A couple of Fridays ago was Graduation day at my main school – Gogyeong Middle School. This is the day one which the 3^rd graders are officially seen off to the wider world of High School. There is a giant prize giving of sorts and to me it was a bit strange. Let me explain why…

The class size of the 3^rd graders was a staggering NINE students, and yet there were something like 20 odd awards. Not much for competition, but I suppose it is good for ones confidence when every student gets at least one prize. It was a very subdued and respectful ceremony.

I was late in arriving for it.

Why was I late? Well…

When I asked Mrs Won (my head Co-teacher) what my schedule is for the day and asked if I can watch the ceremony, she told me to stay in the Teachers Lounge by my PC. I did this not knowing (which I have known, as she had displayed her hesitancy with e before) that she was incorrect in her instructions. Sitting at my desk the PE teacher came in and asked me what I was doing here and told me to join the presentation, which I am glad I did.

Grad ceremony

This is what the school grounds looked like on Grad day:

Before the students left I even got given a chocolate as a gift to say thank-you.

When all the pomp and ceremony had die down I joined the staff for a lunch of Galbi-sal (small, bite size cuts of pig meat, which you cook in front of you on a stove in the middle of the table and eat with a variety of sides). As with every meal, the now retired principle tried to correct the way I held my chopsticks and the Science teacher tried to get me hammered on Soju. I had a couple of beers instead.

Tanks full and dutch courage obtained – Nori-bang (Kareoke) time means P.A.R.T.Y time! We drove back to Yeongcheon and went to a Nori-bang room where all the staff (save Mrs Won) had a go. I sang Billy Joel’s classic - Piano Man (thinking it was old enough and well known enough for Koreans to know it. I was wrong). It was a slow mood-killer (despite the merits of the tune). All the rest of the teachers were singing fast songs or disco versions of slow songs (As I told you: Party time!). Despite getting a score of 92% for it I had to redeem myself and followed that up with Ricky Martins late 90’s primary school disco fav – Livin La Vida Loca.

Mood rescued I even scored 100% on my rendition which earned me a couple of hugs and a high 5 or 2. Songs that followed included: 500 miles (NOT by The Proclaimers, as I had thought, still go 99% for it though even though I had summarily killed the mood again!); Yesterday; Another One Bites The Dust; Hotel California and a dismal attempt at Call Me When You Are Sober – Evanescence (NOT MY FAULT – the Kareoke version was much slower than the normal version and I struggled for timing). Graduations over, now it is 2 weeks of desk-warming and the start to the new (and probably my last) semester in the Korean teaching system!

More adventures to follow soon ladies and gents so stay tuned! :)