That's right kiddies! It's CHRISTMAS TIME!
As much as I have loathed the holiday season in previous years (working retail will do that to you), I have been experiencing a new found pleasure in the Christmas season. Though South Korea has a substantial Christian population, Christmas is not the massive, in-your-face marketing monstrosity that I am accustomed to seeing in America. It's rather refreshing to listen to listen to Christmas carols when I want to, rather than whenever I go to a place with a PA system. But the laid back approach to the celebration of Winter Solstice is not the only thing I've come to experience in this December.
It's only the second week of December and practically everyone has "checked-out," proverbially speaking. Last week, the last of my middle schoolers had their final exams. Which means they have nothing left to learn for the remaining three weeks of school.
So what are we to do?
Whatever we damn well please, as far as I can tell. With no textbook lessons left to teach and students experiencing an extra dose of apathy, I'm encountering a liberation from the obligations of textbook teaching. In fact, many teachers simply show movies at this time of year, something I am reluctant to do (mainly because I want to save films for when I have to teach the little buggers without a co-teacher). It's a little exciting to talk about something other than text book expressions that make no sense. It also liberates me from having to construct so many lessons. Students at all levels can appreciate a Christmas lecture, add in a few games, and you're free from lesson planning for the month! (well you would be if you only had middle school to teach, alas....) Now I have a hoard of time to myself at my freezing cold desk to plan for winter camps, spring semester, travel plans, and oh so many more things!
At least that would be the case if yours truly hadn't been hit by the "Christmas-time-can't-give-a-damn" bug.
I've collected most of my lessons for this month, I still have lots of planning left to do, not to mention I need to start learning Korean (yes, I've been here for four months, I should have started earlier)! But do I have the energy or interest to do any of these things?
Well, no, not really.
Like so often, I am full of good intentions and ideas of how to occupy my time with productive work. Yet, for some reason, today I just can't muster up the nerve to buckle down and work. Maybe it's the -15 C weather, or my waning patience, I'm not sure. One thing is for sure though, I'm shivering, settled up, and finding new ways to fritter away time!
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