Wheelbarrels of Fire

Uniform rivers and rocky shores; this is the part of Korea that is so mountainous advancing civilization has left it behind.. -Majestically So- …It’s April, and winter has finally broken, as it has carried even though march. We are on a two day field trip-30 students/6 teachers. I’ve no real idea where we’re going, and if I did, it’s likely I’ll forget. These Long winding bus rides through the mountains come with a certain nostalgic sense of escape. Fondly enough, they seem to lead away from circulating thoughts and towards childhood memories..
The only prelude I have to the future lies somewhere between the rum bottle nestled in a teacher’s handbag to my right and the wildly chattering kids in the countless seats ahead.
End.
This week we will venture to islands. (It’s now may.) May is a sort of additionally carefree/happy month for teachers in Korea. Canceled classes and special ceremonies often lead to a nice bit of lounging in a teacher’s room adorned with Korean pizzas and boiled potatoes dipped in sea salt. Next week-will follow with a day of sporting event amongst the teachers of our county/province. As one of the teacher teams, affiliated by each school, we will compete in ‘a what team can communally jump over a jump rope the most many times’ contest and ,in joku, (a sort of hybrid sport somewhere between soccer and volleyball).
Drills of fire and war also occurred this month. Mr. Han our beloved groundskeeper lit a wheel barrel of sticks and newspaper on fire on the play ground while a lucky student got demonstrate putting it out with a fire extinguisher. The drills also came complete with smoke bombs, and as one looked out the windows in reaction to the off-going alarms smoking parades a' plenty sauntered by.
…My co-teacher informs me that last year’s drill also involved fire trucks, and students climbing out of windows on to extended ladders (due to a minor student fall of the ladder incident last year we no longer do this).

Over all, as I reminisce over islands and wheelbarrows of fire I can easily claim this was much more exciting than any American elementary day I had. Well; - except my first crush of course..


An afterthought-
A way to translate the adventure and possibility here through the simplicity of a local pizza MenU..

(approximately 1/10th of the menu)

Pizzas
Octo-Shrimp
Mustard bacon Idaho potato
Bacon salami
Sweet potato
Barbeque rib
Cheese


Chicken
Calcium flavored chicken
Cracker chicken nuggets
Gold strip golden cubed