It seems like forever since I have written! I guess I have been so busy with getting ready for parents day. It is basically the day when the parents come in a watch you teach the kindergarden class. It seems too showy for me, but I guess that is what we have to do.

 

I have decided that if I end up staying another year in Korea, it will not be at Kids Club. Don't get me wrong, Kids Club is a wonderful place to work, but I do not want to work at a private institute I want to work either in the public schools or at a college or university. The chances of the latter happening are quite small as you almost always have to have at least a Master's degree.

 

As I have said before I am applying to a couple of MSW programs, so I am hoping that I will be furthering my education before going on whatever my next adventure happens to be. I am trying to write the admissions essays and having a terrible time with them. The one for U of M is supposed to be 3 pages, but what I wrote is more like 5, so I have to figure out what to cut out. It isn't as easy to do as I thought it would be. The other I have yet to put a full hearted attempt into, but that can be over 7 pages should the need arise.

 

The past couple of days have been really tough for me for some reason. I have been sleeping more, though not better I have not felt like doing anything I have not been eating well and I have had a couple of dizzy spells that reminded me of when I had my previous seizures. Luckily they didn't develope that far, but I know I need to start doing something to battle it now before it progresses.

 

But on a better note (A flat, I think), today was the day of MS Echo! I enjoy going to the meetings and participating in their using English it is fun to see such entheusiasm among the different age groups. It is also good that they enjoy having me there as well. I, like most people, like the feeling of being acepted for who I am and what I can contribute.

 

Today it was my responsibility to present the debate topic. I wanted to come up with a topic that would be interesting and relevant to the middle school students as well as the adults it was nearly impossible to do in my mind. It was especially difficult given I was looking for something Koreans would want to discuss I couldn't bring up American politics and expect them to fill time with meaningful debate (at least that I would be interested in hearing). I finally settled on "Intercultural Marriage."

 

This confused them at first, even though I tried to explain it at the begining. I wanted their views on the western infulence on Korean society: is it making it weaker or stronger? I wasn't too sure how this topic would go over, but it turned out to be a great success. Most felt that while they could learn a lot from other cultures comming into Korea, they need to be guarded about what they accept. So far they have not been screaning what they have been accepting and, therefore, many bad things have seeped in. One person went as far as to say that what we eat  can change how we think. He talked of 'hamburgerism'  and coined the term 'kimchism'. It was a lot of fun.

 

Afterwards we all went to the traditional tea house again. It is a wonderful, relaxing atmosphere. The different teas, the soft traditional Korean music, the talking with friends (or mostly listening to Korean conversation), the good kimbab and noodles all made for one of the best after meeting jaunts we have had.

 

This particular outing has special significance to me as well I was given my Korean name: Jay  Hyun-woo (it is actually pronounced Hyu-new, but whatever) (? ? ?). Jay is the family name and comes from Jason (I can now ask people to call me mister Jay). Hyun means wise and woo means friend. So they named me 'wise friend'. If that isn't a compliment, I don't know what is.

 

Other than all of that, nothing has really been happening. I hope all is going well with you all. And thanks for replying about the pen pal and home stay things.