kim kim kim

I had wondered about what Asians call "Asian Pears", however, I have never asked.  Today in a power point presentation of "some or a/an" I had a picture of a typical Western pear.  None of the kids knew what it was.  I then told my co-teacher about how we call their pears, "Asian pears" and these pears, "pears".  She translated and the kids thought it was pretty funny that we call them that.

My 5th graders at one of my schools are tormenting me with memorizing their names.  I know "torment' is a pretty strong word for the subject at hand, but it really does feel that way at times!  Imagine having 60 5th graders with names that are alarmingly similar, if not the same.  In a class of 30, about 10 of them have the last name of Kim.  But we call them by their last name first.  Example:  Kim Min-Ju, Kim Min-su, Kim Min-U, Kim-Eun-ju, Kim Eun-so, Kim Su-min, and Kim Su-bin (actual student names used here).  Surely you can see the dilemma I am faced with!  The kids eventually loosened the reigns and let me drop the last name, so I have some hope of success.  However, I have a cheat sheet that I created, and pencil in their names at the desk they sit at, so I study it before class and have it handy at all times so when one of them walks up to me, I can look at it before I am questioned, "Teacher, Myyyyyyyyyyyyyy Nammmmmmmmmmmme?" with sad, yet hopeful eyes.   They really do swell with pride when I get it right, so I hate to disappoint.  My favorite student, Min-ju (who I nicknamed in my head, the "double handed-happy waver", because she always waves at me w/ both hands and opens her mouth in a very expressive, open-mouthed smile), was completely crushed a few weeks ago, when she saw me getting other student's names correct, but when she pressed me, I had no idea what her name was (I felt awful).  This is the student that I walked home and ate cookies with a few weeks ago.

The time here is flying by.  It is like I have gone into some sort of super-sonic time warp.  Every time I turn around it's Friday again.  I have been here for 3 1/2 months and it feels like only a few weeks.  Can't believe it is June already.  Before I know it, the year will be up and I'll be home.  I am glad that time is going by fast in the sense, that I have the first few months under my belt.  Would not want to relive that!  It was a combination of the emotional distress I felt due to both culture shock and missing a certain someone, not speaking or understanding the language and then having NO idea what I was doing or should do, wrap that up with major student problems, all created a very crappy couple of months and a very sad and stressed christine.  Thank goodness it has fallen into place.  I really had my doubts for awhile.  They say the first year is the hardest year of teaching, so that is encouraging in the sense, that I will never have a "first" year of teaching again.  Teaching is hard work. We have all heard that, but it really is true.  I have so much more respect for every teacher I know and have ever had.  In Korea, teachers are highly valued and well respected people (as well they should be).  The education system here is vastly different from the states, and there is a huge emphasis on education, so much so, that the government pays thousands of foreign native English speakers to come here to help give their children the best education possible.  I mean, free rent and a nice pay check in a country that has a super cheap cost of living?  It is an incredibly awesome deal.  Okay, off the soap box, and back to fun blogging!  :)

(p.s. Happy Birthday Ann)

Tid Bits: 

Officially The BEST ever Lost in Translation shirt to date:  "Fairy Sweat Leakage"  This, I can't even make a guess as to what it might mean. 

 I am teaching my 2nd & 3rd graders The Addams Family theme song!   I had make a few edits, because words like, "mysterious" are too difficult at this point in their studies.  It's fun though, they really love the tune.  Guess it is catchy in all languages.  :)

Saw a building that had a phonetically spelled name printed on the front of it, "Hyundae BillDing".  :)  It took me several moments to realize what it was.