i yam what i yam

i've been getting angrier with my students lately.
especially on last friday.
I had a terrible headache, in which it affected my neck, back;
and everytime i moved my head, i would be dizzy.
It also didn't help much that i had to cover for another sick teacher.
So i basically had no break for the entire day.

My first class of that day was the worst.
It was kindergarten kids and I had to teach them science.
All of'em, just screaming in my ear...
fun.

a few classes later on, i had to further clarify why
although both from Canada,
why a previous white-skinned teacher and I look different.
YOU try to teach multiculturalism to a bunch of 9 year olds
whose first language isn't English.

The next class, while teaching them what a "wife" was,
a student said something about a "husband" and how a "husband" must have a wife.
The lil' ol' Canadian that I am, corrected the student and said that a "husband" does not necessarily need to have a "wife" but could have a "husband"
and same goes for the "wife".
Yes, that's right, i taught a bunch of conservative ten year olds about same-sex marriages.
I didn't think it was that big of a deal until i told one of my English co-workers about it and she was just speechless...just for awhile.
i honestly don't think it was that bad.
I didn't make a big deal out of it,
I simply corrected the student like how I correct their spelling--
by saying they were in the wrong and non chalantly said the correct answer
and quickly moving on

my last class involved me yelling and lecturing a class of 4,
and kicking out one of the students for 5 mins.

Anyways, today, I had to punish and really yell at another boy.
After so much bad attitude and korean jokes...
my last nerve was when he said "teacher crazy"
I kicked him out of my class,
assigned the rest of the class work
and then went out and yelled and lectured him at the halls.
I realized how pretty bad my punishment was when it was my break
and my co-worker informed me that she heard me yelling
and then later, she informed me that she had that class after mine and the student was crying.
because he felt so bad.
I felt so damn guilty...
but really, that was my last straw.
And at least it was effective.
After i sent him back into the class, the entire class calmed down and did whatever i said.

But with all honesty, i've been really patient with them
but after so much, i'm not gonna let them walk all over me.
And i'm not gonna merely send them to another person to deal w/ my problem,
that's not a long term plan.
that indicates that i can't deal with them..
and i damn well can.

Besides work,
I enjoyed my weekend.
Saturday was chore day.
Sunday, had an amazing time exploring insadong and itaewon with erin and lauren.
had amazing street food, food, and cool stores.
I got complimented by an old lady who was selling hats.
I bought a hat after she knocked a 1000 won b/c i was Canadian and she liked my face :)
she could've been sarcastic and just really blind,
but she got me.
And i liked the hat.
My pimp hat
haha.
when we were leaving insadong, at the subway station,
a creepy old man started talking to erin in korean and started putting his hand on his crotch.
I tried to help her, but he spoke to me in korean and started rubbing his crotch again.
After i said "no no"
he started yelling at us and I had to pull erin away and hide.
haha man...if only I knew what he was asking.

after, we met up with hannah and later, janelle for dinner.
I haven't seen those two since we left the airport.

it's funny, it's now my 2nd week in korea
and yet it feels longer.

also, some issues are happening back at toronto
and i wish i could be there to assist in resolving the issue...
like i usually do.
but i can't now.
and can only hear what's happening :(

hopefully once erin posts up the pics of our trip sunday,
i'll post it up here.