Well, another month has passed. I couldn't update the blog because I became listless and lazy during this period. However, this has now passed and so I will input what I can remember.
Main news:
BFA Pete wants to renew his contract and stay for another year, as does the Crazy Korean/American. My aim during the following few weeks is to make sure that doesn't happen.
Paul, my new best friend, has got a girlfriend - so I am sad. She is 22 and was a teacher trainee that came here before. He knows I am sad, and so sends me text messages every time he meets her to tell me he is with her. I don't like Paul very much anymore.
I met up with Nice Girl, but got into trouble cause I was 15 mins late. We spent the day walking around a park. In the evening she went back to her hometown, but not before I had missed the final of the Under 18's Football Tournament between Nigeria and Spain, which was annoying cause it was on TV. Thakfully Nigeria won it, and will now probably win the World Cup in 2010. Nice Girl knew I wanted to watch it, but suggested we go somewhere where there was no TV. When she finally went home I had the misfortune to bump into the other Korean/American in this city, who hates Koreans and Korea. She will go on and on about what is wrong with Korea. I cannot stand her at all, but she likes me for some reason. She is the kind of person that after you have met once or twice, you want to ask 'Why do you exist?'. Everytime I see her I cannot stop an expression of 'Oh sh%t, not you again' spreading accross my face - but she doesn't notice. Sadly it seems, she doesn't have many friends. Now that Paul has cheated on me, neither do I. Never mind.
A week or so later...
The Girl Who Was Once Nice now refuses to speak to me at all. Why? Well, I didn't go to see her in her hometown like I said I would. Why? Because I went out to continue my research into Korean beers on Saturday night, and there must have been something wrong with one of them, as on Sunday I could not move all day. It also made my memory go, so I didn't call The Girl Who Was Once Nice to tell her I wouldn't come. She didn't call me either.
The following day I sent an e-mail to say 'Oops. Sorry I forgot.' But there was no reply. I think she hates me now. No matter. It wasn't going that well really, so it's probably for the best. It's not like we have to see each other again, so although it's a messy ending, at least it's an ending.
English Camps...
There have been several more kids camps. Each time someone mentions the 'Weasley' word, or 'Ron's brothers...the twins'. After they see my expression they usually add 'Oh...he's very handsome' - but the words are hollow. I'm becoming immune now anyway.
At the last camp BFA Pete and Crazy Korean/American girl judged the kids performances as they acted out such wonders as 'Snow White' and 'Smelly Cinderella'..as well as 4 others. Also judging was the new Korean supervisor, Ms. Kim. Ms. Kim seemed to see things differently to the other two, and disagreed about the winner. This angered the two judges from the USA greatly. Later that evening I had the fortune to be in the same room as the USA people when BFA Pete said to the Crazy K/A:
'That woman doesn't know what she is doing! I mean, I have performed on Broadway, and you lived in Hollywood, so we both know about acting. What experience does she have?' They were judging 5 minute skits by students who had never acted before, couldn't speak English that well, and were shy and nervous.
The other 2 teachers on my floor who I work with will leave after their contracts expire. That being Ellena - our supervisor who doesn't supervise, and her boyfriend Gerrad, who doesn't do much at all. Gerrad goes in December, and his missus follows in January. There is the possiblilty of a complete clean sweep - all 4 who I have to work with might be gone by February, and that would be a dream come true.
Ellena, our supervisor from Canada has had enough of it here and wants to go. Can't blame her. I am in no way jealous of the fact she has 6 hours of 'Movie English' each week where all she does is put on a DVD of 'Edward Scissorhands' and leaves the kids to watch it...with Korean subtitles of course. The hardest part for her is to remember to return to the classroom when the movie finishes to tell the kids 'class is over'. Once Ellena said she has a very busy day on Tuesdays. I pointed out that most of the day was actually spent watching a movie. She said I should imagine what it's like to watch the same movie over and over again. I said to her that she doesn't watch the f_____g movie at all, cause she is never in the f_____g room when it is on, so how the f___ can she say that to me? There was complete silence. She had left the room before I said those words, but I think she knew what I was going to say...and that's why she left.
Eviction Meeting.
Towards the end of the month we were called to a meeting. In the meeting, the Korean leader told us that 3 contracts were up for renewal, and as is a tradition in the Korean work place, we should all evaluate our collegues. We were handed a form upon which were heading such as 'Enthusiasm', 'Teaching ability', 'Ability to get along with co-workers', and 'Personality'. We should grade BFA Pete and Crazy Korean/American. Paul was also up for renewal but as he works with different people, I'm not allowed to comment on him. This was all explained to us in detail - with the 3 evictees also in the room, which must have been uncomfortable for them. Shame.
This is an exciting time - Who will get evicted?? Will it be a double eviction?? Paul is hot favourite to stay...but will the other two be packing their bags come December? We decide! But we don't really cause it's the leader who has probably already decided, but would rather make out it was the decision of the whole group. Anyway...it's definately exciting here all of a sudden.
The next day in the Big Freaky House: BFA Pete is in David's room. Pete is being very nice to David today. David wants a big pizza for lunch and considers asking BFA Pete to go and get it for him...but decides to have an egg sandwich instead.
Crazy Korean/American is in the corridoor. She is visiting various people in their classrooms to bring them joy and happiness and to say nice words and do good things. Today she loves kids, and is thrilled to work 'with such nice people'. BFA Pete looks annoyed that he didn't think of saying that.
Paul is also in David's classroom. He is looking smug and comfortable in the knowledge that he is the publics favourite to stay in the house.
Ellena and Gerrad are nowhere, and have no idea what's going on. Neither do they care.
Four of the housemates have failed the two tasks given to them to date, one of which was to simply get along, and the other was to teach kids much more better English in a way that didn't confuse and disappoint them. The remaining housemate, who will not be named, has gradually been going insane since his arrival into the Big Freaky House in June, and is considering nominating himself for eviction if he doesn't get his way bloody soon.
Friday, 4pm
David and the Big Boss are alone in David's room. BB asks David, in confidence, what he thinks of the 2 nominated muppets he works with that are up for eviction. David replies:
BFA Pete doesn't get along with people because his brain makes his mouth open before it has finished thinking. This will never change. He has no respect for authority, is rude to kids, has sworn at kids, has hit kids, has squirted kids and teachers with a water gun, has made lude remarks about the 12 and 15 year old kids he teaches, has no real perception of the fact that the students don't understand most of what he says, he teaches irrellevent things in an irrelevent way, and finally he thinks he doen't have an accent. To sum up - he is an arse.
About Crazy Korean/American David said: She doesn't teach, she shouts and screams. She doesn't talk
to students, she talks
at them. Her English ability is embarrasingly low, which she displays to everyone by making signs with bad grammar and putting them around the building. She always tells the kids she lived in Hollywood, and gives them lots of sweets during class so that they like her. She is unstable. She is, at times, evil. She has a 'Fan mail' box outside her room. To sum up - she is pain in the freakin arse.
To conclude: It would be the easiest thing in the world to find 2 replacements better than these two. If you want this 'English Camp' to improve, don't renew their contracts. Tinky Winky and Dipsy can do better than them.
