During warmup I asked 3-3 in Korean what they ate for Christmas (hamburgers! fried chicken! ddeokkbokki! chicken stir fry!) and what they received for Christmas. Nick Jr told me “candy”: “Oh?” “Yes, the candy you gave me was a gift!” On Christmas eve he was the only kid hanging around the ddeokkbokki stand so I gave him one of the candies in my bag. Yes, I now carry candies in my bag like an old woman. I do mean that literally– old women here like to give me candy. 3-3 also has a new student. He’s Korean but spent the last three years in Kuwait. He told H that he…

One air filter, thirty six facemasks, one red sweater, one white sweater vest, one hand sewn money pouch, a traditional fan, a loaf of olive bread, one note from a student, one note from a teacher, some good news, a photo for the yearbook, two dinners, a hug from a special student who slung his arm around me and blinked very close to my face then went on his merry way. Today is G’s last week so gifts were exchanged and dinner was had. G: I talked with the principal and vice principal today. I told them about you: you are really nice and we work well together. There is…

Upon leaving, Heejoo and “Wooseok is my boyfriend” girl shouted hello to me across the courtyard. They were holding hands so I slung my arm around Wooseok fan and asked what’s up. “I’m happy.” Heejoo said. “Why?” I asked. “Because boyfriend.” “Heejoo likes Joonhee In 6-1!” Wooseok fan shouted in betrayal (a role reversal from awhile back when the girls revealed Wooseok fan’s crush on a boy in 6-3). Heejoo quickly released hands so she could punch Wooseok fan and chase her around. Heejoo told me Joonhee is shorter than her but I told her don’t worry, when he gets to high school he’ll grow very tall (and at the…

I interviewed every third grader for their individual speaking test today. Having been the student of speaking tests in Spanish, Czech, and Korean I deeply empathize. They all tried and for the most part did very well. I know they’ve never had a test like that but today they looked a foreign person in the eyes and could say “how old are you? I’m ten years old.” I realized how small they are, sitting across from me. And I definitely have a soft spot for Nick Jr which I’m trying to keep from interfering with grading. G later revealed to me:“When I was in junior high we had a foreign…

Guitar teacher saved me from another silent lunch by mentioning his Halloween; he was also in Itaewon at the same time.“Wow we could have seen each other.” I said, although the reality is Itaewon was crowded and my PhD friend is 6’4” so if I walked behind him, I was effectively a ghost. He added: “I went to Yongsan park on Sunday. There were many foreign families celebrating Halloween. I just walked around.” “Ah I see… you were walking off your hangover?” A moment passed thinking I was mistaken until he admitted with a small laugh aimed at the window “…yes”. On the stairs a rowdy boy and Strong Girl…