No Oven = Big Problem

But seriously.

This is a very #whitegirlproblems kind of post, so if you're not into that, get lost.

I need to vent.

I knew before coming here that my kitchen would be sparse, and I was fine with that. Stucco's kitchen had a lot of space, but hardly anything by way of countertops or cupboard space (the essentials, really).

So I thought, gee, I've been kitchen-deprived before, no worries.

WRONG.

MANY WORRIES.

In a vain attempt to head off my desire (need) for an oven, I spent all summer baking up a storm.

Cakes, cookies, bread, anything. I just wanted to slap something in there at 375 and taunt my entire family with the delicious smells for 20 minutes, give or take.

And it worked. Probably a little too well.

(Sorry waistline...)

Unfortunately, I sort of.... overcorrected.

I baked SO much this summer, that now ALL I want is something baked.

RUH. ROH.

Of course, it doesn't help that I stalk foodblogs on the reg and drool over the lucsious deserts (literally? You decide.).

But even without the sweet tooth element, I'm still really hurting for an oven. HOW GOOD does a roast chicken sound? Roasted vegetables? Chicken cacciatore? Enchiladas? (Granted, the whole tortilla thing might present a whole new issue but STILL).

For God's sake, I'd take a tuna casserole.

TUNA. CASSEROLE.

Things are getting desperate around here.

Here's a picture list of things I want:



 

And that's only the stuff I have time for between classes.....

Wish me luck. I'm gonna need it!

Safety First?

If only.

I feel like I spend approximately half of every day cringing, trying not to cry, and going ballistic at the various totally unsafe things the kids are doing.

Two things in particular.

Personally, I know these rules were drilled into my head before I even GOT to kindergarten, so I can't help but wonder how every Korean child I have ever met is so completely and utterly clueless about them.

What basic safety rules, you ask?

1. Running with scissors. 

Correct scissor-holding form. 

What I will probably be dealing with in the near future.

Seriously. It's not that hard. Point down. NO RUNNING. 

But no, of course Dolphin Class can't handle that, they speed walk with the scissors open and ready to cut. I've started giving a minus point and going ballistic on them when they do it, but I may need to dedicate an entire lesson to scissor safety. 

I'm running out of ideas though; I already pantomimed stabbing yourself in the eye, and I kind of figured that would do the trick. 

Maybe they thought I was threatening them? Except that probably would've work though... Guh.

2. Sneezing/coughing EVERYWHERE

Some of you may poo-poo on this category's inclusion in basic safety, but as someone who gets sneezed on regularly and is in the throes of sinus-induced agony, let me assure you this is a matter of life and death. 

For example, last week, Tony sneezed in my face.

IN.

MY. 

FACE.

He lured me over with a nice "Teacha, helpa me please!" I bent down to look at his worksheet and... BOOM.

Disgusting. So. So. Disgusting. 

Anyways, we've gone over and over and over respiratory illness etiquette (see image below for proper sneezing form), but so far they can only do it in practice. 

Personally, I think they just get so overwhelmed when they feel a sneeze coming on that they just surrender to the germ-propelling bodily function and get it all over:

• Their hand
• Their desk
• Their pencil
• My pencil, if they forgot their own
• My face (See above)
• Other students

This is by no means an exhaustive list. 

And their safety infractions are nowhere near covered in this brief list, but I figured the ones that may or may not give me a heart attack every time they happen deserved a mention.