Well, exam week has ended for my 3rd years.  Now, they have until February to goof off in class and get their high school applications in.  Rather than even attempt to fight the changing atmosphere that will no doubt break over the school by tomorrow morning, my 3rd year co-teachers and I agreed to show a movie for the next few classes.  I chose "Elf", since it's both age appropriate and funny enough to keep their attention.  Usually, the kids talk even during the movies in class, but on Friday--the first day after exams--the kids were enthralled.  It was pretty funny.   They'd stare in silence while reading the subtitles, burst into hysterical laughter for several seconds, and then go back to being dead silent.  

I had to start a teachers class this week, much to my anxiety.  Most public schools require the native English teacher to offer classes for the non-English co-teachers at the school.  Thirteen ladies signed up for my Thursday class and I had no idea what to expect.  It turns out that most of them write English quite well (much better than most of the students) and just need some encouragement when it comes to speaking out.  I have to go to Kyobo Bookstore today in Gangnam to pick out a textbook for them to use.  I'm so relieved that the class seems like it will work out.  Other than my co-teachers, I really don't know any of my other co-workers.  We may say "hello" in the morning and afternoon, but that's it.  I have no idea what they teach, what years they teach, if they have family, etc.  So yeah, I'm just hoping that this helps me feel more comfortable at my school.

Ugh, on Friday, I was supposed to go see Epik High after winning Popseoul's trivia contest...but it didn't work out as planned.  There had been some huge miscommunication, so my name wasn't on the reserved list the way it was supposed to be.  I even begged a lady working there to let me in so I could show them my emails exchanged with Popseoul as some sort of verification.  She relented and led me down into the club, where they were still working on lights and sound.  I actually hurried past Tablo and the others guys, who were eating and having a drink in the main room, on my way to use the computer.  However, even when I showed her the emails, she was like, "Sorry...we have no idea what this is."  When I asked if there was any way I could still see the show, she said I could continue to wait outside and there might be extra space once the people with reserved tickets have gone in.  So Dean and I waited outside for a couple hours...and eventually went home.  I was so frustrated.  Right now, I'm in talks with Popseoul about some form of compensation, and they've been quite professional about it.  We'll see what happens!

Yesterday, I got so fed up with my crappy old Toshiba that I decided to buy a new notebook.  I'd been debating whether to wait until the end of this year to buy one, but after doing extensive internet research, I decided to just suck it up and buy one now.  The LG P300 had received rave reviews and wasn't too outrageously priced.  It's very light and FAST.  We went to about four computer stores in my our area--including the LG Best Shop--before caving and heading to Yongsan, Seoul's electronic district.  There, I got a fantastic deal.  1.4 million won (about $400-600 cheaper than the previous stores had offered), with a free upgrade to Vista Ultimate and a free installation of English Windows.  It took about 2 hours for them to uninstall the Korean Windows and install the English version, but Dean and I walked around I-Park mall and had some ice cream.  Overall, it was a really positive experience with Yongsan.  I usually leave Yongsan feeling slightly suspicious, like I could have gotten a better deal somewhere else.  But I was thrilled at finding the exact model that I wanted at a price that was below some of the prices listed on Gmarket.  

Yeah, sorry...my week wasn't too interesting! I met up with my cousin, her friend, and my high school friend for dinner and drinks on Thursday.  It was Margarita Night at On the Border (one of the few Mexican restaurants in Seoul)--you pay $25 and get unlimited margaritas and use of the special buffet.  So. Delicious.  I took some pictures on my cellphone and immediately sent them to some of my JA students.  The replies were, "WAAAAAAAA!!!! AMAZING! LOOKS SO DELICIOUS!!!" and "I want a taco!! Do you have tacos?? OMGGGGG."  Lol.  The next day, they came up to me with pouts, explaining that they'd just had Shin Ramyeon for dinner.  Poor little squirts.

I did have to break up a fight on Tuesday!  I completely forgot about that until now.   It was two first years.  Their friends were standing around them in a big circle, silently watching.  By the time I broke them apart (they were quite small and probably weigh about 80 pounds), one of them had a mouthful of blood and the other had a black eye.  I dragged them to the teachers office where their homeroom teacher dealt with them.  The next day, my co-teacher told me what happened.  Apparently, that group of boys started a "fight club", where they just pick two kids to fight each other and the others watch.  Ugh!!!  At that moment, I really missed the third years being there.  Even though they could be jackasses, they definitely kept the other students in their places.  I don't think the first years would have tried something like that in the middle of the field if the third years had been there, watching.  The kids didn't really learn their lesson, either.  Even as they were getting chewed out by the homeroom teacher, I looked over, one of them noticed, and started waving happily and frantically.  I frowned and pointed to the teacher.  He nodded, waved again, and then went back to trying to look solemn and remorseful.  Blah.

Ok, I don't really have pictures this week.  

Er...on Tuesday, I had only ONE class.  I spent a lot of my time in my classroom, listening to the new Britney album and taking lame pictures like this to send to my friend back home (we were talking on AIM at the time).

On Friday, Sunny's had enough with class 1-2 and they have to keep their hands over their heads for about 10 minutes as she lectures them.

My "heelllooooooo!!" second year boys.  Every day, I sit outside the school during lunch and have a short conversation with Dean.  Without fail, two or three second year boys pop their heads out the window and shout excitedly.  They do this for maybe fifteen minutes.  

And this one gets thrown in just because I love my new hat.  I want to get one in green or pale blue, as well.  

This title is Sleepwalker by The Wallflowers

Maybe I could be the one they adore
That could be my reputation
It's where I'm from that lets them think I'm a whore;
I'm an educated virgin

Sleepwalker, don't be shy
Now don't open your eyes tonight
You'll be the one that defends my life
While I'm dead asleep dreamin'..