Being Quasi-Positive!

Hello, all. =) Okay, so I should address a few things before continuing with this post. Yes, we all know that I can light an entire birthday cake STORE when I have consumed eggplant. I can, indeed, be toxic and unfortunately, some of you have been on the receiving end when I happened to have a California Panini from Corner Bakery during breaks at work. My bad, you know I loooooove you. Hehehe. However, I would UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES FART OR BURP in the presence of a CO-WORKER, EMPLOYER OR SOMEONE I HAVE JUST MET. Especially during a meal. So that completely removes me from Mr. K’s category. I mean, this isn’t an argument about whose shit don’t stank, but rather one of who lets it out at more inappropriate moments. At least I could do it, knowing I have the enduring love and support of everyone who had to smell me. LMAO. Mr. K had no such assurance with me, so there. =P
Whew. Okay, now that THAT matter has been addressed (reni and bijul), I should also tell you guys the explanation I got from a fellow teacher about the “Mexican” incident. Hehehe. So, Alison (another Korean English teacher at my school, who speaks near flawless English) felt the need to explain Mrs. Lee’s nationality gaffe today. I didn’t know anyone was still talking about it, but apparently Mrs. Lee felt really bad about calling me Mexican. Like, during some random time during my first week I was on the phone with my mom and I said “Te amo” or something and Mrs. Lee assumed I was South American or something. Which still doesn’t completely explain the “Mexican” thing, since South America and Mexico are two entire different places, but it does somewhat explain it. She, however, then told the entire staff I was South American, or Mexican, or whatever which is kind of gossip-y, no? So now she probably has to explain to everyone that, No, I’m not Mexican, South American or anything with Spanish involved. Just a garden-variety black American. Hhehehehe. I almost feel bad for her.
So, that effectively clears up some of the more annoying things that have happened in the last week. I mean, Mr. K is still my boss so that will be an annoyance I have deal with for another 11 months but I am now on a plane of maturity where I wont let him bother me. Unless he burps over my food or in my face again. Or farts while I’m on the phone. Right.
On the downside, H’s mom was in a pretty crucial car accident last night. She was in critical condition, but they’ve stabilized her so she’s in the clear. When H called me, it was in the middle of the school day and I was so shocked to see his number. I’ve only spoken to him once since I’ve been here and it so awkward. But he calls, and I answer and he sounds like so freaked out that it terrifies me. I couldn’t understand him at first, he so incoherent and when I finally hear the story, I was shocked. I mean, I love Mrs. S…she has been literally like a favorite aunt to me. Even when H and I were going through our bumps, she and I still spoke over the phone and went to lunch a couple times. And then I realize that I completely useless, in Korea…so far from H and Mrs. S and I can do absolutely nothing but wait. I couldn’t comfort him or hold him or anything. AND on top of that, I totally had to co-teach 4 more classes and act like nothing was wrong… so on all my breaks, I would call H and see what was happening and he called me after school had just ended and told me the news that she was fine and I felt like a took my first breath of the day.
Oh, yeah so I am slowly making English speaking buddies. I mentioned my friend L, who I met at the immigration office. He’s like this small, nerdy, style-challenged white kid from the Midwest, but he’s sweet and smart so it doesn’t matter that he has no fashion sense. Hheehehe. Ok, I’m being mean. Me and L went out to celebrate Thanksgiving the day after Thanksgiving at Outback Steakhouse, which was super cool. While I was there, I saw like 15 foreigners so it made me feel a little better, but I’m the only black person I’ve seen so far. LOL. But, its weird because a lot of the Western people are kinda of clique-y. You almost feel like you have to pledge to hang out with some of them. And since I don’t need friends THAT badly, I don’t bother with the ones who want to make me work to be their hang-out buddy. Ya’ll know I’m lazy. =) I am, however, going out with this girl A this weekend to do some shopping since it gets pretty cold here and I didn’t bring my serious- Michigan cold gear. I bought my Atlanta-cold stuff which WOULD be okay if the school had better heating. The hallways feel like someone turned on the fucking AC when its already 30 degrees outside. I think its actually colder inside the school then it is outside. And these Koreans are FIERCE dressers. I feel like I have to step my game up just to walk to market. I mean, heels and peacoats everyday. Even the guys dress well…At least I know I’ll leave here with some nice ass clothes, right?
Note: Nae, you were right about some of the toilets here. For those who don’t know, Korea used to have these gnarly ass bathrooms, where theres only like a hole in the ground you pee in and then flush or some shit. MOST of these bathrooms no longer exist, since they got up on the smart, cleaner, better smelling method of toilets instead of popping a squat all the time. Since I live and teach in the Korean ‘hood, my school hasn’t got up on that trend. The school bathrooms are NASTY. LOL. Most smell like fish since you basically have half of the school population having to pop a squat every time they have to pee and there always seems to be shortage of toilet paper. And there are porcelain holes in the ground that are supposed to be…well, a toilet I guess. Its pretty vicious. So, basically I don’t drink anything at work and if I do have to use the bathroom, I walk back home during the break and pee.
Another thing they do that makes me sick is brush their teeth during the school day…they walk around the hallways after eating lunch with toothbrushes hanging from their mouths as I try not to run or visibly cringe. I mean, I can understand because they eat some pretty serious, spicy stuff for lunch so they feel the need to brush their teeth, but DAMN could you keep it in the bathroom? I haven’t told them it makes me nauseous to see that yet, but I’m sure it will come up soon. I wish I weren’t so weird…
I’m sure I’ll have a lot to report later, as not a day goes by when something absurd doesn’t happen to me. =)
PS> I’ve decided to make this a positive post, despite all the crazy shit. I mean, at the end of the day, I adore the kids. If I hated the kids AND my principal, please believe I’d be on a plane home now. Hhhehe. =P