Caveat: Truly Monday

Yesterday was truly Monday.  Under my new work schedule, which has now started, I had seven classes, with a single one-period break, in the stretch from 3:30 to 10 pm.  I told Curt that it felt like I had finally had my "first day of work" initiation.  He laughed, and asked, "and how was it?" 

Not too bad.  One small class of 8th graders were just as I remember my most recalcitrant and obnoxious previous experiences with 8th graders.  It's like trying to teach a room full of lazy comedians suffering from severe sleep deprivation.  Wait… that may be close to accurate.  Other than that group – which I suspect I may be discussing further in the future – it wasn't bad.  Mostly I stuck to my lesson plans and stayed happy and calm.

The staff room was rearranged on Saturday after I left.  I knew it would be – they had to accommodate the other new teacher.  It's a pretty cramped space, but I was surprised to find my desk placed at the end of the double row of desks.  I was very surprised. 

Korean "office arrangements" are very interesting, and often deeply reflect positions within the explicit hierarchies.  I'd been given what any Korean would identify as a "second-in-command" position.  I felt awkward about this.   Was it a deliberate attempt to joke about or flout those conventions?  I sat down self-consciously and played at arranging things on my desk, and the office manager guy came in and asked if I would be happier if my desk were turned sideways (which would break the hierarchical feng sui).  I said, yes, maybe.  Then I joked, no, it's ok, this way I can be 팀장 [tim-jang = team leader].  All the other teachers laughed at this.  I still feel a little bit strange about it.  

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