Ooohs and Aaahs filled the room as my three wonderful kindergarteners recited this poem. I had my doubts about the girls being able to memorize the poem in time for the play. But, they pulled it off much better than I had imagined. Because they are second year students, they were expected to do some storytelling. But, they're capable of more than kindergarteners in the states are able to do. They did wonderfully and were the highlight of the program.
Here are my students performing "Twas the Night Before Christmas."
0
0
0
0
Time escapes me. At home, at school, walking home, walking to school - anywhere. So in my attempt to prevent time from escaping through the cracks of my fingers, I came up with some strategies:
1. Listen to the news on my walk to work.
2. Grade papers on the subway on the weekends.
3. Take less showers.
4. Don't do laundry.
5. Have the kindergarteners drink their milk fast so that I could get ready for the next class during their milk/play time.
Most of them have been successful thus far - except for the last one.
I figured that by having the girls compete in drinking milk during their milk/play time, this would cause them to drink their milk faster - allowing me more time to get ready for their afternoon class. This idea was working out well for the past couple of weeks. Unfortunately, pride comes before the fall.
The girls drank their milk like they normally do. They all finished and took their green milk cartons to the kitchen. Then, they scurried off to play with their friends. Both playrooms were full of children screaming, playing clapping games like "Miss Susie went to Sea," and sliding down the plastic castle.
Gloria fell half over in the hallway. Two or three girls stopped. Gloria walked 6-7 steps toward me. I thought she had blown snot - all the other kids have been doing it lately. So I told her to go to the sink. As I assisted her the first few steps toward the sink, I realized it was all over her face, her hand, and dripping down her blue suede jacket. It was puke.
She washed her face. I took off her jacket. She played. I tried to wipe down the suede. She felt fine. I was thought I was going to ralph.
Go Tania! Good going on time saving strategies!
0
0
Oh how I long for the smells of Thanksgiving.
I miss the smells of pumpkin pie, turkey in the oven for hours, and cranberry sauce tantalizing taste buds throughout the morning.
The rememberance of after Thanksgiving sales is even affecting my ever-saddening mood.
Who would've though Koreans didn't eat turkey?
0
I will officially be spending my Christmas and New Year's in Thailand! Woo hoo!
It is finished!
Wednesday, December 20, 2006 School
For the past month at school, we've been working on a Christmas program for the kindergarteners. After weeks of editing scripts, making props and costumes, directing restless children and pulling out my hair, here are the results (Part I, Part II to come soon:
All Kindergarteners (Shoemaker and the Elves)
All Kindergarteners (Shoemaker and the Elves)
Snow
Saturday, December 16, 2006 Pictures
Big fat puffs of snow fell from the sky this evening. It wasn't the first snow that's fallen since I've been here, but it definitely was the most snow I've seen in the past 3 months. The trees were frosted, people were out until morning having snowball fights, and others growled in frustration. And the best part about it was that I was able to catch it all on my new camera!
Here you are ladies and gentlemen, long awaited pictures from a long awaited camera. 
Here you are ladies and gentlemen, long awaited pictures from a long awaited camera.
Gloria Ralphed
Tuesday, November 28, 2006 Teaching in Korea
Time escapes me. At home, at school, walking home, walking to school - anywhere. So in my attempt to prevent time from escaping through the cracks of my fingers, I came up with some strategies:
1. Listen to the news on my walk to work.
2. Grade papers on the subway on the weekends.
3. Take less showers.
4. Don't do laundry.
5. Have the kindergarteners drink their milk fast so that I could get ready for the next class during their milk/play time.
Most of them have been successful thus far - except for the last one.
I figured that by having the girls compete in drinking milk during their milk/play time, this would cause them to drink their milk faster - allowing me more time to get ready for their afternoon class. This idea was working out well for the past couple of weeks. Unfortunately, pride comes before the fall.
The girls drank their milk like they normally do. They all finished and took their green milk cartons to the kitchen. Then, they scurried off to play with their friends. Both playrooms were full of children screaming, playing clapping games like "Miss Susie went to Sea," and sliding down the plastic castle.
Gloria fell half over in the hallway. Two or three girls stopped. Gloria walked 6-7 steps toward me. I thought she had blown snot - all the other kids have been doing it lately. So I told her to go to the sink. As I assisted her the first few steps toward the sink, I realized it was all over her face, her hand, and dripping down her blue suede jacket. It was puke.
She washed her face. I took off her jacket. She played. I tried to wipe down the suede. She felt fine. I was thought I was going to ralph.
Go Tania! Good going on time saving strategies!
The Korean People - Part I
I’ve been meaning to post (on numerous occasions) about my thoughts on the Korean people as a whole. I think I’ve held off for so long because of my very meager knowledge about Korean culture and society. But, I’ve been doing some reading since I’ve arrived in Korea. So, hopefully I’ll be able to express some thoughts without critical or overgenerous overtones.
Just as any religion has a large affect on a country’s people, Confucianism has been an elemental part of Korean society. Over 35% of the Korean population claims to hold to Christianity. The five largest protestant churches in the world are located in Seoul. (Rhie, 86). While Christianity is currently the reigning religion in South Korea, Confucianism has affected Korean society much longer and deeper than Christianity has.
Before getting too far, let me give a quick summary of Confucianism. Confucianism developed in China and holds that one must govern him/herself prior to any other governance. Personal cultivation, hierarchical relationships, and filial piety are just a few of the tenets and results from Confucianism.
As a result of China’s relationship with and rule over the Korean peninsula for some period of time, Korea has adapted this form of Confucianism. Throughout Korean history, Confucianism has found itself as government-mandated practice. With its great emphasis on relationships, Confucianism has continued to affect every person that comes in contact with Korea culture – be it within the borders of Korea or not. I say this because Koreans are often closed off to those relationships that are not beneficial for them. Even when accidentally bumping into a person on the street, or associating with a server at a restaurant, Koreans are not as likely to say “sorry” or “thank you” as much as a westerner is accustomed with.
Also key in relationships is the hierarchical relationship. The elderly are given much greater respect than in the west. The elderly have much more independence and authority. In the short time that I’ve been here, I’ve been surprised at the number of elderly men and women that walk the streets working or pinching the cheeks of children they’ve never met before. In the west, most of the elderly are cooped up in nursing homes where their families visit them once a month. Here, they live with the eldest son – until death do parts them. They rule the country.
The relationship between a student and teacher is often a long-lasting one. Students tend to stay friends with their classmates from their grade school years until adult years. The strength in these relationships depends on their respect and hesitancy to deface the character of the friend. Once a friend, always a friend. Once a brother, always a brother - which leads to the topic of North Korea. But, it’ll have to wait for the sake of my sanity.
Just as any religion has a large affect on a country’s people, Confucianism has been an elemental part of Korean society. Over 35% of the Korean population claims to hold to Christianity. The five largest protestant churches in the world are located in Seoul. (Rhie, 86). While Christianity is currently the reigning religion in South Korea, Confucianism has affected Korean society much longer and deeper than Christianity has.
Before getting too far, let me give a quick summary of Confucianism. Confucianism developed in China and holds that one must govern him/herself prior to any other governance. Personal cultivation, hierarchical relationships, and filial piety are just a few of the tenets and results from Confucianism.
As a result of China’s relationship with and rule over the Korean peninsula for some period of time, Korea has adapted this form of Confucianism. Throughout Korean history, Confucianism has found itself as government-mandated practice. With its great emphasis on relationships, Confucianism has continued to affect every person that comes in contact with Korea culture – be it within the borders of Korea or not. I say this because Koreans are often closed off to those relationships that are not beneficial for them. Even when accidentally bumping into a person on the street, or associating with a server at a restaurant, Koreans are not as likely to say “sorry” or “thank you” as much as a westerner is accustomed with.
Also key in relationships is the hierarchical relationship. The elderly are given much greater respect than in the west. The elderly have much more independence and authority. In the short time that I’ve been here, I’ve been surprised at the number of elderly men and women that walk the streets working or pinching the cheeks of children they’ve never met before. In the west, most of the elderly are cooped up in nursing homes where their families visit them once a month. Here, they live with the eldest son – until death do parts them. They rule the country.
The relationship between a student and teacher is often a long-lasting one. Students tend to stay friends with their classmates from their grade school years until adult years. The strength in these relationships depends on their respect and hesitancy to deface the character of the friend. Once a friend, always a friend. Once a brother, always a brother - which leads to the topic of North Korea. But, it’ll have to wait for the sake of my sanity.
I Long For . . .
Wednesday, November 22, 2006Oh how I long for the smells of Thanksgiving.
I miss the smells of pumpkin pie, turkey in the oven for hours, and cranberry sauce tantalizing taste buds throughout the morning.
The rememberance of after Thanksgiving sales is even affecting my ever-saddening mood.
Who would've though Koreans didn't eat turkey?
Thailand Here I Come!
Monday, November 13, 2006I will officially be spending my Christmas and New Year's in Thailand! Woo hoo!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)