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.

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.

None The Wiser

Hey all, hope the weekend treated you well and that the week hasn't started too badly. As Egypt continues to erupt, I'm still mulling over the possibility of moving to Cairo as a Primary school ESL teacher in August. One minute I'm sure I'm not, the next I'm sue I am. Some people have come straight out and said I'd be mad to (thanks for your forthright honesty as always Mary) and others have said I should go for it (although I can't quite remember who right now, and could well just have convinced myself someone did...). I'm keeping a close eye on the news, but the stumbling blocks in my mind lay elsewhere. I think I need to STOP thinking about it for a few days. I'm sure all our thoughts are with the people of Egypt in their struggle to overthrow Mubarak, or at least affect change in their country. It was interesting hearing Tony Blair talking of, "change, not chaos" in the country. He was fairly honest in admitting that 'the West' overlooked Mubarak's 'excesses' in return for his support of the Middle-Eastern peace process. Interesting how statesmen can do that once they have left national politics and moved to non-elected roles. Bill Clinton springs to mind in the same vein.

Moving seamlessly from international politics to... my weekend. I had my first show with 'Posh' (Cheon's band name....) on Saturday night at Club Spot in Hongdae. It went really well, to be honest. A few people took videos so I'll try to recover them and put them up on facebook. It was strange playing in a club to an almost 100% Korean audience. Mel came along and there were two random foreign rock-chicks up the front, but that was it. A Korean crowd really WATCH bands here - it was eerily quiet between songs but they were all going nuts as soon as the music started. There wasn't much I could do to break the silence with my crappy Korean so it was left to Mel to cheer us all up with her cricket impressions. Anyway, Cheon asked me to join them on a more permanent basis, if I could. So, as long as it doesn't clash with 'Dead End Friends', I'll be singing with them as they try to put together an album of original tracks (Cheon sang a couple on the night) and play gigs around Hongdae and Gangnam. I think it'll be an interesting experience, so I'm up for it.

No work today so I tried to get a good bit of dissertation work done and applied to another batch of international schools. Word back already from a school in Kazakhstan (I only do glamorous) and I even applied for a Citizenship job back in the UK, such is my complete and utter indecision and lack of focus. Ji and I are heading off to Shanghai for Lunar New Year on Wednesday morning so I'm going to come back 100% set on one particular course and just go all out for that! Perhaps...

First Offer!

Amazingly, I woke up to an email offering me the primary esl job at Cairo English School, which I interviewed for last night. Although it wasn't a bad interview, I really wasn't expecting to hear anything positive back from them. The upshot of it all is that I have to seriously consider whether I should take a job that involves moving into the unknown in almost every way, or turning it down on the absolute off-chance that something more suited to what I had been hoping for, shows up. It's a tricky one, it really is.

All the same, it's encouraging that I had a successful interview, and positive that I at least now have a choice. There is a lot to think of in terms of Ji, my career, leaving Korea, the band, the 'bother' in Egypt, moving to primary education and, of course, CATHERINE! Rob - I'll be calling your Dad if you reckon that's ok with him. Smart people out there, I want to hear your pearls of wisdom. No need to tell me that it's the largest and most densely populated city in Africa - I'd be lost without you, Lisa!

We finished up the first session of DDE1 this morning with their exam, final interview, and class party. Although I've been here nearly a year, the final day is always odd and difficult to explain to those who don't work here. Mass hysteria, screaming girls, picture request after picture request, and a bunch of very ordinary, but uncomfortable, foreign teachers. I really do enjoy this job, though. There are annoying aspects (well, one - aspect), but we have a lot of freedom and the students are consistently great. My homeroom made a little poster and cake for me as a surprise. I walked in on them as they were preparing it, so had to pull out the old acting skills later. Still got it! Or not... Oh, decisions...

Going to meet a few of the other teachers to mark the end of the session with a beer or two in Suyu. For those of you who are in Korea, our Muse tribute is at Club Spot (Hongdae, the wee park thingy) at 9pm. Judging by the rehearsals, I think it should be quite good! Wherever you are, I hope you're doing well and have a great weekend.

PS Come on Murray!