Dong Chims and Dried Squid This chapter focuses on the history
of education in Korea and the birth of Korean “Hogwons”. It is
also looks at the growing influence of English. The classroom
reeked of rotten fish. Mischievous children scampered under the
table to chew on dried squid. My arms waved toward them in a
flurry to whirl them out from their hiding place. Meanwhile, a
young rascal clutched at my new tie with the syrupy fingers of
melted candy. A second urchin climbed on my back for a pony
ride, and a third swiped marker pens from my pocket so that she
could draw human droppings on the whiteboard. The rest of the
class frolicked around the room, either fighting with simulated
Tae Kwon Do kicks or gambling by noisily slapping plastic Maple
Stories figurines on the floor – the winner of the game took the
other player’s toys. Needles to say, I was rather distracted. It
was a classic Hagwan moment. It was a time to wonder why I ever
left my Thai college in the first place, and to yearn for the
joyful ability