Hold the Sarcasm, Please: Dogye Week(end) 4

It doesn’t seem like I’ve been here almost a month. In some ways it feels like I just got here and everything is all new. But in others I’ve just fallen in step with my usual shrug and it feels like I’ve been here forever.

This week was a flurry of activity at the school. Saturday is the school’s talent show, so a lot of my classes were canceled, rearranged, or shortened. On the one hand, that was great. I’ve been miserably sniffly and ill all week, losing my voice, coughing, having a sore throat and going through snotrags like they were going out of style (Koreans tend to use toilet paper to wipe their noses, and I am secretly amused to see tp rolls on students’ desks). I had lasting, miserable headaches that clung to me—the kind that are not quite a migraine but they’re severe enough to insure you don’t get anything done and want to die. The kind medication and food and sleep and caffeine don’t touch.

I’m still sniffling, but at least that’s the only thing wrong, aside from the occasional cough to dislodge the gunk in my lungs.

I went to dinner with two of the other native teachers in town Tuesday night. It was the one girl’s birthday, and we had mondu, which was really good. I’ll probably go back to that restaurant for some more mondu and kimbap. Afterwards, I got to see a really cute, sweet beagle—I think that’s the first time I’ve petted a dog since I’ve been here. And I got to see the other native teacher’s apartment, which was almost twice as big as mine was, but freezing cold. I’d rather have the smaller apartment and be warm. Besides, she’s never home to enjoy her space or her bathtub, which seems a shame, but I’m happy with my little living space.

The only problem is the tank I’m taking from her is on the ground and full of half-black guppies and plants. I’m not sure how to drain it and get it back here. The tank itself isn’t too big; it’s about a 20 gallon cube, but of course it’s located upstairs and my apartment is located upstairs too. The guppies are going to have to go. I want a large school espei rasboras, a pair dwarf cichlids, and shrimp in the tank.

The next night was fun and interesting. We had another school dinner for Eun Hee’s going away party. It was pork instead of beef, so I wasn’t as fond of it; plus I was at the peak of my cold. They ensured I was fed though, in typical fashion. I had an interesting conversation about “liquid courage” and I didn’t realize it was also called “Dutch courage.” Ah the wonders of phone dictionaries.

After the school party, several of the younger women and myself went to the singing rooms to celebrate a birthday. I said I didn’t want to sing because my throat hurt. Of course, I ended up singing. We won’t discuss what I sung—I will just say that I didn’t pick “Sk8ter Boi” or R. Kelly. Although I think Eun Hee and I made a nice duet. I didn’t know any of the Korean songs, but if they had English words I’d sing along. I was fed some kind of chip snack thing, which tasted better than the dried cuttlefish.

Wednesday was hell. I was so sick I couldn’t function, but it was my office day, so I tried. Fail.

Thursday was a combination of miserable and fun, only because I was sick and couldn’t help Maggie as much as I’d have liked to. Afterschool was great. Grade 2 begged me for the “hair shake dance” (hokey pokey); man, rewarding them is cheap. Grade 3 and 4 were being kind of obnoxious, so I whipped out my secret weapon: it’s a game! We’re going over the same stuff, but everyone is paying attention because they want to “win.” I also did the pointing game. Door, window, door, window, doorwindowdoorwindow—ceiling. The kids looked dumbfounded for a moment before laughing and saying the right answer. I did prepositions of place with J.G. and S.H. I’ve found the boys like to be “the teacher,” which is fine with me. Then I tried to explain the difference between on, at, and in to Eun Hee. English makes NO sense.

“Are you on Korea?” (well, technically we are ON Korea!)

“No, I’m in Korea!”

Why is it I’m on a boat (…muthafucka take a look at me! Damn you American pop culture—it’s like one of those fill in the blank sentences!) and on the roof but in a cabin or in a house? You could say “because on (top off) is used for a space that is not enclose!” But then why is it “I’m in Korea” not “I’m on Korea?”

Korea is an open space that you are touching.

I think I need to look that up.

Friday was ridiculously funny. I was treated to the rehearsal for the talent show (after surviving the evil L&R class!—Although I had an indirect talk with the Grade 3 teacher and it was mildly better than usual). I spend most of my time in the back out of the way taking video. Most of it didn’t turn out that great because I really need a bigger video card to take longer footage and because kids were running in and out and teachers were crossing in front of it. Still, I have some hilarious shots. The bellydancing boys tie with the absurdly cute grade 2 dancers I think.

One of the boys, whom I affectionately refer to as “Troublemaker” or “Trouble 1,” took off with my camera. I got some… interesting photos in return.

Unfortunately, the camera died, or I would have let the kids take more photos.

LOL, after lunch one of the boys came running up and complained someone hid his shoes. Since there’s 4 boys in class, I’ll give you three guesses who might have done it… My bet is one this one:

Afterschool Eun Hee asked if I needed the computer. I said no and taught the lesson without it. I taught the kids I Spy and we reviewed furniture and we played hangman. My goal is to make it so they don’t want to leave at the end of the hour. I’m mostly successful. I taught J.G. and S.H. (and two other random boys who just showed up—kids come in and out all the time, and if I’m doing something interesting they stay) what nouns were and how to differentiate between person, place, things, and proper nouns. J.G. was interested in the grammar; the other boys were interested in beating the word search.

After that Eun Hee and I ran to the “outdoor market.” It’s held on the days that end in 4 and 9. It’s a cheap way to buy food (especially fresh fish—and I mean still alive cuttlefish/octopi/eels) and clothes. But we were too late, so we just walked around what was left and bought some snacks and visited the dollar store. Eun Hee suggested I ask off early next Wednesday and visit the market since I don’t have classes. I don’t know. Markets seem to be the only thing I’m leery about, and I don’t know why; but I was leery about farmer’s markets in the States too, so I don’t know.

I’ve truly found a good friend in her, and I don’t think I realized how much I’d miss her when she left. I know I can still see her on the weekends, and I plan to, especially Friday and Saturday nights, but it’s just not the same without having her as my go-to person and my interference and my guide. She’s pretty much the only one who talks to me at school besides the kids and Maggie on Thursday and occasionally the nurse and my “Big Sister.” My new co-teacher seems nice and I’m sure we’ll get along fine… but it’s just not the same.

The talent show was awesomeness. The kids did great and all the parents were pleased and the teachers were happy. Win-win-win. Shelley and I had a few good conversations about the kids and the staff and Korea, etc. Then Shelley, Eun Hee, and I went to lunch. We had the yummy gensing chicken again. I didn’t have to have it cut up into little pieces this time. My chopstick skills have improved greatly! I still dropped the chicken in the salt though D:<

I told Eun Hee that I didn’t want her to go and that she was my only friend beside the hamster (who wants me for my food; it’s such an loveless relationship Gigi and I have…).

I still have trouble with the weather. It’s so strange. Today was gorgeously sunny and warm. Yesterday was warm. I’m sure tomorrow is going to be nasty-cold. There’s a pattern of 4 days of warm/tolerable weather and 3 days of bitter cold.

After going home to grab my bag and the bus schedule (and dodging some cute but nosy Grade 3’s who offered me fish bread) I headed out to Samcheok. I kinda followed the directions I was given… but even if I hadn’t, it’s hard to miss the gigantic 3 story department store of d00m. It’s like Wal-mart on steroids. I allotted myself an hour and a half to explore and purchase.

I came away with a beautiful butterfly trashcan, a hamster food dish (ceramic ashtry), fleece slippers for school, 3 turtlenecks, a winter jacket, a wallet, and a fleece jacket. Not bad for about $100, although I had a hard time figuring out the sizes. I lucked out the jacket; it’s not as ugly as it could have been and it was on the wrong hanger, so it was a 95 not a 105 in size (small verses large? I have no idea, I just know I can wear 90 and 95) and it was reduced to $20 instead of $70.

I also checked out the pet section. They had this gorgeous 5 ft terrium with plants that I wanted. I don’t know where I would put it or do with it or if I really would pay 1.5 m won (I so would if I planned to stay in Korea) but I really liked it. I looked at the hamsters and considered getting Gigi a Kiki2 but the only winter white left looked sickly. They also had some mice, but not rats. Just hedgehogs, hamsters, and meecers… and baby turtles and iguanas… and lots of fish. I can’t decide if I want espei rasboras, threadfin rainbows, or norman’s lampeye killies with pearl gouramis or dwarf gouramis or dwarf ram cichlids or African butterfly cichlids… I almost bought a betta, but I don’t have a place to put him in and wasn’t going to pay $20 for one there.

While waiting for the bus back to Dogye three foreigners came in, freaking out about the next bus to Sokcho being at 6pm the next day and that they were stuck in Samcheok. They were wondering if they should go to Gangneum or what. Oddly enough, they didn’t ask me. Granted, at this point, I didn’t know much to help them, BUT I could’ve phoned either a Samcheok native (and ask about motels for them) or Shelley (who lives in Gangneum and would have the bus schedule to Sokcho). Hopefully they figured out what they needed to do. That’s why I’m kinda leery of traveling alone though.

I spent Sunday just relaxing and reading and hiking. I hung out with some of the neighborhood kids.