Far away from Reality

Today marks the 4th time I went to Shinsae elementary school near Centum city. I only go there on Wednesdays and so far I have had a series of mis-unfortunate events. As I have mentioned there was a 2 week period for spring break and another week which was cancelled due to heavy snow.


Working with Amy, the Korean teacher is much more pleasant that working at Yeonsan-dong. unlike my counterparts in Anmin she is not a member of the agency and therefore sees the truth in the after school program. She can see the reality of the situation instead of the hypocritical views expressed by other teachers.

While I was working in YALE I experienced much of the same problems that are still happening in this after school program. Here is a following of a brief list of harsh reality truths.


Today while I was working Amy mentioned that its impossible to love every one of the kids. Parents are foolish to believe that their child is perfect. Each day the kids scream, yell, and throw tangents that leave me in utter shock. I had a girl scream in her cell phone to her friend none the less. She was spouting bad words and it was an unpleasant sight as well as just weird.

Why do parents believe that their kids are so great? Parents are failing their kids by not educating them basic common sense. The push for excellence is marred by pure greed and stupidity.


As a foreigner life is truly difficult in the land of the morning calm. Foreigners are thought to be privileged because they are WHITE, speak english and more times than not come from America. I am appalled by this notion-

The harsh truth of the matter is that I do make more money than my Korean counter-parts. I don't need to compete over English and I don't have to be judged by the same rubric that Koreans judge themselves.

Whatever the contractual agreement that was reached is the business of the individual and its something that I don't want to hear about. Amy agreed with me and its sad that we only work once a week together.

This system is bullshit. I mentioned my 3rd job down and I already want out of this.


The teachers at Yeonsan don't want to listen to logic-they teach using wrong grammar, show kids wrong messages, and at the end of the day count the number of students. If they teach 10 students then they can make 30,000 a day or something like that. The pay is unfair but then again I am not part of the society that makes up these stupid rules.


I hate babbling and just reporting bad news but this system really sucks. I go to bed at 11 and go to school at 8 everyday...blah blah blah.... If they really want to learn english they should try a new tactic. Like trying to listen to an actual ESL Teacher.
I feel far from reality moved away from America nad put into a playground again where all people care about is the fucking Won. Its enough to make me puke.


I will be brutally honest with you- For all the readers who care I make 3000/month I work 6 days a week 4 hours a day on average and don't really enjoy much of it.

Right now-I am dealing with some problems far from reality. Kids screaming before class, during class and causing a scene. Parents watching them because they want their child to be the best. Push them into one more academy and maybe they will be--------not.

i have some friends who all hate their lives apparently. I don't hate my life. I am happily married and while I am trapped in a job and a country that I don't like at all I can manage. I do have some happy points. Why can't we figure out a way to solve these dilemma's and make Korea a better place instead of a work-a-holics paradise.