Better-ish is still a form of better

Monday was better-ish and I am becoming positive that each day will get better because I refuse to let my depression/sickness and discouragement rule over such an experience as living and working in an Eastern culture/country for a year. This is the opposite of everything that I have ever dealt with and, while I am very open to the experience and what I will learn from it, I have come to terms with how much of a struggle it will be. When I wake up I am reminding myself that each moment is an adventure and give it time; clichéd, yes, but hopefully it’ll work.

Today several different things happened: first-I had to open a bank account. My boss took copies of our passports to the bank and filled out all the paperwork except our signatures; at lunch we had to finish the paperwork and go to the bank to open our accounts. Not only did we open our accounts (and without anything to deposit!), but we got our bank cards right then and there; that is until Chris broke the machine and three of us have to go back to receive them tomorrow. However, the point is; no waiting weeks in the mail for card and pin to come in. I choose my pin right there at the bank this afternoon and, though I complained at the time, it was only fifteen minutes per person to get all of this done (I complained because I was the last one of four). We get paid on the 10th of each month so today was supposed to be my payday which is why the bank account set-up; our boss direct deposits our pay. Today, however, no one was paid, yet; but the excuse is so damn good: He has been at the hospital with one of the five year olds from the other school who split his head open this morning. Won-Jon Nim (Boss/director) is paying for the plastic surgery and such for the kid since it happened at his school! Brandon says that in his three years this is only the second time he has ever been paid late and that time, too, was a really good excuse.

Another thing for today was: Oliver’s birthday. Here they actually turn age for the Lunar New Year and not on their birthdays; however, they still make a HUGE production out of it. Oliver’s Mom brought in cake, chicken, pizza, strawberries and some sort of drink. All the kids’ brought presents. Oliver wore a hat and a badge and we had balloons and cards and finally staged pictures and singing for the kids. It was chaos, but the kids had fun and, supposedly, the food was good and that is what is important.


P.S. Check out the pictures in the “Kids who own the Confused American’s Heart” section for Oliver’s birthday and class photos.