Happy New Year!! or in Korean: Sae-hae-bok-ma-nee-pa-deuh-ship-shi-o!
Well the most recent good news is that I successfully finished level three at Yonsei on December 19th. And while I didn't get stellar grades I managed to pass everything(speaking, listening, reading, writing, composition, dialogue) without a grade under 70%, so I'm pleased. It was a rough 10 weeks, but I also had a lot of fun at the same time. My classmates and I went out a couple of times for drinks and alhtough we can't communicate very well, we manage to get by in Korean while still having a pretty good time.
I found out suddenly last month that anyone who was on a second year contract (ie: Bret, Angela and myself) had to get a comprehensive medical check-up before Dec. 19th or face some kind of fine--I think about $250. I happened to be in my last couple weeks of Korean classes and busier than a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest, but I made it nonetheless. I couldn't go when Angela went because the time conflicted with my final exams, so I went alone on the 18th. My hagwon offered to send someone with me, but since the girls (Ashley and Hee) don't speak English so well and thinking it was, afterall, a hospital that there'd be someone who spoke English, I went alone. Sadly there wasn't anyone who knew more than a few English words, but I still managed to get by on my fractured Korean. They went through a whole process: vision, hearing, blood pressure, blood sample, urine sample, and chest x-ray. They say it was for health insurance purposes, but I'll bet it's more to keep tabs on the drug-dealing/using, disease-having foreigners. (See how cynical I've become ;-)
I found out at the hospital that my blood pressure is quite a bit higher than it should be. I attribute this to the fact that for the previous 10 weeks I had been extremely busy 13 hours a day, so things should be back to normal soon enough. But, even still, I renewed my gym membership and have been living more healthily since school ended. I hope I keep it up.
So, in 20 days, I'm coming up on my two-year anniversary in Korea, as well as the end of my second contract. Can you friggin believe it? I'm planning on staying until the end of March for sure, but after that I haven't yet decided. I have a really strong desire to live in Europe. However, as Europeans tend to prefer the "Queen's English" and Brits are able to work legally it can be very difficult to get a job teaching in Europe. The only program I've been able to find that I should qualify for is one in Poland where you get a salaried position at a University while also attending classes. ?At the end of two years you end up with a Masters in Education (from a partnered accredited American University). It sounds like a good deal, but I don't know about Poland for TWO years. At some point I have to get on with life.
Christmas was on a Thursday this year and our boss was nice enough to give us Friday off, so on boxing day Yun-kyung and I went up to Sokcho on the East coast of Korea. I had always meant to go as I'd heard the scenery was great, but kept putting it off. The scenery truly is beautiful. We tried to go up to the top of Seorak mountain, but it was too windy for the cable car to run. As for the trip, there wasn't anything too exciting that happened. It was definitely relaxing, which I really needed as I hadn't been feeling great. I read a lot, we strolled around taking in the sea air, took some pictures, and had some clams in a soju tent on the beach. The one thing I'll say about Sokcho is that there are lots of pretty girls and Korean soldiers walking around. Not necessarily together.
With the students now on winter vacation, our school started up its semi-annual intensive session. Another piece of good news is that I don't have to work it for the third time in a row. Also, our boss juggled our classes around, so now my hours are 1:10-6:50. That's pretty darn good as I haven't been off before 8:30 in almost a year and a half. Bret wasn't as lucky. He, LA Sara (Australian Sarah suddenly quit and went back to Australia a few months ago), Jean (Vancouver Kyopo who took Sarah's job), and Jennifer(the new coordinator/teacher) were "lucky" enough to have to work the early classes. It's about an extra $850 this month, but I still don't want to do it. We're a little disorganized this time around, as we are full of newer people at the school. The only veterans left are Angela, Bret and myself.
This year the Lurar New Year's break, falls on January 21-23. That means that we get another 5-day holiday...pretty sweet. Kyle, Bret, Jong-soo, Elena (co-worker) and myself have put down a deposit for a 4-day all inclusive trip to Thailand. We're all pretty excited. I've looked at the itenerary and it looks pretty cool. It appears as though I'm going to finally make it to Thailand like I've been threatening to do for some time. So, I guess my next entry will be after I return to tell you what a wonderful time I had.
Cheers,
Brent