Good Morning, Busan: There Were Tears

In Korea, every foreign teacher encounters moments where they stop to marvel at the things that go on here. You'll be going about your business on a regular day until you witness the kind of incicent that makes your inner voice scream "I just don't get it! How is this ok?! This definitely wouldn't fly back home". Today, I had one of those moments.

My moment took place late this morning, while walking down the hall at school to witness one of the Korean teachers holding the 'haunted house' room door shut while a kid screamed blue-murder from inside, and clawed at the door. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Every Korean adult within earshot was experiencing so much joy at the sound of his piercing screams, I started to wonder if there was something wrong with me.

Turns out, there's nothing wrong with me. I'm just as evil as the rest of them, because within half an hour I was laughing too. I'm sure that Halloween Day at school incurred me some bad karma to work off. I spent most of the day either laughing hysterically at these poor kids' misfortune, or consoling them. Luckily I remembered to take lots of pictures.

I'll start with a few photos from the beginning of the day - before the reign of terror. This is my Atlanta class, 5-6 years old (in case you're wondering, I'm the mummy. Two rolls of toilet paper and some tape equals the cheapest Halloween costume ever).

I've said it before: these children are so cute, they put Cabbage Patch Kids to shame. My favourites (I can't help it. I totally have favourites) are Shannon on the far left, and Louis on the far right. Shannon has the best sense of style in the school, one of the first things I do each morning is find Shannon and check out her latest oufit. I immediately ask her where she bought it, and if she thinks it comes in my size. Most of the time she says 'no'.

Louis on the other hand can be a devil child, but I'm completely spoiled because he warmed up to me quickly. He's a little angel whenever I'm teaching, last week I even caught him get mad at the other kids for not listening to me.

Tom teacher and his Dallas class. Tom forgot his camera today so I promised to take a pic. I teach Dallas once a day, they're a blast.

New York! These are my babies, I teach New York 3 times a day. They're a bit older (around 8 years old) and I love it. We have awesome chats, and I can always rely on them to give me the inside scoop about Busan. In return I teach them about good music, and recently, the concept of a pay phone. They were shocked to learn that cell phones are a relatively new invention, and people used to have to insert money into a phone stand in order to make an outside call. In the words of Garth Brooks, I'm much too young to feel that damn old.

This is the Jio who grabbed my bum and told me "it's good". She dressed up as a donkey today so I kept talking to her in Shrek-voice. She really didn't get it.

The main stage. Each of the kids had to take turns showing off their costume with a walk down the Halloween catwalk. This event was disguised as a fun activity for the kids, but the rest of us knew better. In reality it was just an easy way for Sally to get individual pictures of each of the kids to post around the school. Sally's always got an angle.

Francisco...waiting so patiently for his turn in the spotlight.

Hahaha. He has no idea what's going on, or why he's being forced to do this.

Each of the teachers was responsible for a different activity room, so Tom and I handled the pumpkin carving/haunted house waiting room. At first I really wasn't thrilled about being stuck with the pumpkin carving station, but I quickly realized I had the best spot in the house. Pumpkin carving was quickly overshadowed by haunted house concerns.

Henry, trying to talk me out of his turn inside the haunted house. I told him to take it up with Sally.

Many tried to seek refuge in my company while awaiting their turn. I'm pretty sure that Jack, on the left, was convinced that the width of my calf was enough to hide from the other teachers.

And so, the tears began. Tom and I had a great system worked out: he consoled the terrified children, while I laughed hysterically and documented the entire thing.