Geoje Island and a Spaz Update

Saturday morning I got up bright and early to make it into Busan for the 10:30 ferry. I whipped out my camera and prepared to be the world's best little blogger...only to realize that I'd left my memory card in my card reader on the table in my apartment. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Geoje Island is definitely worth the visit. I'd go so far as to say that tourists to Korea would do better to skip Seoul and just head down south to check out all of the craggy islands dotting the Korean coast. It's breathtakingly beautiful. I spent the day at Gujora beach, laying in the sun, building a sand castle (and yes I did get strange looks for that one), and picking up pretty shells. That night about 20 expats had a bonfire and roasted veggies and such over it.

Epic Spaz Updates:
1. Forgetting my memory card.
2. I'm sure there have been many updates related to ridiculous things I do before coffee. I am absolutely retarded before caffeine. As usual, I poured the second half of my coffee pot into my travel mug before heading off to work. No problem there, I didn't even manage to get any on my new white polo shirt (let's see if it lasts the day) and then I realized that there were white bits floating along the top. I opened the fridge again and sure enough my milk had gone bad. Aside from the travesty of wasting a cup of coffee made from freshly roasted Kenya beans was the fact that I had already had a cup of it with the sour milk and didn't notice. My stomach and bad milk are decidedly unhappy.

Cultural Juxtapositions in Korea

I haven't been sleeping much this week--and I'm not one of those people who gets wildly creative when sleep deprived. Instead I tend to veer off of the deep end of my stranger tendencies. For instance: talking to my cups of coffee, muttering incoherently while I do mindless tasks, and color coding more voraciously in an attempt to ward off chaos, etc.

Now for the point of this entry: Saturday I went to Yonggun Temple (even though I'd been there before) to check out the Buddha's Birthday decorations and festivities. While walking along the cliffs, I saw a monk in front of me carrying a bag. This might not sound so strange, except that it was a Louis Vuitton bag. Not sure if it was real or not since I didn't get close enough to tell but how strange is that on a person who has supposedly given up material luxuries. I'm going to hope that he was carrying it for someone else....

 Maybe it's not a monk. But he is wearing the furry-esque monk clogs and outfit. Who knows.  In any case, it was very strange.

View from above. I love the lines of lanterns. I had more very cool pictures but blogger has made Mozilla crash no less than 12 times in the process of uploading these 4 and I give up. Dear Blogger, Sometimes you hurt my soul. Love, Alex in Asia.

A Visit to Chungnyeolsa Shrine in Busan

Friday I headed over to Chungnyeolsa* Shrine in Busan.  According to the pamphlet I got:

This shrine is dedicated to those patriotic Korean fighters who died resisting the Japanese aggressors during the Japanese invasion of Korea (1592-1599).  The Japanese Invasion was an aggressive war which was designed by Hideyosi Toyotomi, who had unified the feudal domains of Japan, to satisfy his desire for expansion of territory and stability of political regime.

When is war and invasion not an act of aggression? In any case, the people in what is now known as Busan got their asses thoroughly kicked. At the end, women were even throwing roofing tiles at the Japanese soldiers and everyone died anyways. 

On to the actual visit.  The shrine is really peaceful and beautifully maintained. The hike up to the remaining fortress wall was closed off but I'm not sure for what as the only words I understood on the sign were 'no' and 'closed.'

I think I could only be more Korean here if those shorts were a mini skirt instead. But I digress. Doesn't the architecture strike as having a rather Chinese influence? It reminded me of structures that I saw in Beijing (though of course I can't remember precisely which).

'Hear me roar!'

Pretty view of the city from behind one of the gates.

 Taking advantage of the shade.

For 200won (less than 20 cents American) it wasn't a bad way to spend an hour wandering around.

*'Sa' means temple but the translation says 'Chungnyeolsa (Shrine)' and it seemed more shrine like than temple like so maybe 'sa' sometimes means shrine?

Elections...of some sort in South Korea

 The past week has been full of people strangely dressed with matching colors, numbers, pamphlets and cards. Not to mention the trucks that go buy blaring advertisements for the candidates (during school hours next to our school) or building sized posters that get hung up (which makes me wonder how much they pay the businesses to go without natural light for days on end). I know that there is a big mayoral race going on in Seoul right now so I figured it's the same for the Busan/Yangsan area. I'm not entirely sure about the particulars though. I tried googling it but mainly Busan elections seem to merit a byline in articles about the Seoul elections.

Anyways, Thursday after work (and the start of a glorious three-day weekend, thank you Buddha's birthday!) I headed into town to get my soy latte fix at Coffee Jigi. After an hour or so of studying Korean and caffeinating myself, I walked down the street to meet people for dinner and this is the sight that greeted me:

 You'd think that the road would be closed off for something like this--especially since it would be easy to reroute traffic in my neighborhood but oh no. There were trucks and lined up volunteers on both sides of the road. Can you tell that the women behind the men are doing more than clapping. There was a dance. I tried to film it but traffic is not conducive to home video production. I was also the only one running around taking photos of the volunteers lining the streets. Some of the volunteers looked confused, others amused, and I'm pretty sure I got a couple of eye rolls. The things I do for blog documentation!

Originally the 7 girls were just wearing their own mismatched flower visors but an organizer came over, distributed hats and took them away. I want a number hat!

Look! Police directing traffic and helping people cross the street!!!!!!!! I honestly wonder if anyone got hit recently during a rally that inspired this. It was nice though to relax about careening motor bikes, buses and cars all trying to run me down.**

Lots more to blog about the weekend with more pictures. Some of them even include my lovely mug! I think I"ll probably spread it out over the next couple of days since I promised my mother I'd finish rewriting her website already...

**My mother claims I am the most morbid person she has ever met. Considering the fact that I've posted a will on my blog twice I think she might have a point. However, I'm sure we could find someone more morbid than I am. Maybe. With much Google searching.

In Which I Go Utterly Overboard on Tourism in Busan

I have spent the past day and a half going nuts with tourism and blog worthy photographs. Unfortunately, 12 hours of being on my feet mean that I have zero desire to actually edit, upload photos and write. So instead I will link you to an article I wrote for Busan Haps, the local print/web English magazine.

Article love.

This feels dangerously like self pimping only...it's a blog. And I'm not getting paid for anything, blogging, writing for the magazine, you clicking the link...therefore, I've decided it doesn't count.

Click. Don't click! Whatever you feel like doing.

My ligaments are currently unhappy with me. Obviously, this calls for ibuprofen, chocolate, a book, and a letter.

Dear Ligaments,
Please don't be so tender and sore.
Love,
Alex

How to find a random blog in Korea

How do people find my blog? According to google analytics, lots of them go searching for 'Russian prostitutes.' I mentioned it once way back in the day and ever since then it has turned up in every monthly report. Occasionally they stay and keep reading for more than .01 seconds.

....That last paragraph will probably ensure that the Russian prostitute hits continue for another year. Good?

Honestly, I found most of my favorite blogs when I was desk warming this winter and desperate for things to read at my computer once I knocked out an obscene amount of lesson plans. So here is my wonderful guide for finding new ways to kill time!

1. Go to your favorite blog.
2. Click every single one of their links.
3. Click every one of their links.
4. Bookmark what you like.
5. Read everything they've ever written online. 
6. Repeat as boredom allows.

I have my first public school open class tomorrow. I'm not terribly worried. I've done them before and the only people watching will be the other teachers at my school....very few of which speak English.

Failing to Find Geumjeong Mountain Performing Arts Festival...

Usually I'm the over-prepared one of the group. Travel buddies groan at my detailed itineraries.  Classmates used to beg me for my color-coded notes.  Organization just helps me feel calm, especially since I get distracted so easily (remember when I sprained my ankle because I got distracted by something shiny?) There was a festival on Geumjeong Mountain yesterday that I thought would be oh so easy to find if I showed up in the general area.

Fail. FAIL. I never found it. I hadn't even written down the name of it (which obviously I couldn't remember) so I could properly ask someone where it was.  However, I did manage to have a wonderful time wandering around. Normally I don't mind being lost in Korea. But I was trying to show some newly arrived people a good time and felt like I utterly failed. I mean they had good picture opportunities but a festival would have been the perfect way to kick start a trip in Korea.

I started off back at Beomeo Temple...which was completely wrong though i wasn't the only person looking for the festival from there. 

All of those papers hanging down are wishes/prayers/hopes.  So beautiful...and yet buying one is not QUITE as spiffy as making your own lantern. Just saying.

I finally made it to the right part of Busan...but I was about 4 kilometers from where I need to be. Look at the people passing by....decked out in hiking gear. The trail was easy enough to comfortably manage in my Birkenstocks for several kilometers. Oh well, this gate thingy that I found was pretty cool.

After walking a few more kilometers in the wrong direction we decided to wander back to Busan Station where the lantern festival thingy was supposed to end at 8 with a concert. The concert was...interesting but I didn't see any festival related to it. Maybe the lantern lights were it? Not terribly exciting.

My favorite part of the day: randomly discovering a public hot springs foot spa outdoors on the way from Geumjeong mountain to Oncheondong Station.

 This is what normal people do at a hot springs bath after hiking around.

This is what I do. Got all of the Koreans laughing and smiling though. Oh the crazy foreigners. I did manage to sit still and enjoy the hot water though. Which was ridiculously hot. Look at how red my feet got after 5 minutes!

My skin is normally not the same color as my nail polish.

I love Korea. Where else in the world do you randomly find hot spring foot baths?

Korean Temples...sort of at Naewansa

Now, I love seeing temples. But I feel the same way about Korean temples as I do Renaissance art--there are only so many you can see before you start getting a little bored of the same styles and subjects repeated over and over again. I can already hear the protesting rants but before anyone gets up in arms: I like Renaissance art and I like Korean temples but sometimes I want to see something dramatically different.

There is a tiny temple in between Yangsan and Tongdo Temple called Naewansa.  I wasn't interested in seeing the temple...I just wanted to play on the rocks along the river like most people my age seemed to be doing in the area (Koreans too, not just foreigners).  So that's what I did. I played along the rocks and then sat, sunned myself, and read this month's book club book (Snow Country by Kawabata).  Of course, I managed to fall through a patch of land that wasn't as solid as it looked and jar my left ankle nicely. It's a little tender but doesn't feel like I re-sprained it and it's not swollen. Cross your fingers people.

Picture diary of my day:

Reasons to be glad you aren't a chicken: you don't live in a cage! Though I will admit, this cage is far bigger than the factory cages in the U.S. There was also a duck in there. I'm not sure if he flew in to hang out for awhile and get some free grub or if his wings were clipped.

This is me trying dongdongju for the first time. I know that it's weird that I've been in Korea for almost a year and a half but I honestly don't drink that often.  It was okay, kind of a like a thicker version of makoli without the carbonation.  The big pancake like thing in the middle of the table is pajeong, an omlette/pancake type thing made from eggs, onions, scallions, peppers and often baby octopus or squid tentacles. Yummy. I had been avoiding it since the last time I had it I was quite ill from what I suspect was milk or butter.  However, my co-workers insisted that pajeong is NEVER made with milk or butter so something else must have made me sick. I was dubious but willing to give it another shot. Absolutely terrible decision on my part--I've been sick since late afternoon.  Oh well, it was mighty tasty.

 Play time for Alex! Sticking your feet in to cool off feels fantastic. I wish I'd worn shorts so I could wade better but it was a little chilly when I set out and I'd rather be too hot than cold any day.

Next time I shall do what these gentlemen did and bring my own food.

Though most likely, I will wander like this girl (squint!) alone and contemplate such important topics as how to pay for grad school without selling my soul or organs and how pretty the mountains are. Obviously the second topic is the preferred modus operendi. And it's not hard to focus on.

Wrapped up as I am in school and city life it's easy to forget how beautiful the country side of Korea can be.

Spaz update: (Aside from the ankle twisting)

Hot pepper Sun Chips were on sale today at E-mart. From the sign I was able to understand that if you bought 4 the 5th was free. What I missed  was that I was supposed to put the items in this little plastic bag that had a barcode on it. I had elected to skip the bag thinking I'd save on some plastic since they were all going in my canvas shopping tote. At the register the young clerk couldn't ring it up because there wasn't a sale barcode. I tried to explain that it was the sale item and I think he understood me (I could have been saying something else of course with my typical ability to butcher the pronunciation into something indecent) so he called over another sales clerk to ask how much they were but the other guy was as baffled as he was.  So they called over a THIRD person (managerial looking) who looked at me and kind of gave me the 'seriously' look and then told the boys to go get a bar code bag. They told me to wait a moment (in Korean) and I apologized and turned bright red.  Turning bright red might not seem like a big deal but I only blush about once or twice a year. I think the fact that I'm just such a spaz on a daily basis makes  it take a lot more to embarrass me to the point of actuallyblushing. Being lost or confused in the grocery store isn't something new for me in Korea but I think that understanding that the clerks thought I was a total fool pushed my embarrassment index over the edge.

2 minutes later at the pharmacy I was so flustered that I forgot the Korean word for 'peach' and had to try to point to the box of vitamins I wanted. At least the pharmacist was nice about it.

Mostly Koreans are very nice to me. For instance, when debating with my friend about which stop to get off at the man behind us on the bus told us he was getting off at Naewansa and would show us where to go. Koreans are generally awesome, sometimes I just fail.

Emergency Drills in South Korea

The days I don't bring my camera with me to work are bound to be full of picture taking opportunities. Murphy's Law is brilliant that way. Anyways, as I was stumbling through my second cup of tea my co-teacher messaged me that our first class was canceled (huzzah!) for some in class drills. I figured this had nothing to do with me and cheerfully set about getting a third cup of tea and working at a leisurely pace on lesson preparations.  An hour later, smoke bombs (of a mild variety) were set off in the school, an alarm went off and the loud speaker announced that everyone was to vacate the building. At least, that's what I presume it said.  So I grabbed my cup of tea (oh the joy of travel mugs) and followed the squealing crowds of children out.  After everyone was assembled (far too close to the school if there was ever a real fire or catastrophe) our attention was called to the student waving a blue cleaning rag out of the window. It was a simulation for what you should do if you don't get out in time.  Then the two PE teachers rushed into the school, got her, and carried her out on a stretcher. I kid you not. They fake checked her over for a minute too. Next, the teachers assembled in the middle of the field to demonstrate how to use a fire extinguisher. Instead of just using them they decided to practice on a real fire.  So they gathered together some cardboard boxes and lit them on fire. The children were highly entertained.  After all of that, everyone went back inside presumably to continue the workshop. I went and got another cup of tea and got back to lesson prep. Except that everything smelled pretty badly for an hour it was a nice diversion to my usual routine.

Speaking of catastrophes, go and read Mr. Awesomecool's evaluation of the quality of Korean construction.  He worked in construction for awhile in the US and knows quite a bit about safety standards.

Tonight, bibimbap with the Partial Asian and SLEEP. Hopefully. I haven't been sleeping very well lately (yes, I know all of the caffeine isn't helping) and it's making me start to approach zombie land again...

Education got rid of poverty in Korea?

Today's Korea Times ran an article entitled 'Education only way to get rid of poverty.' Now, education plays an enormous part in helping a country advance but only concentrating on education in a developing country is ridiculous.  The article did make a good point about better emphasizing educating women (from Hilde Johnson at UNICEF):

Higher educated women tend to marry late and have fewer children. They are very aware of hygiene and health issues that surround their family and know exactly what they should do.

Education is great but without strong energy policies, getting even basic electricity or running water to schools can be a challenge. Families can't afford to send their children to school if they need the child as a wage earner or laborer for the family farm. Education policy is one facet of successful development policy. Without a more complex, comprehensive plan it's completely ridiculous to say that 'only education eradicates poverty' in the context of the developing world.

Korea's rapid development had a lot more to do with subsidies to get fledgling industries off the ground, comprehensive infrastructure, agriculture reform.  Education was just one part of the plan. I'm not saying that it's not important but education can't be effective without other factors.

Hong Beop Temple: Lantern Making and Epic Spaz Attack

On March 21st, I went to Hong Beop Temple to learn about Dharma and try out traditional calligraphy. It was a pretty cool way to spend my birthday. Anyways, this month's program was a Dharma talk and traditional lantern making for Buddha's upcoming birthday (May 21st). The Dharma talk was given by an American monk who was currently visiting an international meditation center in Busan.  Even though he gave the same basic message as the last monk, the delivery was completely different. He was trying to really get across the point of being in the moment--that meditation isn't just about sitting still.  It's in everything you do. When you are walking, just walk, when you are eating, just eat. Concentrate on what you are doing fully and 'just do it.' Very good message though he did end up sounding a bit like a Nike commercial. It would be hilarious (and also scandalous and ten kinds of wrong) if they had a zen master for the next ad campaign.Anyways,  Here is a paraphrasing of one of his anecdotes that I really enjoyed:

A few hundred years ago in China, two monks are traveling between temples one day on a rather long journey. Following their customs, they do not talk and are just walking along. Eventually, they come to a stream that is engorged because of recent rains. On the bank is a maiden who is distressed about trying to cross the dangerous water alone. One of the monks picks her up, carries her across, puts her down on the other side and continues on his way.  Many hours later, just before they reach the temple, the other monk says to him 'you know in my temple it is forbidden to even touch a woman and you picked one up!'  The first monk replies 'I carried her across the stream. Are you still carrying her?'

His point was that if you are free from attachments you are truly free to help people. Anyways, there were lots of interesting things said. I will never be a Buddhist but I think that the religion has quite a good deal to offer people.  As the positive aspects of many religions do. But I digress! Back to the temple.

Apparently, they were in the midst of running a week long camp for little boys to be like 'real monks.' They shaved their heads, gave them monk clothing and treated them like real monks for the week. That included not touching their heads (or much touching in general) and waking up at 3am. I hope the little tykes got an afternoon nap. They were unbelievably cute. Even the Koreans at the lecture were cooing over them like mad. Of course, I've never seen a grown-up monk run or play frisbee but I'm glad they got to relax a bit.

They even took part in community work. Notice how the boy on the far right is nearly hidden by his wheelbarrow.

So making lanterns with delicate paper takes incredibly advanced motor skills. Notice how they have one helper per child? The kids did seem to have an inordinate amount of fun painting the glue...and their sticky fingers.

Eee! Sticky fingers! Put them together...and pull...together....apart...STICKY AMAZING GOODNESS! .... That's what I imagined they were saying. That's just me though.

At the moment, I can hear my Mother going, "Yes, yes the miniature monks are very cute but WHERE ARE THE PICTURES OF YOU?!" I will not disappoint the mother unit even though I have helmet hair from riding Female Kiwi's motorcycle.

And yes, that is my yellow notebook which goes with my everywhere. How else would I be able to paraphrase random Dharma stories so well? Sadly, I filled it up this afternoon and will have to transfer to a new purse notebook. This wouldn't be a big deal only I keep ongoing lists in the back few pages on things to check out when I have a change. I COULD cut them out and put them in the new notebook only it's a different size and it would just offend my OCD sensibilities.Errr, tangent gun!

Finally, the finished product!

Aren't they pretty?! I will (possibly) put candles in them like I'm supposed to on Buddha's birthday only I'm pretty sure I'd accidentally burn down my apartment so for now they will be strictly ornamental. The lotus flower one is suppose to have 5 rows of 13 petals each (of the pink) but they didn't have quite enough petals to go around and to be honest I got pretty sick of gluing things after 3 hours. The munchkins only made the simpler lantern. Now I'm sure you are wondering how on earth I got home two fairly delicate paper lanterns on the back of a motorcycle. Here's how: I put the purple one very carefully into my amazing expandable North Face backpack (brought along just for this purpose) and begged my other friend to carry home the lotus one.  For carrying home several extra lanterns (I wasn't the only one taking an anti-lantern mode of transportation home) on the subway she deserves a medal. At the very least, I think crappy movie night dinner will be my treat on Wednesday.

Spaz updates...just from the past 3 days:
1. Female Kiwi said that she's never been close to having an accident...until that ride with me. On the way their we had to swerve to miss another cyclist heading the WRONG WAY down our lane, a car that peeled out without looking both ways, and a truck changing lanes abruptly without signaling. Riding was very fun but I think my luck might be hinting at something. On the positive side, we didn't die!

2. Saturday I said 'crick' instead of 'click' and later 'tower' instead of 'towel.' I have officially been in Korea for FAR TOO LONG. Dear Summer Vacation, Please come faster! Love, Alex

3. While helping my coworker put up the poles for the volleyball net, the handle for adjusting the tension fell off, whacked my thumb and sliced it open. I'm serious. Not only did I bruise it, I actually started to bleed a bit. The PE teacher had to go get a bandaid and everything. Then again, I didn't hit myself or anyone else in the head during practice so maybe it's a good idea to get out my spaz magnet before volleyball starts.

4. I forgot that I was wearing my indoor slippers outside on the way to volleyball until I slid on the steps outside (no traction!) and nearly face planted...in front of a few parents waiting for their children. I managed to save myself at the last minute....but it was a close call and definitely still ridiculous looking.

There are a few more minor ones but I think I'll save them for tomorrow's post.

Updated Will

Today I'm riding on the back of Female Kiwi's motorcycle to Hongbeop Temple, about 20 minutes away.  She is a very responsible driver and I'll be wearing a helmet...but let's face it: Disaster follows me. Just in case we wipe out and die, here is my updated will:
1. My books should go to the Hemingway lending library.
2. My ancient computer shall go to my mom...because it's still less ancient than hers.
3. Hooligan 1 can have my coffee pot and toaster oven.
4. Partial Asian can have my iron...and the rest of my amazing Swiss chocolate.
5. My ipod will go to my mom.
6. My Harry Potter Books go to Vanessa.


This is so morbid.  Oh well. Drive safe Female Kiwi!!!!!!

Fickle Women and Korean Class!

To change up the Korean class routine, last week we learned a Korean pop song that was apparently very big last year.  It's essentially about how fickle this Korean girl is about her feelings for a man. We went over the lyrics first and then listened to the song.  This girl, Jang Yun Jeong totally ripped the Israeli/Jewish (not entirely sure where it came from) tune from 'Havah Nagillah.' It's HILARIOUS. Watch and see!


Will doing endless cutting for class prep this afternoon I watched/listened to the video about 50 times to practice. I can't wait to sing this song at Noraebang (Korean karaoke)!

Children's Day and Children's Suicide

Yesterday, I guzzled my cold medicine, put on my sandals, packed some kim bap and headed to the BEACH.  It was about 23c here yesterday, definitely warm enough to sit in the sun, chat with friends and read my book. Lots of the other people were drinking but cold medicine and drinking is a recipe for disaster. Two of the guys brought their guitars and improvised songs about Children's Day and being on the beach while highly amused Koreans looked on.

It was amazing to see so many young people with their family and smiling. They clutched balloons and candy and ran around to their heart's content. Of course then we had the lovely reminder article today in the Korean Herald about how frighteningly high suicide rates are among the young.  Every few months someone runs an article about how Korea has the highest suicide rate in the OECD and talks about why this is so. And yet no one ever really  talks about how to help...

Zombie Attack!

Really, today a zombie took over my body and replaced bubbly, happy teacher with lethargic, dizzy, congested, coughing teacher. Oh wait, that was exactly how I've felt for the past week. Obviously, it's been a zombie all along and not just a cold.  All I have to say is thank god for my co-teacher, who took over the bulk of the classes today while I alternately checked homework and swayed dizzily.  Note to self: cold medicine and coffee really doesn't mix so well.

Why I am ending my sick hiatus if I still feel stuck in zombie land? Because I'm procrastinating doing my French homework  I think I shall gorge myself on Swiss chocolate (I LOVE YOU MOM/DAD/KAREN!!!!), have another cup of ill advised coffee and get to work. I know, I know, I should be resting it's just that there is so much to do and only so many hours to do it in.  Tomorrow I don't have any work (Children's Day!) so I plan on lounging on the beach, reading a book, and dozing in the sun. Next to my box of tissues, medicine, and sunblock of course!

Temp Blogging Hiatus

The internet in my apartment is broken. I tried buying a new cord and everything. Ideally, this will take until Monday or Tuesday to resolve but in case it doesn't, you know where I've gone!

Also, I'm ridiculously sick. Sicker than I was during the week. Yucky deep cough, congestion the works. I went back to the pharmacy for more decongestant and decided to get those yummy vitamin C chewable things my kids are always giving me.  I was like uh 'bitamin** C...candy?' And mimed chewing. The pharmacist smiled but he got it! Last time I bought vitamin C it was in the pill form and who wants that when you can have candy?! Exactly! No one! Well, except maybe for diabetics.


** There is no 'v' sound in Korean but the word for 'vitamin' is the same.

All I want to do is lie in bed and poke the internet but my internet is broken!!!!!! Right now I'm at a PC bang (room) catching up on 3 days worth of emails. 5 of my students are sitting behind me and are very happy to see me. I live living in the same neighborhood as my students, it's fun to see them outside of school. I think it also makes the teachers seem more human. 

Also, one of my student's dad's who is watching over them while they play bought me a coffee. Which is really sweet...only it is the instant Korean coffee which has milk in it. I think I shall stealthily wait until his back is turned and then dump it out in the sink.

More posts when I feel less like death warmed over and more like a human.