PACKAGE!!!

Classes went okay--finished the writing class and enjoyed seeing the students all participating in the activity. There was one little stinker that kept peeking though. My 5th class today started a new lesson. It's our "extra" period so I was introducing a song/band and then we were doing a pretend interview so they could practice their past tense.

After school I headed to Insadong to do a little bit of souvenir/gift shopping, but didn't really find anything that stood out. I walked to Myeongdong and met Jacob for dinner--we went to one of my favorite noodle and dumpling soup restaurants. It was perfect on a cold day. Then we went to a Starbucks to do some research for our trip. I think we've settled on Malaysia with some island hopping that includes on island that belongs to Thailand. I'm looking forward to my upcoming trips--it's encouraging to know I'll be going to some warm places soon, but it's so difficult looking at beautiful tropical beaches and then stepping outside and getting a blast of frigid cold air.

When I arrived home, my doorman called me over and told me I had a package! Big thanks to my Mom for the package with a baking pan (that fits PERFECTLY in my toaster oven!!), measuring cups (THANK GOODNESS!! No more eyeballing!), a teddy bear and, chocolates! Best care package I could ask for! 

My care package!

Shopping Day!

School went well-I was actually pleased with my activity and I think the students enjoyed it for the most part as well. The target was writing for this lesson. I found a game where the students were in groups and each student saw a word or two that made up a part of a sentence. They only saw their part and then they had to remember their word and put the sentence together. It required reading, speaking and complete group participation.

After school I went off to Ewha (Women's University area) finally! I've been trying to go here for the past 2-3 weeks and had to keep pushing it off, pushing it off because different things came up and I couldn't go. My goal was some winter clothes and boots. I found my favorite color green hoodie and got that. Nothing else really jumped out at me unfortunately, and it was also quite cold to be shopping. My hands were so cold. I walked to Sinchon (next subway stop over--Yonsei University and Sogang University area) and found a vest. I met Jacob for dinner-we had samgypsal (pork bbq-ed) and then went to Tom n Tom's a coffee shop. I finally got Honey Butter Toast--I used to eat this frequently with Emily (from Michigan 2011 Inje program). I couldn't believe I haven't eaten it at all since I've been here!

Love Tom n Tom's!!

Yum!

SOCCER Sunday

I had a relaxing morning at home. Then it was off to meet up with my soccer guys. Some of us met at Hapjeong to go to Ichon Station together. While I was waiting for John, Jacob and Sammie I actually saw Johan, one of our other players. He sat and talked but then took the next train because he was meeting up with another friend. John, Jacob and Sammie arrived and we headed to Ichon. We met up with other guys there and waited for the rest to arrive. Some of us went ahead to get signed on to the base and start warming up. John, our "captain" wouldn't tell us who we were playing, so we finally discovered it was a team of 15, 16 and 17 year old International (American mostly I believe) high school students. Their team was started so they could prepare/get scholarships for colleges back in the States.

We had 13 people playing on our team. John had 2 Japanese friends from another team he plays with join us and Johan had his friend Carlos join as well. We did pretty well-at half time it was 1-2. But then the second half we put Johan, our strongest midfielder in goal and the final score was 1-6. He wasn't the best in goal, because he's a midfielder. And, we lost our playmaker. We kind of just fell apart. And got tired. It was probably the first time I really felt "old", haha. It was a lot of fun though, and we will probably play them again in the future.

After soccer, I went to...soccer. Jacob and I headed over to World Cup Stadium for our 6-8 session. Some of the guys had agreed they'd go to play in the evening as well. Jacob and I watched the kids playing before us and I saw one of my students. I don't think he saw me though. When it was time to start there were only 5 of us. Then 2 more came about 10 minutes later and a final one straggled in. So we played 4 on 4 but 6 of us had already played a game earlier. I left for church and they all groaned and complained and hassled me for leaving. Later I found out they only played for about another 20-30 minutes after I left because they were too tired and cold.

Church was good-Father Bernard had mass this week. Afterwards they had some little cakes, but I couldn't stay because I was meeting Jacob for dinner. We went for dalk kalbi which is like a spicy chicken stirfry and at the end you add rice and it's delicious.

Frustrating Day

This morning I got to skype with my Mom and it was good to talk with her!

I got ready and headed out to check out the Sony store in Apgujeong. I wanted to do some research on the model of camera I like and then order it and have it shipped to my friend's house in the US. When he comes to Korea, I'll have my new camera! So, as soon as I got onto the subway, I realized I left all the papers with my information about directions/store info/bus info at home... Then, I got a message from my translator for the Mentor Program. We were supposed to meet at 3 in a popular area near Apgujeong called Garosugil and she asked if we could push it back to 4. With my schedule I thought maybe 5 would be better and we changed the location to Gangnam.

Well, I followed the map on my phone, but it led me to a completely different location, which I followed perfectly. It was just the opposite direction. I finally found the store. But...they only had 3 point and shoot cameras-the rest was computers or fancy cameras. Of the 3 that were there, only one is even remotely in my price range (thus there was only one that I was even interested in looking at). I then went onto Gangnam to do some shopping and wait for my translator. I bought a pair of plum colored pants and some "heat tech" leggings--it's all the rage; some kind of long underwear that is supposed to keep you extra warm. We'll see.

Anyway, around 4:30 I got a message from my translator cancelling our meeting. So, I headed home and it took me over an hour to get back. I made dinner and waited for Krystle to come over. I also made another batch of apple crisp.

Krystle arrived and we did some research for our Christmas trip. We decided we'd go back to our original plan of Bali. The only problem was a flight that worked out with my work schedule because I still have to go to school on the 24th. Anyway, we had to get different first flights there, but our connecting one is the same. We will arrive at 6:30am Christmas morning in Bali. I'm excited to be going there, but it is sad knowing I won't be at home for Christmas. I can't believe this is the first Christmas I won't be spending with my family. It's really hard to fathom right now.

Krystle left and then I heard a loud noise outside and I realized it was thundering and lightening! It was also pouring like crazy. Such an insane storm out of nowhere!

TGIF!

Whew, what a long week. Do I say that every Friday? I feel like it...

Nothing too exciting happened at school. Same old, same old.

After school I went back to the Jongno shopping place to try and exchange the dress shirt. I had tried it on and it was too big. They left me exchange it so I got a sweater, wool skirt and another long sleeve shirt to layer under my clothes.

Then I went to the Korea Cultural Center to take a placement test for a Korean language class. I had found information on this free program Thursday and saw that the placement test was just the day before. I sent them an email asking if there was any way to sneak in or anything so I didn't have to wait til Dec 27th to take the test/start the program. They replied there was a make-up Friday. So there I went. The building it is in is Mirae Tower. And it is a FANCY building. With really HIGH security. I had to get let in though a kind of gate to the elevators and the person letting me in has a key and that calls a certain elevator (A through E) and they tell you which elevator to get in. I took the test and was placed in level 2A, but the class is currently all full so I have to wait til Jan 3 to start my class. I was a bit disappointed because I wanted to start right away. I also have class on Friday nights from 7-9, which will be difficult if I want to travel and...because its til 9pm on a Friday night after working all week.

I left the fancy building and headed home. Jacob came over and I made kimchi fried rice for dinner. He also brought some oats over and I made apple crisp. Yum. Both turned out really tasty. We watched some TV and shared some laughs.

Kimchi fried rice with an egg for the top!

Apple Crisp! Smelled like home...

Hwa Sun and Jaebin!

Favorite day of the week. Can't beat seeing my 5th graders and having them participate in the activities I prepared for them.

After school it was off to visit Hwa Sun and Jaebin. When I arrived, Jaebin was working with his English tutor. While he was studying Hwa Sun and I did some catching up. I shared some cookies with them and they loved them. Later, her husband returned home and we went to dinner at the Smoky Saloon for a burger. Jaebin got Hwa Sun's old cell phone (she got a new one) and he was busy playing with it all through dinner. His parents got mad at him, but Hwa Sun said if I wasn't there, they would be much more mean about it. We chatted some more when we got back to their house and I played some card game with Jaebin (Hwa Sun and I were pretty sure he was making up the rules as he went!) Jaebin also played the violin for us. He recently won second place in some school contest, which means next year when he enters 4th grade, he automatically gets a spot in the orchestra.

They walked me to the subway and said goodbye. I hope it's not another 3 months til I see them again!

"There is a polar bear in the water". This picture cracked me up--all the students on his team were yelling at him because they couldn't tell what it was! Haha

One of my 5th graders drawing "there is a polar bear in the water"; the opponent's picture

Jaebin playing his violin

My big sis and me

Teachers Fieldtrip and Joe's Birthday

We had another fieldtrip for the teachers. This was a hiking trip to Bukhansan Mountain. I asked my COT if she was coming and she said no because her health isn't that great and in the 5 years that she has been at our school she hasn't missed one day of work or ever came to work late. And if she went hiking her condition would be bad and she would get sick. It was actually beautiful and I took off one of my layers once we started walking some. There were 2 groups-the male teachers took a more challenging course, and actually went to the peak that Kwang Min and I went to last time. The other group was the one I was with-my life COT and some other female teachers--we just went on "Dulegil" which is just a path that goes around the mountain, but there was a little bit of 'hiking' or stair climbing we had to do.

We left school around 2 and hiked for about an hour and a half. Then we walked to a restaurant that our school has been going to for a really long time after doing a hiking event like today. Our walking group met up with the rest of the teachers from my school there. We had some traditional Korean food for dinner. Afterwards, we got "service" and the restaurant had a shuttle bus take some of us back to the school. That was really nice. I got home a little after 6 and had decided earlier in the week I would be making cookies. I ran over to Emart to look for pretzels and M&Ms. I found a bag of M&Ms but no pretzels, but Jacob said his store had some and told me he'd come up to deliver them. So, I whipped up the batter and waited for my pretzels to arrive. Jacob came over and I added my final ingredients and--voila, M&M Pretzel Cookies were born. They turned out really good.

Jacob and I watched some TV on my computer and did a little bit more research for our trip.

Happy Birthday to Joe!

Bukhansan

Teachers

Fall

Red, red.

Love Fall

Some pretty purple berries

CUTE dogs we passed on our way down the mountain--I WANT ONE!

Just the first round of dinner--a few more plates were brought out after this