7 Days... Weighty Eyelids

I'm not sure how long or enlightening this will be. I've worked an average of 12 hours the last two days. We're doing finals next week and I had to write 8 different tests. Actually, I have to do one more tomorrow, for our youngest level. That's right, final tests for 7 and 8 year olds, no kidding. One of the cutest students I have is this fragile little thing in that class who I always look out for. She's a bit younger and a lot smaller than all the other students. She looks like she might have been premature and hasn't quite caught up. Even though she's as shy as can be she's a complete angel and I try to keep an eye on her. She doesn't speak any English at this point but is just mimicking the other students. Honestly, I don't even know how much Korean she can write. She has an older sister who's about 11 or 12 in one of my other classes who is also a really sweet kid. This is only the second time I've had the beginners and I'm realizing how drastically my approach has to change with kids at this level. I also realize the need for much smaller classes when you're dealing with kids of this age. We have nine in the class, 5 would be closer to ideal. Besides the tiny angel, Mary, I have another student, a boy, who is also beginning English for the very fist time. I really would like the opportunity to spend more one on one time with each of them, but I've got books that I'm supposed to get through (their not bad, just too much for this amount of time) and 9 kids total. At this age you've got to keep them interested and occupied at all times or you have a major distraction waiting to cause the whole class to erupt. It's fun. I wish I didn't have quite so much material though. One of the books has songs and even though I had to drop all remaining cool I had out the window to do it, I've not become quite the chant and song leader. I wouldn't have gone into it so much if it weren't for how well the children, especially at this age, respond to it. I have to say, I as petrified of singing for as long as I remember, but kids here really go for it. More importantly it is one of the best listening tools for children who have not developed (my seemed to be ingrained, mortal fear of singing) inhibitions to belting out tunes. The thing is, between the tapes and listening to me, the kids can't always grasp the sounds, but the music provides an alternative way of hearing the sounds and words, it takes them time but they have fun and now I have them singing things like (from the book of "M") "My master likes to make a mess with mud" in relatively good pitch, harmonies come later...

Currently I'm listening to the new Trail of Dead album that I just purchased on iTunes and just finished a personal vendetta influenced review of the band on Pitchfork.com . I have to say, I like the guys and I'm impressed by the album. I'm a bit biased because I know one of the guys in the band, but I love music and even with all the still-persistent comparisons to Sonic Youth I still find their music much more engaging and screaming of life than much of what SY has put out in the last few years. Long live the drums the never end, Conrad's (where the hell is Jason's vocals this album?) and the sustained guitar until my ears fall off!!

Travel plans are still coming together. Unfortunately I'm holding off on a camera until I get to Japan where I will in fact buy one, even if it's a cheap little shitty one. I've got Tokyo worked out aside from some of the exact details, but I have my accommodations taken care of and all of that. I'm still working on Thailand. I have to find out where I'm going after I fly into Bangkok. I looked at one nice hostel in Bangkok, 8$ a night. Wow. I feel like such a selfish human being taking advantage of that after what the country just went though. My only consolation is that my money is helping to fund the largest part of their economy. I still feel a bit like a bastard though.

One last thing, my good friend Christopher has decided to take the plunge into this strange world I've found myself in. He's ditching his life back in Austin and heading to Europe for a similar life as I hope to find. Chasing that ex-pat American dream of being permanently lost while simultaneously trying to find yourself. After doing a month-long meditation retreat in France, he's going to spend some time touring around before he begins his TESOL right after I finish. We've made plans to spend a week in Cologne Germany before I head down to Spain where he's got a free place to stay. Right on. I know nothing about germany in all truth, but what the hell, sounds great. We talked about the possibility of not finding permanent work in Europe, if it happens, we think we might try to head off to Japan together which would be awesome. The idea of doing this with someone would be great. In another great bit of news, my friend Star is also going to to try and make things happen in France for a while. She's going back and forth at the moment out of concern but it is a possibility.

That's all for the moment, it's late, I'm tired and am completely spent from 10 classes today. Hope everyone is well.

-c.