who needs to shop?

This week has been a fun one at school. Anyone who has been in any form of education knows that "fun" usually means- fun for the kids, but sometimes a headache for the teachers.  Alas, it is part of the territory.

We had our Birthday Party Day on Tuesday.  The school chooses one day a month to celebrate the birthdays from that month.  We go to the play room, sing Happy Birthday, take pictures, and then go back to our rooms for lunch.  Usually it is soup and rice, but on Birthday Party Day the school buys pizza and chicken for the students followed by a dessert of chocolate cake.  I also got to order something special, so I had dumpling soup. Can you say delicious?

This all sounds fantastic, but it means the kiddos had alot to eat, and we are expected to make them finish what is on their plate.  For kids who are about 5 and 6 or younger (western age) this is a daunting task, and it takes a bit of coaxing and, well, teacher sometimes doesn't get a lot of time to eat. :)

Today was field trip day.  We take the kiddos on a field trip once a month.  Any teacher who has been on a field trip knows field trip days consist of a lot of counting/herding the students.  Really, it was a fairly stress free field trip day in comparison to some I have seen (especially from the other end-that of an interpreter).

It didn't seem like the kids loved it too much, and I truly felt sorry for our tour guide at the museum.  I know how hard it is to keep the attention of kids that age and bring things down to their level.  All she had was paintings! At least at the Farms you could resort to "Who wants to pet the horses?!?!"

Unfortunately for me, I left the house this morning without any form of caffeine in my system.  Ugh.  Also didn't have time to drink any coffee once I got to school.  I might have had a slight headache by about 2 PM when the kindies were gearing up to leave.  However, there is an extreme bright side to teaching kindies- and Korean kindies at that.

The loot.

I get stuff all the time! This was all from today! Not to mention our head teacher went and bought us ice creams very similar to crunch cones. It was a good day.

Kelly, one of my adorable kindies, brought me the grape juice in the morning.  After lunch time I went into the teacher's room and had the Starbucks Frappuccino on my desk. How did they know I needed that?! By the end of the day when I was ready to leave I had received a bottle of orange juice and a bottle of liquid Vitamin C.

Yes, liquid Vitamin C.  Sometimes it is random things that they bring you--but it is the thought nonetheless.  So far, in addition to today's loot, I have received two bottles of orange juice, gum, and chocolates.  I love when they bring me chocolates!

The first time a student set a bottle of orange juice on my desk I gave it back to him and said "Here, you left this on my desk!"

"No, for Teacher!"

The best part? I was coming down with a cold--it was perfect timing.  Amazing.

The time I got chocolates? I was starving and had been having a very long day.  These Korean kiddos are mind readers, I tell you. 

It sure does make a teacher feel appreciated.  Not to mention that since I have started using a straightener on my hair every day and they see my blonde hair, all I hear is "Teacher you so pretty!" "Cute Teacher!"

I could get used to this.