lao-ocean-girl

Wow, I’ve been *really* busy with this camp.  I’ve got one more day, and my two weeks at this camp will be over.  I’m with the kids from eight in the morning until nine at night, but it’s really the easiest camp I’ve ever worked at. This is my schedule: 
8-12 – reading/academics
12-1 – lunch
1-2 – homeroom / finish projects / practice for talent show
2-5 – scavenger hunt / arts and crafts / gym / science projects
5-6 – dinner
7-9 – evening activity (movie, golden bell, talent show)

We only follow this schedule Tuesday through Thursday.  On Monday, the kids arrive and we level test them, they settle in, have dinner, and play ice-breaker games.  On Friday, there’s a closing ceremony, movie, lunch, and everyone leaves, including teachers.

Last week’s class was fun.  I had the high level 5/6th graders and we did a fashion show in drag for our talent show.  For this week, I’m teaching the youngest and lowest level students – 4B.  They’re a good bunch of kids too – very energetic.  As far as teaching kids in Korea, my favorite grades are 4th, 5th, and 6th graders.  They have enough vocabulary that ideas can be conveyed, and they’re not too cool to learn, like middle school students can be. Ras is working at his own camp in Pusan and I’m meeting up with him tomorrow night after his obligations are done.  His camp isn’t as organized as mine.  There have been a lot of complaints from the teachers, especially from Ras.  Since Ras directed over 30 teachers at an English camp in Japan last summer, he’s opinionated about how his disorganized camp should be run.  Basically, the camp is for kids who won a raffle for a free week at camp.  Therefore, the staff have told the teachers that they don’t care if the children learn anything while they’re there.  Ras doesn’t think that’s right and has been very vocal about all the things that are wrong with the camp.  You’d think they’d fire him, but instead, they made him head teacher!  Go figure.  He’s not sure he can change much about the camp, but will try – for the teacher’s and the kid’s sake. 

Anyway, that’s what I’ve been up to.  My camp finishes tomorrow afternoon and I’ll be in Pusan for one more night relaxing before going on my way.