Middle School Trip

At the end of our academy's term, our school took a two day trip with our first and third level middle school kids (who would be 6th-9th graders in the US). There were fifteen students, Sophia (co-teacher), Ms. Han (school director), our bus driver, and myself. We left the city Friday evening after school and spent the night in a beautiful country house. That night, we played many games, had a huge dinner party, and when the boys moved to their room next door, the girls and I stayed up late watching all their favorite male singers on TV. It was so funny hearing the quietest girls peep up about a boy they thought was cute. ha!

It was a blast getting competitive with the students and sharing laughter outside the classroom with all the games we played. Being a teacher is so much fun, but sometimes it comes with a stigma that makes students more cautious and intimidated. A lot of my students have told me that their worst fears are their teachers! Having this weekend to get to know them and for them to get to know more about me was awesome and well needed. Plus, my director and I were able to talk more, which has helped tremendously on our relationship.


Dinner Party!



We played games such as Jenga (thanks for sending that mom and dad!), innori (traditional Korean game), bottle cap races, and we even had an arm wrestling match! One of the boys challenged me at arm wrestling and beat me, but it was so fun! Jin Sol kicked butt and beat some of the boys. I was so impressed by her!

The next day we slept in, cleaned up the place, made gimbap (Korean style sushi, but without fish), and headed out towards the mountain for sledding! I have never made gimbap before so it was exciting to have that group activity. It all turned out great and was a yummy snack for on the hill. Sledding was unique and a lot of fun! I have never been at a sledding resort type of place before where you pay to get in and if you pay extra a machine will pull you and your tube up the hill. Wow! My legs were so sore at the end because we ended up hiking up the hill each time. There were no breaks, because every time I took a breather, I would hear, "Elizabeth teacher, Elizabeth teacher... come! Go together!" I LOVE sledding so it was no problem. Kids I didn't know, would come up and chat and motion towards going down the hill together! It was so cute the way we would all line up on the top of the hill and go down together holding hands. Sophia, my co-teacher, and I hung out a lot, which was so great. Normally, she can be very shy, but she was so excited on the hill! We shared so many laughs and ate green tea ice cream together (one of my new favorite flavors).


Beautiful Morning!

There were moments on the trip, when I felt lonely or a bit of culture shock. It still hits me sometimes, but I am glad I was able to work through it with my students and co-workers. Overall, the trip was needed, enjoyable, challenging, refreshing, wonderful, .... a grand time.


Cutting up the materials for Gimbap.



Gimbap. This is the very simple version of gimbap which includes: rice, sesame leaves, cucumbers, carrots, pickled radish, meat... rolled up in seaweed. Gimbap can be made with anything really. Sometimes tuna is used and of course there is kimchi Gimbap, as well.

First, you evenly spread the rice on the seaweed square.
Second, you pile on what you want inside.
Third, you roll it up and dab a little water on the edges of the seaweed to seal it up. If you have sesame seed oil, you can rub some of that on the outside of the gimbap as well.
It's easy!


Rolls of Gimbap

"What a beautiful Morning....Ahhh"

Innori game

Say "Kimchi!"

Serious Jenga competition!

Im Myun, be careful!

Team work!

Kim Min Chae crying from the onions

Third level Middle School girls. Aren't they gorgeous!? They all are really cool.

Sledding...

Lining up to go down the mountain together.

The machine actually gives you a push start! So weird, but a lot of fun.

"Hold my hand!"

Sophia and me!

More school pictures...

Mo Ju Won, one of my middle school students, showing off his card tricks. He is such a great guy. In the past couple of weeks, he has learned many magic tricks involving coins and other items, as well as, improved his card tricks.

"Teacher, Teacher, see card, see! ..."

It is so cool!

Jun Suk and Jung Ho playing connect four before class. They all love the games you sent, mom and dad! Thank you!