Kindergarten on a Monday morning

I started teaching Kindergarten this week. My homeroom class is known as Pluto. I started laughing at myself for the internal realization that Pluto isn't even a planet (another faux pas we'll blame on Knox). Pluto is so far removed from our solar system that it is just another piece of rock floating around the sun. "Is this how they see my kids?!" was the defending question that ran through my head. As I looked into their little Korean eyes and corrected Sean to please remove his finger from his nostril, I explained to my little Plutos that we are different than the other Kindergarten classes because they are planets. Pluto is the exception because "our planet is considered a dwarf planet."

I was then greeted with the question from Wide Eyed Andy "Teacher. . .what is planet?"




This is Monday in Pluto.

Birthdays to come

Thank you to everyone who helped me celebrate my 23 years on Earth. I will post photos and further comments about activities in the next couple of days.

Miguks

"Miguk" is the Korean term for American. Some expats come to Korea trying to embrace the Korean culture and traditions. This includes small gestures such as how you receive something that is handed to you. Also how you address people older and younger than you.
This beer commercial was shown to me by a group of 2nd graders. I felt a de ja vue after seeing it.



The actress' name is Brownwyn Mullen. Apparently she is somewhat of a celebrity in Korea.

Kimchi Deficit and Avian Flu

A while back I had a conversation with some Korean friends about how Kimchi prevented the Avian flu from spreading to South Korea. Apparently the BBC agrees.

In other news. . .kimchi sales have been down since the economic downturn.
Perhaps they should release more infected chickens into China to increase sales! Or lay claim that it will purify all of the American beef that they are being fed. Ultimately kimchi will cure people of mad cow disease, fan death AND altzeimers.

Amazingly Tofu Lady's price per block has not gone up. If this happens, it is the definite sign of a worldwide recession.

The Weekend

Today is the first day of the Chinese New Year. Congrats, I am going to skip this topic of updates since it seems every other expat already cared to do so. In other news it is 26 January which means the following. . .

1. This past weekend we went to an ice festival in Hwacheon. I caught two fish and then proceeded to whack them against the ice to "lessen their suffering." At least they tasted good. Photos will be shared soon.
2. I have just passed 5 months in Korea and am starting to look seriously at prospects for August when I plan to return. The plan of course is changing week by week and my options seem similar to those I had this time last year. On that same note I submitted my first fellowship application as of last Monday!
3. It snowed in the city this weekend and Korea has yet to discover the snow plow.
4. I went to church with Grace and Tom last weekend, it was refreshing to be in the environment. We then went to lunch with Tom's family and I was sent home with two months worth of sweet potatoes!
5. My birthday is in one month and I have mixed feelings about entering the next year of life.
6. My little cousin and aunt both got facebook accounts in the past week.

Samores and Champagne

The inauguration of Barack Obama took place at 2am on Wednesday 21 November here in Korea. Several of us gathered at my apartment and drank champagne and roasted samores over the two burner range to celebrate the occasion. Huddled around the laptop I streamed the video off of the NY Times website for a live broadcast of the ceremony. It looked very cold on the mall, although I am very jealous of the 1.9 million people that made it out for the ceremony.

We had contemplated going to Unlce Don's (local bar for expats) to ring in the occasion, but




. . . it was cold.

"But Teacher, who would be President if North and South don't fight?" Well Lucy Jeong. . .

If you've already heard this story and are now reading this, I apologize for the repetition.
Thursday afternoon I walked into the office, before being reminded that it was the first day for monthly tests, I saw the brown paper envelope laying on my desk. Of course I look forward to my monthly National Geographic! You can read practically everything online and more, but having the slick glossy pages to flip through and being able to underline, cut and examine in different lighting can only be delivered through print. This month there is an article about escaping from North Korea. North Korean refugees who decide to flee from the country are forced to leave from the Chinese border. Once across the Tumen River they face increased danger in China, where if discovered they are arrested and returned to North Korea. In a question of international law and refugee status China believes they are seen as economic migrants.

Human rights organizations and various foreign leaders, particularly in the United States and the European Union, are urging China to honor its international agreements by treating the North Koreans as refugees, a status they're entitled to because of the punishments they face if deported. But China maintains that the defectors are illegal "economic migrants."

South Korea is considered the safe haven and about 15,000 refugees have made it to the Southern part of the peninsula since the 1990's. They are required to enter South Korea by traveling through China to Thailand in order to seek asylum.

In one of my classes the kids wanted to watch a movie. . .instead we discussed the situation to the North in the remaining 20 minutes of class.


Additional Links of Interest

• Youtube video following a North Korean family defect to Thailand (20min)
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