Honestly, now.

Nothing terribly exciting today.  Sorry.  The “shiny” has started to wear off this country.  I’m sleeping in later and later.  I’m having fewer of the jaw-dropping moments.  In short, I’m getting comfortable.

I did not come here to be comfortable.

So in one week, I will find a place to learn something.  Anything.  Be it Hangal or Spanish or Tae Kwon Do or ballroom dance.   Heck, I might join in with Kerri and learn some cha-cha.  I’ve noticed that I’m one of those people who prefers to keep moving.  At times, I’ll go under the street via subway entrances just so I don’t have to wait for a light.  I’ll walk up stairs if the elevator is taking too long.  If I’m just wandering, I have to keep wandering.  I don’t know where I get this from.  Perhaps it’s a residual effect of feeling stuck for the past few years.

In a dicussion with Eric, we talked about television and it’s negative effects on motivation.   I realized that TV is useful as a diagnostic tool.  Like I said to Eric, “Hmmm…..I’m watching a lot of television.  What aspect of my life am I unhappy about? What am I trying to avoid?”  I do it without noticing.  It’s easy to fall into when you don’t know that many people well.

I keep thinking how strange it is to stop by someone’s house that I’ve spoken with maybe four times.  But everyone is in the same boat, so I may as well get over it.

Okay, this is getting a bit rambly.  Now to the gifty part.

My students occasionally bring me gifts.  It’s fantastic.  The other day, I got these wafer-thingys that were filled with chocolate.  Today, I got homemade gimbap (rice, veggies, and meat all wrapped together in seaweed).  There has been a time or two when I’ve been at school and get blind-sided by homesickness/general depression/headache.  Both times, it’s been one of my students who has cheered me up.  One little girl ran up to be out of nowhere to give me a HUGE hug.  The other time it was a little boy in class who policed my classroom for me that day (he kept everyone in line better than I do somedays).

Finally, I’m not getting any relief from my workload for a while.  I guess the new teacher isn’t coming for a few weeks yet.  The part of me that loathes grading essays is quite sad.  The part of me that loves all of my kids is secretly happy.  I’d hate to lose any of the little buggers. 

Cheers from Migeum,

Anne Valburg