Honestly, now.

So I came to work today only to discover that some other teacher was in my room.  I looked at her.  She looked at me.  I double checked the room number and then said hi.

Teacher: Hi.  Are you the substitute.

Me: I’m the teacher.

Teacher: Oh.  Hey.  Well, I thought I was supposed to be teaching here today but I probably made a mistake.

At this point, on of the front desk ladies comes around the corner, sees me, and then grabs another teacher to translate.  And this is what was said:

Go home.  You don’t work today.

Sweeeeeeeeet.  Now granted, I like to earn my way, but still.  It was one of those days that I really just wanted to stay home, nurse my headache, and make soup.  And that’s what I get to do. 

Besides the horrid stress of getting caught by immigration, there are some perks to this no-visa status of mine.

So immigration is doing a sweep of hagwons to make sure that everyone has their visa.  Problem: I don’t have my visa.  I am an illegal worker.  Granted it will only be this way for about two more weeks or so, but still. 

So yesterday, in the spirit of not getting into trouble and not having a teacher deported, my school sent me to the head office to hang out of a day.  There were four or five of us hiding.  And for good reason.

On teacher did get caught by immigration.  I think he just got a slap on the wrist, but it scares me what could have happened.  As great as a story as it would be, I don’t really want to get deported.  On top of that, there are fine for both the school AND the teacher.  Ick.

While hiding out in the office, the other teachers and I started talking.  On guy told me that immigration came to his school and he and another teacher had to go up on the roof for a while to hide out.  Apparently, the roof wasn’t really that safe from immigration officials, because the teachers ended up having to climb down a fire escape on the side of the building. 

I have to admire the sneakiness of immigration officials.  Apparently, they will visit an academy, leave, and then come back to the academy a short time later.  Thus, teachers end up on roofs.

In other news, Q.C. send me some coffee and tea from Miltons.  Hurray!  I’ve only been working on the tea because I’m still sick, but the coffee smells wonderful.  The weather here is almost perfect for coffee.  Actually, the weather here is almost perfect in general.  The highs have been in the 60s, which makes walks with Badugi delightful. 

 Well, I’d better finish this up.  A stack of essays magically appeared on my desk while I was hiding at the office, so I’d better get started.

No, I’m not really fighting with the country.  However, it does seem like I am sometimes. 

 I’ve decided that I will update my blog at least once a week.  And that will be pretty easy because I have quite a bit of downtime once a week at work.  Although I’m working six days a week, I don’t think it will be too bad.  I typically won’t go in until 4pm, which leave most of my days free. 

I live in the same apartment building, which is WONDERFUL.  I already know where everything is, which takes an amazing amount of stress off of me.  I’m working on renovating my life.  My latest project is to reduce clutter in my life.  I decided that I really don’t need a bed and have instead been sleeping on a mat on the floor.  It’s surprising comfortable. 

I have a dream for the end of my second year in Korea.  I will be packed and ready to leave a week before my ticket date.  I want cleaning my apartment to be amazingly easy.  Thus, I’m not investing in any stuff that I don’t need.  I’m just trying to reduce my stress.

And none of this may make any sense whatsoever.  I’m still really jetlagged and I’m also cursed with a nasty, nasty cold (if not improved my Monday, I’m going to the M.D.).  Anyways, I’m alive and doing alright. 

Peace.