Hi everyone! I hope this finds you well and recovering from your week of holiday eating and celebrating. Speaking of holidays, I've got two coming up for you - not to worry, even though I was missing home I was still able to celebrate.
My year has come to a good end, filled with lots of festivities and fun. When November hit, and the leaves exploded into a beautiful
array of fall colors, there was excitement in the air – namely for two end of the year November events. You know what one of them is – can you think of the other one? When I asked my students this, they all answered: School Festival! Then they racked their brains trying to think of the second one – but then all I needed to say was: “America. Turkey.” They got it.
I was especially thankful for: my safe, happy and healthy life in Korea, the opportunities and experiences I’ve had since living abroad, my students, my co-workers, my wonderful friends in Korea, and everyone I love back home and can’t wait to see again next year. So many blessings!
array of fall colors, there was excitement in the air – namely for two end of the year November events. You know what one of them is – can you think of the other one? When I asked my students this, they all answered: School Festival! Then they racked their brains trying to think of the second one – but then all I needed to say was: “America. Turkey.” They got it.
But before we can begin to talk about the Thanksgiving festivities, it was time to get ready for the event of the year: the Changpyeong Middle School Sports Day and School Festival, which took place the day before Korean Thanksgiving. Same as last year, it was an all day event, with sports day in the morning, followed by an afternoon of performances.
Last year I really had no idea what was going on, and I had to awkwardly follow around my co-teachers, asking about what was happening and what was next. I still had fun though. This year, however, I could read the schedule, I had plenty of kids around who felt comfortable enough with me to chat, and I knew what to expect.
I came to school that day prepared for a morning of outdoor activity: two layers of pants, shirts, a sweatshirt, scarf, and a blanket. As I walked down the hall to the teacher’s office one of my kids told me: “You look like polar bear.” Well, polar bears are warm, right? Here is me in my polar bear motif with one of my students and my dear co-teacher, Mrs. Lee.
The day started off with some stretching, then team division, (blue vs white team – guess which team I rooted for) and we started off with some 100 meter dashes, which yielded some surprising results – I had no idea some of those kids were so fast! Then the groups split off into badminton, T-ball, and kickball, which I was free to wander and observe at any time. I bopped around, chatting to different groups of kids and taking lots of pictures. After the first round of games were finished, it was time for the 
boys to play soccer and the girls to play a Korean game involving throwing a ball and standing in a square like formation – with some running from one side to another in between. Obviously, I didn’t really understand it, and chose to watch most of the soccer game, which included all of my boys who always wished they 
were playing soccer instead of in my English class. This time I got to see them strut their stuff, and it was fun cheering them on. The morning concluded with team against team tug of war, and then finished off with an all grades, twelve person relay race. The blue team won!
boys to play soccer and the girls to play a Korean game involving throwing a ball and standing in a square like formation – with some running from one side to another in between. Obviously, I didn’t really understand it, and chose to watch most of the soccer game, which included all of my boys who always wished they 
were playing soccer instead of in my English class. This time I got to see them strut their stuff, and it was fun cheering them on. The morning concluded with team against team tug of war, and then finished off with an all grades, twelve person relay race. The blue team won!
After a hearty meal of bibimbap (just like last year) and some downtime, it was time for the afternoon of performances. Each class did a performance of various types – the first graders did a skit, three of them did a song and dance, one group did a gag skit, and the last group of third graders did a rap/song. In between individuals and groups performed. I was so impressed by some of my students, mostly because they are so shy in my classes, but when they performed they were amazing. The third grade boys did a K-Pop girl group dance to one of the hit songs of the year, complete with girl costumes. Four of my first grade girls, two of whom are horribly shy, rocked another K-Pop girl group song and dance, which you could tell they had rehearsed endlessly, as it was spot on. One of my favorite performances was when one
of my third grade (ninth grade) boys performed a duet with one of his friends – this kid not only gets top grades, speaks English really well, is a superstar soccer player, had just won two running races that morning, but he has a phenomonal voice, unbeknowst to me – I started tearing up when I heard him. Of course, this kid is a hotshot, and tries to kick his soccer ball around during my unsupervised extra classes, resulting in my ‘angry face,’ but still, I had to admire him. What a talented group of kids I have the privilege to work with.
of my third grade (ninth grade) boys performed a duet with one of his friends – this kid not only gets top grades, speaks English really well, is a superstar soccer player, had just won two running races that morning, but he has a phenomonal voice, unbeknowst to me – I started tearing up when I heard him. Of course, this kid is a hotshot, and tries to kick his soccer ball around during my unsupervised extra classes, resulting in my ‘angry face,’ but still, I had to admire him. What a talented group of kids I have the privilege to work with.
When the last performance came, I was sad to have the day end. One of the third grade classes was up, the rapping group, and when they were finished there was the usual round of applause. But they weren’t finished – to our surprise the song transitioned, 
and all of a sudden some of them ran off the stage and started grabbing the teachers to drag them onstage. Bewildered, we all stood on stage with them, not knowing what was going on, as they started holding up signs and giving us paper carnation pins. I’m sure the Korean teachers figured it out before I did, but it wasn’t until one of the kids (the hotshot kid, actually) came from backstage with a lighted cake and the students all started singing that I realized they were doing a thank you song to the teachers, as they were part of the graduating class and would be leaving the next month. It was so sweet of them! The signs spelled out “Te
achers Thank You” and the carnation pins were to show respect and honor towards teachers (it’s a popular flower to give on Teacher’s Day and Parent’s Day.) And the cake? Obviously it was for the teachers to share, right? Well, that’s what I thought too, but the kids ended up having some fun with it instead. As soon as the song ended what did they do? On cue they all reached their fingers in the cake, scooped up some frosting, and wiped it on the teachers’ faces. Cake war: On.
and all of a sudden some of them ran off the stage and started grabbing the teachers to drag them onstage. Bewildered, we all stood on stage with them, not knowing what was going on, as they started holding up signs and giving us paper carnation pins. I’m sure the Korean teachers figured it out before I did, but it wasn’t until one of the kids (the hotshot kid, actually) came from backstage with a lighted cake and the students all started singing that I realized they were doing a thank you song to the teachers, as they were part of the graduating class and would be leaving the next month. It was so sweet of them! The signs spelled out “Te
achers Thank You” and the carnation pins were to show respect and honor towards teachers (it’s a popular flower to give on Teacher’s Day and Parent’s Day.) And the cake? Obviously it was for the teachers to share, right? Well, that’s what I thought too, but the kids ended up having some fun with it instead. As soon as the song ended what did they do? On cue they all reached their fingers in the cake, scooped up some frosting, and wiped it on the teachers’ faces. Cake war: On.
The festival was over, and the third graders proceeded to smear every last bit of the cake frosting on the teachers and mostly on each other – it was great. Lots of fun pictures, and lots of getting back at students. Okay, just a little getting back at them. More of them getting back at me…(Oh, and I promise the kid next to me does like me...he wasn't ready for the picture. Me and my third graders, post-cake cleanup.)
Prior to School Fest I was feeling a little burned out – I was homesick, the weather was getting colder, and I was dragging my heels a bit with the everyday routine of teaching. But throughout that day I was so revitalized by the energy and enthusiasm of my students – they were having a blast, and it was contagious. I got to hang out with some of my favorite students, I watched soccer sitting on the sidelines with them, we shared blankets to keep warm, and best of all, they enjoyed talking to me and explaining parts of the day. I was beaming – my job as an English conversation teacher had turned into so much more with these kids – I felt like their friend, and they had accepted me as such, even though they had to use English to communicate. I was excited but sad to have just a month left to spend with some of them. It sure gave me a lot to be thankful for. Transition into Thanksgiving…
The week of Thanksgiving I enjoyed enthusiastically teaching middle schoolers about turkey, pumpkin pie, Pilgrims, and stuffing. I received some creative responses such as “ Columbus!” or “Abraham Lincoln!” when I asked who the first people to live in America were, and I had to agree with their bewildered looks when I showed them a couple of YouTube clips about Black Friday. “Why, teacher, why so early?” “I really don’t know, kids.”
We also made some Thanksgiving hand turkeys, which garnered some creative responses. Here are some to give you an idea of what my Korean middle schoolers are especially thankful for:
We also made some Thanksgiving hand turkeys, which garnered some creative responses. Here are some to give you an idea of what my Korean middle schoolers are especially thankful for:
Of course, talking about Thanksgiving all week was making me quite homesick, but I enjoyed Skyping at 6 AM with the family back home – at least this year Reed didn’t wave a piece of pumpkin pie at me in front of the computer. I happily reminded everyone that next year I will be home for Thanksgiving, and tried to transition my thoughts of homesickness to thoughts of excitement for my own Korean Thanksgiving coming up.
Similar to the year before, this year our gathering consisted of nearly twenty people in one apartment – one of the guys from my orientation last year graciously volunteered to host it this year. We dug into one of the more unique Thanksgiving dinners that I’ve had, complete with pumpkin curry soup, Thai pasta salad, cocktail meatballs, and chips and salsa. Though we lacked a turkey, we at least had some chicken, mashed potatoes, stuffing, rolls, vegetab
les, and plenty of pie and sweets. As always, the most important part was the good company – I enjoyed chatting and catching up with my group from last year, as well as some of the newer teachers. We even had the downloaded football game from Thanksgiving playing on the big screen – it just about felt like Thanksgiving, even from 2,000 miles away.
les, and plenty of pie and sweets. As always, the most important part was the good company – I enjoyed chatting and catching up with my group from last year, as well as some of the newer teachers. We even had the downloaded football game from Thanksgiving playing on the big screen – it just about felt like Thanksgiving, even from 2,000 miles away. 
I was especially thankful for: my safe, happy and healthy life in Korea, the opportunities and experiences I’ve had since living abroad, my students, my co-workers, my wonderful friends in Korea, and everyone I love back home and can’t wait to see again next year. So many blessings!
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