Update and Photos

I figured it was time for another update. I am teaching less hours at school than last semester, but it seems as though I have been doing more work. The new Korean English teacher likes to do a lot of planning and I end up doing all the work for her plans. I don't think I have used scissors and glue sticks this much at any other point in my life. Some of our recent activities have included a trip to a park, some animals brought in to the school, and the creation of lapbooks to go along with all of my story lessons. The Korean teachers have started talking to me a lot more, which is nice because they are all cool girls. And then there is Shimson.

Shimson is one of the new students this semester. His father is a cartoonist who runs a website called ToonEnglish. His mother is a businesswoman who works a lot. This has somehow translated into Shimson not liking women that much. As a result, he does not listen to the teachers at school. The only person he will listen to is me. He follows me around the school and won't go to class unless I walk him there. All of the other teachers call me "daddy teacher" now.

His father recently created a cartoon about me on his website's blog. Here is the link: http://www.toonenglish.com/bbs/zboard.php?id=game&page=1&sn1=&divpage=1&sn=off&ss=on&sc=on&select_arrange=headnum&desc=asc&no=173
The cartoon basically talks about how his son likes things that are big and strong, like trains. It then goes on to explain that Shimson doesn't like his teachers and the teachers cry because he doesn't listen in class. One day, Shimson slept in and his dad had to bring him to school. Shimson loves his dad and didn't want him to go. But then I come to see him and he tells his dad to leave. When Shimson gets home, his dad asks him who he likes more, him or me. Shimson says he likes me more. Shimson's mother makes fun of his dad, and the cartoon ends with him being angry. I think it is hilarious.

Beyond that, I haven't been doing too much lately. The weather is getting much nicer, but the Yellow Dust from China is starting to show up. Today was nice enough to go out and catch a baseball game. I saw the Doosan Bears play the Kia Tigers at the baseball stadium in Jamsil. The atmosphere was amazing and the fans really get into the game. They have all sorts of cheers made up involving the thundersticks they all have. I met some nice Korean people there that I will be meeting up with in two weeks to go to another game.

Last night we went to a bar that had some bands playing, one of which has a person in it that is a friend of Matt's. Dan decided to dress up and the picture is posted below to show you how crazy it was.

On tap for the near future is more baseball games, possibly a trip to an amusement park, the Seoul International Car Show, a laser show near city hall, trivia night at the Wolfhound Pub, and other shenanigans. Posted below are the pictures from some recent events.