April

I guess it has been a while. I never think it has been all that long until I look through ‘our’, yes Roberta and I now talk about each other as a unit...‘we’ were planning, ‘our’ weekend was good, “we’ didn’t do much… other’s ask us “what ‘we’ are up to?” bahahha MARRIED life is good… I suppose… as long as we can find some MEN from time to time… it works. ☺

A couple weekends back we went to the War Memorial. This is a really well done Museum dedicated to all the Wars Korea has been in throughout its history. There has been many, as Korea is a tiny country surrounded by large powers such as the Chinese, Japanese, and then of course there was the Korean War fought with itself.
Outside on the Museum complex is a beautiful display of various large art pieces commemorating mostly the Korean War. One of them, (see photo), is called the ‘Two Brothers’… the story behind it is that the brothers were separated during the war and met on the field while fighting for opposing sides. Possibly, all fictional but the statue itself depicts a great deal of emotion. There also are a ton of displays of various Military Equipment. old planes, old tanks, huge artilery, and trucks around the yard some of which you are allowed to climb on or go inside.
Inside, the museum itself is divided into floors depending on the era. Downstairs one is able to see an ancient ship and the ancient robes of some of the 14th century dynasties. Then as one ascends the museum floors you arrive at the latest war, the Korean war and see the artilary, clothes, and even some great real life displays of citizens in demolished towns. The latter was my favorite, only because it gave you a feel for how the was would have been.
All in all, the War Memorial was a successful Bert and Meira Adventure. We capped this night off with a trip to seedy Itaewon to watch none other than a Stanley Cup Playoff Game…. Taped and played later… at none other than the “ Canadian Rocky Mountain Tavern”… ohh a little taste of home. After which we headed to Hongdae and danced the night away in a club.

The following week we decided to have more of a low-key weekend. We had virtually no subway… which was a blessing! Friday night we had a great night with Will and three of our new foreign teachers. We had a night of Galbi (Korean BBQ) and then visited our favorite bartender Reo whom we thought we had said goodbye to, but is back working in a bar somewhat close to us. ASSSAHHH … just in time too as we were celebrating old Bert’s Birthday and they were able to give her the customary "CONGRATULATORY" (every birthday is welcomed with this congratulation song... congratulations on still being alive??? who knows?!) FIRE SHOW. She even got behind the bar and gave a "little" dance. he he!

We walked to a nearby city and saw the “Tulip Festival.” Korea has many random festivals for example a Rice Wine festival... this was one we decided to check out. The people that put on the festival (honestly who are these people) essentially took a canal of mucky water between two concrete slabs that lead up to residential (apartments) roads and planted thousands of beautiful tulips. What was really neat was that there also were pictures of Korea in the past displayed amongst the tulips… it was really neat to see how far Korea has come in the last 50 years.
From there we walked to the stadium, met Incheon Holly and her friend Tracy (Kiwis) and took in a game of Soccer… in which our city won!!! Whoop Whoop. We also got enough sun to get a good tan!!! Asssahhh of course us four girls were four of eight people actually sitting in the sun. The rest of the spectators sat in the shade. Koreans have a terrible fear of getting darker… they wear large visors, walk around with sun umbrellas, and some women even buy whitening cream!!!! Ugh. What does that mean??? You interpret it for yourself…
After the game we headed to our end of the city to have some casual drinks outside of GS25… yes GS25 convenience store drinking is almost back in full force… then we headed to an impromptu concert that was literally 3 blocks from our home in a street of clothes stores! There was a stage set up with the usual shiny lights the Koreans love. It was a family affair and we sat on a curb, attracted lots of attention because we are foreign, and took in the show. There was Korean break dancers, belly dancers, a couple singers, and then a famous Girl Korean Pop band… the show finished with the expected fireworks. All in all, it was a great day spent totally outside enjoying the amazing weather.
The next day, we also took in the nice weather and walked to a lovely park near our home. Ansan lake park… we sat on a small dock and played a game of cards.

Latest Field Trip "The Playground"

The 'Playground' consisted of -- a ball room, a confetti room (so much fun throwing it around withe kids :) a black light room, a pencil making room (plasterscene that apparently dries into wood??), and a tree leaf rubbing room.

Brighton Episode 3 Season 3

Wow!!! I a) write a lot on this blog, and b) you wouldn’t think I even work. I have now been in Korea for 8 months!!! Crazy, only 4 more months to go… and with the weather change/ the itch to want to be outside I forsee this last chunk will zoom by.

This last Season Brighton has had some ups and downs. Around the time Camille left, end of February we were wrapping up the previous Year at Brighton and preparing for the start of the New School Year… beginning in March. Roberta and I were given the oldest classes at Brighton. This was a positive as they have the best levels of English. The idea was that because we are qualified teachers we would be able to make additional work for them etc. They also were starting something new with this class and neither of us were going to have a Korean Teaching Partner. (I used to teach the same kindy subjects to two different classrooms alternating with a Korean Teaching partner --- she served as someone who a) could talk to them in Korean but more so b) talk to the parents who received daily phone conferencing calls on the improvement of their baby. (imagine that… DAILY!) Anyhoo do you for see a problem here as Roberta’s and my Korean is not quite up to the Conferencing level? Well to sort this out we were supposed to work closely with the kindy director and do pages of paperwork… comment sheets, homework sheets, daily plans etc… so that she was in the know and could be that person to conference with. Fine/Dandy… I began preparations and made “my” classroom look beautiful…. The start was actually fun because it was like having my own real classroom… I am now with the same group of kids in the same classroom and can adapt the day to how I see fit… v.s. worrying about what the time was and when I had to switch with my partner.

The start of the semester I had 9 students and Roberta was supposed to have 9… but one didn’t show up so she had 8. A nice easy number… hey? Well then shit hit the fan (so to speak) and the kindy director was choosing to leave. My student’s parents were extremely upset because there was no longer a ‘go to’ person for communication. That and the fact that Brighton is so disorganized…. We were lacking a secretary for a while… all the bus helpers that take the students to school quit, some new lady was hired to watch over the staff but her English is terrible and no one is quite sure what she is supposed to do, two Korean teachers quit… a third has since left because she is due to have a baby… essentially it has been complete chaos. As a result, I lost 4 students from my class!!!!!!! 4!!!!! So I am now down to 5 kindy students in my class. Essentially it is like babysitting with lesson plans… but it is nice… they are literally ‘my babies’… I have a feeling it will be hard to say goodbye.

Finally, the new semester really hit us all like a shovel to the head… because of the new day schedule. We used to teach kindy 9-2 and then from 2-3 have a break and start teaching elementary students 3-6. That break was really needed to switch gears maybe get some fresh air… and prepare for Elementary… tests, marking etc. Well they did away with that and now we don’t start till 9:30 and we say goodbye to our kindy kids at 2:45 and as we are saying goodbye literally Elementary students are already zooming in yelling hello Teacher. So it ends up being basically 8 hours of teaching straight. (Remember we even eat/serve lunch with these kids) This has left a group of very unhappy exhausted teachers!!! I feel bad too because my kindy kids at least can understand me (for the most part)… Will and Blair have had Western age 3 year old kids who obviously are not accustomed to school and don’t know a word of English…. Now they are spent at the end of the day!

So this has been Brighton as of late. Luckily, we have hired some new great people, Jesse, a linguistics expert (speaks French, English, Spanish fluently and is quite good at Korean already). Then our two new Korean teachers already have part of my heart, Julia and Lucia… they are amazing… and finally our new desk teachers is equally amazing, Jenny, but she doesn’t speak any English so we have to have a translator when she comes out with us. ☺

I think this is all to report… I will try to get some photos up soon of these new kids.
Lots of Love
Me

Cartoon Museum

We recently went on a field trip to a Cartoon Museum... it involved the usual long almost two hour bus ride... and these pics are only ok... but they do show my new kindy students even though I have been with them since February!!! To be honest reality at Brighton Bites.. hence the lack of "Season five"... (I don't want to relive it while writing)... but with that said... my students of course ROCK!!! and I love them! Elementary students are pretty much the same 5 consistent classes and one class of newbies... no english... what so ever they are a challenge... and then my kindy... well they are new to me.. but the highest level of English Speakers as far as kindy goes in our school so they are a dream!

Enjoy the pics!
xo