World Cup Extravaganza

Yet again its been a long time coming... 

I seem to not be able to find much time to write a post and explain what is going on around Korea or at least in my neck of the woods. 

Its currently, 2pm on a Sunday and my wife is sound asleep with a bit of a cold I myself am not much better I have had the aches for 3 days and should have stopped working but decided to push on through. The weather is so damn humid its unbearable and there is nothing really to do since my wife just sleeps.

The world cup has hit Korea like a mad monsoon and the sight of Go Red Devils is everywhere. Sadly, I have no desire to cheer for a team whose country has done nothing good for me. I watched both their games with my friend Mike and his family and of course with my wife. I hoped for Argentina and was happy when Korea lost. 

America has no loses, and no wins. Korea has lost! 

Since the world cup is only played every 4 years I have got caught up in the spirit of things and am anxious to see how my team America will do against Algeria next week! 

Before you continue reading and are dismayed that I would so callously flaunt Korea I will tell you the recent events...

1. My wife terminated her job which will be officially over at the end of the month. She still hasn't received pay for her first month of services. She has gone above the call of duty which at times has neglected me, herself and has done more for this job than they in turn have done for us, especially her. 

2. I didn't get paid for the second time since I started work for them. I am supposed to be paid on the 18th regardless of the situation. This means I wait 50 days for a pay check for working 20-23 days depending on the month. I won't work this next week either due to being sick, not paid or because I want to quit. 

3. In Korea nobody takes care of each other, its dog eat dog world and besides that the primary motivation is money. My friend went to Thailand and was telling me about the poverty he came across. In Korea there are rich people operating their own businesses and standing next to them are people out of the 1930's looking like they live in a hooverville. I am astounded by the treatment of people here and I am shocked that drinking a vitamin C bottle and going to work is the cure when one is sick rather than taking an actual sick day. 

Work before health WTF? 

My wife and I are slowly losing our health and meanwhile my bank is on freeze, my teaching is shoddy and no one cares about my wishes so I say FUCK KOREA. 

I really hate this country I don't care what other people think about me or Korea but I really hate it here. I should up and go but I can't yet. 

Hope you like the new post

Read more about Jay leno, ann landers and more to follow asap

Existence

         Where have I been the last few weeks? I really wonder myself. I last posted about a trip to Iggidae which was at least 2 weekends ago. In short I have been busy-swamped with assignments ranging from YBM, Anmin, Yongho, privates, family affairs you name it I got it.


Maybe I have also grown tired of my daily bantering and diatribes of Korean affairs that leave my followers with questions and doubts about my experiences.




it is at this time 10:55pm on a Thursday night that I'd like to give my readers some revelations, news, and nuggets of factoids in Nicks' corner of the world. 


Fact one, I am not the greatest writer nor am I a great blogger. I have some sketchy views of Korea, the world, teaching etc. and sometimes I havent been able to express myself well. I really wish I had more readers so I could make this a more interesting site and make a way for real communication to take place but I guess I have to do with the hand that I have been dealt. 




As far as teaching goes I have mentioned it before and I will say it again-Frankly I hate kids. More than that I hate the mentality and thought processes behind the Korean education system. In a society that pays Koreans based on number of students and not on the amount of hours worked its no wonder that more academies don't go out of business.




Lately the approach to teaching kids has been play as many games as possible. The kids clamor game game and the teachers spoon feed them all in the hopes that they don't drop their classes. No one teaches in an earnest manner and its all about Lookism rather than professionalism, moralism, or proper etiquette. 


If I had a child I would be appalled at my son or daughter's class and I'd drop the program in a heartbeat. Well, Americans don't need to worry about that right? 


Public schools are paid by the government and all programs are followed in standard national protocol. All national holidays are same throughout the nation so if a kid in high school in Texas is going to meet his or her friend in New York they should have the smae vacation time in the summer.  Not here. 




Here is my current situation. I work at a middle school, where I work at most 4 hours. I work with my wife and another teacher. The other teacher doesn't do anything for my benefit. She doesn't assist me in class, prep the lessons, discuss anything with me whatsoever. All she does is jibber jabber on her mouthpiece about the number of students and whatever the reasons are its only about her SALARY. 


We are paid to teach, but apparently she is paid to keep the little children happy and just in the class. False praises, games, no yelling or discipline, treats, =bribery. I can't believe it. 




My wife doesn't take that kind of treatment. She has told the kids to stay home if they don't want to be there. She tries to teach really hard and as a result some of the kids don't like her. 




I flat out have given up in my teaching. I saw or witnessed rather some money exchange between the students and the teacher in order to pay for their new books. If they didn't pay then this means my wife and the other teacher can't get paid. My wife is now a debt collector besides being a teacher, housewife, and all the other roles she has. Can't the business divvy up assignments isn't that what office clerks are for? They are supposed to collect money. 




ok so here it is, a textbook costs 13,000 won($13) it had been reduced to 12,500 but parents couldn't pay on time and they still moaned about the cost. It was lowered again to 12,300. The gall of some people. Bitching about money and showing the kids what all of this is about. 




Looks like a bright and successful future. 




Nick why don't you just quit your job you hate it so much right? 
Well I am trying to find a new job, but job hunting is a little hard at the moment. I am sending resumes to some Universities and waiting for my saviour YBM. 


My real glory will come when I can leave the shit hole for something more exciting. 




Pardon my French and I know that I will be blasted for calling Korea a shit hole but its really an abomination to everything I grew up believing. 


On a different note I nearly got ran over 3 times today since people can't follow basic procedures like 1. Crosswalk. 2. Red light.   3. Walk on the right side of the road. 4. Say excuse me. 


I am complaining yet again but I am truly justified. 




Lastly, its my own fault for coming here in the first place but Koreans are trapped with their own world bubble. Korea is the best, and there just isn't anything else quite good enough. Korea is a developing country and hasn't learned the art of borrowing. Plainly and simply. 




I am not prejudiced, biased or egotistical but I yearn for a true American life where things make more sense there. I never was patriotic before now. I never once was too proud of my homeland but after seeing people here reject outsiders and other ideas  I am unhinged at what a nation Korea is becoming. 

Hike up Iggedae

Iggedae is a beautiful undeveloped area near Bukyoung University. Its actually beachside frontage that has a walking path that can loop around for as long as you would like to hike. My wife and I hiked at a leisurely pace for 2 hours. WE had a picnic lunch with leftover chicken and ended up walking all the way back to our home. It was a fast paced day. I am so happy we had the day off due to some school elections.


Where are my readers?

You know this is a short posting and nothing really to it. Later I will include more about Iggedae but I am headed to bed to prep for a busy day tomorrow.