Race Through Life

RACE THROUGH LIFE VIDEO, CLICK HERE

Race Through Life

RACE THROUGH LIFE VIDEO, CLICK HERE

Race Through Life

RACE THROUGH LIFE VIDEO, CLICK HERE

Race Through Life

RACE THROUGH LIFE VIDEO, CLICK HERE

Bowling in Ansan :: Bon Voyage Party

How goes it? Hope your all well. We finished the intensive month of teaching! We finished off the day with bowling after a pseudo-Chinese-style dinner party for two teachers that are leaving (Scott...heading to China, then India & Wendy, heading to New Zealand to study for her Bachelor of Education). My Secret Santa also gave me a Team Canada Jersey, very cool! My boss bowled incredibly well, he scored a 147, 163. Our team on the otherhand, won both tourneys with combined highest scores, we did alot of dances with spares and a few strikes, Sean and I were probably the MVP's. How do you finish a perfect night, the boss and his wife and my manager say goodbye, and tell us it's a short walk to our apartments...that was the only let down of the night, considering I had been up for 20+ hours and had to trudge home in the cold on foot. The boss/wife/manager slipped away in his Benz.

Bowling in Ansan :: Bon Voyage Party

How goes it? Hope your all well. We finished the intensive month of teaching! We finished off the day with bowling after a pseudo-Chinese-style dinner party for two teachers that are leaving (Scott...heading to China, then India & Wendy, heading to New Zealand to study for her Bachelor of Education). My Secret Santa also gave me a Team Canada Jersey, very cool! My boss bowled incredibly well, he scored a 147, 163. Our team on the otherhand, won both tourneys with combined highest scores, we did alot of dances with spares and a few strikes, Sean and I were probably the MVP's. How do you finish a perfect night, the boss and his wife and my manager say goodbye, and tell us it's a short walk to our apartments...that was the only let down of the night, considering I had been up for 20+ hours and had to trudge home in the cold on foot. The boss/wife/manager slipped away in his Benz.

Bowling in Ansan :: Bon Voyage Party

How goes it? Hope your all well. We finished the intensive month of teaching! We finished off the day with bowling after a pseudo-Chinese-style dinner party for two teachers that are leaving (Scott...heading to China, then India & Wendy, heading to New Zealand to study for her Bachelor of Education). My Secret Santa also gave me a Team Canada Jersey, very cool! My boss bowled incredibly well, he scored a 147, 163. Our team on the otherhand, won both tourneys with combined highest scores, we did alot of dances with spares and a few strikes, Sean and I were probably the MVP's. How do you finish a perfect night, the boss and his wife and my manager say goodbye, and tell us it's a short walk to our apartments...that was the only let down of the night, considering I had been up for 20+ hours and had to trudge home in the cold on foot. The boss/wife/manager slipped away in his Benz.

Bowling in Ansan :: Bon Voyage Party

How goes it? Hope your all well. We finished the intensive month of teaching! We finished off the day with bowling after a pseudo-Chinese-style dinner party for two teachers that are leaving (Scott...heading to China, then India & Wendy, heading to New Zealand to study for her Bachelor of Education). My Secret Santa also gave me a Team Canada Jersey, very cool! My boss bowled incredibly well, he scored a 147, 163. Our team on the otherhand, won both tourneys with combined highest scores, we did alot of dances with spares and a few strikes, Sean and I were probably the MVP's. How do you finish a perfect night, the boss and his wife and my manager say goodbye, and tell us it's a short walk to our apartments...that was the only let down of the night, considering I had been up for 20+ hours and had to trudge home in the cold on foot. The boss/wife/manager slipped away in his Benz.

Skating Trip

Saturday, Ben, Jeremiah, Erin, Sean, Scott, Beth & I went to a public skating rink near Junggang station. Beautiful sunny weather. We stopped by TGI's for dinner, then the movies, we saw Blood Diamond starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Sunday was sleepy, played drums with the Worship service at Dongsan Church. Need to buy CD's to play some sing-songs with the elementary classes this week. Still teaching intensives...long days in Korea!

Skating Trip

Saturday, Ben, Jeremiah, Erin, Sean, Scott, Beth & I went to a public skating rink near Junggang station. Beautiful sunny weather. We stopped by TGI's for dinner, then the movies, we saw Blood Diamond starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Sunday was sleepy, played drums with the Worship service at Dongsan Church. Need to buy CD's to play some sing-songs with the elementary classes this week. Still teaching intensives...long days in Korea!

Skating Trip

Saturday, Ben, Jeremiah, Erin, Sean, Scott, Beth & I went to a public skating rink near Junggang station. Beautiful sunny weather. We stopped by TGI's for dinner, then the movies, we saw Blood Diamond starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Sunday was sleepy, played drums with the Worship service at Dongsan Church. Need to buy CD's to play some sing-songs with the elementary classes this week. Still teaching intensives...long days in Korea!

Skating Trip

Saturday, Ben, Jeremiah, Erin, Sean, Scott, Beth & I went to a public skating rink near Junggang station. Beautiful sunny weather. We stopped by TGI's for dinner, then the movies, we saw Blood Diamond starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Sunday was sleepy, played drums with the Worship service at Dongsan Church. Need to buy CD's to play some sing-songs with the elementary classes this week. Still teaching intensives...long days in Korea!

How's the weather in Chicago?

I met this amazing lawyer in San Diego, California in the winter of 1999...his name is James. We both took risks leaving our native U.K. and Canada to venture to the southwestern American city to enjoy the beaches, hostels, and party life that could only be dreamed of back in our homelands. I met James at the Ocean Beach Hostel, a seedy hostel with a brilliant social life on an afternoon in late December. James was out on the front porch reading a newspaper, and he immediately clued in that I had just arrived in town and desperately needed a job. From that moment on, and over the past 6 years I have known the guy, his generosity and intelligence have shined. From roadtrips to the desert and Grand Canyon, to soccer games on the fields of USD (University of San Diego), James was always in the middle of the action, and made introductions to many internationals that would have not have had so much fun together had James not been there. James has a natural magnetic personality and his perserverence has taken him from the backseat of beaters in NYC studying for Bar Exams, to pinnacle US tax corporations across the United States. This is just a blog-thanks to James for being a friend through good times and bad over the past 6 years, and to his wonderful parents whom I spent a few days with in Thunder Bay during their roadtrip around Ontario/Michigan/Quebec this past fall. You can never have too many friends, but James proved to be the best of them. Thanks James! Have a great weekend in the windy city & Hello to Anna too, his lovely wife. ^^++

How's the weather in Chicago?

I met this amazing lawyer in San Diego, California in the winter of 1999...his name is James. We both took risks leaving our native U.K. and Canada to venture to the southwestern American city to enjoy the beaches, hostels, and party life that could only be dreamed of back in our homelands. I met James at the Ocean Beach Hostel, a seedy hostel with a brilliant social life on an afternoon in late December. James was out on the front porch reading a newspaper, and he immediately clued in that I had just arrived in town and desperately needed a job. From that moment on, and over the past 6 years I have known the guy, his generosity and intelligence have shined. From roadtrips to the desert and Grand Canyon, to soccer games on the fields of USD (University of San Diego), James was always in the middle of the action, and made introductions to many internationals that would have not have had so much fun together had James not been there. James has a natural magnetic personality and his perserverence has taken him from the backseat of beaters in NYC studying for Bar Exams, to pinnacle US tax corporations across the United States. This is just a blog-thanks to James for being a friend through good times and bad over the past 6 years, and to his wonderful parents whom I spent a few days with in Thunder Bay during their roadtrip around Ontario/Michigan/Quebec this past fall. You can never have too many friends, but James proved to be the best of them. Thanks James! Have a great weekend in the windy city & Hello to Anna too, his lovely wife. ^^++

How's the weather in Chicago?

I met this amazing lawyer in San Diego, California in the winter of 1999...his name is James. We both took risks leaving our native U.K. and Canada to venture to the southwestern American city to enjoy the beaches, hostels, and party life that could only be dreamed of back in our homelands. I met James at the Ocean Beach Hostel, a seedy hostel with a brilliant social life on an afternoon in late December. James was out on the front porch reading a newspaper, and he immediately clued in that I had just arrived in town and desperately needed a job. From that moment on, and over the past 6 years I have known the guy, his generosity and intelligence have shined. From roadtrips to the desert and Grand Canyon, to soccer games on the fields of USD (University of San Diego), James was always in the middle of the action, and made introductions to many internationals that would have not have had so much fun together had James not been there. James has a natural magnetic personality and his perserverence has taken him from the backseat of beaters in NYC studying for Bar Exams, to pinnacle US tax corporations across the United States. This is just a blog-thanks to James for being a friend through good times and bad over the past 6 years, and to his wonderful parents whom I spent a few days with in Thunder Bay during their roadtrip around Ontario/Michigan/Quebec this past fall. You can never have too many friends, but James proved to be the best of them. Thanks James! Have a great weekend in the windy city & Hello to Anna too, his lovely wife. ^^++

How's the weather in Chicago?

I met this amazing lawyer in San Diego, California in the winter of 1999...his name is James. We both took risks leaving our native U.K. and Canada to venture to the southwestern American city to enjoy the beaches, hostels, and party life that could only be dreamed of back in our homelands. I met James at the Ocean Beach Hostel, a seedy hostel with a brilliant social life on an afternoon in late December. James was out on the front porch reading a newspaper, and he immediately clued in that I had just arrived in town and desperately needed a job. From that moment on, and over the past 6 years I have known the guy, his generosity and intelligence have shined. From roadtrips to the desert and Grand Canyon, to soccer games on the fields of USD (University of San Diego), James was always in the middle of the action, and made introductions to many internationals that would have not have had so much fun together had James not been there. James has a natural magnetic personality and his perserverence has taken him from the backseat of beaters in NYC studying for Bar Exams, to pinnacle US tax corporations across the United States. This is just a blog-thanks to James for being a friend through good times and bad over the past 6 years, and to his wonderful parents whom I spent a few days with in Thunder Bay during their roadtrip around Ontario/Michigan/Quebec this past fall. You can never have too many friends, but James proved to be the best of them. Thanks James! Have a great weekend in the windy city & Hello to Anna too, his lovely wife. ^^++

Still Burning the Midnight Oil

Title refers to the number of hours required for teaching + teaching office hour preparations (10+ hours/day) for the month of January. It's a Korean custom that is followed when elementary and middle school students have winter vacation, that is the time when their intensive studies begin for the entire month. Some learn basic English grammar, some learn spoken English, some are preparing for high school or university entrance examinations or the TOEFL/TOEIC tests before studying abroad. Whatever their personal reason, the hakwons swam with migratory Koreans trying to edge further ahead of the competition and become more fluent bilingual speakers. My job isn't easy for these very reasons. The expectations of the students and their parents footing the expensive costs each month, make teaching a tango with academic scrutiny and entertaining lessons that don't turn students away. It's a fine line between the worlds of ESL learning (creative) and TOEFL learning (academic) where multiple syllables and correct grammar and extensive vocabulary score the biggest points. I still give it my best efforts everyday to keep students on pace with their goals, further pushing their capabilities micrometers further towards their present goals. Korean hakwons operate with last minute decisions made from the top-down. The orient is known for Confucius philosophies and the collective process of Confusionism making which generally comes from the top and trickles down into direct instructions from other superiors. It's a learning curve for a freelance ESL teacher with Canadian roots, but I am letting old man river show me way. ^^

Still Burning the Midnight Oil

Title refers to the number of hours required for teaching + teaching office hour preparations (10+ hours/day) for the month of January. It's a Korean custom that is followed when elementary and middle school students have winter vacation, that is the time when their intensive studies begin for the entire month. Some learn basic English grammar, some learn spoken English, some are preparing for high school or university entrance examinations or the TOEFL/TOEIC tests before studying abroad. Whatever their personal reason, the hakwons swam with migratory Koreans trying to edge further ahead of the competition and become more fluent bilingual speakers. My job isn't easy for these very reasons. The expectations of the students and their parents footing the expensive costs each month, make teaching a tango with academic scrutiny and entertaining lessons that don't turn students away. It's a fine line between the worlds of ESL learning (creative) and TOEFL learning (academic) where multiple syllables and correct grammar and extensive vocabulary score the biggest points. I still give it my best efforts everyday to keep students on pace with their goals, further pushing their capabilities micrometers further towards their present goals. Korean hakwons operate with last minute decisions made from the top-down. The orient is known for Confucius philosophies and the collective process of Confusionism making which generally comes from the top and trickles down into direct instructions from other superiors. It's a learning curve for a freelance ESL teacher with Canadian roots, but I am letting old man river show me way. ^^

Still Burning the Midnight Oil

Title refers to the number of hours required for teaching + teaching office hour preparations (10+ hours/day) for the month of January. It's a Korean custom that is followed when elementary and middle school students have winter vacation, that is the time when their intensive studies begin for the entire month. Some learn basic English grammar, some learn spoken English, some are preparing for high school or university entrance examinations or the TOEFL/TOEIC tests before studying abroad. Whatever their personal reason, the hakwons swam with migratory Koreans trying to edge further ahead of the competition and become more fluent bilingual speakers. My job isn't easy for these very reasons. The expectations of the students and their parents footing the expensive costs each month, make teaching a tango with academic scrutiny and entertaining lessons that don't turn students away. It's a fine line between the worlds of ESL learning (creative) and TOEFL learning (academic) where multiple syllables and correct grammar and extensive vocabulary score the biggest points. I still give it my best efforts everyday to keep students on pace with their goals, further pushing their capabilities micrometers further towards their present goals. Korean hakwons operate with last minute decisions made from the top-down. The orient is known for Confucius philosophies and the collective process of Confusionism making which generally comes from the top and trickles down into direct instructions from other superiors. It's a learning curve for a freelance ESL teacher with Canadian roots, but I am letting old man river show me way. ^^

Still Burning the Midnight Oil

Title refers to the number of hours required for teaching + teaching office hour preparations (10+ hours/day) for the month of January. It's a Korean custom that is followed when elementary and middle school students have winter vacation, that is the time when their intensive studies begin for the entire month. Some learn basic English grammar, some learn spoken English, some are preparing for high school or university entrance examinations or the TOEFL/TOEIC tests before studying abroad. Whatever their personal reason, the hakwons swam with migratory Koreans trying to edge further ahead of the competition and become more fluent bilingual speakers. My job isn't easy for these very reasons. The expectations of the students and their parents footing the expensive costs each month, make teaching a tango with academic scrutiny and entertaining lessons that don't turn students away. It's a fine line between the worlds of ESL learning (creative) and TOEFL learning (academic) where multiple syllables and correct grammar and extensive vocabulary score the biggest points. I still give it my best efforts everyday to keep students on pace with their goals, further pushing their capabilities micrometers further towards their present goals. Korean hakwons operate with last minute decisions made from the top-down. The orient is known for Confucius philosophies and the collective process of Confusionism making which generally comes from the top and trickles down into direct instructions from other superiors. It's a learning curve for a freelance ESL teacher with Canadian roots, but I am letting old man river show me way. ^^

Hakwon Teaching Continues

Just another 10 hour day at the hakwon. We are teaching intensive English lessons this month. I walk to school around 9:30am and walk home around 8:00pm. There are breaks in the daily schedule, but it's generally a long day! This month offers one extra class for $500.00 bonus, but I teach the extra 45-minute lesson everyday, in addition to my regular schedule. I hope all my Christmas cards made it to their destinations. The Holidays will come again soon, next month is Lunar New Years in asia. This celebration will be big in Korea, Japan and China. Some teachers are taking holidays in Thailand, I wish I was one of them. Unfortunately, I must save more $ to payoff US school loans, so the trip is out this year. Another possibility, I'll finish this contract & take the free return flight to Detroit and plan a motorcycle trip to Costa Rica. Problem is, I complete the contract in late November 2007, so it will be unseasonal to start a trip to Central America at that time of the year. Otherwise, I could extend my contract another 6 months and leave in the summer 2008. Korean teaching is from year-to-year, the salary doesn't change much. Hence, departing on an adventure from here is quite a possibility. Besides, I could use the rest after spending the last several years studying in Michigan, such is an open book, the pages have yet to be written. For now, I look forward to my free evenings at home, or at the gym burning off extra energy. Right now, I am awaiting the two final classes I teach for the day, then I can take the 5 minute walk home.

Hakwon Teaching Continues

Just another 10 hour day at the hakwon. We are teaching intensive English lessons this month. I walk to school around 9:30am and walk home around 8:00pm. There are breaks in the daily schedule, but it's generally a long day! This month offers one extra class for $500.00 bonus, but I teach the extra 45-minute lesson everyday, in addition to my regular schedule. I hope all my Christmas cards made it to their destinations. The Holidays will come again soon, next month is Lunar New Years in asia. This celebration will be big in Korea, Japan and China. Some teachers are taking holidays in Thailand, I wish I was one of them. Unfortunately, I must save more $ to payoff US school loans, so the trip is out this year. Another possibility, I'll finish this contract & take the free return flight to Detroit and plan a motorcycle trip to Costa Rica. Problem is, I complete the contract in late November 2007, so it will be unseasonal to start a trip to Central America at that time of the year. Otherwise, I could extend my contract another 6 months and leave in the summer 2008. Korean teaching is from year-to-year, the salary doesn't change much. Hence, departing on an adventure from here is quite a possibility. Besides, I could use the rest after spending the last several years studying in Michigan, such is an open book, the pages have yet to be written. For now, I look forward to my free evenings at home, or at the gym burning off extra energy. Right now, I am awaiting the two final classes I teach for the day, then I can take the 5 minute walk home.

Hakwon Teaching Continues

Just another 10 hour day at the hakwon. We are teaching intensive English lessons this month. I walk to school around 9:30am and walk home around 8:00pm. There are breaks in the daily schedule, but it's generally a long day! This month offers one extra class for $500.00 bonus, but I teach the extra 45-minute lesson everyday, in addition to my regular schedule. I hope all my Christmas cards made it to their destinations. The Holidays will come again soon, next month is Lunar New Years in asia. This celebration will be big in Korea, Japan and China. Some teachers are taking holidays in Thailand, I wish I was one of them. Unfortunately, I must save more $ to payoff US school loans, so the trip is out this year. Another possibility, I'll finish this contract & take the free return flight to Detroit and plan a motorcycle trip to Costa Rica. Problem is, I complete the contract in late November 2007, so it will be unseasonal to start a trip to Central America at that time of the year. Otherwise, I could extend my contract another 6 months and leave in the summer 2008. Korean teaching is from year-to-year, the salary doesn't change much. Hence, departing on an adventure from here is quite a possibility. Besides, I could use the rest after spending the last several years studying in Michigan, such is an open book, the pages have yet to be written. For now, I look forward to my free evenings at home, or at the gym burning off extra energy. Right now, I am awaiting the two final classes I teach for the day, then I can take the 5 minute walk home.

Hakwon Teaching Continues

Just another 10 hour day at the hakwon. We are teaching intensive English lessons this month. I walk to school around 9:30am and walk home around 8:00pm. There are breaks in the daily schedule, but it's generally a long day! This month offers one extra class for $500.00 bonus, but I teach the extra 45-minute lesson everyday, in addition to my regular schedule. I hope all my Christmas cards made it to their destinations. The Holidays will come again soon, next month is Lunar New Years in asia. This celebration will be big in Korea, Japan and China. Some teachers are taking holidays in Thailand, I wish I was one of them. Unfortunately, I must save more $ to payoff US school loans, so the trip is out this year. Another possibility, I'll finish this contract & take the free return flight to Detroit and plan a motorcycle trip to Costa Rica. Problem is, I complete the contract in late November 2007, so it will be unseasonal to start a trip to Central America at that time of the year. Otherwise, I could extend my contract another 6 months and leave in the summer 2008. Korean teaching is from year-to-year, the salary doesn't change much. Hence, departing on an adventure from here is quite a possibility. Besides, I could use the rest after spending the last several years studying in Michigan, such is an open book, the pages have yet to be written. For now, I look forward to my free evenings at home, or at the gym burning off extra energy. Right now, I am awaiting the two final classes I teach for the day, then I can take the 5 minute walk home.