Sports Day

Last week our school held it's annual "Sports Day". Here in Korea- you never really are warned about events in advance. The people here just pass information along as briefly as it comes.

Just as I was clearing my desk, shutting the computer down and getting ready to call it a day, my co worker informed me that the following day I would need to forgo my usual work attire and dress in sports clothes. She let me know the school was having their sports day, and that the teachers dress down and cheer on the students.

Geared up and ready to go in my lululemon's I was ready for sports day. As I approached school, a couple of the students passed by me, and giggled in choppy English. I could barely make out what they were saying, but I got bits and pieces of the garbled message. Something about, cheer..... Cynthia.... Teacher..... race. Horrified, I quickened my pace into the building, and sat at my desk- searching for my one colleague who would be able to decode the message.

I was advised that there was in fact a teacher's race that afternoon, and that I should not be worried- it was just for fun. Great- thanks for the heads up.

Outside, the students chanting and cheering peeked my curiosity- from the teachers lounge I saw the students stretching, and running in place. I looked a little more closely and saw the race was a mere 100 meter dash. Relief. I had this.

At precisely 2:35, I was scurried into the main field. In was confused, as the lines for the race were on the other side of the field- but figured they were just going to announce us or something. Then from the left, colored pinnies were being thrown at us. As I struggled to put the damn thing on, I stood there in utter confusion. I quietly asked one of the teachers next to me to clarify. Turns out it we were running a relay race.

I never ran track in high school, I run now and then when I feel up to it- but a relay?? With cold muscles, I was put in position. I scanned the crowds of students and waited for my team mate to turn. I began a slow jog, and grabbed the baton. I was in the lead. As I ran the crowd cheered. My students chanted, "cyn- thi- a" " cyn-thi-a". As each chant escalated, I raised the baton and they cheered louder and louder. I had visions of the Olympics as I wizzed by my competition- I was a natural at this.

Then as I was about 5 steps from the hand off- I totally bailed. Fell down with a thud (there were dust swirls behind me). I saw the sky, the dirt, and the sky again. The crowd was silent. My team mate was so mad, she grabbed the baton out of my hand and took off. As the dust settled, and twigs were pulled from hair- I was helped to my feet.

Limping off the field, trying to save my pride and assess my bodily wounds all I could do was laugh. Seems like something right out of a movie. But this was real. I was all cut up. I was treated, bandaged up and sent home. I spent the next two days answering a 1000 student's inquiries and showing off my battle wounds.

The whole thing went down really differently in my mind., that's for sure.