couple of things

this will end up being a very long blog post.

i have downloaded marvin gaye's 'what's going on?' and my life is improving. today on my walk to school today this song made me shed a tear (it is all -10 centigrade):

i thought of my friend gg returning from iraq, getting denied his application (?) for PTSS, "you joined the marines, you must have been crazy to begin with". but for all the sadness in the song, and the fact it is an accurate depiction of the USA currently, gaye's voice really gives you the feeling that we'll (yes, collectively) get through. here are all the lyrics:
(Marvin Gaye/James Nyx)

Hey baby, what'cha know good
I'm just gettin' back, but you knew I would
War is hell, when will it end,
When will people start gettin' together again
Are things really gettin' better, like the newspaper said
What else is new my friend, besides what I read
Can't find no work, can't find no job my friend
Money is tighter than it's ever been
Say man, I just don't understand
What's going on across this land
Ah what's happening brother,
Oh ya, what's happening my man

Are they still gettin' down where we used to go and dance
Will our ball club win the pennant,
do you think they have a chance
And tell me friend, how in the world have you been.

Tell me what's out and I want to know what's in.
What's the deal man, what's happening
What's happening brother
Ah what's happening brother
What's happening my man
Ah what's happening brother
What's been shaken up and down the line
I want to know cause I'm slightly behind the time.

part II

today was the last day of winter camp. it was filled with some high points and low spots, as teaching tends to be, but the last week worked quite well. they were able to talk about movies (the two we watched) with a minimum of my getting involved. they aren't at the level where they can talk about a movie with each other, but they know (or should!) genre, setting, character, actor, plot, special effects. the character/actor confusion took a bit of sorting out. and there was a funny moment when talking about setting. we covered the definition, and they seemed to get it. i asked, 'where are some settings for a movie?'
--school
'sure, many movies take place at school'
--home
'yes, a lot of movies involve a house'
--movie theatre
'movie theatre? ahhhhh! no no no. setting isn't where you watch the movie, it is where the movie takes place. like...harry potter, hogwart. star wars, outer space.'
--ahhhhhhh!
we watched The Nightmare Before Christmas and reviewed the songs as they came up.

today we worked on pronouncing 'b' 'p' 'v', koreans have a nasty time with 'v' especially. when they say it it often sounds like 'bwee'. so we were saying each letter, then i wanted words that had multiple occurrences of each. the first two where easy:
bubble
puppet
but two 'v's? i suddenly found myself writing the word 'vulva' on the board, confident that at least they wouldn't know what it was. i lucked out. it got better, too. half way through the drill i came up with 'volvo' and 'valve' so was able to erase 'vulva' before they entered it into their translators.

then we made sandwiches and watched How The Grinch Stole Christmas. i asked them to think about comparing the two movies while watching--what is the similar/what is different. we were able to quickly say 5 of each about the two movies. that made me happy.

then, when class was ending, two of the girls came up and gave me a present. there is a box of snacks, which may or may not be good, given korea's sweets are sub-par to what we are accustomed to. they also gave me a chalk holder, which is marvelous because my pants always get completely chalk covered. also, a piece of soap. it looks nice. there were also two letters which i will type verbatim.

from Soug I
Dear. Kevin
Hi :) How are you? I'm fine. Thank you for your teach. I like America. Because Americans very very kind. I want go to America. So I want to see Statue of Liberty myself.
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
-->FROM. CHOI Song I
P.S the soap was hand maded by my mother

TO: Kevin teacher <3
Hellow ~ <3
How are you today? I'm find. today is last day in English conversation therfore I write letter ~ <3
youer teaching is very good and fun
I'm very good and you are very kind...^_^ I like you ~~~
and I miss you ~~~
* I'm very thank you <3
and last I like you ^_^
From: Da Yoen

all of her mentions of like have white-out over them, so i have a feeling someone may love me~~~~~~~~

it was very sweet