Flurries

It's 1°C outside, or 34°F. The weather forecast on my phone changed to a picture of a cloud with grey circles falling from it. The caption says, "Flurries." The wind shook my windows, and I almost had a heart attack. Everyone says that tomorrow is supposed to snow. Dun dun dun.

My computer is finally fixed! The Dell technician came back for the 3rd time today. He replaced the hard drive, the mother board, the graphic card system, and the Operating System. Dell kept my old hard drive, which contained ALL of my unrecoverable documents and pictures. Luckily, I backed up those files on my external hard drive up until late October. Now all I need is a copy of Microsoft Office.

I found out today that if I DON'T go on the 2-day trip to Seoul with the teachers, then they will subtract 2 of my 14 vacation days. By contract, I am supposed to teach on the 22nd/23rd, but going on the trip will make up for those 6 hours (and the 15 hours that they are giving me off during the last week of December). It's really confusing how I am supposed to clock 60 hours per month, but some of those 60 hours conflict with annual holidays ... and yet we still have to fulfill the terms of the contract. Who cares? My incentive for not using the 2 vacations days would be for if I could tack them onto a later vacation period and go to Japan. Man this trip is going to be so boring, awkward, and cold. No. One. Speaks. Fluent. English. I'll probably just import 2 days worth of music onto my phone and tune everyone out.

I may have offended the principal today. No big deal. Here is our conversation from lunch:

Principal: When....visit.....you?

My face: *confused*
My thoughts: He wants to visit my apartment?
Me: What?

Principal: When....visit....you....home?

My face: *confused*
My thoughts: Maybe he wants to know if I am going home for the holidays....
Me: Huh?

Vice Principal: Principal want visit you home.....when?

Me: For what?

-Principal & Vice Principal don't understand what I just said-

Me: Why?

-They look at each other-

Principal: Home, no welcome?

Me: But there's nothing at my apartment ... Why?

Vice Principal: No welcome?

Me: My apartment is boring .... there is nothing to do ....

Principal: Welcome, no?

Me: ... But why?

I think we have an awkward understanding that I don't want visitors. But really. My apartment is cold. My television is sitting on the floor. There's nothing to do here. We obviously can't communicate. It's not happening. I got up to leave, but they made me stay until the principal finished eating for the first time ever. One teacher told me that the principal thinks of me like a daughter. Good luck with that.

Snow Forecasted for Friday

I ate a McFlurry for the first time yesterday. If you like oreos, the Oreo McFlurry hits the spot. Speaking of flurries, it might snow on Friday. I've never seen snow fall before, so this week is quickly becoming the week of firsts. Yesterday I also tried dog food for the first time. Don't act you've never been curious. I took a nibble of a bone-shaped Purina kibble. The food has a really crunchy and grity texture and tastes like how it smells. Maybe a bit salty and leaves an oily aftertaste. I ate some Special K flakes to wash the taste out of my mouth. Today I tried a dog treat made of vegetables. It was also shaped like a bone, but shared the consistency of those children's animal crackers. It would have went well with ice-cream, maybe even the Oreo McFlurry.

In case you are wondering, a friend who is a 6th gen and our POE coordinator lives across the street, and she has a small dog.

At lunch I was invited to join all of the teachers on a tour of Seoul on December 22-23. They might be going to Seoul Tower and an ancient palace. Been there, done that. I said that I had no plans and that I could go ... but I'm trying to figure a way out of it since I've already been there. Plus it will be super awkward spending 48 hours with everyone when I can't even stand a 48 minute volleyball game.

Spent all three of today's classes listening to Christmas music and working on holiday arts & crafts with the kids. We colored ornaments for a "Christmas tree" display of the kids' work located on the back wall. I taught them how to make paper snowflakes, which are now dangling from the ceiling. I also started to make a chain out of red and green construction paper to outline the tree. Next week I have my semesterly open class, so I want the room to look fun & festive for the kids and guests.

The Dell technician came back with my laptop, still unrepaired. I think he was under the impression that it was fixed, but when he powered it up, the computer seemed unresponsive and made strange noises. We awkwardly communicated through Google Translate on his phone. When that wasn't enough, I called Joanne to translate over the phone. He will be back again tomorrow. Same time, same place.

Dell Technician Coming Today

Today I received a call from the Dell Service Center in Korea.

Guy: Dell Service Center 입니다 (This is the Dell Service Center)
Me: Dell Service Center?
Guy: Ye.
Me: Hello.
Guy: *KoreanKoreanKorean*
Me: 한국말 안되요 (hanguk mal an daeyo: "Korean language not working" -- yeah, my Korean isn't that great)
Guy: *KoreanKorean* address *Korean*
Me: Oh, uhhh, Dae-Myeong Officetel 2....
Guy: Sang-dong....
Me: Ne...Jeollanam-do, Mokpo
Guy: *KoreanKorean* Fix computer 11 o'clock
Me: Uhhh... 11 o'clock 옵서여 (not here)
Guy: Ohh....
Me: Uhhh...
Guy: Ummm...
Me: Errr....
Me: After 5:30pm? 5:30 in the evening?
Guy: 5:30?
Me: Ne.
Guy: *KoreanKoreanKoreanKoreanKorean*
Me: I don't know what you just said.
Guy: *KoreanKoreanKoreanKoreanKorean*
Me: Can I call you back?
Guy: *KoreanKoreanKoreanKoreanKorean*
Me: Uhhhh....
Guy: I call back.
Me: Ok.
Guy: Ne.

Someone else who spoke English called back, and we arranged for the technician to come at 6pm today. Once I get all the parts, all I will need are the Windows Vista and Microsoft Office installation disks to have a fully functioning computer.

------------------------------------------------

During lunch, I was told to go to the teachers' room at 12:30pm. I went in at 12:23pm right after lunch, and an administrator spoke to me about Open Classes. (Every semester we are required to hold one Open Class for teachers, parents, staff, etc to come in and observe.) Then I went up to my class to prepare for Kindergarten. At 12:34pm, I got a call telling me to go into the teachers' room. I guess that conversation I had with the administrator wasn't why I was called in there. The Vice Principal was hosting a meeting with 5-6 other teachers. It was all in Korean. I sat there for 10 minutes, then showed another teacher the time on my phone to indicate that I had class at 12:45pm. She said, "Open class....you understand?" and I said, "Ne, I understand." Yeah, I understand that I have open class, but I don't understand why I had to sit through that meeting if it was all in Korean!

The kindergarten kids were already seated in my English class when I arrived. Some of the kids were absent. The remaining half of them were coughing in every direction. Some of them looked like they were dying. One girl looked like she was either on her last breath or she was quickly falling into a coma. The boy next to her was slapping her in the forehead. I was like, "oh no! You're all sick!" I made a coughing gesture at the girls in the front row, and they nodded their heads in mid-cough. I decided that we would NOT be holding hands during the sing-a-long. Hells to the no.

I sang these songs half a dozen times today:

VIDEO: If You're Happy and You Know It

VIDEO: Rain Rain Go Away

Bangkok Flooding May Delay Computer Repair

I have been in contact with the Dell International Queue and the Korea Support Center for Dell computers. I ran a diagnostic test on my laptop, and the Error Codes indicate that I need a new mother board and a new hard drive. Under my warranty, I qualify to have a service technician come to my apartment and fix my computer at no charge. Thank goodness. They should be sending someone to dear old Mokpo in 1-2 weeks.

I received a phone call and an e-mail today notifying me that hard drives may not be in stock because of the recent floods in Bangkok, Thailand. Just two weeks ago I was watching the news about the floods and the impact it had on electronics in America. Now how did I get swept into this? Ay caramba!

I am also in need of installation disks for Windows Vista and Microsoft Word. Holla at me if you have one -- or know someone who knows someone ...

Thanksgiving

Happy Belated Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans!

I spent the weekend in Seoul with some friends. A bunch of us ate Thanksgiving dinner together at Chef Milis in Itaewon. For $36 per person, the German (or Austrian) chef and his Korean wife catered traditional Thanksgiving dinners throughout the weekend. The meal began with a beet soup followed by a plate of turkey (yes I ate it), stuffing, mashed potatoes, veggies, and a bit of cranberry sauce. For dessert, we each received a square of pumpkin cake with a side of berry-flavored cream. The dinner was alright. I don't really care for Thanksgiving food because the centerpiece is a dead bird and nothing is spicy. I did spend the whole week teaching the kids about what Americans eat for Thanksgiving, so it was nice that the week culminated in a traditional Thanksgiving meal. I really just wanted pumpkin pie.

Beet (and tomato?) Soup

Turkey with stuffing, carrots, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce

Pumpkin cake with berry cream

For my readers in America, please consider these holiday delights! I know that I'll be thinking of them until next year.

Holiday Dessert Choice:
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies from Trader Joe's. This seasonal treat is a hybrid dessert between chocolate chip cookies and pumpkin bread. Perfect for your holiday sweet tooth!

Holiday Beverage Choice:
Peppermint Latte from your favorite coffee joint. Nothing seizes the holiday season like a hot coffee with a hint of mint!

Life is much more difficult without a laptop. (I'm currently blogging from my phone. Carpel tunnel is quickly setting in.) No more "Song of the Week." No more music in general. No more back-to-back episodes of Modern Family. No more opportunities to catch up on GLEE or Gossip Girl. Waiting for a page to load on my phone is like spending an eternity watching the little circle spin. I only have about an hour to use the computer at school before, in between, and after classes so I'm usually clicking everything like mad.
Today I was invited to play volleyball again. This time the teachers reserved the gym in another school to practice among themselves. What is with Koreans and volleyball? I spent the day thinking of ways to get out of playing, but couldn't think of a valid excuse. Everyone but me got the memo to bring an extra set of clothes, so my attire actually limited my range of motion. My boots were slippery on the hard wood floors, and my jeans were bound to fall off. I confined myself to one corner of the court like a gymnast preparing to tumble during her floor routine. During the break, a teacher offered to practice with me. My arms felt sore after half a dozen hits. I shook off my right hand, made a pained face, and left to eat tangerines with everyone else. I still don't understand how EVERYONE likes to play volleyball. The other elementary schools make their TaLK scholars play too. What's going on?

Old News: Korea Hates Me

Korea is a sadist and likes to watch me suffer. Overdramatic, but true! Prior to Korea, I have never had a digital camera just stop working. That happened in August, and the Sony Cybershot was brand new. I have never had text messaging issues with my phone. I resolved that issue yesterday at a Sky Service Center. After waiting for over an hour, the technician decided to reformat my phone, which cleared all of my conversations and applications. The phone is also brand new. My laptop has never been unresponsive. Then two nights ago, my computer indefinitely went to blue screen and says that there is a hardware malfunction related to the memory. Even though my computer is 4.5 years old and ready to be replaced, all of my struggles with technology have one thing in common: KOREA.

In other news, I was invited to play in a teachers volleyball game against Samho Elementary School. When I first walked into the gym, it smelled like feces, piss, and kimchi. In other words, it smelled like the bus ride to school every morning. The sideline offered a table full of drinks and snacks including, but not limited to: meat, kimchi, dried squid, and tangerines. The combination of sweaty teachers and "only in Korea" volleyball cuisine created a very unique aroma.

I missed the first game and arrived in time to practice with the teachers before the second game. My hits seemed promising, but after a few bumps, the tenderness in my wrists reminded me why I didn't like volleyball during high school PE. (Remember what I said about sadists?) Well the game began and anytime the ball would come near me, I would swear under my breath and move out of the way. Let's be honest. I'm not that coordinated. I would probably have a sprained ankle or a broken nose if I tried harder (or at all). I'm better at running and swimming aka I'm better at individual team sports.

Did we win the game? Yes. (My principal may look old and stiff, but he was keen on the court and dove for the ball a few times. Even the older ladies held their own.) Did I shuffle back and forth to make it appear as if I were playing, resurrecting old tactics from 9th grade PE? Oh definitely. Did I volley the ball? No. Is my right wrist swollen because they let me serve the ball? Yes. Did it ever go over the net? It successfully did not.