Decision Time!

Just checking in here before the weekend. Session Two of DDE1 finished off today, so it was a short, straightforward day for me and I'm just about to head over to Bucheon to meet Catherine for dinner before our gig tonight. I was a bit cheeky earlier by kind of disappearing after our class party and avoiding the picture-taking and general mass-hysteria of the last day. Of course, as I live in the building, I bumped into loads of them afterwards anyway, which was probably more awkward than if I had just stayed and gotten it over with. One of my classes this time was a bit unenthusiastic (being kind there...) so I think I would have felt a bit false doing the big farewell charade with them. The other classes were great, as they mostly are, and they have a big adventure ahead of them with university (proper) starting next week. It's over ten years since I was in their shoes - teaching is certainly good at making you feel old!

We had an induction for the new teachers at work on Wednesday. Actually, before that, we had to go over to the main campus and stand in front of the parents of the kid's taking our Tuesday and Thursday classes, and introduce ourselves. I didn't really get what was going on (daydreaming was definitely in progress) so when the mic came to me, I waved it away, and my boss wound up having to introduce me as the "shy teacher." Oops! Anyway, the induction was pretty helpful because this time last year, when we were the new teachers, we didn't really know what any of it meant or related to. This year it kind of helped put things in context. More importantly, we got to meet the new teachers, who all seem really dead on. It's great to have an infusion of new personalities joining us on Monday. Most of us went for dinner and drinks after (some stayed later than others....) and there are definitely a few of them I could see myself becoming good friends with, in what is likely to be my last six months at Duksung.

Speaking of which, I need to make a decision about Cairo on Monday. The timing isn't great, because I now have China and Indonesia on the table, so I could have been doing with a few more days to look into those options. Although I know it's a big risk, my gut is telling me to take the job in Cairo (two-year contract) and just throw myself into it. Although it isn't exactly what I was looking for, I need to be realistic about the fact that I'm unlikely to get that. There are a lot of positives: it's closer to home; it's a new area and culture for me to experience; it's a step up and sets me on my way for a lifetime of international school teaching; it's well-paid with good holidays; it seems to be a good school, etc. Some of my research suggests that student behaviour in Egypt might not be what I'm used to in Korea, but I'm willing to bet any money that it's better than what I was used to in England.

I hope you all have something fun planned for the weekend. If I see any of you in person over the next few days, expect me to pester you to fill out a questionnaire to help my sister, Rachel, with her dissertation research. Lot's of other things going on but not the kind of stuff you blog about. Not me anyhow. Fingers crossed it's a good, safe weekend, and that everything looks clearer on Monday.

Out Cold

Didn't manage to make it to immigration this morning so I REALLY HAVE TO GO TOMORROW!! My Alien Registration Card (ARC) expires on Friday so, with lessons on Thursday and Friday, tomorrow is my last real opportunity. I should actually have the whole day off tomorrow but we have some ceremony to attend on campus and a new teachers' orientation in the afternoon. I set THREE alarms for 6:59, 7:00 and 7:01am this morning but didn't hear a thing. A few new teachers have moved in next door and across the hall. I'm sure they were loving me this morning! Never was one for the good first impressions. At least if the same thing happens tomorrow morning I might be awakened by an angry knock at the door.

I just got in the door from band practice in Hongdae. We only had two hours to go through EVERYTHING we are planning on doing this Friday and Saturday, so there was a lot of flying through things we think we already know, and a few songs we had to skip over altogether. Still, things were sounding pretty good and it'll be great to get back in action. Cheon got the venue mixed up so we were without a bassist for the first half-an-hour: 'crossed-wires' might have been an apt band name I often think.

So, tomorrow it should be immigration> interview for a school in China > campus shenanigans > teachers' meeting > cooking for Ji > collapsing in a heap. I just found out today from two of my referees that my old degree (International Politics at Magee) is being discontinued, and that the Conservatives are looking at removing Citizenship Education (what I did my teaching certificate in) from the curriculum in England. Aside from making it even harder for me to motivate myself to work on my Master's (in Citizenship Education - which has also been discontinued), it certainly is something to bear in mind as I job hunt. Where one door closes, another opens, and all that.

Bump!

Just checking in late on this Monday night with a few words on the weekend, the next few days, next weekend, and the general state of the world! Ok, well, the first few anyhow. I had a really good weekend in spite of the fact that my taxi home on Friday night had a bit of a run-in with a lamp-post. Nothing big (just a bit of sore back) but it was a bit scary at the time. The taxi next to us just veered across us so we had no chance. There was an old drunk guy a few feet from the post who had a close shave, but was oblivious to it all. I have certainly taken a few bumps this past twelve months or so.

It had been a great night because I went to Haebangcheon to see Zee at The Local, to be closely followed by Sticky Fingers unplugged at The Orange Tree. Zee's gig was so nice and intimate. I thought she was pretty good before this night; now I'm blown away. Just her and her guitar, so pure, raw, and right there in front of us. Banter between songs because the place was so small she could just chat away to all of us. Jeff's band just after were equally enjoyable. Seeing musicians stripped down (easy!) and hearing vocalists clearly - it was a great night. So much talent in this city.

We were all out on Saturday night for Catherine and Stephen's birthday at Shamrock n' Roll. It was a good fun night all round. Those two got fairly well on, as one must on your birthday! I headed home early enough (still the wee hours) because I had rehearsal the next day with Cheon's band at the ungodly hour of 2pm on a Sunday! It was a cool rehearsal because it was them playing their original stuff and me finding melodies for it: kind of what I have always wanted. Cheon has sent me the files so I'll spend the next few weeks working on melodies and lyrics, before we attempt to get something recorded. We're also going to tease the Muse cover thing out a bit more; maybe with a Muse-only cover gig once a month or something. They are fun guys to play with.

I'll be meeting Cheon, Jeff and Jim tomorrow night for Dead End Friends' rehearsal in lieu of our gigs this Friday and Saturday in Bucheon and Hongdae. They'll be our first shows since January 15th (in Gwangju) for one reason or another, but we're hoping to play three out of the four weekends in March, including a couple of shows for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations here. Lots to look forward to! My big aim for the next month or so is to get our name out there a bit more. Might start spreading a rumour about one of the lads for a bit of publicity...

I'm off to immigration tomorrow for my visa extension. Six more months at Duksung, at least. Still mulling over Cairo. Indonesia not completely ruled out. Interview coming up for an international school in China (I'm not 100% clear where in China exactly!). I still really like Duksung and my classes here but I still also feel as though I'm stagnating and could do with a change and a better level of teaching. If no suitable international school jobs come through, I'm going to have a look at a few Citizenship jobs back in England. I've been reading some Council of Europe recommendations for citizenship education these days and I'd love to be putting it all into practice.

I highly recommend downloading The Daily Bacon podcast from bbc radio 5live today, if only for his interview with a catty Ruby Wax. I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy her cutting him down for his smugness and lazy research, but she also highlights the problems associated with depression and the attached stigma in a forthright and honest way, which actually bordered on blunt. Like her or not, she makes some brilliant points about a condition that affects 1 in 4 people in Britain directly, yet is barely talked about.

Spent

Absolutely beat. Long, tough week. Typically, after all my spouting about how great my students are (last night), one of my classes absolutely did my head in today. In fairness to them, I know the blame always lays with the teacher, not the class. There are a few 'rotten apples' in there with really negative views affecting the others. Still, I should understand that some of them feel trapped doing a program they didn't necessarily sign up for. I was very close to telling them they could show up, I'd mark them as attending, give them work to cover, and that they could then go on their merry way. Thankfully, I didn't. Those are the ideas that a week of poor sleep and long hours inspire. What bugged me most is that they drew blanks on the topics they should be covering in their other classes, in my big end-of-week review class. None of us really know what the other is teaching. That's what happens when there is no curriculum, guidance, focus, point...

I've spent the time since I knocked off, applying for more jobs (few interesting looking ones on ">this website), talking to the wonderful Zee about singing, and practicing some of the songs I might be singing in a 'Rock of the Ages' gig being put together by Craig, an institution in Seoul expat rock circles. It's going to be tough but, wow, I'm looking forward to singing this:

Furey's taste in music creeping ever deeper into mine with each passing year. Tonight I'm going to watch Zee at The Local in Haebangcheon with Cheon because I need to experience something refreshing and talk with people about music and life and maybe some football! I doubt I'll be online over the weekend but keep me in your thoughts for my interview tomorrow. Oh, and happy birthday to Catherine and Stephen. I'll see you both tomorrow - unless one of you decides to be an awkward pain in the arse and do something 'different'. Have a great weekend everyone!

The Quirks

Today's blog was going to be about the single best thing about my job which, as much as I moan about it, is probably the best I've ever had (aside from handing out clubs at the Pitch n' Putt to the two customers an hour the place usually attracted): my students. This week, they have been having six classes a day in a foreign language, various evening seminars they are required to attend, a curfew that means they have to be in their rooms at 11pm (which I'm not wholly against, to be honest), and all of this whilst dealing with what is, for most of them, their first experience away from home following High School. It wouldn't be unreasonable of them to be angsty, negative, tired, unenthusiastic, even rebelliously disruptive. However, I go to class everyday to find them (after some gentle prodding) receptive, eager to work, respectful, creative, and fun. We did our first stint of conferences (one-to-one meetings) with them today. Even though it was at the end of a long day, towards the end of a long week, it's still my favourite part of DDE. It's a proper chance to get to know them, figure out their strengths and weaknesses, pick up on a few of their glaring inaccuracies that may well go undetected amongst their classmates, and make sure they're comfortable with asking questions when they need to.

I was going to write about that: their cute wee notes; the funny things they write in assignments; the times they get me tongue-tangled in class; how they make me care less about the other things at work that bug me. I was. But then I got a concrete offer from Cairo English School, started having several conversations simultaneously, got wickedly tired from not having been able to sleep all week, and realised that it has crept up near midnight without my noticing it. So it's just going to be this, for the simple fact that now I can tick 'blog' off my to-do list. That's just how cool I am. Goodnight all.

Been A While

Well here I am in Starbucks, Itaewon, finally getting around to updating this; the latest self-imposed bain upon my existence! I have been kind of off the radar since last Thursday for one reason or another, but here I am again, much the same as I was last week. Realistically, how much can change in a few days? Quite a bit, probably.

Our big, highly-anticipated (by us) 'lads not on tour' night was a bit of a messy blur last Saturday night. It was definitely fun for a good chunk of the night, before it all went off the rails for me with embarrassing consequences. Soju... Need I say more? Eden is not and never shall be my cup of tea, Sven Vath could have been a song on a CD player somewhere, and I was most comfortable at 'Gerry's' - the first time more than the second, during which time I was, apparently, pretty unresponsive! Still, there's no harm in having a bit of a blow-out once in a while: as long as it is just once in a while.

The working week thus far has been busy, busy, busy. We are back to our DDE intensive classes: six classes a day every day this week, conferences, planning, marking - it doesn't allow much time for much else. Which is unfortunate, because everything else is looming as much as it ever was/is/will be. I still have my 'other commitments', dissertation, songs to be learned, brilliant book to be finished, and band stuff. I'm actually in Itaewon because we were supposed to have practice tonight, but it was called off at short-notice, which happens. We just need a few hours to refresh our set for gigs next weekend at The Park, Bucheon (Friday 25th) and Club FF, Hongdae (Saturday, 26th). Will be great to get back on it and set up a busy March, which I'm hoping will include a gig in Daejeon, and an outdoor slot for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in central Seoul.

On the job-hunt front, it's still much the same as ever. I'm still proceeding with the application process for Cairo English School, arranging an interview with Mt Zaagkam International School, and applying anywhere else I see fit. I had a bit of an annoying experience with an international school here in Seoul over the last couple of days, but I'll go into that tomorrow. Too tired to deal with details today: I didn't fall asleep until after 4am last night, for no particular reason.

Ireland: keep emailing me the craic about the election. I'm seeing some funny stuff on facebook. Is Enda Kenny really going to...?

Hope you're all having a good week. Back in more depth tomorrow, hopefully.

It's Coming..

It's been ages since I blogged about football so I'm going to rectify that situation today and you can like it or lump it. I got up at stupid o' clock this morning for the Ireland V Wales Nations Cup opener at Aviva Stadium, Dublin. Trapps can be a bit frustrating with his insistence on always sticking with the same conservative line-up even when younger, more exciting players are coming through. Last night, there were three new caps for Marc Wilson, Seamus Coleman and Ciaran Clark; all very encouraging. The match and the result were more than encouraging. 3-0, all good goals, not much bother at the back, and plenty of players staking their claims for future participation.

The one glitch was the news that James McCarthy may have withdrawn from the squad because he's considering switching allegiance to Scotland, the land of his birth. This guy is a real talent, a claim his goals last weekend against Blackburn only provided extra strength to. He has played for Ireland before, but not in a competitive match, so we haven't actually nailed him down to representing us. Although it would be unfair to complain about the results we've achieved under Trappatoni, it's questionable whether or not he has our long-term welfare at the centre of his thoughts. Surely, making sure McCarthy comes on for a couple of minutes at the end of a competitive fixture that's more or less in the bag, is just smart thinking. Considering the fact that we're already without Premiership-level creative midfielders the likes of Andy Reid and Stephen Ireland, we don't need to be losing another that could well feature under our next, (hopefully) more adventurous manager.

Today, the FC Seoul website have presented our fixtures for the 2011 K-League season. First up, we will be welcoming arch-rivals, Suwon Bluewings, to Sangam on Sunday, March 6th. It's obviously a tough start to the season but, given that they have signed a lot of new players and will probably be very competitive this term, I'm glad we're playing them before they'll have had enough time to gel. We have signed a few ourselves (most notably Molina and Kim Dong Jin) but, with Djeparov signing on a permanent basis, it's much the same squad that won the K-League so impressively last season. It'll be my first match as a season-ticket holder, beeping myself through our own gate: no more queuing for tickets for meeeee!!!

The following weekend I'm hoping a few of us will head down to Daejeon for the match against Citizen. We have a good friend working down there so I'm trying to arrange a gig that night and make a real day and night of it; it'll actually be his birthday then too. The weather is getting warmer, our lad's night out is rapidly approaching, K-League around the corner, Derry City starting off our first season back where we belong in early March, already talk of World DJ Festival: it's coming...

How Does This Happen?

It's coming up on 1am and this day has just flown by. I had a fun class this morning with EunHee and ChaeYoung. The conversations I have with those two go places those with few others dare! This morning it was monogamy, the rule of threes, choosing your life partner, regrets, friendship between men and women... Any language teacher is happy when their students aren't backward about coming forward: that might be why these two are probably my favourite...

From there it was a whole load of report writing for my kids' classes, which was actually a pleasure because it gave me an opportunity to give a lot of credit where it's due. I hadn't taught kids before at Duksung, and I really enjoyed it this time around. Bright, enthusiastic, and refreshingly smart-arsed; I hope I'm as lucky with my next two groups.

Cram some ramen down my throat and it was off to see Bomin and Junu for their first class of my second month teaching them. They are great wee kids but it's hard for me to keep their attention for over an hour and I sometimes have to resort to just clowning around and acting the eejit to keep them on track. They are so young and have insanely busy schedules (Bomin has school, after-school academy, piano, violin, ballet, and English), so I know how important it is for them just to be kids sometimes.

An hour on the phone with Ji (who just bought me an FC Seoul season ticket); dinner in Suyu with Milan Kundera; a natter with Catherine about level tests, life, love, and card shuffling techniques; an application to International School of Myanmar (in keeping with the theme); finding some reading material for my dissertation; and my day is almost done. I wonder what creative ways I'm going to conjure to avoid working on my dissertation tomorrow? That's the spirit!

Happy New New Year

Hey all. I got back from Shanghai yesterday, tired and satisfied after a great trip. Shanghai is a fantastic city, very cosmopolitan in a lot of ways, but clearly constrained in others. My pictures are now up on facebook, and I'm sure I'll get around to talking about what we did there at some point.

Today I'm just getting back into the swing of things, trying to get as much MA work done this week as I can, applying for more jobs (will it ever end?), and so on and so forth. I have an interview coming up with Mt Zaagkam International School in Papua, Indonesia. It's for an ESL position, is in a VERY remote area, and there has been some recent 'unease' with tribal groups in the area. All in all, it's not what I had set out for, but I'll give the interview my all and see what comes of it. Cairo English School are currently contacting my referees, and the school is closed due to the political situation in the area. At this rate, I'm expecting a job offer from Baghdad any second now.

Sad, sad news that Gary Moore died yesterday in a hotel room in Spain, aged 58. A Belfast native, he was one of a rare breed in that he was successful in a variety of roles and over a prolonged period of time. Although he is best known as a guitarist, he was a great songwriter and VERY under-rated singer. I'm obviously a big Phil Lynott fan, but I think it's fair to say that the great man was outshone to an extent in this collaboration with Moore:

RIP Gary Moore... I actually heard this song today as a tribute on BBC Radio 6 music, which I've started listening to a lot more of late, and wow it is great! Such a great range of rock music, and a good way to hear some new material, which I have been neglecting now for a few... years... I discovered a few new (to me) bands from an article in 'Time' including Queen Sea Big Shark, from Beijing, who really impressed me. Their music, lyrics and style are pretty daring in China; I hope they make it to Korea sometime soon. My lunar new year's resolution? Go see more live Korean bands. My earlier resolutions are going so well and all...

More Out Of Left Field

As though pondering the prospect of moving to Egypt (ongoing) wasn't enough, I now have the possibility of moving to Kazakhstan or Papua, Indonesia, to chew on. Neither are at all concrete; both got in touch specifically to make me aware of the challenging circumstances of the locations before I proceed with my application. Confidence inspiring, it is not. Still, I am up for a challenge and an experience that I'll remember forever. I love where I live and what I do, but it appears that it takes a stronger person than me to stave off that feeling of the mundane that creeps in from time to time. Not much time on the planet, lots of things to see and so. Mind you, the email from the principal in Papua didn't paint a pretty picture. Some of it is unrepeatable on here in case my mother pays an unexpected visit!

I'm still thinking about Cairo, watching things unfold, trying to envisage what life would be like there, and trying to come to a decision that feels right, whilst still being rational! To be fair, the school is still meeting other applicants, so the decision could easily be taken out of my hands. The situation in Egypt seems to be heading towards a measure of inevitability, and with what happened in Tunisia and what's happening in Jordan, it brings to mind the snowballing revolutionary movements across Eastern Europe over the late-eighties and early-nineties. I wonder what modern-day Havels and Walesas are carving out their own and their countries' future as we go about our daily lives, unable to grasp the tension and sense of expectation they must be experiencing. I don't agree with over-playing the role of people in bringing about changes such as these (there are bigger forces at play, just as in Eastern Europe in the eighties), but it's hard not to be strengthened by images of squares full of people celebrating the ability to dissent, perhaps for the first time in their lives!

Well, this will more than likely be it from me for the next few days. Ji and I are going to Shanghai in the morning until Sunday. Looks like mild weather. I think I have packed everything I'll need. All visas and so on appear to be in order. Hopefully it will all go according to plan. Ok, a slightly merry Ji has just come in, so I better go help her pack. Did you pick that up? I have already packed, she hasn't? Did you get that? I'm great? Right? Happy lunar new year everyone, I'll write more after the weekend.