Woah! I've been trying to figure out what to put in this post and I realized that it's been too long since my last one and there is too much to say. Sigh. So much to say, so little sleep.
Let's see. The highlight of last week's teaching experience: One of my first graders lost a tooth on Thursday. It was both exciting and extremely traumatizing. The excitement is easy to explain, it's always kinda fun whenever a kid looses a tooth, and she was really pleased about it. The tooth coming out also meant that she pulled a finger out of her mouth that was covered in blood, which caused the other girls to scream and me to laugh evilly in the corner. However, it was terrifying for a moment because the kids had been playing around a bit and I was convinced for a brief second that she'd lost her tooth because the rowdy girl in that class had punched her in the face. Could I get fired for one of my students mauling another on my watch?? I swear, my heart stopped for a minute until I remembered that children loosing teeth is not necessarily indicative of abuse.
An update on the hellions: my worst child is apparently convinced that he is a dinosaur. When they run away to the gym, he climbs up to the highest point and growls and roars at everyone. This information has lead me to a new technique for attempting to get the hooligans back in the classroom; I now try to lure them back in with dinosaur books. This partially works- on Friday I got them into the classroom and even got them to sit still and listen to the book, but as soon as it was over they ran away again. Maybe someday I'll get them to stay in the classroom through a song. However, my school has recognized the difficulty I'm having with these monsters, so now there is a Korean teacher assigned to help me out with them for my second period with them. The plan now- I'm just cramming two lessons into second period and attempting to keep them from dying when I'm the only one in charge during first period. Thank goodness I only have them for an hour and a half.
In outside of school news, I had more naked time this week. In fact, it was more naked than last time since I was naked too. I went to a spa with my coworker and her friend and we spent a good two hours chatting in the nude while surrounded by nude Korean women. It was a little bit intimidating, but extremely warm and relaxing. I also ate something there which was perhaps my strangest enjoyment of Korean food thus far. It was called Cheesyramen and it was exactly that. You wouldn't think that spicy ramen would go well with the Korean equivalent of Kraft singles (of which many of you know I have sworn life-long hatred), but it does. I don't know why, and I don't expect you to understand until you too have been pressured into trying it.
Did you know that they have a steam treatment for your "hips" (they have a somewhat different definition for hips than Americans do)? The women go into a room and chill out wearing pink full-body shopping bags and sit over individual holes which blast mugwort steam at them. It's supposed to be cleansing...
Also, for only twenty thousand won (about 20 bucks) you too can pay an older Korean woman to scrub you until your skin is bright red! Those women have it out for dead back skin. Beware the scrubbing mitts. My coworker's friend got it done and she looked 3rd degree sunburned by the time the Ajuma (older Korean woman) was done with her. I feel like it's something for hygienic masochists.
And as for the title of this post: On Saturday I went skiing. I have to say, I have always wondered why Korean art has so many random hills popping out of the flatlands portrayed in their ancient art. However, after a few weeks here, that is no longer the question in my mind. There are, in fact, tons of random little hills that just pop out of the ground here. The question in my mind now has to do with the insanely tall and steep mountains they always use as backdrops. It's true, Korea is made up of a ton of mountains- almost 70 percent of the landmass is mountains, but these mountains, they just aren't... well... tall. Or steep. They're kinda pansy mountains.
What this means for skiing is that their hardest slopes are about intermediate level in America. What this doesn't mean is that Korean skiers are pansies. They make up for their short and gentle slopes with killer technique. And it doesn't mean that the skiing isn't fun. It was great, and hilarious, since they play Korean pop at you while you're on the lift.
So yeah. I'm off to bed, before I push it so late that I fall asleep while attempting to stave off the dinosaurs.
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