Oh happy day

Thursday September 5th
Today was interesting. It was a gym day. So, my Kindy class schedule was easy. No problems in any of them. My First graders were super well behaved. Literally the best I think I have ever seen them. My afternoon Denmark kids were okay (even though we were doing vocabulary). Before the next class, I think I will search the internet for some ideas.
So, Chuseok (추석) is coming up in several weeks. Chuseok is about like Thanksgiving in America. Families travel back to see their families... people go to where their families originated from. So we have several days off school! Ama Rob and I are going to Japan. There is a ferry that is round trip for 220 bucks. We are going to stay in hostles and do that really cheap. We have to take the train down, and that was 50 round trip. So, for 270 bucks, I will get to see Japan. We are not going to Tokyo, but we may get to see Nagasaki. I had to go to buy the train tickets tonight.
So... that makes it a happy day, right? Yes... but the title is more meant for sarcasm.
Regina's mom came to school today after I was done with classes. She is very nice and speaks very good English. She even brought me dinner! She is worried about Regina. I spoke to her for over half an hour, then spoke to Christina for nearly the same amount of time....  I feel sorry for Regina. Not because of her mom, she is super. But partially because of living situations (just moved to Korea) but mostly because of the intraclass politics. Not among the students. I love my students... but it turns out that some parents can be bigger children than their students.
There are 5 girls. 2 are good friends and the other 2 are pretty good friends. Regina is trying to be good friends from 1 of each group (A and B). There is one student she really doesn't like much (C), and the other she is ambivalent towards (D). She really likes A, and I think that A and D would be a good match with her. A talks to her and works with her. They get along well. She likes B, and gets along fine with her in class. I think she could get to like C, but C is temperamental. But here is the problem. A and D moms are really judgmental and critical. They did not want a new student in the class, so they do not want to have that new student involved. A and D go over to each others houses. So, Reginal can't get to the same level of friendship because A and D's parents dont want it. This frustrates me greatly. Nothing is wrong with Regina. She is just new to the country (she is full blood Korean). But instead of the other parents trying to integrate her and help her... the opposite.
On top of all of this, being new in Korea means learning new sets of customs and cultures. She goes to a Christian Church with her Mom and a Buddhist Church with her grandma.... (Very confusing for the kid). The dad is being sent back to Europe on Business, and he will be gone for a very long time. Mom and Dad have different educational philosophies. She lives pretty far away from everyone she has class with. Mom is not a helicopter parent (yay) but a lot of Korean moms are, so there is that.
If I could do anything I wanted, I would probably move Regina to Sweden class. I do not teach it (I wish I did). All of the girls there are so loving and welcoming. It is the class that my Diana went to after the first several weeks in Denmark. All are a big family, and they all love getting new friends. Ama teaches it, and he says it is the best, tightest, and most loving class he has ever taught. It is what Regina needs and I think she would thrive in it. It would help her adjust. The problems.... It is a 7-1.5 class (Not a 7-2, not a 7-1). Many parents have a level set in their mind of where their student is in educational terms. 7-2 is smarter. I think Regina is definitely that level (when she tries). But I think there is more to school. I think socially, being in Sweden class would be so great. I may try to talk to Louise tomorrow about that. Maybe see if we can get Denmark and Sweden together to see if she likes those people. I know her mom really cares about her. I would hate to lose her because she is sweet and I see a lot of potential, but being with the different class... might be better for her.
It is so frustrating.... I hate there being problems like this.