My Second Week... Well, my second week seems much better than my first. The students seem to be getting used to me. The younger ones around 6-8 years of age are still trying to run around like mad and drive me up the wall but I'm starting to use the hitting stick so they are realizing they need to sit down or else!;-) The older kids are getting into talking with me about topics.

Last night I talked about Korean history with one class because one of the articles dealt with one of their kings. Another class talked about where they would like to go if they could go anywhere in the world-strangely no one wanted to visit America. I asked why and the number one reason-we have mad cow disease! I just sighed and continued asking about the other countries they were interested in visiting. Some of the choices were (listed by number interested): England, Japan, France, Australia, Philippines, and Switzerland. I asked about why they were interested in going to Japan and shared that Americans thought they hated Japan. Well, they were smart enough to make the distinction between history and culture. They hate the former and love the latter. I was tempted to bring up mad cow disease again but bit my tongue. Not enough time and too complicated. But I learned they like snow, pop music, handsome singers, and the Alps!
In the class discussing the king article, I found out that they don't learn Korean history until later on in school...I wasn't clear when though since they were pretty old not to have been taught their own history...this class was a mixed bag-from 8-12/13 year olds. I asked them why they don't learn history earlier and they kept pointing to thier heads and saying no brains for it. I finally figured out that they were trying to say apparently the school system doesn't trust them to understand their history until they are more mature. Then I asked them if their parents shared history with them and they shook their heads. I was surprised by this since I thought Koreans were proud of their country. I tried to ask them why and one girl told me that her mother was a housewife. I got a glimpse into their viewpoints on women and men at that point. Housewives apparently don't have need to know thier history. I figure her mother knows more than she lets on.

Anyways, I learned when Korean history started. The same girl told me that it all started 2333 BC. I was happy to notice that her classmates all helped her communicate that in English. I praised the whole class before they left for listening to each other and speaking so well in English. In return they tried to teach me right, left, and goodbye in Korean. I think I might have found my favorite class.:-)

Now to discuss my weekend. We went to Icheon(NOT Incheon where the airport is) and it was a GREAT little city. We went to the Ceramics Festival and it was a ton of fun. We saw a ton of clay pig statuettes and models. I asked one of my classes about that and they said the pig was a very lucky symbol. Still puzzled about the Korean lunar calendar...what year is it? Anyways, they had bolgogi and delicious soup that we tried on our second day in town, and a clay pottery making session. It was mainly for kids but hey-no one stopped me so what the heck! I made a pot! It was a ton of fun to feel that pot move under my hands. They are supposedly going to send to me through the mail. We will see how THAT works out. They had a memorial booth talking about 6-25. Of course we didn't understand a word of anything but that date seemed important. There were about 8 veterans standing around and gruesome battle pictures. I was tempted to ask about it but Charlie didn't want me thrown out of the park if there was any anit-American sentiment flowing from the guys. So I walked away with a ton of questions. I'll have to research that date.

We saw some traditional musical instruments being play by some girls which was one of the cooler events we saw in both senses of the word!;-) Very fast paced music and a beat that you could stomp your feet to if you wanted. Very colorful clothes too.

Icheon is a very pretty city too. They also have the peach festival and rice festival held there. Looking forward to going to those too.:-) Tring not to think badly of Daejeon now but it now seems drab compared to Icheon.

K....another post about my health check coming up.  ¶ 7:44 PM