Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year from Korea!!! 2009- what a year!!! I've been in Korea for almost 5 months and it still feels like only a month has passed since I've been here. I don't have a New Year's resolution. Actually, I don't really believe in New Year's resolutions. If there is something that I want to change about myself or my life, I don't need to wait until a new year comes around to do so. Everyday is a growing and learning experience for me.

I wasn't sure if teaching was for me before coming here. But I have to say, I actually love it! I wouldn't mind teaching for a few years until I go back to grad school. One thing I did learn about myself while in Korea is that I love being in charge!! I love telling people what to do and I love having my way! I love having authority over people. It's awesome. So thats one of the reasons why teaching in Korea can be frustrating at times. I have a coteacher in the classroom with me. So we teach "together". "Together" as in my Korean coteacher translates everything I say. Which is frustrating at times. Seriously, you don't have to translate everything I say, they can understand most of it (well the 5th and 6th graders can at least). If I had my way, my coteachers would just chill in the back of the classroom and deal with disciplining the students.

Anyway...this week was my first week of Hermes English Camp! Hermes English Camp was at one of the schools I teach at this year. In this particular English camp, 80 students from different elementary schools in the Daejeon area come to my school 4 hours a day (during the school vacation). During these 4 hours, students learn English in a more fun and exciting way compared to regular English classes. They do activities such as making sandwiches, mini "Olympics", shopping and other cool activities. It was a lot of fun, but there is a lot of work and planning that has to go into it. And since it was done at my school, I had to help with a lot of the admin stuff and paperwork. But (most) of the students had fun so all the hard work was worth it. I love the 3rd graders!! They wouldn't stop following me and the girls always wanted to hold my hands!! They were too cute! Today was the last day and a few of them looked like they were going to cry. They said "Bye" to me like 20 times (literally)!! I'll miss them....

Well, I'm pretty tired so I'll end it here. Until next time...