Lesson Update

With my Grade 4, 5 and 6 classes, there is a curriculum that I have to follow. My co-teachers are great because they allow me to spice things up and sometimes I create my own lessons from scratch. But I still keep the main objective of the chapter in mind.

For example, for my Grade 6 classes, we had a chapter called - "Will you help me, please?" and I made it into a Shrek theme. For Grade 5, when I taught past tense, I had a Tom & Jerry theme. (Kids here love T & J).

For my Kindergartens, I'm teaching them "Eensy Weensy spider..." ("itsy bitsy" was too difficult for them.) And I'm teaching them colours...as with my special needs class.

For the after school Hope Start program, I covered "shapes" and for an activity, we drew Spongebob Squarepants (another very popular character here). Just look at what a fantastic teaching aid this little character can be - look at all the circles, squares, rectangles etc there are! Needless to say, the kids loved it!

Pepero Day

Pepero sticks are like the chocolate-dipped pretzel sticks we get in South Africa. The maker's of this popular snack in Korea invented "Pepero Day". It is celebrated on November 11 because the numerical date (11/11) resembles four Pepero sticks! On this day, people give Pepero boxes to their lovers and friends (almost like a Valentine's Day?!)

Because Pepero Day falls on a Sunday this year, kids at school exchanged Peporo boxes on Friday. I was really spoiled because I received Pepero gifts from my students and a few teachers.

General update

This has been such a busy week! I teach over 30 classes a week and in between teaching time, I still have to lesson plan and attend meetings - and deal with other necessary admin. Am I still enjoying teaching? YES! There hasn't been a day where I don't want to go to work. The children are so beautiful and the staff at my school are all wonderful people. I feel very lucky.

Back home (in SA), my brother - DJ DAMAGE had his 3rd ultimix played on 5FM. Just like his other 2, I absolutely loved it and it included some of my favourite songs. I'm very proud of him!

Hindu's around the world celebrated Diwali (Festival of Lights). My family didn't celebrate this year, because of death's in our family. Speaking of which, next month will mark the one year anniversary of my uncle who lost his life while he was on holiday with his family in the Philippines.

Losing a cellphone: SA vs SK

Losing a cellphone in South Africa:

Two years ago, I lost (I guess now I can say it was stolen) my two-week old cellphone on campus. I panicked and backtracked trying to figure out where it was. I called my number, but it just rang. When I called again, the phone had been switched off. I blocked my sim card immediately...but I managed to find out that the person who "picked" up my cellphone had the audacity to make NINE (yes, 9) phone calls from MY phone! I remember being unable to sleep that night...something so personal of mine was in someone else's hands...all my contacts and text messages... gone. I filed a report at the police station, but obviously I was unsuccessful.

Moral of the story: When you "lose" a cellphone in South Africa, spend only 10 minutes looking for it. Because I can assure you - it's gone for good...

Losing a cellphone in South Korea:

This afternoon I tried calling one of my co-teachers on her cellphone, but a man answered the phone. I thought perhaps I dialed the wrong number. I handed the phone to one of my other co-teachers to speak Korean to the person, but we just left it at that - I had dialed the wrong number.

When I eventually met the teacher I was looking for, I told her what happened. She panicked. She thought her cellphone was in her handbag! Clearly it wasn't. We called her number again and the same man answered. This is what happened.

My co-teacher went to a holiday farm over the week-end and must have dropped her phone on the dirt road. Someone picked it up and decided to keep it till the owner called for it. He and my co-teacher talked for a few minutes. He told her that I was the first person to call the number, but he couldn't understand me. And he was very surprised that the owner hadn't called to claim it yet.

I couldn't believe this: He was concerned that her cellphone battery was going to die, in which case no calls would be received, so .... He charged her cellphone for her! The two made plans to meet tonight, and thankfully ...my co-teacher will have her cellphone back.

Moral of the story: When you "lose" a cellphone in Korea, don't worry - you're almost sure to get it back :)

Early Autumn in Korea

“If doctors are becoming targets, it’s no wonder so many are emigrating from South Africa.”

I write this post with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.

I am so deeply saddened to have read that Dr Pox, a prominent and loved person of the King Williams Town community was killed yesterday.

I just arrived home and opened an email from my mum asking if I'd read the online Dispatch.
Because of the time difference, it hadn't been updated when I checked in this morning.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I thought of Dr Pox's wife and three children. And all I could think of was WHY THE F**K DID THIS HAPPEN?

Apart from being deeply upset at the loss of such a great man, I am EXTREMELY PISSED OFF that such a disgusting thing has happened....again.

Who the hell gives someone the right to take another person's life. I could go on forever on this topic trying to figure out what drives a person to KILL.

The title of this post is a quote from Dr Helmut Fritsche (a local SA Medical Assoc spokesperson).

Before coming to South Korea, numerous people said to me, "You must come back to your country... It's fine to go away for an adventure for a year or two, but you must give back to your country."

WHY? Why would I want to live in a country where I have to constantly look over my shoulder in case someone is going to come after me with a freaking weapon to kill me?

I've been here in Korea for 2 months, and apart from missing my FATHER, MOTHER and BROTHER, I miss nothing else....

I go out when I please, and come home the next morning if I wish - alone...using public transport. Of course, I am cautious but not to the extent where I have to make sure all 3 locks are locked before putting my head down for the night.

I'm really really annoyed that such a barbaric act has occurred. People's lives are taken every single day, but one only feels the sting when you knew the deceased personally.

Above all, he was a doctor - a respected and loved one at that. The country is forever crying that professionals are leaving SA for other countries. I don't blame them.

Who in their right mind takes the life of someone who SAVES lives?

I'd say I've grown up in a pretty politically-aware home. I've always loved SA and been very proud to say I am a South African. But when I read of atrocities - especially with the likes of Lucky Dube's murder (amongst many others) and now Dr Pox, I say - leave the damn country...

I hope the people responsible for this and other stomach-wrenching tragedies will be caught and severely punished.

Please comment...!

The number of hits on my blog has increased over the past few weeks. Since I'm blogging a lot about my TEFL experience etc... I'd love to hear your comments/opinions/suggestions - so please feel free to comment on my various posts.

:)