Spring - the time that causes flowy skirts and bright colors to return to our wardrobes. Ah, the satisfaction one feels in walking down stairs with a skirt that floats around you like a cloud of happiness.
Sometimes, however, we encounter . . . er, technical difficulties? Using the restroom usually is the source of most problems when wearing a skirt as described above. It never seems to end well.
In between my two Trampoline 1A classes, I used the restroom. Before I left, I made sure the inside lining of my skirt was down and in place so that no child would be shocked beyond reason at the slightly see-through part of my skirt.
Walk to classroom. Open door. Happily say, "Hello! How are you doing today?!" Set down books. Ask question from book. Slightly turn back to students. Turn back around. See Jenny frantically pointing and trying to speak.
"Teach-uh! Teach-uh! Uh . . . skirt, skirt, skirt!"
"Huh, Jenny?"
"Mmmm, uh, skirt! Down! Up!"
"What are you talking about?", as I look down at the front of my skirt, which seems perfectly fine.
"Mmmm, ah, ooo, skirt! Down!", now even more desperately pointing at my skirt.
I think she's talking about the front of my skirt. Oh, maybe the lining got stuck so it looks see-through now. Oops.
I turn around to walk out the door so they won't see the front of my skirt. On the other side of the now closed door, I look down and see nothing wrong with my skirt. I feel with my hands from the front all the way around to the . . . oh no . . .
The bottom of my skirt got stuck in the top of my nylons. I chuckle to myself at the fact that I just mooned my poor 11 year old students and then quickly fix my skirt. I return to the classroom no worse for wear.
"Ok class, please turn to page 21 in your Activity Books."
"Are you okay teach-uh?" asks a sweetly concerned Jenny.
"I'm fine. Are YOU okay?"
She covers her face and quietly gives an embarrassed laugh.
I hope she never needs a therapist.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
A Hairy Haven
Dogs.
They are said to be man's best friend. While I find this slightly sexist, since they can be woman's best friend as well (sorry, but I am not content with a snooty cat as my companion), it definitely is a statement of truth. They are understanding. They are accepting. They are loving. They are loyal. They are good listeners. What more could you want in a companion?
Today, I gained some new companions, if for only a brief period of time. My high school friend Gina, her fiance Cody, and I all met in Gangnam and went to Cafe Pawz, a dog cafe. Contrary to what my father immediately thought, it is not a cafe where they serve you dog meat. That will not pass my lips, especially after some of my Korean friends told me it tastes and smells terrible. It is instead of haven of wagging tails, lolling tongues, and hair everywhere. Dogs run around the cafe, jump up to snuggle with you, greet newcomers with a round of barking and yipping, and surround you to longingly gaze at the blueberry muffin on your plate.
At first, the dogs just kind of ran from us to other customers, not really feeling the need to stick around longer than a few pats on the head. Slowly though, we foreigners became the chosen. A dog Gina nicknamed King Charles since, well, that's the kind of spaniel he was, kept trying to steal the straw wrappers off the tray on our table. He eventually succeeded. A tiny black chihuahua with a ridiculous dress on took a liking to Gina. She sat and sat and sat in Gina's lap, seemingly content to remain there for the rest of her life.
Two medium-sized mutts took a liking to me. One at a time, and eventually both at the same time, would curl themselves up alongside my leg and become dead to the world for a while. If they got distracted and left, they always came back to the place they knew was theirs. A Shetland Sheepdog also took a liking to my feet and was soon conked out in between them.
Poor Cody - no one wanted to be his friend. Finally though, we told Cody to move from his chair to the bench. A little Korean girl brought over the puppy she'd been holding the whole time we were there and gave it to Cody to hold. I think that dog was extremely grateful to be out of the grasp of that dear child. Then one of my mutts decided to snuggle up to Cody's side. By the time we were about to leave, we'd been hogging half of the dogs in the cafe. What can I say, they love foreigners. lol
There were so many different dogs. So many personalities thrown together. So much love to give. It was a retreat from the craziness that comprises our weeks as English teachers in Korea. Their playfulness brought smiles to our faces. Their affection and non-demanding manner, for a while, wiped away the stress that can build up over time. Their quiet love brought calm and peace of mind. This was such an awesome experience. Now that I know about it, I might just have to do it again.
Dog therapy - it works.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Journal Entry from a Schebo in Korea
I apologize.
I realize that I have not posted much (or actually anything) in the past month. Please forgive me family and friends who actually read this blog. I know being busy is not an excuse, but it's the most common one used in Korea for not being able to do or not having done something. So I'm using it mostly because it's true and slightly because I feel like Korea has started to become a 'home' in a way.
This post promises to be merely a journal entry, an update if you will, of things that have happened in my life since the last time I wrote. There may or may not be a witty, bright, or enlightened conclusion at the end. Most likely not because it's Sunday night and I have to get up to start another full week of work in the morning. So don't hold your breath - I wouldn't want to be the cause of brain damage or a broken bone from passing out.
A little over 6 months have passed since I left the U.S. and landed on foreign soil. Excitement and terror then loneliness then acclamation and adaptation then normality then both a yearning for and a fear of home have worked their way through my mentality and emotions. The past month of February was full of changes, uncertainty, and anticipating, by Monday afternoon, the sleep I would get on the weekend.
First of all, I found out that my coordinator, Henri, the person on whom I have relied upon for much and who asks for nothing in return, suddenly told us that he had taken a new job at the Main institute training all the newbie teachers. This also meant that his wife, Belinda, who was a teacher here as well, would be leaving with him at the end of the term. We were pretty shocked since it was extremely sudden and unexpected. Then, we found out that our assistant Korean pastor, Pastor Daniel, was being placed at an institute way down south in Korea. Daniel helped me get through some really rough times and was one of the first people who actually made me feel comfortable and like I belonged here in Daebang. He was always joking with me and teasing me and I would tease him back - not many bosses in Korea will take that from their 'lower' employees. So that was a double whammy. Then . . . yes there is another 'then' . . . we found out that our head pastor, Pastor Kim was also leaving. We would now be getting a new director and have to learn how to run the school with him. Three strikes - you're out! That's what it made me feel like doing anyway, finding my way out of this place. Change and I aren't the greatest of acquaintances, and when Change brings along Caught Off Guard and the Unknown, I just really feel like running to my room and hiding under the covers.
I received a new roommate - she was to teach in the place of Henri for the last 3 weeks of February. It was a difficult time. She was an older woman from South Africa, I'm a younger woman from Wisconsin - we didn't really see eye to eye on temperature settings, housework, or conversation topics. Most days consisted of her sleeping all morning into the afternoon and me going out with friends or holing up in my room with my computer and lesson books. It was hard going from months of an apartment to myself to having to share it with someone with whom I was only cordially acquainted and felt no connection. She left to another institute on the Thursday of our 2 day term break, right before the new (and present) term started on Monday, March 4.
Then came the Friday when I found out that one of my dearest friends at this institute, a confidant and ally, the person with whom I'd always share the inevitable Saturday night question, "So . . . what do you want to do tonight?", was being moved to Daejon institute, which is about 2 hours south of Daebang. This happened 3 days before the new term started. We were both pretty bummed out and I will admit to this online audience that yes, I actually did cry. We both had feelings of resentment at the fact that the main office can uproot a teacher whenever they very well please and place them wherever they feel like they need another teacher. The end of every term is stressful because everyone has one question on their mind - "Am I going to get moved?" Anyway, it was rough at first, but I convinced myself that God was moving him there for some specific reason, to continue unfolding the plan of my friend's life in the way He knew it should. It was more difficult to convince my friend of this fact, but I think after a week, he's starting to adjust well. Although, he's really missing us up here and we're all really missing him.
My new roommate is pretty great. She's non-SDA but a good Christian woman. She's only a couple of years older than me, we're able to talk, we have some similar interests - I can't tell you how much I've been missing having someone here that is around my age. FINALLY! lol The new class schedule and classes have been challenging to say the least, but God really does answer prayers I'm finding out. It's crazy how He's successively answered so many of them - not at the exact time I want, but just at the time I need. Slightly humbling for me.
The new teachers, foreign coordinator, and Korean pastor/director we've gotten here will be good for us, I think. One of the teachers plays guitar AND trumpet! I can't believe how much I've missed singing songs along with a guitar but it made me feel right at camp (that's like saying 'right at home' since camp basically is my summer home. lol). The new director and coordinator bring such a fire and passion for God and for the sharing of Him with our students. It's really helped to start to put me back on track spiritually, which in turn puts me in a much better position to present as much of Christ as I can to my students during our 50 minutes together every day. Our new pastor/director, Pastor Park, can speak English amazingly well! He did last Sabbath's sermon in English while one of the Korean teachers translated it into Korean. I understood the whole thing and it's the first sermon in a long time at Daebang church from which I've come away and actually felt rejuvenated.
I wish that all of you could be here so I could show you my day to day life. It really is something like I've never experienced nor will experience again. Like my one of my fellow teachers said this weekend during Sabbath school, "When you live in Korea, you're life motto truly becomes 'Expect the Unexpected'". Anyway, I know at the top is says that I am writing this on Sunday night. Well, that's when I started it. However, it is now 10:20 Monday night and my pillow is quietly summoning me to take my respite from high heels, language frustrations and hilarities, and vomiting children for the night. Having to write this at random times over the course of 24 hours should tell you that I'm at least a little bit busy over here. lol I stay out of trouble for sure. I have so many stories that I could write on here but it would make this post WAAAAAY too long. So this will have to suffice for now. A brief overview of the major happenings in the past month or so in the life of Ashley Schebo - I actually think I like that better for a title than what I put as the actual title for this post. Good night all. Enjoy your Monday, because I've already made it through mine. ^_^
I realize that I have not posted much (or actually anything) in the past month. Please forgive me family and friends who actually read this blog. I know being busy is not an excuse, but it's the most common one used in Korea for not being able to do or not having done something. So I'm using it mostly because it's true and slightly because I feel like Korea has started to become a 'home' in a way.
This post promises to be merely a journal entry, an update if you will, of things that have happened in my life since the last time I wrote. There may or may not be a witty, bright, or enlightened conclusion at the end. Most likely not because it's Sunday night and I have to get up to start another full week of work in the morning. So don't hold your breath - I wouldn't want to be the cause of brain damage or a broken bone from passing out.
A little over 6 months have passed since I left the U.S. and landed on foreign soil. Excitement and terror then loneliness then acclamation and adaptation then normality then both a yearning for and a fear of home have worked their way through my mentality and emotions. The past month of February was full of changes, uncertainty, and anticipating, by Monday afternoon, the sleep I would get on the weekend.
First of all, I found out that my coordinator, Henri, the person on whom I have relied upon for much and who asks for nothing in return, suddenly told us that he had taken a new job at the Main institute training all the newbie teachers. This also meant that his wife, Belinda, who was a teacher here as well, would be leaving with him at the end of the term. We were pretty shocked since it was extremely sudden and unexpected. Then, we found out that our assistant Korean pastor, Pastor Daniel, was being placed at an institute way down south in Korea. Daniel helped me get through some really rough times and was one of the first people who actually made me feel comfortable and like I belonged here in Daebang. He was always joking with me and teasing me and I would tease him back - not many bosses in Korea will take that from their 'lower' employees. So that was a double whammy. Then . . . yes there is another 'then' . . . we found out that our head pastor, Pastor Kim was also leaving. We would now be getting a new director and have to learn how to run the school with him. Three strikes - you're out! That's what it made me feel like doing anyway, finding my way out of this place. Change and I aren't the greatest of acquaintances, and when Change brings along Caught Off Guard and the Unknown, I just really feel like running to my room and hiding under the covers.
I received a new roommate - she was to teach in the place of Henri for the last 3 weeks of February. It was a difficult time. She was an older woman from South Africa, I'm a younger woman from Wisconsin - we didn't really see eye to eye on temperature settings, housework, or conversation topics. Most days consisted of her sleeping all morning into the afternoon and me going out with friends or holing up in my room with my computer and lesson books. It was hard going from months of an apartment to myself to having to share it with someone with whom I was only cordially acquainted and felt no connection. She left to another institute on the Thursday of our 2 day term break, right before the new (and present) term started on Monday, March 4.
Then came the Friday when I found out that one of my dearest friends at this institute, a confidant and ally, the person with whom I'd always share the inevitable Saturday night question, "So . . . what do you want to do tonight?", was being moved to Daejon institute, which is about 2 hours south of Daebang. This happened 3 days before the new term started. We were both pretty bummed out and I will admit to this online audience that yes, I actually did cry. We both had feelings of resentment at the fact that the main office can uproot a teacher whenever they very well please and place them wherever they feel like they need another teacher. The end of every term is stressful because everyone has one question on their mind - "Am I going to get moved?" Anyway, it was rough at first, but I convinced myself that God was moving him there for some specific reason, to continue unfolding the plan of my friend's life in the way He knew it should. It was more difficult to convince my friend of this fact, but I think after a week, he's starting to adjust well. Although, he's really missing us up here and we're all really missing him.
My new roommate is pretty great. She's non-SDA but a good Christian woman. She's only a couple of years older than me, we're able to talk, we have some similar interests - I can't tell you how much I've been missing having someone here that is around my age. FINALLY! lol The new class schedule and classes have been challenging to say the least, but God really does answer prayers I'm finding out. It's crazy how He's successively answered so many of them - not at the exact time I want, but just at the time I need. Slightly humbling for me.
The new teachers, foreign coordinator, and Korean pastor/director we've gotten here will be good for us, I think. One of the teachers plays guitar AND trumpet! I can't believe how much I've missed singing songs along with a guitar but it made me feel right at camp (that's like saying 'right at home' since camp basically is my summer home. lol). The new director and coordinator bring such a fire and passion for God and for the sharing of Him with our students. It's really helped to start to put me back on track spiritually, which in turn puts me in a much better position to present as much of Christ as I can to my students during our 50 minutes together every day. Our new pastor/director, Pastor Park, can speak English amazingly well! He did last Sabbath's sermon in English while one of the Korean teachers translated it into Korean. I understood the whole thing and it's the first sermon in a long time at Daebang church from which I've come away and actually felt rejuvenated.
I wish that all of you could be here so I could show you my day to day life. It really is something like I've never experienced nor will experience again. Like my one of my fellow teachers said this weekend during Sabbath school, "When you live in Korea, you're life motto truly becomes 'Expect the Unexpected'". Anyway, I know at the top is says that I am writing this on Sunday night. Well, that's when I started it. However, it is now 10:20 Monday night and my pillow is quietly summoning me to take my respite from high heels, language frustrations and hilarities, and vomiting children for the night. Having to write this at random times over the course of 24 hours should tell you that I'm at least a little bit busy over here. lol I stay out of trouble for sure. I have so many stories that I could write on here but it would make this post WAAAAAY too long. So this will have to suffice for now. A brief overview of the major happenings in the past month or so in the life of Ashley Schebo - I actually think I like that better for a title than what I put as the actual title for this post. Good night all. Enjoy your Monday, because I've already made it through mine. ^_^
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)