Let It Roll Off You. Like Water.

The end of this week is going to signify a lot of changes at work. It's the end of the semester so, naturally, things will change. For the first time in my time here, however, the line-up of Middle School teachers will also change. Joel, my colleague and good friend, will be headed back home to Australia on Friday. In response to this, one full-time Middle School teacher and one half-Middle, half-Elementary teacher have been added to the foreign Middle School roster.

Things aren't all rosy, though- I've asked for a new timetable and it hasn't been released yet. Today's Thursday and I really want to have all of my ducks in a row for Monday, but our head teacher is afraid because a number of the Korean Middle School teachers are leaving. Three, I believe, of ten or so. So yes, it's going to be difficult to get a schedule together, but in response to this, I raised my fist with confidence and said the above.

"We can do it! Never give up!"

In spite of everything, I'm starting to feel ready for the role of 'veteran foreign Middle School teacher.' What's 'everything,' you ask? Well, in the past few weeks, there's been a good amount of social fragmentation amongst the foreign teachers. I don't know why or what's behind it, but there's a definite feeling of clique-ishness both in the office and out. I'd go on and list examples, but I don't want to waste my (or your) time with details. Add this to the fact that I live on the other side of the Overpass and things become more isolating. Top it off with the fact that, at the moment, I'm the only person working the hours I do and there you have it. Utter alienation. It's tough to deal with, but I'm learning to using my new mantra: Let it roll off you. Like water.

What most people don't realize is that some people spend a painfully large amount of effort simply to be normal, socially acceptable, what not. The people who spend that effort, well, I think they're making a rather sizeable mistake; consider modern existance a river of sorts. Clearly, this river flows rather rapidly. It's going to take a miracle to push against the stream, so it's much better to go with it... not in the sense that one has to conform, but in the sense that one doesn't, actually. The idea is that many go through great effort to build a boat or raft, craft oars from God-knows-what and then dump it into the river in order to float merrily along. Some people start with rafts. Some people start with yachts, even. Myself, I don't have anything, and I'll be damned if I'm going to waste my time building something to ensure my safety. The approach I favor is flinging one's self directly into the river and braving the adventure.

"We can do it! Never give up!"

Won't one crack his head on a rock doing things this way? Yeah, sure, maybe so. So what, though? After the first few times, he'll learn to gracefully maneuver around the rocks. Broken femurs, tibulas, sternums... these aren't a jackhammer to the head, they're a chisel to the stone. Step out of the river, brush yourself off, and then toss yourself in again. After all, what else is there?

'Oh, but the river doesn't make any sense!' Of course, you'll hear these objections. You'll even bark them when you get caught on a hook during your river ride. 'This hook shouldn't be here!' It doesn't matter whether the hook should or shouldn't be there; what matters is that it's there, and you need to deal with it.

It's essentially a way of saying 'don't sweat the small stuff,' but I'm trying to redefine what the 'small stuff' really is. In the end, I think the 'small stuff' really might just be everything. People worry too much. Case in point: if you're waiting to cross the street at a crosswalk in Korea and there's no light, just go. You'll be fine. If you start going and then you stop because a car is coming, that's when you're in the most danger. I was once told 'don't hesitate ever, ever again,' and the advice seems to hold true.

I was also told that I 'dress live a suave motherfucker, and it's about time to start acting like one.' I'm trying, I really am. I'm so accustomed to worrying about every last little thing, and I'm starting to learn in a big way that it does nothing but cause a person trouble.

Changing one's mindset is hard, but...

"We can do it! Never give up!"

Itaewon, Swagger and You.

So I'm in Itaewon, hanging out and waiting. For what? That's an entirely different story.

In eight minutes, I'll go and try to track down the owner of The Hive to talk about booking a show.

Itaewon is pretty interesting. It's the foreigner district of Seoul (unofficially, but you can do everything from smoke hookah to get Turkish kebabs to buy Djarum Blacks to track down Kraft Macaroni and Cheese).

Not too long ago I was hanging out at The Hive before hours and I was wondering, well, how did I get in here and why has nobody kicked me out? It's easy; just appear confident and self-assured at all times, and people will assume that you're exactly where you're meant to be. It's probably how those crazy Salahis got into the White House.

This is something I can apply to class. I didn't have any classes this week, so I spent time observing the newer teachers. I observed a teacher with prior Korea and teaching experience and, needless to say, I learned a Hell of a lot. Once again, it's all about appearing confident and self-assured at all times despite whatever else may be going on.

This is something I've known for a while now but I've never really seen it in action as clearly as I have in the past week or so. Moreover, it's not something I feel I've really done with a great deal of success until coming here. To think that I stepped off the plane with nothing but a job and some luggage... and now I'm starting to get shit together. It's like I've made a home for myself here, really. I find it impressive.


All in all, things are going well. It's still strange and difficult at times, and I still get those sudden 'Holy shit, I'm in Korea' moments... but, all in all, things are going well.

I should be off now- I'll rap at you lot later.

-토마스