Backpack TopherHack

By TopherHack

More kids today.
This is probably going to be a trend until I finish teaching later this month.

These two are David (left) and Daniel. Kids in Korea tend have an English name too - taking pity on the hopelessness of us foreign teachers when it comes to remembering Korean names.

In the foreground are a big and small paper snail David made. Paper folding is hugely popular with Korean children. Known as jongi jupgi, it's a big part of Korean culture, just like it's cousin origami in Japan.
Scholars differ as to the origins of the tradition, as there's little evidence available.
Many agree it most likely began in China, before moving into Korea, then onto Japan - a common trend with some of the other cultural similarities shared by the three countries.

It's wonderful to watch them folding away. With hands barely big enough to get to grips with a pencil, they manage to create, roses, birds, frogs, even pianos - last week one boy showed me a camera he'd made, with a moving part to mimic the flash.

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