3. Day 2

I don't know if I can adequately convey how much better the second day of teaching was. I was stern, much more stern than I normally am... but I felt like a teacher, not a babysitter. But I couldn't help thinking that any if the kids I've taught or looked after before would have been scared out of there wits to see me like that. Once I get them in line I'm hoping I can gradually loosen the reigns a bit. And then, joy of joys, I will be able to use my normal teaching strategy -- a reward system. It's just that reward system kind of has to be explained, and I can't explain anything to these kids that isn't "I am wearing blue pants" or "My favourite colour is green". I think if I were just to implement it, it would seem like I was being kind of random to them.

Anyway, they sat (or stood, or sang as instructed) and listened and participated. It was wonderful. I used a song that Julie Crabb had taught me (Punchanello), and they loved it.

Onto other things... the food. They give me breakfast at the school, which consists of a fruit salad sandwich (at least, I think that's what it is). It's fruitmayonnaisese... and onions. And I love it! It's a combination I would never have thought of, but it's just delicious. I also ate lunch at the school yesterday and it was pretty good too -- well, except for the kimchee (sp?). That wasn't as bad as I had anticipated, but there are many variations of kimchee, so I might have just had a particularly mild one. Of course, after I had eaten it, Martin (another teacher, he's from New Zealand) told me that kimchee was "grown in human excrement"... which I hadn't heard before at all, and I'm not sure I believe it. But I can tell you that I probably won't be eating any more kimchee just in case.

Anyway, I'd better be off, I'm writing this in the morning before Day 3, so I have to head to work.

Love to all of you!