Another New Semester, Same Old Confussion

Feb 28 - Mar 6, 2011


Another cold start to the week and still reeling from my head cold, Monday was the last day of our winter semester, and after getting my food ready before work, I headed in for what would be a day of movies and games. About half way through the day we were informed that Tuesday was a holiday, and that we wouldn't have to show up to work. This was good news, but since it was in the middle of the week and on such short notice, I didn't plan on doing too much. After work I went with all the teachers that were leaving, as well those that are taking their place to a restaurant near the school for a fair well dinner. Most of the leaving teachers did not want to be there, and only stayed long enough to have a quick bite and a beer, and say one last good bye, before taking off in a great hurry. I stayed a little bit longer talking with May, until she joined the table of administrators and the group of new teachers decided to go. I got up and left with them, and as we were leaving the restaurant I got a call from Jean about catching the end of the dinner. I told him it was over and that everyone was going home, so instead, I met him near our places for some chicken and beer. By 1am we had finished both, and were on our way home to call it a night.
Tuesday morning I got up about mid-morning, and with little to do for the day I got right to work on my blog. I had big plans to get it all caught up, and possibly to even get some photos up on Facebook. After a few hours of typing, I got a call from John asking if I wanted some company for a few beers. I was due for a break and told him to come by whenever. Before he showed up, I jumped through the shower just in case we decided to go out anywhere, and then got dressed as he was knocking at the door. We split a pitcher of beer while he told me about the date he had just come from, and I harassed him for shaving off his moustache for looks sake. Eventually we were out of beer, so I went over to the store and picked up another pitcher and some chips. The conversation piece over the next pitch was the dinner he missed from the night before, and some of the drama that it seemed to hold about quitting excuses, and peoples general attitudes. After a third pitcher, we realized it was 11pm and that we had just killed almost 8 hours, but had thoroughly enjoyed the company and conversation. Once John left, I cleaned up some of my dishes from Monday and what John and I had used, then went to bed while I watched the end of a Dane Cook comedy special.
Having gone to bed early the night before, I woke up again around mid-morning feeling not to bad, but still not well enough to go to the gym, so I made some food and then headed to work. Wednesday marked the start of our spring semester, and it was utter chaos at the school. The lack of organization and job proficiency in our office really showed, as schedules were not prepared, and teachers were running around trying to get the things they needed prepared for the classes that they were unsure they would be teaching. Approximately 10 minutes before the classes were due to start, John and I were given our class schedules and left to decipher the muddle that was given to us; all the while having Korean teachers trying to figure when we would be in their classes. Luckily my new schedule for Wednesdays is pretty light, so I had lots of time to get things figured out, and start making a readable schedule. At the end of the day, everyone was exhausted and pissy, so it was straight home for me to watch some T.V. and get some rest.
A week since I started going to the gym again, Thursday morning I got up feeling better than I had been and made it to the gym for a light workout. It was quiet as usual in the gym, and I had my pick of treadmills to run on, then was able to get in some brief weight lifting before calling it a day. After the gym I went home to get some food together, and then it was off to work to see what menagerie the day would bring. At work, again not until classes almost stared were John and I given our Tuesday/Thursday schedule. Quickly we figured out who we would be teaching with and tried to let them know when we would be in, but in the end it was still a hectic day, with Korean teachers thinking we were going to their class when we were actually in another. Since the kids leave at 9pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we had an extra hour at the end of the day to hash out our schedules and settle any changes that the Korean teachers wanted to make, like changing days or start times. After work I went straight home and did so reading before heading to bed.
Friday I got up feeling very motivated about going to the gym, and getting back on track with a workout routine. After the gym I went home to get ready for work, then went to meet John so we could transfer money to the ball hockey league he payed in for the past couple of years. I was surprised when he told me about the league, and was frustrated with myself as well as my group of friends for being so lazy and dragging each other down over the past couple years. I jumped on the chance to get back into team sports, and having met some of the players already, can tell it is going to be a great time. After our stop at the bank, we went to work to get the last day of the week underway. When we got there, there was some more schedule confusion over classes that had been looked over when the schedules had been made, and both mine and John's schedules grew by a class or two. The day went by as any other, and at the end of the day most of the teachers were quick to leave, excusing themselves from an invitation to get some chicken and beer. The only one who agreed to go was Jennifer, a new Korean teacher from New Zealand. We went to the TwoTwo Chicken place near school, and stayed long enough for a couple of pitchers and a plate of starved chicken. We said our good nights around 1am, and I went home, put on a movie, and passed out.
Saturday morning I got up and get ready to meet John so we could head to the Jamsil Sports Complex for the first of two rookie try outs. I was supposed to be there for 12, for the 12-2 rookies only game, but ended up waiting for John and didn't get there until closer to 1230. The games were set up so the captains, who are all veterans of the league could see what we had to offer and make teams. The weather was a warm 14C, and was perfect for some outdoor sports. I joined a team as quick as I could and started taking shifts at forward, and trying m best not to look like a fool. Even though I have been an athlete all my life, I found myself way more out of shape than I thought I would be. Before long I was pretty gassed, but never once stopped playing hard, mostly because I didn't need John giving me the gears about it later. When the rookie game was all over, the veterans played to get the rust off, and the rookies took a turn to drink some beers and watch the competition. Once hockey was over I stuck around with John and talked with some of the veterans that I have already met through him, and some that I hadn't. I think it was a good idea to stay, because it will help me assimilate into the group easier, and it is always good to make the effort when you are joining a group. Eventually we all headed out, and I came home to have a shower and see what plans were circling for the evening. It turned out that most people were staying in for the night, except for Brady and Frank who were going to be in Itaewon, and some hockey people that were also going to be there. I had a short nap and then headed up to meet John and a few people from hockey, and when they left around midnight I slid over to Bungalow to meet Frank and Brady. I had the misfortune/pleasure of taking Marley, one of the girls in the league who was completely wasted and on the war path, and her friend Angelica who was fairly sober with me. Marley quickly disappeared to drink with some other randoms, while Angelica and i joined the guys. We only stayed at Bungalow for a couple drinks, before heading over to Seoul Pub to finish the night. I only had one more drink, and then left to make it home before it was too late so I could get some rest for the next days try outs.
Sunday brought with it a great deal of stiffness, and sore feet having worn my crappy old runners. My right foot felt like the arch was going to explode with cramps, while my big toe on the left was swollen and blue under the nail having been rolled over on on Saturday. Once again I met with John to go to hockey. This time however, we were on time and I had tie to warm up before jumping right into it. I ended up on the same rookie team with some of the guys I played with the day before, and we had a great couple hours of play. When it was all over there were more beers to be drank, and while the veterans played, the captains went to one of the sponsoring bars to have the draft. After the veterans played, we all went to the bar to find out what team everyone was going to be on. Since the bar is a more expensive place to drink, a large group of us sat around drinking at the 711 until the draft was going to be announced, and then we went in to hear it out. It turned out that I will be on a team lead by Brett Roberts, and sponsored by X-Fitness in Itaewon, so we will be called the X-Men. Also, in a hilarious turn of events, Marley will be on my team. She's a good player, but a wicked drunk. Also slightly funny was the fact that I went higher in the draft than John did, granted he does have an injured wing at he moment. Apparently my speed and commitment was impressive. After we finished our beers, most of us called it a night so we could get home and rest up our bodies. Once I was back in Bongcheon, I stopped to get some groceries before getting home to cook some food for the week and make my call home.

The weather here is has been warm, and coupled with the new reason to be outdoors, it's looking like a good Spring is on its way.