Monday, May 23, 2011
may may go away
This month has been dragging along. Usually May = freedom. No more going to school (both as a teacher and a student) no more stress or worries and lots of fun things to look forward to. This year has been exceptional in many ways, one of which being that I am not free from my obligations until August 1st (and then the freedom lasts a short 4 days...) so I guess the fact that I already packed my bags to leave is me working on my presumption that this month of May will bring me temporary freedom...it is unfortunately not so.
Friday, May 6, 2011
ROK 2.0
Dear Korea
I may be a little irrational because I didn't sleep last night. The pint of icecream I consumed can only be blamed for part of the reason that I didn't get much rest. What kept me awake was the tinging sensation that pulsed through my body as I tried to comprehend the news--I had just accepted a job offer in Kenya. I know, I know, your little world is spinning right now. What? How? Where did all this come from? And you are right, you deserve an explanation. Here goes... We had been getting along so well, I love and appreciate everything that you have offered me but this new temptress, Nairobi, has me hooked and I cannot deny my lust for her. She seduced me with an opportunity to train teachers and write curriculum, the need for a Masai warrior bodyguard is only an added bonus that heightens the thrill factor for when we get together. I get to help thousands of slum children gain literacy and open their world with the power of education. You know that this is what my wet dreams are made of. So I will leave you in August, with a heavy heart of course but knowing that I have lived to my fullest here and the time is right to move on.
That's not to say that I will not miss you. There will be many mornings where I will yearn for the spicy taste of kimchi on top of my eggs, but it will not be nearly packed away in a giant tupperware in a separate fridge. Nor will there be a tetris game of "where do I put the tupperware" when I attempt to retrieve myself a snack after school. I do solemnly swear that I will continue to use chopsticks when I eat my meals, life is just more fun that way. I will also miss getting things from students with both of their hands extended, even if the object is a pinky nail sized eraser, two hands will be used. I will miss their cheerful hellos and immediate burst of laughter. I will miss the people that Korea has brought into my life that for no reason outside their own kindness have made my time here so pleasant. Oh, and I will miss the bromancing boys holding hands in the halls of guiding each other lovingly out of my classroom. I will probably cry when my catchphrase-"Good Morning Class", does not yield a return of "Good Morning Ms.Lenets" along with a laser beam of smiles that easily eradicates negativity from my body. Oh Korea, you have been a fine mistress. Your bitterness in winter was complimented well by your summertime heats of passion and never again will I see a club full of 20 somethings in stellagmite heels dancing away in near choreographed unison to Panamaricano. You will find a new English teacher to fill the gap that I leave behind, but lets think of this as not a goodbye but a see you later, because destiny-willing I hope to cradle a Korean youngster as part of my own brood someday.
Forever grateful of your boundless love
Olenka
p.s. do you think it's a coincidence that I am moving from one ROK to another? The wise old turtle from the Kungfu Panda movie says "There are no mistakes, there are no coincidences!"
I may be a little irrational because I didn't sleep last night. The pint of icecream I consumed can only be blamed for part of the reason that I didn't get much rest. What kept me awake was the tinging sensation that pulsed through my body as I tried to comprehend the news--I had just accepted a job offer in Kenya. I know, I know, your little world is spinning right now. What? How? Where did all this come from? And you are right, you deserve an explanation. Here goes... We had been getting along so well, I love and appreciate everything that you have offered me but this new temptress, Nairobi, has me hooked and I cannot deny my lust for her. She seduced me with an opportunity to train teachers and write curriculum, the need for a Masai warrior bodyguard is only an added bonus that heightens the thrill factor for when we get together. I get to help thousands of slum children gain literacy and open their world with the power of education. You know that this is what my wet dreams are made of. So I will leave you in August, with a heavy heart of course but knowing that I have lived to my fullest here and the time is right to move on.
That's not to say that I will not miss you. There will be many mornings where I will yearn for the spicy taste of kimchi on top of my eggs, but it will not be nearly packed away in a giant tupperware in a separate fridge. Nor will there be a tetris game of "where do I put the tupperware" when I attempt to retrieve myself a snack after school. I do solemnly swear that I will continue to use chopsticks when I eat my meals, life is just more fun that way. I will also miss getting things from students with both of their hands extended, even if the object is a pinky nail sized eraser, two hands will be used. I will miss their cheerful hellos and immediate burst of laughter. I will miss the people that Korea has brought into my life that for no reason outside their own kindness have made my time here so pleasant. Oh, and I will miss the bromancing boys holding hands in the halls of guiding each other lovingly out of my classroom. I will probably cry when my catchphrase-"Good Morning Class", does not yield a return of "Good Morning Ms.Lenets" along with a laser beam of smiles that easily eradicates negativity from my body. Oh Korea, you have been a fine mistress. Your bitterness in winter was complimented well by your summertime heats of passion and never again will I see a club full of 20 somethings in stellagmite heels dancing away in near choreographed unison to Panamaricano. You will find a new English teacher to fill the gap that I leave behind, but lets think of this as not a goodbye but a see you later, because destiny-willing I hope to cradle a Korean youngster as part of my own brood someday.
Forever grateful of your boundless love
Olenka
p.s. do you think it's a coincidence that I am moving from one ROK to another? The wise old turtle from the Kungfu Panda movie says "There are no mistakes, there are no coincidences!"
Monday, May 2, 2011
My computer is FIXED!!!
Hooray!
Today really restored my faith in humanity, though living in Korea it is rare that my faith is every dissolved in the first place. My computer was fixed by a kind man who is a friend of my host dad. He tinkered with it for literally 2 minutes before taking out the battery and then replacing it back- the act breathed life into my little computer baby and all was right in the world once again.
That was not the miracle that I was most impressed by however. Upon waking this morning I was informed that today was my host dad's birthday. Sure, a nice heads up would have been nice, but this is Korea so I guess I shouldn't have expected much. Anyhow, he had promised me yesterday that right after school we would go to the repair shop that his friend owns and he could take a look at my computer. I had little faith in this being a fruitful outing but I love my baby computer so any chance of it getting fixed was worth a shot. Now, he did not mention that today was his birthday so I was surprised to learn this fact because he knowingly commit himself to the unpleasant task of taking me to a repair shop on his birthday. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't commit myself to such a mundane experience if the roles were reversed.
When I arrived back that the house, he was already making phone calls and inquiries about where we could go to fix my computer because his friend was busy at the moment. Then he spent about 30 minutes on the phone with the IT lady and translated her questions as a scrunched my face up into a thousand varied but equally unpleasant grumpy faces as I made each response. Then he ran off to a meeting with his sister and allowed me to take over his room and use the computer for the work that I needed to finish as well as responding to my apologies for having to use the computer late into the night with- "That's fine, make yourself at home." At this point, he had already earned his gold star for the day but the kindness kept going as he left his birthday dinner with me in tow to go to the repair shop where he had arranged a special meeting past their working hours. It felt really nice to be treated like a real korean daughter. I had witnessed it from the waygook end in my previous homestay, where the girl's needs ran the show. But to have someone go out of their way to help me, especially on their birthday! That was something extra special and very very kind. I am grateful and will strive to do something equally kind for him.
Today really restored my faith in humanity, though living in Korea it is rare that my faith is every dissolved in the first place. My computer was fixed by a kind man who is a friend of my host dad. He tinkered with it for literally 2 minutes before taking out the battery and then replacing it back- the act breathed life into my little computer baby and all was right in the world once again.
That was not the miracle that I was most impressed by however. Upon waking this morning I was informed that today was my host dad's birthday. Sure, a nice heads up would have been nice, but this is Korea so I guess I shouldn't have expected much. Anyhow, he had promised me yesterday that right after school we would go to the repair shop that his friend owns and he could take a look at my computer. I had little faith in this being a fruitful outing but I love my baby computer so any chance of it getting fixed was worth a shot. Now, he did not mention that today was his birthday so I was surprised to learn this fact because he knowingly commit himself to the unpleasant task of taking me to a repair shop on his birthday. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't commit myself to such a mundane experience if the roles were reversed.
When I arrived back that the house, he was already making phone calls and inquiries about where we could go to fix my computer because his friend was busy at the moment. Then he spent about 30 minutes on the phone with the IT lady and translated her questions as a scrunched my face up into a thousand varied but equally unpleasant grumpy faces as I made each response. Then he ran off to a meeting with his sister and allowed me to take over his room and use the computer for the work that I needed to finish as well as responding to my apologies for having to use the computer late into the night with- "That's fine, make yourself at home." At this point, he had already earned his gold star for the day but the kindness kept going as he left his birthday dinner with me in tow to go to the repair shop where he had arranged a special meeting past their working hours. It felt really nice to be treated like a real korean daughter. I had witnessed it from the waygook end in my previous homestay, where the girl's needs ran the show. But to have someone go out of their way to help me, especially on their birthday! That was something extra special and very very kind. I am grateful and will strive to do something equally kind for him.
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