And just like that... It's over.

Today was my last day as a teacher in Korea.  Plain and simple.  

My. Very. Last.

I teach 6th graders on Thursdays, so Loola and I thought it would be fun to play pictionary with them today.  It was a huge success and made for a really fun and memorable last teaching day.  

1 kid at a time would come up to Loola's desk and draw the pictures on her computer in the paint program, which was hilarious!  Have you ever tried to draw a picture with a computer mouse?!  It's bound to look like the rendering of a small child!  So, the pictures would be projected onto the wall and the students could guess from their desks.

I've numbered each picture, so you can take your own guess at what the drawings are. The answers are at the bottom of this post. Good luck!

At 12:00pm, the bell rang, and my last class of students filed out of class giving me hugs and sad faces and even some tears at the door, and I was left with this... an empty classroom.  

And just like that... It's over. 

I'm so thankful for this school... the teachers... the students... the parents. It's been such a great experience working here, and something I won't soon forget.

Pictionary Answers:

#1: bus, toothbrush, octopus, desk, dinosaur, notebook, diamond ring.

#2: home, apple juice, rainbow, computer, chair. 

#3: school, zebra, clock, socks, umbrella, butterfly. 

 #4: birthday cake, pen, computer, island, cat.

#5: elephant, shoes, nose, mountain, pig, 2 trees, hearts, legs.  

#6: giraffe, glasses, snowman, boat, bank. 

My 5th floor 친구's!

The co-workers on my floor at school asked me to bring my camera yesterday so we could get some group shots of all of us together before I leave Korea.  I obliged of course!  It's not often that Koreans ask to have their pictures taken you know?!  Gotta take advantage when the time comes! The 7 of us have gotten together every morning at 9:30am for the past year, to sip tea or coffee and hang out together before our 2nd classes of the day.  I really love these 6!

We joke though that we wish the 2 boys weren't around sometimes so it could just be the 5 of us girls!

... Mostly just so we could be girlie and do things like jump around while taking timer photos!  For the record, it was THEIR idea to do a jumping picture... Although somehow I'm the only one in the air - SAD.

It would be an understatement to say that I have been blessed with GREAT co-teachers!  This year is absolutely NO exception!  I love these two girls like sisters and think it's gonna take a while for me to get used to not working with them 5 days a week!

But alas, the end has to eventually come, right?!  12 more English classes to be taught, 4 more tea times to attend and plenty of goodbye hugs to give!

"It's teeth!"

I was playing a PowerPoint trivia game with my 3rd grade class today where I would give the kids 4 hints about a word and they would have to guess what it was!  So, I gave these four hints:

So, after all of these hints, one of my sweet little smart ones proudly raised his hand and waited for me to call on him... When I did, he yelled "It's teeth" and then cheered with his group mates... Until I showed this slide of the PPT!

 

Aaaaaahhhhhh!!!

The 6th graders all came to school this morning to find out which of the 4 neighborhood Middle Schools they'll be attending in March. (It's done by a lottery system in Korea and their elementary school teachers tell them). My entire hallway erupted, for at least an hour, with the loudest screams as the students found out which middle school they were assigned. They seemed to be either really excited, or really bummed about the news...  Either way, it was the SAME sounding, blood curdling, scream!  Gotta love overly dramatic Korean preteens!

Winter Camp is FINISHED!

My 4th and LAST English Winter camp ended today!  This was the first time in 4 years that I was asked to teach 1st and 2nd graders and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit freaked out!  I only teach 3rd-6th graders during the school year, so I knew these little munchkins wouldn't know a lick of English and would have to be fully trained (yes, trained!)!  I'm proud to say that after teaching them for 1 hour a day for 2 weeks, they are leaving today being able to: 

- count from 1-20

- read the alphabet

- name a bunch of different animals

- name a bunch of different foods

- name all of the colors in a standard crayon box

- write their English names

- say, "Hello teacher!" in the morning.

- say "My name is ..."

- say "I like..."

- read a couple simple words

- understand simple English commands

and most of all, how to have fun!

I'll miss these little munchkins, but I'm thrilled to not be waking up to my alarm or walking a kilometer in freezing temperatures to work and back for the next two weeks! 

Let Winter Vacation commence!  

BTW: Aaron and I are heading off to Seoul on Thursday to spend 3 1/2 days with Mayo and a VERY prego Jess!!

I now present to you...

My adorable Korean students and their even more adorable, talents! :)

Behind the scenes...

Gangnam Style... Talent Show Style!

Ever wondered what "Gangnam Style" looks like when 2nd - 5th grade Korean elementary school kids perform it at a talent show?!  If so, then today's your luck day! Introducing the Dance Kidz Club after school class performing it at last Friday's talent show!  

By the way, Gang-nam is pronounced gong-nam. I can't help it!  Sometimes the teacher side of me comes out, even in my blogging!  Happy Monday from Korea!