Shuttlecock Update

The work ethic here is so tremendous, repeatedly exceeding expectations. It is routine for students, administrators, and teachers alike to stay on the Hangaram campus from 7-7, with prep / home work filling the hours afterwards.  I routinely ask students what they did over the weekend, and the answer is always the same (seeing as they take their tests on Saturdays, it partially goes without saying).  In America, if someone were to live in this fashion, they would be mocked as "having no life"  (no individualized life, anyhow).  I doubt students here would comprehend such criticism: people can be comfortable with most any condition if they consider it the norm.  How am I affecting students' self-perception when I report that Americans never go to school on the weekends, and play sports and music every day if they choose?

A possible hint at Confucian social divisions? :  teachers have a separate bathroom from buildings and grounds personnel (noted in two schools).  I'm still scratching my head over this.  

I'm teaching my kids ethics (they're all filthy, anglophilic utilitarians at this point, but that will change) in conjunction with "The Watchmen," a comic book graphic novel featuring retired, publicly rejected masked crime fighters, an alternate 1980's cold war, and several morally dubious plots to save humanity from itself (plots to destroy humanity are monopolized by the national superpowers and the general sleaze / grime perceived by the "heroes").  It is a fantastic story and, like most of my favorite modern stories, centers around existential crises in a godless universe.  (Making xerox copies for 60 students and preparing for the parent reaction to mild-but-illustrated violence / sexuality, not so fantastic.)  

Played badminton with some Hangaram faculty, and basketball with students.  Everyone's exceedingly polite.  The students pass constantly and do not keep score, while the adults not only keep score but place small wagers on their own matches (what happened?)  Badminton is 2 v 2 and exceedingly fast; and you would laugh to see me standing near the net, the shuttlecock whizzing past me this time to the left, this time to the right, but no matter: my partner covers the entire court, compensating my every whiff. It was no less impressive to me than a tennis partner covering an entire doubles court by himself, and winning.  

Some intense badminton (professionals):  

I can hold my own only when I take overheads in the back, since it's comparable to tennis. I'm coming along.