Sports Day: Take Two

For those of you following me, you'll know that last year's sports day was disastrous for me (for a quick laugh at my expense see my post from October 23, 2009 before reading on).  Slightly apprehensive this time around, I was desperate to find any excuse not to partake in the teacher's relay race this time. Unfortunately, the Vice Principal at my school can be quite persuasive and I'll admit, slightly scary. She asked informed me that I would indeed be running in today's race. Fabulous.

Sport's Day events here in Korea are quite the affair. Every school holds them twice a year, from elementary to high school levels. The students prepare for weeks for the main event. With the white tents up the day starts at precisely 09:00 am. First thing on the agenda: the 100 meter dash.

All students compete in the race, and boys and girls compete in the same heat. 

First place winners are awarded a solid prize.

There's the hand-off to the first place winner in the girls heat. 

The students are totally stoked to win the grand prize.

As with many things that are slightly strange here in Korea- so are some of the prizes they give out the kids. I heard through the native teacher grapevine that some of the prizes happen to be useful household objects. One school gave out rolls of toilet paper (and it wasn't even two-ply). 

 And there you have it- you are indeed seeing what you think! They gave out correction tape to the lucky lucky winners at our school!

Once the students have rested after their big efforts at the dash, we moved on to the second event: shoe throwing (there must be a better translation than that- but that's all I got). Essentially, each class of 40 or so students lines up together and on the count of 3, each student tosses one of their shoes toward a painted circle in the field. The student closest to the middle of the circle wins ( I think they handed out post it notes for this one). 

Next comes the group skipping contest, followed by lunch. After eating, the students get geared up for the most anticipated event of the day: the relay race.

First they do a mock relay, where students must pick up random items (huge water jug, sand bag, and larger-than-life batons, some kids even had to take off and put on pants.  Then it gets really serious.   I didn't get to watch too much of the student's competition, because I was pulled aside by my Vice Principal and a male co-teacher who insisted we stretch out before our race. I had no choice but to comply (and here I thought the students were competitive!).

They also repeated more times than necessary that I was not allowed sliding in this year's relay race. With every stretch they muttered (in the most gentlest manner), "Cynthia- no sliding? Okay?" Yup. Got it. Okay. Okay.

... And then we were off! My Vice Principal started us off and I was the fourth one up! We didn't place first, but instead came in close second- a sad disappointment for my Vice Principal but a fantastic finish for myself for not haven fallen during the race.

Don't worry I beat her coming out of the turn.

The students and teachers celebrated  my perfect run with cheers and laughter.  Personally, I think they were all ecstatic that I didn't kill myself this time round.