|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| Shigan ObsoyoNo time.
It's down to the last couple of days now. Today we will have the last of our boxes put on "the boat" (in the US or Korea, they say the same thing about heavy packages at the post office--"you want it on the boat?"), then we'll transfer our funds back to the US (I shake the dice and whisper, "come oooooonnnnn exchange rate, papa needs a new pair of shoes"), and pick up my new shirts. There are some very good tailors here, and I made a last-minute decision to have a few more perfect-fitting shirts made. (Why aren't there any tailors left in the US? Having a tailored suit or shirt is really the way to go.)
It's been a rather bittersweet week here. I teach different classes every day, so every day has been a "last day." Most of the kids, as expected, just wave and say goodbye on their way out, as if I were going to see them again next week. But there have been a few who have fought against their usual shyness to tell me how much they'll miss me, and it's, well, very moving. I thought I didn't have much of an effect on the kids, but of course I was wrong. As I told Rachel (she made what I'm sure was a very memorable last class for her favorite students yesterday; she's a creative, fantastic teacher), I still remember my teachers from thirty years ago. This is why people do this often thankless job (in much more demanding situations than mine) every day, all over the world. Every now and then, you make a difference in some little person's life.
I think I've got one more blog left in me before we leave on Monday. Sorry for the long absence, from the blog and in-person. I'll be seeing some of you very soon!
| | |
| All that's missing is you...
...and maybe some chex mix. Hope everybody has/had great holidays. | | |
| More Fun in Insadong
Warholian slots!
Highschool kids enjoying the sights.
I was here doing some holiday shopping. This is a big tourist-shopping area. You might expect to find some signs of good old-fashioned western-style seasonal commerce here, but instead, I found art installations. What does any of this have to do with Christmas? Apart from a few little trees and ornaments (shown here), not a thing!
I've done an informal poll of how many of my kids have holiday trees at home. About half do, but that's as far as the celebrations go. (These would all be the fake variety--no one uses real trees here.) If you ask them if they get Christmas gifts, you'll get funny looks--gifts are only for little kids, teacher. They all get the day off from school though, so that makes it an occasion to celebrate.
Anyway, it was really nice to be able to do a little holiday shopping without being hit over the head by the commercial-ness of the season.
| | |
| In the news...South Korea is spending a whole lot of won to move one of its most significant structures about fifty feet. | | |
|
