RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

I know that our enemies don't care about the weather when/if/should they attack, but I don't want a classroom full of soggy children later 

Wow. You've gone full native. Congratulations.

Seems kind of a no-brainer to consider anybody who consistently threatens to launch rockets in one's general vicinity an enemy, right?.

Which general vicinity are we talking about? The peninsula or the "lots of other countries" that consider the Norks to be "our enemy". The US, South Korea, and Japan maybe. But even many South Koreans would hesitate to call the Norks "our enemy".

Just sayin'.

My enemy on the peninsula is my neighbour who constantly slams his door, and some snotty kid who works down at the local Lotteria. He'll get his comeuppance one of these days. I've them to content with. I can't do everything.

Your argument went from "you've gone full native" to "even SKs don't call them enemy"

Seems kind of a no-brainer to consider anybody who consistently threatens to launch rockets in one's general vicinity an enemy, right?.

Which general vicinity are we talking about? The peninsula or the "lots of other countries" that consider the Norks to be "our enemy". The US, South Korea, and Japan maybe. But even many South Koreans would hesitate to call the Norks "our enemy".

Just sayin'.

Well, I'm talking about *my* general vicinity, mostly. But, because you seem like a decent chap, I could broaden this area to include your general vicinity too.

My enemy on the peninsula is my neighbour who constantly slams his door, and some snotty kid who works down at the local Lotteria. He'll get his comeuppance one of these days. I've them to content with. I can't do everything.

Oh, yeah, that guy. He's a right bleeder.

I know that our enemies don't care about the weather when/if/should they attack, but I don't want a classroom full of soggy children later 

Wow. You've gone full native. Congratulations.

Seems kind of a no-brainer to consider anybody who consistently threatens to launch rockets in one's general vicinity an enemy, right?.

Which general vicinity are we talking about? The peninsula or the "lots of other countries" that consider the Norks to be "our enemy". The US, South Korea, and Japan maybe. But even many South Koreans would hesitate to call the Norks "our enemy".

Just sayin'.

My enemy on the peninsula is my neighbour who constantly slams his door, and some snotty kid who works down at the local Lotteria. He'll get his comeuppance one of these days. I've them to content with. I can't do everything.

I kinda thought this was referring to theoretical enemies. Like, anyone who would actually follow through with an attack. Any and all enemies are not likely to care about the weather if they were going to drop bombs on a school.

I know that our enemies don't care about the weather when/if/should they attack, but I don't want a classroom full of soggy children later 

Wow. You've gone full native. Congratulations.

Seems kind of a no-brainer to consider anybody who consistently threatens to launch rockets in one's general vicinity an enemy, right?.

Which general vicinity are we talking about? The peninsula or the "lots of other countries" that consider the Norks to be "our enemy". The US, South Korea, and Japan maybe. But even many South Koreans would hesitate to call the Norks "our enemy".

Just sayin'.

My enemy on the peninsula is my neighbour who constantly slams his door, and some snotty kid who works down at the local Lotteria. He'll get his comeuppance one of these days. I've them to content with. I can't do everything.

Your argument went from "you've gone full native" to "even SKs don't call them enemy"

I said "many" South Koreans. 

I know that our enemies don't care about the weather when/if/should they attack, but I don't want a classroom full of soggy children later 

Wow. You've gone full native. Congratulations.

Seems kind of a no-brainer to consider anybody who consistently threatens to launch rockets in one's general vicinity an enemy, right?.

Which general vicinity are we talking about? The peninsula or the "lots of other countries" that consider the Norks to be "our enemy". The US, South Korea, and Japan maybe. But even many South Koreans would hesitate to call the Norks "our enemy".

Just sayin'.

My enemy on the peninsula is my neighbour who constantly slams his door, and some snotty kid who works down at the local Lotteria. He'll get his comeuppance one of these days. I've them to content with. I can't do everything.

Your argument went from "you've gone full native" to "even SKs don't call them enemy"

I said "many" South Koreans.

You also said "native" which implies it's a SK thing, but saying that "many" SKs don't care doesn't really make it "native." Refer to above gif.

You don't actually have to reply. I'm on that cold medicine and don't really care about this at all.

Referring to the Norks as "our enemy" is a South Korean thing. There are, however, dissenters in every group.

Still a bit odd for an expat working on a temporary visa here to say "our enemy".

Anyhoo.

I know that our enemies don't care about the weather when/if/should they attack, but I don't want a classroom full of soggy children later 

Wow. You've gone full native. Congratulations.

Seems kind of a no-brainer to consider anybody who consistently threatens to launch rockets in one's general vicinity an enemy, right?.

Which general vicinity are we talking about? The peninsula or the "lots of other countries" that consider the Norks to be "our enemy". The US, South Korea, and Japan maybe. But even many South Koreans would hesitate to call the Norks "our enemy".

Just sayin'.

My enemy on the peninsula is my neighbour who constantly slams his door, and some snotty kid who works down at the local Lotteria. He'll get his comeuppance one of these days. I've them to content with. I can't do everything.

I kinda thought this was referring to theoretical enemies. Like, anyone who would actually follow through with an attack. Any and all enemies are not likely to care about the weather if they were going to drop bombs on a school.

Ooops, what did I start here then?

And yes, JahMoo I did mean our theoretical enemies.

Just in case anyone cares (probably not) we didn't have to go outside because the lightening started! I was a bit disappointed that there was no air raid siren though.

And living next to the DMZ up in the mountains of Gangwondo, yep, I consider them the enemy!

Interesting day today.

I was told at the end of last semester I would have another school added.  My coT told me that I go there today.

I arrive this morning, and they are surprised to see me.  They're not expecting me until September.   

I have to take a bus midday to return to  my main school.  I'm told the bus comes at 11:55.  I leave school at 11:45 and wait until 12:10.  No bus.  I don't know if it came earlier than expected, and I'm afraid to wait later because I have 5th period class at my main school.  I walk back to school and they call me a taxi, which is expensive but my only option.

I return to my main school, and my coT is surprised they weren't expecting me.

 

Why can't the teachers at my two schools communicate effectively?

I'm having to squirrel away my English camp and classroom supplies. A new teacher (and TBF, another old CT who is now a homeroom teacher) has the very open-minded view:
What's yours is mine. What's mine is mine. Give me.
(That "give me" is a direct quote.)

They keep going through my cupboard and taking stuff because they "need it". They can't even manage to go down to the admin office to get basic office supplies!!

At the back of one of the cupboards I have a small bag of vitamin sweets to be used as prizes for camp. This new teacher went through everyone's cupboards while we were all out teaching. She came across this bag and got all excited because now she can give candy to the students every lesson. And more candy if students play a game! Because games can't have losers, the losers will get 1 candy and the winners will get 2.

4 days into the 2nd semester and my winter camp budget is screwed and my classroom games are now hobbled.

I'm having to squirrel away my English camp and classroom supplies. A new teacher (and TBF, another old CT who is now a homeroom teacher) has the very open-minded view:
What's yours is mine. What's mine is mine. Give me.
(That "give me" is a direct quote.)

They keep going through my cupboard and taking stuff because they "need it". They can't even manage to go down to the admin office to get basic office supplies!!

At the back of one of the cupboards I have a small bag of vitamin sweets to be used as prizes for camp. This new teacher went through everyone's cupboards while we were all out teaching. She came across this bag and got all excited because now she can give candy to the students every lesson. And more candy if students play a game! Because games can't have losers, the losers will get 1 candy and the winners will get 2.

4 days into the 2nd semester and my winter camp budget is screwed and my classroom games are now hobbled.

Steal it all back.

I'm having to squirrel away my English camp and classroom supplies. A new teacher (and TBF, another old CT who is now a homeroom teacher) has the very open-minded view:
What's yours is mine. What's mine is mine. Give me.
(That "give me" is a direct quote.)

They keep going through my cupboard and taking stuff because they "need it". They can't even manage to go down to the admin office to get basic office supplies!!

At the back of one of the cupboards I have a small bag of vitamin sweets to be used as prizes for camp. This new teacher went through everyone's cupboards while we were all out teaching. She came across this bag and got all excited because now she can give candy to the students every lesson. And more candy if students play a game! Because games can't have losers, the losers will get 1 candy and the winners will get 2.

4 days into the 2nd semester and my winter camp budget is screwed and my classroom games are now hobbled.

Steal it all back.

I would def make some noise about how my things were missing. Looks like you're gonna need a lock or some form of security with such sticky fingers around. I detest your school's new teacher already. 

I thought of that, too but the sweets are gone, the stickers are handed out to the students and the rest of the stuff is lost.

I tried to be direct, tried to make a fuss, I even offered to get stationery for them from the admin office. I need to level my English more. 

So I tried to change my thinking: we are all part of a global family. Sharing is good. Share and share alike. I was making some progress. And then I was hit with another "give me" but this time for my personal computer files. Now I'm happy-happy-smiley-smiley-passwordlocked-very-sweetly, "No."

I didn't know I could smile this widely. I also didn't know how essential the word please is to my universe.

Fire back, "Give me my candy.  Give me my stickers.  Give me [insert everything else she's pinched]." 

All with a big smile! 

I had to level what I was saying so much I ended up sounding like one of the gulls from Finding Nemo. It didn't work.

It's OK. Tomorrow's a new day! A new start!

It's be cool if this school would decide on a solid English schedule. Or at least tell me when they make changes.

Lets find out if anyone shows up to the class that should have started already :}

Decided to forgo bringing my sad lunch to eat lunch at school.

It was curry. 

Going to Europe with the wife and her in-laws are coming for part of the trip. Meals for everyday? Wife says they want to eat Korean food. I mean what's the effing point for Koreans traveling overseas if half their suitcase is filled with kimchi and ramen.

Going to Europe with the wife and her in-laws are coming for part of the trip. Meals for everyday? Wife says they want to eat Korean food. I mean what's the effing point for Koreans traveling overseas if half their suitcase is filled with kimchi and ramen.

Please understand their lack of respect for other cultures.

Going to Europe with the wife and her in-laws are coming for part of the trip. Meals for everyday? Wife says they want to eat Korean food. I mean what's the effing point for Koreans traveling overseas if half their suitcase is filled with kimchi and ramen.

Ko fills half his luggage with instant noodles for his international business travels, a lesson he learned after assuming on his first trip that three packages would suffice for six days. “Man, was I wrong. Since then, I always make sure I pack enough.”
-AP

Going to Europe with the wife and her in-laws are coming for part of the trip. Meals for everyday? Wife says they want to eat Korean food. I mean what's the effing point for Koreans traveling overseas if half their suitcase is filled with kimchi and ramen.

Ko fills half his luggage with instant noodles for his international business travels, a lesson he learned after assuming on his first trip that three packages would suffice for six days. “Man, was I wrong. Since then, I always make sure I pack enough.”
-AP

The only explanation I can fathom is that while most people travel to see a different part of the world and experience the culture, many Koreans and pretty much the whole of mainland China travels for 2 reasons, prestige and shopping.

Your typical 6 day Korean/Chinese package deal involves getting on the bus, driving to as many tourists traps as possible, stopping just long enough to take a few selfies, in front of famous monuments, before spending the final day of the trip at a luxury goods outlet store.
They come home and can brag they've travelled to 10 European countries in as many days. The thousands of photos they took will help the climb their social and professional ladders.

Eating the local food or immersing into the local culture is seen as a waste of time and inconvenient. I do sympathise a bit, as Koreans have developed a... shall we say, unique palate, but seriously, opting to ingest copious amounts of poison (supermarket ramen) over local food seems pretty damn stupid no matter how you cut it.