Phew. This felt like an exceptionally long week. I met with the last of my 5th graders and realized that was the final time I will meet them this year. (Next Friday is Graduation for the 6th graders, so the schedule for the day is a bit different). The highlight of the workday was probably strawberries at lunch. The 6th graders were alright for my lesson, but when it was time for the 6th period class i stood up and waited by the door for a few seconds for my COT. I noticed she was not making any attempts to leave any time soon, so I went to her desk and asked if we were going to class. Surprise, we don't have class. Thanks, that would have been nice to know. Oh well.
After school I headed to the downtown area early. I got dinner with Jacob before going to class. We had jjim dak (찜닭-the chicken stew). We walked to the building where my class is held and he waited in a cafe for me. I was a bit nervous because my "final" class of the 6 weeks was a test. I had missed the previous class because of my vacation to Malaysia. And last week there wasn't class because of the holiday. That means there was a lot of material I had to teach myself.
Class went fine. I kept expecting a test all class period. Finally after our break I asked the aide if there would be a test and he looked puzzled and said no. Then, the teacher made an announcement saying that we would all be able to advance to level 2B if we so wished. Success! On to the next level!
After class, I met up with Jacob again and we got Red Velvet Cake again at the Swedish bakery. It is so delicious! We headed back and went our separate ways for the night.
Friday, February 7, 2014
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Pick-Up Game Day
Classes went alright. I haven't seen my 5th graders in a long time (since middle/end of December)! The lesson was easy; just review, a song and pictionary or charades (I let each class choose).
After I was done teaching, I used the extra planning time to study Korean since my plans are all done for the rest of the year. When school was done, I went to the post office and mailed some letters. I'm proud to say I talked to the clerk in Korean. I noticed a sign that looked like it was showing the post office is moving and asked about it. I returned home and reheated the bulgogi from the other night, watched tv and then got ready for soccer.
I left home and got to the elevator before realizing I didn't have my jacket. Crazy. I went back and got it and went to the subway. I arrived and was going to wait for Sammy and Jacob, but John arrived and it was getting close to the time to show up so I walked with him to the fields. My friend Bora wasn't able to make it to this pick-up game and we were worried about not having the 2nd girl, but it wasn't a problem because the team we were scrimmaging against also only had one girl. The rest of our team trickled in slowly and then we started. We started out quite well; at the end of the first 25 minute half we were up 6-2. But we fell apart a bit in the 2nd half. They almost caught up to us and the game ended 6-5. I actually had a few good saves in goal, so that was nice. Guess I'm lucky that we play on Sundays and I have a turn in there for practice.
After I was done teaching, I used the extra planning time to study Korean since my plans are all done for the rest of the year. When school was done, I went to the post office and mailed some letters. I'm proud to say I talked to the clerk in Korean. I noticed a sign that looked like it was showing the post office is moving and asked about it. I returned home and reheated the bulgogi from the other night, watched tv and then got ready for soccer.
I left home and got to the elevator before realizing I didn't have my jacket. Crazy. I went back and got it and went to the subway. I arrived and was going to wait for Sammy and Jacob, but John arrived and it was getting close to the time to show up so I walked with him to the fields. My friend Bora wasn't able to make it to this pick-up game and we were worried about not having the 2nd girl, but it wasn't a problem because the team we were scrimmaging against also only had one girl. The rest of our team trickled in slowly and then we started. We started out quite well; at the end of the first 25 minute half we were up 6-2. But we fell apart a bit in the 2nd half. They almost caught up to us and the game ended 6-5. I actually had a few good saves in goal, so that was nice. Guess I'm lucky that we play on Sundays and I have a turn in there for practice.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Dinner Date with Mina
School went alright. I had some classes do a great job with the preposition lesson and some that were so quiet and unresponsive we didn't even get to finish everything. I was just standing there asking the question over and over while crickets chirped in the background... The last class was my favorite class, and apparently it was their last class with us, so my COT told me 10 minutes before class that we wouldn't be doing my lesson, but rather they'd watch the ending to a movie. Oh, okay.
After school I did a few errands and then I met up with my friend Mina for dinner near City Hall. She and I met quite randomly. Back in August during the IKAA Gathering, my adoptee friend Ginger came to Seoul on her way to the US for her vacation. She did the Inje program a year after me and had gotten in touch with me through her Uncle who I met in 2009 on the GOA'L Homecoming Trip. One of her fellow participants, Tommy, was also at the Gathering so the 3 of us were meeting up for dinner. Ginger knew that her friend Mina from Inje now lived in Seoul and invited her because she knew Ginger and Tommy. So, this is how I met Mina. While we were chatting that night, I found out that her (at the time) boyfriend was a good friend of mine from Inje! (They broke up a few months ago though.) Anyway, she and I had tried to meet up over the past few months, but things fell through. She and I met and we went to a restaurant very close to where I was waiting for her. We had spicy pork, steamed pork and dwenjang jjigae (a soybean paste stew). It was pretty good. We had a good time catching up and I hope we will be able to connect again.
After school I did a few errands and then I met up with my friend Mina for dinner near City Hall. She and I met quite randomly. Back in August during the IKAA Gathering, my adoptee friend Ginger came to Seoul on her way to the US for her vacation. She did the Inje program a year after me and had gotten in touch with me through her Uncle who I met in 2009 on the GOA'L Homecoming Trip. One of her fellow participants, Tommy, was also at the Gathering so the 3 of us were meeting up for dinner. Ginger knew that her friend Mina from Inje now lived in Seoul and invited her because she knew Ginger and Tommy. So, this is how I met Mina. While we were chatting that night, I found out that her (at the time) boyfriend was a good friend of mine from Inje! (They broke up a few months ago though.) Anyway, she and I had tried to meet up over the past few months, but things fell through. She and I met and we went to a restaurant very close to where I was waiting for her. We had spicy pork, steamed pork and dwenjang jjigae (a soybean paste stew). It was pretty good. We had a good time catching up and I hope we will be able to connect again.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
COLD Tuesday
I know I shouldn't complain about the weather; we're still hovering around the upper 20's and low 30's, but it's still quite cold-especially with that wind!
Anyway, at school, I guess some of the 6th graders were complaining that the review lesson was too easy and it was boring. The last class of the day was for the next period so I prepared a lesson on prepositions. They liked it and did well.
After school I met Jacob near Sangsu station and we walked to the GOA'L office to talk to John to get information about taxes. He gave us Girl Scout Cookies (YES!) and a booklet about information on living in Korea. We talked about our upcoming soccer league. Oh yea, we joined a Thursday night league! So in addition to our Sundays for fun, we're officially a team now. Except we needed a second girl for our team. I posted something asking if any friends in Seoul wanted to join and on Sunday, my friend Bora replied saying she was interested! I was so surprised because she is Korean, Korean. And, most Korean girls don't do sports. Anyway, I was super excited because we had our second girl for our team! I'm really looking forward to this. It's been awhile since I've played competitively on a team for a "season".
Jacob and I went to Burger B for dinner and then went to a cafe called Coco Bruni. It looks super fancy (it is a chain) but it actually wasn't that much more expensive than Starbucks or any other coffee shop really. We ordered a blueberry cheesecake and it was really good. We started talking about cheesecake and I figured I could probably bake a cheesecake at some point. We were both tired, so we split pretty early.
I came home and tidied my room a bit. I worked out a little bit too.
Anyway, at school, I guess some of the 6th graders were complaining that the review lesson was too easy and it was boring. The last class of the day was for the next period so I prepared a lesson on prepositions. They liked it and did well.
After school I met Jacob near Sangsu station and we walked to the GOA'L office to talk to John to get information about taxes. He gave us Girl Scout Cookies (YES!) and a booklet about information on living in Korea. We talked about our upcoming soccer league. Oh yea, we joined a Thursday night league! So in addition to our Sundays for fun, we're officially a team now. Except we needed a second girl for our team. I posted something asking if any friends in Seoul wanted to join and on Sunday, my friend Bora replied saying she was interested! I was so surprised because she is Korean, Korean. And, most Korean girls don't do sports. Anyway, I was super excited because we had our second girl for our team! I'm really looking forward to this. It's been awhile since I've played competitively on a team for a "season".
Jacob and I went to Burger B for dinner and then went to a cafe called Coco Bruni. It looks super fancy (it is a chain) but it actually wasn't that much more expensive than Starbucks or any other coffee shop really. We ordered a blueberry cheesecake and it was really good. We started talking about cheesecake and I figured I could probably bake a cheesecake at some point. We were both tired, so we split pretty early.
I came home and tidied my room a bit. I worked out a little bit too.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Not such a Miserable Monday
Today wasn't too bad. I did a review on past tense and made BINGO cards for them to play BINGO. But...my 6th graders didn't like BINGO as much as my Winter Camp kids did unfortunately.
After school I met Jacob at Emart and we got more veggies (mushroom and cabbage) to add to the bulgogi I was making for dinner. As a surprise, he brought over Auntie Anne's Pretzels for me! (I had told him school lunch wasn't very good; one thing had crab meat in it and the main dish was octopus/squid...) We had the snack and then watched The Office until we got hungry. I felt bad because I figured it would only take me about 30 minutes to make dinner, but it ended up being about 45-1 hour because I was chopping so many veggies and cooking those before I could cook the meat. At least we were eating healthy. I'm the daughter of a nutritionist for sure! :)
After school I met Jacob at Emart and we got more veggies (mushroom and cabbage) to add to the bulgogi I was making for dinner. As a surprise, he brought over Auntie Anne's Pretzels for me! (I had told him school lunch wasn't very good; one thing had crab meat in it and the main dish was octopus/squid...) We had the snack and then watched The Office until we got hungry. I felt bad because I figured it would only take me about 30 minutes to make dinner, but it ended up being about 45-1 hour because I was chopping so many veggies and cooking those before I could cook the meat. At least we were eating healthy. I'm the daughter of a nutritionist for sure! :)
 |
| Dinner is served! |
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Soccer and Church
I had a relaxing morning. I was going to make cookies, but again, since soccer has been moved up to 4-6 for the time being, it cuts into my baking time a little (if I don't get up and get moving right away, that is). I reheated a meatball for lunch and watched a little bit of TV on my computer before heading to Hapjeong to meet Jacob. We traveled from Hapjeong to Yongsan station together.
We waited for our friends to arrive and warmed up a bit. Eirik, one of the other adoptees coaches a high school team, so he has been inviting them to come and play against us. A lot of the guys have stopped coming in the colder weather and it's been getting a bit dull playing 3 v. 3 and against same people. They were okay, not stellar, but it was still something nice for a change. They had 6 and we had 7, so we had one sub.
Because soccer was changed from 4-6, I was able to stay and play the whole 2 hours. That made me pretty happy. Jacob and I went to church together. After church we went to Noodle Box for dinner.
We waited for our friends to arrive and warmed up a bit. Eirik, one of the other adoptees coaches a high school team, so he has been inviting them to come and play against us. A lot of the guys have stopped coming in the colder weather and it's been getting a bit dull playing 3 v. 3 and against same people. They were okay, not stellar, but it was still something nice for a change. They had 6 and we had 7, so we had one sub.
Because soccer was changed from 4-6, I was able to stay and play the whole 2 hours. That made me pretty happy. Jacob and I went to church together. After church we went to Noodle Box for dinner.
 |
| We're wearing the pennies |
 |
| Looks like Jacob just let a goal in |
 |
| Johan about to score on the far top corner |
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Surprise Day
Jacob came over so we could skype with my Mom together. We talked for about an hour. Jacob also got to see my baby. :) After talking with my Mom, I took Jacob on a surprise trip around the city. First we went to Myeongdong area so we could go to Quizno's for lunch (one of his favorite sandwich places). Then we walked through Myeongdong and stopped at a Nike store because he wanted to look at some shoes. We continued on to Jongno area and went to a PC room so we could play FIFA (soccer video game). The kind of neat thing is, I found this particular PC room last year because of my friend Mark. He and I met at Kyunghee University (he's also adopted and lived in MI) he called me his little sister. Anyway, one day I was heading to Jongno area for something and ran into him at the subway. We chatted the whole way there and still didn't finish our stories so we kept talking and walked along Cheonggyecheon for awhile. Then he said he was going to a PC room and asked if I wanted to join. I had never really been to one, so I thought I'd check it out. I realized I didn't want to play computer or video games so after I saw it, I told him I'd be off on my own way. So I remembered it was pretty nice inside and thought it would be a nice treat for Jacob.
After FIFA, we went to Dongdaemun to look at the Nike stores there. We are also on the hunt for a tshirt for my friend Ji's birthday. We went into one of the department stores and got Auntie Anne's pretzels. After walking around (it started raining after we finished at the PC room) we decided we'd check out Ewha for dinner and go back to an Italian/Western place we went to once. As soon as we turned down the alley we got concerned because the place looked pretty dark. Bummer. It was closed. So, we walked to Sinchon and were going to get samgypal (bbq pork) but looked at some Italian places along the way. I saw Seogo and Cook, a restaurant chain I went to with my Korean friend Yiseul. I suggested it to Jacob so we went to check it out. I thought we'd look at the menu and decide from there, but he followed the guy to a table. I asked why and he said it smelled so good he decided we'd eat there. We ordered a chicken and mushroom cream pasta. Yum! After dinner we went to Hapjeong and on to the...Nike store again. Jacob finally bought the pair of shoes. We split there and I came back to watch a movie before going to bed.
After FIFA, we went to Dongdaemun to look at the Nike stores there. We are also on the hunt for a tshirt for my friend Ji's birthday. We went into one of the department stores and got Auntie Anne's pretzels. After walking around (it started raining after we finished at the PC room) we decided we'd check out Ewha for dinner and go back to an Italian/Western place we went to once. As soon as we turned down the alley we got concerned because the place looked pretty dark. Bummer. It was closed. So, we walked to Sinchon and were going to get samgypal (bbq pork) but looked at some Italian places along the way. I saw Seogo and Cook, a restaurant chain I went to with my Korean friend Yiseul. I suggested it to Jacob so we went to check it out. I thought we'd look at the menu and decide from there, but he followed the guy to a table. I asked why and he said it smelled so good he decided we'd eat there. We ordered a chicken and mushroom cream pasta. Yum! After dinner we went to Hapjeong and on to the...Nike store again. Jacob finally bought the pair of shoes. We split there and I came back to watch a movie before going to bed.
 |
| Finally, Quiznos! |
 |
| Finally FIFA! |
 |
| Delicious dinner! |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)