Calling the Muses, Day # 6

 Hwagok-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul-si,  9:31 p.m. Friday, 25JUL25

I have fallen down on the job this week.  I think the last time I wrote was 8 days ago.  However, in my defense, this week has been EXTREMELY hectic.  We had a HUGE project with the kids, which I was mainly in charge of the execution of.    It is over now and the kids did very well, but I'll tell ya....I am GLAD it is over.   I learned some lessons, though.    Let me explain the week.

We had a song festival.  Since I'm the 'singing' teacher at my school, I was in charge of choosing the songs, teaching the kids the songs, and (me who has no skill) choreographing the dance moves.  

Strangely, the youngest two groups learned their songs the quickest. Of course, their songs were VERY easy.  Y'all have heard of "Oh, Mr. Sun" and "I am a baby giraffe" haven't ya?   Those were the sungs sung by Clover Class and Violet Class.  They are all 3 turning 4 years old.They did very well.  

The next oldest group did 'Fly Me To The Moon' and they learned the words and the movements SO well.  At first, the powers that be didn't think they could do it, but I knew they could. Plus, one of the things I REALLY want to do while I'm here is teach these kids some of the music I loved (and still love) from my childhood.   I know that Frank Sinatra is well before my time, but I listened to the oldies station just as much as the 80s station when I was a teen.  Tulip Class was the one who sang 'Fly Me To The Moon" and it was really great.  They are all 4 turning 5 and were AWESOME. I wish I could share the videos of them.

The Next class has 14 kids so they required that I teach them two songs, so that the class could be divided into two groups.  This class is Sunflower and I love ALL of them; however, that class is FILLED with BIG personalities and it is hard to keep them on task.  I have to use my 'mad mom' voice WAAAYYYY too often in there.   So, I chose 'L.O.VE.' by Nat King Cole for one group and we ended up with 'Don't Worry. Be Happy' for the other group. I had originally chosen 'Three Little Birds' by Bob Marley for group two, but the-powers-that-be decided it was too hard.  I tried to explain that it was TWO verses sung over and over again, but they vetoed it for the much harder and longer DWBH, which we ended up cutting down to just two verses anyway. 

The issue with Sunflower is really that there was twice the work to do in the same amount of time as the other classes had (namely 30 minutes once a week for 3/5-4 months) We ended up NOT getting the songs down until the VERY end of the prep time (basically...this week)  I think they ended up doing a great job, but then *I* am only worried about them having fun and looking mostly capable and NOT what the parents think or what all the other schools in our franchise think.   I think they were super, super, JINJA cute.  :)

The last class to perform was my DAISY class and we picked a song that we have been singing the entire year (since March 4th) and that was "Friday, I'm in Love" by the Cure.     They really did an awesome job and looked so cute and they really liked the song.  August is my last month for officially teaching them singing, as a class subject.  So, we’re covering ‘I will’ by the Beatles and ‘Puff, the Magic Dragon’ by Peter, Paul, and Mary.  So, far they are liking the new songs

I think it ended up being a really cool song festival.  Thankfully, it is over and I was informed of several things a) I won't be teaching singing for the second semester for Sunflower and Daisy. They won't be having ANY singing classes.  Instead, I'll be doing a kindergarten version of an Essay Writing class for them. HOWEVER, we will have another song festival in Late January AND Daisy Class will sing a song at their graduation ceremony on February 26th.   I WILL be in charge of that and I'm pondering which songs to choose.  I want something that says "Yes. We're in kindergarten, but the world is our oyster and we're going out to make it a better place"    So far, I've thought of Natasha Bedingfield (sp:) 'Unwritten', but it IS really long.  I suppose it could be shortened to have fewer verses.   Do y'all have any ideas for songs?

Also, as a total aside,  I've been praying and would love it if y'all would pray (or send good thoughts) that I and my co-workers can find jobs next year where there are very few reasons for us to complain about anything.   I'd like to find a job near the water (I'm considering Busan/Haundae/Mokpo) where  they understand that we're fairly intelligent and capable if we got all the way over here and that they  give us the support we need, but not try to micromanage every single, tiny aspect of the job.  I'd love to be respected and be in a school where they engender loyalty and where we the teachers and they, the powers-that-be, can work together to continue building a school that will really make the world a better place.  I really want to find a school where I can possibly stay until I'm ready to leave Korea.   Keep that kind of thing on your prayer list, won't ya?   

Okay, It's nearing my bedtime. I've got to go teach five young girls at a children's home in the morning.  

Love y'all!