Just STOP

...Where to even fucking begin...

This job/workload isn't even a drop in what I'm able to take on. This job is easy for me. It is...sure, sometimes I'm at a loss for what to do, simply because the practices are different than what I did before. 

But still. 

A conversation with a Subject Matter Expert later, and I'm back on track.

I know my learning curve can't be the same for the others, and I always do my best to take that into consideration. Critical thinking is something my mother cultivated in me, and that's why HR stuff comes so easily to me. (As well as other things)

But sometimes, I can't be considerate. Sometimes, I really can't help but stare dumbfounded at people.

Not because they ask a dumb question. I can see that it comes from a place of curiosity and their own attempts at connecting things. Which is great. Work your mind how you can.

But when the behavior gets rude, then...then we have a problem. And my consideration goes out the proverbial window. 

Passive aggressive bullshit and microaggressions are distasteful, unprofessional, and childish.

We are grown fucking adults in roles where that shit has no business being in. Honestly, my kindergartners had more respect than some of the behavior I see in people here. And they had no idea how to interact with a foreigner! It's frankly, very disheartening that grown adults bring childhood rudeness into the workplace.

"I'm just saying..."

"It's not fair..."

"Well how was I supposed to..."

Newsflash, complaining isn't going to get you anything from me! You think I don't have the same problems? 

Stop expecting things to be handed to you. Stop expecting things to happen just because you demanded it. Stop with the bullshit childishness. Just STOP.

Take charge in your lack of information and make something of your ignorance. Learn about your resources and cross reference them! Because I can promise you, at the end of it all, you'll feel empowered and confident in yourself and the work product you push out.

In the past, I would say people would just be hurting themselves. But they're not. They need to take some fucking responsibility for their behaviors, because it's hurting those around them too.

Good lord!

Sometimes, I wish I wasn't so helpful or friendly. 

And I can't believe I just wrote that. I like who I am (on most days) at work, but lately it's as if my 'team player' attitude is condoning such shit behavior.

But still...I am polite. I am professional. I get the fucking job done. Because that's what is expected.

I didn't complain back when I had a full time job, part time job, grad school, and a relatively good social life.

I didn't complain back when I had to deal with Korean work politics (Everyone in America should be damn thankful they don't have to deal with that).

You don't see me complaining about this job and the unexpected demands that befall me every fucking day that puts my own training behind. I look at the positives, as much as I can. 

I really do.

But today, if I hear that whiny or demanding tone, don't expect to hear from me for the rest of the day. Because I have had it.

#SaveOurToya

Depends on your school

Some of you who've found my blog, may be contemplating Fulbright Korea? If so, then this post may be of interest to you!

As right now, I'm about to drop some knowledge about the program that you don't see until you're in the program.

Everything can be boiled down to four words: depends on your school.

How many classes you teach? - depends on your school.

What kind of classes you teach? - depends on your school.

Homestay Family? - depends on your school.

Coteacher's interaction with you? - depends on your school.

None of us ETAs have the same story. From one ETA who teaches 8 classes to another who teaches 25. Oh yeah, you may be teaching over 22 hours a week. Of course, you'll be paid for the extra work, but still. It's overwhelming and intimidating, but once you get into the flow of things, it's doable. You may be lucky that you don't have to create a new lesson for each hour and that you can use the same lesson for all the same grade levels. Unless, you're like me...

Me, being an Elementary ETA who teaches a total of 20 students, with my smallest class being 2 students big and my largest class being 11 students small. Practically creating new lessons at a constant rate. 

Fulbright can prepare you for some of the cultural differences and potential misunderstandings during Orientation. They can also help with your language skills. Oh! And polish some of your teaching skills through workshops and FEP teaching .

But, once you leave Orientation and you're at your placement...your school is who guides you through the rest of your year. You will get tested emotionally, physically, mentally, psychologically, and any other '-ally' that I can't think of right now. 

It is literally like any other job, if I were honest. Your first month at a new job will have you thinking, 'I love this job!' to 'Ugh, why did I take this job?'. When you become a teacher abroad, it's a bit longer than a month. And once you feel at peace with your job, you realize it's been about six months. That is why a lot of people who teach abroad tell you, 'the first six months are the hardest'. 

Probably a little harder than they need to be, but a positive attitude helps you get through the worst of it. How you look at your situations, every single one of them, will shape your experience during your grant year. While a lot of your day to day is dependent on your school, all of it is dependent on you.

Are you going to look at your situation in a negative way, making it worse, or are you going to be positive, and make the best of what you have?

I could be upset that I have to create 22 new lesson plans a week, or I could just take this as an opportunity to show my students more fun ways to learn English.

#SaveOurToya

Rolling With the Punches

One thing about living in Korea, you tend to find things you don't understand.

For example, why do so many changes happen last minute?

It may not be last minute that the change was going to be implemented, but by the time I found out about it, well...it sometimes fell a little bit after last minute. However, it generally happens within five minutes of the impending event. Remember when I got a three-hour long class that originally was supposed to be only 40 mins long? (See post here)

Exactly.

I've contemplated many ways over these last six months on how to better get informed on the on-goings of my school.

One of those ways was asking for the school calendar. It's definitely all in Korean, but sitting down with it, translating it... It's helped loads. I can now initiate conversation with other teachers to ask what's going on for 'XXX' event or have an idea if a class of mine will get cancelled. And as I get more engaged about certain events, the more willing other teachers were to talk to me without prompting.

Whether it was about school or not.

I was getting informed!

Sometimes, even a month in advanced.

It also helped in connecting with the students. When I knew that a field trip was coming up, or a festival competition, I could start asking the kids if they felt ready or prepared for the event. Generally, I also tagged along, but it's more about the bonding before and after the event that were a great way to connect with the other students.

But, best to keep in mind...it doesn't solve all notification problems.

There is still an established culture of changing things up as they organically come up.

In Korea, you really learn to roll with the punches.

#SaveOurToya

The Day-to-Day Shenanigans

I know you're all waiting to hear where I've been placed, but I promise, there will be a post up on Sunday! Promise. 😸

I'm here to talk about another topic. Let's talk daily life, shall we?

I'm sure many of you are curious about what I actually get up to on the day to day. Spoilers: it's programming/Korean classes.

To get started, my day generally starts at 6am...

...well, I realize I'm no longer sleeping and its a new day. My roommate is generally still sleeping, so I tend to snooze for the next hour-ish or so. I generally get out of bed sometime between 7am and 7h30am.

Breakfast starts at 7h45am, so I tend to show up a few minutes after. We have about 20mins to finish breakfast and then head over to our classroom building. It's the next building over from the dorm and class starts at 8h15am.

Korean Language Instruction (KLI) lasts until 12h15pm. Which means, I am in a classroom for 4 hours, learning Korean. Which isn't too bad. We get ten minute breaks at each hours. And 선생님 (the teacher) has been really fun and very informational! It's been great.

Lunch starts at 12h15pm and ends at 1h15pm. But our last hour of KLI starts at 1h15pm, so I tend to leave around 1pm.

Teaching and/or culture workshops start around 2pm. We also may or may not have a General Meeting as well. We get a lot of information between 2 and 5pm, generally.

Dinner starts at 5pm and goes until 6h30pm.

After that, we tend to have free time, or we go to office hours for extra help with Korean. Personally, I go on my evening walk and tour the area we are in. I've been getting some nice pictures these last couple of days. I'll have to make more of an effort to upload pictures!

Essentially, expect a separate post of evening pictures and another for my meals I have been having! Because the meals that Yonsei University has been giving us have been fantastic. You guys might be jealous.

Unless you're someone in my cohort reading this. If so...heeeyyyyyy Fam~!

If you guys want to hear about anything of my experience here, leave a comment and I'll make a post about it! Please don't hesitate. If my experience can help you learn more about Korea or answer questions before you come here, please-please-please-please!, reach out!

#SaveOurToya

Hurricane Season Everywhere!

Hurricane Beryl and Chris on the way back home. "Super" Typhoon Maria on the way here. 

What. Even.

Hope y'all back home can stay dry and don't receive too much damage, if any at all. If you do get hit, I'll look for your posts that you're okay! 

As for myself, if you clicked on the link, you'll have seen that "Super" Typhoon Maria is down south and really shouldn't hit Korea. But when has weather ever done what was expected of it? 

Also what is this 'super' business here? 

Lucky us, I looked it up. You're welcome. 😁

A 'super' typhoon is equivalent to a Category 3, 4, or 5 hurricane. Just kind of sums it up into a 'dis be supah bad' and calls it a day. Gotta give Asia props on that. Back home, we still have hurricane drinking parties up to a Category 4... 

For those of you not familiar with hurricanes, typhoons, or cyclones (the various names based on where on the planet you are), it means winds are 150mph or higher. Trees are sideways, flooding is imminent, damage will be received, and tornadoes are dancing around. Only the lucky get to keep their power. 

Guess its not just snow I have to be able to prepare myself for...

#SaveOurToya