The woes of miscommunication

Let me start this off with this: If you don't know the language, you better learn fast. Or have your friends make you some funny Korean notecards.

Why?

Because of the woes~ of not being able to communicate and not being able to properly express your opinoin. Because you might might get moved from your office with your co-teacher, who speaks English, into an office with 7 other people including your Vice Principal, who don't speak English. Okay, one guy does but you can't understand him. Oddly, he thinks he can understand you. That is why he thought you were lonely in your quiet office. So, he requested you be moved into an office with more people.

HAHAHAHAHAHA It's nice I can laugh about this. Because it didn't happen to me. (Although my karma just took a shot) It happened to a fellow Native Teacher, Ryan.

 It's bad enough Ryan teaches at a hellish all boys school where corporal punishment is the regular. 'Stand with books on your hands up in the air above your head. NOW!' As if the hellish hours spent corralling your students in class wasn't enough. Now, you have to spend your time in an office with 7 other people you can't understand. That could be talking about you and you wouldn't even know. Not to mention your plans to watch movies and surf the web peacefully in your spare time are KAPUT. Goodbye sweet, quiet office! HELLO AWKWARDNESS! Better break open the Korean phrase book. And fire up the Rosetta Stone.

The best part about this is that Ryan is the loudest person amongst all the Native Teachers. (I know, louder than me? Yes.) But ever since the first day of school, when he offended his teacher, he has been mute at work. When she asked, what he did this morning, he mentioned that he ate breakfast, took a shower and came to work. Pretty typical right? Not to her. In a grave tone she told him, 'Ryan, we don't talk about showering here.' And that was that. Ryan tiptoed around his words like a mouse in a house full of traps. But he didn't mind being quiet. He got to sit around and keep to himself. He could watch movies, listen to music, surf Facebook at his leisure. But that has turned out to be his bane. His quiet demeanor at work has led to this.

Better pick up 'Korean for Dummies' at your local Barnes and Noble. Sorry Ryan.