Fun Friday

My last day of "teaching" for the year! I made it~~
We watched movies in all 6 classes today, so it was really easy. Some of my students are cute; they were able to bring in snacks to have with the movies and I got a few pieces of their snacks or cookies.

After classes, we had a short break and then all the teachers were able to leave early because we were going on a "cultural event". We went to go see a performance called "Action Drawing: Hero". It was an "artistic" performance. There were 4 guys and they all did different kinds of artwork. It was pretty interesting, but my COT and I wondered if they were really drawing/doing the art all the time or if it was computer animated or something.

When the show was over, I met Jacob near the theater and we walked to Anguk Station to go to the area we walked around with our family. We had dinner at a little Bistro place I actually went to in 2011 with my Inje friends called Cook 'n Heim. I got a pizza and Jacob got a giant burger. After dinner we walked around a little and then came to my place to hang out for a little bit.

Some students 'rock, paper, scissors'ing to drink some drink they made from sauce and other beverages they brought along, haha.

Signs for the performance

Actors on stage after the performance

My pizza

Jacob and his giant burger!

Winter Camp Meeting

I had the 5th graders watch "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". I think they really enjoyed it. They did a good job~I was able to find any versions with subtitles and they still payed attention and were able to answer my questions after the movie.

After school I was supposed to meet with the 6th grade homeroom teacher that will be my co-teacher during Winter Camp. But he came to our office and said that his daughter is sick and he wasn't able to go anymore. Instead my 5th grade COT and I went on our own~she asked me where I wanted to go to eat. We had a budge of 45,000W (around $45) and she said if we went to a place with pasta the bill would only come to maybe 20,000W so she suggested a buffet place called Ashley's. We took a bus to the restaurant. It was pretty good~ After we ate, she helped me find the Adidas store so I could buy a Christmas present for Jacob. Then we went to Baskin Robbins because we still had 5,000W left for our dinner allowance.

She dropped a huuuge bomb on me though~she told me that she was quitting next year. Her degree is actually in Middle School Education and she wants to go back to school/have a change. I'm really sad to see her go.

First plate :)

Dessert!

At dinner with my COT

Week til Christmas!

We watched movies again in all 4 classes. The students were able to bring snacks in and in some of the classes, I had a few students share. Our worst class (and some of the worst girls) came up and gave my COT and me a napkin full of snacks which really surprised me.

After school, I came home and made the dough for my Christmas cookies-it called for a fair amount of butter and needed to chill for a few hours. Then I went to Emart to get a few groceries and started making dinner. Jacob came over and we had dinner. I made a cheesy rice casserole with bacon, chicken, mushroom and onions. Next time I think I would add broccoli and tomatoes for some added veggies and color.

Cheesy rice casserole

Cooking Class

My first class watched a movie, so it was pretty easy. I was a bit uncomfortable because I believe it was a rated R movie (though my COT tells me that R rated is a bit different in Korea and other schools played this movie). There was violence and a lot of swearing. The next 3 classes we had our last writing lesson for the year. And the final class also watched a movie.

After school I relaxed at home and then went with Jacob to a GOA'L cooking class at Hoya Cooks Studio in Hapjeong. We cooked chicken terriyaki and a spicy beef soup. First the instructor showed us how to do everything and we sampled it. Then, it was our turn. There weren't enough stations set up, so Jacob and I cooked together. It turned out pretty good. Okay, the sauce was delicious! It was a lot of fun, so I might return for more classes next year when they start up again.

When we finished cleaning up at Hoya's, we went to the Homeplus. I was looking for colored sugars so I can decorate Christmas cookies and a rolling pin. Well the rolling pin was almost $9, so I found another kitchen tool that will do the trick and was a third of the price. Couldn't find colored sugar so I decided I would make a frosting instead. Then...I remembered that I can't have milk, and if I only need a few tablespoons for the frosting, it would be kind of a waste, so I looked up some recipes and figured I could do a cream cheese frosting.

The one Terrible Tuesday thing that happened today is that I lost one of my T-Money (subway) cards. It fell out of my pocket. I was pretty bummed because I had just put money on it and I received it in 2009; it was my first subway card. I just hope that the person who finds it really needs the subway card and is able to use it.

Cooking!!

Ready to eat!

Cold, cold day

Today is freezing. I'm just cold, cold, cold. I think it's too early in the winter season to say I'm sick of winter, but I am. I'm just holding out because in a week and a day I'll be en route to Bali. Not that I'm looking forward to it or anything, but I did happen to look up the weather there and it's in the upper 80's. Hallelujah for warm, tropical places. I'm a bit bummed and worried because there is 40-70% chance for thunderstorms all throughout the forecast too, but hopefully it won't be too much of a drawback.

Classes went okay; today is one of the last days of teaching content for the rest of the year (calendar, not school). We did a writing lesson and they did pretty well. Guess it's the last Monday I'll be teaching this year too; next Monday I come in, but don't have any classes.

After school I went to Myeongdong to do some shopping for Yoon Ju. Jacob met me there because he wanted to do some shopping as well. We went to Myeongdong Gyoja for soup and then looked for some gifts. I found a cute little hairclip for her, but want to get something else too.

(Mentoring) Family Day

Yesterday morning Jacob, Kasey and I got a text message from our family's Mom, asking if we were free on Sunday. We all said we would be able to meet, so we had a full day with them.

Jacob and I met in my area and grabbed some bread for breakfast before meeting up with Kasey at Anguk Station. Shortly after we arrived, the Dad showed up and ushered us into a taxi. We took a taxi to the adoption agency that Yoon Kyeong, Yoon Ju, and Yoon Geom were all adopted from. It is a special agency that only does domestic adoptions and it is Catholic. We got a tour of the facilities~we saw some of the babies and toddlers that are waiting to be adopted. As always, I got choked up looking at all of the babies. The things that swirl in my head vary from being angry that is no real system of support for unwed mothers that they are unable to provide for, take care of and keep their babies, being angry that there is such a stigma upon single mothers, the stigma on adoption, being sad for the babies and wondering about their futures, being sad that I was one of those babies crying for attention, and being thankful that I was adopted.

When we finished the tour we went help set up for the lunch. We were blowing up balloons and playing with the (adopted) children. Turns out 2 of the kids/families from our mentoring program were also there! After decorating the room, we went up to the 'church' room for mass. While we were sitting on the floor watching people come in, we noticed 2 more kids/families from our mentoring program join as well. They sang "I am the Bread of Life" (in Korean) at communion which was very moving to me. After mass, we went for lunch. They had a big buffet set up. We ate and chatted with our family. Then the kids had a 'talent show'. Our family is quite musical~Yoon Ju plays the viola, Yoon Kyeong plays the violin an Yoon Geom plays the cello. It's quite cute because he's so little the cello is as big as he is, maybe even bigger. Anyway some of the other kids danced or sang. We had to duck out a little early because Kasey needed to tutor and we all left together. One other person from the event drove us in their minivan down from the adoption agency and then we took taxis to the subway station. Kasey took off and Jacob and I stayed with the family. Yoon Kyeong took off to hang out with one of her friends and the little ones stayed with us.

We walked around their neighborhood/area and saw the school that Yoon Ju and Yoon Geom go to. Then we also saw the middle school/high school that Yoon Kyeong attends. The school backs up to one of the palaces, so we were able to look down into the palace grounds, so that was cool. We went to their house and looked at their photo albums and showed pictures of our families on our phones. They live in a traditional Korean style house-very old. They have a Korean dog, a Jindo, that lives outside and barked like crazy at us. Inside, they are dogsitting for a friend. A little 4 month old ball of fur that acted more like a cat than a dog. Jacob and I mentioned that we played violin when we were younger so they took out Yoon Kyeong's violin and asked us to play. I couldn't remember anything....

Our family suggested another walk around a different part of their neighborhood and then dinner. So we headed out again and played as we walked. Yoon Ju and Yoon Geom liked throwing the snow from the ground at us and each other. We made it to the restaurant and met up with Yoon Kyeong. We went to an Italian place for dinner; I ordered spaghetti, but it was quite spicy. Jacob got a lasagna and it was probably one of the best lasagnas I've ever had--not just in Korea, but anywhere. After dinner, they walked us to the subway and we said goodbye.

Jacob and I went to Sogang to go to church. We arrived early (finally) which was nice. Turns out today is Father Bernard's birthday. He is 61 years old. After mass, Jacob and I went to get a snack and drink.

The Mom, Yoon Geom, Jacob, Yoon Kyeong and Kasey

Yoon Joo and Me

Some cute little kids

Yoon Gyeong playing the violin

Yoon Joo and her viola

Yoon Geom and his cello

Their Jindo Dog! He barked at us~~

Cute little snowman on our walk

Icicles on our walk

Nativity set at Sogang University

Hair Cut and GOA'L Christmas Party

I skyped with my mom and then later my Grandpa. I told them to take a good look at my hair because I was going to get my hair cut later in the afternoon. It was good talking with both of them.

After talking with them, I got ready and went to Hapjeong. I met Jacob and we had lunch at an Italian restaurant in the Mecentapolis Mall. Then, I was off to get my hair cut. I was a bit nervous~it's been awhile since I've gotten a lot cut off. I had to wait a few minutes and then talk with someone about what I wanted. It was really difficult because they didn't speak any English and my Korean wasn't good enough to fully convey what I wanted. I sat down and she started cutting. It turned out okay--I'm not 100% in love with it, but I'm sure it will grow on me. I also got side bangs. 

When my hair cut was finished, I went to go to Kaokao, a bar/restaurant where the GOA'L Christmas party was being held. I joined the party planning committee back in October while I was on the canoeing trip. I felt really bad though because I could never make any of the meetings (if not on a weekend when I was gone, during the afternoon while I was at work) and didn't do much to contribute. Anyway, I arrived and tried to help set up, but again, I feel like I didn't do much~they had already been at the venue for a little bit of time and everything was mostly in order. 

The doors opened at 5, and a few people trickled in. Melissa, another mentor and her husband arrived and when they realized dinner wasn't being served until 7, decided they'd take off and then come back. (Well, the actually never came back...) Jacob arrived and we sat with one guy, John, who plays soccer with us occasionally and his girlfriend, Madeline. John's twin, and Jacob's roommate, Sam arrived a little bit later and also sat with us. And John, our soccer captain sat with us too--we joked that we were really honored because John is acting leader of GOA'L right now. So we had the man of the hour with us. The food was okay~nothing too extraordinary. They had a raffle, and split up the drawings 2 or 3 different times. I didn't win anything. They also had a bboy group perform. The highlight of the entertainment was the taekwondo-bboy group that went to break a board...the pieces of wood went flying and some of it hit the display of glass bottles above the bar....which knocked them down; probably a good 20 bottles or so. Of course the show went on and they acted like it didn't even happen! The owner of the place was very angry about it though.

Jacob and me at the GOA'L party