A Short Break Then Chaos

A Rose Made By Kindergartener Kate

So ... it has been over a month or so since I last wrote.  I apologize but I was lazy and nothing too big was going on either way.  Mostly just playing Eden Eternal in my free time.... During the last month or so is the time many students take a break from school, so I got some extra free time at work.  Work wasn't too busy until these last few weeks as we prepare all of the end of the year stuff.  We will be getting new classes the beginning of March when the new school year begins. 

 

First, we have festival, which is where the students prepare speeches and a little Disney musical performance.  My students have Aladdin, and I am very excited to say they are singing A Whole New World as their finale piece.  They have been working really hard on memorizing their script lines and all the songs and dances.  They even have a speech that they have to memorize.  It is based off what they wany to be when they grow up.  Sadly the videos still won't upload or I'd show you some practice videos.

Then almost immediately after festival, we have graduation, and Alex and David are leaving.  We will be getting 1 new teacher, another guy named Nathan.  During graduation, all the 7 year old kindergarten classes have to prepare a speech and sing a few songs.  Then they move to Korean schools, and maybe will come back for some of our afternoon elementary classes.  Progress reports are due and we are working on changing books and improving the curriculum.  Needless to say, what was once a slow time has now become a very busy time as we all get ready for the new school year. 

Recently, we celebrated the Lunar (Chinese) New Year.  This meant that the teachers got to enjoy a nice three day weekend.  Before the New Year, the students dressed up in their hanbuk again (Yay for traditional asian clothes!).  All of my kindergarteners had to bow to me and thank me.  It was odd being bowed to, but it was really adorable at the same time.  They thanked me and then wished me a Happy New Year and I told them what a good job they did this year.  It is tradition for them to bow to their elders in respect (often their grandparents) and then get money in return for doing such a good job this year.  They also were reminded that they were a year older (so my class is considered 7 year olds now). 

Other news, we had a birthday party for Anthony.  Anthony's mom sent us a lot of fruit and everyone enjoyed it.  We will have another for Kate next week, and a week after that I turn 23 years old.... where does time fly .... I can't believe I'm 23 years old already.  Kate made a really good rose in art class out of brown clay.  She even layered it my pressing circular disks into each other.  It's a lot better than anything I could do.  Also, Joseph has become a lot more out-going and is quite the character now in class.