Well, I got the cold that everyone said I would. It seems every single new teacher comes down with similar symptoms sometime in their first couple weeks here, (I'm going to gloss over the fact that this is generally alarming.) and I was no different. Well...actually...I was.
I got sick at the end of my second week: sniffle, cough, fever, bleeech. I decided to stay in that weekend (despite it being St. Paddy's Day) and try to get better.  By Sunday I was feeling better, except for a tickle in my throat. I got through Monday classes, but noticed during my last two that my voice was rather hoarse.  By the time I got home that night I couldn't speak. My voice came out as a cracking, pubescent-boy, squeak.
I stopped and got honey, and made myself lots fo tea.  I gargled some warm salt water too. Then I proceeded to toss and turn unable to figure out what I would do if my voice was still MIA the next day.
In the morning....it was worse! I couldn't even squeak. I couldn't manage a stage whisper. I was voiceless...more thouroughly so than I have ever been in my life!
But it was off to work anyway. I don't have a phone yet (and didn't have the number of the school either) so I headed in. I felt fine besides the missing voice.  When I croaked out my condition to the director she nervously started to laugh...then laughed some more. I knew I sounded funny...but this was a little much.
She told me to take a sick day...but I only have 3 for the whole year. Here it is week 3...and one of my short days (only five classes)...I just didn't want to.
I explained I could get through with the help of my Korean-helper lady. Each class has a Korean woman who minds the kids during breaks and lunch and so forth. Mine is usually of little help...being that I usually can't find her and she has the habit of giving my kids lollipops right before class, despite me asking her not to.
I ended up teaching my first class with the kindergarten director who then realized I was not faking or exaggerating. She did most of the work. 
During the break I scrambled to put together work to do for the rest of the day, knowing there would need to be a lot of busy work...but not things I actually need to teach or explain.  The director than told me she had decided she would take my kids to a nearby park for two classes and I could observe other teachers. Yay!
The observations were great. It was good to see some other teachers in action: teachers with experience.  I picked up some useful tips and got a good idea of different styles. Plus I got to save my voice.
I had the kids for one class by myself. We did some guided coloring, working on the alphabet. They didn't understand why I couldn't speak and my froggy voice freaked them out a little. Still...we got through the class...which just left gym.  Thankfully I share gym time with Paul, another teacher, and his class of even little-er ones.  He handled most everything, leaving me to visually demostrate some stuff, and run around with them a little.
I made it through the day!!  Thank god!!
I figured my voice would still be missing the next day, so I stayed a little late to prepare some work for the kids (kindergarten and elementary) in case I still couldn't talk. There was no way I was tackling another ten classes without my voice...knowing how hard it would be, and that it would most likely make the problemworse.
Wednesday I woke up early. I puttered about, worried to even try to speak. But I had to...I had to try... I had to see. I opened my mouth and said, "Good Morning."  And to my surprise...I could! My voice had returned about 90% over night. Crazy! Off to school I went.
It seems that life in Korea is constant surprises. I kind of hope things calm down a little....

 

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