“what was I thinking” coupled with “I’ve seriously misjudged this situation”

So it’s that time again, at least for me, to have that feeling that I need to update you on my life and here I go.

  TR and I have moved into the new to us apartment and I am settling in nicely – yes, just I, since he is only here 3 nights a week I can’t say that he has.  Anyhoo, since we only moved about 3 blocks away – mind you across a 10 lane intersection with an overpass (that was really fun to take full suitcases and run like mad across the street hoping to hell that scooter wasn’t going to gun it across you, or that the bus driver wouldn’t sneak out before the light changed… well you get the point.

  Then there was all the fun of purchasing new things for the place – bed, fridge, gas range, washing machine, closets (they don’t build them into the houses here), desk, bookcases, dresser, makeup vanity, dishes.  Phew.    Others I would wonder into a store and attempt to figure out what different functions were on appliances, or how sturdy furniture was.

  I think I had the most fun with the bed.  We went to a department store here – they are super expensive and I never shop in them (example I looked at a summer shirt and it was $300!  A wool tie was $150).  Wanting to be an informed consumer (ie to try to figure out how to not pay too much) I did some research on the web – ok, really I looked at “Consumer Reports” and only 2 issues – and they all said that you need to lay down on a bed for at least 15 minutes to decide if you like it or not.  Well, done and done, I think to myself.  Right, this is Korea.  When I was eagerly hopping onto beds, horrified shoppers were staring at me and pointing and talking to one another.  I think hubby really loved it when I made him not only get on it with me but to lay on both sides and his back *HA*

  So then my lovely husband has to translate everything the nervous store clerk is saying – well, truth be told I made him.  After what seemed like ages, it finally gets understood that we can put a deposit of 30 bucks on the bed, but if we wait for 7 days and then pay for the full amount we will get a discount…. so can’t I just pay for it now and still get the discount? No.  Okay, can I pay cash for the  deposit?  Only if you are paying cash when you buy the bed.  WTF???  so, I want to use my Canadian credit card, so really?  Yes, no problem.  Right.

  So FFWD to maybe 10 days later.  We are moving things into the house and the bed guys come to deliever, and what’s this, the bed frame won’t fit through the hallway. WHAT!!!????   Then, I had bought a decrative piece that when it was dropped off had a huge scratch on the top  WHAT!!!????  There was still the washing machine, range, gas guy, air conditioner installer guy, internet guy and the closet movers/setter uppers to deal with.  Well make it fit.  Right, me being the ever so helpful spouse that has to work on weekends, had to leave him there to solve it.  tee hee love that guy!!

  Alright, so that sort of brings us to now.  Now I have been unemployed for hhhhmmmm for almost 3 weeks.  TR says that “you are so relaxed being unemployed” yup, was a tad concerned at the beginning but that soon faded.

  I have been applying to jobs for the fall at universities.  I got 2 interviews with two very prestigious schools – for almost like a college associated with these schools – to teach at their language schools (noncredit courses for students and the public alike).  I did one interview and a teaching demo which was a breeze and got the job after about 15 minutes.  BUT the problem was the hours.  Typical of Korea where they want not you but your soul here is what the schedule looked like:

7-8am

10-11am

1-2pm

7-9pm

 

ummm, nope, not happening.  So I turned that down and the other interview – same type of timetable.

  In the meantime I have applied for about 12 more schools.  Some have sent rejection emails, others have ignored me altogether, but 2 so far have asked for interviews.  I had one yesterday which I wasn’t taking too seriously because I wasn’t super interested in the job but wanted to go for practice.  It is a city district that has a contract with an American University, and good god that was the hardest interview I’ve ever had.  I left feeling a tad deflated and unqualified.  I really had no idea it would be that intense, cripes, I just want to teach English.

  I have another one tomorrow and looking at their website I am now suddenly not looking forward to it.  This one too is a non-profit government organized school where they give current elementary and secondary school teachers intensive English courses to work towards their masters degree – all free for the students if they are accepted overseas!  AGAIN, holy crap, I’m but a Canadian girl that just wants to teach English.  I suppose my shock it just that, how could a university interview be so so simple compared to these institutions?  What I’m struggling with is that I know that these intense interviews are the type of institution where the students are actually gaining some skills and have merit – but then why is this such a shock, because these are not the standard, they are the minority of institutions in this country.  Koreans spend more money on learning English than Japan, Taiwan or China (but I am sure that China is quickly going to out spend them) and yet have the lowest levels of communication.  It’s frustrating to know that the majority of schools don’t give a crap about education, are interested only in money and the facade of professionalism.

  UGH.  Okay, one more rant.  My new pet peeve is when someone thinks that their English skills are really good and yet they have no idea about the cultural aspects related to the language.  For any of you that have lived overseas for a while I am sure that you can relate to this.  A common thing to do in Asia is to comment on someone’s physical appearance.  Being told that your face has gotten “rounder”, you would be prettier if you grew your hair to look like a girl, oh your face is so different with your makeup (ummm, wear it everyday thanks), your face is so happy when it has smile and so ugly when no, general guttural sounds of shock due to weight, hand holding or skin tone (hell anything really), or the most commented upon by fellow “foreigners” “What’s the matter with your _________?”  Nothing is quite a shocking or rude as when you greet someone in a public place that you barely know and to publicly and loudly (because you know we encourage them to speak loudly as English teachers “don’t be shy, speak up, make sure others can hear you!”) ask you “What’s the matter with your face?”  hmmm, well, nothing jack a**, but now I hate you…. that was last night at group I’m interested in joining – which I am planning on doing, just also plan on avoiding that dude for, well forever.

  Well, I am sure that many stopped reading thousands of words before, but for those of you who stuck it through to the end THANKS ^u^ (Korean happy face).

 

UPDATE — BTW the bed never did fit.  We had to go back to the store, try out more beds and ended up having to get a more expensive one that has about a 1 inch smaller frame.