twizzlers

I need to start this post with an apology to Laura Sjogren. That's right, Ladybird. I'm talking to you. See, Laura helped to send me a very thoughtful care package, including a couple framed photos of herself, no less than 4 of the USA's trashiest gossip mags, some hair spray, and some candy. This is where the apology comes in. I hate twizzlers. I am thankful for them, but I do not like them. Since I was having a rough time with my new students all week last week, I finally thought to bribe them- with an exotic American candy. Pull-n-peel Twizzlers. My idea was to give each of my afternoon classes one twizzler apiece.

The first class I gave them to was 3 girls and a boy. I explained to them how to peel the twizzler apart, and they struggled with it. This should have been red flag number one. Then one girl started making gagging noises and I thought she was just being a wuss. And you know how kids are- if one sees another not liking something, kid B will follow kid A and also 'not like it.' So pretty quickly I've got 4 gagging Korean 7 year olds, and I'm upset because I wanted to do something nice for them. But they HATE it. They think I've purposely given them something horrific. They all run out of the room and chug water at the water cooler for the next 5 minutes. So then I tell them I promise not to give them anymore American candy. (Though I don't understand, because I'm pretty sure I've tasted way more disgusting Korean candy here).

After the first Twizzler debacle, I was kind of scared to try them again on more students. But since I now dread my last class on Fridays, I thought I'd give them some to try. They are my most difficult class, they never listen to me, and they're always mocking me. Bribing them is something I'm going to have to get comfortable doing. Well, I think I've been knocked back down the ladder of 'cool teacher' by making an entirely different class of Korean students gag, mock-hyperventilate, and dart for the water cooler. I mean, I don't like Twizzlers, but the taste of them doesn't exactly render the kind of dramatic reaction that I got out of every one of these kids!

But I still need bribes, so I'm going to have to come up with something better.