A month has passed since I first arrived -- amazing. I guess time flies when you're having fun playing the crane game.
@@@
Teachers are the ones who nurture the adults of the future, I've heard. Teaching is such a great job because you get to work with kids, I heard. I've never heard anyone mention that teaching can be a nice treat for a sadist.
I like to ask random students questions during the class. Most are hesitant, but will softly eek out an answer. Some are brash and proudly answer, no matter how little sense they make. Then there are the timid: they either stare down at their book when I approach them or just sit there. When they just sit there, I'm not sure if they are waiting for me to move on or if they are thinking about the answer. I suppose these timid students are simply incapacitated with fear, like the fear that filled America in the early 20th century, when Prohibition was enacted and Americans realized they couldn't get shit-faced on the weekend. Public speaking is a common fear, (I would guess even moreso for these young students), so I try not to get angry at them. I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy seeing them sweat or hearing their moans of agony as I call their name in class though.
It's called "tough love," kids.
I could just show my students a Disney movie and have them just laugh and enjoy class, but I want them to practice as much as possible, because of course, practice does make perfect.
I was thinking of showing them a clip from Rocky III to encourage and inspire them to have the courage to speak in class. Instead, I decided to show them this video of a man that can't count to "20" (fkn hilarious):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv62SN9P008
The lesson I told my students after showing them the video: practice makes perfect, you lil fuckers.
Apr 30, 2009
Apr 23, 2009
Deadlier than Gambling
I've never understood why people salivate at the thought of visiting Las Vegas. I visited LV for the first when I was 23. I was unimpressed. Aside from the grand sights such as New York, New York or the Bellagio Hotel water show, I consider Las Vegas to be nothing special. The entire city is filled with hustlers and I hate the idea that the entire city is built on the failed dreams of many. The main draw of gambling did not have much appeal to me either.
So it seems I'm starting to build a collection.
In many parts of Korea (including my hood), there are crane games dispersed randomly along streets and alleys everywhere. They are filled with not only stuffed animals, but also cigarette lighters, keychains, drinks, and in one I even saw an enclosed pack of wife beaters. Since I've
gotten here, I've spent close to about $20 on these crane games. As long as I win occasionally, the items (which are bizarre or unique beyond anything I've seen before, like the pachinko lighter seen to the left), are great prizes and are at a reasonable price. I find myself filled with joy when I hear the clunk of a cigarette lighter hitting the metal tray below and jumping in dismay when the crane-claw suddenly and "magically" loses it's grip on it's way to the drop point. Maybe this is what Vegas gamblers feel.
gotten here, I've spent close to about $20 on these crane games. As long as I win occasionally, the items (which are bizarre or unique beyond anything I've seen before, like the pachinko lighter seen to the left), are great prizes and are at a reasonable price. I find myself filled with joy when I hear the clunk of a cigarette lighter hitting the metal tray below and jumping in dismay when the crane-claw suddenly and "magically" loses it's grip on it's way to the drop point. Maybe this is what Vegas gamblers feel.
Apr 21, 2009
Life is Good
I did not think it likely, but I am actually living at a higher standard here than in Hawaii/the US (for you guys who care about the numbers, the GDP-per-capita of S. Korea and U.S. are around $27,000 and $46,000 respectively).
Let's compare, shall we?
US: 16x16 studio apartment, paid $850/month. no utils, not furnished.
SK: still a studio, but bigger and furnished and my employer takes care of the rent and utils.
US: sweat my ass off in Hawaiian summers, esp. since my apt. faces away from the mountain.
SK: compact A/C attached to the wall and a heater for these lingering cold days (did I mention I don't pay utilities?)
US: stall with fear upon sight of giant roaches that originate from the jungles of Hawaii and somehow make their way into my apartment
SK: no roaches in my apt or city, so I can leisurely let my trash pile
US: no recycling b/c I do not have space in my 15x15 to be storing trash. oh, and fuck the $.05 refund.
SK: recycling bins right at the entrance of my building. convenience is a great incentive to recycle.
US: pay $1.25 to wash and dry, each. i still have missing socks and somebody stole some clothes from me once.
SK: a washer right in my apartment, though I have to use a Korean dryer (aka hanging my shit on a chair)
US: pay $7 for a plate lunch that consists of meat, rice and a scoop of mac salad. have a heart attack afterward.
SK: there is a plate-lunch-like place right by my place that I can get a tonkatsu plate for less than $2 USD. I also eat, on average, probably 3 different types of a vegetables a day.
US: need a car to drive to... well, everywhere. pay for gas, insurance, and punch a hole in the wall when somebody hit-and-runs you (which happened once and gave me a giant headache)
SK: walking distance (max 5 minutes) from work, the gym, a basketball court, a pay phone, 7-11, the bar, the stationery store, bus stop, a sewing shop, grocery store, eyeglass store, PC lounge, coffee shop, and loads of restaurants.
Life here is suiting me so far.
Let's compare, shall we?
SK: still a studio, but bigger and furnished and my employer takes care of the rent and utils.
US: sweat my ass off in Hawaiian summers, esp. since my apt. faces away from the mountain.
SK: compact A/C attached to the wall and a heater for these lingering cold days (did I mention I don't pay utilities?)
US: stall with fear upon sight of giant roaches that originate from the jungles of Hawaii and somehow make their way into my apartment
SK: no roaches in my apt or city, so I can leisurely let my trash pile
US: no recycling b/c I do not have space in my 15x15 to be storing trash. oh, and fuck the $.05 refund.
SK: recycling bins right at the entrance of my building. convenience is a great incentive to recycle.
US: pay $1.25 to wash and dry, each. i still have missing socks and somebody stole some clothes from me once.
SK: a washer right in my apartment, though I have to use a Korean dryer (aka hanging my shit on a chair)
US: pay $7 for a plate lunch that consists of meat, rice and a scoop of mac salad. have a heart attack afterward.
SK: there is a plate-lunch-like place right by my place that I can get a tonkatsu plate for less than $2 USD. I also eat, on average, probably 3 different types of a vegetables a day.
US: need a car to drive to... well, everywhere. pay for gas, insurance, and punch a hole in the wall when somebody hit-and-runs you (which happened once and gave me a giant headache)
SK: walking distance (max 5 minutes) from work, the gym, a basketball court, a pay phone, 7-11, the bar, the stationery store, bus stop, a sewing shop, grocery store, eyeglass store, PC lounge, coffee shop, and loads of restaurants.
Life here is suiting me so far.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
