AAAAAAAAHHHH! -lmost there!

Whenever you are looking forward to something it always takes longer to get there. It's like what my step-mom Kelly said one time when Jordan and I were making banana bread about two years ago, "A watched cake never bakes". Well, let's just say that I am waiting for my trip to Europe ('the cake' at the end of this 14 months of teaching) to finally come to fruition ('bake'). Weird metaphors aside I am ready to finish working. The level of disrespect that I have been receiving from some of my students has forced me find solace in the thought of leaving.

However, there is this part of me (the part that wants to accept any challenge that teaching brings me) that wants to take control of these classes and provide a fruitful learning environment. Although I truly believe that it is not possible in some cases. For the sake of the argument, put yourself in the place of one of the older students in my lower level classes. He comes to my academy after a full day of REAL school (KOREAN school [Talk about difficult!]). Then, when he gets to the academy, his friends of the same age go into higher level classes as he walks into my lower level class (feeling humiliated). Next he sits down and chats with his friend only to have some foreign man yell at him ordering to speak a different language (English). So now we have a tired, pubescent and humiliated student sitting in a class designed for younger students.

That's the recipe for success right? No wonder I get smacked by the brunt of their frustration with bad words, defiant awkward standing, and the dirtiest of scowls. Oh, now multiply that one student by about 10. There are 10 of these kids going through the same situation in one class. Oh well. At least I get to go home and get away from this situation while the students have to stay here and deal with it. Then, they will subsequently go on to run the world. I mean that is what they are studying so hard for right?

Here's a list:
31 = Days til I am done with work.
14 = Days til my birthday.
9 = Days til Mom comes to Korea.
4 = Days til Halloween (awesome couple costume with Emma (Not really couple costume [we are more just two of something]).
3 = Months til I visit everybody east of Denver with Amtrak. (Chicago friends, Justin and Kelcie, Rob, Jojo, and Emma!)

Full Circle

This last weekend we celebrated another friend's birthday. We have been on a little birthday bender over here. Everyone in our group seems to have autumn birthdays. That usually leads to spending the next day (Sunday) in town or in the mountains close to town. That is what has happened these last couple of weekends.

This past Sunday, we went hiking up the same route that I did about a year ago on my first hike in Korea. We took a leisurely stroll this time instead of a determined charge toward the peak. It was nice to have a day out on the mountains as well as being not too far from home (the trail head is about a 15 minute walk from my apartment).

My time to write has been kind of cut short lately due to running, laziness, getting ready to leave, spending more time with Emma, and an ever changing work schedule. However, I will try to keep this thing updated until my trip to Europe with Brent on November 30th.

P.S. Anyone have any suggestions for things to do and places to see in the Black Forest area of Germany, Tuscany area of Italy and Valencia area of Spain?? If you do, send me a message!