tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58980120936202652262024-03-13T22:59:55.646-05:00Welcome to The SNAFU BAR!My HONESTY BOX. This blog is all about me; and that's just how I like it! I'm heading to Korea to do something I love , surrounded by a culture I dig , while trying to figure myself out. I want to be honest and true and i'm going to let you in on every grimy detail! Enjoy! And feel free to comment, talk to me, question, or etc~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.comBlogger196125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-71693602201021187082010-07-27T08:15:00.001-05:002010-07-27T08:15:48.528-05:00Insightsmile an the whole world smiles with you.. Bitch and you rule alone!~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-63434431197251600252010-07-04T22:47:00.001-05:002010-07-04T22:48:18.416-05:00Summer CampingIt's summer camp time and the weather is fogggy and rainy and hot and muggy and JUST RIGHT for summer camp season!~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-62848608875014434542010-07-04T22:32:00.003-05:002010-07-04T22:47:24.608-05:00As I lay DyingI got the chance to go with my Daddy Long Legs like old Chingu Yeong Kim to visit his fathers burial mound. What an interesting trip. Started at about 11:30 with a trip to Punggi to pick up some famous rice cakes (very expensive) that his father liked. Then we visited his childhod friends family and had a huge 20 piece side dish lunch. Theb we went next door to visit more inlaws.. more food fun anf fellowship. The last house we ate at was a 80 ajumma who was recollecting the first time she saw a black person.. The korean war... She said she was so scared that she ran! He friend who is younger only remembers that " the black people were the ones to give me chocolate- the white people would not"... We then climbed a windy hilly mountain that rounded into a clearing with a noticable mound carve in to the acove of the mountain. He displayed the rice cakes, bowed twice, and hesitated a moment in reflection. We left and went to Seosu suwon to have patpinsu! The we went back to good ole Yeongju to visit a traditional tea shop and have green tea..~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-37685240180203485042010-06-23T11:40:00.000-05:002010-06-23T11:41:22.058-05:00emptyi feel like my timein Korea is up... why am i still here? When did this become the norm?~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-36930920148182048452010-04-26T23:20:00.002-05:002010-04-26T23:25:12.272-05:00Long time , No See!When I first started this blog in April ish 2008 I thought i'd be on an adventure for 1 year. It was fun exciting and interesting and hard and painful and a one of a kind experience. I decided to stay a 2nd year. It feels like this is my norm now! I really need to keep it moving but it really feels comfy to just stay in this opne lil town and just be..... lots of things have happened good and bad... but it seems just like blimps on the made for tv movie screen that is my life.<br /><br />I'm still utterly single. CourtB is still my Best Chingu. I met some cool people but and i've made some enemies. i've been depressed outta my drome and I've been happier than I've ever been. And I have a secret!~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-38523153494321653542010-02-13T22:06:00.000-06:002010-02-13T22:07:55.495-06:00Happy V-Day to me!I'm spending this Vday alone! But I love my Valentine, B!~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-51970381709779655092010-02-08T01:13:00.000-06:002010-02-08T01:14:23.006-06:00calling all ground hogsWinters end cant come soon enough~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-52498897443047147232010-01-21T07:36:00.002-06:002010-01-21T07:41:35.766-06:00Happy New Yeat Baabbbbyyy!!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrOW2-xYv-M/S1hZiADu1oI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/AJd1veWKaCY/s1600-h/PC201216.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429187791461209730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrOW2-xYv-M/S1hZiADu1oI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/AJd1veWKaCY/s320/PC201216.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrOW2-xYv-M/S1hZhzEUi-I/AAAAAAAAA8Q/OS_o2WRAMRs/s1600-h/noder5.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429187787974020066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrOW2-xYv-M/S1hZhzEUi-I/AAAAAAAAA8Q/OS_o2WRAMRs/s320/noder5.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>So 2010 rolled in like a 18 wheeler and I had to throw my ass into overdrive to keep up. I've been working and partying nonstop. I set a few goals for this bright and shiny new year.. some similar to the years before and some a lil different: Lose weight, but gain more independence. Exercise my body , but also find ways to exercise my mind. DO 5 things I've NEVER done before. I have no idea what they will be.. maybe one will be actually complete a resolution LOL. I miss my friends so much it hurts.. but everything is starting to hurt a lil less these days. I think I'm growning up?</div></div>~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-79581355832305065082010-01-12T17:10:00.001-06:002010-01-12T17:11:06.986-06:00there and backover the xmas holidays i got the chance to go home. After one week..i was ready to ome back to korea.~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-70056133046586694412009-11-02T03:14:00.003-06:002009-11-02T03:20:01.176-06:00Michael Jackson- You are not alone<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LrOW2-xYv-M/Su6kH58B1aI/AAAAAAAAA8E/IK_0YllnbcM/s1600-h/Courtnesy+New+Camera+398.jpg"></a><span style="color:#000000;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrOW2-xYv-M/Su6jyyIaAgI/AAAAAAAAA78/5k6mLy_pn7w/s1600-h/andrea+040edited.JPG"></a><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;">To all the Die-Hard- No-Limit Michael Jackson fans out there..</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;">SO I just finished watching the newly released movie ‘This is it” and I felt like I had to try and do SOMETHING to connect with people who can understand what I’m going through right now. …because I'm feeling really crazy. </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;">I’ve been completely smitten with Michael since I was too young to remember. I’ve enjoyed every performance, song, and dance he’s done many times over. I like to sing and dance to his music while I’m.... well just about anywhere. He’s without a doubt a very special and important part of my life. Some of my friends and family don’t understand my passionate obsession with the King of Pop… They think ‘ sure he’s got cool moves and great songs but we don’t even really care for the guy’ It’s not like that for me.. I think about him at least once everyday for what has now been my life. I know the songs inside and out and the move me beyond words, to tears, to deeper understanding of myself and other in the world, to greater heights than I’ve ever known. </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;">I know, from the screaming fans I’ve seen passing out on screen, or imitating his dance moves to a on youtube, or devoting lives to looking more like him….., that I’m not the only one. But I still seem to be the only one around feeling a lil’ lost and hopeless. Y'know I find myself wishing to be around people that were ok with a conversation saturated with notes on Michael, or stories about how music changed my life, or even no conversation at all.. just listening to the music together and feeling connected to something great. </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;">Don’t think that I’m a MJ Psycho.. that’s simply not the case.. I just miss so terribly the best thing that never happened to me. </span></div></div>~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-50954138802102622902009-10-27T21:06:00.002-05:002009-10-27T21:20:15.546-05:00Of all the BS de la Korea that I'm tired of...I'm so tired of the people who hold any kinda of position of authority being an absolute scaredy cat panty waste, who makes decisions that benefit no one and accomplish jack. I'm tired of being screwed over by the guys that barely have the title that they are tryna lord over and smite you down with. What the piss man? So another principal comes into the camp and everyone believe him to be genuinely kosher.. but as always, I have my doubts. He 's a man, he's koream, and he's old.. he's prolly a dirty bird bastard!<br /><br />Any how he's tryna jip me outta 2 weeks of vactaion time. This time is<br />owed to me becasue i didn't go home for 2 weeks in between my renewal. I was supposed to be able to just take the time offthis winter.. where we all know there is not shit to do at school but look at the walls.<br /><br />ARGH.. if I don't get the time.. i'm simply gonna leave mid contract which is Dec 8. Plenty of time to go home and find a boo before christmas. Maybe get married to my childhood sweetheart (wink). Make up some lost time with friends and family. And enjoy being an american whilst all the haters continue in there adoration of.... Shit I welcome contracting swine flu so long as it's on US soil..~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-10083690048239684012009-10-20T00:14:00.001-05:002009-10-20T00:22:08.303-05:00I'm alive!I'm always so awfully busy that i never get to write. I actually am loving my new job and I'm pondering weather I should stay another year... sigh... I am in a bit of a depression because I'm really missing Michael Jackson. :( but I'm seeking comfort in others and finding it.. so i'm consoled slightly. I can't wait to visit my home! I'm so excited!~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-53381579203266341532009-07-05T23:18:00.001-05:002009-07-05T23:19:05.178-05:00that's very cute~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-45667866902446723782009-06-25T19:18:00.002-05:002009-06-25T19:26:44.876-05:00Michael Jackson - i miss you<span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:180%;color:#000066;"><strong>I got to school today for work. Hopped on facebook to play some serious sorority life. And I see all these rest in peace MJ updates. It hit me that i'd hear 2 MJ song on the bus to work and as usual they brightened my day. I thought that maybe it could be a hoax but upon cheking verifiable news sources.. i found out its true. the tears that came them still flow as i write. I feel so devestated. My thooughts and prayers go out to his family and his loved ones- people like me tucked way in the corners of the earth forever inspired, faithfully in love and hopelessly devoted to this magical man. Ever since i was little i remember praying for my loved ones at night before i went to bed. God bless Mom, brother, grandma, grand pa, family cat, and Michael Jackson....</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:180%;color:#000066;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:180%;color:#000066;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:180%;color:#000066;"><strong>I know he's better off but i will miss him more than anyone can ever realize.</strong></span>~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-46364303044215224782009-06-23T23:39:00.002-05:002009-06-23T23:44:07.475-05:00New BeginningsSo I finally escaped the confines of the workplace I like to call Yeongju's English Slave Center. I'm working at a brand new job. It's heaven sent.. I didn't even really want to come here.. but i'm thinking about never leaving. The life of the English teacher need not be hard, tiresome, and uninspired as was my last job. Save the awful gov't issued curriculum and the distance away from the city.. Everythings good. I'm still living in a hotel because my apartment is being built. The kids are top quality and not as judgemental as the city kids were. I don't feel like I have to wear my battle gear here. <br /><br />I'm spliting my weeks between 3 schools.~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-8503056286980230172009-05-29T03:11:00.001-05:002009-05-29T03:11:50.913-05:00Korean Government Gears Up Against H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu)In the face of the outbreak of the H1N1 influenza virus, the Korean government has raised its pandemic alert level to 2 out of 4, and is carrying out emergency procedures 24 hours a day to prevent the spread of the virus. In Korea, public fears over a possible full-blown pandemic are diminishing after the patients who had contracted the H1N1 virus made full recoveries, but of course vigilance is still necessary. Korean health authorities have tightened quarantine measures, and incoming passengers from infected countries are being thoroughly checked and monitored to detect any signs of infection. These passengers are also being called afterwards to check whether they have developed any flu-like symptoms. Moreover, two sets of heat sensors have been placed at airports to detect travelers with fevers and in-flight quarantine procedures are also being carried out if deemed necessary. The Korean government has a good history of responding quickly to the outbreak of a pandemic. When the severe SARS and AI viruses broke out, Korea remained safe thanks to its influenza monitoring system and quarantine measures. Park Seung-chul, Chairman of New Influenza Emergency Measure Committee said the World Health Organization (WHO) had applauded Korea’s influenza monitoring system and rapid response measures.~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-28832117919285791802009-05-22T01:21:00.000-05:002009-05-22T01:22:30.094-05:00http://www.epeople.go.kr/english/The People's Voice is the Voice of Heaven.”<br />Sinmoongo(a Big Drum), the system of handling complaints against<br />the government during the Joseon Dynasty, was the first step towards<br />giving the people a say in government affairs.<br />Driven by our ancestors' lofty ideals, Sinmoongo is reborn<br />as “e-People“ by integrating all channels of administrative<br />organization to the people to upgrade the whole function<br />of administrative judgment and corruption<br />reporting as well as petition, proposal and policy<br />discussion services.<br />e-People, available everywhere in the world, will take the lead to make a new face of Korea by resolving even trivial complaints after listening closely to the voices of the people and accepting their creative ideas positively.~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-875694616561579682009-05-22T01:20:00.000-05:002009-05-22T01:21:01.146-05:00ideal ideasLesson plan ideas: summer camp<br />Four corners<br />Number the corners from 1 to 4 and assign an English vocabulary word to each number. Select one student to be "It." That person closes his or her eyes while the rest of the students go to one of corners in the classroom. When all students are settled in a corner, It calls out a number. All the kids who chose the corner with that number are out of the game and must sit down. It closes his or her eyes again, calls out a number or word, and more students sit down. When the game gets down to 4 people or fewer, each must choose a different corner. If It calls out a corner where nobody is standing, It must choose again. The game continues until only one student is left. That student becomes It. <br />Restaurant: Making a Smoothie or Shake<br />sliced banana<br />3-4 large strawberries (top sliced off)<br />2 cups milk<br />1/4 cup of yogurt (optional)<br />1 1/2 teaspoon sugar<br />5 ice cubes<br />Combine all ingredients except sugar in blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add sugar. Enjoy!<br /><br />Big Hall: Four Corners<br /><br />Popping Idea: learn to spell the colors- color word unscramble<br />Project a color by numbers picture on to the white board. Issue multicolor markers. Students must make 2 teams and go back an forth coloring in the number assigned to a color. Ex: One –red twenty-five-blue five-black<br /><br />Library Noise Maker Story book<br /><br />Assign a sound or action or picture to hold up....with several words. Practice. Read a simple story containing the words. Pause after saying each special word so the students can insert sound action of picture appropriately.~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-71015140601542675222009-05-16T07:37:00.002-05:002009-06-23T23:49:33.958-05:00Why Old Korean Men Love MeWhat is the deal with these old farts running up on every young new face they see. What is so screwed up in their head that they actually think I'd find them attractive? Was it the hobbled leg, the over brown teeth w bad breath? That's really hot! Was it the way your dirty finger nails attach crookedly to grimy hands that are always clawing at my bosom? Sexy! Was it the fact that you can offer nothing but a waste of 2 minutes with a 1 inch ding dong to an american girl wh is accustomed to MUCH MUCH better?<br /><br /><br />Maybe after 40 these guys get bain damaged form soju or makali... but one things is for sure. They lose their damn minds!~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-18084962201775631562009-05-16T07:09:00.002-05:002009-05-16T07:30:41.072-05:00A Rainy DayIt's been pouring dirty rain all day long. I'm opting to stay inside and meditate. I need some reflection time. I have acquired another teaching job in Korea..due to start soon. But it's not as fun as before.. I'm getting bored and very tired of taking all these differences of culture that always seem to infringe on my well- being. Everything feels different.. i don't know know if it's me that's changed or the world. It's staggering the changes are vast...~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-66833905713381812009-05-12T00:29:00.015-05:002009-05-12T03:16:18.940-05:00<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwhHq7x8b8yjRWbCGLRKL7ccvqiYJfPj8dUROOedA8IVh8RuAAHeyQcF6kXk7DnsCjAO0UFDGERpbbprbyqWA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-18208348346131635102009-05-11T22:57:00.002-05:002009-05-11T23:08:16.833-05:00Better DaysI'm excited to say that I landed another ESL job close to where I'm living now. So I don't have to leave my friends and my sweetheart anymore. I can't wait to visit home and do some American things. i can't believe it's been a year!!! Sweet Home Alabama! I've been through a lot especially since i've been hospitalized twice since i've been here.. it sucks<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrOW2-xYv-M/Sgj2CWy8GeI/AAAAAAAAA70/v68JPcs04hQ/s1600-h/hospitalized4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334784278959757794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrOW2-xYv-M/Sgj2CWy8GeI/AAAAAAAAA70/v68JPcs04hQ/s200/hospitalized4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrOW2-xYv-M/Sgj2CNSnp0I/AAAAAAAAA7s/MCbERGHTf9Q/s1600-h/hospitalized3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334784276408280898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LrOW2-xYv-M/Sgj2CNSnp0I/AAAAAAAAA7s/MCbERGHTf9Q/s200/hospitalized3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrOW2-xYv-M/Sgj2CKrYI9I/AAAAAAAAA7k/ypkb3n6tKM8/s1600-h/hospitalized2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334784275706815442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LrOW2-xYv-M/Sgj2CKrYI9I/AAAAAAAAA7k/ypkb3n6tKM8/s200/hospitalized2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrOW2-xYv-M/Sgj2BwxKrfI/AAAAAAAAA7c/LyeKapko8j4/s1600-h/hospitalized1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334784268751777266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LrOW2-xYv-M/Sgj2BwxKrfI/AAAAAAAAA7c/LyeKapko8j4/s200/hospitalized1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div>~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-7129671683170084932009-05-10T19:56:00.003-05:002009-05-10T20:04:52.584-05:00Happy Birthday to me...again<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nu9ybRfyQpY&hl=" width="425" height="344" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" fs="1"></embed></p><p></p><p>I can't believe these guys have done it again- freakin genius!!</p><p>My Bday was great.. better than I expected. I guess it doesn't hurt that i partied for 3 days straight. I'm soo tired it's not even funny. I'm so thankful that i had so many people so crunk and disorderly around me- kept my mind off of all the drama that's been afloat. I just wanna get back to living life, and loving it. </p><p>Sidenote: Everything just seems to be a little better when you're with someone...</p>~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-3948127729878961982009-05-07T20:15:00.013-05:002009-05-07T22:50:28.413-05:00open class<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyKq3WKwn4txrx2jKJ05L84cL-QKfg7Y3Slb-rETZis2dNuWtUmSus_1UXnw7KgLrQORg9qyANrk8dR1RLHUQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898012093620265226.post-27024619588540235482009-05-07T19:55:00.002-05:002009-05-07T20:01:00.601-05:00Up aginst a rock and a hard placeI'm English teacher in Yeongju in the very rural Gyeongbuk province. I don't have an understanding of Korean law, but I think my public English Center is doing some pretty shifty things. So I'm just writing to relieve stress and maybe get some help understanding an clarifying if what's been happening gives me . I'm beyond my cause to formally complain.... I have called every office of ministry to ask for help and they keep telling me I should ask elsewhere. 'I'm pretty much at wits end and I just want to get out of this nightmare -fairly. I know that rural schools are let off the hook alto because of their status, but they take small town politics to a new level.<br />1. Many teachers are hired and work for months without visas. These teachers are paid through other teachers accounts<br />2. The school often obligates us to work overtime without extra pay.<br />3. School obligates us to work extra English camps during vacation time. We are paid extra- however the rate of pay is changed drastically and without warning. usually after the camps are over<br />4. The school obligates teachers to attend impromptu dinners and noraebangs after school hours which last 6-8 hours.<br />5. School principal openly sexually harasses and man handles female teachers while drunk at said dinners and noraebangs.<br />6. The school does not recognize the contractual 15 paid sick days in our contracts. Teachers are hassled while sick and forced to come in anyways.<br />7. I am eligible for a pay grade for a EPIK GET level 2. However I was threatened into signing a contract that says GET 3. After many discussions- my pay grade level went up to level 2. However the contract says level 3. I've complained but was told it's a non issue. Now( after 10 months) the school is claiming overpayment: they are lowering my salary and taking my severance pay to compensate.<br />8. I requested a meeting with my school board where I discussed concerns about contracts, teaching hours, and teachers health. Afterwards, I actually ended up in the hospital for 4 days. Due to this I am being asked to non resign at my school. However it's been our understanding that i would resign since January; therefore I am not prepared for a move or another job search.<br />9. I've requested meeting with my principal and City board of Education- however, they are friends and are both refusing a face to face meeting, refusing all calls, and not responding to emails.<br />10.My principal wants me to write a letter stating that I don't want to resign. When I refused I was threatened with a poor reference and possible black listing for my particular town.<br />11. Our school is a center that operates with 8 teachers. We are losing 4 teachers in one month. There are no other teachers to take our spots. 2 of the teachers happen to be Caucasian and they have been written and formally asked to resign, however myself and the only other African American teacher want to resign and are being rejected. My co teacher informs me that the principal would like more Caucasian teachers for better image.<br />12. I secured a new job to go to .. however my principal called and got my offer withdrawn.~ M A R I P O S A ~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08873862072435646156noreply@blogger.com0