Teacher's Day

This past Saturday, the 14th, was a holiday in Korea - Teacher's Day. Whereas Children's Day, on May 5, is a legitimate holiday (there's no school, and businesses that aren't amusement parks or arcades are closed), Teacher's Day just seems like a formality. Koreans thank their teachers, both past and present, and give them gifts. On both Thursday and Friday we had a ton of rice cakes and fruit delivered to Jeil for all the teachers.

Korean students go to school for a half-day every other Saturday, and the 14th was one of those days. I only ever work Monday-Friday, so when I got to school today I found these cute little notes on my desk:




Then in one of my first-grade classes, I got this adorable letter from a little boy. The envelope said, "Please read when you are going to the home."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To Ms. Kristen

It's nice teacher's day...So, I am writen this letter.
It is coming Summer. I always thank for your working. I sometimes do bad things. Please, forgive me.
I met you at first time. I surprised and can't speak.
But now, I have brave.
forward, please stay here and teaches us.
I'm sorry to wrote very short letter.

5.15.2010
Saturday
Your student
In Mo Kang wrote...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I always thought this particular student was too cool to like the teacher - he never even spoke to me before! Now he's my new favorite and will be getting lots of candy, of course.