As I Sit in an Intricately Decorated Korean Coffee Shop

 Life saver = any lesson about The Simpsons

 Love my classroom...too bad the TV doesn't work

 I can literally hear sounds from a Buddhist Temple outside my window

 These kids are so talented

 An awesome field trip to an amusement park in Gyeongju

 Some of my co-teachers: En Young, Ssu and Heejin

 Cool Dudes

 Love this class

This is what I remember of my first day:

“As I enter the main door of Ok Dong Middle School, my heart races.  Uniformed students run through the sweaty halls.  I observe a 14-year-old boy rushing to get to class.  I note stressed out hard working individuals (students) who strive for something more.  Initially, the “English Zone” (my classroom) appears to equate crazy playtime for students.  (These kiddos have no idea whats coming)

Throughout the first few periods, I teeter between various teaching methods and strategies (the good old bag of tricks) that I have learned throughout the past 6 years.  Slowly, but surely I grasp tightly to my teaching knowledge and can breathe. 

While girl classes are noticeable easier, given a general calm immediate environment, the boy classes provide me with a challenge I willingly take as a productive way to refine my teaching skills. 

While I do miss the comfort of being known as “Mrs. Hicken”, Christine Teacher is a nice change.”

Sitting in a Korean coffee shop (everything is literally cute).  In reflection of my second week of teaching an average of 45 middle school kids at a time, I realize that my strict discipline methods have truly paid off. While “kiss your brain” may not be a valuable here as it is back home, the fact that middle school kids will enthusiastically respond to “power teaching” methods reassures me that I may possibly be able to actually teach these amazing teenagers something this year.

The students as a whole are probably the most hard-working group of individuals (at times a bit wild) I have ever observed.  The following is a typical schedule for a middle school student in Korea:

8:00 a.m.-3:20 p.m. Public School Hours

4:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Private School Tutoring Classes

10:00 p.m. – Midnight Homework

In some sense, the saying “out of my comfort zone” gives me a sense of comfort in allowing me to describe my first few weeks of work here. 

Looking forward to getting back into the comfort zone as soon as I can though…I have a feeling it will happen sooner than later though.

On a side note:

I am truly grateful for my past students and coworkers that have given me the tools to create a productive and positive learning environment in a foreign country.