Last week the first and second years got to go away for a few days to play. I think they went to a water park. The third years had to stay and study, but, despite there still being kids at the school, Jeremy didn't have to teach. He doesn't have any third year classes. When he doesn't have classes, he still has to be at school 9-5, but there is no planning or any real work. He gets a lot of reading done on those days. We went to the school just as they were headed off and there were 7 busses packed with very excited teenagers all in matching jerseys. They all work so hard, it must blow their minds to get some days off once in a while.
Friday was the last full day for this round of student teachers, so with most of the kids gone, they got the day to play too. They invited Jeremy and me to play games with them. I dreaded the thought of playing dodgeball or something like that, but when we got there they were playing a game of t-ball. After a quick game of rock-paper-scissors (the traditional way to make any decisions in Korea) we were assigned to teams and the game was on. One of the girls explained to me that we had to play hard because the losing team had to buy icecream for the winning team - high stakes. It was super hot and Jeremy and I totally roasted in the sun getting a burnt nose each and a little bit of nausea from the heat, but we had fun anyway. Most of the girls were terrible at t-ball, but everyone was good natured and people who were struggling got second tries and no one made fun. My team had a very big comeback to tie the game and we held them off for the last inning; no one got icecream. Then a third year PE class came out and challenged us to a game. Jeremy and I were both picked to be on the "all-star" team to play them and we both lived up to the responsibility with some good hits to the outfield. All said and done, it was a great day.
