Here in Korea, they celebrate April Fool’s Day, although it is called “manujeol” (만우절), which literally means “the festival of ten thousand fools.” (Why is it when Asian languages are translated into English, things come out sounding like something from a kungfu movie?)
Anyway, it’s not as big a thing here, although it does exist. One poll I saw (that I have absolutely no way of verifying) said that 89% of Koreans admitted to having lied on April Fool’s Day, as a joke, presumably.
“April’s Fool’s Day will be made into a national holiday in 2012.” Yeah, obviously this was a joke.
I wasn’t expecting much when I went to school today, since I don’t think I’ve ever seen any real April Fool’s Day pranks here, besides things like students saying, “I want to give you a million dollars.” (two second pause) “Haha, April Fool’s!”
Then I walked into my last class and saw this:
Half the desks in the room were tipped over and some were backwards. Now, this is a middle school, so at first I just thought it was normal chaos, until someone mentioned April Fool’s and I finally got it. (Of course, they also said that the 2-1 and 2-2 classrooms had been switched, which happened to be true.). That’s YB (his initials) up there in the picture, sitting quietly at his desk. He is one of the best students a teacher could ask for. I would have been pretty surprised if he had been down on the floor, pretending that gravity had flipped 90 degrees.
I like that this kid seems to be actually reading his English book down there.
I didn’t let them leave them like that, but it was a good laugh. With all the zombie-like, checked out students in middle school, it’s nice to see them show some creativity and initiative, even if it’s only in the direction of a prank.
“Lying on the floor? It’s all an illusion! I’m just studying here.”
The Green-Walled Tower 
April 1st, 2014 at 10:20 pm
That was a neat idea I must say ! 🙂
April 1st, 2014 at 10:51 pm
Fantastic. The fact that not much happens there prankwise must have made it even better
April 2nd, 2014 at 1:00 am
Ha ha, love the last one! 🙂 How is it in New York, I wonder?
April 2nd, 2014 at 2:04 am
What a great, but harmless idea.
jaet
April 2nd, 2014 at 4:03 am
Oh, I love this, David. Very creative students and one is still studying. I’m amazed!
April 2nd, 2014 at 1:52 pm
it certainly was cute 🙂 children can offer us real good laugh, quite often.
April 7th, 2014 at 11:46 pm
Hilarious! What a great prank on Teacher… they must like you. I hope Teacher is as well dressed as his students. Have any of your students read any of your writings?
Great post.. fun to learn a little about a different country. April Fool’s Day in Korea! And to learn more about one of our fellow writers.
April 11th, 2014 at 4:38 am
That was so cool….:)
April 1st, 2017 at 7:00 am
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