Sunday, August 28, 2011

TW3

Well, I showed up for my first day of classes for the new semester on Monday, only to learn ... there were no classes. I wasn't exactly disappointed by this revelation, but is it really too much to ask for someone to let me know about these things?

The reason we had no classes was somehow related to the fact there was an assembly at 11:00 for the retirement ceremony of Principal Jun and art teacher Lee Cheonggi. A guy retired last year and they had a ceremony for him too, followed by some really awesome pit-roasted pork (much like you'd find at Sprayberry's, for my Newnan readers). It was awesome, and I was looking forward to a similar celebratory meal ... but there was none. Not even the regular school lunch.

Tuesday and Wednesday are normal school days, and then I am told we will have the ceremony to install the new principal, who was previously the Vice-Principal, on Thursday, so there will be no classes Thursday after lunch.

Regular readers will not be too surprised to learn that we indeed had classes Thursday afternoon, and the ceremony began at 4:00. Afterward, Principal Shim was in his office, with the door slightly open, when I dropped by to give him a little gift. A bottle of 18 Y.O. Chivas Regal, the world's best blended, IMHO. He speaks as little English as I do Korean, but I get a really friendly vibe off him, so we sat and sipped a healthy couple of fingers worth while exchanging a few (very few) words.

Late Friday morning, I got a text message from the supervisor at Nambu District Office, who runs the program overseeing my Public Speaking class, telling me to check my email. In the email, she urgently wants to know if I can come to the district office on Saturday from 4 to 7 PM (that's the next day), to help grade eassays.

I almost said no purely on the principle that these people need to be more considerate of our lives, and our time. However, three hours work at 80,000 W per hour is a pretty strong inducement. All the other graders who gathered had known about this since the beginning of the week, so I'm unclear why I wasn't informed. Indeed, as I am the specialist instructor, and as this was the first step in the vetting process of candidates for the course, I would think my input would be primary.

In unrelated TW3 news (That Was The Week That Was), my trivia team was back at full strength on Thursday, and came in first place. Natch.

6 comments:

Andrew Lasher said...

much like you'd find at Sprayberry's, for my Newnan readers

I was very surprised by the above because I was always under the impression that you were the only person from Newnan that could actually read.

Tuttle said...

Uh, I bet Newnan's literacy rate is comparable to Philly's, probably higher. But by "readers" I refer to friends and old students, all of whom, i assure you, can read.

Gavin said...

Steve, having taught in 6 Asian countries, you have to try to expect the unexpected. I can't!! and knowing you, you would never get used to it , either. Koreans think they are industrious, but when it comes down to efficiency, they are not. They will boast about working 14 hours a day and what they achieve in that time, you and I would do it in 8.

Taking that into consideration and thier thoughts on academies being more superior to REAL schools,then what does 1 wasted day matter?

Tuttle said...

Gav, you're right about not getting used to t, but I don't let it bother me much. Also, I read, but can't put my finger on it, in some OECD report that Koreans have the highest number of working hours, but the lowest productivity per hour.

People feel they have to show their "diligence" by working late--I try to show mine by working hard and well, and knocking off at a reasonable hour.

George Bailey Sees The World! said...

Nice work, sir - I think those essays are actually for the Critical Reading and Writing group - so do a good job, will ya?!!!

Tuttle said...

Dave, what's up? See you in a year! But no, the essays I graded were clearly marked by the students for the PSP xlass--the vetting process has gotten more complex. I go back in tomorrow for the speaking/interview part, in which we will go from the fifty or so down to the final 26.

Good luck in your grad program, I hope to see you again in a year!