O-tu-kayyyyy

A few months back, I realized that I had taught my 1st graders to associate the phrase, "Rock Star", with getting the answer right.  So one after the other, I would hear little voices asking, "Teach-ahh me?  Rock Star?" while pointing to their correct answer.  Although, I found it to be incredibly funny that they were saying that----I also found it really disturbing to realize--I was saying that!  Not only saying it, but saying it enough that I taught 5 year old Korean students to speak this phrase, with alarming frequency.  After those words were said back to me, numerous times, I stopped using it completely, because although it is very funny, I do have a job to do--and teaching 5 year old Korean students, ridiculous slang, is not one of them.

Apparently, I say a lot of ridiculous phrases.  Yesterday in class one of my students (Eun So-jin) dropped her crayon and says, "UH OH Spaghetti O's".   Hmmm........  wonder where she go that from??       WHO AM I?   Apparently I am channeling the most ridiculous version of myself, while I am teaching small children a second language!    Naturally it struck a funny chord with me, but it also alarms me that I am blabbing out so many phrases that, I only become aware of them once they get parroted back to me.  I will say, "Uh oh spaghetti O's" is better than "Rock Star", but still.........      Fortunately for these kids they only have 3 more classes with me.  Let's see if I can keep my tourettes in check.

When I am with Son Myungai, we rely a great deal on Konglish, gestures, facial expressions and of course Google Translate.  We usually go to the computer as a last resort though, because I think we are both a little determined to communicate with each other without having to depend on a translator.  Not to mention it makes it a lot more personal, interesting and fun.  When she is trying to express something to me, she'll stop occasionally to make sure that I am still following her and ask, "Understand?" and I will say, "Yes, I understand" and then she always gives me the double thumbs up and says, "Very good understand!".  I love it when she says that.

My new favorite phrase to say in Korean is:  "O-tu-kay", however I say it really whiny and love to drag it out the way my kids do it...so it goes a little something like: "Ooooo tuuuuUUUUuu Kayyyayyyyayyyy".   It has two meanings:  How & What.   I parrot this phrase back to Koreans, much the same way my 1st graders parrot back "Uh Oh Spaghetti O's", probably because they're both just fun to say.   I asked Son Myungai about this phrase having two meanings, mostly just double checking my understanding of it.  So I said, "O-tu-kay"--How?   "O-tu-kay" What?  Same-same??     She says, "small same-same" (I love the way she communicates things--"small same-same" and "very good understand").   I guess you just have to be in the conversation to know if the person is asking how or what.     Another fun phrase to say is "wayyYYYyyyyyy" which means why.   I have heard this one soooooo many times from my students!  "Teach-ahhhHHhhhhh WayyyYYYyyyyyyyy??????".           Officially I have 2 and 1/2 weeks left in teaching, and it has taken the FULL year to finally be able to understand and communicate more comfortably in Korean.  In many ways, I feel like I just got to this great point at being able to really communicate and now the time is up.  This year has gone by alarmingly fast!  

TidBits:

Matching couples are very popular here!  You'll find 'matchy matchy' couples dressed EXACTLY alike.  It's the darnedest thing.   They will literally have on the same shirt, hat, pants, shoes---everything.  You'll also see complimentary matching outfits.  So the girl will be wearing a skirt in the same fabric as her boyfriend's pants.  They also sell matching underwear sets here.  Men's & women's underwear are sold in the same store (or section)--So think Victoria Secrets, but for both sexes.  They have tons of displays that have the boy & girl mannequin wearing the same style.  I sincerely believe these couples that wear the same thing on the outside, very likely have the same under clothes on.   It's just one of many 'cutesy' things to Korean society---that once again, I kind of find endearing!  As  a western woman, I would personally find it disturbing if my boyfriend matched my clothes (outter or inner garments) and probably break up with him post-haste!

It is February 1st here.  I only have 24 days left in Korea. 

The List: What I'll miss about Korea!

All of my friends who have recently left Korea to return home, keep telling me things to the effect of, "Enjoy your last days in Korea, because when you leave you'll miss it".  I am so excited to leave here for so many reasons, but I know they are right--that I will miss Korea.  So while I am still here, living my Korean life, I decided to come up with my list of things that I know without a doubt I will miss...and then vow to appreciate it that much more, while I am still here, to appreciate it.  Keep in mind, I am not including the amazing people that I have met on this list...because they have had such a profound impact on my life, that I don't think I would be doing them justice by mentioning them on this list.  With that said, here is my, "I LOVE KOREA" list.

1. Not tipping!  You don't have to tip waiters, taxi drivers, coffee shop workers, hair dressers, food delivery people. Not. Anybody.  A 100% tip less society!  LOVE it.
2. Public transportation.  This country does transportation right.  Their bus system is flawless, the high speed bullet trains are amazing, taxis are everywhere and all of the above are VERY cheap!  If public transportation was like this at home, I would never have want of a car.
3. Heated floors. 
4. Kimbap
5. Street markets
6. No longer being able to say "Assa" (Awesome) and "Jin ja" (Oh really?), "Yobosayo" (telephone hello) and having everyone know what I am talking about--and more often then not, finding it kind of cute.  It is especially fun to say these phrases to a Korean....it makes the laugh..every time.
7. Using phrases like, "Nice-eh, English-ee, and Teach-ahh" and having everyone know what I am referring to. 
8. Being able to call a doctor, dentist, or hairdresser---make an appointment and they ask you when a good time is...you tell them and they say OK.  They will work their schedule around what is convenient for you.
9. Seriously cheap and convenient health care.  Doctor appointment, with prescription: $20       Dental appointment: $7   Enough said.
10. Cutesy-wootsy.  This country is all about the cute factor. 
11. Sharing.  Everyone shares their food with me.  Always.  My landlord brings me treats, my kids, coworkers---everyone. 
12. Being a part of this community.  I love that I can walk around my neighborhood and I now "belong".   I love that I am invited along to functions and that people recognize me.     That when i walk down the street, I occasionally get enthusiastic, "CHRISTINE" yelled out the car window as people drive by.   It's so cool. 
13. Street food
14. How everyone is outside...all the time.  This country lives their lives outside--so much of life happens out on the streets here (Dan paraphrase)..so you really get insight into every one's lives.  If I can't sleep, I have gone to my window and will stare down into my alley/walk way and it can be 3:00 a.m. and I'll see several people walk by.....from very old people, to much younger people.    It may be the end of the night for some and for others their day is just getting started.  I also think that since everyone is outside so much it also makes you feel safer, because there is always someone around watching.
12. Ridiculous English phrases everywhere I look.  I will miss shirts that say things like, "Blue cat hello and then I went for a walk".  
13. The sound of the Korean language, which I quite like.  At first it was a maddening sound to me, because I had such a hard time in the beginning.  Now, the sound of the Korean language is beautiful....and I love being able to occasionally pick out words that people are saying.
14. Konglish conversations.   The half-way meeting place between me speaking what Korean I know and them speaking what English they know---makes for a surprisingly fun and in depth conversation.  It is so satisfying being able to meet on that middle ground.
15. Being able to say, "I live in Korea".  I'll admit it--it's kind of cool!  I love it.
16. Making friends so easily.  It is as easy as it was in Elementary school.  It goes a little something like this, "Oh, you're a foreigner? Heyyyyyy, I'm a foreigner too!  Wanna do something?"  Voila!  Of course, most of the people I've met stayed in the acquaintance category, but still, I have more of a social life here than I had my entire 10+ years in Denver!  Fortunately, I have also had the honor of meeting a couple of "life-longers"........
17. $10 dollar haircuts
18. Having a new & unique experience every day.
19. Watching Korean people interact with each other.  I find their culture and interactions endlessly fascinating.  I can't begin to tap the surface of how interesting Korean people are to me in a bullet point list, so just suffice to say, I'll miss seeing them every day. 
20. The loose rules--example:   It's okay to drink on school property after school and sometimes during school hours.  
21. Cheap (almost free) facials and other luxuries.
22. I only went to one baseball game, but I will miss having the opportunity to go to more!  What an amazing experience. 

I am sure there are many other things I'll miss about Korea.....and there may be a part 2 in the near future.  In the meantime, I only have 28 days left, to enjoy the things that I will miss about my fair, adopted country.

34 days and counting

In an effort to begin clearing out my little apartment, I have been taking inventory of my excess stuff and trying to find some of it a new home.  I suspect these next few weeks will fly right by, so I am trying to get organized and prepare early.   A few months ago I was given a SPAM gift set with three cans of SPAM and 2 bottles of cooking oil.  Although, very touched that I was given a gift, I just can't get myself to eat the stuff.  Thankfully, at the time I was given the gift, Dan was visiting me so he graciously did me the honor of eating 2 entire containers of the stuff (although very grateful for the deed....I'm still judging him...just a little).  Needless to say, I have had one can lingering in my kitchen for months now.  This evening, I went out for my nightly Kimbap fix and Kim Sung-eun (Son Myung-ai's son) was eating a huge plate full of SPAM.  Just to be sure, I asked him if it was, in fact, SPAM--all the while relieved with thoughts of unloading my last can of SPAM that has been haunting me for 5 months.  Kim Sung-eun got up and went to the SPAM stash and produced another can of SPAM and insisted I take it.  I sincerely appreciated the gesture and was touched at how sharing this society is, but I did attempt to say no, but "no" is not really an option in Korea. So now, I am back up to 2 cans.  Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have the language barrier working against me, and would have simply explained that I was happy to see that they like SPAM and would like to give them a can.  I am sure when I go home, I will always have fond little memories associated with SPAM and every time I pass it in the store, I will be transported back to my year in Korea.

This Monday is the Lunar New Year.  It is a national holiday here (visibly way bigger than Christmas was), so everything will be closed on both Monday and Tuesday.  I will be spending it with Son Myung-ai & family.  I will head over to her house in the early afternoon, where we will prepare, what I am sure will be an extravagant meal.  It is also tradition to make "deok" (Korean rice cake) on New Years, so we will do that as well.  I am thrilled to celebrate my first Lunar New Year, with my Korean family. 

Prior to coming here, I lived by the book when it came to the dentist...going every 6 months for a cleaning and sometimes a bit more for good measure.  Truthfully, I am the only person I know who LOVES the dentist (admittedly weird).  I have heard more than one horror story about Korean dentists--and given my personal experience with being tortured by a massage therapist, I am inclined to believe that their dentists are cruel too.  However, I have had a place on one of my teeth that has been bothering me for awhile...more recently it began to crumble a bit (TMI and yeah..kind of gross).  I am pretty sure it is just an old filling needing repair, but maybe that is just wishful thinking--I don't know.  I will be travelling for over a month after I leave here.  Since I have rather questionable luck, I figured if I don't get it taken care of now--knowing me I'll be in the middle of Cambodia when the rest of the tooth follows suit and crumbles out of my head.  So...questionable Korean dentist?  Or questionable Cambodian dentist?  When put in that light, it was a pretty easy decision.  Appointment is on Wednesday.

I am still in the midst of teaching winter camps, which have been highly intensive classes ALL day long for 4 weeks and counting.  It is truly draining and by the time Friday arrives, it is not a far stretch to say I feel like I have been hit by a semi.  What I do like about winter camp, is that the classes are significantly smaller than the normal classes (7-12 vs. 30 students), so you really have the opportunity to see some of your students in a completely different light.  There has been one kid who (and I hate to admit it) I truly did not like ALL year long.  He has been a little terror for me.  However, some time in the last few weeks of school, back in December, I started realizing he was actually not as bad as I thought he was.  Now, in winter camp, I have realized how amazingly helpful and sweet he is--- and also hate to admit it, but shame on me, because this whole time, it never occurred to me to give him some extra one on one time for his true colors and his potential to blossom.  During this winter camp he has been so sweet and so helpful to me---that I can't believe I spent an entire year totally oblivious to his good nature.  Let me go on the record as saying, Kim Min-su is an absolute wonderful kid and I have grossly misjudged him for the better part of  year.  I guess it is true that if you keep calling a child a certain thing or believing they are a certain way he or she will become exactly what you say or think they are.   

TIDBITS:

The other day I passed another teacher in the hall, when he stopped to pay me a 'compliment' by saying, "Ohh Christine, I wanted to tell you that you are thinner than you were last year.  I think you enjoyed the food too much last year, because you got fat.  You look better now that you are not as fat."    My response, "Uhhhh...Thanks? Mr. Anh?"      This particular teacher has been one of my favorites from day one.  He has gone out of his way to make me feel incredibly welcomed.  His compliments just never come out quite right.  :)  Back in September, this same teacher had the same complimentary conversation with me....  I can't remember the exact words, but "fat" was used more than once.  Come on people, can't we just let a girl gain/lose weight in peace?!

The way I say the number "twelve" in Korean, sounds like cuss word to Koreans.  The number 12 is "ship-E" a bad word is, "ship-EE".  I am sure you can see my dilemma!  :)  I now just skip over 12 and go straight for 13.
  

English Garbally-Goop

Whenever I find myself needing a little cheering up, I like to wander the stores, looking for anything with English print.  It never fails to bring me a small belly laugh.  Today was one of those days......   Thank you Korea, for having an endless supply of English Garbally-Goop.

"I want for a stroll along the public garden Some sunny, warm spots had fresh young glass coming up already The singing of birds to foretell the coming of happy dream"

This was in the stationary aisle.  It's a journal or a writing tablet.

And just one more....   (the typos are deliberate)

"Why is it so difficult for me to wake up early in the morning?  well, I colud use a strong cup of coffee to hepl me rise and shine.  Do you like taste sweet or bitter?  I love the rperfume of coffee delicate smell msimulates my nose, I like the perfume of coffee more es pecially when it's raining.  Coffee is relaxing.  I get to relax and think different things when I drink coffee in my busy life.  Like an espresso with steamed milk.  And for dessert we have a wonderful sandwich in espresso."

....but this one really is random

Ohhh Korea...your crazy shirts!   This is a shirt one of my 5th graders was wearing.  The rest of the shirt gave no clues as to what this is supposed to mean. 

These logos were printed on each sleeve.  What...does it even mean?



Sometimes I find myself teaching stuff that just annoys me.  There is obviously a world wide stereotype that every last man in America is stinkin' rich.  I don't like it when the textbooks perpetuate this myth.  The answer to this question is not "Bill Gates", but the activity is supposed to be to match up the phrase, with the country flag (I had to look up that birthday on line, after class, to figure out if they were making reference to a particular rich man).  I have taught many other similar things in the textbooks here, but Korea is very "by the book"--so even if there are typos, major grammar errors or way off the mark comments, they don't let you teach it the correct way, because if it is in the book it's true.  In this particular case, yes Bill Gates is rich.  Sure, he might help poor people.  But I don't think it should be used as an example to define a country and 'find the corresponding flag'.  (I know, I am making way too much out of this, but so many of my kids talk about how "rich" I must be...and how rich my family must be....and how rich my future husband will be, because he is American etc.  Of course they also think we have CSI on every street corner investigating crime scenes....)



Our door to the building is electric.  The other day someone took the trash out, and ended up not being able to get back in, because the circuit blew.  My landlord then printed this up for everyone in the building, just in case it happened again.  She brought this to my door and I misunderstood her and thought she wanted me to "correct" it.  So I whipped out my red pen and began mutilating her flier to make it "proper English".  She just stood there staring at me, like I just called her baby ugly.  Then she gave me a clean one and asked if I would please keep it in my apartment for the next tenant!  I was so embarrassed and apologized up one side and down the other.  "Don't mind me, I'm just bein' a helper!"  I am just so used to people here asking me to proof read their work.  I liked the very last section though, and kept that 'as is', because I thought it was so cute.  "Now.  You can come home.  I'm sorry.  It is an uncomfortable experience." 

TidBits:

My kids think that  you can get arrested for anything in America.  Rumor has it, that if little kids get in fights at school in America, the police will come and arrest them.  They then wanted to know if they would get arrested if they "hit a teacher".  I said, well you would get in really big trouble with the school and your parents, but I don't think you'd be arrested.  I then said, "if a teacher hits you though, that teacher would be arrested".  That were shocked, but they LOVED that.  Physical punishment is technically illegal here, but only in VERY recent years...like 5.  Unfortunately it still happens.  They also think that if you flip someone off, you'll get arrested. 

I love my Bangeojin Elementary students!

Today was the last day of Winter Camp (at my main & favorite school).  After today, I'll only have about 6 more classes with them.  It is incredibly sad to think about.  They were asking me to not go back to the USA and stay for their last year of Elementary school, as they'll be big 6th graders now!  I said I was sorry, but I really miss my Mom and family and I have to go home to them.  One of them said, "please remember us...don't forget us ever".  I promised, that I will never, ever forget them--and that promise is true to the very bottom of my heart.  These children have had a profound impact on my life---that will remain with me for life.

They also surprised me today with their specialty treat:  Moon Pie Cake, with a whole lot of whip cream, and chocolate covered cookie sticks, along with a side platter of crackers, chocolate & potato chips.  I'll let the photos speak for themselves! I love this country.

At first glance, you may have missed it, but that is supposed to be my face.   Young artist in bloom. 

Whenever they bring snacks in, it's always this concoction of potato chips & chocolate, often times squished together into an almost unidentifiable mess, so I was super impressed with this presentation.  Although, I suspect it was put together in the school bathroom........  yes..I ate some.  :)

In addition to this amazing little treat, 3 of the kids brought in this extra large notebook, where they had written a few words per page, and read it to me in unison as they flipped the pages.  It made me cry, it was so sweet.  I'll attach those pictures as well..just because it was so touching.  These kids have added inexplicable magic to my life.

This one surprised me, because they really didn't fight all that much in the 3 weeks.  As to be expected, there were a few spats, but nothing that was unmanageable....but I think it's sweet that they apologized for it.

I also made PB & J sandwiches for my kids.  Being an American, it is difficult to believe that most of the world does not eat the stuff.  In fact, I know many countries find peanut butter down right repulsive.  For me though, it is the perfect sandwich and I can't get enough of the stuff!  The introduction to peanut butter did not go over so well.  They gathered around it, with looks of sheer horror etched on their faces.  A few of them held their noses to avoid having to endure the "awful" smell of peanut butter (which, I'll admit, does smell a little funky!).  I could tell from the tone of their words that they were saying something like, "I can't believe she is doing this to us--are we being punished?"---or something to that effect.  Anyway, they all insisted that they wanted a jelly sandwich instead.  I told them, that it was not possible to eat just jelly on PB & J Day! :).   In the end, they loved them, and a few asked for seconds.  It was a fun class and I was happy to be a part of their first, ever, PB & J.  It was great seeing them enjoy it, and saying, "Ohh teacher, this is very, very good", although I don't suspect PB & J's will ever be a staple in their lives--and that's okay.

In class today, they also watched "The Wizard of Oz" for the first time.  It is one of my all time favorites, so it was extra special to be able to share it with them.   After it was over they were thankful and expressed how much they loved it.

Tid Bits

One of my students is my hair monitor.  Whenever she thinks my hair looks good, she'll say to me, "It's a beautiful Christine with hair". :)

In Korean culture it is custom for the person who is having the birthday dinner to pay for everyone's meal.  I went to a Korean's birthday party last week and was absolutely shocked that she picked up the bill for 10 people and it was her birthday.  She insisted that it would be awkward and make her uncomfortable if we tried to pay.

Face Masks

This is your average Korean biker!  If you saw a guy looking like this riding toward you in Anywhere, USA, wouldn't you panic just a bit?   A lot of people here look like muggers when they go for a bike ride or sometimes just walking down the street, because they're geared up in these face masks.  Some of the pictures in my 5th grade school book, of the repeat character of 'Grandma', has pictures of her wearing a mask.  Grandma always looks like she is going out to burgle someone.  This picture is courtesy of my friend, Tika, who I have nicknamed 'Paparazzi' because every time I turn around she is taking these 'sneaky' photos of people. 

Thailand Tourism

While researching places to visit, for my upcoming trip to Thailand, I came across this website that was not doing the best job advertising to the tourist population.  I copied and pasted these quotes direct from the website, so no paraphrasing on my part. :)   This is definitely the one place I knew I wanted to visit--primarily for a nice, relaxing-coma-style beach vacation, complete with sun, surf, fruity drinks and Thai massages.  Now, I don't know what to think!

Night Life

So called girlie bars are rather common and often a little more expensive. If you are a man, do not be to surprised if one of the girls wants to follow you to your room. Normally she is not too serious if she say that she is in love with you though. She is doing it as a work to support herself and often also her family

How to get around:

Walk

Nice, but use a lot of sun screen and be very careful in the traffic.

Bicycle

Just rent it. It's cheap. But be very careful if the traffic is intense.

Your Safety

Many people dies every year in Samui traffic! The roads can be very dangerous at nighttime. It is stupid and like playing Russian roulette to drink and drive here. IMPORTANT! Please, do always bring your insurance with you! Some hospitals require it if you end up in an accident. Please, be careful in the Samui traffic - Always! Also, try not to leave your precious belongings in your room when you go out. Burglaries are not common but can occur. Especially between 5pm and 8pm there might be some mosquitoes outside. Please protect yourself with cloths or repellents as cases of dengue fever are reported occasionally.

  

And that's my impending, tropical island, beach vacation in a nut shell! 

I am flying out on February 25th with a great friend I met over here.  She has been counting down the days since day 100, and since then, every 10 days I get an update saying something like, "we're in our 90's", "we're in our 60's" and so forth, referring to the number of days we have left.  Until last night, I didn't know she had this application on her phone that has, down to the second of when our plane takes off next month at 8:45 a.m.  I casually asked last night if we were, "in our 40's" yet, and to my amusement she excitedly pulled out her phone and told me down to the second, how many days, hours, and minutes until we leave.  Like a kid at Christmas.  We are both loving and learning a great deal from our Korea experience, but we're also incredibly ready to do a bit of travel and then get back home.  Home. Home. Home.   We miss it.

TidBits:

The other day in class, I had my students draw their favorite meal.  One of my students, Kim Min-joo, drew a plate full of Gingerbread Man Cookies & Bacon.  She swore up and down it was the best "meal" EVER!  Maybe everything does taste better with bacon...I don't know.  I just love, love, love my kids.

SPAM gift sets galore...

What I like about living in another country, so different from my own, is that you get a lot of "surprise" holidays.  I always know when something exciting is about to happen, because retailers start gearing up for the holiday by putting out monster displays of gift sets.  Christmas went by with almost no recognition, so I was rather confused when January 6th rolled around and all of sudden the stores are on fire with gearing up for something.  It is in preparation for the Lunar New Year, which is on January 23rd.  It is a national holiday here, and we will get off 3 days from school in celebration.  So although, I don't get to celebrate "my" holidays in the ways that I am used to, it is nice to be introduced to so many new holidays, that I have never celebrated before.

A few months back, for the Chuseok holiday, I was surprised at the large quantity of SPAM gift sets being sold (and purchased).  The aisle was literally taken over with the display and it is again for the Lunar New Year. I don't want to 'knock' SPAM too much, but it is a little funny to see it being sold as gifts.  Just not something you'd ever see back home.  I took a picture of it, so you could see first hand, that I am actually (for once), not exaggerating in the least.




A little overwhelming...


 

This one, I just thought was neat looking.



Same with this one.

  

Coco-Wa spills

The other night I went on a search for a massage parlor, specifically for a foot massage.  To my happiness, with much ease, I stumbled across a salon with pictures of feet.  Just what I needed.    Their menu book of services, was nicely translated into English, making my shopping quite painless.  I ordered the, "foot massage".  You can imagine my surprise when she had me lay face down on the massage table and began massaging my butt for about 10 minutes--followed by a leg massage.  I can only assume this was another case of "lost in translation", and somehow "foot massage" was typoed in as a "butt & leg massage".  I am sure other people are experiencing the same confusion, when they order a "deep-tissue" back massage and end up getting my "foot massage".     I think I am officially giving up on Korean massages.  

After teaching elementary school aged kids for a year, I have officially turned over a new leaf in my life, and now I am my parents.  How did this happen???!!    I hear my parents words & tone being channeled through me, without effort, as I am telling them, "Don't do that!" or "Now, why did you do that?" "Shut the door".    Kids do the darnedest things though--all the time.   I see some of the stuff these kids do, and I know I used to do the same things...but looking on it through adult eyes, the sense of 'logic' is mind boggling.    The other day one of my 4rth graders spilled hot cocoa on the floor.  Seemingly, a minor problem.  However, he decides to grab one of his classmates suede boots to clean up the mess and hide the evidence.  Fortunately, about an inch before suede met hot chocolate, I intercepted as a slow motion, "NoOoOOoooooooooo" came out of my mouth.  When I asked "What are you doing?".  He shrugged his shoulders and said, "I don't know", as casual as if I was asking him what the weather was supposed to be like tomorrow.

The other day, a different student also spilt her hot chocolate all over a desk.  Rather than be concerned with cleaning it up, or the fact that it is now dripping all over the floor and she is standing in it, she turns to me frantically and says, "Teachah, one more!! One more!".     I tell her to clean it up first.  After much insistence from me, she finally goes and gets some toilet paper.  She then proceeds to clean it up one TP square at a time--and then takes one dripping square at a time and drips it across the floor into the trash can.  Ohhhhhh kids are soooooo painful to watch.

I knowwwww, I should not feed them hot cocoa, but I can't help myself.  It is our special morning treat.  When they aren't spilling it all over themselves and the floor, they just enjoy it so much.  It is sort of my 'signature' winter camp treat.  Every day at 10:30 it is "Hot Cocoa 10:30"  But they pronounce it 'CoCoWa'.  When 10:30 rolls around, they say, "Teacha Hot Coco-Wa".  These kids do an awful lot of studying, so their breaks are well earned---and spilt hot cocoa is a small price to pay to witness their happiness.  What can I say?  I'm a sucker...and I love these guys--sticky messes and all.

Tid Bits:

My landlord's English is above average, so we made a bit of casual conversation the other day.   She says to me, "When you cook, you smell like a Canadian".  She had spent some time in Canada, so I know what she meant by that statement, but the wording got a little tied up.  I can honestly say that is the first time anyone has ever told me I smell like a Canadian though!