Kids say the Darndest things!

I thought I'd sum up some of the entertaining quotes from my students as of recently....

1.) Teacher...your hair was yellow...why it now black? (post getting my hair colored darker)

2.) Teacher...how come when you raise your forehead like this (student lifts his eyebrows)...there are all these lines? I don't have those lines??

3.) Teacher...how old are you? (which is usually followed by the below)

4.) Teacher...do you have a boyfriend? And then subsequently asking why my boyfriend is not any of the male teachers that I work with.

5.) I just saw Jacki Teacher's panty. Me, "What?" Lia, "And this (squeezing her chest.) Your boob." "No you didn't!" I say as I think...she knows the word boob?! Apparently my V-neck and skirt wasn't the appropriate attire for trying to demonstrate the definition of the word "leap."

6.) Teacher, it raining cats and dogs? (every time it rains post me teaching them that phrase)

P.S. It's amazing how much a 5 year old can make you laugh harder than you've laughed in weeks!

More to come....


7.) Teacher...you have baby?? (as student makes a pregnant motion on a day when I am wearing a flowy dress)

Field Trip: Swimming Pool

The youngest kindy students at the school

Every month we have a kindy field trip. What suits July better than a swimming pool? The thought of taking 300 five year-olds to a swimming pool makes me slightly uneasy. However once I am aware that it is only a wading pool...I feel a bit more comfortable.

We get to the pool where there are hundreds of other kindy students. Everywhere you look you see little Korean kids in their bathing suits/swimming outfits/speedos/wetsuits and swimming caps. It is quite a sight.Amy & Annie--I think they win the award for cutest swimming attire

I think it was too bright for Amy

First our gym teacher does some calisthenics to warm up the 5 year olds--yes apparently they need to stretch before playing in the wading pool. We wouldn't want to pull anything now would we?? And it's a free for all. Now normally when I go to the swimming pool, I wear my bathing suit. But Koreans, you have to remember, don't like to get sun on their skin. So, my fellow Korean teachers are dressed mostly in shorts and long sleeved tops. I opted for running shorts and a tank--although I am still bearing more skin than most.

I don't know why I thought I was going to stay dry. I try to play nicely with the students...but mostly they want to splash Jacki Teacher so I am drenched. I don't mind it so much.

I get a tap on my shoulder by one of the lifeguards in his dinky speedo asking me in mime (he doesn't speak English) "where is my swimming cap?" Apparently it's a rule that to be in the pool you must wear a swimming cap on your head. And I'm out of the pool. Then it's lunch time. Once again the kids pull out their little lunches filled with kimbop and all sorts of rice food.
And it's time to bus it back to school. Swimming pool field trip = enjoyable break from teaching and getting to spend play time with the kids. :)

Andy and Tony--just slightly tired after the pool

The Celebration of US Independence Day sans the US

So, I have to be honest, the idea of celebrating the 4th of July, my country's independence day away from home made me a bit sad. This being the case, my friend Matt (from Kansas city) and I decided that we must put forth our best efforts and host an American-style BBQ.View from our rooftop

Jackie, Amber, Mallory, Shannon, and myself

Thus, we invite all of our closest friends-American, Canadian, and Korean alike to join us on our rooftop for a celebration of the 4th. It turned out quite well. I'd say we had around 15 people show up. Everyone came bearing some sort of American tradition. Matt and I bought the cheapest grill one can buy; i.e. $12. We went to Costco (yes there is Costco here) and got 30 hot dogs, buns, chips and a few other items. That $12 grill did a dang good job cooking those hot dogs. Cause they were so tasty.

Caption needed?

The feast included: hot dogs-with all the necessary condiments, chips, egg salad, two kinds of pasta salad, BEER, and a fabulous homemade apple cobbler--with ICE CREAM--compliments of Amber!

We even managed to set up beer bong. Table on top of table style with mini paper cups!

Amber, Matt and Matthew's reaction to Matt's last beer pong sink

The music selection was careful chosen by Matt's Itunes to only play American-artist songs. He made it quite evident that no non-American songs would be played. Good friends, good food, good music led to a quite enjoyable fourth of July in Korea. Definitely not the same as home, but it was as good as it gets. :)

Seoul Tower

Seoul Tower---> This Way

Mal and I decide to get back on our exploring kick and do something cultural this weekend. We opt to hike up to Seoul Tower. You can see Seoul Tower from everywhere in the city. It is located at the peak of a gorgeous mountain in central Seoul.

Some of the many stairs

And more stairs...

Mal amidst the last bout of stairs

The walk up to the base of the tower is absolutely amazing--although I will say that the climb was a bit more than I expected. I'd say we climbed some 1000 steps on Saturday. Perhaps 10,000? Well anyway, at least it's good for the glutes right?!

View from somewhere along the trek up

Finally we reach the base of the tower and we pay the $6 to ride the elevator up the tower to the observation deck. We walk around looking at the views for about 5 minutes. And done.

Seoul Tower

Holler Chi Town

Comparison of some of the world's towers

View from the observation deck

And down the elevator and to Cold Stone Creamery we go. This makes me oh so happy. Thank you Cold Stone, for opening a store in Korea

There's a whole little world at Seoul Tower that you would never know existed unless you hiked this mountain. Restaurants, shops, a Teddy Bear museum, you know, the usual. There's even a martial arts show going on while we walk out of the tower. Mal finds this hilarious.
We opt for the cable car ride back down the mountain. We had our fair share of stairs for one day.