Eddy

My elementary class is finally to the point where, when I return from break, they're sitting down, quiet, with their books out and open. Today felt like a two-month digression. One student was in the hall already trying to tell me a story, and a few other faces were poking through the doorway. As I walked into the room, I was greeted by an explosion of eager voices who'd been waiting for this moment to tattle on Eddy.


Tattling is possibly my greatest classroom pet peeve. Even on good days, it sucks all the patience out of me. And today really wasn't my best day. In as few words as possible, I reminded my kids where they should be, what I thought of tattling, and that I could see with my own eyes that Eddy was not in his chair. Or in the room. If anyone is going to be MIA, it's going to be Eddy. There's no surprise there.


Things settled down, and we started to on our lesson. Leo raised his hand.


"Teacher... Eddy..."


"Eddy what?"


"Eddy... bathroom go..."


"Is he still in the bathroom?"


"Yes."


"Okay. And when he comes back, I can take care of him, okay?"


"Yes."


And class continued for a couple minutes. Then another student resurrected the Eddy conversation. So I caved. 


"Okay. ONE person tell me about Eddy. Raise your hand." So they raised their hands and all started speaking at once. 


"Vicky! Only Vicky can talk. PLEASE." I was still deep into I-Loathe-Tattling mode.


"Teacher, Eddy... bathroom go... toilet... inside and shut the door. But... not open."


"So..." I responded, sarcastically. "Eddy is stuck in the bathroom?"


"Yes." Every student instantly confirmed this. Liiiight bulb. This is the point where the teacher instantly feels like the dumbest one in the room.


"...Seriously??"


"Yes!" 


I snorted. I couldn't help it. Suddenly I understood how my mom felt when I got my toddler-self stuck in the toilet. That's just funny. 


By the time I made it to the bathroom hall, the maintenance man was headed to the men's room with a stash of tools. Another teacher was in there, reassuring Eddy and trying to contain her laughter. 


I failed miserably at masking my laughter back in my classroom. But we did manage to keep it mostly together when someone finally escorted Eddy back to class. He was clearly shaken. He was completely silent the rest of class. I didn't scold him this time for putting his head down. As funny as it was to my mom when I fell in the toilet, I was scared out of my mind. And angry that she found it funny. Hopefully, someday Eddy can be on this end of such an event so that he can enjoy it too. 

Chinese Christmas

I visited Charissa in China for Christmas. We were in Beijing a couple days, but we spent most of our time down south in Yunnan.

Christmas in China

Freckles

Chris spends more time out of his chair than he spends in it. Lately, when I redirect him to his seat, he falls into me. I used to make him stand up (or just cart him back), but the other day I slowly moved away. I warned him he was about to fall, but he didn't do anything about it. Maybe he trusted me too much. So I kept backing away. Sure enough, he slowly slid to the floor. My method clearly failed, because he was completely laying there on the floor. 

He's tried this a few more times. Today I was holding onto his hands as he slowly fell. Once he landed I asked, "Chris, what are you doing?"

"Me..." he began. "You eat me."

Closer

For a moment, I thought I'd lost my mind. Seriously. 


I went down to the lake tonight, and I sat for a while before walking. I never do that. I also never turn off my iPod. I did tonight. But then I heard a song... it was muffled, but it sure sounded like Shawn McDonald. 


I checked my phone. Nothing playing there. I took out my headphones, and I could still hear it. But who in Korea would be playing that song?? I know they like English music, but I don't think I've ever heard a Christian artist played in public. If I have, it was at Christmas.


Curiosity got the better of me, and I set off to find the music source. It didn't take long. Typically, the public speakers grace the lake with love songs and other such things that set the mood for all the dating couples. And after "Closer" finished, the usual tracks continued. 


Call me names, but I like to think that one played just for me. Thanks, God.

Lake Art

Last night, I decided to take a walk around the nearby lake. I made a mental note to put in my contacts before walking out the door. After leaving home, I realized I was still wearing glasses...kind of annoying but not worth backtracking. 


This lake is quickly becoming my favorite place. Last year it was the river. Apparently, I like water. Midway around the lake, I found an empty bench to claim. I took off my annoying glasses for a moment, and that was when I saw the most amazing sight. 


Walkers and joggers vanished, and trees faded into the black. Lamps along the path transformed to cotton balls of orange and yellow. Towering skyscrapers were nothing but blurs of green and gold and blue. Some almost disappeared in the patchy, clouded sky. The reflection of all this resembled thick brushstrokes on the surface of the lake. Here was an enormous, abstract painting...just for me. 


As I attempted to memorize the scene, I had a thought. I've always considered my eyesight in negative terms: need glasses, nearly blind, restricted drivers license. But then, if I had 20/20 vision, I wouldn't be able to see the lake as I was seeing it now. I would never know there was any other view. I don't think God gave me bad eyesight. He just gave me abstract vision. 

The Other Side of the World

I started this post while preparing to move back to Korea, but I forgot to post it. These are some of the people and things in the US that I appreciate and miss.

My family
(Of course there are more of us, but we don't generally stick around for photos.)

Minneapolis skyline

More Minneapolis

My Hmong buddies...

...all 50 of them

Beautiful clouds

Benjamin

cottage cheese

Dunn Bros coffee ice crema

Cops and Ajusshis

As I emerge from the subway stairs, I see my bus coming through the intersection. I sprint, hoping to reach the bus stop first. My effort proves unnecessary because of two cars blocking the way for the bus. The driver waits and honks. And honks some more. When a police car pulls up with lights and siren on, the cars decide to pull away.


Upon boarding the bus, I realize the police weren't really interested in the cars. One officer gets on right behind me. After a few words with the driver, he proceeds to the small huddle by the rear door. 


Watching this scene, I regret knowing so little Korean. All I understand is that, whatever happened between these men, it's all been captured on the surveillance camera (CCTV). When the driver points this out, one man slowly turns and lets himself off the bus.


An older Korean man sits down next to me. 


"What?" the ajusshi asks me, gesturing toward the huddle. Then he announces the obvious.


"You don't know," he laughs. I shrug and chuckle in agreement.


After a few more minutes, two of the men return to their seats, and the officers pull the last one off the bus. Ajusshi looks at me and chuckles again. Then we're off.


My seat buddy gets off at the same stop as me. Instead of the usual pushing to be first, he motions for me to go ahead of him. 


"안녕하세요!" he calls, as he crosses the street. Goodbye. I yell the same thing back and smile the rest of the walk home. He doesn't know it, but he managed to brighten my whole day.

ET

Just like last year, every morning I write my kids' names on the board. That's where we keep track of their stars and sad faces. I threatened to take Jake's stars if he acted up. He did. Tattle Thomas reminded me that I need to take his stars, so I added my name to the list. 


My kids couldn't decide if I should write "Elizabeth" or "Teacher." I was too lazy to choose one or write "Elizabeth Teacher" so I wrote ET. I was kind of amused by myself, though Korean 5-year-olds have no clue who ET is. Still, the name stuck. When I leave for break, lately they are kind enough to add ET to the attendance list.