Nothing like a hike after a day of testing

To the editor:
    At the beginning of the week, the testing continued for my students. Tests in the morning and then off in the afternoon. It is an interesting part of working in education here in Asia.
    I am just beginning to understand what the demands are on the students. In this part of the world, the idea that you have government taking care of you from cradle to grave is not well understood. Your children are your security. If they can get a good job, have good connections, then the future looks good for one’s old age. To that end, the pressure is on my students to perform well in the high school exams. These will determine whether the students will enter a top university and a top program. Once in university, much of the pressure is off because the student is making connections that will help him get a good job.
    Our mid-term testing finished on Tuesday and on Wednesday the school rewarded the students with a day at Mt. Geongshang Park. This is the home of the headwaters of one of the streams that will provide water to the rice paddies in and around Sun Chang. It has a strong tradition of being a sacred place with its own Buddhist temple deep into the mountains. Lots of forest and rock outcroppings to see.
    So after a brief attendance call and briefing on where the students could go, we were off!
    And just like the school trips back home, the day off is a great time to have a birthday party. One of my students celebrated her birthday. Her friends brought up a birthday cake and candles. The cake was a yummy chocolate one. Nice way to end a hike.
    In spite of the fixation on exams, there is still time for a little bit of fun.