Intensives

Even the most resilient teachers were wavering as the clock struck 6 this Friday. Susie's perpetual smile was replaced by yawns and Mr. (A game) D was sluggish. I required that he grab my arm and pull me out of my comfy office chair. This was the final day of summer intensives and the extra classes had taken their toll. Korean children get 40something days off for summer vacation. Swaton and the parents (always scheming how to rid the children of leisure) compensate the extra time by offering classes for afternoon children in the morning. Most teachers, myself included, were required to teach a few extra classes each week. This sounds trivial but it shatters our routine and causes us to arrive earlier and leave later for preparation. Plus, Victoria, my co-teacher is pregnant and spent a couple weeks in the hospital so we were covering her classes as well. Admitting, I don't find my classes demanding (except for certain silent midder-schoolers), but I felt the supplemental load. To be sure, (that's such an over-used journalism phrase but, out of novelty, I had to use it), we were relieved when the month of intensives was finally over. I anticipate breezing through the next couple weeks. I'm going to relish my breaks like never before.