Water Tray: Glitter and Sparkle!

I'm now working at my new school in Seoul. Because the school just opened in September, we didn't have many toys and resources at first. But finally our water tray arrived, and we have been having so much fun with it! For this week we tossed in some glitter, sequins, and these linking toys that are in different shapes. You can use them to measure things or sort them by colour or shape.

 

This water tray is clear plastic, which is cool. Here's an undershot! You can see the view of the apartment blocks reflected in the water. So different from the view from my previous school in Tanzania!

The Korean Gift Exchange has begun!

I've been reading about how much Koreans like to exchange small gifts with friends and I had mentally prepared myself to buy a stash of stuff in preparation for the move. I did not, however, expect this gift exhange to begin whilst we were still in Arusha!

My husband Jouni works for the British council, and teaches English at different levels. Turns out some of his students and Korean, and he received a brown paper bag filled with these snacks and instant coffees from one of them last week. We spent a long time thinking about what we could send back: since I had just returned from England and was well stocked in the snack department, we sent some different English chocolate bars and a postcard from London.

This culture of giving and receiving gift for no reason will be an exciting part of our lives very soon!

Korea in August!

SO, I am now moving to Korea in August instead of December. My job has been pushed forward! I'm all kinds of scared and excited. I'll pretty much finish this job, hang out with all the wedding guests, attend my wedding, then go to Korea (I need to be there by 12th August and the school opens at the end of August). My husband Jouni doesn't know yet if he'll come in August or join me in December.

SOOOO. that means I will have a couple of weeks to prepare my classroom and stalk K-Pop bands. I have a lot to do but mostly learning Korean: I'm reluctant to start because I sort of want to use my language learning efforts to consolidate my Swahili before leaving. But I'm pretty excited to learn the writing part!

THEY SAID YES!

I got the job! From January 2014 I am going to be a class teacher for a new Prep School called Eton House Hannam. YAY! Now we just have to work out what to do with those middle months between the two jobs... from september to december. We have a few ideas and will let you know the decision as soon as it has been made.

South Korea... or not?

I've been very busy producing different documents for a school in South Korea recently: a seven page application form, a profile of myself in the third person, a personal statement, a letter about why I like the school, a powerpoint presentation, and two interviews. I really like this school. They had over 150 applicants and I was told last Wednesday that I'm in the top 15. There's five jobs. Will one of them be mine? Today is the day that I find out! FINGERS CROSSED.

Where am I going next?

This part of my life is driving me crazy, because I don't yet know which country I'm going to next. I've sent out job applications to a few schools and I have not yet heard anything back (well, that's not quite true. I've had one 'Thanks but no thanks'). I'm so impatient.

Normally I feel quite relaxed about where I live, but I don't like feeling as though I'm not in control and I'm tired of waiting. I have heard that in general Asia are a bit scared of Africa and I am wondering if that is why they are hesitant to employ me. I really am a good teacher and I will work hard. I have qualifications and experience. These schools should totally hire me: they won't regret it!