Today was the last day of my Winter Class, and one of the last days I'll be teaching my favorite students. I have developed a relationship with them that is based more on friendship than just a mere teacher/student one. I know that many other teachers will criticize me for that because I run the risk of losing my authority with them, but honestly I haven't had that kind of reaction from them. Even though we consider ourselves friends I still retain a bit of authority due to my age thanks to Korean society norms.
But anyway, on to today's events! Today started well enough with my slang class. Half the class didn't show up due to sleeping in, which meant that half the class couldn't complete their projects. I didn't really mind because it was the last day and they had been a great class the whole three weeks. After class my fan club came up to me and reminded me about having lunch with them. Later in the day two of them showed up, Sun-Zero and Hyun Ah, and hung out with me a little before we got lunch. Both girls gave me homemade gifts of colorful notes of love and appreciation, Hyun Ah's taking up an entire sketchbook.
We headed to lunch at Mom's Touch, home of the Cyburger (a giant fried chicken breast sandwich). I was surprised that only two of them showed up, and felt a little deserted by the others. I rationalized that maybe something had come up and tried not to feel hurt.
At Mom's Touch, Sun-Zero encouraged us to eat our Cyburgers slowly. I figured it was just to savor the meal rather than scarf it down. I didn't suspect a thing because I'm one of the most oblivious people you'll ever meet, a trait I got from my father.
After lunch, we headed back to school. Usually, Hyun Ah takes the bus home and Sun Zero and I continue on until we part at the school gate. This time they claimed that they had forgotten some of their items at school. Again, I didn't suspect anything being in my usual role of Capt. Oblivious. We headed up the steps and Sun-Zero said, "Teacher! I left my pencil case! This room! Please follow!" So I followed her to her classroom, and as she and Hyun Ah opened the door there stood a small candle-lit cake in a darkened room. My first thought was that we had crashed someone's party, until they all jumped out screaming excitedly.
Surprised beyond words, they led me dumbfounded to the cake and had me blow out the candles before sitting me down in front of a large screen to view their homemade going away video. The video had taken them hours to prepare and film and it was filled with pictures of them giving me a special message. I was so touched I nearly cried, and it was a battle holding the tears back. I had NEVER expected anything like this from them, or from anybody, and I felt an incredible amount of love from and for them.
After they gave me a copy of the video and we packed up everything, Sun-Zero took me up to the English room to tell me a secret. They were hosting another party for Hyun Ah because it was her birthday and we were to take her downstairs to another classroom nonchalantly to surprise her with another small party. As the three of us walked down the stairs Sun-Zero said to me casually, "Teacher, thank you for coming to bus stop with us!", trying to fool Hyun Ah.Reaching the classroom, Hyun Ah was just as surprised as I had been to find a cake and gifts waiting for her. We had a ton of fun hanging out, making jokes, taking pictures, and basically just acting like teenagers.
I adore these girls for their unique personalities, their fun loving natures, their curiosity and openness to new cultures and ideas ("Teacher, I understand gay! Love is love! Who cares?!), and most of all their ability to love without condition. I have never felt so good to be a teacher as I have in their presense, especially when I have been able to explain something, such as grammar, so that they see it as easy and logical where at first they found it disorderly and complex. And they retain it! They have all said that I not only inspired an interest in English for them, but I also gave them confidence in using it. They are the reason I so regret having to leave Janggok High School. But they are also the reason I will never forget my year here and cherish it for the rest of my life.
But anyway, on to today's events! Today started well enough with my slang class. Half the class didn't show up due to sleeping in, which meant that half the class couldn't complete their projects. I didn't really mind because it was the last day and they had been a great class the whole three weeks. After class my fan club came up to me and reminded me about having lunch with them. Later in the day two of them showed up, Sun-Zero and Hyun Ah, and hung out with me a little before we got lunch. Both girls gave me homemade gifts of colorful notes of love and appreciation, Hyun Ah's taking up an entire sketchbook.
We headed to lunch at Mom's Touch, home of the Cyburger (a giant fried chicken breast sandwich). I was surprised that only two of them showed up, and felt a little deserted by the others. I rationalized that maybe something had come up and tried not to feel hurt.
At Mom's Touch, Sun-Zero encouraged us to eat our Cyburgers slowly. I figured it was just to savor the meal rather than scarf it down. I didn't suspect a thing because I'm one of the most oblivious people you'll ever meet, a trait I got from my father.
After lunch, we headed back to school. Usually, Hyun Ah takes the bus home and Sun Zero and I continue on until we part at the school gate. This time they claimed that they had forgotten some of their items at school. Again, I didn't suspect anything being in my usual role of Capt. Oblivious. We headed up the steps and Sun-Zero said, "Teacher! I left my pencil case! This room! Please follow!" So I followed her to her classroom, and as she and Hyun Ah opened the door there stood a small candle-lit cake in a darkened room. My first thought was that we had crashed someone's party, until they all jumped out screaming excitedly.
Surprised beyond words, they led me dumbfounded to the cake and had me blow out the candles before sitting me down in front of a large screen to view their homemade going away video. The video had taken them hours to prepare and film and it was filled with pictures of them giving me a special message. I was so touched I nearly cried, and it was a battle holding the tears back. I had NEVER expected anything like this from them, or from anybody, and I felt an incredible amount of love from and for them.
After they gave me a copy of the video and we packed up everything, Sun-Zero took me up to the English room to tell me a secret. They were hosting another party for Hyun Ah because it was her birthday and we were to take her downstairs to another classroom nonchalantly to surprise her with another small party. As the three of us walked down the stairs Sun-Zero said to me casually, "Teacher, thank you for coming to bus stop with us!", trying to fool Hyun Ah.Reaching the classroom, Hyun Ah was just as surprised as I had been to find a cake and gifts waiting for her. We had a ton of fun hanging out, making jokes, taking pictures, and basically just acting like teenagers.
I adore these girls for their unique personalities, their fun loving natures, their curiosity and openness to new cultures and ideas ("Teacher, I understand gay! Love is love! Who cares?!), and most of all their ability to love without condition. I have never felt so good to be a teacher as I have in their presense, especially when I have been able to explain something, such as grammar, so that they see it as easy and logical where at first they found it disorderly and complex. And they retain it! They have all said that I not only inspired an interest in English for them, but I also gave them confidence in using it. They are the reason I so regret having to leave Janggok High School. But they are also the reason I will never forget my year here and cherish it for the rest of my life.
Thats soo adorable, my kids especially my fifth and third graders would never do that for me. They usually expect stuff from me. But my one first grader gave me a massage which felt good. love the video
ReplyDeleteBut you got a massage!!! lol!!! I think it's one of the benefits of high school that I'm able to form mature relationships with the students. I'll miss these girls a ton...I really do consider them friends. They let me indulge in my inner teenager, and I love them for that and for their unique personalities!!
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