"Let's Get Physical"

My middle school recently held Sports Day - the equivalent of American schools' Field Day.

In Korea, Sports Days are held at every school as if they were professionally organized. There were tents set up for the kids to rest in the shade, water and snack locations, and the events were very well planned. The homerooms dress-up in team outfits that they purchase from retailers who specialize in team uniforms.

 

As for the events, my favorite was the jump rope contest. Each homeroom per grade competes against the others. The jump rope contest is a timed event in which each kid individually jumps over a rope spun by two students. If a student fails to jump over, they have to go back to the end of the line until they complete it. Next, 2 students have to jump the rope together...then 3...and then 4. The times of each round are averaged and the lowest time is the winning homeroom. It was rather enjoyable to watch four students hold hands and jump, only to have one trip and force all four to try again.

The students also competed in relay races, tug of war, and the third grade boys compete in a popular soccer game.

 

This is the 3rd grade class president - he's also a big fan of me and calls me "brother". 

He's a good kid.

Unfortunately, my camera battery was drained from the weekend, and I forgot to recharge it. I did capture a bunch of photo's in the morning and complied them into a video.

Enjoy!

"Last Goodbye"

My 3rd graders (middle school) have officially graduated as the 15th graduating class of Geumjeong Middle School. I can safely say they were by far my best (and only) Korean 3rd graders I have ever taught.

Before I left for work, I told myself "don't forget your camera". And what did I do? So I apologize for the lousy shot I took from my cell phone. I wish I had remembered the camera as they looked so happy to leave and move on to their respective high schools. A bunch wanted to take photos with me. Like most teachers, I am somewhat of a celebrity. Parents were pressuring their kids to talk to me, and take a photo with me. Maybe next year I should charge them per photo.

Since I mainly teach 3rd grade, and my office is on a floor with only 3rd grade, I'm kind of sad that I won't see some of these kids again. There were some really smart, outgoing, and wonderful kids in this class of about 400+ kids.

I just hope I made some sort of positive impression on them, and if anything, hoped they at least learned and will use one thing I taught them. Unfortunately, I think they mostly will remember the slang I taught them. They loved to yell down the hallways "Hey shorty, what's up!?", "Check out my bling-bling!" and "I'm a chocoholic!"

Congratulations to these kids, they work so hard (mostly in other classes).I wish them the best in high school.

(They'll need it with all their parents' expectations to get into the best universities).

"Cats in the Cradle"

My friend and neighbor Marcus is going out of town with the teachers at his school, and seeing as though I don't have school for the rest of the week and would be home, I offered to help look after someone special.

Meet Mekju 맥주 (in Korean that means "beer")

 

 

She was either left to fend for herself when her owner moved or was lost by someone in the building. Marcus took her in as she was just roaming around the complex for a couple days and needed food. He set her up with a litterbox and everything.

She's very sweet, but loves attention. Last night she sat on my desk as I watched a movie, and then when I went to bed, she got under the covers with me and curled up by my side all night with the occasional meow and nudge of the nose. I had been missing my cat "Tasslehoff Burrfoot" aka "Tas" or "Tas-man". We adopted him about 11-12 years ago (he was already named after the Dragonlance book character - that's not a name I would choose). Mekju is a good temporary replacement - but not as cuddly and chubby as Tas-man!

Today was also the last day of school until March. I am teaching a winter camp from Jan 4th - Jan 8th. I will mainly just play games with the kids tough. I'm already working on Pictionary and Boggle lesson plans. We'll also be playing Sentence Battleship and Guess Who. I plan on finishing the camp by showing an English movie such as Harry Potter 6, or Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs - if only I could get the Korean subtitles to work properly!

Geumjeong Middle School -- with snow!

Being the last day for my 3rd graders, as they are graduating in February, a couple girls gave me notes with some teas and candies. They are as follows:

I appreciate to meet you too!...hahaha

The one who wrote the note with all the hearts also included her e-mail address -- yeah -- that does not makes me feel awkward. at all..