Children's Day

Saturday is Children's Day in Korea!

What is this? you may ask. Good question.

Korean children are overworked, overtaught, and generally unable to act like the children that they are. Students from kindergarten to high school go to normal school during the day. Then, from the time they finish school to the time they go to bed, they go to "hagwons," which are the private schools that I've taught at during my time in Korea. These are opposed to public schools.

So the kids go to math hagwons, English hagwons, art hagwons, science hagwons, they have private tutors, they go to soccer, taekwondo, ballet, and "Brain Gym." They are tired. They are prepping for a life where they work, work, work, always to get more. This is Korean society.

So Children's Day is a day when the kids get off of school (unless it falls on a Saturday, like this year) and hang out with their parents, usually go to Everland (a theme park). We had a Children's Day event at my school where we played games, did face painting, made pat bing soo (red beans and ice...some sort of dessert I won't touch), and played with water guns/balloons. My station was the water.

Orange smile for snacktime.

Kevin K. dragon arm at facepainting.

Teaching the 6-year-old classes of Taurus and Aquila how to EVIL LAUGH.

Sam has this thing down pat.

No worries...they actually requested to be sprayed in the face.

But then, revenge is sweet.

John K. as a monster.

Clara as a butterfly.

Jennifer with a flower.

And last, but not least, the day was topped off with DIBO! No, he is not the big guy in "Friday," he's a gift dragon. The teachers got one too.

So Happy Children's Day, everyone!