what doesn't kill you makes you (stronger)...

a detour through life in korea as seen through my handphone...

long ago promised pictures of the puzzle cafe. as you can see, puzzles everywhere! the largest puzzles in the world on the wall, puzzles on the shelves, puzzles on the ceiling! and half of our group working on their puzzle. i don't think you can see them, but our mugs were sitting on puzzle piece-shaped coasters. what bliss.

although korean-produced coffee is virtually nonexistent, their cafe themes are virtually endless. cat lovers can mingle with their furry friends (although you can't bring your own cat, apparently). there's a hello kitty cafe as well, if you prefer your cats in cartoon form. i prefer neither, just so you know.

was it just last week? maybe two weeks ago. we were studying alternative energy in 12th grade, so i had them make eco-friendly KICS building models. here are some of the most visually impressive (although not necessarily the most functional or realistic :)

one of them even had a moving solar panel. many of them put to use the "PaveGen", as inspired by their reading of this article.

so things have remained interesting on the school front.

unfortunately, this has been one of the most trying weeks in terms of administrative insanity. the kids received a lovely gift at morning chapel, or maybe they saw a need for bicep work. (i stole this photo from my coworker.)

yeah, you see that correctly. every student standing with their chair above their head.

they also introduced us to three new folders. one for "attitude check" for our homeroom during chapel, one for "cleaning check" for our homeroom, and one to write down every time we make more than 5 copies at a time. 

but it's time like these that i remember Brother Yun, who faces actual persecution every day. so you know what? we're hanging in there with faith. 

we're actually studying submission to authority this week in class (yeah, it's actually in the curriculum - strange, strange mennonite homeschooling curriculum). 

wisdom. 

the sun is up...

and winter really might be over in korea. we've had warm(er) days lately.

although the sun might be setting at my school. want to see our new list of "classroom principles", recited before school every day? some of them are actually helpful, but it gets pretty hilarious. and supposedly we're supposed to have them recite before every class too, but for sanity's sake...[the horrors of daily recitation? this is from memory...even the grammar and spelling problems...]

1. start and end class with prayer.
2. take daily attendance.
3. start and end class on time.
4. do not play a joke, go around, or chat during class. if you are sleepy, go to the back of the class and stand.
5. speak only english in class.
6. raise your hand if you have a question.
7. study with proper posture and attitude (do not stretch your legs, put your chin on your hand, cross your legs, or lay down on the desk)
8. do not use electronic devises (without permission)
9. do not leave the classroom during class
10. keep your classroom clean

always nice to start the morning with a stand-up routine, no?

in order to exert their almighty control, the administration has also decided that during our free periods (one a day, more if we're lucky) we will be their spies, writing up fellow teachers if any of their students break these rules. i have been written up twice for students resting their head on their chin (although the paper says chin on chin, which would be a lot more difficult). i refuse to blow whistles, so i hold up inspirational signs instead (e.g., "best teacher ever", "high 5", "don't stop believin'"...).

seriously, besides the fact that every new administrator thinks of new ways to earn respect gain power by making up ridiculous things for the teachers to follow, the students remain surprisingly benevolent and patient. and we've had some good times in class, joking together about the classroom policies, among other things.

time for class.

today, today...

today is a major national holiday in korea.




so we're working, of course.