My burps were a mix of fish and tofu. I wasn’t over the jet lag. My head was swirling from the jumble of Korean I was hearing. I had just undergone a medical exam in which blood was drawn, causing me to squirm like an embarrassed little school girl. And to top it all off, I was shoved (kicking and screaming) into a classroom with 15 Korean 3rd graders. Alone.
My instructions: Teach.
What level class is this? Is there a text book? What do the students already know? Is there a curriculum I’m to follow? What time does class end? Do you have a bottle of Soju I can borrow?
This was my first day of school back in September. Nearly 8 months ago.
Yesterday, I was evaluated for the first time. I taught 21 5th graders...by myself.
6 teachers, the principal, and my two co-teachers were in attendance. The office lady moved around taking pictures. Outside the window a construction crew was working on an addition to the school. They decided that during my class would be an opportune time to drill...something. Anything. They just wanted to make unnecessary noise. The machinery was one of those higher-pitched drills. The one that sounds like a fart when you squeeze your hardest but it just eeks out.
I pressed on. Despite the sounds. Despite the principal arriving late, getting up to leave 2 minutes later, and coming back again. Twice. Despite that stupid kid who couldn't say "Hello, how are you?" if his life depended on it. I pressed on. Like a champ.
I'm happy to announce that I survived. I passed my evaluation, thanks in large part to 4 bottles of Soju.
...and that was just for the students.
I pressed on. Despite the sounds. Despite the principal arriving late, getting up to leave 2 minutes later, and coming back again. Twice. Despite that stupid kid who couldn't say "Hello, how are you?" if his life depended on it. I pressed on. Like a champ.
I'm happy to announce that I survived. I passed my evaluation, thanks in large part to 4 bottles of Soju.
...and that was just for the students.
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