Got a chance to use my friend's computer, just for a moment. It feels a little strange, but also good, to be sitting in the same place exactly one year ago. Things seem familiar to me, like the way we walk into town, the way things look, even where things are. In a way, after going back to Australia, I had it set in my mind, that there was the possibility that I could never see SuJeong, Hyunpil... or even Korea again. But, dreams to come true, I guess ;)

Today, slept in, went shopping (and had my first Big Mac in over 2 months... was okay... yeah, just okay), watched Naniya, and then had dinner with SuJeong and Hyunpil. we had a little bit of Soju to drink, so we are feeling happy now ;) hehe...

On New Years Eve, or a few days before... That is when their TV networks have their award shows. They have like acts, presenters presenting stuff, and many ofther things. They are pretty good ;)

Anyway, dont want to stay here too long... Got friends to hang out with ^^

Thanks for the early birthday presents Mum, Dad and sisters ^^ and for the cherry ripes ^^

Because of the snow last week, things were slowed to a crawl in the town... Didn't work for wednesday, thursday and friday. Luckily, it is not taken out of my annual holidays, as it is for another teacher at his hagwon. He got into an argument about it his with boss, and then compared his situation to mine (with his boss). We're in a small town, so rumours and things like that travel pretty fast. His boss talked to my boss about it. I'm not in trouble, but I think I might have to be a little bit more careful about this kind of thing.

To be honest, I don't think it is fair that his 3 days get taken from his holidays. His boss decided to close work, because of the snow. It should not be taken out of his holidays. I talked to my boss about the same thing. I'm not loosing holidays. For some reason, all the Hagwon bosses in town get together, and they have meetings. They decided that certain things would happen at their places, but, in three different hagwons, three different things happened. One hagwon was open friday, another teachers was closed (but he's loosing 3 holiday days), and mine was closed too (but i'm not loosing holiday days). I can understand them trying to keep in touch with the other hagwon owners, and trying to keep things to some level on consistency... but they also have their business to run.

So, had a very long weekend.

Had dinner with the two other english teachers mentioned before on christmas night. Was good to sit down at a table, with other English speakers, and have a decent cooked western meal, and to share stories and stuff like that.

Going to go to Changwon for a few days, starting this weekend, to stay with some friends. Will be good to spend time with them, especially since it is new years. Last new years, I was with them as well ;)

Other than all that... i'll keep it to a summary:

New timetable for work will start next week, since next week, all the school will be on vacation, for almost two months.

Got my gas bill for the last two months, 122000won! (like $150). Thinking about getting a heating mat, to go under my sleeping mat, so that I dont use too much gas for heating.

Finally had a go of those "try to get a toy with the claw" contraptions. See the photo below. They're everywhere in Korea!

Thanks for the christmas presents Mum, Dad and sisters ^^

After two days of sunshine, it snowed last night and today. Its really windy, and snowing heaps! The snow whips into your eyes, and sticks to you straight away... and because you are warmer than the snow, it melts... but, because its really cold outside, the melted snow freezes again, and turns into ice on your clothes... and then more snow sticks to the ice... its INSANE (in a bad way)!

The korean news said that there was about 7-10cm in Jeollanam-do (the state I am in). Only Jeollanam-do and Jeollabuk-do are the areas. Here, it's at least 20cm of snow! Visibility was down to a few meters when the boss drove me home. I was on my way to work, when the boss called and said "no work today because of the snow"... he could have told me half an hour ago!! Another teacher I know here, got a taxi to work... and he was hoping his boss would call him, and say "no work today"... but, the teacher got to work, and the boss said "sorry, i didn't call you... no work today". I've had things happen to me like that from my boss as well, like telling you things the last minute, like class changes or cancellations. Its just korean style. Even invitiations are done that way. Drinking, dinner... done on the spot. Even important family things, if you get a chance to be invited (like 100-day birthday parties for friends children), if its involving a freind's family and they invite you, its rude if you say no.

Had my first religious doorknockers in Korea today, and one of them spoke English. That annoys me. Does God teach people not to take "no" as answer? And to make things worse, when you say "no, I don't beleive in Jesus Christ", they get all rude and want to know why...

Other than that, my day was okay. It was sunny today, so some snow has melted, but my boss said that it will snow on Wednesday... I hope it doesn't.. I would like the snow that is already here, to melt away, and have a few sunny days before it snows again...

Figured out why I couldn't sleep. The previous two nights, I didn't go to 검도 practice, so I had extra energy. I went to 검도 practice tonight, and I was absolutely buggered after 20 minutes! I'll have to go every day from now on, it feels pretty bad not going for a couple of days...

Its almost 6am here in Korea, and I'm at the computer... because I can't sleep! It's so annoying!

I don't really like to do this here (not often anyway), but tonight, I'm gonna have a big, massive winge about shit! Shit that is in Korea, and that is pissing me off in any way, shape of form.

First, lest start with my apartment. The toilet is fucked! Firstly, I get told not to put toilet paper down the toilet, bceause that blocks it up. WHY HAVE A TOILET THAT CAN'T FLUSH THE PAPER THAT YOU WIPE YOUR ASS WITH? So, I have to put the paper that I use, in a bag, then put that bag in the rubbish. But, that doens't help. The toilet still blocks up, with no paper... just shit! It's been like that for a while now, and I have to go up to the 14th floor, to use another foreign teachers toilet, or the toilet at work! No matter which country you're in... it's just not good, or sanitary.

Secondly: my boss treats me as the "foreign teacher that you need to run a sucessful hagwon in korea" teacher. In Korea, a children's education is the most important thing a parent can provide for their children. How am I meant to do that, when I get told at the last minute of changes in my timetable? How am I meant to teach them proper English pronunciation, when my boss teaches them konglish pronunciation? Students complain to my boss when I do something that's slightly incorrect, or its too easy or too hard... who is the fucking teacher here? English isn't about testing all the time, remembering passages in English, or working from a workbook. Unfortunately, that is what students are used to in their education system here (or at least, that is my impression). They want a number, to see who is better.

Along with teaching English, students learn about the culture and other things that are associated with the culture of the teacher. They have to realise, that English is spoken differently in other parts of the world. I have children, that can't think outside of American English (all aspects, including the accent). From what I understand, Koreans learn American English, because that is what if spoon-fed to them in popular entertainment. That is definatley the wrong attitiude to have. For example, with some students, as long as I sound like I am from the sitcom "Friends", they can understand me. That really shits me. I'm fine with talking slow, and over-pronouncing words so they can hear the sounds, but talking with a stereotypical american accent? FUCK THAT!

Now, let me talk about Korean society and culture. Normally, it is easier to put all the good things, into one easy idea, but then all the bad things, to go into great depth... and that is exactly what's going to happen now.

In general, Koreans are very helpful, kind, caring and fun people. They find English and Western people fascinating, and want them to have a good impression of Korea. I've had many situations already, where a complete stranger has helped me in some way (giving me directions, a stranger helping me with korean/english stuff, etc). I've met some really nice people here, and they have become friends.

But...

Here are a few things that I've learned...

Elderly Koreans (especially women) have the ability to just push into any line, in frony of anyone they like, even if they look a day younger than them. The idea behind this, is that they've been here for a long time, they deserve respect, and I'm cool with that. But when a short old korean woman, tries to push into the line you've been in for about 15 minutes, trying to get a bus ticket to Seoul (in which you will be on the bus for about 4 hours), while you are trying to speak korean... she can get FUCKED! It's hard enough saying Korean, trying to organise the whole Korean money thing (I'll talk about that later), making sure you're in the right line in the first place... and then this old person pushes in half way though attempting to buy the ticket!

Korean's cant take criticism well when it comes to their country. If a Korean asks you your opinion about things you think are bad, just ignore the question. It isn't rude to ignore questions in Korean culture, it just means that you dont want to talk about it. If half way though a conversation, and a Korean just walks off and does something else and comes back, doesn't mean you're boring as fuck... well, it could mean that, but even so, its rude. So, if you say that you don't like Seoul because it's too crouded, or that Koreans wallpapering the ceiling with the exact same wallpaper as the walls is insane, or that Koreans can't drive properly, because, like bus ticket lines, they're all trying to get infront of each other... just keep that to yourself.

Or, you could tell them that they should get a better money system. The Korean cash system would be the equivaltent of the $10 note being the biggest unit of currency in Australia. Trying to take out $300 from your account would need Ancheint Roman slaves to carry wherever you go. The biggest note in Korea is 10000won. Roughtly, 10000 is about $12 Australian. There are many things in Australia that cost more that $12, or collectively (like shopping). Same with Korea. No matter what you do, you gotta take all these notes with you. The opposite is also the case. The smallest unit is 10won (roughly 1.2cents in Australia). You can't do anything with 10 won!

Other than all that... things are okay here ^^

The first snow in SaChang. I woke up at 11am, to a message my boss left me at about 8:40am, saying "enjoy the snow"... So, I looked outside... It was about 10cm thick on the ground! After getting ready to come to the PCbang, there was even more... Feels kinda weird to live somewhere where it snows... but, its cool ;)

You can smell it in the air... the smell of fresh Kimchi being made! haha. I went to a friends house today, and they were making Kimchi - like an annual Kimchi party. Heaps of women sitting round, coating a type of cabbage with hot spicy stuff, mixed with onions and other stuff i dont know... tastes okay though ;)

Still a bit sore from Komdo, but, its okay. It's been a week, and its a real workout... hehe. As koreans say "its good for your health".

I got electructed while changing a light thursday night. From a light socket that was turned off! That's three things I've found dodgy with my apartment: Hot water service (that's fixed), the toilet that can't handle any amount of toilet paper whatsoever, and now a faulty light socket. So, wasn't really in a good mood thursday night.

to be honest, haven't really been having a good week, but ended okay. Kinda annoys me that the middle school children complained to the boss that I was making things too easy, and when I give them work to do, they complain anyway. I guess, they like to work, but not too hard... lol