HOD OMG!

Well I have been living in South Korea now for a good year and a half. I have traveld to places I didn't even know I wanted to go. I have met people from all over the world. I work with some of the smartest people on the planet. So what adventure will I take on next you might ask?

HOD.

Yes in the land of acronyms I can now add another to my list. HOD. Head of Department.
Not just head of the music department. Head of the Fine Arts Department. That means 4 music directors 2 drama teachers and 4 art instructors.

Why?

Because I guess I didn't have enough to do. Actually to be honest, I want to try and help other teachers become empowered in the arts department. After 15 years in business, now I want to impart some of what I have learned and blatantly stolen from other remarkable teachers. I guess it is my way to give back even though I feel like I am still learning the basics on a day to day basis.
Right now I am just in listening mode but I try to start thinking a step or two ahead. Already I have been apart of meetings and concerns that I hadn't planned on. Fine Arts and Athletic department and conflicts was my trial by fire.

I don't have the finest degrees from top universities in the world but maybe this is how I am supposed to give back to the profession I have been a part of for so long. Some lessons I have learned the hard way and maybe I can help others not make the same mistakes I have but to learn to love the profession they have chosen and to feel valued for their gifts.

I don't know what will happen. Only the Big Guy can really say at this point. What I know for fact though is that without all of my friends and colleagues of my past, I would never be where I am now. To all of them I say a big thank you.

Am I scared?

ABSOLUTELY but I would not have it any other way.

Resurrection....of the Blog

As I said from the beginning, I never planned on putting rules up for my blog. I would write when I could, about what I wanted and if other people read it so be it.
This is not a New Year's resolution or anything like that, this a restart of my life here in Korea. So much change is coming towards me this year that I need to remember the simple quirks of the life I now lead so I will be blogging more now. Some of you may follow, some may not. That is okay.

For tonight I am just thinking about how I came to this idea a few 2 years ago now. I had no idea what I was in for. I don't regret it either. I have seen and done and helped in ways I never thought I could. I hope to keep doing that. In the quest and the satisfaction of helping others, I am learning about myself. There will forever be things I need to work on, to "fix" for me to feel right about life. But I am going to tackle those battles as they come to the best of my ability.

Reality is setting in that I still know very little Korean and yet the Ajuma at the Kahge smiled when I first walked in from my trip home and made a gesture and was asking if I had left for a vacation. That is progress. To feel like someone noticed my absence was kind of cool. I am also back in the winter "wonderland" of Korea, as in I wonder how I am not going to freeze to death everyday. I feel so lucky to have friends and family on both sides of the ocean that seem to stay with me and cheer me on. I never knew I would meet such an amazing group of people in all my life.

I realize there are some that will criticize my decision to stay on for two more years here at GSIS but I stand behind my decision. I feel like I am making a difference and I am being changed as well. It doesn't mean I still don't fight and support all my teaching friends in Idaho who do the amazing job of being public educators. I have just now found my new space and if you want to know why I am doing what I am doing, feel free to come on over and see for yourself. I will open my door to any of you at any time.

So 2013....Let's Dance. I am ready for you now.