Simple Reminders

I need to remember Tuesday.  I’m hesitant to share that the last couple weeks have been a little rough, but I like to be honest.  Of course this is to be expected when living and working in a foreign country.  So mom and dad, don’t worry!

On Tuesday, my kids helped remind me why I am here.  Let's start with my favorite, Hye Jin.  Not that I have favorites for anything!  The first time I taught her class, I walked by her and she was afraid of me and my big eyes as she said.  She was quiet around me for a while and then I saw her around town one day and she abruptly stopped walking, bowed, said hi, and continued walking again.  I thought that was cute.  Since then she always visits and has decided to be my Korean language teacher.  So far she has taught me how to say "I love you" and "I am cute."  Of course she picks what the lessons are going to be!  Then in class on Tuesday, she ripped off a piece of paper with her name and birthday written on it.  She folded the paper, took my hand, set it in my palm, folded my hand, and said "Don't forget!" Then we practiced my latest Korean lesson one more time.  Of course this was all happening as she was avoiding her English work.  At least being distracted and trying to talk to me is giving her practice speaking, right?!

On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays I go to the English Cafe halfway through our lunch hour because the kids are allowed up there after they eat.  This Tuesday, a group of grade one girls (or 7th grade) stopped in for a visit.  This semester I am only teaching grades two and three (or 8th and 9th grade), so I don't have these girls in class right now.  They were so funny, though.  I was impressed with their English too.  They were chatting away and asking me all sorts of questions and wondered if I've ever met Obama.  I always love their giggles and all of these little visits.

My co-teachers and I give the students stamps at the end of class if they do really well.  I don't even know what they get once they fill their stamp sheet, but they love their stamps.  As I was giving one student her stamp at the end of class on Tuesday, she said, "I like English very much."  It took me by surprise for a second after a good class but not a particularly great one that day, but I'm so glad she shared that simple thought with me.

Trying to adjust to another culture completely different from my own makes it so easy for the simplest frustration or ounce of loneliness to quickly change how I am feeling.  That is why days like this past Tuesday really make a difference and need to be remembered.  I know I'm all the way around the world for a reason, so I thank my kids for the simple reminder of how important it is to keep my focus on them and do my job the best that I can.