School's Out for the Day...Kids Going off to Camp 2 days Each...See you Next Week

I am so excited about my special classes! My grade three class is the youngest, but they are suyrprisingly so clever. Although they're all at different levels on their English skill, they all seem to be hard workers who love to have fun, so it makes the class enjoyable. I find myself having to pay close attention to timing, because there is so much I need to get done in a short period, so I have to be on top of things. If it's all ready and on-task, we learn so much together, and I get to play gamesthat remind me of summer camp.

It is so true--if you are planning on being a teacher, you really should take at least one summer and spend it at summer camp. I love my brainstorming hour after all the kids have left for the day--this hour here right now--when I can think about tomorrow's lessons and how I will get my point accross. I find myself wanting to bring more and more of what I love about camp into the classroom. and what's really cool--it's TOTALLY possiible. I have to say to myself, "I want to play ship to shore. How can I do that with 35 kids and little elbow room? how can I keep hell from breaking loose?" and then I make a plan and pray it works.

In the end, the core component of my job title is keeping from Hell breaking loose. She who controls the children when the world is settled in for the day...she controls the keys to the kingdom.

Don't you get a little pang in your gut, you poor poor saps who live in a school zone, every time you hear that evening bell ringing out over the quiet ofthe neighborhood? and the screams and shuffling begin...and the dog's start to squeal....
....why are there so many rules in the area surrounding a school....?
Hell on earth....
...gotta keep it under wraps...
and hecks! might as well have a little fun with it while I can!

Here's hoping you keep your distance while you can.
Sus

Jungang cheonmang dae: The Green Tea fields!

You
will
bring
us
a
Shrubbery....

So these snaky shrubs climbing up the hills is what they call "guh-reeen-tea"

Whack a Weygook~ photo by William Cho.

...tricked into hiking...what?!?! this is a Farm....looked more like a cemetery. You can't tell from behind us, or from our faces, but the view was extraordinary from up here. Photo by William Cho.

Manisan (mountain) in Gangwhado

This is the season for great hiking! and korean culture is all about the mad hikes. Did you know that Korea was never "glaciated?" this means that while glaciers ran around flattening everything--mountains, prehistoric creatues--it never hit korea, so this country is as mountainous as ever, and in their natural forms! it's really a rather wavy country, when looked at topographically!

Korean hiking often consists of some sort of stairs, heading straightly upwards; some ridge hiking is often included; perhaps a little bouldering; stairs; and mostly mostly lots and lots of people. hiking up a steep ridge of steps, it can be dificult to manage when you must pace yourself by the person in front and behind you. When you get to the rocky bits, however, people seem to slow up, and there's more room to play around. in this picture, Michael, me, and Rob, are leaping, grasping and climbing from rock to rock along the ridge. Photo by William Cho!

The views were beautiful. it was a pleasant afternoon. not too hot, not too cold. the company was enjoyable. I am learning so much about Korea and culture from my new friends!

I hope yo are all enjoying the spring.

This is at the end of the hike, Jangsu-sa 창수사 (temple). There were still plenty of cherry blossoms up here, and they were beautiful! falling like sweet-smelling snow!

My Other Blog Entries

I have blogs chronicling what I do every day in class. I write out my regular class lesson plans, & journal about my special class events. It's my way of keeping organized as my schedule is getting more full--darn goverment funding! wanting to pay me more; wanting me to teach more.
If you're interested in it, you can look at it by clicking "view profile," and you'll see my other blogs.

Peace out, enjoy the spring. I will write again soonly!
~Sus

Gyomun Elementary School Newsletter; My contribution....

Hello, students. How are you today? I am very well. I love the spring! The sun is so bright and beautiful, and every day that I go outside, I see that there are new flowers; there are trees in places I never noticed before! Guri is becoming a whole new city as the spring arrives. After the school day is over, I love to turn on my mp3 player, put on my sunglasses, and listen to music while I enjoy walking around under the amazing cherry blossom trees, or beside the river, or just on the street. While I am walking, I run into you students, swinging and sliding at the playground. You wave and say “hello!” and I am happy. When no one is looking, and I like the music I hear, I will dance around. I feel silly, and I feel free. When you feel happy, what do you like to do?

Burial Mounds of the Kings of Silla

The Cherry Blossoms are here
and therefore so is Spring!
We went down to Gyeongju City for the Weekend and rented bikes, traveled down kilometers of streets lined on both sides with puffy white trees. in the wind, the small petals would flutter like snow. more to come later...here's a couple of pictures!

A Series of Ghostly shots from the Latulle Show

"I don't care what my teachers say, I wanna be a supermodel....

and my hair will shine like the seeeaa--eeeaa!!!"

"...and every one...is gonna wanna look just like meeee-eeee."

"Cause I'm young, and I'm hip, and so beautiful...I'm gonna be a super model..."

Show# 3~Seoul Fashion Week