Minor attack occurred today at approx. 4.30pm when it was revealed that I should have, in fact, been teaching instead of getting a mighty fine head massage /and haircut!/ at my hairdressers. It was a very nice massage. It certainly was soothing until the message came through that I had class. Thankfully, it was a false alarm. The English Department Assistant thought that I had class today but as it turns out, I have class at the same time on tuesday instead. It's an easy mistake to make, so I'm not going to give her a hard time over it. Plus, she did manage to get me a better classroom to teach this class in ... that was a nice touch.
Anyway, we have the Departmental Dinner tonight. In the past, nothing really gets done or decided. I would be surpised if this was the case again. Actually, it seems that there is a very 'us' and 'them' feel to these get togethers with the Korean faculty members sitting at one end of the room whilst the non-Korean faculty members sit at the other end. Perhaps we smell or something.
Hoping it will be short and sweet.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Need
Word of the week: 'Thursday'
Because it is the new monday. I used to like thursday. A couple of classes in the morning and then finished for the week. Alas, this is not the case now. Start at 2pm and finish at 10pm. 4 classes. 2 stupid breaks between the later classes. And a late start. It would be o.k. if I could sleep in until 12. I can't though. Would be infinitely happier starting at 9 or 10am ... but 2pm. I hate it. Already.
Phrase of the week: 'Hello, my name is ...'
How many times do I need to say that in a week? Too many ...
Sight of the week: 'My guys'
Seeing all last years students - even the ones I failed.
Song of the week: 'Galvanise' by the Chemical Brothers
I read a report that Dance music was dead. In many ways it could be however, it won't be going without a fight. The candle is still flickering. It might not be bright but it's there. 'Don't hold back'.
Because it is the new monday. I used to like thursday. A couple of classes in the morning and then finished for the week. Alas, this is not the case now. Start at 2pm and finish at 10pm. 4 classes. 2 stupid breaks between the later classes. And a late start. It would be o.k. if I could sleep in until 12. I can't though. Would be infinitely happier starting at 9 or 10am ... but 2pm. I hate it. Already.
Phrase of the week: 'Hello, my name is ...'
How many times do I need to say that in a week? Too many ...
Sight of the week: 'My guys'
Seeing all last years students - even the ones I failed.
Song of the week: 'Galvanise' by the Chemical Brothers
I read a report that Dance music was dead. In many ways it could be however, it won't be going without a fight. The candle is still flickering. It might not be bright but it's there. 'Don't hold back'.
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Molecular
wellwellwell.seems the shithaswellandtrulyhitthefan with Hearts essentially accusing the Standside Linesman of cheating. They haven't actually said that but it seems like that is what they are implying.
I guess I should fill you in. Hearts were playing Rangers in a league match last wednesday night. The match was at 1 - 1 going into injury time with Rangers on the attack. The ball went out of play and the Referee - probably the most respected Referee in the country - signalled for a goal kick. However, the afore mentioned Linesman had his flag raised indicating that 'something' had happened. The Referee consulted the Linesman who successfully convinced the Referee that an infringement had occurred and that Rangers should be awarded a penalty. No-one - not even the Rangers players or management - had even appealed for a penalty or had even 'seen' an infringement. The Hearts players were insensed, 1 barging the Linesman and subsequently getting sent off. Anyway, Rangers took the penalty, scored and won the game 2 - 1.
It's a running 'joke' in Scotland that this kind of incident usually happens with the majority of favourable decisions going the way of the 2 big clubs - Rangers and Celtic and against the 'rest'. Certainly, their are numerous examples of decisions going the way of these clubs however, no-one has really complained this vigourously before.
Of course, such claims are impossible to prove - that some Referee or Linesman has been biased towards a particular team. The beauty of football is that you never know what will happen. Sometimes incidents are clear cut and obvious however there are times when human error does occur during a match and it is these decisions which can effect not only the match but perhaps wider issuses like who wins the Championship or who qualifies for Europe or even which team gets relegated. Such is life. A Referee needs to make a split second decision based on the evidence in front of him at that instant. It's not an exact science.
Hearts have been roundly criticised for this course of action of essentially accusing the Linesman of cheating or as they have worded it questioning 'the integrity of the decision'. It's a bold move. Knowing the S.F.A. - Hearts will probably be punished for such cheek but it does raise some interesting points.
Are the big 2 clubs favoured in some way? It's highly unlikely that Livingston, for example, would be awarded a last minute penalty at Ibrox or Celtic Park. However, if Celtic were attacking in the last minute and some innocent challenge occurred in the penalty area the Referee would be placed under huge pressure by the baying 60,000 Celtic supporters to give something favourable. It's a question of nerve. Is the Referee strong enough to clearly and objectively make the correct decision without being swayed?
Perhaps that is Hearts' point.
Personally, such variables as human error should be reduced. Football should welcome the technology available. Rugby has. American Football has. God, so has Tennis. Traditionalists may argue against it but by the same token the Referee would be able to look at the available evidence and make a better informed decision - within a minute or 2 of the incident occurring. Surely that makes more sense given the importance of such decisions. If it had, Rangers may not have had that penalty. Spurs would have had that goal against Man. Utd allowed and perhaps, England wouldn't have won the World Cup ... that blind Soviet Linesman - the cheat!
I guess I should fill you in. Hearts were playing Rangers in a league match last wednesday night. The match was at 1 - 1 going into injury time with Rangers on the attack. The ball went out of play and the Referee - probably the most respected Referee in the country - signalled for a goal kick. However, the afore mentioned Linesman had his flag raised indicating that 'something' had happened. The Referee consulted the Linesman who successfully convinced the Referee that an infringement had occurred and that Rangers should be awarded a penalty. No-one - not even the Rangers players or management - had even appealed for a penalty or had even 'seen' an infringement. The Hearts players were insensed, 1 barging the Linesman and subsequently getting sent off. Anyway, Rangers took the penalty, scored and won the game 2 - 1.
It's a running 'joke' in Scotland that this kind of incident usually happens with the majority of favourable decisions going the way of the 2 big clubs - Rangers and Celtic and against the 'rest'. Certainly, their are numerous examples of decisions going the way of these clubs however, no-one has really complained this vigourously before.
Of course, such claims are impossible to prove - that some Referee or Linesman has been biased towards a particular team. The beauty of football is that you never know what will happen. Sometimes incidents are clear cut and obvious however there are times when human error does occur during a match and it is these decisions which can effect not only the match but perhaps wider issuses like who wins the Championship or who qualifies for Europe or even which team gets relegated. Such is life. A Referee needs to make a split second decision based on the evidence in front of him at that instant. It's not an exact science.
Hearts have been roundly criticised for this course of action of essentially accusing the Linesman of cheating or as they have worded it questioning 'the integrity of the decision'. It's a bold move. Knowing the S.F.A. - Hearts will probably be punished for such cheek but it does raise some interesting points.
Are the big 2 clubs favoured in some way? It's highly unlikely that Livingston, for example, would be awarded a last minute penalty at Ibrox or Celtic Park. However, if Celtic were attacking in the last minute and some innocent challenge occurred in the penalty area the Referee would be placed under huge pressure by the baying 60,000 Celtic supporters to give something favourable. It's a question of nerve. Is the Referee strong enough to clearly and objectively make the correct decision without being swayed?
Perhaps that is Hearts' point.
Personally, such variables as human error should be reduced. Football should welcome the technology available. Rugby has. American Football has. God, so has Tennis. Traditionalists may argue against it but by the same token the Referee would be able to look at the available evidence and make a better informed decision - within a minute or 2 of the incident occurring. Surely that makes more sense given the importance of such decisions. If it had, Rangers may not have had that penalty. Spurs would have had that goal against Man. Utd allowed and perhaps, England wouldn't have won the World Cup ... that blind Soviet Linesman - the cheat!
Friday, March 04, 2005
Streaming
I was alittle suspicious last night. I had about 30 student's in my class. I thought that I was only getting 20ish. Today, I found out why. Most of them were in the wrong classroom. D'oh. Seemingly they came to may class by 'mistake' leaving the other teacher with only 1 student in his class. Wish it had been the other way around. It happens ... I suspect it will happen for another couple of weeks until it all settles down.
-----anyway--it was my mate Un-Moon's b.day yesterday. Otherwise known as Scott and now otherwise known as Un-Moondinho, so called because he looks exactly like Ronaldinho. Hmm. He certainly doesn't play like him. He's a funny man. Was pretty tipsy last night, so much so he was trying to kiss alot of people and gobbing everywhere. Disgusting. But, he's just doing what alot of Korean men do ... spit out everything. Sometimes it seems like they are about to spit out their lungs. Usually such behaviour is seen on the football field. Alas, it is alive and kicking in Cheonan!
Have abit of a dilema to contend with. I could get tv with 51 channels for 17,000 Won a month or I could get 120 channels for 20,000 Won. Now, it might seem like an open and closed affair given that I could get double the channels for only 3,000 Won a month more, however, do I really need 120 channels. I mean, god, their could be 119 channels of total crap. And how long would it take to check out the channels. Not only that but my tv only goes upto channel 99. What if all the good channels start at 100. It's a worry---
-----anyway--it was my mate Un-Moon's b.day yesterday. Otherwise known as Scott and now otherwise known as Un-Moondinho, so called because he looks exactly like Ronaldinho. Hmm. He certainly doesn't play like him. He's a funny man. Was pretty tipsy last night, so much so he was trying to kiss alot of people and gobbing everywhere. Disgusting. But, he's just doing what alot of Korean men do ... spit out everything. Sometimes it seems like they are about to spit out their lungs. Usually such behaviour is seen on the football field. Alas, it is alive and kicking in Cheonan!
Have abit of a dilema to contend with. I could get tv with 51 channels for 17,000 Won a month or I could get 120 channels for 20,000 Won. Now, it might seem like an open and closed affair given that I could get double the channels for only 3,000 Won a month more, however, do I really need 120 channels. I mean, god, their could be 119 channels of total crap. And how long would it take to check out the channels. Not only that but my tv only goes upto channel 99. What if all the good channels start at 100. It's a worry---
Thursday, March 03, 2005
rocknrollbaby
............hi..myname...is.....paul.bad news.i'm your teacher.
Words to scare the 1st year students who are in my class. I do feel sorry for them because they have to put up with me for the next 16 weeks. I don't envy them.
4 classes today. All different despite the fact that each had a similiar sounding lesson plan.thefirst. probably the worst of the day. More than I had expected and certainly mostly 'boys'. I have a few mouthy ones which could be helpful in the coming months or they could be unhelpful in the coming months. Helpful in that I might be able to use them to get the class 'going'. However, they could be unhelpful in that they could easy be disruptive and have a negative impact on the running of the class. We'll see how we get on.THESECOND class was the complete opposite. All girls. We had fun and they are very lively and receptive. thethird class. Dead. Usually when you walk into the class, they are talking amongst themsleves but this class was completely devoid of noise. It could be a difficult class to get motivated particularly given that there are only 25 students. THEFOURTH class. Mixed bag. Not as loud as the 2nd class but not as dead as the 3rd class. It seems like half the class actually were'nt meant to be in my class. We'll see how many re-appear next week.
Think I need a 'big week' next week both in terms of lessons and how they are handled after all the initial weeks are the ones which dictate how things will run during the semester. I need a strong start.
Tired.
Words to scare the 1st year students who are in my class. I do feel sorry for them because they have to put up with me for the next 16 weeks. I don't envy them.
4 classes today. All different despite the fact that each had a similiar sounding lesson plan.thefirst. probably the worst of the day. More than I had expected and certainly mostly 'boys'. I have a few mouthy ones which could be helpful in the coming months or they could be unhelpful in the coming months. Helpful in that I might be able to use them to get the class 'going'. However, they could be unhelpful in that they could easy be disruptive and have a negative impact on the running of the class. We'll see how we get on.THESECOND class was the complete opposite. All girls. We had fun and they are very lively and receptive. thethird class. Dead. Usually when you walk into the class, they are talking amongst themsleves but this class was completely devoid of noise. It could be a difficult class to get motivated particularly given that there are only 25 students. THEFOURTH class. Mixed bag. Not as loud as the 2nd class but not as dead as the 3rd class. It seems like half the class actually were'nt meant to be in my class. We'll see how many re-appear next week.
Think I need a 'big week' next week both in terms of lessons and how they are handled after all the initial weeks are the ones which dictate how things will run during the semester. I need a strong start.
Tired.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Light
So, we are into March already. Shocker. I woke up this morning thinking 'it's pretty dark outside' ... I open the blinds to find that the reason it's so dark is because it's snowing!
Wasn't expecting that particularly since the weather was springlike on tuesday. This happened last year as well with snow falling during the 1st week of the semester. Although, on this occasion, it hasn't lasted with the streets clear of any evidence by the time I left Uni. this evening. Speaking of which, I got my Air-conditioning installed into my office this afternoon. Don't worry, the irony wasn't lost on me ... Question=how many grown men does it take to install an Air-Con unit?answer=loads.about 5 men to hold it but only one to drill it into the wall.and of course, the women to come in and clean up after them. Even more ironic.
Wasn't expecting that particularly since the weather was springlike on tuesday. This happened last year as well with snow falling during the 1st week of the semester. Although, on this occasion, it hasn't lasted with the streets clear of any evidence by the time I left Uni. this evening. Speaking of which, I got my Air-conditioning installed into my office this afternoon. Don't worry, the irony wasn't lost on me ... Question=how many grown men does it take to install an Air-Con unit?answer=loads.about 5 men to hold it but only one to drill it into the wall.and of course, the women to come in and clean up after them. Even more ironic.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
xyz
My next door neighbour has a dog. Disaster. I haven't got anything against dogs - I certainly wouldn't eat one - but i'm not sure I want one living next door. I haven't actually seen it yet so I'm unsure if in some Fish Called Wanda-esque way, I can bump it off. It might be a massive thing but knowning Koreans, it's more likely to be an overgrown rat with dyed green ears, sporting the latest in designer doggy wear - /what's new this season?/ - the bark indicates this but without a visible sighting its hard to tell. All I can hope for is 1. it doesn't bark all night and 2. doesn't shit all over the corridor. No doubt I'll be rushing along the corridor, late for class when I will suddenly feel a sliding sensation, followed by a ripping sound coming from my trousers as I step/slip in a nice little present left by the afore mentioned 'overgrown rat'. It certainly wouldn't be the 1st time. \\\Actually, the streets are surprisingly free of such 'stuff'. I'm more likely to stand in someones puke when walking along the road. It seems as if these Koreans just puke anywhere - if it flows when they are on the street, so be it. If it flows when they are in the lift, so be it. It's almost as if they would rather puke in the street or some other public place than wait and puke at home. The shame of puking at home must be less than puking infront of randoms ...
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