Year End Musings
“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.”
Almost exactly a year ago today, PEAI made its move from the Shinhwa Building to the EH Tower. After ceremoniously vandalizing the old digs, we settled into our brand new space and breathed a sigh of relief—home. I was filled with optimism for the upcoming year. My new classroom was modern and clean with a wall of full-length windows giving a view of the urban jungle below. It was the start of a new decade, my tenth year at PEAI, and it felt like we were at the start of a special new chapter. I was invigorated and ready for a killer year of teaching.
Then, a symptomatic little old lady attended a church service with over 1,000 people in attendance—twice. Patient 31 and the ensuing crisis in Daegu brought South Korea to its knees. A week away from PEAI turned into two and then a month. We lived in limbo unsure what the future held. The respite was welcome though. There isn’t a summer break at PEAI and time off is a precious resource for teachers. Transitioning from a six-day schedule to zero-day schedule was jarring at first. Some days, I would just wander the streets aimlessly, feeding stray children and teaching them about subordinating conjunctions and eM dashes. I remember waking one of those first few mornings thinking how wonderful it was that my to-do list for the day consisted of: eat soba.
Side Note: I had a sabbatical scheduled for this year. I planned to backpack across Europe for a month in spring. My first stop was Barcelona to spend a week with my parents.
That did not last though. It soon became clear that I needed structure to my days. And so I did. I purchased a subscription to Skillshare and started taking courses on videography and video editing. Filmmaking is something I have always had passion for and there was no better time than an unplanned break to delve in. My final video of the year has been unreleased until now. It was made for the annual parent seminar for the incoming sixth grade moms and dads.
In this video, I wanted to highlight the beauty of learning and evoke feelings of nostalgia. The interviews were kept brief and meant to accent the video. The shots of the students tell the real story. Shot on a Sony A7III and edited with Final Cut Pro X.
We returned to PEAI the week of March 23. The number of new COVID-19 cases had been hovering around 100 the past week and it seemed that South Korea had the virus under control. Some of you might remember this very unusual week. Parents were still hesitant to send their kids to PEAI and many classes were just two students or less (some teachers did not have any students show up). That brief glimpse of normalcy was just an illusion though. Just a few days later, on Friday at 10 PM, there was an emergency meeting held by the Directors of PEAI. They made the difficult decision to discontinue in-person classes after just a week and move classes online. We would have workshops starting Monday to discuss this massive transition.
At first, teachers came to PEAI and taught from their classrooms. It was the right move because we all needed to be in close contact to share ideas and help each other. Linda and I would talk every day exploring the in’s and out’s of Zoom and effective tools and methods we had developed for teaching online. A real sense of camaraderie developed. We were all struggling and learning together. We faced adversity and it strengthened our relationships with one another. We made a video documenting a day in our lives. At the start, classes were just two and a half hours which left a 50 minute break for a real, proper dinner. Kelly, Patrick, Nick, Linda and I squeezed into the interview room each evening and shared a meal and discussion. One teacher even brought in a Switch for some off-time Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
I look back at those times fondly.
On August 29, I taught from home for the first time. It was a Saturday, when most teachers only have one class, so the Directors gave the option to teach from home. I know they were very hesitant to do so, but ultimately put their trust in us. That was the start of the move to teaching remotely full-time. We did return to PEAI for a nice stretch from the end of September to November. That time reinforced to me how irreplaceable in-person classes are. You simply cannot replicate the power of face-to-face interaction.
As the rest of the world began to succumb to the coronavirus, it became clear that the pandemic would continue throughout the rest of the year and into 2021. The numbers in Korea were rising, too and it seemed like the second wave was inevitable. With stronger social distancing rules and increasingly strict restrictions placed on academies, I began to teach remotely starting in November. I moved in autumn and was afforded a dedicated workspace much to my delight.
I made a few upgrades since moving to my new apartment. First, a RØDE PSA1 Studio Boom Arm to free up some space on my desk. Next, I installed twelve TRUE NORTH Acoustic Foam Panels to reduce the echo of my voice. The entire space is lit by Philips Hue; a lightstrip across the back of the desk, a bulb for the desk lamp and two Hue Go’s on SUS shelving (not pictured). My favorite addition has been a Herman Miller Sayl which has done wonders for my back.
The end of the year has been the most difficult to get right online. Yearbooks, thankfully, were finished during our time together, but the all important signing day, amiss. When I was in school, it provided a sense of closure and a personalized memento of my teachers and peers. I love that we have been able to have that tradition at PEAI and if I could choose just one year-end activity, yearbook signings would be it. When we do return to PEAI, I invite you all to come visit to wrap up this loose end.
This has been one of the most influential years of teaching in my decade here at PEAI. Teaching online forced me to re-examine my methods and approach and challenged me in a completely novel way. Without a classroom, desks, and students, much of the curriculum and lessons I prepared was rendered moot. Often, I was starting from scratch preparing for classes each day. And that enlivened me in a way I haven’t been in a long time. There were no sure things in the virtual classroom; I would have to take risks, and fail, and find my own way. I am grateful that I had a patient and enthusiastic group of learners who walked that path with me. This year was a milestone for me as a teacher and this cohort is indelibly marked on it. I won’t forget our time together.
“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.”
Stray Thoughts
These songs may sound familiar.
The secret room is the most bizarre element to the new classroom. Love it.
The PEAI Project Fair Awards Show on Zoom was sneakily one of my favorite nights of the year. Having 100+ students and family members in a meeting was really something.
A link to your first Journal post of the year #199, Roots.
Philips Hue lighting has been my favorite new tech of the year. Controlling the lights in my apartment by yelling at my Apple Watch is pure magic. We are living in the future.
Best of 2020:
Book: Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon
Album: Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple
Movie: Tenet
I am writing this post on my iPhone as I am currently locked out of my apartment. My door lock does not have the Christmas spirit and despite beeping and booping as normal, it will not actually unlock the door. Ah, 2020 Christmas.
Update: A magical elf called the “Maintenance Man” used some witchcraft and a 9-volt battery to unlock the door and then fixed my door lock. Am now safely inside hobbit hole.
Merry Christmas y’all 🎄
-BLT out.