Snow? What happened to cherry blossoms?

I can't decide if I'm currently enjoying the view of snowflakes falling past my apartment window, or hating the fact that it's snowing. In March. Where is my spring???? Damn you Punxsutawney Phil!!! (yes, that is how you spell it- I looked it up on the ultimate source of knowledge... Wikipedia).

On that note: Do Phil's predictions extend as far as Korea? If not, what Korean rodent do I have to blame for this travesty?

There is a magic that the other foreign teachers and I want to learn. It is the magic of being a Korean teacher. Somehow, all the Korean teachers have the ultimate sway over their charges that my white coworkers and I can only wish to emulate. I may think I am in control of a classroom, because only 3 of my 9 children are out of their seats and at least 5 are responding to my questions- but when a Korean teacher steps in to help me out, all of the sudden all of my children are in their seats, looking at me and doing everything I say. And they aren't talking while I'm talking. HOW DOES THIS WORK??? WHAT MAGIC DO THESE WOMEN POSSESS??? The other three foreign teachers agree- the Korean teachers must be beating the children while we aren't watching.

Only thing of excitement to report is that I have survived using public transportation by myself. In case you were wondering, Korea has a great public transit system and possibly the most brilliant way of paying for it ever. They have these cards that you can buy in any corner store or on the street as phone charms and you can swipe them on any bus or train and even some taxis. It's a miracle. And it's super cheap too. I can take three bus rides and two train rides for less than 5000 won (approximately 5 dollars).

I wish everything were that cheap. Oddly it isn't. There is a weird dichotomy between what is expensive and what is dirt cheap. For example netbooks: $500-600, DVDs: $2 (though probably all illegal...), Korean sushi (gimbap): $2.50, bananas: $5
I don't really understand. Guess Korea's sort of between Japan and China and can't decide whether its a pricey 1st world country or a discount 2nd world country. Poor Korea- between Japan and China seems to be the story of its life.

Oh god, it just keeps snowing. Sad face.