Thank You Notes

My last week at Konkuk is rapidly coming to an end -a bittersweet time indeed. It has been an incredible joy to teach at this university and interact with so many motivated students (and faculty!) for the last year and a half. I'm grateful to have met them all and trust many of us will remain in contact. 

Right now we're in the midst of finals, and things are hectic as we wrap up the semester. As someone who thrives on encouragement, I was delighted to find notes from a few students on the back pages of their exams. In the cases above, these words were written by three students who consistently demonstrated exceptional effort in every class, making my job all the more joyful and fun.

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To all of my colleagues and students who may be reading this:  thank you for giving me the privilege and honor of working with you. I miss you already and hope you'll keep in touch.

Neo What...?!

A student was wearing this shirt the other day. I have no idea what it means. I wanted to ask him, but then I envisioned two outcomes:  

1. he wouldn't know the meaning either, OR:
2. he'd explain it to me, and an awkward conversation would follow. 

Thus, I'm resigned to letting it remain a mystery. Unless, of course, you happen to know...

Desk Standing

I did it!

It took me a full class to work up the nerve, but by my second one today, I was able to infuse some Dead Poets Society desk standing into my final lecture. 

Must say, it was awesome, and it definitely made an impression.

On a side note, I got a lump in my throat while saying goodbye to the students in that class but fortunately was able to suppress the sadness. Barely.

Choco Pies

Oh, choco pies! How you confound me.

How can something so indisputably artificial-tasting still maintain an allure? Is it your new packaging which appeals to the American patriot in me? 

The cashier at E-mart smiled as she rang up the five boxes I purchased tonight (total pie quantity:  120). Wonder if she thought I was planning to eat them all? 

Hopefully I won't be eating any of them. My final lecture for each of my classes is coming up later this week, and I thought I'd go out with a sweet bang. Depending on whether I can work up the nerve, I may throw in a little Dead Poets Society desk-standing, too.

Shock and Awe

Each week I teach the same English lesson to five different class sections, and I've grown accustomed to anticipating how students will respond to my questions. However, yesterday I was nearly knocked to the floor.

The topic was advice, and I asked the students who they turn to when they need recommendations or help. Predictably they mentioned friends, parents, professors... 

When I posed the question to one particular student, he said God. This both surprised and pleased me, and I pressed for more details. His reply:  I ask Him for guidance on how I should live and what to do with my life. 

Wow. I was so impressed -not only by his answer but by his courage in saying something that was outside the realm of group-think (those of you who teach English in Korea know what I'm talking about...).

It was a shocking moment, as well as one of the most awe-inspiring of my teaching career. 

Suneung Day

Imagine a day in your country where things literally come to a halt on an annual basis. Today was such a day in Korea.

Suneung is the Korean version of the SAT. Around here, it's commonly thought to be The Test that determines one's entire future -first one's university options, then job opportunities, and finally marriage partner. 

I had no idea how serious the ramifications of the test were. No wonder the country comes to a grinding halt as high school seniors sit for the exam:

• the stock market opens later
• planes are grounded
• police are everywhere -on hand to drive students who are running late to test centers
• motorists are asked to refrain from honking
• bakeries and confectionery shops prepare special good-luck packages
• churches and temples are flooded with parents praying their kids will achieve a high score -one worthy of entrance into the elite 3:  Seoul National, Korea, and Yonsei (a.k.a. the SKY universities)

This is an education-obsessed environment, and the pressure on these students to perform follows them from elementary school throughout their educational experience. It is relentless and something I witness every day.

   

Baseball Invitation

Earlier this week, after telling my students I'd cheered for Seouldae at the American football championship game last Sunday, I got an invitation to a Konkuk baseball game. 

Yesterday I attended the game which was a real treat as two of my favorite students were playing. In fact, Konkuk has several intramural teams, and I'd actually taught players from the rival team. But ya cheer for the one that brought you, right?

Go, KulBase!

Testimonial

The opportunity to share part of my testimony arose so naturally in class this evening, I couldn't pass it up.

We were discussing life and death situations, both natural and man-made, and the reading from our textbook was focused specifically on the events of September 11. Although the students were barely old enough to remember that day, each recalled something specific. 

When it was my turn to share, they had many questions which ultimately came down to how I reacted to the tragedy and uncertainty that were unfolding around me. I mentioned that while it was indeed an unusual day, as a Christian I felt a supernatural peace and security.

They listened attentively -never more so, in fact- and now I'm wondering which parts, if any, sank in. 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  -Philippians 4:6-7 

Beer Hunter

Beer Hunter is a chain of pubs around town. While I've yet to check one out, their sign has gotten my attention.

Having lived in Korea for 2+ years now, I tend to laugh when I see or hear the words hunter or hunting. My students use the term hunting to talk about a popular college activity:  heading to bars in search of women.

 

The Joy of Midterms

What a difference a year can make!

We're in the midst of midterms, and I love it! Last year around this time I was stressed about creating exams. This year I'm over that stress and enjoying the flow that comes with a week of grading + no lesson planning. Bliss for me, not so much for the students.

Speaking of students, I've heard some pretty astounding excuses from a few as to why they've missed classes recently. I'm starting to feel like Ed Rooney in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and while I don't verbalize his more memorable lines, they're playing in my inner monologue:

Ed Rooney: Ed Rooney.
Cameron: [disguising voice as George Peterson] Ed. This is George Peterson.
Ed Rooney: How are you today, sir?
Cameron: [voice disguised] Well, we've had a bit of bad luck this morning as you may have heard.
Ed Rooney: Yeah I heard, and man, I'm all broken up, boy, what a blow.
Cameron: [disguised] Yeah. Yeah. Well, uh, it's been a tough morning and we got a lot of family business to take care of, so if you wouldn't mind excusing Sloane, I'd appreciate it.
Ed Rooney: Uh, yeah, sure, no I'd be happy to, yeah you, uh, you you just produce a corpse, and uh, I'll release Sloane. I wanna see this dead grandmother first hand.
Grace: Ed?
Ed Rooney: It's alright, Grace, it's Ferris Bueller the little twerp. I'm gonna set a trap and let him fall right in it.
Grace: Ooh!
Cameron: [disguised] I'm sorry, Ed, did you say you wanted to see a body?
Ed Rooney: Yeah, that's right, just, uh, roll her old bones on over here, and I'll dig up your daughter. You know that's school policy.

Hairy Legs

Recently I gave students an assignment to write about their friend who was least like them. The most memorable paper, written by a male student, went something like this (I wish I'd made a copy!): 

My friend has hairy legs. I never thought I would have a friend whose legs were like a primitive man's. The first time I saw his legs, it was so shocking!

Days later, I'm still cracking up.

Romance Optional

In class this week, we've been focusing on brainstorming. As I told my students:  no matter how silly or crazy your ideas may seem -to others or even yourself- the objective is to transfer everything in your head onto paper and get your creative juices flowing.

Based on the results they generated, I'm fairly certain they got the point. 

One topic for practice:  Gifts to commemorate 100 days of dating (a popular local custom). Students' responses spanned the conventional -a love letter, necklace, ring, and flowers, to the more unusual -plastic surgery, a break-up, and a yacht to name but a few.

It seems romance can assume all sorts of forms.

 

CA Girl

My native state of California is famous for various things, including a few stereotypes which persist around the world. Case in point:

Earlier this week, while I was introducing myself to students on the first day of class, I asked them to guess which state I was from. One student wasted no time in answering and blurted out:  California!  

I was impressed by her accuracy and asked her how she knew. Her reply:  You're blonde and tan.

Carolina in My Mind

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina.
Can't you see the sunshine?
   Can't you just feel the moon shinin'?
Ain't it just like a friend of mine
   to hit me from behind...
Yes, I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind.

          -James Taylor

Summer's intensive English program wraps today, and from the graduation ceremony I will fly... 

Yes, I'm going to Carolina in my mind and for real.

Back by month's end. See you then.

Ch-ch-changes

Although I've gotten a similar compliment before, it still takes some getting used to:

Student:  You've changed. You look so different now than how you were when classes started [4 weeks ago].

Me:  Really? Different how -tired? bad? good?

Student: Oh, good. Much, much, much better.

Air Quotes

The other day while talking with students, I inadvertently used air quotes when referring to one of them. This particular student is known for his no holds barred critiques of other students' work, and he also happens to be getting married soon. So, after he made yet another frank comment to a peer, I halfheartedly affirmed it by telling the recipient:  yes, you should follow [blank's] advice since he's the "love expert." Like I said, I did the air quotes without even thinking.

Shortly after, another student piped up and asked what they meant. Before I could reply, someone chimed in:  I read that Americans do that when they want to emphasize something. At that point, all eyes were on me, and I had no option but to confess:  Yes, we do make that gesture to emphasize something, but often it's to indicate sarcasm. [Pause] Which was what I'd intended.  

A lesson on sarcasm is a tricky one to explain to native speakers, let alone non-native ones. Think I'll look for some mittens over the weekend to minimize the potential for another air quote flare up.

It's a Small Face, After All

The other day I gleaned a new insight on beauty from the locals' perspective. 

Students were talking about a peer's girlfriend and mentioned that she was pretty. Then one added something to the effect of:  her face is even a little smaller than his. This comment piqued my interest, and I asked them to elaborate. According to my sources, apparently the aim over here is to have a small face -either naturally or through plastic surgery. The gold standard is for your entire face to fit behind a CD / DVD.

I'm not sure what else to add, except that I'll probably never look at a DVD the same way again.

Variety Hour

Today I felt like a one-woman variety show, wearing multiple hats and portraying a range of characters.

As it is, I'm currently teaching 6 different subjects every day, Monday through Friday, which requires possession and utilization of certain chameleon-like qualities. However, today took things to a new level. Among the various roles I played:  enthusiastic teacher; scolding disciplinarian; cheerleader; taskmaster; cool and collected HR professional; encouraging friend; keen-eyed proofreader. 

I should add that depending on the class, I morphed into several of those roles in the span of an hour. 

Something tells me that this experience is not unlike being a mother... What say you, moms? 

Sorry^^

Today we had midterms at KIEP, Konkuk's intensive English program. This summer session is flying by.

Anyway, tonight as I was grading exams, I saw that one student had written sorry to me on his paper. It's something I've noticed previously in other classes, and it's just now dawned on me to write about it. Is this a practice among students around the world or is it a Korea-specific etiquette custom? Either way, it's kind of sweet, albeit unnecessary.  

My college days are too far behind me to remember much of anything with accuracy, so I can't recall writing an apology to a teacher about my performance on a test paper. Oh, to go back in time and check!

Incidentally, in the photo above, the two carets (^^) after my name represent a type of smiley face, Korean-style.   

Blue Skies + Pink Clouds

Today marked my first day back at work after a month off. 

Konkuk's crazy-intensive, exhausting but fun English immersion summer program began, requiring me to show up with heaps of energy. The accelerated, no-time-to-breathe pace offered a terrific distraction from those post-vacation blues. 

On a related note, my mom emailed and lovingly reminded me to watch for some special blessings. I took her advice, and blessings arrived in various forms. One I'll mention here:  blue skies and pink clouds filled Seoul's sky tonight. This is truly a standout event as the sky is nearly always a stark, greyish-white color. Thank You, God, for a spectacular evening show!