06/08/2008: "Ready for that first day of work"

Well, today begins my first day of work. And by "work", I mean shadowing another teacher while he works and supposedly taking notes (considering that teaching is a style, a macro-technique if you will, I find it impossible to figure out what needs to have a bullet point written about it and what is just fluff). Since it's my first meeting with my prospective students (my schedule isn't 100% set in stone, so I'll actually be shadowing two sets of classes until we figure out which set will be mine), I have to dress all super-awesome like. Yep.. we got the dress shirt, dress pants, and tie all set to go. Thank god I packed this stuff in my bag. And thank god I could iron it, at that. Being stuffed in a bag for a week apparently doesn't do anything good for your clothes.

Last night, I was taken out to go see some fireflies. It should be noted that I have never, ever seen fireflies in person in my life. I'm sure this sounds awkward coming from someone who's 22 and already knows everything (seriously.. just ask anyone who knows me. Except my grandfather. But he knows everything +1, so it's really unfair to stack me up against that and get his opinion), but it's really an amazing experience. I completely understand how in a time before we scientifically separate, classify, and analyze everything, one could really believe that these are the spirits of loved ones calling out.

Now, I don't want to make Asia sound backwards or anything.. but the prevalence of folk wisdom still shocks and amazes me. I feel like the Western idiot you see in movies who doubts all the magic and everything.. but seriously, it's not scientifically sound. I can't be sure if it's due to my university background, how I was raised, or due to being in America, but I'm just surprised at some of the stuff I hear that large amounts of people do believe. Now, acupuncture and the like, I can't judge. I know nothing about it. But when someone says "Yeah, if you eat this greasy meat with grape leaves, it cuts the fat in half" (I was told this in Korea). I'm sorry.. but that has as much logic as breaking a cookie in half, hoping the calories fall out. This is, frankly, insane. I'm just amazed by how much of this stuff has carried on, and that when I ask "how does it do that", "why would that work", or "why do you think that", I just get blank looks.

Anyway, I should get dressed all pretty and such to go shadow people today. Then, I need to continue studying that Japanese driving manual (which is, fortunately, in English). I also finally own a briefcase now. My poser teacher image is now complete!

I'll write later!


Jason