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fatinkerbell
Knowflake

Posts: 385
From: South Korea
Registered: May 2009

posted December 14, 2009 02:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for fatinkerbell     Edit/Delete Message
You know how they say when God closes the door He opens a window? Well in my case it's more a question of God closing a door and throwing me out of a window. I feel like a cat desperately trying to get my feet under me in time cos the ground is rushing up, FAST!
So those of you who've been keeping up with my search for the perfect job know I didn't get the university job I wanted. Well, yesterday afternoon I heard that I'm also not gonna get re-signed at my current school. I can't say I've been fired because work here in Korea for foreigners is usually on a one year contract basis. I'm just not getting re-hired. But that is still not the whole story. Turns out on the day I went to my interview for the university job, in the morning an e-mail came along looking for a teacher for a nearby small rural elementary school. The window. This school is very very small. Like, miniscule. Even microscopic. Ten students a class. Maybe. It's like the kind of school where you go on horseback in a pilgrim's outfit in the early days of the American West and there are like five kids in an old church-building and a blackboard and some chalk. OK this is the East after all, Korea, the most connected country in the world internet-wise, and newly wealthy and tech-heavy, so you could say it's like a little frontier school with hi-tech add-ons. So it seems more likely I'm gonna get this job, and if I don't I am going to start screaming so loud you'll hear me on the other side of the globe! It means I'll be working with miniature Koreans again. Now they are cute as a bunch of bunnies in a basket, but basically I feel like I found out I'm pregnant with octoplets (you know like twins, but there are eight of them ....? Dunno the right expression exactly... Anyway I'm gonna get a whoooole big bunch of babies of different ages all at once, and this time, no co-teacher to interfere with my nefarious plans for dominating their tiny little minds. So basically I'm shutting down all unnecessary power drains like ... uhm, Facebook poker, reading and taking naps at work, writing my novel etc. I'm dusting off my Mary Poppins umbrella and bag and rehearsing "The Hills Are Alive With The Sound Of Music".

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Be who you are and say what you feel because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter.

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GypseeWind
Knowflake

Posts: 1949
From: Dayton,Ohio USA
Registered: May 2009

posted December 14, 2009 07:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for GypseeWind     Edit/Delete Message
Hi Fatinkerbell;

Have you looked at your transits and looked to see what number year you are working through? (I assume you had a b-day and didn't tell us, or it's coming up) anyway, Saggies are seemingly going through some major changes, at least the ones I know.

Now, usually, we are up for it, new challenges, different scenery, what have you. But whatever is going on, seems to be shaking us down to the very foundation of our beliefs.

All I can tell you are quaint little platitudes about how 'was is to be will be', and 'the universe will show you the way' because that is ALL I can come up with these days, and believe me, I am NEVER at a loss for words, lol!

Apparently these kids need you Miss Poppins.

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fatinkerbell
Knowflake

Posts: 385
From: South Korea
Registered: May 2009

posted December 14, 2009 08:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for fatinkerbell     Edit/Delete Message
Hey Gypsee : )

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Have you looked at your transits and looked to see what number year you are working through?
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No I haven't. How does that work? My birthday is coming up next Monday, 21st, and I was born at 13h11 ... Wait, I guess I can post my chart again ... ANY input would be most valuable! I'm like ... w t f is happening????? I really feel totally manipulated by destiny at the moment.

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Be who you are and say what you feel because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter.

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fatinkerbell
Knowflake

Posts: 385
From: South Korea
Registered: May 2009

posted December 14, 2009 08:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for fatinkerbell     Edit/Delete Message

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Be who you are and say what you feel because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter.

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fatinkerbell
Knowflake

Posts: 385
From: South Korea
Registered: May 2009

posted December 14, 2009 10:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for fatinkerbell     Edit/Delete Message
Re: Gojeong job
Tue, 15 December, 2009 11:53:21From: C <fatinkerbell> View Contact
To: L>


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Cool! My mood is lifting : ) I'll explain the situation to them.


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From: L>
To: C>
Sent: Tue, 15 December, 2009 11:40:36
Subject: Re: Gojeong job

My thoughts too - I'll draft a letter for Seoshin and then when you meet with the people there you can mention to them that so far Seoshin is quite amenable to the idea!


On 15 Dec 2009, at 11:25, C:


I have an idea ... let's stay in Suwon ... many people who work around these parts do and the commute could become sort of soothing to me at least ... I can get some rest on the bus and meditate on stuff ... It'll be like having the best of both worlds ... ? On the other hand maybe I'm not thinking straight at the moment because I still feel rather tense ...!


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From: L>
To: C <fatinkerbell>
Sent: Tue, 15 December, 2009 10:46:51
Subject: Re: Gojeong job

Well, wabi, do you feel better about this now?
Shows that we were all sure you'd get the job...d a m n her eyes!
BTW, will we want to live in Namyang or in Suwon? Which do you think? I personally feel Namyang is better in terms of not having a huge commute every day, but on the other hand Suwon is a happening place and there is more around and available, also closer to Seoul?
Let me know!


On 15 Dec 2009, at 10:05, C wrote:


Hi S

Thank you for responding so promptly again this morning. I spoke to my co-teacher, Mr. Moon, just now, and he assured me that there is no reason why the school would have let me go if it weren't for the fact that I had applied for university jobs and they wanted to get hold of a replacement for me sooner rather than later, because later is harder. So it is that they have already set in motion the process of finding my replacement. They were quite sure that I would pass the university interviews (as was I!) So in other words, they didn't foresee the possibility of my needing to stay at my current job because they were sure I'd get a university job.
Anyway, the good news is that my co-teacher, who is also the head teacher of English at our school, is willing to come with me maybe on Thursday if he's available then ... he will bring me to your school and then he can explain the situation to your Principal, if need be. The point is, they are sorry to lose me but they didn't realize I might need to re-new my contract here so basically it has already been decided that I'd be replaced, but it's not because of anything that I did wrong.
Well, I wish you good luck in explaining this to your principal, but as I say, Mr. Moon is willing to come along with me when I come to your school to vouch for me himself and explain how all this happened : )

I hope this e-mail was helpful and not too confusing,
C

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From: S
<stuartwbowman@yahoo.co.uk>
To: C <fatinkerbell>
Sent: Tue, 15 December, 2009 9:00:25
Subject: Gojeong job


Good morning

I have spoken to my colleagues this morning and passed on the documents that you gave me. The Principal will meet with me this afternoon to discuss it further I believe. Hopefully I should be able to get back to you by email before close of play today with some sort of news.

Meanwhile, if you are able to get some clarification as to your school's position/reasons regarding letting you go and hiring a new teacher etc. that would be handy, as it's quite possible my Principal could ask me about that this afternoon. It will be easy to explain to him why you are attracted to this job, but I foresee his main concern being why you are leaving your current job, so I will be guided by whatever you ask me to say about that on your behalf!

If you are able to drop me some kind of reply before the end of lunchtime that would be great.

Cheers

S

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Be who you are and say what you feel because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter.

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fatinkerbell
Knowflake

Posts: 385
From: South Korea
Registered: May 2009

posted December 14, 2009 10:18 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for fatinkerbell     Edit/Delete Message
The new target for my Sag arrow:

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Be who you are and say what you feel because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter.

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fatinkerbell
Knowflake

Posts: 385
From: South Korea
Registered: May 2009

posted December 14, 2009 10:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for fatinkerbell     Edit/Delete Message
OK there is a very distant and very small possibility that the Universe? God/ my Higher Self, or Who-/Whatever is in charge of the 'this is the job for me' situation might possibly know what he/she/they/it are doing. So this school that I hopefully now will get a job at will have me totally in charge of everything because there is no Korean co-teacher ... I would be the English teacher, the one and only English teacher, and this morning on the bus speaking about the school to another fellow who lives around here (and has been in Korea for years and years and years) I learned that this school allows their English teacher a lot of freedom. Music to the ears of a Sag. Oops. The bubble is starting to get bigger again...

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Be who you are and say what you feel because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter.

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fatinkerbell
Knowflake

Posts: 385
From: South Korea
Registered: May 2009

posted December 14, 2009 11:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for fatinkerbell     Edit/Delete Message
OK this is fascinating ... there's a fossilized dinosaur egg near my would-be future school (OK I'm in optimism mode again, so sue me!) so actually it's like, famous : D This must be symbolic ... Sorry if this is boring but I'm obsessing a little bit ...

Dinosaur Egg Fossils

¡á Location: Near Sihwa Lake at Gojeong-ri Songsan-myeon, Hwaseong
¡á Contact: Hwaseong City Hall Cultural Promotion Department ¢Ï031-369-2643

About 1,596ha of land by Sihwa Lake at Gojeong-ri Songsan-myeon, Hwaseong was designated as Natural Monument No. 414 on March 22, 2000
As many dinosaur egg fossils were found here in April 1999, it is assumed that a large number of dinosaurs used to inhabit here during the Cretaceous Period about 100 million years ago. Until today, a 10-15cm dinosaur egg fossil, about 200 fossil pieces, and various plant fossils have been found in about 30 different locations. Considering that dinosaur eggs would also be buried in the tidelands, this could be one of the world¡¯s largest dinosaur fossil grounds.
As various rare migratory birds, animals, and plants are found by Sihwa Lake, the Cultural Heritage Administration and the City of Hwaseong are planning on developmental projects to preserve the ecology and attract tourists at the same time.

¡á Transportation

- Suwon Station -> Bibong -> Namyang -> Mado -> Songsan -> Sihwa Lake at Gojeong-ri, Songsan
- Distance between Hwaseong City Hall and Gojeong-ri Dinosaur Fossil Ground: 15Km

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Be who you are and say what you feel because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter.

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pire
Knowflake

Posts: 1048
From:
Registered: Apr 2009

posted December 15, 2009 03:48 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for pire     Edit/Delete Message
sounds good,

good luck

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koiflower
Knowflake

Posts: 1186
From: Australia
Registered: Apr 2009

posted December 15, 2009 04:27 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for koiflower     Edit/Delete Message
So you are definitely going to the country school?

Have fun!! You'll forget about your experience real quick. Country folk will be intrigued by you and respect you. You'll gain a lot just by being there - lessons about the generosity of people - you'll feel their heart.

You'll probably become involved in the community as a whole. I hope you do. You'll learn so much about this area of Korea, that will play a part in how you develop as a mature person.

It will be good politically as well - as with the North Korea and South Korea issues. Japan will enter the picture somewhere (not for a few decades though), but you will learn so much about how major politics affects simple people just by living there.

If you get the chance, visit the de-militarized area on the North/South border - It's spookily quite and you'll see a fake town across the border.

Enjoy your new position - You love it!

Also visit the Enchanted Learning and a-zreaders.com websites for activity sheets. They may be of some use.

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MysticMelody
Moderator

Posts: 344
From:
Registered: Apr 2009

posted December 15, 2009 04:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for MysticMelody     Edit/Delete Message
I think this is wonderful.

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GypseeWind
Knowflake

Posts: 1949
From: Dayton,Ohio USA
Registered: May 2009

posted December 15, 2009 05:38 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for GypseeWind     Edit/Delete Message
To check your transits, just go to astro.com, and find transits on the menu. Then plug in the birthdata, and viola!!

The interpretations might leave you wanting more, so just google each one separately. That is what I did, anyway. Maybe someone more experienced knows a better way.

It took a few days ( well, heh, heh, I do have a tad bit of Saggie A.D.D.) to research and study them fully, but, I did get a good grasp of whassa-goin-on. They made mention of ones "traditional mid-life crisis" (gag, choke, vomit) being around the ages of 40-42, but they did also say, that some people feel it as early as, guess what age....37. So it's worth checking out, at least this way, you feel a little secure in knowing what is the nature of the beast.

But either way, I think it will all work out great for you, and in the end, you will be thankful that you didn't get that other job.

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fatinkerbell
Knowflake

Posts: 385
From: South Korea
Registered: May 2009

posted December 15, 2009 08:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for fatinkerbell     Edit/Delete Message
Thank you all! I'll know by tomorrow whether I've landed on my feet or my head! Gypsee ... I am gonna spend the rest of the day on astro.com!! (I wish ... actually I do sometimes have to work a little ... but I'm gonna figure out transists if it's the last thing I do!! I mean, if one is prepared for shocks then they might not be so shocking.)

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Be who you are and say what you feel because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter.

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fatinkerbell
Knowflake

Posts: 385
From: South Korea
Registered: May 2009

posted December 15, 2009 09:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for fatinkerbell     Edit/Delete Message
Aha! Maybe this is the culprit! Transiting Jupiter square natal Mars:

Jupiter transits square natal Mars You may be overconfident at this time. Success and progress can be had during this transit, but only if you apply moderation to your efforts. Don't force anything or anyone. It is too easy to come across as threatening or overbearing at this time. You are restless in physical terms and with regards to your desire nature. You are looking for more from life, but you may have a hard time satisfying your urges. You may find yourself to be more adventurous on a sexual level. Be extra cautious with regards to physical risks. Accidents are certainly not a given during this transit, but they are more likely than usual. Your restlessness can lure you into reckless situations.

*You are bold, daring, and enterprising during this time. You feel hemmed in by present circumstances and feel an uncontrollable urge to enlarge your vistas. Your restless need to accomplish more and break free of present limitations may inspire you to seek a new job, look at new places to live that offer more opportunities, increase advertising of products that you market, or peruse business opportunities in your local area.

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Be who you are and say what you feel because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter.

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fatinkerbell
Knowflake

Posts: 385
From: South Korea
Registered: May 2009

posted December 15, 2009 09:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for fatinkerbell     Edit/Delete Message
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Google: You may be overconfident at this time.

Fatinkerbell: Huh? I don't understand. First they tell you to do positive thinking, then they tell you there is such a thing as over-confidence. Phhoooey!

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Google: Success and progress can be had during this transit, but only if you apply moderation to your efforts.

Fatinkerbell: Are you suggesting that my 40 page lesson plan was too much? Less is more huh? (I totally don't get that!)
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Google: Don't force anything or anyone.

Fatinkerbell: Who? Me? I didn't do it. It wasn't me. I deny attemtping to force the universe to give me what I want. I'd like totally NEVER do that. I'm innocent!

------------------------------------------

Google: It is too easy to come across as threatening or overbearing at this time.

Fatinkerbell: Aaawww, flattery will get you everywhere : )


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Be who you are and say what you feel because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter.

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koiflower
Knowflake

Posts: 1186
From: Australia
Registered: Apr 2009

posted December 15, 2009 10:08 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for koiflower     Edit/Delete Message
Fatinkerbell - you may be better off not stepping outside

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sunshine9
Knowflake

Posts: 60
From: Chapel Hill, NC, US
Registered: Apr 2009

posted December 15, 2009 10:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for sunshine9     Edit/Delete Message
Fatinkerbell,

That sounds like a wonderful window, and I'm glad you've bounced back! I really like your humor & optimism - you seem a lot like me as I'm a positive thinker, always ready to bounce back quickly from disappointment! I agree that if your higher Self/the Universe determines it is right for you, there you'll be and nowhere else.. I wish you lots of luck in getting to where you're supposed to be at this next phase in your life - it will be exciting!!


Sunshine

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fatinkerbell
Knowflake

Posts: 385
From: South Korea
Registered: May 2009

posted December 15, 2009 10:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for fatinkerbell     Edit/Delete Message
Koiflower : I know! If I were writing this story I'd have myself get hit by a bus on the way to the new school ... The End, hahaha : D I've totally been feeling like Mr. Bean! BTW thanks for the websites and the advice ... actually I'm already sort of in a small country school. I'm just going to an even smaller country school. In fact, the new smaller country school is practically on the doorstep of my present small country school! Only 4km away! So luckily I already do know the area, although I haven't been to Gojeong-ri yet. The suffix -ri indicates "village". Currently I'm in Sagang-ri, the village of Sagang and now I'll be going to Gojeong-ri, the village of Gojeong. The big challenge/ opportunity for me is going to be that I'll have to start speaking Korean. Although I've been studying it for three years now, I'm still at that stage where I'm scared I'll be uttering complete nonsense if I open my mouth. I think there's a Monty Python sketch where someone from Poland walks around in London, using a defective Polish - English dictionary, and in trying to ask for directions, he comes out with sentences like: 'May I fondle your buttocks?' I'll have to carefully gauge the faces of my hopefully-future-colleagues-to-be (touch wood) whenever I try to say anything.
Also, I tend not to understand spoken Korean yet because my vocabulary isn't that huge and spoken Korean is still too fast for me. I'm sort of at the stage where I understand my textbook wonderfully, but am helpless when it comes to communicating. So I'm gonna practice nodding and smiling and saying 'morugesoyo' which means 'I don't understand'. However, from experience with my ex Italian family-in-law I know somehow I'll begin to make fast progress now in this situation where no-one except me and the students are able to speak English! The guy who I'll be taking over from, touch wood, apparently does all his communication with the school in Korean. Eeek! But it will be good for me. I'm hoping there will be someone there who for some reason I just miraculously understand. This happened when I met my ex Italian mother-in-law for the first time. The very first thing she said when she saw me was: 'Aspettavo una bionda!' Which means: 'I was expecting a blonde!' Go figure : ) That sentence is forever etched into my memory. However, I managed to communicate with her better and better over time because she spoke slowly, clearly, loudly and she was a patient listener. Maybe I'll find a Korean 'mother-in-law' at Gojeong. Here's hoping : )
I haven't been to the DMZ yet although I've had the opportunity ... I worried I'll find it too depressing. I hope however that I can be in Korea if/when re-unification happens. That would be cool.

Sunshine: Thanks : D !!!! BTW I left you some homework on your tarot reading thread...

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Be who you are and say what you feel because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter.

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GypseeWind
Knowflake

Posts: 1949
From: Dayton,Ohio USA
Registered: May 2009

posted December 15, 2009 10:38 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for GypseeWind     Edit/Delete Message
HAHAHAHA! I love meeting other textbook-y Saggies. Less is more????? I never got that??? So okay, if less is more, then why buy a cadalliac when I can get a great deal on a used '79 Gremlin??? Less is more right? I will use less gas, and look more....what??? ridiculous??? Cool???? who knows? who cares???

Pfft. Anything worth doing is worth over doing, and I will stick with that credo until them fling my ashes to sea!!!!!!! Cause that is how we roll, NOW, you feel better, a little don't ya? xo.

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fatinkerbell
Knowflake

Posts: 385
From: South Korea
Registered: May 2009

posted December 15, 2009 10:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for fatinkerbell     Edit/Delete Message
Gypsee!! Come to my arms!!!

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Be who you are and say what you feel because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter.

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koiflower
Knowflake

Posts: 1186
From: Australia
Registered: Apr 2009

posted December 16, 2009 12:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for koiflower     Edit/Delete Message
I know what you mean - I lived in Japan for 3 years and probably often asked people if I could fondle their buttocks!!

I didn't know where to start learning Japanese. I thought the best place was with 'opposites' eg, big/small, tall/short, happy/sad, expensive/cheap.....

Interesting, the Korean word for village being 'ri'. It is 'shi' in Japanese. I lived in Chikugo-shi.

Have fun in your adventures!!!

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