to stay or not to stay...

Covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough is not a common occurrence in this country.  Today I was followed around by one of my students and he kept sneezing these full-on open mouthed sneezes on me and then as soon as I thought I was spared, I would turn around and get a big, fat, wet cough right in the face.  One of the ironies about this country is that general 'cold prevention' is done by wearing surgical masks, rather than from people not coughing or sneezing on you (covering your mouth when you cough/sneeze is purely optional).  If you don't want to get sick, wear a mask.  End of story.

My schools really want me to sign on for another year.  I am incredibly flattered that they like me and that I have done a good enough job that they are asking this of me.  I have to give them an answer by this Friday.  In exchange for me signing on again, they'll work with me on changing the class schedules, so that I won't have any more "after school classes".  ("after school classes" are basically supplemental/extracurricular classes that have a free-form structure (AKA chaotic & stressful).  All my classes at bad school are "after school".  These classes are taught w/out a coteacher so it is me against a roomful of kids who thrive on making me crazy).  I love these kids...all of them at both schools.  Even all the one's at bad school, but when a Korean teacher is not present they are terrors, particularly when they are in a group (which is all 10 classes I have w/ them at bad school).  On an individual basis, they are all good & respectful (even the 2 I just mentioned--minus sticking their tongues out at me when I pass them in the hall and such--but I can deal with that).  So the 'deal' they are making with me, would be a really good one.  My stress level would be a lot more manageable.

I had a class at "good school" today, where the school principal and VP sat in on it.  After it was over, they had to "rate" me in about 10 different categories on a scale of 1-5 (5 being the best).  Being the sneaky person that I am, I snuck a glance at my scores and was very pleased to see that I was given, '5's' in all categories!  After this class, the principal and VP told my co-teacher to get me to stay.

I am really enjoying my time here these days and am sad and surprised that the end is so close.  As many of you know, it was very difficult for me the first few months, where I would call you up and sob my brains out because of the major culture shock and absolute loneliness that I felt.  But, now...honestly, I am loving it.  I love Korea and all it's crazy, quirky ways.  I am seriously considering signing on for another year, but need to take the next couple of days to think about it pretty seriously and weigh out the pro's and con's.  I may see if they would be willing to give me a 6 month contract, because I could do that, but not sure I am up for an entire year.  Not to mention, one of the reasons I am loving Korea more and more is because I have a couple of great, new friends here, who have really made my time here tons more enjoyable. Sadly, these people are all leaving in February.  Anyway, I will think it over and see what happens.

Son Miyung-ai (Kimbap lady) and I have started eating dinner together about once a week.  The first time, I was just ordering when her mom came into the shop and they all sat down at the table with me and we shared a wonderful meal together, speaking in very broken English & Korean.  It's hard to describe the amazing feeling of acceptance and also surrealness to find yourself in Korea sharing a meal with 2 older Korean women.  It was one of those moments where you look around and think, 'there is nowhere else in the world I would rather be, then doing what I am doing with the people I am doing it with'.  Tonight I had dinner there and she and this little girl (apx 4 years old), who is the daughter of the small market owner, right next door, both sat down with me and shared another meal.  Again, incredibly strained and almost impossible conversation took place, but yet another another very special Korean moment.  Getting accepted & invited into Son Miyung-ai's world has been been indescribably special to me.  I am very grateful to her, beyond words, for her and her hospitality. 

tidbits: 

They sell Halls cough drops in the candy aisle here.  They are even labled as "invigorating candy".    

As always, I love reading people's shirts here.  Here are a couple more that I recently saw, that just struck me funny.

Scream Blue MURDER (In HUGE letters, with MURDER written in caps across the butt)

Juror, Away from my Murderer (This one really confused me.  What could it possibly mean???)

Had my first burrito in Korea last weekend!  At a "real" Mexican food restaurant!  We went to this city called, Busan, (about an hour away) and I just about lost my brains when I saw a Mexican food place (the people I was with had no hope of eating anywhere else).  It was not what I would call a "normal" burrito, but it was close enough.  I have been craving Mexican food for months now.