The day I realized I was a teacher.

Last week I sent a frantic email to a friend after I received a little visit from one of my students. As I look over the email now, I can chuckle at myself…I can be sooo dramatic! But at that time, I was truly having a mini freak out. Here is part of the message for you to read.

~~~

I was sitting in my office getting ready for the day when one of my students paid me a little visit before classes. In her hands is a pile of papers and she's looking very nervous.  She explains to me that there is a summer program that she really wants to experience and was hoping I could give her a recommendation.  She really is an exceptional student and I can always count on her in class, so of course I said yes.  Being inexperienced at this whole recommendation letter stuff, I allowed her to just hand me the papers and leave, instead of looking them over with her and asking her some questions.  I just figure it's for some educational summer camp program here in Korea, but a reputable one that all the kids want to get into. In Korea, it seems everything is a competition though, so sometimes it's hard for us foreigner teachers to take these things seriously (FYI, this student is in sixth grade).

Anyhow, I'm looking over all the documents and not even paying attention to the letterhead in which the documents were printed on. I'm noticing that the criteria for admission is pretty steep and I was thinking to myself, "Sheesh...she's just a KID, should she even be worried about all this stuff yet?" ... LOL.  I then glanced at the top of the page and read the name of the school. At that moment I quit breathing for what seemed an eternity.  I read the name again and my heart started pounding. I looked at the name one last time, hoping to GOD it had changed or I had misread the page, but I did not.  I was staring at the letterhead of Stanford University.  My student wants to apply to this Summer Institute Program at Stanford University.  She would like me to be a reference on her Middle School Program application for Stanford University. I have to write a recommendation letter which will be sent to admissions at Stanford University.

It was in this moment that I realized, "Holy, moly...I'm a teacher?!"  

And then came the erratic thoughts: How and when did this happen?  I'm a person who gives academic references on behalf of students?!  Do I really have this authority?  Why do I feel a little inadequate?  I can't believe Minju came to me wanting a letter!  Wow...this feels pretty amazing and scary all at the same time. 

I know she's only in grade six and maybe it's not that big of a deal....I mean, it's not a university application or anything, but this is my very first reference letter to anyone EVER. Why the f**k does it have to be to Stanford University?! lol. 

~~~

Just another ordinary day :)

All in a day's work...Peaceful Protest, Part II

All in a day's work...

Remember my blog about the peaceful protest? If unsure, take a breeze back and then today’s blog will make sense.

Shortly after I wrote that blog, I was assured by my principal and head teacher that I would not be transferred to another school or district. The mothers had protested and my principal made many calls expressing her concern over our school’s loss of budget. In the end, she was notified that I could stay and nothing more would happen until my contract ended.

But I should have known better. After all, I do live in Korea J

Monday morning I received a phone call stating that I would be transferred to another district of Seoul AND school for the start of the new school year (March 2012) because of budget cuts.  He was also unsure where I would be relocated, but stated I would receive a phone call shortly. I mentioned to him everything I had been told about the situation and he then requested to speak to my co-teacher.

Long story short, my principal and vice principal have been on the phone for the last three days trying to sort this all out. The head teacher approached me to give an update on the situation and she said, “Cony, I am unsure how this will be, but I will tell you I hear lots of yelling”. LOL

From what I’ve been told, the district board and office of education are not communicating well with each other, and this is turning into a bit of a battle. AWKWARD!! There was also talk about me signing a contract with just my school, but this decision would NOT be in my best interest, and I quickly dismissed this notion.

Honestly, I appreciate the efforts of my school, but the reality of this situation is that I am not under contract with them and if the office tells me I’m moving then I must. I’m not crazy happy about moving to another district and starting fresh at a new school, but this kind of goes with the territory when teaching in Korea. You just never know what will happen from week to week. It’s all part of the adventure I guess lol.

Once sorted, I’ll post the outcome J