Sesame Street Shenanigans

Hi, and welcome to this week's episode of  "Sesame Lee." This week's episode is sponsored by the letter "Y" the word "Uncertainty" and the number 29. I have been trying to nail down exactly what's going to happen next year, and due to my nature, I'm probably over thinking too many things. I think I've finally decided that I don't want to work and go to school at the same time. At least not right away. I would rather spend time actually learning Korean rather than just sitting in the classroom. I'll be submitting my application either tonight or tomorrow, so I should know in a week or so whether I'm accepted. I don't think they would have any reason to turn me down, but who knows? So if you've been commenting or asking me about details for next year, my apologies for not responding. I haven't been responding because I still don't exactly know. The only thing I know for sure is that I'll be in Korea. Once I know the details, I'll be sure to include them in my blog. (29 is the number of days until I go back to America). 

I made a trip to Seoul yesterday. I'm not sorry to say that I went for one thing, and one thing alone. I went to eat Turkish kebabs. I don't think I've shed light on this particularly tasty part of Korea yet. Basically, imagine one of the best things you've ever eaten, and then add chicken and lamb. BAM! You have a turkish kebab.  I went to a hole in the wall place that is really popular. I have never gone when there isn't a line. I mean, just look at that rack of chicken! As I was watching it, juices were just oozing out of it. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. 

I recently taught a lesson in the highest level class where we were talking about botany. I didn't realize how much of my material I steal from Grandpa Behn. I think his passion in teaching science kind of rubbed off on my when I teach about these subjects. I kind of have "Mom Teaching History" moments when it's about something like that. For example, the whole first unit was about blood. I was (in true Grandpa form) teaching way above their level, but some of them were able to follow. At least, I get excited when I'm teaching it. I can't really speak for the student who found playing with her eraser more interesting. I'm sure she was paying attention on the inside. *insert copious amounts of sarcasm here* Anyway, I saw probably the coolest plant ever. One of my students (who is now getting an A) previewed the lesson and brought one of the plants in it. Apparently, this plant only grows in Asia. I forget the name of it, and I'm just too lazy to look it up right now. Something like Raffles Pitcher Plant. (I don't get why some people just feel the need to name something after themselves that they had nothing to do with creating. I think  Lou Gehrig drew the short straw on that one. And what did Charlie's Horse ever do to anyone?) I also remember Grandpa's lectures about why leaves change color. I was reminded of it this week as all of the leaves are beginning to fall. I was telling a friend that even after all of this time, it still feels a bit surreal that I won't see him when I go back. I will always miss him.

Every week, I have to come up with a slightly different way to troll my students. (For those of you out of the internet jargon loop which, now that I'm thinking of it, might just be everyone reading this blog, I'm about to educate you in the modern English language. From Joe's dictionary of awesomeness: "To troll: the act of making fun of someone, making their life miserable, and just doing everything you can to obtain enjoyment at another person's expense.) In this case, I award participation points based on what they say in class. The way our computer system works, we reward them with virtual apples. So, you see the apples from Seedbed, the lowest level class offered, all the way down to Junior Master. Here's how you play the game, if you say the things in the Sapling and Junior Master boxes, your likelihood of getting 4-5 apples increases dramatically. I'm sad to say that the morals of these children are surprisingly weak. I keep changing what's in the last 2 boxes to get more and more flattering to me. This week, I finally had one girl who did not give in to the pressure. Most of the stuff on the upper end of the chart is just added as the day goes on. As I realize something new that the students do that is bad English and frankly just annoying to listen to, I add it to the appropriate level. I find that always coming up with something new keeps not only the students interested, but me as well. This is probably the last thing I'll do in class unless some new idea hits me during the middle of a lesson.

I set a record this week. I did 6 hours of karaoke in the span of 24 hours. I went on Thursday and Friday night, and the sad thing is that I want to go again. Once you're able to get over the fact that you're singing in front of your coworkers, it's a blast. I will sing anything that's playing. I know a lot of the Korean tunes just from being here, and my reading is ALMOST fast enough to keep up with most songs. In either case, I'm sure it's good entertainment for the Koreans to see a tall white man singing/dancing "Gangnam Style." Surprisingly, after 6 hours of singing, my voice is fine. I guess that just means that I had good form. Among others, some of my favorite to perform (because there is no way I can actually sing these): Stayin' Alive, Sweet Child O' Mine, Gangnam Style, and Smooth Criminal. Some more doable ones: Under the Sea, The Circle of Life, and Unforgettable.

I've Got Visas on my Mind

So, I'm currently in the throws of trying to figure out exactly what I want to do next year. I know I want to be in Korea learning Korean, but I'm not quite sure how I want to go about it. I've done hours worth of online research/phone calls. (If you should know anything about me, it's that I abhor talking on the phone to someone that I don't know. Especially when they don't necessarily speak English...) So if I'm making phone calls about it, you know I'm pretty serious about it. I recently found out about a visa that will allow me to be in the country for 6 months without working. I'm currently in the process of trying to communicate that to the Korean language school and figuring out if they will still let me apply with that visa. All this to say, if everything works out the way I want it to, I will be home for the entire month of December. If everything doesn't work out the way I want it to . . . I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. The moral of the story is this: visas are a pain.

I finally got to play something other than goalie today in soccer. It was really nice... for the warm-up, and then I started running. I played for most of the game, and I think I did OK. As a result of "accidentally" tripping a guy, I too went sprawling on the astro turf which left a few skinned places on my elbows and knees. Towards the end of the game, I subbed myself out to go lick my battle wounds. There was a 7 year old American boy who was watching the game with our team. He came up to me and asked if it hurt. I said, "No" to which he replied, "How come adults never say that anything hurts?" I kind of thought about it a minute, and then decided that telling him that my endorphins were pumping through my blood dulling the pain was too complicated a task. He went on to say, "I sure hope I never get any scrapes like that." Now on this one, I was happy to burst his bubble.

Teaching is getting easier and easier. I recently was given a temporary class with pretty much all of the troublemaker kids in it. A worthy opponent. At the very beginning, I sent a student out for playing with his erasers. (I'm not as bad as it seems. He really wasn't paying attention. I stopped class, walked in front of him, and stood there for a solid minute before he realized something had changed.) After that, everyone was on their best behavior. As with so many other things, once you've convinced someone that you're really serious, they tend not to get in your way. It also helps that Korean mothers are the KGB and Nazi Gestapo combined into a fearsome entity that holds the power of life and death in the palm of their hands. Similar to the KGB, if you follow the rules, get good grades, become a model citizen and do everything to the best of your ability, you still aren't safe. I kid you not, I've heard first hand accounts of a student being grounded all summer long with no AC just because he was dating a girl right before his English proficiency test, and so didn't study to his optimal level. I think I'll take the wet towels being wrapped around me, or waterboarding.

I went to a fortress in a nearby city with some friends on Saturday. I'm putting some of the pictures up here. I'm sure they'll come up on facebook when I have the resolve to click "upload" if ever. All of the leaves are beginning to change color/fall here now. There were a lot of really cool colors. Now, I'm sure that it's been done before, "Joe, didn't you know this?" blah blah blah, but I think the whole wall around the gate thing you see in these pictures is just genius. There, I said it. Now you all can educate me on European architecture for about 15 comments. Or skype, it's a little bit faster.

The Land of the Rising Sun

This week was my week of vacation, and it was great! I did a whole lot this week. I think it was partly due to the fact that there were a lot of outside forces causing me to do things. Nothing like having friends pull you around to different places. I'm definitely not complaining though. I probably would've sat home and did nothing otherwise.

On Monday, I went to the zoo (which I wrote about in last week's blog). On Tuesday, I met up with my Korean friends from college. We played billiards, bowling, and ended it all with an hour at the karaoke room. That still has to be one of my favorite things to do here. I did something on Wednesday, but honestly, I can't really remember what I did. I remember playing soccer with Koreans at night, but the rest of the day is a blur. Thursday was my rest and recharge day. I don't think I did anything all day except watch the presidential debate. That's probably about the only thing I've done to keep in touch with what's happening in America. From a pure debate standpoint, I thought they both were fairly week in their arguments. Both left out what I thought to be vital details to their arguments, but then again, I guess their main goal isn't winning the argument. Smile for the camera!!! I really felt bad for the moderator though. How anyone could interrupt that nice man from the PBS channel is beyond me. If they were in Asia, they would get smacked around for a cultural blunder of that magnitude.

On Friday, I went to Japan. This, I definitely wouldn't have even thought of attempting unless it was all laid out beforehand by someone who knew what they were doing. (I really hate going somewhere without everything planned out. If I don't know exactly what I'm going to do and how I'm going to get there, it's just a little too stressful to be a vacation). Luckily, we had a Japanese guy show us around. I went with my coworker, and it was his friend. During the trip, I became more and more thankful that I chose Korea to come and teach in. Don't get me wrong. I really enjoyed Japan, but it was just missing some things.

Let me start by saying that Japanese food is bar none better than 99.99% of all other foods in the world. However, it's super expensive. The average price I paid for a bowl of ramen was about 900 Yen. (Look up the exchange rate if you're really curious.) No one can hold a match to Korean public transportation. Japanese subways are run by private companies which translates to high prices and general confusion when it comes to navigating around: tons of transfers and a general confusion of where you are. In Korea, you would have to blind and deaf to get lost on their subway. It's very user friendly. I also felt a great contrast within the Japanese culture. Their pop culture is very "cute." Their music focuses on a more pre-adolescent version of fun: almost carefree. However, the people are a totally different story. They are stone faced! In Korea, the people don't show much emotion when they are just walking around, but once they stop, they are super emotional. Even after the day was done and on the weekend, the Japanese were flat faced about everything. I think their pop music is a reflection of what they wish they could be like, but are restricted from becoming because of their culture set in tradition. There is a certain pride to these Asian countries. It is much different in America. These countries have histories dating back thousands of years, and they are very proud of them. To deviate from traditions dating back thousands of years is like disowning your country.

Japan was super beautiful though. It was really peaceful and quiet. The people keep to themselves and you can just sit and enjoy the numerous views. I can now see why this country is so closed off to the Gospel. Part of it rests in the strict tradition that is enforced on the people. The other is the culture in which they live. There is not good way to confront somebody about something. For example, going up to someone and pointing out sin would be considered one of the rudest things you could do. Idol worship is super prevalent there. There were shrines and little Buddha or Shinto idols everywhere with people praying to them. It really makes me sad to see how darkened they are. Only God can break into that country.

On the first day in Japan, we went to an awesome aquarium! I don't know if I even remember ever having gone to an aquarium before. On Saturday, we went to Kyoto, a traditional Japanese city. Apparently, (around 500 years ago) it used to be the capital before Tokyo.  We spent this morning (Sunday) visiting various shops and markets. Check facebook for more pictures and videos. I took tons!

Happy Chuseok!

Sorry I didn't write this yesterday. I was pretty busy, and I went to the zoo today, so I figured it might be more interesting for you if I just waited. I have this week off because of Chuseok! It's a Korean holiday that basically is the Korean version of Thanksgiving. I heard a rumor today that it's actually a holiday where they worship their ancestors... I'm not so sure about this, but I plan on running it by my Korean informants and seeing what they dig up. Either way, it results in a week off!

This week, I was training the 2 new teachers that we got. They have been pretty good so far. 99.99% of their actions at work are very professional, which makes my job a ton easier. They definitely have a long way to go, but I know that they'll get there quickly if they keep up the effort. God has also given me a lot of favor in my boss's eyes. She seems to really like me now, and it's more than just her. Many different people are helping me out when it comes to my preparations for next year. Obviously, I know some of this is so that I think of them better when I decide who to sign my contract with, but it still feels pretty good. I was trying to teach my students the difference between can and should. So I asked the question, "Can I punch you right now?" to which they responded, "NO!" I then explained, "Well, yes I CAN punch you, but I shouldn't." Right when I said, "I CAN punch you" I looked around only to see my boss's head sticking through the door. She asked me to step outside for a minute. (It's about this time that I was wondering how much a plane ticket costs.) She just gave me a $30 gift card to Korea's equivalent of a Jewel Osco and wished me a happy Chuseok.

So, I have a new landmark in my life that I'm pretty sure none of you have ever done (nor will ever do). I played through the entire set of 'Apples to Apples' with some friends after church on Sunday. The box reads, "Play time: 30 minutes" Try 3.5 hours! We told that box what's what. My face hurt afterwards from all of the laughing. Despite the philosophy that losing isn't fun, I still had a great time.


I also went to the zoo today. It has been a really long time since I've been there. It was a lot of fun. I saw a lot of animals that I don't ever remember seeing in real life before. I saw an armadillo, rhinos, 2-toed sloths, and a pre-pubescent monkey doing something to his toy that only post-pubescent monkeys should do. All in all, it was a great experience. I pretty much feel like I start most of my days like this sloth. I wake up and quickly realize, "Why am I up this early?" I then proceed to do absolutely nothing in the mornings. I pass time by lying in different positions on my bed and hoping each new one will bring me closer to the comfort of sleep.

I took this picture of my students this week. The girl on the right is wearing a hanbok. (han-boke) It's the traditional Korean dress that both the men and the women wear. Not many people wear them anymore except for special occasions. Obviously, this week was Chuseok week, so the traditional stuff comes out. I had to bribe her with a lot of participation points, but she eventually consented to me taking a picture.

Whack-A-Mole

This week was pretty trying. The minute I thought I had one situation under control, another would spring up. It was kind of like playing whack-a-mole on 5 machines at once. God did give me many encouragements throughout the week though. I was constantly reminded this week of how God will not give me a trial too great to handle. Just when I was about to throw in the towel, he would pick me up.

On Tuesday, I had to deal with a lot of unprofessional behavior that happened on Monday from both the teachers and the Korean staff. Joe vs. the world. Dealing with the teachers went well. They were very receptive and acknowledged their fault and agreed to perform better in the future. The Korean staff was a different story though. I started by taking the person aside and in private telling them what I thought could have been done differently. That suggestion sparked an inquisition. I had a meeting with my manager which was interrupted by the branch manager coming in to talk with me about it. After classes that day, I had a meeting with the owner about it. The owner was surprisingly understanding about the whole thing, and ended up siding more with me than anything else. The other meetings didn't go so well. It brought back memories of being on death row, I mean seeing the dean of men at BJ. Whatever the result, I know that I did the right thing, and I remained very respectful during each of the meetings.

When I met with the owner, she actually gave me a very good compliment. She said I had "the blood of a Korean." I really had no idea what that meant until I asked a friend. It means the following: most foreigners come into this country and have no regard for its customs or rules; however, I conduct myself differently from all other foreigners so that even though I'm not Korean, she considers me as one of them. I was kind of taken aback. I walked into the meeting expecting fire and brimstone to rain down on me, but instead I got compliments and validation.

High fives are a big part of teaching. I use them to wake students to just get them motivated. The minute all the students start coughing and sneezing, I always hate myself. Why did I just high five you? It's the whole college dorm feeling all over again. Once one person gets it, you can just start the count down. I got hit pretty hard on Saturday. It was a combination of evils. First, I was invited out to dinner with the owner and some others on Friday night. When you're invited out to a Korean dinner, you shouldn't expect to get back before 2:00 AM. For some reason, I didn't sleep well at all on Friday night either. When I woke up on Saturday, I couldn't really speak.

I eventually found my voice and trained 2 new teachers. I was impressed by how professional they were. I was explaining something to them when they interrupted me, "Excuse me, can I take notes on what you're saying?" Why yes. Yes you can. (My name is Joseph Lee, and I approve of this message.) They practiced teaching their lessons in front of me, and before I could start giving them feedback, they were asking how they could improve and become better teachers. As a whole, I was very pleased with their attitude towards everything. I finished training just in time. About 30 minutes afterwards, everything I ate came back out. Yes Dad, there were chunks, and yes, I'll be sure to chew my food better next time.

I skipped church this morning and slept instead. I woke up with a pounding headache, but after some good ol' Campbell's chicken noodle soup and Tylenol, I was feeling better. I went out for a walk and say this bad boy. The picture doesn't really show how big it is, but I would say it was about the size of my thumb. I would not want to be one of those bugs.

I'm currently looking up different visa options for my stay in Korea next year. The owner pretty much offered me a job next year if I decide to come back. I think researching has to be the most mundane part of anything though....

Say What?

I must have the weirdest schedule ever. I rest up on the weekdays and burn myself out on the weekends. The beauty of working in the afternoons is that I never have to set an alarm. I can just wake up and then
have hours before I have to leave for work. It's the lazy man's dream.

On Saturday, I went skeet shooting with some guys from church. All of them were talking about how much they shoot back home, "This one time I took out a 8675 950 BBGPYT rifle and shot it." "Well once, I was able to shoot a Tomahawk Expansion Tri-Force Infinity Blaster. Joe, what about you?" "Uh... I had a bee-bee gun when I was growing up..." [insert cheesy smile] I guess having "Southern" roots counts for more than military training when it comes to shooting clay out of the air. I made 19 out of 25. The closest military person was at 14. I was voted most valuable in the event of a zombie apocalypse. Personally, I would pull out this strategy if that ever were to occur.

Friday was my birthday, and so we all went to a karaoke room after dinner. Apparently, since it was my birthday, I had to sing/dance "Gangnam Style" as the opening act. You just check your shame and judgment at the door and have a good time. The karaoke rooms are one of my favorite things to do here. You just have to go with the right crowd, and you always have to make sure that you aren't the worst one there. (Maybe I take a little bit of judgment in with me. I smuggle it underneath my jacket.)

I got a lot of compliments on my Korean pronunciation this week. It was really encouraging to hear. I still know I have a long way to go though. Here's me speaking Korean (translated to English for your enjoyment)
Me: "I want fish and rice please."
The waiter: "You want .... AHHHHH fish and rice? right?"
I just say yes and chalk it up to the noisy atmosphere. It just seems to be noisy wherever I go. Koreans must just have a hearing problem. In all seriousness though, it has to be one of the most frustrating things about learning a new language: trying to get the pronunciation right. The above situation doesn't really happen too often, and when it does, I can hear where I went wrong. The only issue is then fixing the problem. There are sounds that I'm still trying to figure out exactly how to make. I spend a lot of time watching how Koreans form letters and trying to mimic their mouth movements. Koreans say that I sound about 90% correct on things that I'm confident in saying. The less confident, the worse my pronunciation.

I get the first week of October off. It was kind of a surprise for me to find out, but I'm definitely not complaining about it. A few of my coworkers and I are going to go to Beijing. At least, that's the plan right now. The tickets have not yet been booked. On the trip, we plan on hitting up the great wall, tiennamen square, the Chinese circus, the forbidden palace, and other sites in the area. I'm really looking forward to it. I never thought I would ever have a chance to visit the great wall. It was just something in books, but now it's becoming more of a reality. I'll be sure to bring my camera on the excursion.

Today, I played piano for church. It really is nice to have some kind of musical release. I really miss being able to play the piano whenever I want. I know that when I actually get my hands on a real piano (the one at church is a keyboard), I'll play for a day straight. I just want to sit down and play depressing music. Rachmaninoff and Chopin are definitely the men for the job. Afterwards, I played soccer in my league. We played a girls' team today . . . . The score was 7-0, and yes, we won. It was pretty nice to have a relatively low stress game as goalie. I wish my team would give me more of these games. I also found out that the whole "hit it with your purse next time" gets lost in translation between American English and English English. One time, a guy totally whiffed the ball, and I yelled, "You got a hole in your foot?" He then bent down to examine if his foot was OK . . . . My humor must just be too refined.

On Saturday this week, I have to train 2 new people for the job, but these aren't just any 2 people. They're a couple. I'm hesitant. Maybe it's just my pessimistic mind taking over, but I've had very few "couples working together" stories ending happily. The best thing about having a pessimist's outlook is that you're rarely disappointed.