DISCLAIMER: VENT SESSION #14

So I just had one of my colleagues come in and ask me to sign something. I had no clue what she what it was and learned from the past not to sign anything without knowing what it was all about. So you hand me a paper full of a language that I hardly understand and you expect me to understand it and sign it? I like being oblivious to my surroundings (most of the time), but when it comes to giving up my signature, I would rather understand why and what it was for.

Well, in case you were wondering, I did give up my signature. (Yeah, I caved in.) I was told it was a sign-up sheet for a sexual harassment prevention session. Glad I question things beforehand, you know, in case I don't agree with them or something. But don't just expect me to understand a sheet purely of Korean! I've been here 3 months and am lucky to correctly pronounce a Korean word every now and again. Give me a break!

And then we have a Korean contest coming up on this Thursday, and it's mandatory and being nationally televised (at least it was last year). I don't have too much of a problem with making a fool of myself on national TV, if it is expected. But if you expect me to take it seriously, think again. I'm going to make you laugh. I know my students (and co-teachers) get a kick out of me when I attempt to speak Korean, and I have no problem with it. They laugh. I laugh. Entertainment is my middle name around here.

It's OK though, Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat. I've got a well-deserved plane ticket out of here for the Winter break. With the camps I'm working and my paid-leave, it is all covered too. And I only have (hopefully) around 2 more weeks of papers for my MA classes to submit online. And I have a pretty sweet new coffee maker, that can brew an unbelievably good roast. So it's not too bad around here.

As a matter of fact, the snow has been coming down and the roads are as slick as ice, which means the ski hills will be opening soon! That is something to look forward too.

For a little comic relief, I added a picture of one of my colleagues having (way too much) fun on the bus on our last field trip. (I'd tell you where we all went, but treasure too many of your friendships. Let's just say it was a park by the ocean that you would not find anywhere in the U.S. And the principal laughed when he told me where we were going.)

Yes, in case you were wondering, that IS toilet paper wrapped around his head and he IS the soccer coach. Go Taeseo Elementary!

Now this was really funny! This is the Joseph (the other native English teacher in my school) having himself a ride on a metal camel. He said something beforehand VERY LOUDLY, but wasn't ashamed. Since he said they didn't understand him anyway.