A Life in the Present 3.0

Just outside of school are some various types of folks who set up shop with all sorts of appealing toys, foods, and goodies for the monkeys to eye and whine about until their parents fork over the money for whatever it is they want.  Ice cream, juice, candy, flashy twirly pens, trading cards and more.

But, last week, my monkeys were suckered into buying something the likes I’ve never seen.

First I heard the squeals, then I saw the running, and lastly I heard the chirping.  I went to see what was going on when these adorable girls came running up to me with something in their hand.

A baby quail barely old enough to walk in a straight line.  Some guy was selling them to my kids for 300W-the equivalent of about a quarter.

These kids were suckers for it too.  Everyone had one.  And everyone was mistreating it.

Liz saw some boys carrying their birds around in plastic bags and she explained how it was impossible for the bird to breath/LIVE in a plastic bags that has no breathing holes.

I saw three boys pushing their baby quails DOWN THE SLIDE.

And, these girls put this guy down on the floor and pushed him back and forth to one another like it was a hockey puck.

Papa, Papa, Papa de mía,

Oh, how I miss you cada día!

Today everyone should know

How the Browning patriarch was born so long ago.

I won’t say when or what year

So, we’ll keep your age at 40, have no fear.

No doubt you are my favorite guy

I’m happy your still young at heart, feisty, and spry.

For not many folks can act so coo’

Especially at your age (40 times TWO!)

Oops!

I LOVE YOU, DAD!!

Will be seeeeeeing you sooooon!

Getting the crackdown for videos posted about our little adventures here in Korea.  I sent a link of a video Liz made to a Korean colleague of mine and she was told today that it must be removed for some of the shots in the video are portraying ILLEGAL behaviors.

Apparently, drinking and singing on a moving bus is against the law.

I think it has more to do with the principal not wanting everyone to see her shaking her money maker.

So, if you see a post of mine with a missing link to a video.  That is why.  I just hope they don’t find this next.  Tens of readers would be greatly disappointed if I had to remove content from this site.

Liz Teacher put together a lovely little video re-cap of our weekend in Anmyundo.  Don’t worry.  She actually edits her videos and they are much better than mine,  so enjoy:

I partook in this today:

Last weekend all of us wonderful teachers were whisked away to Anmyundo Island for a night of teacher bonding.  And, singing.  And, drinking.  Lots and lots of drinking…

Five minutes on the bus and the Hite-uh/Soju train came through the aisle:

Soon thereafter the moving noraebang was cranked up:

Fish head soup and Soju for dinner (Getting excited for the culinary feasts yet, Kiki?!):

Left some a bit out of commission (yes, in the restaurant):

And, others ready for their glamour shots:

A trip to the noraebang upstairs to belt out some K-pop…including my song Lollipop (you know, because my name is Loli):

Then, it was off to the beach to fire off some fireworks:

While it was unacceptable for me to go skinny dipping, it was okay for them to dump the boss into the sea with all his clothes:

Late night eats and much more Soju helped us feel like a million bucks the next day:

A lovely new Engrish teacher has graced us with her presences and I couldn’t be happier.

For one, I no longer have to do this madness alone.   Two, I now have someone to yap with about haps on Facebook or Perez while sitting at my desk.

And, three, she is totally rad.

Meet Liz Teacher.  A Kentucky girl, schooled in Chicago, TEFL’d in Prague, and a kindred spirit to Korea as she is coming back for what will be her 3rd year of teaching here.

Really, she is great.  It’s going to be fun.

Check out her stuffs here: ThisKentuckyGirl

One of my monkeys was running around the back of class swinging his umbrella over his head and at other kids in class today.

It was getting out of control so I went back to take care of business.  I told him to sit down and then reached for the umbrella to confiscate it until after class…and the little bugger wouldn’t let it go.

I kept pulling.  He kept pulling.  I told him to:  Let go!  Sit down! Stop it!  LET GO!  I’ll call your mother!  Ohma!  An ja!

And he would NOT let go.

All the other kids in class gathered around to watch Lori Teacher get schooled by a 6 year old.  I was fuming, and probably slightly more embarrassed, praying to God that one of the moms didn’t poke her head to the window to see what was going on.

I finally let go, completely fired/fed up, and walked away.  I tried to maintain the rest of class (all of 5 minutes left) when this dude starts CRYING.  All the kids start telling me, “Lori Teacher, he’s sad.  He’s crying.”  And, all I could say was, “I know. Leave him alone.” All I could think was GOOD!  Cry!  Thanks for ruining any credibility I had with this class you little punk.

Today I made a kid cry.  What did you do?

Last weekend there was a fatal drinking and driving accident here in Korea.  Two of my favorite students, a brother and sister pair, lost their father after he was struck by a drunk driver.  The most adorable 4th and 5th grade kids who stay after class everyday to teach me correct Korean pronunciation or to attempt to tell me some ridiculous child-like stories were missing from school all last week and I was crushed to hear what had happened in their little family.

Today they returned to school.

I was expecting to see hollow shells of my former bubbly students but then I heard them coming around the corner as they ran up to me asking for candy.

Of course, I obliged.

Waiting for other students in class to say something that might break them down, I watched them carefully for any change in emotion.  HaeJin, the older sister, and her best little friend where in a corner talking, smiling, and acting…doing nothing attributed to class.  But, I let it slide.

I asked what they were doing when they started to explain, “Lori Teacher, you know my dad?  He die.  Let me show you.  She my Dad.  Me, crazy man.” And, the two proceeded to pretend drive towards one another and mime a crash.

I looked at JinLi, the little brother, who was absorbed in our worksheet.  I was convinced he was going to burst into tears when suddenly he looks up and says, “Now, slow motion, ” and the girls acted out the scene again, this time in slow motion, culminating into a pile of giggles on the floor.

“You understand, Teacher?” they asked of me.  I had to say yes, although I had no idea how they were being so strong–  until Hae Jin explains, “Lori Teacher?  I love Jesus.  My Dad love Jesus.  No sad.  Only happy.  Daddy is with Jesus.”

This time last year I was frolicking around the nude beaches on the west coast of Italy. This past weekend I found the polar opposite of beaches here in Korea.

I am pretty sure it was our ripped beach bods that drew the gawking stares, but when I noticed that I was the only one who stripped down to my bikini and the boys were the only ones sans shirts, I understood that we were being gawked at for our racy/sleazy/promiscuous beach behavior.  Who dare wear such clothing on a beach during summer?!?!?!

We also opted for the direct exposure to the sun in direct opposition to the Korean ideal of pasty milky white skin.

I most enjoyed watchng the Korea girls walk across the beach in high heels and those who waded into the sea with their umbrellas to avoid any possible exposure to the sun.