Manners Education

So I know by the title you all think that this is the class that I probably should have taken as a youngster. Well, here's the thing, and I can admit it, I probably would've failed.

There its out, I'm not polite, I do not pretend to be polite, although a times I do try to contain myself....yes it happens occasionally.

Anyway, my students had a day of manners Education recently at school. This basically involved the students dressing up in their cute little hanbok outfits and learning how to bow, drink tea and make cookies properly.

I still can't get over how adorable these little Korean angels look in their Hanboks. ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE.

Funny story: Heemin hates his hanbok. Not only does he hate it, I firmly believe he would rather see it in a garbage can and have someone step on it rather than wear it. I set beside him with the hanbok in my hand and politely asked "Heemin would you please put on this super-awesome Hanbok?" To which he replied "No". Okay, to be honest, I can understand where he's coming from. The colors in the hanbok certainly aren't all his favorite colors. The pants are yellow, not red. (It took Heemin probably 4 months to wear the gym uniform simply because it was yellow and not red). While the top is Red it also has all these other colors: blue, yellow and white. Certainly there must be some mistake. He would never look like a red power-ranger in this outfit.

I know I certainly didn't look like a mighty power ranger in mine.


I tried to show Heemin that I had on a Hanbok and that I thought it was pretty cool. Truth was, I look like a beached whale and couldn't quite get used to all the layers of fabric that I was trapped under. That approach didn't work as well as I had hoped because he still responded with "NO".

Sympathizing with his cause, I had to figure out some way to get Heemin to wear the non-power ranger hanbok. Finally, it came to me. STICKERS!!! Heemin loves stickers. Now, I don't give stickers out a lot and so my children know they must do something very special in order to receive a sticker. I told Heemin that if he put on his hanbok I would give him a sticker.

After I said it I realized what I had done. Had I reduced myself to bribery? OH gosh. the one thing I hate to do most, bribe my children, and I did it. But...the real question is.......did it work?


I think the answer to that question is yes. While in this picture Heemin looks totally defeated, he is actually attempting to bow.

The following are a few pictures of my children and some of the other children in the class listening carefully to the teacher. I didn't charge my camera battery before school and so on key, my batteries died.

This little cutie is Shine. Yes her name is Shine. No I did not name her. She came from Sri Lanka and is probably one of our best English speakers in A Class. She's also one of the best behaved students as well.
This is a picture of the girls. It gives you an idea of the kinds of dresses that are traditionally worn in Korea. The little one with the curly hair in the front is Rachel. Behind her is Sara (whose dress I LOVED....it was all black and red thick silk....absolutly beautiful). Kelly's face is hidden.
Now it was the boys turn to try the bows

As you can see, the boys weren't really paying attention



This is the way you will usually catch Heemin, in other words.....not paying attention.

The little boy beside Heemin is Robert. Or Loberch as he likes to call himself. Robert is the youngest student in class ( I don't even think he is 4 years old yet). Funny thing is, he's the biggest student in class. He towers over Heemin and probably weighs twice as much as him. Robert tries his hardest to impress me. I love the kid to death but I think until he passes through the "repeat everything I say because you don't understand what I'm saying" phase, he should take some time off school. I would consider him too young for this school.

But then, look at those faces....how could you ever truly stay frustrated with them. Whenever I get frustrated, I just ask them for a hug and then all my anger or frustration completely melts away. Little angels indeed.


Another funny story: I NEVER CLAIMED TO BE GRACEFUL.

Mom, do you remember when I was a little girl? I used to sit on the floor coloring with my legs sprawled on the floor and my skirt all pulled up? Well I kinda had a similar experience.

I was watching the students bowing and I thought to myself, "well self, that doesn't look too difficult. I bet you could do that self."

So. I tried it.
First, clasp your hands together at your stomach. Okay check. This is easy so far.

Second, raise your clasped hands up to your eyes. Wow this is pretty easy. I'm getting this with no trouble!

Third, lower your body onto your knees. Okay that takes a little more concentration. A little wobbly, but still good.

Fourth, lower your whole body to the floor in a bow. Yes! I did it....right?

Fifth, (wait there is more?) raise your body and arms up to a sitting position. Check I'm good there too. Wow, I should've been Korean!

Sixth, stand up from the kneeling position without using your hands. Wait! Do what? Okay....I can do this. Wait, where are my feet? I can't see my feet. Why is there so much fabric in this dress? I think my feet are caught in the fabric. I don't want to break the dress. It's not my dress. Okay, everyone is looking at me, I have to do this. I can do this. Okay, one leg up. Good. Now the other leg. Darn it just as I suspected, my leg is caught. How can I do this gracefully? I don't think there is any way. Wait, why is the ground suddenly getting closer to my face? Dammit. My kids are laughing at me. The other teacher saw. He's laughing too. Okay just get up and act casual. They really didn't notice.....right?