Toady was the first day of the Spring semester. Classes didn't start today (for me) and probably won't start for another day or two. But the changes are already obvious including things I knew and things I didn't know.
1. Since I was given the chance to choose my own destiny basically and pick schools I choose Samyang. I like the kids and I like my co-workers that I actually work with here. My Co-teacher at Jukhyang was at the end of her time there and is moved to a different school, the Principal at Jukhyang retired. Combine that with the fact that I haev already told my Co-teacher at Samyang that I would like to stay and the Principal here is as awesome as the known quantity at Jukhyang was AND he's staying and it's easy.
2. Since I have only one school now I get to teach more grades. This comes at the price of potentially loosing some of my students from Winter Camp because they opened a new school close to mine and split the student population. I don't get to teach those kids because the Office of Education got 4 new teachers. 3 of which are in newly created position replacing no one.
3. The teacher for 5th grade has changed. This was a little surprising. I didn't know Mrs. Kim had to change schools and had assumed that she was staying with the other 2 teachers. I also figured that I would be teaching 3rd, 4th and 6th grade ENglish now because we have a TALK scholar who was teaching the 5th grade with Mrs. Kim. But nope she is gone so now the face at the desk across from me is a.different and b. actually at the desk. Mrs. Kim liked to spend most of her time in the classroom and it's possible that the new teacher will do the same. I should probably learn her name and start talking to her since we'll be teaching a class together now. Also I should ask about my schedule.
4. Half the kids are at a differen't school. Also the main Teachers office that I sit and work in is different. THere are new people in new places and some people gone and moved into what I can only assume is their own permanent classrooms. Bully to them! Every teacher should have their own classroom.
Anyway these are just some of the obvious changes that I notice at the moment. I still haven't actually met any of the new Teachers though I think I saw one on the street yesterday after I got back into town and was walking to the bank to pay rent. Also they moved desks and are currently standing over me and choosing new furniture for the newly open space behind where I sit. They did not pick an exciting color. This is slightly dissapointnig.
