Where is your focus, and where is mine?

Regardless of whether we are aware of it or not, we are always focusing on something. What most people don't do is exercise their right to control where they focus. I am aware of this, and even though I know I have control of my focus, I can sometimes let my thoughts drift into the realm of negativity as well.

I can only imagine how much time most people spend on focusing on the negative side of things. It is pretty obvious when you hear people talk about things. If they are predominantly spending their time complaining, it is obvious where their focus is.

The challenge is to catch yourself thinking negatively, or complaining about something, and cut yourself off right there. While physically easy, it can be mentally exhausting at first. But, like anything else, it gets easier with time and use.

The problem as it applies to teachers in Korea is that it is not hard to find things to think negatively about. With so much different going on around you, people find it very easy to pick on these discrepancies and spend a good amount of energy on finding the things they dislike, as opposed to the things they like. This is not going to make for a good day!

So, take the challenge and try to cut out negative thinking and complaints for a full week. If you can, you'll definitely notice a difference in your mood everyday. At the very least, be aware of what proportion of your time you spend thinking and talking negatively. Ask yourself if you are happy with that?

I will do the same!

Jason

Dentist takes foreigners hard-earned cash

Here is a story from Matthew about his recent trip to the dentist...a bit of a difference!

Last week, I had a toothache. It was kind of ticklish and throbbing, but utterly irritating, and I couldn't even sleep for most of the night. In the morning, playing soccer with the “ajoshis” at my university, and then all morning in class, it was all I could think about. I had thought that I might not get to see a dentist until after the weekend, and I’d have to deal with it, but it became unbearable, and I had to see someone that day. I went to Mr. Kim in my office to ask him where a dentist's office was, and what I might have to do to get an appointment. His directions surprised me in their simplicity.

Friday afternoon, I walked into "Happiness Dental Clinic" off the street, a guy they'd never seen, no appointment, and without an insurance card (even though I do have insurance). They said, "Come on in" (well, in Korean) and sat me down. And if you wonder at the facilities, let me tell you that they were as clean and modern as anything I'd seen. They had a computer at every chair, right in front of my face, with a number of dental programs up and running.

The girl had a look, poked around, and took me in for a couple of x-rays. Then came the dentist, and with both broken English and broken Korean (and a good nature), we discussed my problem, and he began to check me out. I could see the inside of my own mouth on the camera on the computer screen, and they also brought my x-rays up there for me to see while he explained. After determining that swollen gums were causing the pain, he scraped around my mouth for a bit, gave me a prescription, and told me to come back Monday if it still hurt, or Friday if it didn't. I went back in Friday. It was fine before I walked out of the office. Total cost: 6300 won, or about 8 bucks. Ha!

So, I then went across to the pharmacy after, showed the pharmacist my paper, she gave me the pills (3 a day for two days). Total cost: 1500 won, or less than 2 bucks.

In all, about 25 minutes after walking in unannounced off the street, and not bothering with discussing insurance (Mr. Kim had given me an indication beforehand as to how much it might cost), I had been in to see the dentist, x-rayed, worked on, a whole all-consuming discomfort relieved, in and out of the pharmacy with a small bag of drugs, and all for ten dollars! Are you kidding?

What kind of appointment-making and waiting would I have to do in Canada to see a dentist? And how about the cost? Yep, some things don't have to be so complicated.

Get dental work in Korea!

1 Week in the Classroom

Well,

I received a call from a friend the other week in regards to helping out with a 1 week teaching gig for someone who was going on vacation.

I decided that it would be fun to get back in the classroom myself since it was only a couple of hours per day that they needed someone. It had been since 2004 since I'd been in the classroom in Korea.

So, it was with much anticipation that I headed off to my "new job"! As always, it was fun to meet the people working at the school and to see what kind of dynamics they have there. I met a few people who were great to work with, and I think that working at this school would be a good gig for someone if a position comes up.

They usually do their own hiring, but if they aren't able to find someone, I'm sure they'll get in touch with us. It would be fun to recommend a job to someone where I've already taken it for a test drive!

Anyhow, it's Friday afternoon and I must say that I didn't forget all my old moves! I'm pretty sure that I've been a productive teacher and that the students were able to learn a few things during my short stay.

Things are very much the same as they were before. There are the keen students, and the not so keen. There are the well-behaved students, and the not so well-behaved.

But, I still stand behind my motto of consistency in discipline. The kids just want a system that allows them to be well-behaved without looking "uncool" to their friends. So, eliminate Korean in the class, provide a consistent set of expectations, and classroom management is much, much simpler.

Although I'm not signing up for a full-time job because of obvious reasons, I still do enjoy the fun of interacting with the kids.

How about you?

Jason

My Wife and the Delivery Men

So, I realized today how popular online shopping is in Korea.

How do I know this? From first-hand experience of course! My wife is a bit of an online shopaholic. Now, I must admit that I do benefit from that every once in a while, such as today when I was the recipient of two funky pairs of wakeboard shorts.

Also, yesterday we received our hammock for about $20 (complete with the stand and a parasol of course!)

Anyhow, we were on our daily walk to go to Dunkin Donuts (no Tim's in Korea yet)for coffee and we (So Young) were expecting a delivery, or 3. As we're walking, about 10 minutes from our place she spots a delivery driver...whom she is quite familiar with.

She goes up to him and asks if he is headed to "Bongduk Il-dong" today with a package for Park So Young. Yup! In his big ol' truck with hundreds of packages, he knew exactly where it was too. Why, cause he always comes to our house, so he recognizes it now!

It was a bigger package, so she told him to just leave it at our place if we weren't back by the time we got there.

Then as we were about to arrive at Dunkin, she spots a delivery truck from another one of the companies that often visits! She goes up to this guy, and sure enough, 2 packages! These were lighter (my shorts and some hair stuff for her) so she just signed for it right there and took it along with us.

I just had to laugh and shake my head! My wife is buddies with all of the delivery drivers in Daegu...so am I because I answer the door the other half of the time!

I'm glad she keeps her purchases small and frequent and not large and frequent!

The convenience of the internet age!

Jason

Observation on Koreans' desire to help friends

One of our clients, Lei, has made a great observation about Korean culture. She is currently preparing to come teach in Korea. She is still in Australia, but has been making friends with several Korean people there and helping them develop their English, as well as just meeting with them socially.

She had this to say about what she discovered:

"I am really overwhelmed by the love, care and support I have received
from my Korean friends. They are all very proud, excited and overjoyed that I want
to be an ESL teacher in Korea. All of them have offered to take care of me and
provide me with whatever support I need when I am there.

I must admit that I do have some pride in me as I have always been a very independent woman and like to do everything myself.

I am now beginning to understand a very important aspect of the Korean culture and that is I must allow them to love and care for me without reservation or else I will be hurting their feelings. This is something I must keep working within myself so that I will be able to adapt and enjoy my time in Korea."

Very well-said!

She has made more of a discovery about Korean culture and how it applies to her than many people do after spending a year in Korea. You just have to be open to learning and understanding the people you are surrounding yourself with.

If you can't do that, then why even come to Korea, right?

The main downfall to all of this is that you will be over-fed and everyone will always want to make sure you are not going hungry. Not great for dieters!

Thanks for the insight Lei

Jason Cresswell

One of our teachers killing the drums in Korea!

One of our teachers, Jason Lynch, is in a band that plays some weekends in Korea. He's on the drums. I didn't know he played, and I'm impressed with his skills! The band is called Dog Soup. I'll try to keep you posted on any upcoming gigs.



Drum Solo

Facebook is on fire!

I have been actively using Facebook for about 2-3 months now and I am amazed at how it is an excellent example of the effect of compounding.

This thing is alive and growing at an amazing rate! You can tell just be using it. I'm really surprised at some of the people that I am finding there. Some I haven't seen for years, others I would never even guess would use a computer!

Perhaps our own business will begin to see that kind of compounding effect, but on a much smaller scale, now that we have so many active clients.

I've noticed that happening too, and that's the best feeling! Nothing better than having someone apply and let us know that so-and-so recommended us to them. Big compliment!

So, if you are using Facebook, look me up and join our Access South Korea Now group. If you haven't tried it out yet, sign up! You'll have fun getting in touch with everyone. Trust me, they'll be there!

About saving face

In Korea, image is very important. That definitely includes personal image. What is interesting is learning about "saving face" which I've heard a lot about.

I've observed a very real, yet somewhat insignificant in the big scheme of things, example of this.

On a recent car trip with some Korean folks who may or may not be my in-laws, the person driving made a bit of a driving error because he wasn't paying attention. The driver of another car who was not impressed with this, gave a big ol' honk and surprised us all into realizing that perhaps we should have stopped for that red light!

Anyhow, a minute after, the female companion of the driver started talking about something and anything in order to distract us from the fact that a mistake had been made.

I noticed this on a couple of other similar occassions, and now I realize that it was just to "save face" and avoid the embarrassment of the situation. To be honest, I find the obvious and sudden change of subject to be more embarrassing than the initial offence.

I would not say that Westerners are immune to this type of thing, but it seemed a bit more glaring once I noticed it.

Just a good example of what is a priority for Koreans, and how we may differ, and yet are much the same.