Korea has many quirks when it comes to staff outings and gatherings. There is often a smattering of alcohol and too much food for everyone to finish. Events can be very uncomfortable and ironic with fellow teachers wanting to get home to their families or additional work. Most of the time I translate the menus on the wall, ponder how much the dinner costs the school, and then start chatting with everyone once they've had a few rounds of "Liquid English Courage."
In one case, a co-worker who had been gone for 20 days writing exam questions in a secure location (no phone, computer, etc.), arrived back at school exhausted and homesick for his young family. Instead of leaving work at a reasonable hour, the school staff held a big dinner with multiple rounds of soju for our returning friend. The festivities lasted late into the evening (as usual). Poor guy...
Perhaps the staff's most loathsome activity is our bi-weekly volleyball game. Attendance was once mandatory and we had a full court of awkward and frightened girls in the back and aggressive players in the front. But since then more and more teachers (the scared ones) have bowed out of the afternoon fun and the game has become a highlight for those that enjoy playing volleyball.
It's been fun to brush up on a sport I played in high school and leagues with a group of people who are quite capable. It took me awhile to get used to all the allowances in play (lifts, people in the net, kicking the ball soccer style, awkward sets, etc.) and the complete lack of rotation, but I guess we aren't playing US volleyball rules...
While I was Skyping my mom one Sunday evening the subject of volleyball came up. She said, 'I never thought playing volleyball in high school would help you much in the future, but I guess teaching in Korea is one of those jobs where its extremely helpful.'
"Yeah, I'm a star here. Another school's principal told me he would hire me to work at his school next year, so that I could play volleyball on their team."
Volleyball Derp,
-Bets
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