The New Black...

I am not a big Hillary Clinton fan. She has integrity problems that I just can't overlook, but I do adore Tina Fey... the hair, the glasses, the smart and irreverent sense of humor. What's not to like? Tina is a Hillary fan and last week while hosting SNL, Tina made a return to the Weekend Update desk to support Hillary. If you haven't seen it... You need to make that happen. www.nbc.com. After all, "Bitch is the new black."

Onto other news...

1. I rode in a Korean police car. In order to complete some paperwork I needed to get fingerprinted. I arrived at my local police station, had a Korean friend explain my situation to the police officer over the telephone and then waited naively, thinking that I would be able to accomplish my task. After an hour and half and being driven to three different police stations around town, I was told that they can't fingerprint foreigners. Despite my frustration, I just had to smile and laugh to myself after I left. There must have been half a dozen police officers trying to figure out if they could fingerprint me. And instead of calling or determining a plan, they just piled me in the back of the squad car and hauled me around town. I've heard the saying "Korea is where logic comes to die." And if that isn't proof enough, just keep reading!

2. My school has been losing Korean teachers. Many of the Korean teachers are tired of the disorganization and have decided to quit. The worst part is that the school hasn't made any changes to accommodate the loss of staff. Last week two of the most important Korean teachers for the high school program quit. Instead of hiring more teachers, reassigning their classes or reorganizing the existing classes, the supervisors just hoped it would all work out. And today, five minutes before the class the supervisor said "I don't know who is going to cover Cathy's class." I pleasantly looked at him, pasted a smile on my face and said "Haven't you known Cathy would no longer be teaching since last week?"

This is pretty standard in hagwons. Nonetheless, I'm just rolling with the punches. In about 10 minutes another class starts that was suppose to be taught by Cathy. I absolutely know that the supervisor will appear within the next 9 minutes and ask me if I can teach the class. I've never taught the class. I have no idea what Cathy was teaching. And all the other teachers have gone home for the day. But, that is just the way it works around here. I could tell the supervisor "No way" and there is nothing he could do about it. But, instead I'll just gather the notes I prepared earlier this afternoon (when I first realized that I would be stuck in this predicament) and simply do my best... Then play a game for the rest of the class! Like I said, just rolling with the punches.

3. It snowed yesterday. It was lovely. I still can't believe I live in a place where it snows.

4. I went on the US military base last week. Very cool. A couple of my military friends needed to be back on base my curfew (1am), so we decided to go drink at the bar on base. People used American currency to pay for their drinks and everyone spoke English. It was a bit startling... and a bit fantastic!

5. While on base one of my friends bought me the latest issue of The Economist! It was the best part of my night. For the rest of the night we danced and drank, but I have to admit that a secret part of me wanted to order a beer and find a quiet spot to read my magazine. (These are the moments when I just have to hide my inner nerd!) Despite all my google news alerts and online updates, I miss being able to read a newspaper or a really good news magazine. I like the tangible news sources to the point-and-click online versions. They always have letters to the editor (Dear Sir,), political cartoons and articles on things I wouldn't read about unless the story was right in front of me.

Total nerd. I know. I know. I know.

Alright... I'd love to write more, but my supervisor just came in and asked me to cover Cathy's class. Surprise, surprise.

Rolling with the punches. Just rolling with the punches.