I Wish Jann Arden Was My Friend

She's just so funny. And likeable. And honest.

Back to life, back to reality. Today happened. I witnessed it, and a few people got to witness me witnessing it, sort of.

Work was a little strange. I have to use my sense of sensing to determine what the mood feels like on any given day, since I am rarely told what's happening. I decided today what I should have decided a long long time ago: to not let it bother me that the teachers speak Korean 90% of their time to each other and exclude me. You'd think I would have gotten used to it in the last 20 months, but I haven't, really, and it twists me up in knots too often. So I'm going to attempt to insulate my brain with the thought that ignorance may very well be bliss, and just take it moment by moment.

Anyhow, the mood today at work was dark. There's a very large new shiny English school just opened somewhere near us, it's one of the largest chains in Korea. I think it's worrying the boss and teachers, and we've already lost our most brilliant enthusiastic student to them. The most unruly class today threatened the K-teacher with "now that we can go to the other school, you have to be kind to us." Mmmmm-kay kid.

I'm feeling like I already have one foot out the door anyhow. It's 18 weeks and 1 day left here, which equates to about 88 days of teaching. It sounds like a lot, eighty eight, but 8's my lucky number, so it's gooooood. 18 is a great number too, so it's double goooood.

Being in Japan amongst friends and able to communicate with so much more ease, even with people who barely speak English reminded me of who I am. Here, it seems attitudes get in the way so often, mine included. It was nice to have the feeling of being totally excited to be somewhere and knowing that the people I was with felt glad to have me there too. I surprised myself with the number of times I felt compelled to say "I'm so HAPPY!" aloud while I was away.

But now, back to now.

I stopped by my Craptastic Video Store on the way home and meant to pick up "The Island" which might be ok, but got distracted by a couple of middle school girls chatting with me, and mistakenly rented "Wise Girls." With Mariah Carey. 'Nuff said. I don't know why there are 3 copies of this NEW RELEASE, which is actually from 2002. Maybe it was just released to video?

I'd like to release it off my balcony by whipping it into the forest.

Are cuckoos migrating birds? I miss the sound of the cuckoo who lived in the forest. I wonder where it went.

It's Friday now technically, but totally feels like Tuesday. I feel futuristic. And clairvoyant. I see eminent sleep in my immediate future.