Sledding and Sleeping

It's not just me for whom this year is coming to an end. The kids had their graduation field trip yesterday near Children's Grand Park at a temporary sledding slope. It was really good fun, but highly tiring. Normally I can play with the best of them, but a couple of hours' exhilaration sliding down the slopes in over-inflated rubber rings really took it out of me. I was only able to scramble through the bouncy-castle obstacle course once. Many of the kids were going through for more, five or six times. Either I'm too big, or I'm too old. Or just too tired. A sad realisation!

I know I only have a few more weeks left in Korea, and I want to make the most of the time spending time with the people I love. I definitely feel in a state of limbo; the school year is coming to an end so work isn't as occupying as usual, but it's a little early to start the physical pack up unless I want to spend the next three weeks in a bare apartment, and meeting people for 'final goodbyes' seems far too sad and I'm not sure I'm quite ready for that finality to really kick in! So it's quality time all around; last night the gang met up in Suwon to spend a quiet night in at Subok's place; tonight it's down to Sanbon for movies and sleeping at Robin's. I love sleeping, and it's always more fun to wake up to animated brunches and good company.

Turn and Widen: an exhibition

Today's field trip was to the Seoul Museum of Art. I knew we were going to an art gallery; I just didn't know which one. I was probably more excited than the kids when we pulled up in the big yellow bus.

This exhibition, Turn and Widen, is a modern display focussing on contemporary ways of portraying art through the media of unnatural light, communication methods, and the concept of time. It was disappointing not to have more time to take in the exhibits as (as always) we were on a schedule, largely dictated by the childrens' attention span. But still, it was a very cool exhibition. Unfortunately today is its last day in Seoul, as the free entry would definitely have inspired me to go again.

Digging for potatoes

It's been a busy month with Halloween decorations going up left, right and center in preparation for the "Halloween Fun Day" next Saturday - yes, that's right, Saturday - where all children and parents will come and bob for apples, among other activities. Rain was forecast for today, so I prepared an exciting pumpkin craft to stick around my classroom, but luckily the sun shone on brightly facilitating the planned sweet potato dig.

We went somewhere out and beyond Uijeongbu (i.e. out and beyond the north of Seoul) to a lone sweet potato patch somewhere in the middle of some farmland. I don't know if this is kindergarten owned land, or a random patch that the bus driver decided would be a good place for potato digging. Nonetheless, we all got our hands mucky pulling apart potatoes for the kids to take home. Much like the mass-production-bat-making lines Marie and I have been instigating in the classroom, this seemed rather like child labour as the bus driver shouted commands and urged faster picking. No prizes for guessing what's on next week's menu at school.

Simon's in Busan at the moment, but tomorrow morning - after David's birthday party tonight and thus a potential struggle out of bed and aching head - I will meet him four hours out of Seoul in Andong. It's famous for its soju, traditional masks and meat, so hopefully there will be much relaxing and won't be too hardcore on the sight-seeing...

Jangheung Art Park

Last Friday the kids went on a field trip to the Jangheung Art Park. Since "it is a good natural way for children to learn English", I went too. Can't say the kids learnt much English that day, but listening to explanations about the art exhibits was certainly good for my Korean.

"A Place of Emotional Experience
"Jangheung Art Park provides a space where exhibits and interaction come together to provide an exceptional experience which all members of family can enjoy. Jangheung Art Park is where "art - nature - humanity" coexists. The Art Park hopes to provide people with the opportunity for families to come together and directly interact with culture. It provides the opportunities for new experiences to be encountered."

I'm not sure there was much in the way of 'emotional experience', but there was definitely fun, and it's always good to have a morning off teaching.

Musical English

To celebrate the coming of the summer holidays, this afternoon the kids performed the musical that they've been rehearsing in their 'Musical English' class. It was hilarious (stroke cringeworthy in places) watching the kids simulating the theatrical style of their wacky teacher, with emphasis on the hip wiggling and dramatic arm movements. I especially enjoyed the stage snogging by Snow White and her Prince. I will hunt down a picture.

Ooh talking of pictures (not that I took any), an apartment opposite our school caught fire today. Apparently some kids sprayed mosquito spray on the gas stove and it blew up in their faces. Eek.

We also had parent-teacher conferences today. Unfortunately my worst kids' parents didn't turn up. Kind of shows which parents care about their kids' education and which are fobbing them off on the English classes just 'cause they're available. Goodness I'm a cynic.

So I guess I've got caught up in the pre-holiday spirit of things; even though my kids are off on a field trip tomorrow morning and I don't technically have to go work, I think a picnic in the mountains sounds like a mighty fine idea. Sun, kimbap, mountains...and the Korean teachers'll be there to control their kids - woo!