First of all-sorry it took me so long to write this blog. I've been working non-stop until very late so I don't get home until 11 or 11:30PM. You see, I have been assigned Harry Potter girl. Yes, she used to be Erin's student but now Erin has moved to the new school. HPGirl lives in Busan (a city several hours away) and comes to Gwangju to study at Ruby's school. Her mother is convinced that Ruby is amazing and that her daughter is the next Einstein. News Flash Woman: She is NOT. The girl is an only child so she gets whatever she wants. I could never tolerate her but since she was Erin's student I really didn't care. HPGirl was brought back to Gwangju last week so that she can take two weeks of courses at the school. With me.
On Tuesday they told me that I had to teach this girl... 2.5 hours per day. Her first hour and a half lesson is at 2:30 and goes on till 4PM. Her second lesson starts at 8:30-9:30PM. I also have to make 60-80 questions from two different books for her to answer every single night. She tries to correct my English whenever I speak to her. She follows me into the office where I have to start typing her questions before my other students come in for their lessons. She proceeds to ask me questions and to tell me random bits of trivia. I cannot get any work done because I have to act as if I'm delighted by how much money her family makes or why she is better than most people. The first time you hear this you shrug, the second time you hear it you sigh and by the third time you grit your teeth. She constantly gets up in class and interrupts the lesson. The only reason I don't yell at her is because this girl is the school's cash cow. Her mother pays for very expensive one on one lessons every day. Apparently the reason that I wasn't given many student's while everyone else was getting swamped with work was so that I would be available when the girl arrived at the school again. Apparently her mother was paying for courses for the three weeks that HPGirl wasn't here. Ruby told her she needed to pay to keep her "slot" open.
The girl very desperately wants attention and a friend. She invites me to her house every day and shopping on the weekends. I sorta feel sorry for her because I know that she is very lonely but at the same time she is exasperating. This is my last week with her so she should be going back to Busan to start middle school in March.
I just found out tonight that my favorite student overheard a conversation between the mother and Ruby. Apparently HPGirl's mother wants her daughter to take classes on Saturdays for five hours. When my student (who is about to leave b/c she starts high school in March) heard this she said that she wanted lessons too. Guess who they want lessons from? Yeah, me. Ruby apparently explained that the school was closed on the weekends but the mother was adamant about her daughter taking classes. IF they think I will work weekends then they better think of something else. My contract states that we work Monday through Friday. I hate working there so the thought of going back on a Saturday nauseates me.
The boys came over on Friday night to help Erin fix her new/broken bed. We ate pizzas and talked about our craptastic jobs. We had a dandy time.
On Saturday, Christina joined us at the Indian place. I had marvelous butter chicken with Garlic Naan. It was heavenly. The boys then headed shopping and Erin and I went off in search of the elusive bow earrings that I've wanted since I got here. We then met a guy named Leo. Yeah, sounds hot but I assure you that he was not. He asked Erin if he could follow us around so that he could practice his English with native speakers. Sure why not? he followed us like a puppy. He was obviously interested in Erin so I marched ahead and browed the stalls looking for those earrings. He eventually left so Erin and I headed to Speakeasy where we were supposed to meet the boys (they never showed up). Erin and I found that she and I hadn't bonded in a long while so we caught up on everything and had a lovely time.
In other news- I colored my hair (all by myself) black. Miraculously I didn't get any color in my eyes!!! Now if only I could style it then I'll be great. Also, the weather in South Korea has warmed up. A lot. It's been in the 60's for the last couple of days. I can't wait for Summer to be here. yes, I've heard its a Hellbroth of heat and humidity that makes people pass out but who cares? I will feel like I'm right back in the islands. I might even wear a cardigan.
Hasta la vista!
Saturday classes. That's what you get for being awesome.
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