tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144422142011-11-28T10:55:58.125+08:00Doing a little good, having a little fun around the worldstevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.comBlogger7051100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-24559546805337472252011-11-25T20:22:00.002+08:002011-11-27T07:35:23.469+08:00

A few months back a colleague and I started talking about a Thanksgiving Dinner fundraiser. We capped the dinner at 70, but somehow it ballooned to 100.  As time went on we added No Uniform Day (kids can wear their regular clothes for a nominal fee), movie night, and  making and selling home made brownies, cookies.  It seemed like a colossal endeavor, so I had an open class (a class open for

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-53718606139337461172011-06-14T14:24:00.001+08:002011-06-14T14:48:42.150+08:00

As I mentioned before some of my students in the volunteer club work with local disabled people on a monthly basis.  We just go to an area to help them play bocce ball  and chat with them. They love having the kids there...they bring lots of energy and help out a bit.  For the kids, it is a great way to get to know people they never would have. The people who can throw the balls do.  Those

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-77261720826493381102011-06-14T13:50:00.000+08:002011-06-14T13:50:38.084+08:00

I wrote a couple of times about a boy, Min Se Teu, who drank acid who needed operations in Thailand. We decided to help him again. The school festival was last month and the school let us have a movie night in the gym after the festivities.  We sold tickets, made and sold brownies as well as drinks and popcorn.  We ended up raising enough money to pay for an operation for a little boy. The

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-37423888136976605262011-06-14T13:25:00.000+08:002011-06-14T13:25:00.677+08:00

Nearly three months have past and the kids are finally nearly ready for the contest on Saturday.  It has been three months of advising, scolding and laughing with the kids. I come to school a couple of hours early each day to meet with kids, I spend my lunches scarfing down food so I can meet with them during that time.  I am exhausted. There will be about 24 kids this year, not bad, but less

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-5589095647200821562011-03-21T15:16:00.000+08:002011-03-21T15:16:47.691+08:00

I decided to have another speech contest this year.  Last year it almost killed me, and I expect the same this year.  I both love/hate these things because  I know the kids really benefit, but they make me crazy missing meetings and just being kids. I started the meeting by having the students who had the highest scores last year talk about what they did.  Last year we had 37 students in the

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-53030600038037632682011-03-21T14:46:00.000+08:002011-03-21T14:46:59.090+08:00

The school year began early in the month and it has been scary.  The first few weeks are always a feeling out process.  This one was rough.  I am not sure if the new kids are more unruly, or I am not used to them, but the first two weeks of classes were not good. We are in our third week and I feel like I am finally hitting my stride.  We shall see.

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-3791988941232343912011-03-21T14:44:00.000+08:002011-03-21T14:44:24.411+08:00

It has been a bit more than a month and the girl, Hnini Woot Hlwa, can still only see a bit of color in her right eye. She is being taken care of by a wonderful friend of mine, but the medicine does not seem to be making a big difference. With some luck, she will go to a proper hospital in Bangkok in a week or so to find out if she can get an operation to repair the damage. If an operation can

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-2394068806194342772011-02-16T14:41:00.001+08:002011-02-16T14:44:06.177+08:00

Hnini Woot Hlwa is a 5 year old and when her parents divorced, they sent her sister to live with relatives and abandoned her at a neighbors house.  Luckily the neighbor has cared for her. She was playing with a neighbor and her eye got bashed.  The father of the neighbor got permission from the Thai government to go to a semi-big hospital in Thailand. The doctor looked at her and said they may

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-45387143366063772882011-02-16T14:05:00.000+08:002011-02-16T14:46:01.123+08:00

I hopped to stop by the school in the jungle that we were sponsoring, but it just was not possible. The best I could do was get a few pictures that I thought were interesting. Looking at the pictures, I wonder how the mothers keep their kids shirts so white in the jungle, and how the teacher is not distracted by his kid on his chest.

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-65986903065504804442011-02-16T13:44:00.002+08:002011-02-16T14:46:01.124+08:00

As mentioned before, my Volunteer Club had a fund raiser and one of the people they decided to help was Boi Pop Chan, a little Burmese girl who is paralyzed due to TB Meningitis.  I visited her and her family unannounced with a good friend of mine.  We arrived at the simple concrete block house and the girl was lying motionless under a net much like you would find over a bassinet.    We all sat

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-55243980077645588922011-02-16T13:24:00.000+08:002011-02-16T14:46:01.124+08:00

There are over 100,000 stray dogs in Bangkok and they usually deal with the problem by poisoning them.  Some of my students decided they wanted to help these dogs, so they raised some money for an organization that works for them. While in Bangkok we stopped in SCAD, which is a project to spay and neuter dogs and cats in Bangkok.  They have a spay and release program.  They try to work in areas

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-7830457090823674142011-02-12T10:33:00.000+08:002011-02-16T14:44:45.148+08:00

We really liked the Indonesian people who we met who were not associated with tourism.  Universally friendly, most liked to laugh a lot, and very kind.  The problem we ran into is we just hated the lying thieves who were associated with the tourist activities.  We have traveled a bit and we are used to people trying to cheat us, but it was the worst in Indonesia that we have seen.  We ended up

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-27270653604815872262011-02-12T10:23:00.000+08:002011-02-16T14:44:45.148+08:00

A couple of strange things that surprised us; The kids were so excited to see foreigners.  I guess they do not get tons in some areas and more than once a group of kids stopped us and wanted to have their picture taken with us because we were so exotic. Another surprise to me was the concern about bombs, especially around Jakarta.  I was really surprised that cars were inspected and you had to

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-10685516870151829082011-02-12T10:16:00.001+08:002011-02-16T14:44:45.149+08:00

We traveled to Bukit Lawang which is famous for having a large population of wild and semi wild Orangutans (semi-wild because many had been reintroduced from captivity). We did a two day trek into the jungle trying to spot the Orangutans. We saw about 7 or 8, a few with babies. Pretty cool experiences. The hiking was a bit more than Sandy counted on, but I have to admit she held up really well

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-16292774527342079132011-02-12T10:02:00.000+08:002011-02-16T14:44:45.149+08:00

We like temples and visited Borobudor, a 9th century Buddhist temple.   Also visited Prambanan an old Hindu temple.  As impressive as this was, it would have been amazing to see when there were literally hundreds of these temples in the same complex. Unfortunately, earthquakes and villagers taking stones to be used on their foundations left only a handful for renovation.

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-15945513348389942532011-02-12T09:50:00.001+08:002011-02-16T14:44:45.150+08:00

The highlights for us in Bali were some of the temples and a botanical garden. The beaches are supposed to be great, but there was lots of rain and we are not beach people anyway. My favorite was Tanah Lot, a temple in the sea.  It was really beautiful I also liked one of the Royal Temples...beautiful, no hawkers and no tourists. The incredible tiered rice paddies seemed to go on forever. We

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-26054988662934562522011-02-12T09:38:00.000+08:002011-02-16T14:44:45.150+08:00

We stayed in a hotel which was part of a foundation to provide an education for poor kids.  The kids would not be able to study anymore, so a family set up a foundation that provides food, housing, an education, and work experience to about 100 kids.  When they finish, they have a high school certificate, very good language ability, and actual job experience.  The hotel had one person who was

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-26899405654194310872011-01-16T22:02:00.000+08:002011-02-16T14:44:45.150+08:00

Bali has offered both the best and worst a vacation could. Our first full day out and we went to an old and supposedly interesting temple.  After the wave of  high pressure sellers, we got to the ticket window and the guy tries to cheat me on the entrance to the temple.  Does he think I do not see the big sign with the price on it or does he think I can not count?  His friend tried to tell me he

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-26427403272090891582011-01-07T15:08:00.000+08:002011-02-16T14:44:45.151+08:00

Heading off to Bali for a bit and Thailand....3+ weeks in total.  Yes it is good to be a teacher.

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-36827847347070064232011-01-07T15:06:00.001+08:002011-01-11T04:36:33.224+08:00

I watched the TV show with about 30 of my students.  I brought chocolates for everyone and it was a fun atmosphere watching it in a classroom on one of the huge TV's.  I have been hoping someone could give me a link, but no luck so far.  I made a video and posted it on Vimeo   ((sorry link was bad here is the right one) because you are not allowed to post videos on You Tube in Korea.  The audio

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-44189223710741845452010-12-25T12:59:00.003+08:002010-12-27T17:54:06.628+08:00

As I mentioned in the previous post, MBC TV, which is a huge channel in Korea, decided to do an 8 minute piece on our volunteer club.  The piece will air on the 29th between 7:30 and 9:30 ( I will update the time when I know). They spent 8 hours filming at our school. (Update...the actual time is 6:50). I walked through the gates at 6:45 in the morning I really had no idea how the day would go.

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-76094506004034102322010-12-25T10:11:00.003+08:002011-02-16T13:49:27.385+08:00

We got a call on Tuesday from MBC, the biggest TV channel in Korea.  They saw the newspaper story about "No Uniform Day" and wanted to film all day on Friday so they could make an 8 minute segment in prime time about our volunteer club. Holy crap. It could be great for the kids...great to get recognition for doing something good.  Doing for others will start to be ingrained into who they are.  

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-58051349095985979572010-12-18T20:43:00.001+08:002010-12-21T08:41:34.803+08:00

Only a Korean bar would have the courage to ask the question we have all been thinking.

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-10015438135651330542010-12-16T11:31:00.001+08:002010-12-21T08:41:34.803+08:00

I gave the kids oral tests recently.  I know the kids feel anxiety, but it is amazing the anxiety I feel. I am rooting for all the kids, but the ones who I know have worked a bit harder, I desperately want to do well.  When they are answering a question I am literally holding my breath. I have kids who are motivated and are pretty fluent in English.  I can teach them easily and joke with them...

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-78579186387686917612010-12-11T10:17:00.001+08:002010-12-21T08:41:34.804+08:00

Our volunteer group had another fundraiser yesterday...No Uniform Day.  The kids decided it would be fun if they could pay a nominal amount of money, about 50cents, and not have to wear a uniform for a day.  The money we raised will go to help a school in the jungle in Thailand. The day before, a couple of students told me it would be funny if the teachers wore student uniforms.  I hate dressing

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-41519627490650650812010-11-28T21:08:00.000+08:002010-12-21T08:41:34.806+08:00

We had our first volunteer activity on Saturday and it was perfect. One of the students organized a trip to Daegu where disabled people play at sport that is a bit like Bocce ball. We were greeted by a man in a wheelchair.  His arms, and legs were contorted.  His face was contorted when he spoke and was really difficult to understand.  You could see how stressed all the kids looked. As he speed

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-38527792808307578982010-11-18T09:29:00.000+08:002010-12-21T08:41:34.806+08:00

Today was the first fundraiser for the volunteer club.  There were no classes today because of the entrance exam, so the students organized a  movie day.  They charged about 40 cents for the movie, 50 cents for snacks or drinks.  They made nice posters to advertise it which included pictures of the girl who was ill who needed medicine.  The students did almost everything on their own and I was

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-34105218411026610252010-11-18T09:12:00.002+08:002010-12-21T08:41:34.807+08:00

Today is the worst day of most kids lives here...the university entrance exam.  Entrance to most universities is based solely on this test.  It can not be understated how important this test isGood Score=Good University=Good Job=Good Life (maybe). Everyone accommodates the test. During the listening portion of the tests, flights and trains do not run in the area of the testing centers.   Most

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-65125062724714361372010-11-15T10:56:00.001+08:002010-12-21T08:41:34.807+08:00

I just got busted. Kids here (and in Japan) are responsible for cleaning the bathrooms.  As you might guess, high school boys definition of clean differs slightly from the normal person. I do not worry too much about the toilets because I do everything in my power to not use squat toilets. Urinals and sinks are hard to avoid, so I periodically sneak in and clean them when the kids are in class

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-74614989055545932082010-11-15T08:54:00.002+08:002010-12-21T08:41:34.808+08:00

The volunteer club seems to be going pretty well.  Sometimes it is like making sausage, disgusting to watch, but the end results are good. The club has about 40 members and is doing the following projects: Sister School:  Students are raising money to help pay for salaries for teachers in a little school in the jungle.  It is an interesting little village of about 100 people that has been

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-31178900234152097072010-11-15T08:37:00.002+08:002010-12-21T08:41:34.808+08:00

Why have I stopped blogging lately?  Simple answer: I have not felt like it.  It takes a lot of time and energy and I just have not felt like writing much lately.

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-39756089872279359462010-10-25T13:30:00.000+08:002010-12-21T08:41:34.809+08:00

We had our first meeting of the volunteer club today. Last year's project for the boy who drank acid, Se Tu, had about 30 students, but I did not know what to expect today, so when we got 55 I was really pleased.   The students decided that they wanted to work on international projects in Thailand including :a sister school for Burmese refugees an animal sanctuary helping with health care for an

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-47316296272174557762010-10-21T15:23:00.000+08:002010-10-21T15:25:40.141+08:00

I am really enjoying the students this term.  The things I like the most these days are:Enthusiasm.  There is just nothing like coming to school and having kids scream "Steve-uww"from the windows. Generosity- The single greatest trait of most Koreans is how they share.  If a kid buys some food, they always share it.  The same is true with my colleagues.  Closeness- I love it when I see a couple

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-82582671406084342452010-10-18T13:01:00.001+08:002010-10-21T15:25:40.142+08:00

There may be a shortage of food and about everything else, but at least the North Koreans can get their porn.  According to an article todays' paper, "Foreign porn has spread so widely that any home with a player usually has one or two porn DVDs." I guess all they need is a little electricity and they can have themselves a good time.

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-59499007955211932422010-10-14T15:50:00.007+08:002010-10-21T15:25:40.142+08:00

Some Koreans, like some Americans, have the same blame the foreigner first attitude, so it is no surprise that when a foreigner does something stupid and criminal it gets lots of attention. There have been recent stories about Americans  who have molested kids, attacked old men, and video taped and distributed liaisons with Korean girls.  The haters have good material to hate us.  I have always

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-56323555051783620132010-10-11T12:04:00.000+08:002010-10-21T15:25:40.142+08:00

We made our third trip to Gyeongju this past weekend.  I wrote before about it being a living museum, and that is fair since there are cultural sites everywhere you look.  Last time we were not able to go to Bulguksa, a temple that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  We made it this time and it is really beautiful. It was founded in 573 expanded, destroyed and rebuilt over the years, but the

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-58151333227852713992010-10-11T11:34:00.001+08:002010-10-21T15:25:40.146+08:00

We have gone to lots of museums recently and they have all the normal stuff behind glass...great for adults. What I think that is different is that they are all been overflowing with families with young kids...fabulous in my opinion.  Most museums are free, so it is a cheap way for any family to have a day out. In addition, they have lots of interactive displays in separate areas for kids. Some

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-26528405546217689832010-10-11T10:19:00.000+08:002010-10-21T15:25:40.148+08:00

As mentioned before, Gyeongju is great and beautiful, but like everywhere, there are a few silly things I had to take pictures of. I really do not know what they mean by this sign A funny non-infringing (kind of) sign I love the Love Hotels because they all have some personality.  This weekend we stayed in one that was pretty tame outside of the love toy vending machine.

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-7527717822345740042010-10-04T11:26:00.000+08:002010-10-21T15:25:40.148+08:00

I am starting a volunteer club at school. The purpose of the club is to get students interested in volunteering (something that is not very common here) teach them about other countries and the problems people have give them an opportunity to speak English with me give them an opportunity to develop leadership skills improve students' resumes to enter university  I wrote a few times about Se

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-69276430083970625122010-10-04T11:06:00.000+08:002010-10-21T15:25:40.149+08:00

This weekend we joined what seemed like a million others to a rain soaked lantern festival in Jinju.  In the end it was nice, but not great because of the rain.  I also posted a couple of pics of the rice fields.  The pictures do not really capture the incredible contrast of the blue sky with green/yellow of the fading rice.

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-91224852835133923272010-09-26T12:48:00.005+08:002010-09-27T16:14:06.391+08:00

Just got back from a vacation around the south west part of Korea. We spent a day in Damyang which is famous for bamboo and old trees neither of which were exciting. The town had a really nice feel with a long walking park and hundreds of families enjoying themselves. The government provides tons of free things for people to do and they really take advantage of it. It is great. My favorite

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-45079136315492470962010-09-20T12:51:00.001+08:002010-09-26T16:35:03.265+08:00

Today's paper had a story about Korean roads being the 5th most deadly in the world, but this is compared to the population.  Of course in a densely populated country, a lot of people do not drive so this statistic is meaningless. A much more important measurement is the number of deaths per mile driven.  In this category, Korean roads are deadliest...slightly ahead of the Czech Republic and 20%

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-15172135377128303172010-09-16T09:57:00.010+08:002010-09-26T16:35:03.266+08:00

A student challenged me with the following question from a national test that was given early this month: "28. With no attempt there can be no failure and with nofailure no humiliation. So our self-esteem in this worlddepends entirely on what we back ourselves to be and do.It is determined by the ratio of our actualities to our supposedpotentialities. Thus, ________________________________.This

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-42870422606936525512010-09-15T09:33:00.002+08:002010-09-26T16:35:03.266+08:00

According to the UN, you are about 14 times as likely to be robbed in the US than in Korea. There are some conveniences that come along with safety; shop owners leave things on sidewalks overnight, bicycles are not locked in some areas, and nobody checks tickets on trains (but they do on subways). My favorite recent crime story was about a man who was robbing a little private school.  When he

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-37675505798076546692010-09-09T10:26:00.002+08:002010-09-26T16:35:03.267+08:00

There is an article in today's paper about male sites for young men to sell themselves to mature women. More than a dozen male high school and university students have been caught by police for operating multiple online community sites brokering sexual encounters between younger men and older women. ...Of the 14, seven were high school students.... ...Among community cafes they operated, one

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-64661848875716386122010-08-29T10:12:00.003+08:002010-09-26T16:35:03.268+08:00

Daegu International Body Painting contest was held Saturday and we went along with tons of families and more than a few perv's.  Our friend, Moonsook, came along and we were hoping to see her shocked by the bodypainting, but she was not fazed at all.  Fortunately, some western girls starting making out while we were walking around and that made her crazy..  No times on the web site so we got

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-54122583703461480612010-08-28T07:24:00.002+08:002010-08-28T07:26:11.260+08:00

According to Wikipedia., 46% of  Koreans cite no religion/atheism.  This is seen as a great opportunity for those proselytizing. Christians have been converting Buddhist here since the 1800's and, if considered jointly, are the biggest block of believers. There are about 70 Mormon missionaries in Daegu area now trying to convert Koreans. They wanted to have a chat with me...talk about barking up

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-65388453271175003972010-08-25T13:22:00.003+08:002010-08-25T13:26:11.438+08:00

As safe as I, and everyone I talk to, feels here, there are some serious problems for young girls. Earlier in the month, there was a story about child rape that reported it was very high and increasing. A quote about the reluctance to report it made it even more disturbing: “Given this reluctance, the actual number of child sex crimes in Korea could be far higher than the number officially

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-41105968225395283392010-08-18T22:49:00.000+08:002010-08-18T22:49:39.699+08:00

We are heading back to Korea tomorrow and I am really looking forward to it. Our life in Korea is pretty easy/good.  I miss the kids at school.  They make me crazy sometimes, but I really enjoy spending time with them. I am also looking forward to seeing our colleagues. A few observations on our trip here. As expected, it was great seeing family. There were a couple of things I did not expect to

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-1545888404925397442010-08-05T07:12:00.004+08:002010-08-08T17:49:33.640+08:00

I am in the Seoul area waiting on my plane (heading to the US for a couple of weeks) and saw this sign when I was looking for a little dinner.Koreans have difficulty differentiating between "P" and "B" sometimes in the most humorous ways.

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-42410517223973721202010-08-03T12:45:00.000+08:002010-08-08T17:49:33.641+08:00

University students have come to our school for a few days to give the students some counseling (whatever that means). I was driving up yesterday and saw a girl I did not recognize. She was about 6 feet tall (5 feet of which were legs) and about 120 pounds. She had on ridiculously short shorts...maybe 8” from the waist line to the cuff.I was talking with a boy later in the day and asked about

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-42241706635662003792010-07-31T14:18:00.000+08:002010-08-08T17:49:33.642+08:00

My favorite myth here is that sleeping in a sealed room (i.e. windows and doors closed) at night with a fan on will kill you. People will point to newspaper stories and reports on TV.  More educated people may say that their doctors tell them this (which they often do) or even point to a 2006 Korean Consumer Protection Board report which says:"If bodies are exposed to electric fans or air

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-81537092125452159112010-07-27T14:57:00.000+08:002010-08-08T17:49:33.643+08:00

The Korean kids thirst for reading is most graphically displayed at Costco.  Every time we go, the kids are sitting on whatever displays there are around and reading.  I think there is more than one reason why the Koreans are far ahead of the US on test scores.

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-84485240158491946132010-07-24T09:35:00.004+08:002010-08-08T17:49:33.644+08:00

Being a foreigner, many, but far from all, people try to manipulate you for their own purposes. In developing countries, it is often for money or influence. In developed countries, people sometimes befriend you solely to practice their English. I have become so leery of, well, everything. Yesterday we were out in an area really popular with high school and university students when we happened

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-54745581062943277212010-07-22T14:06:00.002+08:002010-08-08T17:49:33.644+08:00

It rained like hell the other day, so I found the most remarkable mix of mushrooms while hiking. This last one was huge, but nasty...like an weeping wound.

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-75737275178042211262010-07-19T12:03:00.004+08:002010-08-08T17:49:33.645+08:00

In a change to the usual tall hot girl pouring free samples marketing program, Cass beer went for the whole dorks walking around the store singing a promotional song to the tune "Mary Had A Little Lamb".   I hate to admit it, but I found it pretty funny (as did all the other people taking pictures), but I still prefer the tall hot girls.

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-5601768290881800612010-07-18T09:02:00.001+08:002010-08-08T17:49:33.646+08:00

Sandy had an English camp this weekend.  An English camp is a chance for the kids to spend have two days of interesting activities and spend the night at school.  A colleague spent the night and Sandy and I taught the lessons. We thought it would be fun to have the kids prepare Fajitas.  I love them and taught students in Japan to prepare them.  I thought it would be a good experience for the

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-5492092177004819132010-07-18T08:39:00.003+08:002010-08-08T17:49:33.647+08:00

In the effort to get their kids to master English, parents from Asia send them to the US, Canada and Australia for home stays. This, in my opinion, is a terrible, terrible idea. A few student experiences we have personally witnessed.Sandy had a student in Japan who had stayed in America for a year. He told his friends of his sex and marijuana exploits. He was cool, mixed up, and no longer fit

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-49222994158381414042010-07-09T11:00:00.004+08:002010-08-08T17:49:33.648+08:00

I thought it would be fun to have a class of girls have a video chat with my family.  The screen opened up and there was my nephew, Joseph.  Suddenly the door was open and the hormones of 30 high school girls came out.  The screaming and yelling of "handsome" was pretty impressive. The students were supposed to ask questions of both my nieces and my nephew, but with their hormones raging, there

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-44115917537734921202010-07-08T15:31:00.023+08:002010-07-09T11:01:24.875+08:00

Korean society is generally much more conservative than the West, so it is really difficult to get a reading on what dating is like. We chatted with some friends about dating.  Those in their 40's and 50's told us that they were expected to marry anyone they dated for more than a few months.  Those in their twenties said that is not the case anymore, but women start to get desperate to get

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-52715870341884049002010-07-05T11:47:00.004+08:002010-07-08T16:30:29.545+08:00

Imagine 350 kids standing around a field watching the relay race.  It is my turn to take the baton for the teachers leg.  Got it. Now the easy part...run 200 yards. 50 yards down and I barely barely touch another teacher and I take a big spill.  Damn I was proud of myself.  I quickly got up and continued to run with blood flowing from my forearm.  I laughed when I got done, but it was

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-16379820535650805562010-07-02T09:08:00.004+08:002010-07-08T16:30:29.546+08:00

This week I had oral tests with all of my students... 340 of them.  It was an interesting view into the human psyche. The low level boys knew little and could have cared less.  The girls knew much more and cared much more.  I am not sure why this is always the case, but the girls are always much more diligent in English. What was fascinating was the "cool" girls who pretend not to care.  When

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-30875995261162900832010-07-02T09:08:00.003+08:002010-07-02T09:12:05.517+08:00

China condemned the US for having military exercises with the South Korean navy because it may be "destabilizing". Apparently sinking a ship and killing 47 men is not destabilizing, but running drills is.  What a joke!

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-24576246934485367512010-06-29T15:14:00.002+08:002010-07-08T16:30:29.546+08:00

I love how relatively innocent kids are here...with one big exception: excuses to get out of school. There were dozens of kids in the office on Friday. One particularly cheerful boy turned to me and said, "Do you see all these students?  They are all liars".  The students need to get permission to leave school on a weekend.  Being that final exams are coming soon and the students are expected to

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-32538605498022659752010-06-27T20:22:00.002+08:002010-07-12T15:18:20.465+08:00

We just got back from our nightly walk and we almost got killed, again.  Dude takes a turn too wide, jumps the curb and runs up the sidewalk where we were walking and misses Sandy by a foot. Total crap. A month ago a friend was jogging on the sidewalk and an idiot decides to drive down the sidewalk to park his car (an all too common event).  He does not see my friend and almost hits him from

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-45810227031572493732010-06-25T11:21:00.005+08:002010-07-08T16:30:29.547+08:00

There are lots of stories in the news about groups of South Koreans fans, as many 600 fans, gathering to cheer for the North.  Even the South Korean President, Lee Myung-Bak, said    "It is too bad that the North Koreans lost. They should have won,"  In addition, the North Korean media (which of course is closely controlled) reports that the North Koreans are cheering the South team. Is there a

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-49604867531545793702010-06-21T12:25:00.007+08:002010-07-08T16:30:29.548+08:00

As a follow up to his much ballyhooed invention of the hamburger, Kim Jong Midget has developed a phone not visible to the naked eye.  According to this article, he gives "regular tactical advice" to the coach of the North Korean Team via his special phone. That explains how the North Koreans gave their fans (supposedly Chinese actors) a surprisingly good match against the Brazilians. Update

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-89065075714865687592010-06-16T07:42:00.005+08:002010-07-08T16:30:29.548+08:00

Nothing marks the difference between Korean schools and American ones as clearly as this story from a TV station out of New York.  Claim: Bronx Students Forced To Clean School Toilets"Department of Education officials are investigating after students at a Bronx school claimed they were forced to clean toilets as a punishment. Some students at In-Tech Academy in Kingsbridge say they were assigned

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-58628957570329245982010-06-14T05:58:00.005+08:002010-07-08T16:30:29.549+08:00

They have begun lining up the rice shoots and planting it through out all the valleys around here. Soon the fields will seem so lush, full of the bright green shoots of rice and the chirpping sounds of frogs. I love this time of year.

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-78322975375507903562010-06-13T08:21:00.007+08:002010-06-13T08:35:24.831+08:00

A few years ago, friends of the family, Hank and Janice, asked me to find a water project to support. Later, two more friends of the family, Hugh and Gabrielle, offered to help also.  A year ago, a friend in Thailand/Burma told me about a water project that she wanted to do.  She had gotten a pump donated and needed money for drilling and supplies.  It seemed like it was meant to be. When we

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-67903313849757590522010-06-08T15:42:00.002+08:002010-06-08T15:45:08.411+08:00

Joel Brinkley, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, wrote an opinion piece in the Denver Post the other day about the current situation in North Korea: "UNICEF reports almost half of North Korea's children are so malnourished they grow up stunted, both physically and mentally. The problem is irreversible and so prevalent the military had to lower its height requirement for new troops, to meet its

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-43590665462901363622010-06-07T13:23:00.044+08:002010-06-08T15:21:03.179+08:00

37 contestants and 70 high school students in the audience...a recipe for disaster, but somehow the speech contest turned out really well. The kids were surprisingly good.  Almost all of them remembered their speeches (my greatest fear), they had good pronunciation and actually used gestures.  This may not sound like an accomplishment, but try doing all of this in a foreign language and you

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-6999927317398297322010-06-03T16:32:00.002+08:002010-06-08T15:21:03.180+08:00

I am exhausted.   As I mentioned before, I decided to have a small speech contest at my school.  I thought I would have around 10 or so.  It has ended up 36 kids. Preparing the kids for the contest entails:Helping them with choosing a topic and writing a speech Helping them with pronunciation. This may sound easy, but listening carefully to kids for hours and helping them correct their

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-35455661315261821862010-05-31T16:08:00.000+08:002010-06-08T15:47:31.228+08:00

There was a NY Times Op Ed piece on Korea's general disinterest in the Cheonan attack.  While I do not agree with this piece, I have to admit that today's most popular reads on the the Chosun Ilbo newspaper made me wonder if I take it more seriously than most people here do:Former Miss Korea to Return to Korea After Graduating from Parsons S.Korea, China, Japan Put Brave Face on Cheonan

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-8808424574774591482010-05-31T15:40:00.002+08:002010-06-08T15:21:03.181+08:00

Being in Korea, you forget that it was not developed very long ago.  I have colleagues who tell of growing up with no electricity, where cars were a rarity.  30 years ago at there was only 1 person who owned a car at my school.   There is a story about the changes baby boomers have witnessed.  They give an example of Mr. B, the typical baby boomer:Mr. B - the typical baby boomer - was born when

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-1901640238960581552010-05-27T10:35:00.002+08:002010-06-08T15:47:31.228+08:00

James Zimmerman, an international lawyer based in Beijing, has an excellent piece in the NY Times explaining China's perspective on the situation. On the recent visit by the guy in high heels: "While the visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to China in early May was driven by an immediate need for aid and investment, Kim spent much time taking lessons from the Chinese by touring the coastal

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-5649272117798871352010-05-27T09:50:00.002+08:002010-06-08T15:47:31.229+08:00

Yesterday I had conversations with several colleagues about the incident.  The most surprising thing to me is that all of them said that the evidence is not strong and they are not convinced that the North Koreans are behind the sinking of the Cheonan.  The fact that there was no radar warning of the attack causes them to question whether it happened as it has been stated. In addition, the timing

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-92065463846086561092010-05-24T15:16:00.000+08:002010-06-08T15:47:31.229+08:00

I guess I remember all of the chair throwing and crazy videos of the Korean parliament from the past, so I did not expect much from them on the Cheonan ship sinking incident. I was completely wrong. I think things have been handled pretty close to perfectly so far.  The rhetoric was measured and designed to keep the public from getting ahead of any possible response.  The government did a good

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-246753998047567542010-05-23T18:29:00.083+08:002010-06-08T15:21:03.183+08:00

A couple of weeks ago two of my favorite students, Yun Ju and Miyeon, invited Sandy and I on a day out.  This week they gave us the cutest invitations ever! I know it looks like the girls are miserable and we were at a garage, but I am pretty sure they had a good time at a trendy restaurant. Next we were off to a board game room.  There is a nominal charge to sit at a table and you play board

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-37069679725264774572010-05-20T11:41:00.003+08:002010-06-08T15:47:31.229+08:00

June 2nd is election day and the process is active and noisy.  There are trucks going through town blaring the message of the office seeker.  This morning there was one dude with a series of trucks and him making a speech along the main road.  He had a few dozen supporters in blue shirts around him. There was a second group that was quiet and gave deep bows to traffic going by.  The deeper the

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-80091981039754217012010-05-17T13:25:00.005+08:002010-06-08T15:21:56.134+08:00

In  the last week I watched the movie "The Cove" about Japanese eating dolphins,  read an article about Koreans eating live octopus (called Sannakji), and listened to a student's thoughts on eating dog. The Japanese say that they have eaten dolphin for generations, it is part of their culture and they have a right to eat it. Koreans say that the octopus is not really live and the nerves in their

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-36161485777957667852010-05-16T06:52:00.001+08:002010-06-08T15:21:03.183+08:00

Yesterday was teachers' day in Korea.  On Friday the office was filled with flowers. Traditionally teachers received carnations from students and ex-students but, looking around the office, it seems to me red roses have replaced carnations.   One kid wrote an essay explaining that said that teachers are like second parents and I do not think she is alone in that thought.  The majority of the kids

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-77005944614762385792010-05-13T04:52:00.004+08:002010-05-13T15:34:40.636+08:00

A local middle/high school has a show and a kid demonstrated his excellent use of English in his drawing (please note the "Fuck You" in the bottom right corner). The words, "Happy Time" scrolled all over the frame kind of balances out the, "I hate you" so I am guessing the kid is not troubled on average. I was up in the third year teachers office yesterday and saw that Catholic University in

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-51155933958319421182010-05-11T09:44:00.008+08:002010-05-13T15:34:40.636+08:00

There was an interesting story in today's NY Times about a Chinese program to teach English in high schools in the US. It follows some of the  trials and tribulations of a foreigner teaching their native language in a very different country...kind of my situation in reverse. The Korean and Chinese education systems, both of which had similar origins, seem to have other similarities in the modern

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-79800499339695211412010-05-09T16:44:00.000+08:002010-05-13T15:34:40.637+08:00

I was out on a hike with another guy and we noticed a couple of dogs with radio collars on them.  I knew that this is so the owners could track their hunting dogs.  I had no idea that they had them here.  Either way one then another and another came up to us.  Finally there were 6 who decided they would hike with us for about a 1/2 hour than chase after feral pigs. On the way back from the hike

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-7981663517515685612010-05-05T17:30:00.005+08:002010-05-13T15:34:40.637+08:00

Today is Children's Day in Korea.  Parents give children presents and take them out on excursions (this is in principle, I did not see any out today). All the papers had articles on children's happiness and, as it turns out, it sucks.  According to a survey from a major university, 53% Korean children are happy with their life, the lowest number in the OECD. Children in the Netherlands are the

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-15877081061304457182010-05-03T14:41:00.000+08:002010-05-13T15:34:40.638+08:00

I have not seen anything as cool as this truck for to help people move. Two guys on the bottom load the platform.  The platform flies up to the 10th floor.  Considering they did not strap anything on, it is impressive that nothing took a spill. In about 30 minutes an hour all of these people's belongings were moved into their house.

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-30296592451628764352010-04-29T09:50:00.004+08:002010-06-08T15:47:31.230+08:00

Two stories in today's paper are really good bookends for the depravity of the North Korean regime. On one end is this story that tells of North Korea importing $100 million dollars worth of expensive liquor and cars for the ruling elite in 2008. In addition to expensive cognac, apparently the midget in high heels is a dog collector and imports them from France  The story has the typically

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-86772084585382573892010-04-27T21:02:00.001+08:002010-04-27T21:04:56.142+08:00

A couple of years ago I was riding my bicycle, my basket full of groceries, down a  little street in rural Japan.  Then, a couple of policemen saw me and thought they had reasonable suspicion to question me.  I guess the bananas in my basket looked dangerous or something.  I showed them my ID, and then they let me go.  All I lost was a few minutes and my sense of freedom. A year later I was

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-54130688720613775512010-04-27T08:40:00.000+08:002010-06-08T15:47:31.231+08:00

Another blog had a great rundown on the history of the sorts of attacks North Korea has done in the past: The investigation into the sinking of the Cheonan is increasing pointing to a North Korean attack as the most likely cause of the tragaty.  If so, it will not be the first or worst North Korean provocation.The remarkable thing is how often these incidents, each of which would constitute an

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-15113486021923872502010-04-21T10:02:00.000+08:002010-06-08T15:47:31.231+08:00

As you probably know, a South Korean warship sank over 3 weeks ago and a few dozen men died.  When the ship sank, it was news here of course and there was 24/7 coverage on the news stations. I have been amazed how public opinion has been evolving.  The government has been saying that people should not jump to conclusions (i.e. the crazy midget downed the ship).  Initially, most people I talked

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-38009155451794440452010-04-21T09:36:00.000+08:002010-05-13T15:34:40.639+08:00

I thought it would be fun to have a speech contest at my school and maybe a dozen kids would join...more like 43.  No big deal, I just have to come to school at 6:45 instead of 8:30, and I need to work through lunch.  I really do not mind because I know it is good for them, and I enjoy it.Getting to know the kids is the best part of the job, and when you have hundreds of students, it is not

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-50200025264413282262010-04-15T10:57:00.001+08:002010-05-13T15:34:40.640+08:00

I have talked to some friends recently about punishment in schools.  All of the schools give their kids a whack here and there, but I have heard a couple of remarkable/ strange ones lately. One friend reports that when kids are chatting/whacking each other, a co-teacher will have the kids stand up, open their mouths, and grab their ears...for 5 minutes, 10 minutes, whatever it takes.   Another

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-65883584056624876642010-04-12T11:09:00.001+08:002010-04-12T11:09:49.629+08:00

While in Thailand and Burma, I started working with a friend on a water project.  My friend had found the project and, to be honest, did most of the work.  I just helped with some of the planning and fundraising. As I mentioned before, we met with some people in the community, interviewed a driller, and helped work on some of the logistics.  Initially, we thought we would raise all the money

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-29543894930238556432010-04-09T08:50:00.001+08:002010-05-13T15:34:40.640+08:00

"What the hell is that smell!"  I thought yesterday.  I had a little gas, but there is no way it could be me.  As I was walking to the bathroom to be sure it was not me, I realized, it was time to spray the poop in the fields.  There are rice paddies everywhere here and slowly but surely, all will be sprayed with some sort of brown solution that smells like sewage.  Last year the smell was

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-21894540595932531332010-04-09T08:25:00.001+08:002010-04-09T10:21:15.984+08:00

There is trouble in the teachers room...what is going on?  Did a kid do something stupid?  You ask a colleague, and you get a gentle laugh and a deflection. Nearly all Native English Teachers face the same problem...we are kept in the dark about any problems the school has.  Maintaining the school's reputation is paramount here.  It is so important, that our contracts say that we can be fired

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-71435332754637707202010-04-01T13:39:00.005+08:002010-05-13T15:34:40.641+08:00

Korea has the most beautiful traditional fences anywhere. They are like little works of art. They combine stones, old roofing material, colored cement etc in the most artistic forms.  I have taken a bunch of pic's, but this blog has tons that put mine to shame. It is in Korean, but you can enjoy the pictures nonetheless.

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-56711154610064926592010-03-30T15:06:00.000+08:002010-05-13T15:34:40.641+08:00

I thought it would be nice to organize a little speech contest for the students at my school. It takes nearly daily practice with the kids one on one to get them ready, but I have free time so I figured, "What the hell".   I announced it and thought I would end up with 10 or so...no big deal. I had the meeting yesterday...40 kids, my why not, "What the hell" went to a this is crazy, "what the

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-60371042869915903242010-03-26T11:57:00.008+08:002010-05-13T15:34:40.642+08:00

One of the first comments girls say to Sandy is, "You have such a small face!". Face size is really important in much of Asia. My wonderful small faced Korean sister-in-law explained it to me this way, "Who wants a big old Buddha face". I still smile when I recall that. Either way, beauty standards are different everywhere and there is no right or wrong. A story in today's paper reports on a

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442214.post-76432110476851286272010-03-23T20:03:00.000+08:002010-03-24T13:06:40.483+08:00

Below is my nomination for the perfect thing to find on your desk first thing in the morning.  Of course, by the end of my second class (which went like crap) I had lost the cockiness that this note created...but I did enjoy the first part of my morning.

stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271015268024664325noreply@blogger.com0