able to in the UK. God bless Korea's Internet.
I remain healthy and optimistic for my future.
Enjoyed the thrill of Liverpool's challenge for title. Despite coming second, at times it was very close.
Closer to leaving Korea, closer to travelling and coming 'home'.

I wish anyone reading this a very Happy New Year.

Tuesday, 29 December 2009

Lunar New Year intentions

And now attention turns to February. Tomorrow is pay day and it's probably the most eager I've been to get my money in months. I've been short of cash ever since I sent home a chunk of money at the beginning of the month. Christmas has been tough but I've made it to here and now I'm thinking of what I can do with my next two pay cheques. The talk at work is at times focused on vacations. One co-worker is spending the holiday season in Hawaii. I am pretending not to be jealous but it's pretty much impossible, given the seasonal weather. One co-worker also just won a free holiday to the Philippines. Another has a week off in February and is planning a trip to Thailand.

During the second week of February comes the Lunar New Year in Korea. This year due to it starting on the weekend we get one day off work (at my academy). I have managed to get a second day off so I can have a four day weekend to go somewhere. Lunar New Year, or Seollal (설날) is one of the big traditional holidays of Korea and is also a time where most Westerners go for a trip away from Korea. My wife doesn't want to go to China and I don't want to go to an Island for just four days. So what are my options?

For a start, staying in Korea is NOT an option. I badly want a holiday and to use my opportunity of getting off the peninsula and travelling but I don't want to go far and spend my vacation on an airplane. Hong Kong would probably be the best choice but we've been twice in the past year and want to try something new. Singapore and Malaysia are places we intend to go to AFTER I am finished working here. The same goes for Vietnam so all three are ruled out. This pretty much leaves Taiwan and Japan.

Taiwan is attractive because it's probably the cheapest to get to but I know little about the country and it's possible that some attractions may be closed (because they also celebrate their new year at the same time). Right now we're thinking of spending four days in Tokyo, Japan. I've been to Japan twice before and my wife has also been, but we haven't gone together. This may be the last chance for me to visit Tokyo so I think I'm going to take it. Japan is also very close, maybe one, two hours on a plane and we probably don't have to get the plane in Seoul. We can probably get a flight from Busan which again, save us time. It's not going to be cheap but it should be a great trip. I really hope this one comes off.

Once more, my plans are on the future and travelling. Seems like it's all I think about.

Monday, 28 December 2009

A Means to an End

Back to work. Back to normality. Back to boredom.

Christmas Day: Eating till I burst

Last years Christmas Day meal was a real let down so this year we were hoping for a relaxing time spent eating some good quality food while enjoying our own company. We certainly got that. Our choices were eating with co-workers, cooking for ourselves or going to a buffet in downtown Daegu. We opted for the latter at the Novotel hotel where we had three hours to eat as little or as much as we wanted. The price was 40,000won each (£20) so if the meal was poor then we'd feel a bit cheated but thankfully the meal was really good. I ate a lot that's for sure. I can't wait for next year and my Mother's home cooking because you can't beat home cooking.