Under Pressure

Last year my house was tucked away in a small suburb of town, and with the exception of the odd car alarm, it was extremely peaceful in the evening.  My girlfriend wasn't quite so lucky however as her apartment was located directly above a noraebang (a korean karaoke shop) which seemed to operate around the clock peaking from about 9pm through to 4am most days.  Whilst I am sure it was fun to be lulled asleep by various pop artists, she assures me that she is happier living in a more quieter and less lively area of town.  This year we find our apartments located in Musan which is on the outskirts of town and one of the first neighbourhoods you would pass on the way into Yeosu.
  However, we do not find ourselves in perfect silence as our neighbours seem to be the only Koreans who have decided to keep a rooster for a pet.  Not only that, but this particular rooster must have been shipped from abroad as he isn't running on normal time and cock-a-doodle-do's when ever he pleases. 
  This morning it was neither Korean popstar wannabees or the rooster that woke me up but instead a chanting with enough aggression to make me think there was a protest, perhaps even a riot.  It also seemed to be right outside and grew louder and louder until I decided it was time to inspect what all the commotion was about. 
  Reaching the street corner on which the apartment is located, it became apparent that there actually was a rally as an ever-growing group of people continued to shout and chant, and it was still only 7am.  It is precisely times like this that make me wish my Korean was better so I could understand what was going on. By now Cassandra was even more interested than I was and already had made a beeline for two korean women who were standing a little way back from the main crowd.    My mind is in another place and I am staring up at the rooster, the usual culprit of my morning wake-ups.  As I am doing a mental countdown to Christmas and working out my feathered friend's fate, Cassandra informs me that the crowd are actually cheering on their sons and daughters as today they will sit exams.  In fact it is a huge day for both students and their parents as years of hard work from elementary to high school hinge upon this one day of exams.  Today is the day that 3rd grade high school students take an exam to qualify for a university place. 
  I have since spoken with a teacher in my school to ask more about these tests and she begins by explaining how much pressure there is on Korean students nowadays, something which I am only too aware of.  As if to reitterate her point, she continues by telling me that every year there are suicides as a result of dissapointed students who feel they have disgraced their parents and underachieved, by not gaining a place in university.  Education in South Korea is of the utmost importance as many Korean families see their children as the people responsible for elevating the family name.  Therefore a student who gets good grades and goes to university has a far better chance of gaining a good job afterwards which will result in the family progressing or so it is thought.  It is not uncommon for parents to spend up to 30% of their income on their children's education.  This is why Hagwons (private schools for advanced learning) exist in Korea so that students can partake in further study after school and at weekends as well as many students also having private tutoring on top.
  A story which perfectly reflects this point is from last year when I was teaching an elementary third grade class about routines.  I asked one of my brightest students "what time do you go to bed?" to which she replied, without hesitating "12.30".  I smiled and repeated the question a little slower than the first time, thinking that she had misheard or misunderstood me.  She gave me the same answer, so I looked across to my co-teacher who smiled and told me that this was quite normal.  After asking the whole class I later realised that many of my students didn't go to bed before 12pm and quite often get up around 5.30am or 6am.  There is a saying in Korea that translates roughly as you only need 5 hours sleep if you want to make it to university. 
  This outlines quite clearly the intense work ethic as well as the pressures students face from such an early age and explains why many classes in the morning, are filled with students who can barely stay awake.
  It's now 10.30am which means it's break time at school and immediately the television is turned on at lightening speed.  Teachers start filtering into the classroom and congregating, staring in a hypnotic manner at the screen.  Whatever they are watching is clearly important, particularly as the Asian games are on right now and the Koreans are doing very well in the swimming.  One teacher spots my quizzical look and shuffles closer, his gaze still firmly set on the broadcast that everyone is watching.  He starts translating telling me that there are 700,000 students throughout South Korea who are sitting exams today.  His english is very good, so I take the oppportunity to ask him more.  He continues by telling me that today planes will not take off during the exams and cars and taxis are under strict ordes not to use their horns.  Basically anything which could distract the students is strictly prohibited, showing that in Asia, they leave nothing to chance.