Saturday, April 19, 2008

Fond Memories of Japan Trip 2008

I haven't really talked too much about my second long trip to Japan. The second time I went to Tokyo, northern Japan, and Osaka once again. The experience was rewarding as usual.

It was cool to be in the country again and make comparisons. I saw some really neat things and we (my friend Dave and I) ran into some neat people, Japanese and foreigner, as well as had some interesting experiences.

From seeing an awesome Japanese castle, while it was picturesquely snowing, to going to an onsen, or Japanese hot bath on the outside while it was freezing cold was really an awesome experience. Touring Tokyo, even though in many ways is similar to Seoul, was still awesome because this is one of the most important cities in the world. The sheer monstrosity and design is something to behold. Its like the city of the future.

Japan is truly an unique country. They are so special in that they have taken everything modern and "Japanicized" it. Cars are inherently built with a Japanese work ethic and flavor. The food is distinct and has its own quality and prepared with pin-point precision. Etiquette is done and spelled to the dotted "i." Everything from animation, games, schools, to government policy has a Japanese tint to it. To me, Japan equals order and precision, everything is done in a certain way.

One special memory of Japan was our fourth night in Tokyo. We had to switch hostels as we were preparing to leave Tokyo the next day and head to the Samurai village of Aizu-Wakamatsu. Unlike our previous foreign-friendly hostel, which was big and had many visitors...this one was really small. Each floor had a few rooms, but were really clean and had tatami floors. There was a small meeting room where travellers could gather, mingle, and use the Internet. There was space for a table and a TV for everyone to gaze at the wonders of Japanese television.

So it was night time, and here are us "gaijin" ("foreigners" in Japanese) just sitting around swapping our backgrounds. Its me and my friend Dave, two other girls from America, an European, and two Taiwanese girls.

Up comes this Japanese drama on late night TV, inspired by the famous manga called "Death Note." Death Note, even though very sinister and gloomy at its core, is quite actually intriguing. Long story short, a boy has the power to predict and write how people will die. He simply writes the act in a notebook, and bam, the victim is gone. Yet another boy, reluctantly paired up with a team of investigators, tries to stop him before he gets his next victim.

We all stopped talking and just started to watch the drama. The room is dimly lit as there is a curfew for nighttime, so it made the room a little more relaxing. We have no clue what they are saying, as there are not subtitles and its all in Japanese, but pictures count. The acting and filming were actually quite well done, as Japanese is a very dramatic language. There were some really intense moments of suspension where we just watched without talking. It was like a family of us were watching a movie together.

It was a fond memory because to me, we all stayed in for the evening just to relax. Dave and I were really worn out by the day's hauling around Tokyo. Just to do something mindless and simple such as watch TV was something new in our activity-filled trip.

Japan Part II was a cool trip because we covered alot more ground. I had some really fond memories of the place. You really learn about yourself when you are an environment that is not in your comfort zone, and the lessons from travelling with a partner, and sometimes, on your own show your true character at times. All for purpose, Romans 8:28.

Friday, April 4, 2008

A Waiting Period

I was thinking about the story in Genesis 29:15-30 tonight. Its an unique story about Jacob, one of the patriarchs of the Jewish race. Jacob at this point in the beginning of time is on the run from his brother Esau, whom he tricked to give him both his birthright and his rightful blessing. Talk about having a grudge against your brother, Jacob booked it out of there to get as far away from his bro as possible! Esau was piping hot!

Well, this particular story is about Jacob's first two wives. Jacob is living with his Uncle Laban. Laban has agreed to give his youngest daughter, Rachel, to Jacob in marriage only if he works for him for seven years on his property. Jacob likes this because he has a thing for Rachel, who is supposedly a bombshell (verse 17).

Jacob puts his work in. He gets married, and he believes the wife given to him in marriage is Rachel. Yet for some odd reason, after lying with her on their wedding night, he wakes up to the face of Leah, who is Rachel's older sister! Is this some kind of cruel joke?

No. Laban, probably in a non-humorous manner, explains how in their culture they do not give the younger bride first; the oldest goes first. Laban does not even apologize (verse 27), and goes on to tell Jacob if he works for him another seven years, he gets Rachel as a bride too. Jacob, with no choice since he loves Rachel more, goes on to agree work for another arduous seven. The Trickster is tricked. The following week after he marries Leah, Jacob receieves Rachel as wife too, but is bound by this new contract.

Where am I getting at? I've lately been comparing last year with this year. The experience so far has been totally different compared to last year, sort of like a waiting period like Jacob's. No, its not like I tricked anyone to get this job, yet it was more of enduring a few things to get where I want to be in my career here in South Korea, and God has provided nicely.

In March 2007 I touched down in South Korea to begin my job at Yeonsu High School. Everything came at me in a shockwave: the new lifestyle (no more driving to lots of walking), adjusting to the language barrier, figuring how to do EVERYTHING, learning about Korean schools and their teaching environment, and just absorbing everything. It was like eating a huge plate full of enchiladas when I've been eating salad my whole life; everything's different. Sometimes to this day I remark how amazing it is how God got me through that time of adjustment to the culture.

To be honest, my first few months in Korea started rough. My apartment had nothing in it, so I started from scratch. It wasn't funished as advertised. It was small, and there were a smattering of problems with it (too much to go into detail). Learning how to adjust to living on my own was difficult at times, but thanks to our Lord for being faithful and introducing my family and some expats who really helped me out, my place because a personal sanctuary for me.

As for school, I had to learn how to do everything on my own. No one at the school really gave me a teaching guideline on what to do. I made up all of my lesson plans and I taught them with no revision by my co-teachers. I did everything solo and even though my teachers gave me suggestions from time to time, I picked up alot of training just by failing. Yet on a professional level, I had teacher friends like Bobby, James, and Dave whom we shared joys and troubles of teaching "Engrish" to little Korean kritters.

Another neat insight I learned today is the present situation at Yeonsu High School. I learned from the new native teacher at the school, Michael, said his freshmen class is a really nice crop. Former teachers of mine detailed to him that my class had a bunch of bullies and tough boys. They are right.

One of last year's bigger struggles was there were an odd smattering of boys who were just rough. Even some of my smarter boys had an edge to them. Not like they were hostile to me, but they had to be broken. The first few months of getting a few of my homeroom classes to pay attention was just outright difficult. Adjusting had to take its due course. Thankfully, by month four there was a grand union of understanding between us and I even made some of the rough boys get on my side. Teaching became easier from there on in.

I finished my Yeonsu experience on a good side. I finished strong. Now onto year two.

Just out of curiosity and a desire to get away from the boys, I've always desired to teach girls. From what I've heard from other native teachers, they are an easier bunch to instruct, even though, like I mentioned in my previous blog, they have issues too.

Now, its kind of not objective to compare this year so far to all of last year because I just got started. Yet I can make some observations on how different things have started.

For one, I've already gotten experience at my new girls' high school. Last winter, they were devoid of a teacher because the man had to attend to his ailing father. They called our school (Yeonsu High) to ask me to volunteer for their winter camp. I gladly accepted. So I was exposed to a smattering of students who would be entering their senior and junior years in high school. I already met some of the school staff beforehand.

It just so has it that there were two openings at two girls' Incheon high schools at the time: Incheon Girls High School and this one, Hakik Girls High School. I was actually slated to go to the first one, until a circumstance came up where they had to change my position, and the coordinator slotted me at HGHS. It turned out for the better.

My transition period to the school has been relatively smooth and without too many hitches. Its all about growth which makes seeings things in a quicker manner. The invaluable lessons I learned last year have made it so easier to start off well here at this ladies' school.

On a superficial end, I brought all of my old lesson plans with me. All I do lately is adjust them to fit their English level and make it more detail-oriented (girls love details), so instead of working long and hard producing lesson plans, its all about fine-tuning them.

Also, I know the flaws of the current teaching system for the Native Teacher Program (EPIK), and try to adjust to it accordingly. No more struggling with the system, I just do what I can within the current one and do it to God's Glory.

Finally, girls are docile. Guys, including myself, struggle with pride and egos, so some of them were too cool to be nice to "Mr. Foreign Teacher." One distinct advantage, of course this varies case by case, is how the lady students were quick to receive me, compared to the first few months at my guys' school. Like I mentioned before, I met 20 of the girl students at the previous winter camp. So, these ladies really helped me out by spreading the word about me (whether its good or bad, thats up to them) when they got word that I would be at their school this year.

So really, I'm in a situation that has been an outright blessing. The school, compared to other high schools, has a more humble background because some of the students come from poorer families. I teach a few mentally challenged students and one deaf student. Some of the girls come from broken homes. Hence, the mission and the challenge are greater this year. Yet like Jacob, even though he had to wait to get his desired bride, I got the perfect scenario in which God can continue to use me even more on a scale that I never imagined.

Finally, in some way, I am intrigued by ministering to students who are from broken homes or have a tougher streak. It'll kind of give me an edge too, to be strong to challenge them to be more and not settle to just be an average student.

Get It Done...

Get It Done...
2010: The Year of the Soni Tiger