the real challenge

HIYA!

Friday morning of my second week. So far, so good. My boss asked me last night what I hate most about being here on Jeju Island. I thought for a moment and told him the kids going wild and being inattentive in class. He understands. Before that he asked what I liked most. I told him that there is some quality to many older people that I like a lot. That mellow, slow, patient quality to country people. Americans as well. I remember my Grandpa and how he had that quality. I always liked that a lot. I sense it here in many of the older people here. Nice.

As for the kids, well. I've determined to not get angry. I did get angry a couple of days ago but have vowed to come away from that. I don't want kids to be afraid of me. I don't want to be angry. That day I felt irritable already so to go into classrooms with rowdy kids, uncooperative kids, inattentive kids, that was hard. All day. But yesterday went much better because I was in a better mood and frame of mind. I'd also determined to be okay in midst of the chaos. But the real test will come today. Monday Wednesday and Friday I have pretty much the same schedule, while Tuesday and Thursday are pretty much the same. The real challenge will be later this afternoon.

I can see understand why we generally avoid things in life that we don't like, but I can also see good reason to go into things that we don't like. It is possible to change. Possible to get over that dislike, that hatred, that aversion. I'll do it. I've got one year and I'm committed. I feel like I can do it too.

I'll write more another time. There are lots of things to write about. A Zen / Seon temple that my boss took me to. Gardening on the rooftop or on a piece of land right below my apartment. My apartment itself. The area where I live. Money.

Troy.