Unofficial Last Day of School Celebration: Ramyeon House & Wicked Snow in Yeongdo with Some of My 1st and 2nd Grade Students!

THE RAMYEON HOUSE

I didn't know where we were heading when a friend first took me to this place. It is so hidden away that you could miss it going by! Amazingly enough, this place is always packed when we come in to eat, with the majority of the customers being couples or students from the nearby schools

The end of the school year is upon us! Today, we only have classes for half the day. The other half is dedicated to a singing competition between the different classes, which ends at 4:00 p.m. Hearing about my impending return to the States, many of my students have asked to spend time with me outside of school. My former YDAC students have been particularly persistent, and so I was all too happy to arrange a date with some of my girls after their singing competitions. 

We walked together to the Ramyeon House, a small restaurant tucked away from the main road whose owners are an elderly couple who, apparently, haven't updated the interior or their recipe for over 30 years! I love the bare-faced simplicity and the humble aura of the place. I especially love going through this thin, half-sized bamboo curtain, and hearing it clink behind me into a thousand broken unbroken pieces. Once inside, everything you see is what's all there is! 

The only thing even more tucked away than the restaurant's location is the restaurant's secret recipe to their secret recipe bibim ramyeon (or biram for short, as Ji Eun slyly told me). 

Ji Eun being served her biram by both owners - in front and behind her.
I will miss this elderly couple a lot! I find their teamwork endearing

The price of each? W2-3,000 (or the equivalent of $2-3.00).
Not pictured: the equally delicious and slightly-spicy egg-drop-like soup that comes with each bowl of ramyeon

My very smart and fun-loving students: Jeong Min, Ga Rim, and Ji Eun. I really enjoyed sitting down with them and asking them more about what they want to accomplish in the future. Two of them are thinking of becoming educators - win! 

Love these girls! Each of these girls have taken some special class with me outside of our normal class schedule, whether that be YDAC, WYLD camp, or English Book Club!

After I paid for the biram, they insisted on paying for dessert and took me to Wicked Snow, a place I kept seeing but had never been to before. I will miss these bus rides around Busan - clean environment, predictable schedule,  scenic island-life views!

THE WICKED SNOW

Iced Dessert & Brunch Cafe

Jeong Min leading the way across the street.
This dessert cafe is just across from Busan Bank, Paris Baguette, and Top Mart!

They treated us to two bowls of delicious patbingsu!

The air-conditioned cafe was a perfect place of respite from the humidity and heat outside

I got the Korean poses down, as you can see

After a while, it got to be a bit too cold, so we headed out and went on our separate ways

I am amazed how many of my students tell me, "Teacher, I don't speak English" (with some even punctuating this by running away) when they can speak English! These three, for example, talked so much, I have a hard time recalling how they managed to eat either the biram or the patbingsu.

Jeong Min headed on home, and Ga Rim headed to her academy. Ji Eun and I returned to Yeongdo Girls High School riding the local green bus that I had never ridden before. It was a perfect way to seal the end of my time in Yeongdo.

But, of course, I didn't want to think about it too much, so I got on and, a few minutes later, I got off.

Thoughts on Transitions and Goodbyes and Feeling Like Joseph & His Robe of Many Colors By the Way My Former Principal Treated Me

THE MANY SHADES OF "GOODBYE!"

Most people who say, "See you later!" or "Let's catch up sometime" do so just as another polite and friendly way to extract themselves from a chance meeting-gone-too-lengthy and say "Goodbye" (without so much of the finality an actual goodbye entails). I have noticed this mostly in the Western world, and have adjusted accordingly in the years I have lived in the States.

However, here in South Korea, when someone tells me they want to "see [me] later," I have found they literally mean it. Like, the next day, I will receive a text asking  when I am available for lunch or coffee... that week. And then a follow-up text asking where and what time. I like this clear-cut, to-the-point, action-oriented interpretation of the above-mentioned phrases more!

My host sisters and students don't believe me, but I truly, absolutely adore the Principal's traditional Korean outfits. They're loose, elegant, and, yes, old-womanly-looking, but so cool! The only problem is they are also way out of my price range :/

I mention all of this because, right before my former principal left Yeongdo Girls High School to move on to her new 4-year appointment at another school, she invited me to come and visit her there. She seemed really genuine and eager when she gave this invitation in all-Korean (thanks to my co-teachers for translating), but I reverted back to my Western way of interpreting these parting words, and, though I could feel that the sentiment was definitely there, I didn't think she actually expected me to follow through when I said "Definitely! I will come to see you there!"

Fast-forward a couple of months and Park Mi Sook bujangnim invited me to come visit our gyojang seonsaengnim along with a handful of other teachers. She reminded me that the principal was especially fond of me and that my presence there would make the trip more meaningful as most of the teachers who are going to visit will also be leaving their schools after this year. Just like me. (It turns out, this see you later is just an extended formal goodbye). But did I want to go? 

OUR BELOVED FORMER PRINCIPAL 

We're talking about the Principal who would come in to the gyomushil to check on each teacher and give my hands a worried squeeze when she heard the terrible gravity of my winter cough; the woman who would give me extra pocket money for Fulbright's Fall Conference in Gyeongju and Spring Conference in Jeju, and the same one who gave my first-ever YDAC team a generous day allowance on top of what the U.S. Embassy in Seoul was already covering. The same principal who gave me gifts for my birthday and for Christmas, and wrote me an adorable New Years card, complete with personal artwork decorating the envelope! We're talking about this Principal, who, contrary to what I had believed, didn't do this for the other teachers at my school. (Feeling a bit like Joseph and his robe of many colors but - thankfully! - my co-teachers are far from being like jealous siblings).

FAVORITE MEMORIES WITH THE PRINCIPAL 

Since I have been remiss in posting regularly unlike my first month here in Korea, here are some Facebook posts to catch you up!

3/7/2014 | School admins with Michael Horn

12/24/2014 | Scarf and leather gloves from Principal
Sookhee: "The Principal really loves you!"

8/25/14 | Hogan Medlin, YGHS Fulbright ETA 2011, visiting!

1/9/15 | Principal congratulating the students who earned
YGHS its second First Place YDAC win!

And because we're talking about this Principal, I was definitely going. 

VISITING OUR BELOVED FORMER PRINCIPAL

Me: [asking co-teachers in genera] What should I bring? 

Sookhee: No, you don't need to bring anything. 

Me: Really...? What about a small gift or a card? 

Sookhee: [always making sure that I'm not "burdened" by anything] No, we've already got a gift for Principal. Other teachers pooled money and bought a gift already. 

Me: Oh...err - 

Sookhee: -But you don't have to worry about that! Principal really loves you. You just bring yourself and she will be happy!

Me: [thinking I would at least write a card] Okay, sounds good!

Mi Sook Bujangnim: Mimi - may I suggest you write a card for the Principal? I think it's a good idea

Me: Yeah, that's no problem, bujangnim!

KOREA ART & DESIGN HIGH SCHOOL

The entrance of our Principal's new high school. Sookhee translated that the Principal is only two years away from retirement but, unlike what most people expected she would do, she is not taking these last couple of years lightly. She's bent on revamping the curriculum of this arts and design-focused school so that its students can be as competitive as possible when it comes to university applications!

Gradually meeting up with teachers. Some came with watermelons, and others carried boxes full of plants in fancy earthenware 

There were four of these mini ponds in the mini park in front of the school. The shock of water and green plants was soothing to my eyes. It also helped me recover a bit after feeling motion sick in the back of my co-teacher's car

The Principal's warm welcome. She ushered us into her office, where she updated the teachers about the great tasks that are in front of her in this new school

Heading from the school to a restaurant to eat dinner together! Jeong Eun Ju Seonsaengnim had a prior appointment and so left the six of us to dine together

I was told there would be fish broth but, it turns out, the broth was made of powdered fish. I basically spent the whole meal waiting for the "real" fish broth to come out...

The rest of the group walking way ahead on our way back to the school as Park Mi Sook Bujangnim proudly shared some of her daughter's fashion designs with me on her smartphone

It was about 7:00 p.m. when we finished dinner and arrived back at the school. It took us another 30 minutes to get back to YGHS. I like this picture, capturing the Principal's face all lit up at our having visited her :)

Knowing that Jeon Mi Soon Gyojang Seonsaengnim would have a heck of a time translating my English writing, I asked Sookhee to translate my "short"-message-turned-kind-of-long on the other side of the card. She gave a disclaimer that not everything would transfer smoothly to Korean, but seeing her handwriting on the page a few minutes later was like witnessing Hangeul magic. I didn't care as long as the gist was on the page. Sookhee is the best!

TRANSITIONS ARE ROUGH FOR EVERYONE
My hope is that Jeon Gyojang Seonsaengnim would accomplish all the good she is setting out to do for the students at this school, and that her doing so will not leave her exhausted and depleted but even more charged with energy and life! I didn't account for this apparently rougher transition she would have in the card I gave to her. I kind of assumed that, after a couple of decades or so in the Korean education system, the transitions would be a piece of cake (for her and anyone). Perhaps it becomes easier, but I suppose a transition is still a transition.

I have less than two months left in this country, so my head is definitely full of thoughts concerning goodbyes and transitions. Seeing how much I love this country, my job, and my life here, the coming days are going to be rough. [Deep intake of breath] Very rough...

Spring 2015 Busan YDAC | Video of Yeongdo Girls High School's Journey

As a Fulbright ETA, one of my favorite events in the semester is YDAC (or Youth Diplomacy & Activism Conference). Overall, this is my fourth time coaching a team of students for YDAC and my third time coordinating for the Gyeongsangnamdo region.

You can read about previous YDACs Yeongdo Girls High School has attended here and here. The experience of preparing students for this English writing and speaking conference has always proven rewarding, though certainly not without its challenges. I will be making a separate post with photos and more detail, but, for now, here's a video I snapped throughout our last few days of prep work to document my students' journey through YDAC! 

App: Snapmovie/ Song: "Sweet Disposition" by The Temper Trap

Coaching a YDAC Meeting While Sick & Almost Being Sent Home By My Own Students & Having a Late Christmas Dinner at Deacon Lee's House

A SHOUTOUT TO 유자차 (YUJA CHA) DURING WINTER

I no longer have classes, so my whole day today was free! However, my chronic cough has set in in full force and much of my free time is actually just spent indoors in pajamas and a robe. I wander from my bedroom to the kitchen and back, heating water in jibsanim's cute teapot and making 유자차 (yuja cha), lemon tea, for myself 4-5 times throughout the day. This hot cup of citrus-y goodness makes me feel as if good health is within my reach; however, in reality, the amount of sugar in this yuja cha is likely negatively affecting me in some way. 

YDAC MEETING A DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

I got out of bed and got dressed to go to school, doing my best not to step on the landmine of used tissue scattered across my floor. Even though it's the day after Christmas, my YDAC students and I had set up a meeting to smooth out our speech outline for the conference. (If they had had their way, we would have also had a meeting on Christmas Day. I, of course objected). We had a lot of work left to do, so, as much as I wanted to stay at home, I knew nothing would get done if I didn't do my part of coaching them through their ideas and editing their drafts. 

I arrived to find them lively and busily poring over their own drafts. It seemed I may have overestimated the importance of my role...

My team of 5 girls posing with some cute stuffed animal. I didn't have one as I was busy setting up the camera. My students nearly went mad searching for the perfect stuffed animal for me before we could take the next shot. Seriously, how cute are they?!?

Nevertheless, they were as honest and sweet as ever because, when I arrived, this exchange promptly took place, reenacted on my Facebook wall as follows: 

MEANWHILE, in Yeongdo Girls High School, I arrive at school for a YDAC meeting, coughing and sneezing:

Student 1: [with concern in her voice] Teacher, you better - err, you had better go to home

Me: Oh...Why? I just got here!

Student: Because you don't look well

Me: Really...? But I put on make-up today... :(

Students: No, no! Teacher, not your face. Face is okay

Me: ...but you said I don't look well...

Student: Face is okay. But your health is not well.

Me: Ahh...You are all so kind!

And then I gave each of them lollipops for their sweetness :)

GOING TO DEACON LEE'S HOUSE FOR DINNER

It must have been around 8:30 p.m. when we finished. Russel texted, inviting me to a dinner at Deacon Lee's house. I was very hungry, but was quite reluctant to accept because of how late I would be arriving (around 9:00 p.m.) and didn't want to hold them up.

I need not have worried.

When I finally accepted, and arrived there by taxi, the men were already fully immersed in their favorite pastime of eating. Jibsanim's sons were there, and his wife was bustling about making more food for them to eat. She also bustled my way and gave me food. Strangely enough, my intense hunger seemed to have shrunk my appetite because I could hardly finish the small bowl of rice and soup she gave me! It was nice to see their family, including Russel, together for the holidays.

I sat on the table using a chair while the men sat on the floor. I didn't want to break into the seeming spell they were in. I just sat back, did my own munching, blew my nose here and there, and enjoyed the atmosphere of...family.

Ah...I miss coming to this house

Gwan Jibsanim super busy cooking and serving her family! It is her habit to not eat until her family has eaten. Older Korean women really go above and beyond

Classic Shin Jae face

Jibsanims opening their gift. (They only got a Christmas card from me :/ - But, hey, it was personalized!). Personalized Christmas cards are pretty cool, too *cough*

The deacon and his wife admiring Russel's Christmas gift for them 

...like REALLY admiring

I think David Jibsanim likes it! He is touched...

I insisted on taking a family photo after dinner and before Russel and I left. Shin Yeong had already, apparently, fallen asleep though so this photo is not quite complete. 

THE HEALING PROPERTIES OF GOOD COMPANY
David and I had time to catch up a bit about how my family is doing back home. I shared some updates with him before leaving to go on a walk with Russel and calling it a night. Though I was more tired than ever after this interaction, I noticed I actually felt a lot better having been around people than other days when I would choose to stay at home and "get better" all by myself.

THANKFUL THAT CHRIST IS IN THE HEARTS OF MEN
I'm thankful for the blessing that is this family, and hope that God rewards them for the service and sacrifice they do at the church, especially on behalf of foreigners like Russel (whom they treat as a son) and me. When I think about the temporary nature of our stays in South Korea, I am even more amazed by the love people like David and his family show to us because they know from the very start that our stay is relatively short.

We will not be around in a year or two or three, but they still choose to invest in us. They still show us the best that their country, culture, and food has to offer. They pour their time and energy attending to our needs and fling the doors of their homes wide open so we would feel welcome. I love Korea most for the people who, like David, has shown me that, as a Christian, I have family anywhere I go.

Christmas is not so bad even when away from your own family when families like that of David's embrace you and remind you that family is anyone who shares your faith and love for Jesus Christ!

2014 Spring YDAC in the Busan American Corners | Serving as a Co-Coordinator, Inviting Consul Jon Yoo to Speak, & Having Some Really Difficult Conversations with Students About the Fairness of the Game

In the Fall of 2013, I led a team of 4 high school students (3 second graders and 1 first grader) to the Busan YDAC for the first time! You can read about our journey to a First Place win here.

6 teachers, 24 students, and one very packed schedule!

WHAT IS YDAC?

THE BASICS

*The following information is lifted from an email sent by the YDAC Program Coordinators

The Youth Diplomacy and Activism Conference (YDAC) was started in the Jeolla province, and was brought to Busan just last semester. The conference brings together teams of four students from schools in the Gyeongsangnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Busan, and Daegu areas for a full day of English presentations, workshops on social justice and international affairs, and an opportunity to speak with the U.S. Embassy staff in South Korea. 

In short, YDAC is an excellent opportunity for students to practice their English, meet new friends, and for ETAs to build stronger bonds with their students. The cost of the program is completely covered by the U.S. Embassy. All students will receive a certificate upon completion of the conference, with the top three teams being awarded. 

THE TEAMS

Each ETA is to assemble a team of four students, using whatever method they deem best. My method of picking my students included the following steps: creating a legit advertisement for YDAC, asking my Fulbright co-teacher to announce YDAC to the student body, creating a sign-up sheet to survey for interest, asking for a short essay responding to the general questions of "Why are you interested in YDAC? What can you contribute as a team member?", holding short in-person interviews with each student, choosing a handful of students, and then asking my co-teacher's input for the final cut. 

YEONGDO GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPATES IN YDAC FOR THE SECOND TIME

This year, I led a second team of 4 girls (this time, 3 first graders and only 1 second grader) to the Spring 2014 YDAC, only to come home empty-handed, save for our certificates of participation.

You win some, you lose some.

However, my students were pretty devastated. They worked so hard (perhaps even harder than the first team did, if that's even possible), and felt pretty confident about their performance, but, in the end, the schools/teams that won truly deserved their First, Second, and Third Place wins. As the ETA who coached my crestfallen team, I had to balance out my explanation of a) how I truly believe they gave it their all and b) how the other teams gave it their all, too, and performed better.

THE REALLY HARD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WINNING AND LOSING

Student: But, Teacher, we made two posters and some teams didn't even make posters...

Me: That's true...And your posters are amazing!

Student: And most of the other teams had second graders, while we only had Ji Hyeon

Me: That's true, too. But, remember, because you're First Graders, you haven't learned as much as the Second Graders yet

Student [in a really heartbroken voice]: Teacher, I really thought we would win something...

Me [also really heartbroken]: Me too. Me too. It's okay, I know you did your best, and I'm super proud of the four of you!

Student [unconvinced]: I am not proud of me.

Seriously, Orientation definitely did not help me prepare for these kinds of difficult conversations! Help!

I had the opportunity to serve as a co-coordinator for this season's Busan YDAC, which was overwhelming at first, but, with the patience and help of Anna, was more than doable. I enjoyed working behind-the-scenes to help put the event together, but was definitely more active during the event itself than in the administrative phase, which Anna took care of single-handedly. Go Anna!

THE 6 PARTICIPATING HIGH SCHOOLS

6 Fulbright ETAs participated in our region, each bringing a team of 4 students with them!

1. Daegu High School (Daegu): "Wealth Inequality in South Korea" - Jet
2. Gimhae Jeil High School (Gimhae): "The Rising Cost of Higher Education in South Korea" - Rachel 
3. Gyeongnam Girls' High School (Busan): South Korea's Declining Birth Rate" - Anna 
4. Pohang Youngil High School (Pohang): "Fairness in Korean Society at Work and in School" - Andy
5. Poongsan High School (Andong): "The Limited Freedom of Students in Korean Schools" - Rachael 
6. Yeongdo Girls High School (Busan): "North Korean Defectors' Human Rights" - Mimi

INTRODUCTIONS & ICEBREAKERS

We provided the students with some snacks early in the morning and in the afternoon as it was an all day affair

Rachel helping two students from different schools get to know each other during an Icebreaker activity!

Andy leading the next Icebreaker activity, which involved rock-paper-scissors and making animal sounds.
I don't remember the name of this game, but it was absolutely hilarious! (I just watched)

Students taking a breather after the icebreakers and before the presentations begin!

YDAC SPEECHES & DEBATES PART I

THE SPEECHES

After assembling our teams, students are to work together to brainstorm a problem that they had noticed in the local community, the country, or the world community, and develop a resolution to solve the problem. The students are to do research and then write a 5-7 minute speech that they will then present at conference day. Speeches do not need to be memorized, and visual aids are allowed in the form of posters.

THE COMPETITION

At conference, students are to listen to each others speeches, ask questions, speak in favor or against a resolution, and then vote to pass/not pass a given resolution. They earn points for their speeches, questions, and speeches in favor or against a resolution. The resolution passing or failing does not affect the team's score.

Speech #1: Daegu H.S. on "Wealth Inequality in South Korea"

The first team to present on our side of the room. I could feel every one's nervousness from where I was sitting at the back of the room, moderating! The speakers' voices cracked, and the audience alternated between shuffling their notes and writing down pro & con statements for the team to answer. Nerve-racking but exciting, don't you agree?

Speech #2: Gimhae Jeil H.S. on "The Rising Cost of Higher Education in South Korea"

Some teams prepared very nice note cards to use during their speeches. YGHS, why didn't we think of this?

Speech #3: Poongsan H.S. on "The Limited Freedom of Students in Korean Schools"

Teams could use visual aids (posters only) during their presentations. For the second year in a row, YGHS made incredible posters!

As the schedule was tight with each event being carefully timed, I had to do what I had to do in order to serve as both judge and moderator! Thanks for other ETAs who helped keep me on track!

When our side of the room finished all three speeches, I took a peek at how my students on the other room were doing! Because each team of four students is divided in two and placed in different rooms for the day, a teacher can only witness half of their team's performance for the whole day! An unfortunate arrangement, but one that was necessary to make the schedule work as efficiently as possible

BREAK TIME

My students regrouping during break time to discuss how the presentations are going in each room

THE WORKING LUNCH

Hungry students heading to a McDonalds nearby

We encouraged the students to mingle and socialize with each other and not just within their own teams

A lively group of students from different schools taking a photo before leaving the establishment

Students were amazed by my long hair. The end.

ETAs and students mingling together before a second set of presentations

Heading back to the American Corner after a filling lunch!

YDAC SPEECHES & DEBATES PART II

Speech #1: Gyeongnam Girls' H.S. on "South Korea's Declining Birth Rate"

This team had a memorable skit as their introduction. I was impressed by their English language ability (and, at the same time, nervous for my team)

Speech #2: Pohang Youngil H.S. on "Fairness in Korean Society at Work and in School"

A rare team with a boy and girl representing their school

Speech #3: Yeongdo Girls' H.S. on "North Korean Defectors' Human Rights"

Ji Hyeon, the only second grader on my team, and, incidentally, also the shyest performed very well during her round!

I partnered up Ji Hyeon with outgoing Su Jin, who was all energy and volume

U.S. EMBASSY SPEAKER: CONSUL JON YOO

Our students and teachers (except me) taking a photo with Consul Jon Yoo before he made his exit!

Consul Yoo talking about his role as an American diplomat in South Korea to a room of attentive high school students

I asked my students before his talk to come up with questions to ask him as I knew they would likely be overtaken by shyness

If I remember correctly, Consul Yoo is among the youngest who was accepted into this job when he applied right after graduation

I loved how students actually came up to him after his talk and asked more questions! They had so many of them!

AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS

Unlike last year, we didn't have room in the schedule to feature a Mock Crisis event, where we group students from different schools together. This was a bummer. 

What we ended up doing was an activity that was meant to show students social and economic inequality. We divided the schools in different teams, making sure there was a good mix between the girls and boys, and then decided to give each team the task of replicating a picture of a set of buildings. 

The catch: Each team would get different sets of materials, with some only getting paper (and no scissors or tape), some just paper, a few markers, and glue, and still others getting the full package (papers, scissors, tape, markers, and even cardboard)!

I first encountered this activity during last season's YDAC. I can't say I liked it then, and I definitely didn't like it this time around. It has so much potential and I do want it to work because these issues of social and economic inequality in any society obviously affects educational equity as well. I have worked hard throughout my own life and education to overcome all kinds of obstacles, so this was a facet of society that I was interested in seeing covered.

Unfortunately, as the workshop played out, I could see many students hurt by not only their meager supplies, but also by the mock bad treatment others (mainly ETAs) gave them.

SAMPLE SCENARIO

ETA [walking around]: Why aren't you working on your building?

Students [looking around, discouraged]: Teacher, we don't have scissors! Or glue! Or anything!

ETA: So? You can still build that building without those things

Students [incredulous]: Teacher, we can't! [One student picks up a piece of paper and waves it at the ETAs face in despair]

ETA: You can! You just have to try really hard

Student 1: We are trying really hard...

ETA: Not hard enough...Look how hard-working and successful the other groups are

Student 2: Other groups have many supplies. We don't have anything. Why can't you give us supplies?

ETA: It's not about the supplies. It's about your work ethic. 

Student 3: Teacher, can we borrow their supplies?

ETA [shrugs]: I don't know...

Student 3 [looking angry]: This is unfair...!

ETA: If you would stop being lazy and just work hard, then you can achieve anything [ETA walks away]

[Students sink back on the floor and stare at the pieces of paper their teammates have started to tear by hand]

Our poor students! This activity could have been saved if we had had enough, once again, time to do a proper debrief with them and explain why the situation was the way it was, and why their treatment was as harsh as it was - but we didn't. We didn't have enough time, save for a quick: "So, how did that go?", "What did you feel during...?" There's definitely room for improvement here...

ETA: What was unfair about it?

Students: We didn't have what the other teams had!

ETA: Ah...Why didn't you ask to borrow their supplies?

Students: ...we didn't know we could ask

ETA: Yeah, you could definitely ask. That was not a rule

Some other students: We asked but they wouldn't let us borrow their scissors!

Some other other students: Hey! We didn't know that we could share...

Some other other other students [the most "affluent" ones]:...um, we didn't know there were people who didn't have the same supplies as we did...

ETA: Hmmm....

The team with the most supplies quickly set about planning and executing the best structure 

A student looks hopelessly at his team's pool of supplies while yet another student observes his dilemma

ETA checking on a team's progress

Students using their creative muscles to erect a unique structure

Teams who had a pretty good amount of supplies had a lot of fun with the activity!

A student leaning right as his team's building leans precariously the other way

A group of students vainly trying to recreate the building, and smiling through their frustrations

Jet volunteered to use his fancy handwriting to write students' names on the crisp certificates prepared for us by the U.S. Embassy Seoul. Thanks Jet!

THE AWARDS CEREMONY

ETAS DELIBERATE 

Students first receive their certificates of participation and, then, any other awards. While students finished up a debriefing activity in the main room, ETAs were in the other room tallying up scores, and evaluating each team's performance throughout the day. Wherever needed, we also talked over any ties between students, with their respective ETAs vouching for their students by sharing how that student has contributed or grown through YDAC.  

I led the debriefing activity on the other room while the other ETAs finalized the scores, so I was perhaps the only ETA unaware of the final results. This is YGHS receiving their certificates of participation. I'm so proud of my students! 

Andy with his students from Pohang Youngil H.S.!

Rachael with her students from Poongsan H.S. They traveled far via buses and KTX to get to this conference!

Rachel with her students from Gimhae Jeil H.S. They were very social!

Jet's students from Daegu were mostly shy, but somehow became more outgoing as the day wore on. Nice!

Anna with her students from Gyeongnam Girls' H.S. These young ladies rocked! 

Students from Gimhae looking on in nervous anticipation as they waited for the announcement of First Place!

[Anna: Who won Third Place?] 

Second Place Winner

Second Place Winner: Pohang Youngil High School! Congratulations!

First Place Winner

First Place Winner: Gimhae Jeil High School! Congratulations boys! Well-deserved!

Best Speaker Awards

2 Best Speaker Awards went to these two students from Gimhae Jeil High School and Gyeongnam Girls' High School! 

THE AFTERMATH: DINNER & RIDE HOME

Our teams wandered around for a bit, unable to find a restaurant big enough to seat us. We also thought it was a good idea to ask for everyone's food preferences, which just made the search for a restaurant even more difficult. 

At long last, we all piled into a restaurant serving...chicken. Yes, chicken is a universal meal, it seems. Nobody had a problem with chicken. 

Probably one of the hardest bus rides I have ever taken in my life

DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS WITH STUDENTS CONTINUED...

On the bus ride home, a student sat next to me. A first grader. One of my best. I have all the confidence in her intelligence and strength. During the long bus ride home, she spoke to me, haltingly, meekly, and with much hurt and disappointment. She said their team had sacrificed many days of study for their graded midterms and final exams just so they could cram in more hours of preparation for YDAC: preparation brainstorming the topic, writing the resolution, researching the other teams' topics, creating their posters, writing their speeches, and then practicing their speeches, and anticipating the weakness in their arguments. She looked so tired and, when her voice changed tones and I could no longer fight the urge to look over at her, I saw that the whole time, she had been speaking to me with eyes brimming with tears. They just shimmered in the light, not falling. I looked away while simultaneously putting my hand around her shoulder, letting her know that it was okay to express her feelings. 

Whatever I said in terms of comforting her seemed to have no effect, so I realized what I needed to do was just to listen and be present. I had never been as present to a student as that time on the bus.

I am against the Everybody Wins mentality many American schools espouse, so I knew that, even though the results were not in our favor this time, it was only right to reward the efforts and abilities of others who deserved it most. This is what I believed and still believe. However, there's nothing like consoling a student [one of your best and brightest], crying over the unfairness of not only the seeming unfairness of the awards but also the harshness of the workshop to inspire you to really examine what you believe about the general fairness of Everything.

Efforts and abilities [and performance] - that's another thought right there. If we awarded based on effort, another school would have won; if on abilities, yet another school; if performance, yet another. This is something that we'll have to iron out in future YDACs. 

*Some photos courtesy of the Busan American Corner staff

*I value accuracy in my posts, so if you notice any errors, please let me know so I can make the corrections!