Ye Ji and I were discussing about cute animals during tuition today. Yes. It was a discussion. Not wasting time, of course! How can it be a waste of time when I always make sure that every chit-chatting session is a beneficial "Conversation Practice".
Anyway, we started talking about rodents. She told me mice are cute and I tried to teach her about dirty ones. You know, rats, to add on to her, perhaps, 82-word vocabulary bank (approximated value) by now.
Me: Yes. Mice are cute but what about those dirty ones which lives in the rubbish bins.
Ye Ji (with eyes wide open trying hard to convince me): They are so cute too!
Me: We can't play with them because they are so dirty...and smelly!
Ye Ji: Nooooooooo! We can! We just have to wash it and we can touch it ALREADY!
I gave up on describing a rat to her! Gave up! She is just too innocent to know how disgusting rats are. None of the kids that I have taught so far is that innocent and ignorant. I really don't know if she will see a rat one day and attempt to do as she had told me. As her teacher, I'll better warn her about the rats again, before she encounters one herself. Can't imagine how she would handle the situation if I don't.
The Second Korean Lesson
In Korean class today, Teacher B talked about squirrels ( da-ram-jwi ). She said squirrels in Singapore don't look as cute as the ones back in her hometown. She commented that the ones here look just like mice, jwi, but I strongly disagree and shook my head until it almost dropped. I've seen them at parks and they are just as cute as the chipmunks and chipettes. But, it could be that she was missing home. Next time, I'll be more sensitive. Today's lesson was great and I was more attentive and enthusisatic. It feels really good being a student once again. I knew I would be a better student this time! :)
Good night, world.
