In the morning I got to "talk" with Amanda a little bit. I think it was good for both of us. After talking, I decided I would walk to Hapjeong and see what I could find for lunch. It was a nice walk along the stream and as I walked I thought a lot. I also had some talking time with God. It was good to catch up and offer thanks and ask for help.
I got to Hapjeong and wandered around, trying to decide what sounded good to me. I've been feeling hungry, but I don't really want to eat anything. Maybe I'm still missing food from back home. I ended up picking a cafe and getting a cheese panini with a salad, and splurged and got a peach iced tea. After lunch I walked to HomePlus and was going to get a few groceries and decided that I didn't really need anything there and didn't want to deal with the crowds so I came home. I was trying to fight it, but ended up taking a nap.
Jacob came over after he had lunch with one of his Korean friends. We had a long talk about the past week and some of the arguments we had had. I made pasta for dinner and after he cleaned up, he headed home.
I called on the support of many of my girl friends and felt lucky that they were able to offer advice and send love and prayers to me. Boyhe agreed to meet with me tomorrow.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Simple Saturday
I went for a run along my stream this morning. It was quite hot as I was finishing and as much as I wanted to complete my run, I didn't feel well and had to walk the last little bit. I came home and it felt nice to take a cold shower.
After my shower I tidied my room and waited for Jacob to contact me. In the mid afternoon I went to his guesthouse with all the items for him and Troy. Shortly after I arrived, Jacob fell asleep. When he woke, he said he wasn't feeling well so I offered to go and get dinner to bring back to the guesthouse. He wanted Subway so I went and got us sandwiches. I had hoped there would also be soup I could bring back, but unlike the Subways in the US, the Korean stores don't have that option. We had dinner and I headed home early.
When I got home, I went to fill up water bottles at Emart and see if there was anything I had to get before the holiday...but Emart was a complete mad-house I couldn't deal with it so I left.
After my shower I tidied my room and waited for Jacob to contact me. In the mid afternoon I went to his guesthouse with all the items for him and Troy. Shortly after I arrived, Jacob fell asleep. When he woke, he said he wasn't feeling well so I offered to go and get dinner to bring back to the guesthouse. He wanted Subway so I went and got us sandwiches. I had hoped there would also be soup I could bring back, but unlike the Subways in the US, the Korean stores don't have that option. We had dinner and I headed home early.
When I got home, I went to fill up water bottles at Emart and see if there was anything I had to get before the holiday...but Emart was a complete mad-house I couldn't deal with it so I left.
Friday, September 5, 2014
Captain Sailor Moon!
Work went okay, but it was hard to get through knowing a 5 day weekend awaited!
After work, I went to Insadong to wait for my friend, James. His nickname he earned while we were at Inje University is "Captain Sailor Moon" and his English name is James. His Korean name is hard to pronounce and I for the life of me, probably couldn't actually remember it. Anyway, while I was sitting outside waiting for him, a street performer of sorts started this bubble show with giant bubbles. It was really cool to see and made me think of my dad.
James finally arrived, a little bit late, and we went to get tea. We chatted for about 30 minutes before he had to go and meet his other appointment. He was only in Korea a week-he lives and works in China for Nike and his vacation time is done tomorrow. It was nice catching up with him and I told him he had to come back to Korea before next August so I can see him one last time.
When we split, I came home. My bank phone app changed to a new one, so I needed to get an online bank certificate thing. I tried doing it and asked MK for help over the internet, but we were not successful. She promised to help me in person some time after the Chuseok holiday.
After work, I went to Insadong to wait for my friend, James. His nickname he earned while we were at Inje University is "Captain Sailor Moon" and his English name is James. His Korean name is hard to pronounce and I for the life of me, probably couldn't actually remember it. Anyway, while I was sitting outside waiting for him, a street performer of sorts started this bubble show with giant bubbles. It was really cool to see and made me think of my dad.
James finally arrived, a little bit late, and we went to get tea. We chatted for about 30 minutes before he had to go and meet his other appointment. He was only in Korea a week-he lives and works in China for Nike and his vacation time is done tomorrow. It was nice catching up with him and I told him he had to come back to Korea before next August so I can see him one last time.
When we split, I came home. My bank phone app changed to a new one, so I needed to get an online bank certificate thing. I tried doing it and asked MK for help over the internet, but we were not successful. She promised to help me in person some time after the Chuseok holiday.
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| Some of the bubbles |
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| Captain Sailor Moon and me |
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Lifesaver Katie
Classes went alright-those 4th grade cuties...get me every time.
In the afternoon I messaged my friend Katie to see what she was up to. She had already made plans but rescheduled them to meet with me. I told her that it was a little difficult adjusting back to Korea and Korean life so she said she wanted to spend some time with me.
We met in the Jongno area (near downtown) and went to a ddukbegi (hot stone bowl) restaurant. I ordered the soondubu (tofu stew) and you could make your own bibimbap with the side dishes. It was pretty good, but a little salty at the end.
When we finished eating, we took a stroll and wandered towards Cheonggyecheon, the stream. We walked along the stream and talked. At the start of the stream there were some tents set up for events for the holiday. We made soap for only 1,000W! While we waited for the soap to set, we walked to City Hall. We returned for our soap and talked a little bit more before heading to the subway. I really appreciated her willingness to drop her plans and travel pretty far to come meet me. It's nice to know there are friends like that.
In the afternoon I messaged my friend Katie to see what she was up to. She had already made plans but rescheduled them to meet with me. I told her that it was a little difficult adjusting back to Korea and Korean life so she said she wanted to spend some time with me.
We met in the Jongno area (near downtown) and went to a ddukbegi (hot stone bowl) restaurant. I ordered the soondubu (tofu stew) and you could make your own bibimbap with the side dishes. It was pretty good, but a little salty at the end.
When we finished eating, we took a stroll and wandered towards Cheonggyecheon, the stream. We walked along the stream and talked. At the start of the stream there were some tents set up for events for the holiday. We made soap for only 1,000W! While we waited for the soap to set, we walked to City Hall. We returned for our soap and talked a little bit more before heading to the subway. I really appreciated her willingness to drop her plans and travel pretty far to come meet me. It's nice to know there are friends like that.
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| Katie making soap |
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| Enjoying Cheonggyecheon |
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
A night in
In the morning I was able to briefly skype with Phil and Grandpa before heading in to work. That was really a nice treat. I had my 4th graders and they all seemed happy to see me and be back in class.
After work, I got groceries and...rearranged my room.I didn't change much-there's no space to, but it is still nice to have something a little bit different. Back home I was always rearranging my room and it's been a whole year so I guess change was due in here.
After work, I got groceries and...rearranged my room.I didn't change much-there's no space to, but it is still nice to have something a little bit different. Back home I was always rearranging my room and it's been a whole year so I guess change was due in here.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Terrible Tuesday and Soo Bok
I was able to sleep a little bit better last night, but still find myself awake between the hours of midnight and 4 am. That's rough.
My challenging 6th graders didn't seem so bad today, though Sophie Teacher said she had a hard time with them yesterday. My favorite 5th grade class was at the end of the day and I wished all of that grade could be as happy and content as they are.
After work, I waited for Jacob in a cafe. We had a little bit of time before meeting our friend Soo Bok, his wife and their baby daughter, Hyemi. For dinner, we went to the falafel place-since Soo Bok and his wife are vegetarian and Soo Bok is vegan I thought it would be a good place to go. I love the falafel wraps here-it always hits the spot. Hyemi is adorable-she is one happy baby too. After dinner we all split ways. Jacob had to go back to work, so I walked back with him and took the bus home.
My challenging 6th graders didn't seem so bad today, though Sophie Teacher said she had a hard time with them yesterday. My favorite 5th grade class was at the end of the day and I wished all of that grade could be as happy and content as they are.
After work, I waited for Jacob in a cafe. We had a little bit of time before meeting our friend Soo Bok, his wife and their baby daughter, Hyemi. For dinner, we went to the falafel place-since Soo Bok and his wife are vegetarian and Soo Bok is vegan I thought it would be a good place to go. I love the falafel wraps here-it always hits the spot. Hyemi is adorable-she is one happy baby too. After dinner we all split ways. Jacob had to go back to work, so I walked back with him and took the bus home.
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| SooBoks adorable baby |
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| 6th graders enjoying postcards from my friends at home |
Monday, September 1, 2014
Jacob.
I came to work early because I knew there were some things I hadn't been able to print and needed to finish before my first class. When school time started, my life COT took me down to say hello to the Principal and VP, and introduce me to the new VP.
The first day back was alright. I really appreciate my 6th grade COT teaching skills, management and how we share/work together. It made Monday back an easy adjustment. I found a note from the afterschool teacher, Eric. He and his program did not get renewed at my school unfortunately, so he wrote a note to say goodbye. We didn't interact a whole lot (maybe 1-2 minutes Mondays and Tuesdays) but part of me was still sad that they left and I couldn't say goodbye in person. He was friendly and the kids definitely loved his class (since our office is right next to the ER we could always hear them). At the end of the day we had a staff meeting and finished right on time.
I couldn't wait to get out of school-I grabbed a bus and headed to BoA Guesthouse, where the GOAL program is running their First Trip Home for adoptees. I finally got to see Jacob. We had to wait for another staff member to take over for him and he got to leave for a short dinner break.
We started walking back towards his guesthouse and were deciding what to eat. Jacob has been eating Korean food, bibimbap, every day so we picked Subway. We took the sandwiches back to his guesthouse to eat. It was quite hot today, guess going home was a nice break from the weather here too. We had about two hours to relax and hangout before he had to go back, but then they ended up needed him back sooner. We walked back to BoA and I took the bus home. The bus ride made me really sleepy and I went to bed when I got home, but I still can't sleep through the night. That darn 13-14 hour time difference is rough!
The first day back was alright. I really appreciate my 6th grade COT teaching skills, management and how we share/work together. It made Monday back an easy adjustment. I found a note from the afterschool teacher, Eric. He and his program did not get renewed at my school unfortunately, so he wrote a note to say goodbye. We didn't interact a whole lot (maybe 1-2 minutes Mondays and Tuesdays) but part of me was still sad that they left and I couldn't say goodbye in person. He was friendly and the kids definitely loved his class (since our office is right next to the ER we could always hear them). At the end of the day we had a staff meeting and finished right on time.
I couldn't wait to get out of school-I grabbed a bus and headed to BoA Guesthouse, where the GOAL program is running their First Trip Home for adoptees. I finally got to see Jacob. We had to wait for another staff member to take over for him and he got to leave for a short dinner break.
We started walking back towards his guesthouse and were deciding what to eat. Jacob has been eating Korean food, bibimbap, every day so we picked Subway. We took the sandwiches back to his guesthouse to eat. It was quite hot today, guess going home was a nice break from the weather here too. We had about two hours to relax and hangout before he had to go back, but then they ended up needed him back sooner. We walked back to BoA and I took the bus home. The bus ride made me really sleepy and I went to bed when I got home, but I still can't sleep through the night. That darn 13-14 hour time difference is rough!
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