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.