A Change in the Winds, Says I - Part 2

Okay, so I wasn't planning on taking a whole week to finish this already predictable 2-part entry. I've just been very busy with my new job. Yes, you are correct, I found a new job and will not be coming home. For all those saddened by this news, I appreciate your disappointment. And to all those who are not...

[curse]"May 30 elementary school kids descend upon you and unleash rapid-fire Korean intertwined with unintelligible English in your right ear for a thousand days."[/curse]

Professor. Or, "kyosu" in Korean. That is what I am now. I've graduated from my language institute teaching middle school kids and am now at a university teaching college students! How did this happen?! Well, let's rewind back to July of last year.

Back then, I had in mind to become a public high school teacher here. I wanted to get a taste of how bad public education in Korea was, as well as see what it would have been like growing up here. So, I thought I could drop into Korea in August, just in time to start teaching for the second semester. Of course, things didn't quite work out that way. I didn't find a job until 2 months later, and it was at a language institute teaching adults. It was only part-time so I continued my job-hunting, but giving up on the public school idea for the time being. After moving on to another institute teaching middle school kids, the new school year was quickly approaching. So I tirelessly applied to dozens of high school positions. Didn't get a single interview. Fortunately, I also applied to universities in the one-in-a-million-chance that I'd be a lucky bastard. I found that, indeed, I am.

In fact, I was offered positions at two universities. I was surprised at the first offer, but was floored by the second one, which was from a well-known school. I've been told by veteran teachers here that one must have an MA, have taught for at least 2 years, and would preferably be a white female. I fit none of these, so why they hired me I have no idea. I'm just glad they did.

Despite the obstacles of only having a bachelor's degree (in engineering, no less), only a few months of experience, and being a Korean male, I somehow got this dream job. I'm teaching college students at the most prestigious art school in the country, creating syllabi, designing lesson plans, and I have complete freedom in the classroom. The work isn't hard, though. I only teach 12 hours per week. And I get 5 months of paid vacation.

"Um, what was that?"

That's right, 5 months: summer and winter vacation. I'm finally feeling more like a teacher MUAHAHAHA! It's time for fun! For adventure! Time to travel the world! Japan, China, Thailand, Australia, England, Europe! Heh, probably not. More like: time to stay home and veg on the computer all day. Regardless, now I'll be able to come home for a visit this summer!

Hmm..I might have to stay at this job for longer than a year...

A Change in the Winds, Says I

So today was my final day at my "prestigious" language institute. Was I fired? Laid off? Did I quit? No. No. Yes.

Why did I quit? Well, there didn't seem like there were many reasons to...it's a well-known school, well-paying, well-organized, with well-behaved students. So what's there to gain from quitting? Nothing. But I have to live up to my title of Mr. Can't Stay at a Job for More Than a Year. I mean, it's a well-known fact and I have a reputation to uphold. And no matter how good that job may be, I must be steadfast in my philosophy of "striking the iron while it's hot; leaving it when it's cold" and my motto that "3 months is enough". I mean, I'm a man of principle. I need to live my life as such.

However, to be honest, I actually did break my own word with Kaplan. I was there for a grand total of one year and one month. I know. The travesty! The shame! But it couldn't be helped! I tried my best to get out, but cosmic powers conspired against me and fooled my attempts at every turn! I swear!

Ok, let's get to the point. There would only be 2 reasons why I'd quit my job.

1) I'm coming back home.
2) I found another job.

And the answer is...(drum roll)

(drum roll)


(drum roll)


(drum roll)


(tired from drum rolling so I'm going to go to sleep now)


TO BE CONTINUED...

Weatherman

Wow. It's -12C here. That's 10F. Pretty cold, but I'm made for this weather. I can endure the bitter cold with little complaint; it's the hot and humid kinda weather that puts me in a bad mood. It's not a big deal for me to return to the kind of weather we're used to in Chicago. The big downside is that there hasn't even been an inch of snow in Seoul. Sure, it's coming down in drifts in other provinces, but our Wonderdome of Pollution here effectively creates our own atmosphere, isolating us from any local weather changes, natural disasters or even global warming.

Truly though, Seoul is not as littered and polluted as some people say. I'd say it's about on par with the smog of LA and slightly dirtier than Chicago. I haven't had any breathing problems, I can see the sky most days, and I haven't seen any black bogeys cropping up in my sniffer. By this I mean having blackened boogers due to extremely dirty air. Believe me, one summer day in Chicago and you'll have those Dark Wraiths romping through your nosehairs like they're searching for the One Ring.

Hold on, Korean news, the weather is on. Ooh, cute weather girl. Hm. She's saying that it'll be -6C tomorrow and a chance of rain later in the day. I'm proud to say that I completely understand the entire weather report; the posted temperature numbers, graphical layout, and doppler radar display were of absolutely no assistance to my comprehension whatsoever.

Asian Valentine's

So I finally got to experience Valentine's Day in Asia, which is different from how the West celebrates it. As is depicted in so many of the Japanese anime and manga that I've seen and read, V-day here consists of girls giving chocolates to boyfriends or boys they have crushes on, while the guys are obliged to do absolutely nothing but take it...My kind of place!

As far as I know, in Korea (as well as Japan), chocolates are given either directly to the boy or put in his desk. The quality and value of the chocolate silently speak of the measure of the girl's feelings. Many times it represents a confession of love. Unfortunately, I was not able to really see this endearing adolescent gesture firsthand, as I don't teach at a public school. And at my language institute, the girls are too shy to admit they gave chocolates. And I honestly don't think any of my boys actually got chocolates (they're still a bunch of junior-highers who are too busy with Starcraft to bother with girls).

But some of my girls gave me chocolates. They were so cute, just dropping them on my desk, then running away without saying anything. And, like any teacher, it felt so good. Even if it's not a big deal and doesn't carry a whole lot of significance, when your kids give you something, anything...it's special. I leave you with the first pic of my blog. The small frilly purple tin was particularly...interesting.



So you might think that being a boy on Valentine's Day rocks because you don't have to do anything. But think about all the guys who don't get chocolates. It probably sucks. How would you like to go year after year with nothing while other guys in your class gloat over how many girls like them? Also, it's not over after Valentine's Day. On March 14th, White Day, it's the boys' turn to give chocolates.

"Damn! I received choclates from this girl. Should I reciprocate or not? What would she think if I did? If I didn't, would people think I'm a jerk? Should I give some to the girl I like? But she didn't give me any on Valentine's...doesn't that mean she doesn't like me? But what if she does? Dammit, what should I dooo??!!!"

..the joy of adolescence.

A Primer

Well, just got back from hanging out with one of my co-workers in one of the downtown areas in Seoul. The streets were still packed with young adults at 10pm on a Sunday night, as little shopkeepers peddled their wares of fake Louis Vuitton wallets and Prada handbags. BUT, before I launch into all the aspects of my new life here, I should start with something more basic; there will be time for much detail in the future. First, a humorous view on my personal link to my mother country, the Land of the Morning Calm.

Did you Know?

1. This blog is titled "FiveFamous" because my Korean name is 오유명 (Oh Yoo-Myung). "Oh" means the number five and "Yoo-Myung" means famous. Yes, I do have a big head about this.

2. I was born on August 15, which is Korean Independence Day. (Liberation Day from Japanese colonial rule to be exact.)

3. My name, when translated phonetically into Korean, sounds like Goryeo, the ancient founding kingdom of the Korean people.

4. In Korean, calling someone's name to get their attention is done by saying their name + "yah", so they say, "Cory-yahh!", which sounds like "Kore-aaa".

Yes, I'm full of it. But after analyzing this carefully with my aunt, she concluded that I was meant to live in Korea. Well, that's my slightly humorous and highly superficial link to the motherland. Expect future posts of similar content in the future.

And then there's the purpose of this blog. I didn't really have a purpose for my last blog, and it seems this one shall follow suit. I just felt like writing again.

Well, this ends the first post - I'll be posting somewhat daily. Oh, Happy Lunar New Year! It's Korean custom to bow to your elders and tell them your aspirations and plans for the new year. Then they give you money. I dunno why...maybe to help you reach those goals? Anyways, I haven't done it since I was a kid, but this year I got money from my relatives for bowing to them...about $70. Score! But then...some of my nieces and nephews bowed to me...

Reemergence

Let's see how long this one will last.