four shocks in one day.

Yesterday was Pepero day, a marketing scam whereby you give pepero sticks to your friends and family. You see, yesterday was the 11/11, and the 1's look like the pepero sticks. To me, thats desperate. At least I got loads of chocolate sticks from the kids, and a massive one from one of the one2one students. A felt really bad as the kids where expecting to give out peperos, but of course, I did not have any!!!!

shock no 1:
This week was my first week back to Gumdo. Suprisingly the two week gap has been beneficial; I have improved dramatically. Yesterday, my teacher told me that he has booked me for the yellow belt test. I was not (and am still not) happy. This week I have been rushed through the last few moves, the most difficult ones, and I am still struggling to associate the moves with the Korean name for it. I refused to go, but the teacher insisted.

Shock 2:
When I arrived at work yesterday straight after Kumdo, the Boss called me into his office. He informed me that he thinks that I am a good teacher. My god, I nearly fell off my chair. However, there was a catch of course. Knowing my patriotic attitude towards the English language and my accent etc, he explained that while it is ok for me to use my English accent on the Elementary school students, the middle school students are not used to it, so please can I speak in an American accent instead? While he thinks that the Americans and Canadians are just Yankees, and the British accent is the original accent, the sound of the American accent is friendlier. (do I detect some little white lies and a large dollop of sickly charm?)

Who does he think he is? I told him that I would do my best, but no promises. I couldn't help myself; 'I am a teacher, not an actress' I pointed out (though I sometimes wonder if there is much difference).

shock 3:
Towards the end of the day he calls me into his office again. He informs me that it is Korean custom that the kids are not allowed to snack during the lessons, nor is the teacher. Unfortunately, I did not have time to point out that he has given me no breaks during my working day, that there are only 5 min between each class, giving me enough time to walk from one class room to the next, but there is no time for me to eat. When am I supposed to eat??? WTF???
Plus, the kids have been at Hagwon all day with back to back classes. So he is telling me that that by 8pm, they are still not allowed to eat??? HOW RIDICULOUS.

Shock 4:
The guard that I mentioned in previous blogs (the one I wondered if he was gay)took me out last night to a Korean eating house, followed by the singing room. When we got back to my apartment, he asked if I find him attractive and will I be his girlfriend??? In Korea, this means that all being well, he will want to marry me. I told him that while he is very handsome, I will be leaving Korea in 10 months time, and the chances are I will not come back. "its difficult"he said, "but I am hooked on you." Already??? He has met be 3 times, the previous two times for half an hour at a time. I know Korean men move fast; this is only good if you feel the same way of course. I told him that it is his decision, but he insisted it was mine. "No", I said. "I will leave you. You should think about it and decide". Plus there are other factors which I am not going to mention here.

However, all of this is nothing compared with finding out this week that Bush has been "voted" back in. PLEASE SEE LINK (TITLE OF TODAYS BLOG)FOR APOLOGIES FROM THE AMERICANS