KaDeWo - The Joy Advocate

Entrance to school cafeteria Today my (school) Principal surprised and honored me with a carefully selected Korean name:  원 가 린  pronounced Won Galin The translation is Won = First, Ga = Beautiful, Lin = Clear or Pure    The names chosen appeal to me because they are close to the translation of my English name ( Joyous Cascade Goddess ). HAPPY 2ND MONTH ANNIVERSARY TO ME!! The naming "ceremony" took place in his office along with the Vice Principal and my primary Coteacher over tea and sweet bread, after a tour of the cafeteria kitchen. Just after 1st period commenced, Principal came to my desk and requested my company for an "interesting" experience. His choice of words intrigued me. I saved the file I was working on and followed him. I thought we were going to his office, for a lesson, based on the fact that he helped me practice Hangul last week. We stopped at the administration office to summon the Head of Administration and continu...

Disclaimer: This was my experience based on the two banks I use. I bank with USAA; find out the receiving fees for your American bank. I do not know the process for expats wiring money to other countries. So...I mistakenly thought once I had a Korean bank account that I would be able to transfer money immediately from my Korean to US bank account, to pay bills back home. Disappointedly, I found out 2 things: 1. Koomin Bank or KB requires 6 months proof of residency to transfer funds to an US account, for account holders and 2. that I had to wire money home to pay American companies that do not allow you to use foreign bank accounts to pay your monthly bills.  Once I found out no. 1 I figured let me just call the companies and pay them directly, instead of using my US bank's online/app bill pay system. I went to my local post office, Korea Post , to send a little over $1500 USD. The post office's fee ...

On August 25, 2016 I excitedly arrived in the Land of Morning Calm at the Incheon International Airport on a Korean Air plane around 2025 KST. It has been a little over a month and my honeymoon phase (referred to by other expats and natives as the period when a new arrival likes/loves all things new) continues. My first night was spent in a quiet and modern Best Western. The next day, I boarded a "limousine" to my new province, Daejeon . (I feel it is important to note that a limo in the States is not remotely similar in Korea. I boarded a bus with fewer seats than Mega Bus. However, they reclined with a foot rest and included a cup holder. Not luxurious in the least, but comfortable for a 2 hour and 20 minute ride to the Government Complex stop.) Daejeon is nicknamed the Middle City; a great location to get to most major cities in South Korea and does not experience the worst of bad weather. (i.e. devasta...

"They say, the first 24 hours behind bars are the hardest." - '12 Inside Student, Graduation Day In the Fall of 2012 I spent every Tuesday night in Pennsylvania's State Correctional Institution in Graterford ; it is a maximum security prison for men. Among the 14 selected Criminal Justice majors, I was the only Education major approved for the community-based-learning (CBL) course .  I eagerly joined the fresh "outside" inductees, in the   Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program . I am extremely honored to be an alumna of this program. The course will challenge your views and force you to consider what you have been taught as well as what you truly believe. From the moment I learned about the CBL course I was intrigued and wanted to know how I could be a part of the movement...The powerful movement of bringing people from the "outside" inside prisons to work with "inside" students to discuss prejudices, poverty, and perspecti...

Yesterday, I and several other women of various ages had the pleasure of listening to the dynamic Miki Agrawal speak about her passions, ventures, and book. This 36 year old entrepreneur is an inspiration to many, including yours truly. All the attendants were present for the Saint Joseph’s University’s 2015 Women’s Conference: Live Your Truth: Be Your Own Champion and we were in for a surprise as Miki presented our plenary speech during lunch. Like myself, many of the women I asked were not familiar with any of Miki’s organizations and were energized by her spirit. Miki is the founder of WILD and helped launch Super Sprowtz with her twin sister. When Miki shared her dual purpose for the innovative THINX brand under garments tears sprang to my eyes (…and later I let out a hearty cry – I have never before ACTUALLY met someone committed to helping girls and women in developing nations to stay in school to provide opportunities for economic development in their communities). Miki i...

Questions I urge you to answer or at least consider prior to reading: How did I learn about drugs? How does society define a drug? Do I agree with harsh penalities when people are convicted of "drug related crime"? Happy New Year to all! After reading Dr. Carl Hart's book, High Price: A Neuroscientist's Journey of Self - Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs and Society in the summer of 2013, I felt compelled to share my thoughts on this serious issue.   As an educator, I feel we should revisit the topic of drugs in schools and the consequences students face when they violate "no tolerance" policies, specifically surrounding drugs. Did you use drugs in your youth? Do you feel experimentation as an adolescent is a part of growing up? It is...I am not just saying words. In the nearly 7 years I have spent in higher education learning how to be a valuable educator for secondary students, I have had to take several courses relating to...

Another article from Huffington Post that I had to repost: "Yesterday's Black Voices Matter Today Nathan Fulcher 09/12/2014 I'm white. Male. In my 30s. College Educated. From Iowa. I also teach African American Literature at a public high school in Los Angeles. Telling that to people I have just met usually gets a second look. I try to reassure them that I'm fully qualified, studied, and prepared to do the job. It sometimes takes a few days and lessons to convince all of my students, but eventually I think most of them get on board. I'm lucky because I love what I teach and I teach what I love. I've done a lot of self-reflection to understand why I love teaching African American Literature as much as I do, but honestly, it doesn't matter. It only matters that I'm able to teach it well and I believe that if you asked the majority of my students, they would hopefully be able to tell you that I am passionate and dedicated to what I teach them. Every y...