Cheese and Puffy Rice

What else would anyone want to do on a lovely Saturday in Korea than go to a cheese-making school with a group of kindergarteners? This is exactly what we did yesterday. Bright and early, we met the kids and their parents at the school to drive out to the Imsil Cheese Village about an hour and a half away. I brought along my kindle to try and read some "Pride and Prejudice", but that did not work as planned. The students asked what I was reading so I let them take a look. They read a few words then said, "No thanks". It's OK kids, that's how I feel when I get offered some Jane Austin at first too!

The trip celebrates the graduation of these kindergarteners to first grade...in March...and it is now November...I don't ask questions. Anyways, when we arrive at the village, we are herded together with other families to the first of several stations. Lucky for us we get to stay outside in the freezing cold for our first activity- sledding down a hill on a railroad-track-like contraption.
As our kids sat shivering and bouncing up and down on the cold stone benches, our guide explained the safety rules and proper form. I was afraid they would complain about the cold and not want to sled, but when they were finally released to grab their toboggans and go, they were very enthusiastic! Running up the hill with their giant sled between them, partners sped down the hill together over..and over..and over...while the teachers stayed at the bottom taking pictures for the school website.

Phillies hat!

Sledding fun

After sledding and only a few minor accidents, including one student trying to be the sled instead of sitting on it, we headed inside to make some pizza! Once the students were seated 4-to-a-pizza station, we began the process. The school provides dough, sauce and toppings. After that you pretty much have free reign to create the pizza of your dreams- if you like cheese, mushrooms, olives, peperoni, "meat", and onions that is. Katrina, not the biggest mushroom fan on the planet decided to conduct a little experiment to see if we would get our same pizza back for lunch. We kept a fourth of the pizza mushroom-less for her and waited to see the results.

"Thank you pizza gods!"- he seems to say

Roll roll roll

What technique!

Our 1/4 mushroomless pizza experiment

The pizzas were put into the oven and we were herded outside to see the cows responsible for the cheese here! The whole presentation was in Korean, naturally, so Katrina and I tried to guess what questions he was asking the crowd. "How many cows does it take to change a light bulb?"..."What is a cow's favorite place to go on the weekend? The Moooooovies"... While these may or may not have been the actual conversations going on, we enjoyed the guessing game. We learned that the cows here are from the Netherlands, and that they have four stomachs. Our students were mainly interested by the very exciting bowel movement activities that the cows displayed regularly throughout the presentation. As the guide wrapped up the cow information session he handed out bottles of milk to the crowd and we got to feed the little ones! The kids were so excited as they held the bottle up for the calf.

hungry hungry calf

After the cows got their lunch it was time to get ours and to see the outcome of the pizza mystery...

"Show me happy pizza faces!"

Well as you might have guessed, we do not get the same pizza we create. So someone in the lunchroom today got gypped out of some mushrooms and Katrina got to picking out hers. As you can see there was some spaghetti as well. A very Italian lunch for our students today! What I wouldn't give for some of mum's bolognese though...mmmmm

After lunch we finally got the chance to make some cheese! First, we sat through a power point presentation about the making of and usefulness of cheese and dairy (graciously translated for me by some of my students) we could get our hands dirty. We were given a block of mozzarella cheese which we broke into tiny pieces and placed in a giant bowl. Then hot water was added to the cheese bits. We then squished and stretched the mozzarella cheese until it took a more traditional form. The kids had fun squeezing the goopy cheese mixture, and unfortunately so did I so no pictures were taken of our mozzarella making process! Next time, I promise.

By now it was about 1:00 and we still have a few more activities to complete for our graduation field trip. First, we get to make puffed rice. Rice is placed into a steel oven-like contraption and then the students get to turn the oven so the rice cooks evenly. After about 20 minutes, a bag is placed over the end of the oven and the rice is released with a huge bang of compressed air and powder. After getting a sample of rice we are then moved along to our final activity of the day- the clay station. Driving about 10 minutes away, we pull up to a tented area where two ladies help the students create clay bowls, which they will be able to take home in about a month.

This was a fun way to end our day. The students could be creative and messy which are two things they do best. Naturally I helped with the bowl-making and got covered in clay too. After snack, it was time to head home, but not before the usual hundreds of class pictures!

the gents

the ladies

I really did enjoy getting to spend the day with my kindergarteners. I've lucked out with a great class full of personality and fun! They all get along well together and enjoy spending time doing fun activities like sledding and stretching mozzarella cheese. I do hope that I get to move up with them to their first grade class so I can watch them grow and develop even more with their English skills. Overall the true sign that the kids had fun today is shown in the following photos...

Out cold

KO

The bus ride home was noticeably quieter than the way there...hmmmmm

Now it is time for me to rest up and get over this cold asap so I can be 100% healthy for the temple stay with Katrina next weekend! I am so looking forward to the trip and definitely do not want to spend it with a box of tissues and cold medicine.

Quick update about this past week- it felt super long but it ended with a celebration in my last class on Friday. I told them I would get them food to congratulate them on finishing their tough school tests so as I brought in a bag full of burgers and fries for them (by their request). When I walked into class I saw two huge boxes of pizza on the table already. Apparently one student told his mom we were having a party and she sent in the pizza to add to the festivities. Our little celebration turned into a full out feast. The students did not disappoint though, and they finished almost all of the food! I didn't mind having a fun class to finish my week, and they are all in need of a little silly and relaxing class time where they can socialize with their friends. Sometimes I think that's when they get the best use of their English skills too- telling stories and explaining experiences they have had. Next week it's back to the grind now that tests are finished!

Until next time :)

Korean phrase of the post: 친구 "chin-goo"- Friend

xoxo