....the down side.

So, I woke up this morning with about 10 bug bites on my arms, little trails leading up both arms and around the elbows. Not cool. I love sleeping with my window open, but if these little pests can come in, then I might have to rethink that option. I just don’t want to have to pay the bills that come along with using the air conditioner. Sigh. Today at school was challenging. I personally want to go up to every kindergarten teacher in the world and give them a big hug and a pat on the back and apologize for any child who has ever not listened to them. And maybe apologize to some of my teachers, who I may have acted out to once in a while. Honestly, though I think I was a very good student, the worst I did was talk while the teacher talked, and that started later on, way past kindergarten. Maybe. I have a few rowdy children, who when they get rowdy, stir up the other kids, creating a classroom of rowdiness. Today, I found myself thinking “I honestly don’t know how much longer I can do this”. Carla came into my class after I looked at her with desperate eyes and tried to help calm certain key students down. Ironically, it appeared that a new face was just a new person to show off to. Carla’s presence was helpful, but it did not in any way modify behaviour. She told me that she will come in for an hour before lunch and an hour after lunch for a while and we’ll see where that takes us. If students like the one I am speaking of were present in classes in Canada, I am sure that some form of disciplinary action (aka suspension) would take place. I have tried time outs, talking to him, everything. When he is in trouble, he listens and I feel like I am getting through to him, but when he’s allowed back to the group, it’s like nothing has registered. Forget positive reinforcement, when that happens it’s almost like his brain thinks “haha, now I have free reign to do something bad again”. And he does. Over and over again.
On a brighter note, we went shopping after school today for groceries and I now have a full refrigerator. I missed cooking, so I am glad to be well equipped now. There seems to be a lack of music here in Korea, that or the songs all sound the same. I have one in my head just now, and I’m not sure, but I think the lyrics say “look in to my eyes and say go, go, go...”. Now I realize this is no help to you since you do not have a melody to attach to those lyrics, but imagine something that might belong on a game show, mixed with something that might appear on the soundtrack for a video game. Now throw in some Korean dancers with metallic clothing, and yep, you’ve pretty much got it. Anyway, I bring that up because I either have a Korean pop tune stuck in my head, or one of my classroom songs. I admit, a Korean pop tune is better than “Head and Shoulders” or “Clean up”. Speaking of Korean music, we are planning to venture into Seoul this weekend to experience some night life, club style. Hopefully that doesn’t cost too much, but the experience will probably be worth it.