I actually got super sick on Christmas night. My fever was so bad on Thursday that my boss even sent me home an hour early, which she only did for me one other time last year. Anyways, it's been a true test of patience and perseverance preparing for my SAT class every night with my unfavorable conditions. Yesterday, one of my students asked what other subjects I teach. I told her that I pretty much do anything that the hakwon tells me to do since I'm their lil slave boy. Well, I finished teaching that class and as one of Elite's slave boys, I couldn't help but think of the words, "Free at last, free at last." Here are some beautiful lyrics to a song that was written around the time of black slavery called, "Free at Last," that I've never even listened to:

Free at last, free at last
I thank God I'm free at last
Free at last, free at last
I thank God I'm free at last

Way down yonder in the graveyard walk
I thank God I'm free at last
Me and my Jesus going to meet and talk
I thank God I'm free at last

On my knees when the light pass'd by
I thank God I'm free at last
Tho't my soul would rise and fly
I thank God I'm free at last

Some of these mornings, bright and fair
I thank God I'm free at last
Goin' meet King Jesus in the air
I thank God I'm free at last

In Roots, the African American slaves would tell their dead loved ones that they were finally free. I think that's so beautiful...and true.

Thought of the Day: Nolita.
Song of the Day: Big Bang-거짓말

"Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas..."
-Frank Sinatra

My junior year in high school was the worst Christmas I ever had. I was bedridden with the flu and spent the entire day reading Grapes of Wrath for winter break homework. However, this year's Christmas totally outdoes my junior year. For the past 24 hours, I've been stuck inside my room working on SAT Math problems and reading Fantastic Mr. Fox and Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, making worksheets and tests for those books. This job is driving me nuts. This year, Frank, I'm gonna have to pass.

Thought of the Day: "Poppycock!"
Song of the Day: Fall Out Boy-Yule Shoot Your Eye Out

Guess who's going to China?

2008 will have Lovefest!

Thought of the Day: Ice-cream Waffles!!!
Song of the Day: Mika Nakashima-Oborodzukiyo ~Inori

Every once in a blue moon, my boss will ask me to teach SAT math to some high school kids from abroad. The thing is, I'm not too good with math to begin with. But SAT math just really makes my life so much more difficult. More than your math skills and ability, it's all about the shortcuts and strategies. Too bad I lack both. I was truly humbled today when one my students finished all of his quiz corrections and homework IN class while I had had a head start on some of the homework problems. He finished everything (50 problems) while I was stuck on #16.

Towards my last couple of classes, I decided to "challenge" one of my private writing students with impossible problem #16. The second year middle school student simply replied, "Oh, I had a problem just like this on my test last week!" He graciously showed me how to do it on the board. He even showed me two different ways. By the time he had left, I only remembered half of his explanation. But right before finishing my last class, I was finally able to see things from a different angle and solve the problem easily. *phew* It's times like these that cause me to reconsider becoming a math teacher. Koreans are so good at math!

Thought of the Day: China.
Song of the Day: The Brilliant Green-Koi wa Kirakira Boshi

"My comrade. We will fight through Seoul together and prevail. After Seoul, we'll be invincible."
-from Jaepil Kim's Christmas Card

I am a firm believer that struggle can bring people together. Look at your past mission trips, study groups, college friends, and now for some, your fellow coworkers. That's partly why the Church is so awesome; we're all broken, but we help each other out. I told my small group that I'm kinda sadistic in the sense that I love hearing about their hardships. However, that stuff encourages me cause it reminds me that I'm not alone. If I struggle, I'm sure you're struggling, too. If you're struggling, I assure you that I'm right beside you.

But speaking of difficulty,





I am way out of shape.

It's been a while since I've gone hiking. I think we're going to keep it that way again.

Thought of the Day: Sauna.
Song of the Day: Fernando Ortega-More Love To Thee

I had forgotten how funny The Office was. Season 3 is awesome!

Thought of the Day: Lost
Song of the Day: Alanis Morissette-You Oughta Know

I've been feeling really tired almost everyday. The funny thing is that I'm getting a lot of sleep, too...like +8 hours these days. I've been having some hard days, but I don't think I'm particularly depressed. However, I do find myself not smiling as much either, which actually isn't saying much since I don't smile very much to begin with. It's something that I really want to work on though. I always used to despise people who never looked happy. Sadly, I've become one of those despicable people.

"Christianity is not just for Sunday mornings. It's for difficult Monday mornings."
-Dennis Kang

Pastor Dennis is such a faithful preacher. He is one man who never fails to help me smile. Happy Monday.

Thought of the Day: 식곤증
Song of the Day: Wu-Tang Clan-16th Chamber (ODB Special)

David: Doofus!
Paul: Do you want to die?
Me: Hey, just tell him to be quiet!
Paul: (turns around to look at David) SHUT UP!

Thought of the Day: Superbad.
Song of the Day: Yoon Do Hyun Band-나는 나비

Looks like we have another young pop group with a catchy song that my white coworker, Brian, likes, 현조 누나 had on her cyworld music, and 정원 sang last night. It's crazy cause I just found out that the leader of the group is G-Dragon who originally started off solo when he was only 12 years old. I remember listening to his first song on Perry's first (and last) album back in high school. So weird. Them Wonder Girls still appear to be quite popular, too. As I was walking home today, I saw two girls waving at me from afar. But as we came to a closer distance, I realized that they were just doing the Tell Me dance. So weird.

My friend, Christine, took her huge Teachers Exam today. I texted her a few hours ago, but she never responded back. I'm really afraid that she is depressed and stressed out about not doing well. She didn't handle it too well last year. If there's one thing Christine,종성, and my dad have taught me, it's that isolation is very unhealthy. People were not meant to live alone.


My middle school students are preparing for their finals at school, so none of them studied for my review test last week. This student received a 2/100. That's a whopping 2%.


Here's a happy picture of Jung pretending to not be too cool to play with me. I like her because she's weird.


December's here!

Thought of the Day: 사랑니
Song of the Day: Big Bang-거짓말