2. Just perfect... the first person who greeted me was my favorite student, Ryan. I had just entered the school when all of a sudden I heard someone yelling out my name, it was Ryan. He ran back to his classroom and then reappeared with a huge cake for me. I was so flattered. You see, when I first meet Ryan he really didn't care about English. He was all about girls, girls, and more girls. He thought I was only a pretty face and so although he was attentive in class, it was really only to stare at me. He didn't care to listen to me. But, as time went by he became more interested in my class and more interested in learning English. He's one of those "misunderstood" kids. I use to run an after school group in which I held a school-wide competition. His entrance piece didn't come close to making it but I fought hard to convince my co-workers to have him included cause I saw something in him they didn't; I saw my brother. But, the defining moment with us really was on a chilly morning mid last year. Things with my ex had reached a definite low and I showed up for school feeling the wieght of the world on my shoulders. I snuck by the students and sat alone in my classroom crying. Ryan had seen me come in and followed me. I never did tell him what I was crying about but he kind of knew cause of a secret I let slip the day before in a conversation with him. That whole day he was so sad and so all the teachers and students were confused as to why. I knew why though.
3. Attended my last staff meeting at Eumbong Middle School and so I was
asked to give a speech to my fellow staff members. I told them that it was really hard to leave a group of people who have totally taken me in as family and so I am so sad. I then choked up and cried... so did P.E. Teacher!!!!!! I love that guy and his huge head! 4. As if it wasn't hard enough saying good-bye, I then had to attend a ceremony for us three teachers who are changing schools. Mr. P.E. Teacher cracked a joke at the start of my speech and so that helped relax me a bit. His English is pretty bad but he had joked that he'd try to translate and then when he tried, his translation was no where close to what I had said. It was hilarious.
5. As a small token of thanks, the school had arranged for three students to come up on stage and present us three teachers with flowers. By that time, I had composed myself but when I looked up and saw Ryan walking up to me with this huge bouquet of flowers, the tears came. This guy has no idea of how awesome it was to teach him. When he sat back down I glanced over at him. He had started to cry.
6. After the ceremony, I handed out my Smarties (Canadian candy) and thank-you gifts to the staff and then walked around the school giving out lots of hugs to my students. They wanted to know who'll be their new English teachers (both I and Mrs. Jeung are leaving Eumbong... that's the whole English department) but I don't know. I feel bad not knowing though. It'd be nice to know that my students will be in good hands but I can only hope that they will be.
7. All us Eumbong staff members headed out for one last lunch together and wow, did we ever eat in style!!! We went to this super posh restuarant where we had a private room and four women waited on us hand and foot. The meal was incrediably delicious. Everything was perfect... I mean everything!!!
8. Some of the male teachers drank quite a lot and so they were super hyper after the meal. Mr. Joo thought it'd be a good idea to head over to the batting cage across the street and hit some rounds. I thought it was quite foolish and dangerous so I stuck around for a bit to amuse myself and then I headed home.
9. Got word from Ki-Dong that Dankook has my work visa confirmation number... sweet! Look out Japan, here I come!
10. Ran into a old friend of mine here in Korea. She's actually the one who set things up with me and the ex...oh ya, had LOTS to say to her. Oh please... spent too much time already on that boy, no more thanks! Sure, I miss him but I don't miss what became of "us". I wish him well though. But enough about that.. it was nice running into my friend. We walked around downtown and she ended up helping me with my banking.
QUESTION OF THE DAY...
Why does it take a minute to say hello and forever to say goodbye?
QUOTE OF THE DAY...
How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.
-- Carol Sobieski
2 comments:
AMY,
I often wonder how much of an impact I have on my students.
When I went back to Canada I left behind a very special group of kids that only I had taught. They were so sad that I was leaving and so was I. They didn't know however that I would be returning (just not as their teacher).
The first day back to Korea, reaffirmed the impact that I have on these kids. When one student saw me he ran to his class and yelled "JENNIFER TEACHER IS HERE" All 12 of them jumped up and practically knocked me down -- they were so excited to see me. I got cards from them for a whole week and the phone calls flooded the office with parents wondering if their students could have me as their teacher again.
This is exactly what I live for. Although sometimes the politics of my job makes me frustrated it seems to be washed away when I think about the kids.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT YOU HAVE HAD A HUGE IMPACK ON ALL OF YOUR STUDENTS. As for Ryan (the student -- not ex), well I imagine you will remain in his life as a fantastic memory forever. He will be the one with a picture of you on his desk, just like the picture you have of your most influencial teacher.
GOOD WORK AMY!!!!! You are changing the lives of these kids everyday and slowly making them better people, one person at a time.
Pat yourself on the back for all the great work you have done, or better yet, treat yourself to sushi (hehe).
-- Jennifer
Hey Jenn,
Ah... thanks so much for the comment and compliments you left me! I totally hear ya about the polictics of the job but how it's all totally worth it when you see those kids! My first year in Korea I worked at a hagwan and so I so know too well what you're talking about here!!!
As for my student Ryan, he texted me yesterday and then again today to make sure I was ok. It's funny cause even though I'm his teacher, he's really taught me a lot and has totally made my job as a teacher feel so rewarding.
And as for the sushi... oh ya baby!!! I'm totally going to go eat some! Maybe we can hook up for some sushi soon, my treat!
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