Being a Host - Seoul Students Immersion Programme (II)

Ah... a very sudden sms that came to me from a teacher, asking for "5 student helpers to act as hosts to the students, with good knowledge of business units in the college" sparked off everything.

Prelude
Firstly, the sms came only 3 hours before the actual event started, so it did create some problems in getting helpers within such a short time.

Secondly, us, being the J2s, were supposed to have stepped down from our duties in our CCAs. This was really... out of what we planned to have. Well not that I mind helping, but it's nice to return home early like on a Wednesday [days I have CCA] for once, you know?

Thirdly, all J1s were actually involved in their own PW lectures during the period of time that the hosting would take place! Now what is that?! In the end... all of the helpers were J2s. >.>

I was, obviously, one of those who went to host, if not I wouldn't even be making this post already!

The Hosting
But anyway, at first glance, they looked like really great people to host. Of course that was what I was hoping as well. We, as hosts, don't want to be a bad one, and wish to get the cooperation of the people we're hosting.

Initially, I was paired up with another of my friends to lead one group [like...30 or so?]. Then I was split up! =( I had to go lead a group all by myself, while that friend of mine actually had another partner...

I was prepared to handle 'em though, been used to some of this situations.

What I was going to get was... pretty unexpected, I must say! Instead of leading a large group of females, I ended up leading a majority-males group! And all by myself O_O! I hoped it would all go smoothly of course.

And sure it did! The students were actually very cooperative, some even speaking to me! It's nice to interact with people from other countries once in a while! Although they were very active, jumping around non stop while I was leading them, they were overall very disciplined ~.~

But... my group was really funny in terms of numbers. First I started off at 30, then after the 2nd stop, it went to 20+, and then I was left with around 15-20 at the end of the whole thing! LOL! Then I realized they got lost and mixed into another group... At least they all returned to the same gathering spot again, I cannot bear any missing students =x.

Then came the last stop - ICE CREAM! YEAH~ [I was treated to one too~ woohoo! Benefits of being a host, eh? ;)] They all enjoyed it of course, but my hosting didn't really end there...

A... Finale?
Just when I thought everything was over, I noticed 2 girls that were actually still not up at the assembling area - One of them lost a gray jacket with a hood.

Whoa, now this is bad. First, it's not nice to lose things. Second, they wouldn't be returning to the college after today. The urgency of the matter was pretty high actually. Considering if they can't find it, they won't be able to forever, it was totally important.

And I got on my way to search the most probable areas - wherever they visited. Nothing came out from the search.

I actually thought that I had to pass the bad news to the girl, but just as I was walking towards them, to the left of me, lying on the table, was a mysterious woolen looking item.

Stepping forward and checking if it really fitted the description the girl provided, I realized it was most likely hers. Might as well give it a try right? So I walked towards her, holding the jacket in my hand, raising it up to catch her attention.

The moment she saw it, she went from sorrow to complete happiness ~.~ . It was nice to see someone being so happy, I felt it as well. She thanked me quite a few times, and of course I really appreciated it. And it all happened just before the Seoul students were leaving already! Definitely worth the effort to have to run around to find it.

An embarrassing moment
In the midst of all the happiness of the girl managing to find her jacket, I totally didn't realize something until my teacher IC beside me told me.

Just as everyone was walking towards the bus already, my teacher actually told me that when I returned the jacket, one of the Seoul teachers wanted to shake my hand! BUT I completely never realized that was happening. He was actually standing to my right, and my focus wasn't there when he stretched out his hand, planning to shake mine.

I actually walked around him with his hand stretched out! DAMN! It was such an embarrassing thing that happened ><.

Luckily though, the teacher hadn't walked too far. I immediately ran up to him and gave him a nice handshake, first apologizing, then thanking him. It's interesting actually, to shake hands with a teacher from another country. [Rare opportunity for me!]

What I do regret though, were the following few things:
1) Not actually speaking to the Seoul students
2) Not asking them [the students] to teach me some Korean language while they were free
3) Not shaking hands with the principal of the school involved [Hey, it's something I really wanted to do you know!]

Oh and one last thing: If they were Japanese students I would actually be totally willing to help out :P.

So oh well, this ends JJ's hosting of the Seoul Global High School students, though they're leaving only on Sunday. It was a great experience having them, even though we had only very short chats. I hope I was at the least, a good host to them x)

-signs off-