School is totally normal.

Was talking with mom and dad yesterday. I was was telling them a few stories of things that happen here at school that are totally normal to them. A couple thing happened today and I thought I would share some of these stories.

1) Not 10 minutes ago, I went to the washroom to pee. Well even this is an adventure. The urinals are lined up perpendicular to the door. The door is a normal house bathroom door. No spring, but it can lock. I don't lock it 'cause it is a big bathroom with 6 urinals and 3 stalls (with normal toilets...western style). So I'm taking my pee and I had closed the door. A couple grade 3 boys walk in and fly the door wide open. They say hi, hello and also bow to me while I'm peeing. Three of them standing there saying hello at what they figure is an opportune time to have my full attention. Totally normal.

2) In class today with my grade 6. All is going well. My class is going fine and all the kids are sitting down after an activity. I have their full attention and am ready to explain the next part when my co-teacher tells me to wait. Kids are quiet. She says girl is crying. A boy did something. I didn't really understand and had a puzzled look on my face. One kid offers an explanation: "Head shot teacher" he yells. Pretty straight forward...I cracked a smile unfortunately. Most kids did not see, but the head shot thing got me. I understood pretty quick that the girl was crying because a boy gave her a slap across the head. Mrs. Ahn said a few words to the boy and on we went.

3) We were forewarned that things in Korea change last minute. Yesterday my schedule is three grade 3 classes in a row then one grade 5 class. I was told a day ahead of time that "maybe" the grades 3's were going to have national testing the next morning and that I would not have class. No word by end of the day. "Maybe testing" is what they said. So I pick up my room key from the Vice-principals desk in the morning at 8:35am and class starts at 9:00am. She shows me the schedule so I'm thinking she is going to tell me about the grade 3's, but no. She points to the classes on the schedule and says:"Maybe testing"... I'm thinking> "these tests start in 25 minutes and you have no clue." She says: "we discussing". So I go up to my class and wait. At 8:58am I don't hear little footsteps in the hall yet. 9:10am rolls around and I guess no class. At 9:25am my co-teacher comes in and says: "Grade 3 testing". Thanks for the update!!

4) Oct. 22nd is a big day. We have some big people from the education office as well as many English teachers from the area coming to see a class that me and my co-teacher will teach. They video us. Some people are in class watching us, while others are in a theater hall watching the video live. So it is a big thing. Two weeks ago my real co-teacher Mrs. Park (Mrs. Ahn is a retired teacher that works with me everyday in class. Mrs. Park is younger and is suppose to my co-teacher but she has a grade 2 homeroom. To keep face though, Mrs. Park is the one who is teaching this show class with me.) So Mrs. Park comes to me and we decide that we will teach class 13-2. So I prepare a lesson plan and a Powerpoint presentation and some material. She said we would review sometime last week. She never came. She comes this week and as soon as she sees my stuff she says: "13-2? No. We are going to teach 14-4". Ok. 13-2 is "What did you do yesterday?". 14-4 is "Is Peter there?". One is past tense and the other is phone conversations. So of course my material is no good. So I smile and say fine...14-4. No problem, now I'm well prepared for 13-2. (ma petite maudite!!) She tells me we are going to meet this upcoming Monday to review our material. She comes up to me yesterday with a hand writen plan for 14-4. Nice. So I did a new lesson plan and a Powerpoint and showed her yesterday. She really liked it, but c'mon. No problems...I can keep my cool, but its constantly like this for Ellen and I. To them it is normal.

A little venting today as I have nothing to do this afternoon. My lessons are planned for tomorrow and yes 14-4 is ready for review today again. If she changes something I will............ No problems. Talk to you later.