Turn that frown up-side down! :( => :)

I've recently come to the conclusion that I complain a lot. Especially recently.

So, if you're one of the people who has gotten a complaint-ridden text message, e-mail, or phone call, then I'm sorry.

Instead, in this post, I want to focus on the positive aspects of my new job, amongst other things. Because, you know, the positive things TOTALLY outweigh the negative aspects. Promise. :) Sometimes I just like to complain.

So, I'm going to take some of the things that I complain about (whether it's to other people, or just in my head) and turn them into positive things. :)

In no particular order :::

Negative Thinking: I live in in a dormitory instead of an apartment.
Positive Thinking: I don't have to worry about drunk people banging on my door in the middle of the night.
Explanation: Occassionally, people back in Hogyedong would complain about being woken up in the middle of the night by a drunk man (or woman) thinking they lived there. There's security in my dormitory. I don't have to worry about a thing. :)

Negative Thinking: I don't have my own washing machine.
Positive Thinking: There are combination washer-dryers on my floor.
Explanation: Do I even have to remind you all how wonderful it is to have your towels or sheets freshly out of the dryer? Didn't think so. And the whole sharing thing? It's totally okay because the students aren't allowed in the dormitory during the day - so they're pretty much open.

Negative Thinking: I don't have a kitchen (or anything resembling a kitchen).
Positive Thinking: I have a microwave and a fridge (and soon I'll bring my oven up), AND there's a cafeteria.
Explanation: I didn't really cook much anyways. So, really, I didn't lose anything. :) Once I bring my oven up, it'll be EVEN better.

Negative Thinking: Most of the other teachers don't really talk to me.
Positive Thinking: It'll help me become more outgoing again.
Explanation: If I have to go out of my way to talk to other people, it'll force me to become a more social person, right? Or, at least, maybe I'll be more inspired to learn Korean. Or spend my new-found free time learning SOMEthing.

Negative Thinking: I'm not provided with a curriculum.
Positive Thinking: I'm become more of a teacher.
Explanation: I have no formal training in this. None. I've never taken an ED class in my life. So it's kind of gratifying to find that I'm not COMPLETELY drowning here. I'm learning when works on my own, and luckily, my students are, for the most part, very understanding of that.

Negative Thinking: I have to teach 2-1.
Positive Thinking: I get to teach 2-2, 2-3, and 2-4.
Explanation: 2-1 is a black hole of unmotivation. In general, they just don't care. There are a few exceptions. But after talking with other teachers (Korean and foreign), I've learned that it's NOT me - it's just the way they are. That makes me feel both better, and worse. Better because I realize it doesn't have much to do with my teaching style. Worse because it makes me lose hope about getting them to care. BUT I get to teach my other classes, and they are AMAZING. I won't bore you right now with exactly WHY they're amazing ... instead, just let me say that Tuesdays and Wednesdays (and Thursday afternoons) are my favorites because I get to be in a classroom with those classes. Oh, and if I could, I would adopt like ... 15 of them.

So, actually, I have it really good here. Besides the exceptionally motivated students in 2-2, 2-3, and 2-4 ... I have my own classroom ... my own room is much larger than my apartment in Hogyedong ... I have a lot of freedom to do what I want with my students ... I only teach 16 classes a week ... and I get to work with high school students, sometimes in a sort-of pseudo-advising capacity which was my original intent when I went to University. I used to want to be a high school guidance counselor, and recently I've had a few students come to me who want to talk about preparing for university in the States. I've even had students confide to me things about their personal lives, which is pretty cool that they are so open and they trust me.

So ... I think I'll stay here for a while. :)