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Published: September 26th 2008
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Today was Friday, so the Kinders were either going to have outside class or there was going to be a birthday party. Well, today was the birthday party for the September birthdays. It was quite strange, actually. We did our morning routine and then around 10:40, we went up to the fifth floor where they pushed back the accordion wall to make one big room out of two smaller classrooms. I had my cookies come in and sit down and I one little girl who is just as stubborn as can be. She won’t talk to me and she is constantly following the Korean teachers where ever they go - including out of the room. So today was no exception. I lost her on the way up. I took the stairs while everyone else was in the elevator. When I counted, we were one short. I, of course, started panicking, but lo-and-behold, she was being a Korean teacher’s shadow. The birthdays here at the school are what we would call weird. They all dress up in Halloween costumes and eat chicken, cake, and apples with assorted juices. One little boy resembled Satan. We sang Happy Birthday in three different languages: Chinese,
English, and Korean. All of the kids then blew out their candles. They then each came up to the front of the table and posed with their respective teachers holding a dummy gift. Apparently, their classmates bring them gifts, too. We stayed for the singing and then we left. Upstairs, we finished some work and had playtime. It was then time for me to go to lunch.
Today for lunch, I was just planning on going home, but Sonya invited me to lunch with her. I said I would go, but I also had to go home and video chat with Mom and Dad because Mom was leaving for her rock trip to Missouri and would be gone for a few days. So I went home and talked to them for about ten minutes and then walked and met Sonya at the Family Store on the corner by our school. We went in the restaurant directly next door. I was a bit apprehensive about this one, but she had me pick a picture off the wall. So I picked what looked like country fried steak with rice. It was actually a piece of breaded chicken filled with cheese and
served with rice. Sonya had a fried meat, pork I think, with hot sauce and rice. Mine was good, and being Russian/Korean, she made me try hers, too. I actually liked hers better, but it was really hot! Mine was called chee-gee dun-gaas. Sonya’s was called che-you-dop-bap. I try to write down the dishes that I find that I like and carry them with me in case I go to a restaurant and need to order. Sonya said she actually worked at this restaurant cooking and waiting tables during the night shift for about six months. It was a little sketch to me at first, but I sat back by the kitchen and could see them cooking, so it turned out okay.
We finished our meals and headed back to school because I had a 1:00 class. I got there in time and I read a story to the Minnie class. They are probably about 8-9 years old. It is about the 79th time I’ve read “Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear,” and to top it off, there’s a song that goes with it! Menacing, I tell you! I would rather pluck my leg stubble one-by-one than read that
book again. So next Friday, we’ll probably read the same book again! After reading and re-reading, I went down stairs for some prep time and some blogging time. My next class was at 3 o’clock and I had three more after that. I really like my 6 o’clock on both Monday/Wednesdays and Tuesday/Thursdays. They are older and try their best to communicate with the limited English they speak. They also get all of their work done on time.
I discovered today that my 4, 5, and 6 o’clock classes are different. I meet with the M/W classed every other week, and then I meet with the T/TH classes when I don’t have M/W. So I had one M/W class and two T/TH classes today. Somehow the schedule got off because I should have all of the M/W classes one week and then all of the T/TH classes the next, but oh well. I have to roll with the punches!
After my classes, I had Joni’s 7 and 8 o’clock classes. Her 7 o’clock was menacing as usual. I had to take away phones, video games, puzzles, food, and all sorts of odds and ends. They were also swearing
at me in Korean. However, it was better than previous days because one of the disruption ring-leaders was absent. Whew! The 8 o’clock wasn’t bad. I had two students, one that I had on Wednesday and the other was a middle school English teacher here in Korea. She was just trying to brush up on her fluency, which is great of her to do! Joni will be back on Monday. Hopefully she had a wonderful and relaxing vacation and wasn’t affected by the tsunami or whatever it was that was heading there. After I got done, I headed for home and relaxed in bed. I want to go to Gaeksa tomorrow for the chon won stores, which are the Korean version of the dollar store. Sonya and Pauline drew me a map, so hopefully I will survive to get there and back! So until next time!
Annyeong-hikyeseyo!
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Aunt Marshy
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yea Friday!
Everyone loves a party! And dress up too! For the older ones...keep your sense of humor ... or learn to answer back in Korean to hush them up!!! Naughty kids!!! HUGS!!!