Highlights of my Day... Tuesday, December 16

1. My first period class, the class I’ve been dreading all week with having to say goodbye to, surprised me with a thank you cake and some singing. Unfortunetly not all were able to show up today but it was nice to say bye to those that did come. They tried to sing the “Congratulations” song in English but most of the students didn’t know all the English lyrics and so I giggled as them hummed parts of it… hehehe.

2. Three of my boys… “my boys”, hehehe… I say “my boys” like they’re my kids. Well, sometimes I really feel like they are my kids, or my younger siblings at least. I’ve had these students for a year now and so I’m attached to them. I look forward to my Tuesday mornings with them. Anyways, three of my boys from my first period class are heading off to the army soon and so today was the last day I will probably spend with them. By the time they finish their time in the army, I will have left Korea. My cute campus couple will be forced to spend their days a part and so I felt so sad for them. One of them promised me he’d visit me during his military holidays and that sounded sweet but I don’t think it will happen. He’s sure to have his girlfriend, along with a long list of other people that will be eager to see him.

3. Surprisingly enough I didn’t get all teary-eyed at school… I waited till I got home and then I cried. I got a bit choked up though when I told my first period students they could leave. They said they didn’t want to leave, I didn’t want them to go either and so we sat around talking and then we watched some of my YouTube videos.

4. Handing out marks today in my second class was met by mixed reactions. One boy shouted out “I love Amy forever!” when I gave him his A, others high fived each other, some frowned, a few giggled… one cried.

5. My life in Korea is my teaching and my boxing. Now I’ll just have my boxing for two months while school is on vacation.

6. Despite indulging in some thank you cake, I was super happy with today’s weigh-in. I can pretty much guarantee two things with that cake. One being that it’ll show up on tomorrow’s weigh-in and two being that it’ll give me a huge stomach ache. I don’t eat any sweets and so today’s cake with it’s ultra sugary icing was a huge shock to my system… I’m going to be feeling it tomorrow!!!

Day 1: 55.15kgs = 121.33lbs
Day 2: 54.62kgs = 120.16lbs
Day 3: 54.28kgs = 119.42lbs
Day 4: 54.40kgs = 119.68lbs
Day 5: 54.00kgs = 118.80lbs
Day 6: 53.82kgs = 118.40lbs
Day 7: no weigh-in, gym closed
Day 8: 53.83kgs = 118.43lbs
Day 9 (today): 53.12kgs = 116.86lbs
Weight lost so far: 2.03kgs = 4.47lbs

7. Looks like I’ll have to change another Korean language lesson. Junior Mint told me tonight that I have to manage the boxing club this Friday while he goes to Seoul for his fight’s weigh-in appointment.

8. “If I’ll be managing the club from 10-3pm, what’s my pay?” I asked him. “I love you!” Junior Mint responded… hehehe. Yes, a lot of “I love you’s”… it’s always “I love you” when he wants something… hehehe. He’s learned that it works with me. I joked with him and said that I’d work for a lot of “I love you’s”. After all, while others would expect money or favors in return for their work, the smile and giggles his silly “I love you’s” give me are worth their weight in gold. It makes me laugh, makes me forget my stress for the moment and, if you think about it, it’s probably true that it’s adding years to my life. Stress is what kills you and if he yelling out “I love you” in such a silly manner is enough to make me break down in uncontrollable giggles and a huge smile, than that’s definitely got to be good for my health. So, his pay is added years to my life, something money can’t buy. That’s good enough for me.

9. Got a “pay bonus” from Junior Mint… my OWN key to the boxing club! Sweet!!! Now I’ll be able to train whenever I want… awesome!!!

10. Q’s been working like a cheap slave way down near Busan (in Korea) and has been doing so for almost the past week. He’s been working around the clock, practically, and his sleep has been limited to three hours a night. He and a couple of his coworkers went down to help out one of their other shops that’s apparently struggling with the new staff. Today is Q’s birthday but we’ll be celebrating it tomorrow together.

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
If Korean boys have to go to the army, what do Korean girls have to do?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
Life's not always fair. Sometimes you can get a splinter even sliding down a rainbow.
-- Cherralea Morgen