I made deviled eggs today, as I hadn't made them in a long time and some of the Korean teachers I work with had never tasted them. They were well received:)
Friday, 21 January 2011
Sunday, 16 January 2011
Coincidences
I think I have written before about small coincidences that seem to occur in my life, but let me recount a few of them here and then add a new one.
Sometime last fall, I was alone in an unused classroom, writing comments in student diaries. They always go faster if I work alone. Out of the blue, a student of mine appeared in the doorway; it was not time for her class so I was surprised to see her, and even more surprised because at the moment she appeared I was reading her diary.
I bought some new stickers last month because they were beautiful butterflies. I give stickers to my younger students when they complete their homework, and I always put the on the back of the students' hands (as a hygenic measure). When one student chose one of the new stickers, and when I put it on the back of her hand, I was surprised to see that she had a drawing/tatoo of a butterfly. My homework sticker fit into the middle of her drawing.
A new one. Preface: I have been at this school for 1 1/2 years and no student had ever asked me for a toothpick. But that's what a student did last week. He came running up to me at the teachers' room, and said, "Teacher, may I please have a ________?" He said the word in Korean, but I knew what he meant, and I said, "Do you mean this?" and I held up the toothpick that I was holding in my hand. He was more startled than I was. "Yes!" he said.
Sometime last fall, I was alone in an unused classroom, writing comments in student diaries. They always go faster if I work alone. Out of the blue, a student of mine appeared in the doorway; it was not time for her class so I was surprised to see her, and even more surprised because at the moment she appeared I was reading her diary.
I bought some new stickers last month because they were beautiful butterflies. I give stickers to my younger students when they complete their homework, and I always put the on the back of the students' hands (as a hygenic measure). When one student chose one of the new stickers, and when I put it on the back of her hand, I was surprised to see that she had a drawing/tatoo of a butterfly. My homework sticker fit into the middle of her drawing.
A new one. Preface: I have been at this school for 1 1/2 years and no student had ever asked me for a toothpick. But that's what a student did last week. He came running up to me at the teachers' room, and said, "Teacher, may I please have a ________?" He said the word in Korean, but I knew what he meant, and I said, "Do you mean this?" and I held up the toothpick that I was holding in my hand. He was more startled than I was. "Yes!" he said.
Sunday, 9 January 2011
Subway Riding
I went into Seoul today for a change of experience, though I didn't buy anything more than a couple of books. I did ride 4 subway trains, and two of them were packed, to the point where--standing up--you didn't need to hold onto anything as there was no way to fall.
It does still surprise me that I am the only person who takes off his (or her) winter coat prior to boarding a crowded subway car. It seems logical, and is indeed--at least to me:)-- a fact, that subway cars are considerably warmer than the boarding platforms. And I want to be comfortable. But that's just me.
It does still surprise me that I am the only person who takes off his (or her) winter coat prior to boarding a crowded subway car. It seems logical, and is indeed--at least to me:)-- a fact, that subway cars are considerably warmer than the boarding platforms. And I want to be comfortable. But that's just me.
Friday, 7 January 2011
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Post New Year
Here's an interesting fact about South Korea: on January 1st, 2011, every person became one year older. That's right; birthdays are celebrated here, but a person's age does not change on his/her birthday. Age changes on January 1st, the solar new year.
In a recent class, a student who was doing a presentation said, "Hello! I'm ____, and I'm 13 years old . . . no, I'm 14 years old, and I'm . . ."
That's a common mistake this time of year.
Imagine this: in Korea, when you are born you are 1 year old. So, if you are born on December 31st, you are 1 year old. But then, the next day, January 1st, you are two years old--amazing!
In a recent class, a student who was doing a presentation said, "Hello! I'm ____, and I'm 13 years old . . . no, I'm 14 years old, and I'm . . ."
That's a common mistake this time of year.
Imagine this: in Korea, when you are born you are 1 year old. So, if you are born on December 31st, you are 1 year old. But then, the next day, January 1st, you are two years old--amazing!
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