The Cherry Blossom Festival

Yesterday was the Cherry Blossom Festival.  The kids had spent the last week on and off making big lanterns of different sizes and shapes that would be put up around the playground later.  The day of clases were cancelled for the most part.  I did teach later in the afternoon, but to be honest with the hangover I was glad not to be teaching.

The kids, teachers and other staff were busy all day preparing and I helped where I could, but there was little for me to do, so I just entertained some of the kids for a time.

I took an early meal with the teachers and staff at a local resteraunt, it was a quick ordeal, because people wanted to back so that they could meet the alumni and get ready for the festival.  People had come from all around the small town and those that had once attended and were doing well for themeselves had also arrived.  So the playground was filled with the kids, past students and dignitary like guests and all were coming together to share conversation and food.  Everybody sat under the cherry blossoms and talked.  It's like those sorts of street parties they had after the second world war.  I juest wish that I could have gotten more involved.  But without any sort of grasp of the Korean language I was always on the side lines and the few friends I do have at the school were very busy.

I did not mind, but as 7:30pm approached and I had done the rounds I decided it was about home time.  I was lacking sleep from the night before and no one had spoken to me in a while, so I took my leave.  Although it was something of a lonely affair for me, it was still good and the kids were all very happy.