One month update: EPIC FIRE DRILLS

So last week was a typical week, no report cards to do and all my test grading finished, I was just recuperating from the previous week. It's looking like the ends of the months are going to be quite busy over here doing teacher things! That's OK though, still really enjoying all of the work! And the kids continue to get cuter every day so that doesn't hurt either... There was ONE interesting thing that happened this week, besides getting a new student named Cheoul Hyeon, meaning "sudden surprise" haha.  We had an impromptu cupcake cooking session because having a new child means we have to do "fun" activities throughout the week to make the child feel more comfortable.  weird.  This hawgwan is definitely run more like a business than a school.  So to the fun thing that happened at school... EPIC FIRE DRILL. Like seriously, I have never seen anything like it. First, the teachers have a meeting letting them know we are going to have a fire drill. Two drills in fact. One of them the children will know about, and the other will be a surprise and we are to pretend as though it is a real fire.  When the bell dings for the drill, we line them up, first having them be quiet, and then on cue, having them scream "help me! help me!" so that someone would be able to find them in the case of a real fire.  That part was a little crazy.  Since I have the babies of the school, mine were crying from the moment I explained what a fire drill was and drew a camp fire on the board.  CRYING hysterically.  Poor babies.  I had one clutched to each of my legs and was carrying two, while two more were pulling on my dress. Needless to say I did not like fire drills.  Until we were leaving the classroom, and I experienced a real Korean drill.  They had flame throwers. That's right, actual people throwing flames to make it seem authentic.  They had fog machines. You could not see one inch in front of your face.  Try finding an exit and going down 4 flights of stairs with 24 five-year-olds. It is not easy! They had mood music.  Imagine the titanic theme song blasting while you're trying to keep your children together while being blind and having your principal run through the hallways screaming "It's a fire it's a fire! Everyone out!"  When I finally managed to get my very scared babies out onto the street in front of the school and stop crying, my principal comes over to announce, "We survived! Say it with me!" Children shout, "We survived!" I was just looking at everything, taking it all in, wondering who in the world thought it was OK to make five year olds really believe they were going to die at school.  Terrified faces were now super prepared for a real fire though, so I guess there was a method to their madness! It's all on video on facebook. Please check it out to see that I'm not exaggerating.