Desk-warming

The policy in the public school system is that foreign teachers must report to school unless they are on paid leave. So, while students are on an extended break and regular Korean teachers are enjoying the vacation at home, I must be at my desk each day. At the time of writing this, I would have completed 12 consecutive work days at an empty school without classes or any real work to do.

Each day, 1-3 different teachers report in, and then promptly leave as soon as possible. The next day, a different set of teachers come to school for their rotation, and again leave after doing a little work. Additionally, several of the department heads come to school as well as the vice principal. The office lady is a daily fixture and has kindly given me a few snacks during my desk-warming. So, in total, there are usually 4 or 5 people in the office on any given morning and about 1-3 by the end of the day. 

During the previous vacation periods, I managed to keep busy by preparing lessons for the upcoming term. However, as I'm leaving Korea in a matter of weeks, this vacation is especially pointless. I don't need to prepare any lessons at all so I have been occupying my time by applying for new jobs back in Canada. Sadly, once you submit a few applications you don't really need to rewrite your cover letter and resume. Instead, you just make a few adjustments and you're ready for the next application. I've been able to apply to many jobs and it is taking me less and less time, each time. What I'm trying to say is, I'm getting bored.

My Korean co-teacher has been in the office this week sitting at her desk beside me. She can easily go the whole day without talking to me, her face firmly planted in a book. I got tired of being the first one in the office, so I started to come in around 8:45am. I extend my lunch hour to one and a half hours, which I take in my apartment. I'm not allowed to end my work day early, so I wait out the clock until 4:30pm. I say goodbye to whoever is in the office, and I head home, reflecting on another day well wasted.

These last few days, with the students and teachers at home, repairs have been happening at the school. A work crew has been disassembling, cleaning, repairing, and reinstalling the heating units in each room of the school. This means that the heat has been turned off in the faculty office. I have to sit in a cold office for the whole day. I put on my winter coat and hat, and watch my breath mist into the cold air of the school. 

While the crew was working in the faculty office, I went downstairs to the English classroom. Heat was likewise unavailable, but at least I was alone and could put on some music until the crew eventually followed me into the classroom to do their work.

But finally, my desk-warming time has come to an end. Twelve days of boring, cold, nothingness. I am on official paid leave and with the weekends and national holidays tacked on, I have 12 days off, free and clear. During my vacation, I plan to get my booster vaccine and visit my friend in Seoul for a couple of days. Yipee!