Another Rain Post!

I know I post about Rain a lot, he could probably have his own label on my blog, but I heard a Rain song today and I loved it. I had really never heard him sing before, but I have a new student, Kate, and she let me hear him on her MP3. I really liked it. She said that I was listening to his first hit. She also said she's going to make me a cd. My students are pretty disgusted with my lack of technology, and probably my wardrobe, lack of make up, hairstyle, attitude...whatever. Anyway, I love Rain. Man, it's hard to find a picture of him where he doesn't look so young. Eeesh.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=71374076

I found his MySpace profile, and actually if you go to my profile you can hear one of his songs. I just added it. Woo Hoo!

Nicknames Again

We've had a rash of really normal/boring nicknames lately. In the past we've had students named Dragon Cha and Ralph and Lauren (two best friends who were always together), Worrick, Swash, Lion, Augustine, Teddy...for a girl we had GieGel, which I guess is some famous model. There was one guy named Qu, which is pronounced Ku. I always said, "Hi Ku!" when I saw him, and that felt weird. Even if the names were semi-normal, they weren't super common. We just had William and Harry, too, but many Koreans are not familiar with the royal family.

One day in a new class we went around and introduced ourselves and explained the nicknames. One student chose Neo. "That's from the Matrix, right?" Yes. So we had a long exciting conversation about the Matrix, very cool. Ok, next person, "Your name is...Tigger?" Yes. "That's from Winnie-The-Pooh, right?" Yes. It wasn't the most macho moment that student has ever had, I'm sure. But his name totally fit, the guy bounced everywhere and was loud and Tiggerish.

Lately we're getting Steve, Scott, Peter, Jason, Tim... real yawners.
This morning I met "Justin"...I was going to ask him why he chose that name, but I was afraid that he would do what he does everytime I ask him something...*deer in the headlights* uh...duh...blank stare...
I won't get into why, but...the name fits oh so well.

Oh Yeah, and I Forgot Dragon Cha

So here at the college when I started I was told that the students choose "English" names. At first, I was a little taken aback, because name changing is a bit controversial. Many cultures and countries have stories of being forced to change their names to accommodate the dominating influence of the time. In Korea's case, when the Japanese had control of Korea before WWII, Korean was outlawed, and the people had to take Japanese names.

Anyway, I didn't say anything, and over time I discovered that students preferred the English names and actually called each other their new names outside the college as well. They told me it was easier for them. I was like, 'wow, ok'

The students actually say "nicknames" instead of English names, which more accurately describes the situation.

Enter Dragon Cha.
Cha is his last name and he really likes Dragon Ball Z.

Scroll down for my other entry about names- I made an entire list and forgot 'Dragon Cha'...

So this entry should be a bit more captivating and creative, but my mood is gloomy and introspective today.

I've got some students near and dear to me who are leaving, and I'm dealing with my very first batch of rude students. I've never had that issue before.

It's a bit chaotic around here lately, and typically, it's quiet and controlled. With a larger group comes all new dynamics.

I'm getting really old, and it's so weird. It's foreign to me. I feel unhealthy at this time in my life, and I've got such a packed schedule that I don't know how to interject something new or different.

It's just a little phase.

I Hate To Be Mean and Student Nicknames

But...that "Amazing Grace" Asian version is playing again over the speakers here, and I'd love to post it on the internet somehow so people could hear how terrible it is.

My first class of the day is killing me.
My second class is exciting, but the students have decided that class should be over at noon and not 12:10 because they are hungry and I agree, but I'm getting in trouble. I'm told, just make them stay. I can't do it. They close everything and put on their backpacks. Class three is awesome. Class four nobody has been showing up because they are almost all partiers in that class and if they drag themselves out of bed for the 8:30 bell then they are finished by 3.

Konglish Nicknames

The students here choose nicknames. I have a student named "Ho", which is no problem with me, because I don't have a low class sense of humor. What does make me feel weird is saying, "Hi Ho!" When I see him.

Other students names:
"Linkin", of course after Linkin Park
"Worrick", after Worrick on CSI. (And we have a "Nick" tribute to CSI)

We had two friends come together and one chose "Ralph" and the other chose "Lauren", and they are always together. They are "Ralph Lauren".

We have a "Rocky",
a "Wilson", yes, after the volleyball.
We have a "DaVinch"...not DaVinci, just DaVinch. He doesn't like the way "DaVinci" sounds. Ok.

One student chose the name "Jhon", and insists on that spelling.
We have a student named "Chez", I don't know why.
(We don't use the French prononciation.)

One student chose the name "Funny" .
We had one named "Swash", I don't know the story there either.
We had a "Toto", and one of my favorite students, "Sunday"
...and
"Augustine" (was going to be a priest, now he's a rock star).

What's in a name?