kimchi chine

Debating on whether or not to show this to my students. They seriously need to head down to Conjunction Junction.

We had our annual English festival at the end of October. The kids dressed up performed songs, dances, and and awesome take on The Three Little Pigs. I took lots of pictures so check that out. Also took some video. Here is the first one. Light Green class preformed Pololo's Barabam for the English Festival. If you're unfamiliar with the awesomeness that is Pololo, don't worry. I combined the two videos into one mighty videofest. Vlog 10: October English Festival from Chine Anikwe on Vimeo . More videos to come if I'm not feeling lazy.

A picture of the 5 year olds playing in the school yard. For a city that doesn't get much snow it's really coming down out there! Maybe it will be a white Christmas afterall. That or grey and dirty depending on how long the snow sticks around. [UPDATE] Not only did I take better pictures (available here ), but I actually joined in on the snow fight.  Thus I am appropriately renaming this post. Old, blurry picture of the 4 year olds after the jump! - Posted using BlogPress via HEDWIG

In honor of Veterans Day (and as an added bonus, the G20 Summit), my class celebrated Pepero Day again. For those of you who don't know, Peperos are sticks made of crackers with chocolate in and sometimes wrapping around them. They're supposed to look like 11s, which is why they're given on Nov. 11th (no correlation with Veterans Day whatsoever). I was very confused last year, but (despite the fact that this is Valentine's day in it's most commercially tainted form-- thank you Lotte) this year I came prepared to give my kids the cavities they well deserved.  Happy Pepero Day!! - Posted using BlogPress via HEDWIG Location: My classroom... Not teaching of course

My friend's student just giving her a little token of her appreciation.  I thought it was cute and funny. Wish my kids could write this for me.  Or even express any type of thanks whatsoever. I'd even accept it in Korean. Oh the downfalls of teaching babies.

As usual, one of my kids came into class wearing a hilarious shirt that frankly didn't make much sense.  Most t-shirts over here that have English writing don't make sense.  Even so, you still should not go around reading people's shirts and pointing and laughing! I made that mistake several times when I first got here (and again last weekend when I was drunk).  APPARENTLY people think it's rude or something. I don't get it. Anyway, back to the kid's shirt.  Yes, that is a Simpsons' Duff beer can you are seeing which, after listening to the children talk about how much soju and maek ju their parent's drink, isn't too suprising to see on a children's shirt. What do you think about it? Should I look for one in my size?

My boss tried to hang this up in the hallways... of our KINDERGARTEN! Now, I realize that cultural differences do exist, but I'm thinking that doesn't come to play here.  This seems inappropriate in Korean culture as well. At any rate, my Canadian co-worker informed him about what the plaque is actually inferring to... so he hung it up in his office instead. SMH.

We had a mini fashion shoot with my kids this week.  Don't they look like wonderful little fashionistas? These are my 6 year-old second years.  And before you ask, yes, those are UPC Springfest glasses they're wearing.  Nothing less for my kids! More cuteness available after the jump.

My friend showed me this little nugget on his phone last night. His students drew this for him in class and he's now made it his phone's background image. The picture truly speaks for itself. Anyway, I just had to share this, even though my kids didn't create it. Needless to say, it is now my phone's background image. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Playing in the same area as the children are stray, rabies filled cats.  They congregate around 11 AM and discuss cat politics for about and hour or so, when the sun is right overhead and then disperse to hide out in garbage bags and scare me when I'm trying to put my trash out... One day, cats... one day... Also, one of them has a continual open wound, so THAT'S comforting.

Apparently I'm now the Elephant room... You know there's a problem when even the children and other teachers are confused.

They redid our rooms over break... This is my coworker Sean's room. And this is my room. Now I don't want to cry "Gender stereotypes, ahh!"... wait, yes. Yes, I do.

So we're putting on this big English festival (as I've mentioned before) tomorrow to showcase how much English the kids have learned this past year. (the school year ends in February and begins again in March-- I know, that's a shitty vacation). Anyway they've canceled regular classes for two straight days (looks like three now) where I had things prepared to teach that might actually be productive. Instead we're simply rehearsing how good we are at teaching English. Not to mention that the class I'm performing with hasn't learned a damn thing in the past two weeks aside from Do-Re-Mi... Doesn't this all seem counterproductive to you?? Now I'm sitting in my room wondering what the hell I'm even doing here. Le sigh. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

APPARENTLY "Banana Phone" is too hard for the kids to learn (which I think is RIDICULOUS) so we're singing "Do-Re-Mii" instead.  Coupled with the fact that I'm singing "Edelweiss" with half of the other children for our normal monthly song, I feel like I'm in some twisted Sound of Music play that runs EVERY night... and all the actors are terrible... also, there's kimchi... lots and lots of kimchi. And just for funnsies, and to further highlight how inadequate we are, I give you "Do-Re-Mi" the way it's supposed to be done.  You GO Belgium!

These kids are going to go abroad, start singing songs like this, and ultimately ruin their chances at foreign friendship.  I actually burst out laughing when I heard this song.  "Chine Teacher, 왜 그래?" Nothing, nothing.  Just have another sticker.

So I decided on "Banana Phone" by Raffi to sing with the kids.  It's not as cool as "The Mysterious Ticking Noise" but this video does make it a bit better.  Now who thinks I should show this to the kids so they can get inspiration??

So we have an English Festival coming up and I have to prepare a song with one of my 5 year old classes.  I'm having trouble picking a song that 1) I like, and 2) they can sing.  How inappropriate would it be to teach them "Peanut Butter Jelly Time" or "The Mysterious Ticking Noise"? For those of you who don't know either of those songs you can stop reading because we're no longer friends. For those of you would would like a reminder of how brilliant these songs are click the jump.

Given the harsh status updates throughout this last football season regarding the Redskins (I missed this season, so I really have no comment), I thought this picture was wildly appropriate. That's Seong Bin, a 5 year old in one of my classes, rocking a Redskins shirt.  He says he likes them... apparently he missed this last season as well... The other kid in the photo is Ji Woong... I'm pretty sure he has ADHD.

If you count winning a small battle in an ongoing power struggle with 5 year olds a success... Which I do so... I think I've already mentioned how much I hate my first class of the day. They're loud, rude, and generally do not listen at all. The teacher for that class loves them but mysteriously spends her time outside of the classroom whenever they're there. So basically it's my everyday goal to make one of ten cry and send a message (I don't wish this on any other class mind you. Whenever I make a kid cry, which is often, I usually feel really bad) So you know I have the tonsillitis, and yesterday I was forced to come in and teach so I was not happy at all. Plus I had just taken my medicine that makes me nausious... So the kids start acting up as usual and all of my usual tactics for settling them down were not working (I used my scary voice/face, moved the kids.. Nothing!) so I decide I'm going to tell on them (yeah lame I know but I didn't care). I s...

So clearly November has not been my strong month for publishing posts. Sorry about that, I've been busy with Swine flu and tonsillitis and generally hating my job (but what 22 year old doesn't hate their job, right).  Let's start from the beginning of the month, shall we... The month started with really fucking high winds and below freezing temperatures.  It was like we completely skipped over Fall altogether and screwed us over. Luckily, most Korean style homes have underfloor heating, which is simply marvelous.  I've spent hours upon hours laying on my floor while watching Ghost Whisperer  CNN and feeling warm and fuzzy inside. I'm getting used to city life.  I like that I can either walk or take the subway anywhere here.  The public transportation is great.  Not having to drive a car everyday is nice and I feel so green too! I often worry about how much my driving skills are deteriorating day by day, but whatever, northern Va drivers aren't good...