Teachers' day

Korea has some similar public and general(no day off) holidays as South Africa, but there is one that, as a teacher in Korea, I appreciate more than others - Teachers' day. I appreciate it more too, now that I am teaching at a girls' school because teenage girls are more comfortable with showing their appreciation than the boys I taught last year.

I was so surprised to walk into the office on a Tuesday morning to find the school buzzing with so much excitement. The teachers' office had been converted into a florist with huge bouquets of flowers at each teachers desk. It also had a touch of Switzerland because of the tons of boxes of various high quality chocolates too. I would best describe Teachers' day as a cross between Valentines day because of the flowers, chocolates and gifts but also Mothers' (or Fathers day) because of all the love letters students write to their teachers (past and present) telling them how much they appreciate everything they do and did for them.
It's common practice that school finishes early that day to allow students to go back to their previous schools to greet their old teachers - isn't that such a sweet gesture? For all Korean teachers put up with every day, this day surely makes it all worth it.

food keeps flowing courtesy of parents

chocolate flower

no I'm not 37, its from grade 3 class 7 (LOL)

flowers for teacher :)

Some days at the office (or rather school) can be so challenging. Students can test your patience and being in a foreign country too can exasperate the situation. But being a teacher is also such a great opportunity to inspire young minds. If you think back, you spent all your time awake, at school with your teachers. That's more hours than with your own parents. Most of us would get home just about ready to eat and sleep. I would say Teachers have a lot of influence in your life, don't you agree? That realization helps me to not focus on the difficulties, but rather on trying to make an impact in the students life in some small way. On days like this, when students show you their appreciation for what you do and sometimes for specifically what they learnt from you personally, it makes it all worth it.

Final thoughts

Teachers affect eternity; no one can tell where their influence stops - Henry Brooks Adams