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.