As Ordinary as Apple Pie

Another weekend in Cheong-song. Helped Matt with English camp. We broke from the ordinary Cheong-song weekend to visit the neighboring town of Jinbo and celebrate its fireworks festival. We spent the evening wandering around tables filled with hamsters, goldfish, and light-up wands or bow headbands. Then we lounged at one of the many food stalls set up among the jungle gyms and swing sets while enjoying the taste of beer, the sounds of local karaoke talent, the sights of the fireworks,  and the smells of roasting corn, deep-fried corn dogs, kimchi, and steaming silkworm larvae. The rest of the weekend was spent hiding from the first monsoon rains pouring down upon Cheong-song and the giant spiders that were washed out of their hiding places.

Seoul, meanwhile, has spent an entire week steaming in preparation for the monsoon (which will come this weekend). Crops outside of Seoul are suffering from the drought while children inside of Seoul seem to gain power from the drought. It was a long week as the children literally ran around the classroom screaming, using their books as bludgeoning devices and megaphones, throwing spit balls at each other and much more. There are quite a few black and blue faces, swollen lips, and ace bandages. Students took the standardized tests on Tuesday, making it the perfect day for us subject teachers. But by Wednesday the stress of studying left the children in a frenzy. 

By the end of the week, I had had it with students' tantrums, whining, screaming, and just all things related to students. I was also irritated by the fact that among other annoying news, my cat died and I found out I have to move out of my apartment the day my contract ends and I have to be at school. And suddenly, everyone notifies me of all the things that have to be done now.  But this is ordinary. Just as it is ordinary to go to the bathroom and hear several girls in the stall next to you. I honestly don't know how they all fit in there, as the stalls aren't that big. But the lack of a western toilet probably gives some extra space.

The nice toilets in the school.

Finally, the after school classes are finished!  And to celebrate the coming monsoon (Koreans hate rain, so I don't know why they are celebrating this), my co-teachers bought their first apple pie. I showed up to their classroom to find them staring at the Costco pie (quite large) with puzzled expressions.

"Do you know how to cut this?" They asked. I repressed a giggle and told them to cut it like a pizza.

"Oh. Oops." Worried looks.

"How did you cut it?" I asked.

"Like the top." (checker pattern crust) "We can't take it out of the plate." This time I giggled, especially as they were trying to dislodge a piece from the middle of the pie with a paring knife. I carefully dished the square pie pieces onto foil squares and we enjoyed the teachers' first taste of apple pie. I then answered questions about how many people the pie would feed in America and how many apples are needed for the pie and if I knew how to make apple pies and what other kinds of pies there are in America. And I discovered that one teacher had wanted to taste an apple pie ever since watching "American Pie." I am still confused about this reasoning...