Archive for » March, 2009 «

31
Mar
To Fight or Not to Fight
wendy


We were in the playroom. Little Dynamo and I were playing on a Lego set. Another boy joined us and grabbed a toy from my toddler’s hand. Little Dynamo cried. I comforted him by saying, “It’s ok. You can play with it when he’s finished”.

My Little Dynamo would glance at the toy in the boy’s hand every now and then. I would just pat his back and turn his attention elsewhere. Then the other boy let go of the toy. My Little Dynamo happily picked it up and played with it… until the other boy grabbed it from his hand again. In front of me. My Little Dynamo cried. I told him to say please to the other boy. With a pleading voice, my Little Dynamo repeatedly said, “Please” while crying. The other boy stubbornly held on to the toy.

I was at a loss! What do I do? I am the adult but I am also the Mom.

I carried my toddler away and opted to go out of the playroom. We were followed  by the apologies of the nanny who had to take care of that other boy and his baby sister.  Oh well, with two kids, she could only do so much. But I felt bad for my own toddler because:

  • he might feel that Mommy was not there to protect him
  • I might be sending a wrong message to my son - “it’s ok when others take things from you”
  • just cry when another boy takes away your toy - it’s ok to be bullied

Once I told a friend that as parents we should really try to be very objective and never allow ourselves to get into the petty fights of toddlers. But where your toddler is concerned, this seemed to be a tough act to follow. Seeing your own toddler hurt doesn’t call for an objective mind.

What then should I do when a similar event happens in the future? I didn’t feel so good and I immediately told my husband about it. “Diplomacy should always come first“, he said. “If it doesn’t work, let him get the toy from the other boy“. “What if they fight?”, I asked. “Let them be“, he answered.

Which brings to mind another advice of a mother to her own toddler. “Never start a fight. But when somebody hits you, hit him back“.

I modified the above advice and recently I started teaching my toddler, “When somebody hits you, tell him ‘Don’t hit me’. When he hits you again, make sure to HIT HIM HARD!“.

Category: parenting  Tags:  6 Comments
31
Mar
Watching Television
wendy


My toddler officially started watching television last Friday. That’s because I gave in to having a cable installed so there are English shows he could watch these days.

Prior to cable, he had been happily choosing which CD or DVD to watch from the collection we brought all the way from the Philippines. He has Barney, Dora, Sesame Street CDs and a variety of movies for children. Whenever his Dad watches TV, he would immediately turn it off and demand to watch the CD of his choice. I happily settled on that set-up knowing that my toddler would only watch shows appropriate for his age.

Hubby was so pleased when I eventually nodded to have our own cable subscription. Over the weekend, he declared that weekends are holidays for the Little Dynamo. That means that they could watch TV without restriction. Hmmm… I chose to choose my battle so I kept my silence.

Then… we realized that our son is new to the concept of television shows!

  • He had a hard time understanding why we can’t turn back his favorite scenes - He used to request that with the CDs he was watching.
  • It was difficult for him to comprehend why he can’t watch the shows continuously - CDs have no commercials.
  • He can’t easily take the explanation that TV shows have schedules - All he had to do was choose the same Dora CD for the whole week, if THAT Dora CD is what he fancies to watch.

Over the weekend, I find it amusing whenever I hear my son cries for “Where is Pororo? Pororo please!” during commercial breaks. I am even more entertained whenever I hear my husband explain to our toddler that “Pororo will be back. It’s just a commercial break. Pororo will be back, promise”. There is also a good children show in EBS English called “Super Why”. I like this show for my toddler and I’m glad that he is entertained by it. However, we would hear him crying during commercial breaks. I happily gave the responsibility of explaining to my husband. He is the TV aficionado, after all.

Category: parenting  Tags:  4 Comments
30
Mar
It’s Night Time
wendy

Around 6:30 pm. Just entered the house.

 

Little Dynamo: (looking out of the glass window) It’s night time.

Me: Yeah, that’s why we are inside the house already.

Little Dynamo: And all the boys. Inside their house also.

Me: Good, you got it right.

Little Dynamo: And all the titas. And all the friends.

Me: Yes.

Little Dynamo: It’s night time already. Daddy is not yet home.

Category: child development  Tags:  One Comment
28
Mar
Storytelling with Feeling
wendy

Unknown to them, I captured this private moment between father and son. Little Dynamo and his fascination with dinosaurs inspired him to tell a story to his dad… with feelings!

Category: child development, parenting  Tags: ,  5 Comments
27
Mar
My 28-month old Little Dynamo and his Letters
wendy

Allow me to share my Little Dynamo reading his letters:-)

Category: child development  Tags: ,  14 Comments
26
Mar
Filipino English Teachers for Korea
wendy


While we were in Lotte World last Sunday, my Korean friend asked me if I want to be an English teacher here in Korea. She is an English teacher in one of the schools in Gangnam. She is one of the earliest Korean friend I have here in Seoul and she has always been eager to do things for me. Sometimes, I feel her eagerness is too much but that’s just the way she is. Early last year, she asked her school to hire me on a part-time basis since I have a toddler to take care of. She also told the school that I am a Filipino and they were willing to take me in. All I had to do was say “yes”. All these she did without telling me first:-). Back to the present, she reported last Sunday that the Korean government is opening up its English education to Filipino teachers in the near future.

What did I get on my email today? An email from Koreajoblink.com with the subject “Philippine English Teachers for Korea“. The email is not offering a teaching job… not yet, anway. It is merely informing that the Korean public school system is planning to hire exceptional Filipino teachers to teach conversational English with the following qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s or higher degree in education/English major (other majors may be possible)
  • teacher’s license (or certificate)
  • teaching experience (minimum 2 years)
  • clean police record

From the email, Koreajoblink is already accepting resumes but it is very clear in the email that as of the moment granting teaching visa to Filipino teachers is not yet “100% decided”. I am sure this news will be promptly received with enthusiasm. I just hope that this will not give false hopes to those who THINK they are qualified.

Personally, I declined my friend’s offer to work in a school because:

  • I don’t have a teaching degree (my law units is not tantamount to a teaching degree)
  • I don’t have a teaching experience

I know that there are many Filipinos back home who are tutoring Koreans in several hagwons scattered across the nation without any teaching degree but I don’t think that’s enough credential to boast to come over. Let’s admit it, most tutors back home started as undergraduate working students. The ability to speak and write English well is not enough credential to teach effectively either. Neither is PASSION to teach. Bottomline is, there are credentials to follow. Classic example, Betchay of Buhay sa Korea took an expensive TESOL course in preparation for a teaching/academy management career.

From several blogs I read, there are very defensive Filipinos questioning the Korean government’s current decision not to employ Filipinos as English teachers. Some are very full of angst about the Korean government’s discriminating policy. My take is, if you don’t want to be discriminated why insist on coming over? Be somewhere where you will not be discriminated to avoid perennial whining:-) Peace! Hehehe. There is no room for BEGGING when you know you are qualified. It’s just like, you don’t beg Samsung or Procter and Gamble or San Miguel to take you in as an employee even if you have a long list of credentials in your resume. You look for a company which needs you and your credentials… or wait until your “dream company” has a position ready for you. But while they do not have one for you, don’t go around town full of angst and whining about your lack of oppotunity because of the discriminating policies within.

I also don’t think the chance to teach here in Korea is a battle between “white versus brown”. While the earlier program of Korea was not strict with teaching degrees from people from the United States, Canada and New Zealand it is undeniable that they have what we Filipinos do not have. Accent. The accent that Koreans want to have. While I personally do not think that accent does not make other people superior over us, we could not just overhaul the whole Korean way of thinking. If they want accent, let them go for it. It’s their money, anyway. They also go to the Philippines to spend money. We’re happy about that:-).

Anyway, the Koreajoblink email advises that in the meantime:

  • Get your passport.
  • Get references
  • Check your criminal record
  • Get familiarized with American accent and intonation
  • Get more teaching experience

Goodluck!


Category: education, life in korea  Tags:  42 Comments
26
Mar
A Pleasant Customer Care Experience
wendy


Some days ago, I received a notice from the Mapo Post Office with the bill for residence tax(?). Last Tuesday, I went to the Post Office which is just a few buildings away from where I live to pay for it. The amount is very minimal so I didn’t make further inquiries regarding the bill.

I had the most pleasant customer care experience!

The first man I approached to ask which window I should transact with cannot understand English but he smilingly told me to wait and a few seconds later he was with another man who showed a lot of eagerness to assist me. In his struggling English, he instructed me which window to go to. He even got a number for me. Aside from wanting to pay for my bill, I went there with a lot of questions to ask. I was actually hesitant to ask since the man is obviously just struggling to understand and speak to me in English.

I got my answers and more. He was just the nicest government employee I am happy to have the chance to encounter. I asked about the rates for packages to be sent to the Philippines. He gave me a brochure in English… and explained the table (fees) to me. He also offered the information that the brochure only contains the rates for Express Mail Service. Regular rates are not printed but are available through the counters. And he asked a lady in one of the counters… and wrote down the information for me. He also led the way to the counter which called my number. Until I got out of the post office, he was there to open the door for me. Don’t you just love being treated that way?

In one of our coffee time, some members of the Pinoy Seoulites offered the observation that customer service here in Seoul, even in government offices, is really satisfactory. I agree with that. I went to the Immigration Office in Mokdong and I absolutely have nothing bad to say about the people behind the counter and the service. Very efficient.

I heard a lot of complaints from my Korean friends about Korean taxi drivers. One personal experience makes me disagree.. at least regarding this one taxi driver I encountered. My Filipino part-time nanny and I did our grocery for my son’s birthday last year. While we were putting the boxes in the trunk of the taxi, the cart was left by my nanny and moved towards the taxi. There was a dent left by the impact. I was afraid that the driver will make a scene. He didn’t. On the contrary, he was very soft-spoken and he brought us to my place where my husband was waiting to talk with him. Everything ended well… we paid him 100,000-won for the damage. It was a very small amount but hubby managed to negotiate:-).

The banks are very easy to deal with. No fuss transactions. I wrote about my experience with a bank here in Seoul in this post.

The power of one pleasant customer care experience! It brings back good thoughts of living here in Seoul:-)


Category: life in korea  Tags: , ,  5 Comments
25
Mar
The Convenience of Going Wireless
wendy

I had been so used to the convenience of being online here in Seoul. Whether my husband is here in Seoul or out of the country for business trips, the internet always bridges the physical distance. So, I always cringe at the thought of being cut off from the internet whenever I go home to the Philippines during the holidays. Either there is no internet at home or others are using the computer and I have to haggle between the availability of the computer and the permission of my toddler for me to be online.

It was a relief when I found out during our last vacation that my father-in-law got a wireless router in his house in the province. Imagine the big chaos over internet access when four families live and sleep together for several days during the holidays. I was so relieved I brought my own laptop. My hubby brought his aswell. My brothers-in-law had theirs also. It was just a matter of securing internet connection for all of us. The first thing that my youngest brother-in-law did when we arrived was set-up the newly-purchased Netgear wireless router. While our toddler and his cousins were playing in the garden, hubby and I would bring along our laptop and settle ourselves either in the small garden “kubo” or on the swing in the middle of the garden. One brother-in-law and his wife would be doing the same in their chosen spots. The property, which includes the main house, the guest house and a garden in between, was quite big. Without the wireless router, the adults would have been stuck in one corner while the children run around out of sight… or we completely deprive ourselves of internet connection:-).

Since I got to check on some wireless routers, I may have to suggest next time to try out the Belkin N1 Wireless Router. There are several sleek designs to choose from.

Category: general tips, internet concerns/blogging  Tags: ,  2 Comments
24
Mar
Counterfeit Checks in the Philippines
wendy


Remember Frank Abagnale, Jr? Catch me if you can! Do we have somebody as “talented” as he is in the Philippines when it comes to making counterfeit checks?

Recently, somebody we know almost got victimized. It was reported tonight in TV Patrol. See TV Patrol video here.

The woman in the video went to the BPI Branch in Cubao to encash a check under her name for Php95,000. The bank did a standard procedure of verifying from the account holder due to the amount to be encashed. There was no suspicion of a fake check. The counterfeited check has the right account number and the signature is exactly the same as that of the account holder’s. The check number does exist. But here’s the catch: Upon further verification, the check in question was already cleared December last year.

Note though that if the bank did not verify from the account holder because of the large sum of money involved, the woman and her cohorts would have been smiling on their way out of the bank Php95,000 richer. Who would have shouldered the discrepancy? The bank or the account holder?

How skillful is/are the person/s involved? It was reported in the same news that this isn’t the first time this happened. The people behind this modus operandi are so smart they were able to create a legitimate looking check. They are so gullible to encash a large amount of money that needed verification.

What if the account owner is not in the Philippines when the supposed phone verification happened? In my case, it has always been a necessity to issue checks whenever I’m in the Philippines before I go back here in Seoul. Now, that would be a terrible scenario…


Category: general tips  Tags: ,  3 Comments
23
Mar
The Singing Dog
wendy

I was just so impressed the first time I watched this video and I thought of sharing this here in “My Rocking Cradle”. Of course, I had to ask permission from the owner first.

Bella is living with Mar and Sharon. Mar is my Multiply friend and he takes great pictures. His wife, Sharon, teaches piano. It wasn’t until I saw this video that I learned that Mar is also a great stage father to Bella.

Enjoy!

 

Blog Widget by LinkWithin

Category: Uncategorized  Tags:  4 Comments
« Previous Entries