It is the time for Christmas music! I have to say, since I
am living alone here in Korea, I haven’t been feeling very festive this
Christmas season (especially since Christmas is a one day holiday here in Korea
and is on a Sunday this year, allowing for 0 days off work). However, after
DJing the Christmas card and ornament making for the youngest hagwon students
on Friday and then attending a little Christmas get together yesterday and
finally actually singing Christmas songs at church today, I am in the Christmas
spirit. It is past time for me to find and play my favorite Christmas album
(Alabama Christmas, 1985, of course). I’m usually listening to it by
mid-November at the latest, but the move through me off my usual timeline (not
to mention the fact that American Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated in Korea—why would
it be?—so I didn’t have a Christmas season marker).
It’s been busy at the hagwon since the elementary students
started a new quarter on the first. Many students and classes have been added
and my hours teaching increased. I got news this Friday that my hours will
increase again starting January 2nd with the beginning of winter
vacation additional classes; if I have to teach one of the additional classes
every day it will max out my contractual hours without putting me over (so no
extra pay for the 1-1.5 extra hours of work day).
Speaking of pay (or lack thereof), I have still yet to be
paid, though I am due in this coming Tuesday. I’m quite excited to have money
to buy necessary things such as food, cleaning supplies, and furniture. A rice
cooker, bedside table, Swiffer, and meat are but a few items on my list. Since
I’ve noticed mold growing in my entryway this is good timing to be able to
purchase bleach and a scrub brush that will be designated for mold only. I’m
also thinking of getting some kind of dehumidifier for the entryway to prevent
a repeat of this lovely plant (fungal?) life in my apartment.
It’s hard to believe that Christmas is only a week away.
With Christmas comes Christmas break for students in the States, many of whom
are returning home, even to places as far away as Korea. This is lucky for me
because it gives me a chance to get together with some of my Korean friends who
are studying in the US. I already have a planned get together in Seoul and am
hoping for another in Jeju. Hurray for get-away weekends with old friends!
