Sterling teacher is no. New teacher is no. Good SEI teachers is yes.

Today was the final day of Sterling teacher at SEI. Sterling came on as Kris and Miranda's replacement and did a year as a solid teacher. I thought he adapted to Korea fairly well, manging to gain a basic understanding of the language and meet a Korean girlfriend. He's off to another academy next year after a much needed month back in Toronto, taking a vacation days cut but a substantial pay raise. Sterling was a good guy to have at the academy. We saw eye-to-eye on many issues relating to the academy, esl teaching and Korea in general and he was always happy to voice his opinion on almost any matter. I'm happy that he is staying in Daegu and hope to catch up with him in the new year for a beer or two.

However, unlike in previous departures, we have no one new to look forward too. SEI is again cutting back the number or native teachers to just two for at least the winter. This means that it will just be Robbie and I for the forseeable future, which is actually okay with me, as Robbie is also a great guy to have around. But it does mean that we have quite a few new Korean teachers who all seem nice, but who don't seem to grab my attention the way I hoped they would interest wise. Add in to it all of their training which means that I haven't really had much of a chance to meet a few of them anyway and it really makes the academy a bit of me and Robbie in one group and everyone else in the other. I'm just happy the other guy in my group is solid and not a schmo :)

Actually, at SEI in general I've had solid native teachers as coworkers, which is even more important here than back in Canada. Kris and Miranda, who were friends before I moved to Daegu, were great co-workers as well. David, whom I had met before I started working there but didn't know especially well, also turned out to be a great guy and I'm happy to say that I still keep in touch with all three (and I'm sure it will go up to four). Add to that the above mentioned two and it's been a good lineup. None of them ever were counted among the foreigners who's life consists of going to work, get off and go to the bar to booze and bitch until 4am, go to bed, get up the next day and stagger to work half cut (and repeat) and certainly nothing like some of the real creeps I came across in Ulsan who felt that Korea was here solely for them to booze in and have sex with (the girls marital status, interest and even legal age all being minor considerations for them). They have all been (and continue to be) interesting people who I can swap travel stories, talk about work stuff, plan further education etc.

Anyway, enough "praise" for today.