Ben Swetman
I don't believe in the Jesus or any of his apotheosized cousins but am still fairly comfortable with the process of life, the whole nothing's promised and it's all borrowed time anyhow thing. But that doesn't mean it isn't absolutely shocking how immediate death is. Another English teacher here died Friday, and while I didn't know him enough to warrant extreme emotional pain, it nevertheless hit me in that sweet spot where I've spent most of the weekend entirely stunned, mostly to reflect on just how arbitrary fortune is. His name was Ben, and I met him while playing basketball at orientation when I first arrived in Koko. At the end of orientation we traded emails so we could make plans to play again sometime. It took awhile to get around to hollering at him since it was cold by the time I settled in, so basketball had to wait out the winter. Once it was safe enough to go outside again, though, basketball was usually a last minute decision for me, so I'd text on the way to the park and he'd auto-respond with, "Yo foo', I have a wife and kid...need more than three seconds' notice, haha."
Kid actually became kids two months ago when his daughter was born, which makes this photo entirely unbearable. The last time I spoke to Ben in the autumn he was big and strong and humming along through a blessed life, but when I looked him up last week he was in a hospital bed, emaciated and dying from cancer. I can't even imagine what it felt like to look at his daughter and think the thousands of obvious thoughts that must have felt worse than the actual cancer.
Ben was extremely devoted to his Christian faith, and I hope I'm completely wrong about religion and that he gets an opportunity in heaven to spend much more time with his son and daughter than he had in this lifetime. He was kind, gentle, and giving and deserved everything he had and so, so much more. I hope he can rest in peace.
Kid actually became kids two months ago when his daughter was born, which makes this photo entirely unbearable. The last time I spoke to Ben in the autumn he was big and strong and humming along through a blessed life, but when I looked him up last week he was in a hospital bed, emaciated and dying from cancer. I can't even imagine what it felt like to look at his daughter and think the thousands of obvious thoughts that must have felt worse than the actual cancer.
Ben was extremely devoted to his Christian faith, and I hope I'm completely wrong about religion and that he gets an opportunity in heaven to spend much more time with his son and daughter than he had in this lifetime. He was kind, gentle, and giving and deserved everything he had and so, so much more. I hope he can rest in peace.
Operation: Rando Enforcement of School Policy
Seokchon authorities launched a student crackdown this morning:
I missed all the good photo ops since my school camera (the one that doesn't take very good pictures) was upstairs, so by the time I retrieved it and scurried back downstairs the line had dwindled to just those few who actually arrive later than I do. (I was last on time seven weeks ago.) Violations included wearing outside shoes instead of slippers; leaving half their uniforms at home; wearing skirts shorter than their attention span; and, er, being late. Probably should have issued an immediate amnesty considering the last time anything in the Student Code of Conduct was actually enforced predates Jewish history. Or last October, whichever context helps you understand just how rando all this biz was. Wish they'd just bring back corporal punishment, for the realz.
I missed all the good photo ops since my school camera (the one that doesn't take very good pictures) was upstairs, so by the time I retrieved it and scurried back downstairs the line had dwindled to just those few who actually arrive later than I do. (I was last on time seven weeks ago.) Violations included wearing outside shoes instead of slippers; leaving half their uniforms at home; wearing skirts shorter than their attention span; and, er, being late. Probably should have issued an immediate amnesty considering the last time anything in the Student Code of Conduct was actually enforced predates Jewish history. Or last October, whichever context helps you understand just how rando all this biz was. Wish they'd just bring back corporal punishment, for the realz.
AMR4.0
My tiny homegirl is 4 today, which is a bit unsettling since she should be at least 16 before she begins work keeping house for seven incontinent old men.
Then again, she should also wait till she's 21 before downing shooters, but the lady already knows what she likes:
생일 축하합니다 and 사랑해 to my baller of a niece.
Then again, she should also wait till she's 21 before downing shooters, but the lady already knows what she likes:
생일 축하합니다 and 사랑해 to my baller of a niece.
Overworked
Today is Thursday. I went to work and taught a full complement of classes. Last Thursday was midterms, so I went in a half hour late, watched some baseball, took a two-hour nap under my desk, broke for lunch, did one hour's worth of work, then knocked off two hours early because it was nice outside and Olympic Park looked like this:
Tomorrow is Friday. I will teach a full complement of classes as well as finish planning for next week's classes. Last week was midterms, so all I did was wallpaper my classroom with English verbs and read a book. I didn't take any photos. I need a holiday.
Tomorrow is Friday. I will teach a full complement of classes as well as finish planning for next week's classes. Last week was midterms, so all I did was wallpaper my classroom with English verbs and read a book. I didn't take any photos. I need a holiday.
Gaymes my Students Play
My classroom is in a forgotten corner of school, meaning the more mischievous of students will congregate there during lunch to smoke weed, play dice, and bet on chicken fights, among other faux-gangsta trouble the junior high youf are known for. They also play peculiar games together, the tail ends of which I catch sometimes as I return from my own lunch. Not sure what they call this fun but I can guess. This one is called Horse:
And this one Crab:
Don't worry what anyone thinks of your recreational fun, kidz: Obama's given clearance for landing.
And this one Crab:
Don't worry what anyone thinks of your recreational fun, kidz: Obama's given clearance for landing.
Exploitation
Hmmm, my mum's birfday. What to do, what to do, hmmmm??? Oh look, I'm having this discussion with myself in a class full of impressionable students who, even when they know better, go along with my mood swings because Jesus' closeted boyfriend invented the status quo. STAND IN FRONT OF MY CAMERA AND SPEAK ENGLISH, KIDS!!!!!!!
Next year I'm going to dress two of these kids up as singing telegrams and put them on a flight to Detroit instead.
Next year I'm going to dress two of these kids up as singing telegrams and put them on a flight to Detroit instead.
North Korazy
Kim Il-sung had hisself a little par-tay even though he died 18 years ago. Suppose if you're going to dance it should be on your 100th birthday, whether not dead or un-alive.
This lady had a bit too much to drink at the shindig, obvs.
For the realz, hard to believe there are ajummas even more ruthless than the subway variety who will drop a well placed elbow in your kidney if you're walking too walk speed.
This lady had a bit too much to drink at the shindig, obvs.
For the realz, hard to believe there are ajummas even more ruthless than the subway variety who will drop a well placed elbow in your kidney if you're walking too walk speed.
