Friday, March 16, 2012
Cellphone! Pt. 2 (tales from the past)
Another reason I can't wait to get a phone is for obvious reasons. I want to talk to my friends!!! ... And not just my same-age peers, but people like Nurse Linda from orientation, who was probably the first Korean friend I made in Korea. Not only would I like to speak to her again, but she most likely would give me great advice for settlying into my apartment, neighborhood, and city. I need that support.
The Youngest Talker & a Bus Ride (tales from the past)
My first graders have cellphones! Why do they have cellphones?!?!
Day 2 of taking the bus to school. Yesterday was a major fail getting to and from school, even though I managed to get back home by bus. Today's journey included only the smallest excusable fail because even though I missed the bus I was planning on taking, I DID arrive at school on time.
Today's journey included a very helpful ajumma (아줌마) who not only told me (in full Korean) what buses I should take, but also pushed the "stop the bus" button for me when my stop drew near. While on the bus, two high school (?) boys saw me and overheard my conversation with the older lady. I guess they were determined or brave because one prodded the other into talking to me. I'm not sure what the lady thought of this, but she decided to include herself in the conversation and explained to them that I was a teacher at so'n'so elementary school. Then, they confirmed this by asking me in English. One of the boys asked me if I knew any Korean (I said "no," because I keep forgetting the phrase for "I know a little Korean.") and then they kind of gave up (maybe at the limits of their English?) and talked quickly among themselves.
Day 2 of taking the bus to school. Yesterday was a major fail getting to and from school, even though I managed to get back home by bus. Today's journey included only the smallest excusable fail because even though I missed the bus I was planning on taking, I DID arrive at school on time.
Today's journey included a very helpful ajumma (아줌마) who not only told me (in full Korean) what buses I should take, but also pushed the "stop the bus" button for me when my stop drew near. While on the bus, two high school (?) boys saw me and overheard my conversation with the older lady. I guess they were determined or brave because one prodded the other into talking to me. I'm not sure what the lady thought of this, but she decided to include herself in the conversation and explained to them that I was a teacher at so'n'so elementary school. Then, they confirmed this by asking me in English. One of the boys asked me if I knew any Korean (I said "no," because I keep forgetting the phrase for "I know a little Korean.") and then they kind of gave up (maybe at the limits of their English?) and talked quickly among themselves.
They Like to Sing (tales from the past)
My first grade students like to break out in song. Today's tune was a tearful ballad compared to the catchy and cheerful song they sang yesterday. Some students tried an operatic voice while others whispered quietly. Usually after singing the impromptu tune three times in a row, they break off into their own gossipy conversations. I'm assuming all of what they're singing and saying because, actually, I haven't the faintest idea what they're chattering on about.
Shannon 선생님 (tales from the past)
Yesterday, I thought I heard my name being called a lot. Sure enough, the first graders had remembered my name from Friday (they might've even asked Teacher Nam where I was on Monday... a story for later)! They would tell each other my name and title... Shannon 선생님 (seonsaengnim ...teacher).... repeating it to themselves and trying out the syllables and pronunciation. Today, they confidently shout my name... well, those who are brave enough to speak to me. The rest just stare and smile, waving more than one time once they have caught my eye.
It Lives!!!!!
Aahh, happiness.
My ebook reader is alive and well. There was a hiccup (hiccough?) with it disconnecting from the computer properly, but there was also the simplicity of it running out of battery. In short, my posts will increase by 8 today. When I post them, I will post them on the day that they were written. I will also mark the titles like this:
(tales from the past)
Thanks for your patience! Here goes! Oh, and the days that this applies to are:
----
March 4 '12
March 6 '12
March 7 '12
March 12 '12
March 16 '12
----
-Shirby
......Ahh, hungry, so hungry...
**Update: Ah so my ereader did not save the original date. Instead, it changes the date to the most recent one everytime I open up the file. Oh wells!
My ebook reader is alive and well. There was a hiccup (hiccough?) with it disconnecting from the computer properly, but there was also the simplicity of it running out of battery. In short, my posts will increase by 8 today. When I post them, I will post them on the day that they were written. I will also mark the titles like this:
(tales from the past)
Thanks for your patience! Here goes! Oh, and the days that this applies to are:
----
March 4 '12
March 6 '12
March 7 '12
March 12 '12
March 16 '12
----
-Shirby
......Ahh, hungry, so hungry...
**Update: Ah so my ereader did not save the original date. Instead, it changes the date to the most recent one everytime I open up the file. Oh wells!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The First Graders...
They are a hyper-active, friendly bunch. They like to be loud and think everything should be done with lots of vivid movements.
They have cellphones.
Why, oh why, do some of them have cellphones? To talk to their parents if they don't come home right away? Sure. To take silly pictures of their friends during free time? Occasionally. To listen to music and play games after school? Definitely.
It's just funny seeing FIRST GRADERS with cellphones. I now fully understand that statistic (that I'm vaguely quoting) about >97% of Korea being "connected" via cellphone.
What else about them. Hmmm....
Oh! They like to break out in song. Yes, at least once every day. You see, I sit in the first grade class each day because (1) that is where my desk is, and (2) my mentor teacher teaches these kids all day. >>Side note: At my school, there is one class per grade.<<
They have cellphones.
Why, oh why, do some of them have cellphones? To talk to their parents if they don't come home right away? Sure. To take silly pictures of their friends during free time? Occasionally. To listen to music and play games after school? Definitely.
It's just funny seeing FIRST GRADERS with cellphones. I now fully understand that statistic (that I'm vaguely quoting) about >97% of Korea being "connected" via cellphone.
What else about them. Hmmm....
Oh! They like to break out in song. Yes, at least once every day. You see, I sit in the first grade class each day because (1) that is where my desk is, and (2) my mentor teacher teaches these kids all day. >>Side note: At my school, there is one class per grade.<<
More later. 'Til next time,
-Shirby
:(
Ah, it's good to be back here *stretches out fingers*. Well, how are you?
Yeah? Hmm, well, let me tell you how I am right now:
When I realized there would be little or no time to come here and post my daily adventures, I started jotting down thoughts on paper. I'm pretty good at keeping up with random pieces of paper (I like to write whenever an idea hits me), but then I noticed another piece of technology at my disposal.
My Next7P e-book reader.
Yeah.
I installed a notepad on it and began typing away while at school or waiting somewhere. It was easy to pull out and I didn't need to have a flat surface or a writing utensil in order to spew a paragraph or two onto the page. It totally worked out. Plus, I knew I would just transfer the text to my computer and c/p it all here so you that could read it!!! Thoughtful and smart, eh!?
Yeah.
Today, I plugged my e-book reader into the computer at school. It started freezing (a rare occurrence until now), and I tried to restart/shutdown/disconnect ... you name it... I wanted to put away the Next7p.
What I should not have done was press the "disconnect" button on the e-book reader before it truly disconnected from the computer. The screen flipped out and delayed... and then it went off. ... and then when I tried to turn it on, it wouldn't.
I told my students, "Today, I am sad. My... *holds up the device, spends 3 mins trying to explain what it is*.. it's broken." They briefly shared my sadness, and then we began with the lesson.
Well, it's sitting in my backpack. I want to plug it in and see if anything happens. I hope that SOMETHING will happen. Because that's better than it being completely fried. I hope it works.... I'll let you know.
And all those short blog posts I created, well, I hope they can be saved. Or that I can remember all that I typed.
'Til next time,
-Shirby
Yeah? Hmm, well, let me tell you how I am right now:
When I realized there would be little or no time to come here and post my daily adventures, I started jotting down thoughts on paper. I'm pretty good at keeping up with random pieces of paper (I like to write whenever an idea hits me), but then I noticed another piece of technology at my disposal.
My Next7P e-book reader.
Yeah.
I installed a notepad on it and began typing away while at school or waiting somewhere. It was easy to pull out and I didn't need to have a flat surface or a writing utensil in order to spew a paragraph or two onto the page. It totally worked out. Plus, I knew I would just transfer the text to my computer and c/p it all here so you that could read it!!! Thoughtful and smart, eh!?
Yeah.
Today, I plugged my e-book reader into the computer at school. It started freezing (a rare occurrence until now), and I tried to restart/shutdown/disconnect ... you name it... I wanted to put away the Next7p.
What I should not have done was press the "disconnect" button on the e-book reader before it truly disconnected from the computer. The screen flipped out and delayed... and then it went off. ... and then when I tried to turn it on, it wouldn't.
I told my students, "Today, I am sad. My... *holds up the device, spends 3 mins trying to explain what it is*.. it's broken." They briefly shared my sadness, and then we began with the lesson.
Well, it's sitting in my backpack. I want to plug it in and see if anything happens. I hope that SOMETHING will happen. Because that's better than it being completely fried. I hope it works.... I'll let you know.
And all those short blog posts I created, well, I hope they can be saved. Or that I can remember all that I typed.
'Til next time,
-Shirby
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