Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Special Thursdays- I'm Field Trip Trippin' Man...


Aren't we a good looking group?

Kent's teachable moment.










Once every 2 months or so, if the weather allows and our Korean supervisors allow, we go with the kids on a FIELD TRIP.  The kids bring snacks and the moms pack extra goodies for the kids to share with their teachers and friends and we're off on a 2.5 hour adventure. We visited the Nurimaru, an area on the coast, just west of Haeundae Beach that consists of a walking park area and APEC Conference house. Our second excursion was to the Busan Museum of Modern Art. 


A rained-out Field Trip
 turned into an indoor picnic.


Both field trips showed me how the primary function of our SLP events is to get the shot. We take a ridiculous amount of non-candid group photos. On our SLP website parents can peruse and look for pictures that may validate the SLP pricetag. Maybe they are looking for photo evidence that their student really did have a fun time at the SLP outing and that said children were the cutest on the trip. I'm not actually sure how true it is to say that their is a silent, cuteness competition amongst the parents but by the looks of them... every... single... day, there is some level of effort going into there appearance. 
I digress. 


The concept of the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) conferences had little appeal to all of our hungry, hyper pupils ("Teacher, but I'm so HUNGRYTeacher, I'm so HUNGRY, Teacher, I'm HuuuuuuuuuNGRY"...) . They all walked through the conference house, in relative straight lines and pointed out things that regular, old adult eyes don't catch anymore. "Teacher, look. Candy wrapper. Teacher, look. Rolly Polly." I enjoyed looking at pictures of George W. in a hanbok (traditional/ceremonial Korean garb). I also enjoyed sitting outside with the students and watching them share food with each other and chat with their friends. One kid even spotted a falcon overhead. I hope he wasn't eyeing our weakest and meekest. 


At the Busan MOMA, we walked through the kid exhibits in the basement and then went outside for photos and snackies. Just as we laid out our little mats and kicked off the shoes to nibble treats passed from sweaty kid hand to sweaty kid hand, it began to rain. It poured and the Korean teachers and students alike squealed and covered their hair as they made graceful yet quick dashes toward cover. It was awesome. We all laughed and huddled and gobbled up the rest of our soggy foods. 


The next field trip is for the beach to probably build sand castles but definitely take more group pictures. 

Look nice for pictures, damnit!
Kent's Upenn Class
Our Catherine Teacher is well loved.
Say, "KIMCHI!"




4 comments:

  1. I love the girl screaming in Kent's Upenn class. Is her name "Bonnie?"

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  2. So adorable! And Kent as well!

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  3. Oh man, that was hilarious and I am exhausted just following the pictures!!

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