“Johnny, stop texting on your phone! Sara, don’t play angry birds in class! Clifford, I can see your IPad under your desk, put it away!! Jenny, stop showing Cindy pictures on your IPod and Sam take your earphones out of your ears!!!!!!!!! Really people? COME ON!”
I put teacher in quotations because I cannot render myself a teacher without any of the necessary qualifications or degrees. Yes, I did graduate from University... but that's as far as it goes. Most of the time (and I believe this goes for most foreigners teaching English in Korea) we are simply glorified baby sitters. I've walked into class many a times and have been shocked with the site before me. Students literally jumping on top of desks, doing cart-wheels down the aisle and making farting noises with parts of their bodies I never knew could make that sound.
As technologically advanced as they are, I still have a few students who bring comic books and oragami to school which I can't help but smile at. Rather than tossing paper airplanes around, these innovative kids design paper boats, flowers, artifacts and other creative art forms. Yet another encounter that solidifies the setting of my workplace; Asia. Since I've obviously never been a teacher and only taught in Korea, I have no idea how Western students behave or what the classroom etiquette would entail. It would definitely be strange to hear and understand what all the kids around you are saying. I've become very good at tuning my students out completely. Hm. Okay... let me rephrase. I am able to abstain from listening to my students conversations in class since I can't understand them. I have however, become an expert at charades!
Once Friday finally comes to the rescue, the absolute last thing I want to do on my weekend is spend time around little kids who can't speak English (which are all children in Korea). So essentially, kids are off limits when it comes to my 2 days off a week. Unfortunately since we are a visible minority in this country, it's pretty hard to avoid those awkward conversations that parents push their offspring to have with us. For example, while I was waiting for the bus last Friday night, I noticed a young boy (maybe 8 or 9 years old) pacing in front of me. I saw his lips moving but naturally, I tuned him out. I then spotted what appeared to be his overly-excited mother staring at me, then at her terrified son, urging him with hand gestures to go and talk to me. I knew if I took out my earphones, a very slow paced, awkward conversation would have taken place that might have sounded something like this:
Me: Hello. How are you?
Terrified boy: I'm fine thank you, and you?
Me: I'm good.
(long pause)
Terrified boy: Where are you live?
Me: I'm from C-A-N-A-D-A.
Terrified boy: (awkward laugh) What is your name?
Me: My name is G-I-L-L-I-A-N.
Terrified boy: HUH?!
Me: (ignoring his uncertainty) What is your name?
(Question/answer period goes on for another 10 minutes and the parent is glad to see the money spent on private English lessons are paying off).
But instead of subjecting myself to another mind-numbing conversation, my earphones remained in the base of my earlobes until my designated bus arrived at the stop. Some may think that is rude, I frankly just don't give a shit.
Most children in Korea attend 4 or 5 Hagwons (private schools) after their normal elementary school day. This means they typically don't arrive home until 10 or 11pm. What I noticed differs greatly in this country opposed to Canada, is the encompassing feeling of safety I have when walking around, alone at night. Let me attempt to paint a picture for you:
It's 3am and you are walking home from the bar. The absence of motor vehicles and other comforting distractions make your walk home erie and distressing. You walk past dark alley ways (the ones your parents told you to stay away from) and see 5 intoxicated Korean men talking outside of a shop. You walk a little farther and pass a 24 hour 711 where suddenly 6 rowdy teenagers run out chasing each other down the street.
In North America or in any Western country, these scenarios would typically be the prologue of a dangerous or threatening horror story. In Korea however, particularly Gwangju they absolutely are not. The drunk Korean men are probably too scared to face the wrath of their sober wives and thus decided to continue drinking all throughout the night. The middle school students most likely just finished studying for an exam and are high on sugar and caffeine. In other words, nothing to be worried about. When a car slows down beside you as you are walking down the street, don't fret, they are probably just admiring your foreign-ness and feel the need to analyze and observe. If anything, these Koreans are probably more scared of you, with your light colored hair and obscure language. These mundane situations don't prove true for other, more populated cities in South Korea. Im sure if you are walking home from the bar late at night in Seoul, and a car is following close behind you, you are more likely than not, about to be abducted.
This past weekend I actually travelled to Seoul to celebrate Suzy's 24th birthday with her. We had a great 2 days that were filled with pottery making, delicious food and lots of alcohol. Here are some pics of the weekend.
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| Started off the day right with some mamosas on the bus |
Only a week and a half until I leave for Taiwan! Am counting down the HOURS!
Miss you all!
"Live for today, because yesterday is over and tomorrow may never come".
Signing off,
Gillian Teacher x
