A time to laugh

"Say kimchi!"
Originally uploaded by digitalnut.

On my birthday recently, my 3rd grade elementary school students surrounded me on the playground and belted out a stirring rendition of "Happy Birthday." It was the highlight of a day I was originally dreading.

A few days later, five of those students came to my classroom during their lunch recess to practice a Q & A we had studied earlier in exchange for a Jolly Rancher. Another piece of candy pursuaded them to pose for the camera. I had to pull a face and snap another picture to get them to smile though.

The first shot that didn't take is definitely worth comparing here.

Americans not allowed

Not allow to enter American
Originally uploaded by digitalnut.

In June 2002, two South Korean girls were accidentally and tragically crushed to death by US Military vehicles conducting exercises. There followed an intense flare-up of anti-American sentiment complete with protests, some of which turned violent.

Many business also posted signs, like this one in Chuncheon, stating American were not welcome. This sign was posted on the door of my favorite DVD room where I often went to watch current American movies in the comfort of an air conditioned room with surround sound.

I snapped this picture, got scolded by the manager, and never returned, even after the country cooled off and the signs came down.

Hmm..., I wonder, if, in addition to excluding Americans, the manager also pulled all the American DVDs. Since Hollywood flicks usually consititue some 70% of the movie choices in Korea, I doubt it.

On the bus to Everland

One the bus to Everland
Originally uploaded by digitalnut.

After a week of tough midterms last week, my students got a day off for a field trip to Everland, the largest amusement park in Korea and I was lucky enough to get to tag along.

The most fun I had was on the two hour bus rides, to and from the park, mingling with the students. Some kids played the typical shy game but most were eager to talk and snap pictures. It's the ideal time to practice speaking, outside the classroom, where we chat about real-world stuff.

I don't always manage to remember names (in this picture, I could tell you two out of three) but personalities always stand out. The boy on the left is outgoing and chatty, the girl in the middle eager and attentive, and the girl on the right is solemn and shy - this picture captured a rare smile.

Birthday wishes

I wasn't looking forward to my birthday yesterday because, with the biggest exception of my students, I'm pretty unhappy and lonely at my job these days (to put it mildly). To my surprise however, my Korean co-teacher (who's about the most dull, unimaginative woman I've ever met) presented me with a nice Korean DVD as a gift. I'm interested in Korean movies lately and I recently bought a portable DVD player from Hong Kong. That she remembered this and made the connection to buy such a practical gift impressed me.

I had not planned to tell anyone it was my birthday but, since my co-teacher already knew, she passed the word around school and, all day long, I received shouts of "Happy birthday to you!" from my middle school students (instead of just "Happy birthday!" - it was a little comical) in class, in the halls, and in the cafeteria at lunchtime. These students are usually very outgoing and most of them are eager to practice speaking but today it felt like they tried especially hard to be friendly.

The best treat of all though happened when I was sitting outside near the elementary school playground in the late morning between classes. (Being so far out in the country as we are here, the elementary and middle schools are located in the same building and I teach at both of them) It was such a beautiful, cool day! My 3rd grade elementary school class came outside with their homeroom teacher to practice their recorders (and they sound just as awful in Korea they do in America). I could hear them coming out but I didn't pay much attention until, suddenly, they swarmed around me and broke out into an enthusiastic, spontaneous rendition of "Happy Birthday." They sang it perfectly, just like I'd taught them a few weeks earlier. (They mostly already knew the song in English but I helped them polish it up a bit and they remembered everything.)

In my time in Korea, I usually get more excited about the endearing qualities of my 4th and 5th grade students but, yesterday, those 3rd grade kids lifted my spirits and helped me look beyond the dumb things I've been obsessed with lately. I had some free time to kill and their teacher didn't seem to mind that they were spending more time trying to talk to me than screeching on their recorders so we "talked" for half an hour. Picture 15+ students fighting for your attention and then only being able to understand 15% of what they're trying to say once they get it.

Such is my life in Korea and, on days like yesterday , I have to admit I love it.

Rooftop View

Nearby homes
Originally uploaded by digitalnut.

Winter is finally a fading memory and the trees and gardens as seen from the rooftop of my five story apartment building are returning.

Birthday lanterns for Buddha

Birthday lanterns
Originally uploaded by digitalnut.

After traveling to Everland, the largest amusement park in Korea, with my middle school students on Thursday, we all had the day off Friday for Children's Day on Friday. I took the bus to Seoul in the afternoon and met up with Jen and some friends to visit a large Buddhist temple in Seoul.

I was unaware of the birthday celebrations for Buddha's 2,550th birthday. And there was an enoromous crowd gathered under the beautiful, colorful lanterns. After being allowed to pass through the temple among actual worshippers, we joined the crowd outside for a concert.

We were amused by the selection of songs from the '60s being played by the electric band in English. The locals seemed to enjoy it too, though some of them seemed to have trouble clapping to the rhythm.

After the temple, we went to Itaewon for dinner at Pancho's. I had a delicious chicken chimichanga and satisfied perhaps the number one craving I have in Korea after home cooking: mexican food.