Well folks, after much debate I decided to renew my contract with Epik. I was considering a move to a University so I could use my masters, but I think another year at my school is necessary. I might actually miss them if I left (shhhh, don't tell anyone).
After my open class I figured I was pretty much in the clear...oops forgot I had 2 renewal interviews. The first one was with my principal and couldn't have come as more of a surprise. I had no classes that day, was desk warming and as a result decided to wear some sweatpants with massive Nike high tops and a shirt that said "I Like Doing Hoodrat Stuff With My Friends." It went something like this:
Principal: I heard your lesson went well. Sorry, I could not go. I was at golf.
Me: Oh, that's okay. Thank you.
Principal: Yes, we like you. Do you want to stay?
Me: I like it here, very much.
Principal: Okay so what do you think you have done well at our school?
Me: I am really proud with the level of proficiency students have reached while I have been-
Principal: Good. What could you improve?
Me: My classroom management skills, I would like to find a better way to-
Principal: Good. Here are my requests.
Me: Okay.
Principal: Study Korean each-ee day. You like Karaoke?
Me: I love it!
Principal: You sing Billy Joel with me?
Me: Of course.
Principal *starts singing Piano Man*
Co-teacher: *Snaps something in Korean at him*
Principal: Right. Good. *shakes my hand* have a good day.
and off I went...my interview with the vice principal was slightly more formal, but not much. Finally on Thursday my co-teacher came in the room and handed me a paper about my Visa renewal, which would require a health check and mandatory HIV test (yep, apparently foreigners are the only people with HIV). She then presented me with my contract and said, I must send this now. Sign! So safe to say, this is how I was told I passed my interview! After some discussion with my vice principal I convinced them to give me some time to think it over.
In the end of course, I mulled it over, considered the extra week of vacation, the pay raise, my crazy students,the opportunity to live in such a central area again and of course re-signed all 8 million pages of my contract (or 10). After looking back at my 5 year plan, I wonder how many people came to Korea planning to stay for only 1 year. I know people who say one year turned into 2, into 9 and sometimes into 20. I still have a lot more to do and see and I definitely want to go get my PHD, but in the mean time, I'm pretty content here in Korea.There is something about this place that I still can't explain. After all, that is the point of this blog, so the research continues!
Maggie Moo's 5 Year Plan Revised To Do List:
1. Learn Korean (finally signed up for class)2. Actually start saving some money this year (remember just because it isn't US dollars doesn't make it paper to piss away in the wind)
3.Start an advanced online teaching training for certification
4. Travel around Korea more! (Next up: Jeju and Busan).
5. Manage my time better and actually complete all of my lessons before I leave school!
6. Make it to Taiwan and Oceania!
7. Go home and visit my family
