Global Leaders English Camp

This past Christmas break I had the great joy of working at an English Camp at a nearby school. It was four days, fourteen hours a day. The first day and the second day I taught in a classroom that look like a restaurant. My job was to teach the students how to order and how to be a waiter. This is what my class looked like:

It had two long tables on either side and a bar and a kitchen. What I did was tell them what it would be like if they were wanting to go to America, and they happened to either go to a restaurant, or work in one. There were two huge shocks to them that I got to inform them of. Koreans love to eat fast and get out. They also only eat in gender groups. It is very common for you to look at a group of Koreans eating and all the wives will be sitting at one table, and all the husbands will be sitting at another. I also told them that in the states, it is proper to asked the ladies what they would like to eat first, and then the men. This is new as well. Men are first in this culture in just about everything. The third day I had to teach about going to a department store. Not something that should have taken 2 hours, but that was my job. They have several department stores around here, and they function just about the same as the ones in the states.

During other times in the camp, we got to talk to them and learn about them. We also taught them some dance moves and steps. Not me of course, because I am 6'6" tall and white...there is no rhythm in my body. They got to write an English newspaper, and learned games like "telephone" or "taboo". We also did some scavengers hunts, and performed a play. My group got to do "Snow White: and the seven dwarfs". They had so much fun, and we were the best group. We were the only group not to use our books or teachers. Our group did the play entirely on their own. On the last night they wanted me to run a good-bye time. We sat in a circle, and the students got to say their good-byes to one another. One girl got up and said something in Korean, and the leader of the camp told her that she needed to say it in English now. She then looked at me and said "I love you Harring". Just to let you know all the students were between 12-15 years old. This young girl was in my group and she took a liking to me. I thought it was cute as she blushed and ran back to her spot. The following day after we did our plays and the final ceremony was over, she and another girl came and hugged each side of me and I wrapped my arms around them and they just cried and cried. I felt so bad, I mean this was only four days, but I guess that i have that kind of effect on women. (just kidding) These were the two girls. Crystal is on the left and Mary is on the right.

All of the campers have our e-mail addresses and I have heard back from a couple of them already. It was a lot of fun, and I am glad I went through it even though it was from 7:00am till 9:00 pm. Hard work, but I have met people that have taught me more than I could ever have taught them.

peace out...later on