I get the egg.
I get egg and I Make the eggs house. and I think egg said to the house is beautiful. then I will delighted.
-3.9.2010
This is awesome. I like the magical speaking egg, and I also enjoy Brian’s use of vocabulary word I described the other day in class. (That word would be “delighted”.
So Emily, whom I work with at Reading Town, linked to this in her blog, and while I haven’t taken the time to write a blog about the Korean obsession (among all ages) with poop and stabbing people in the asshole, I think this guy just about covers it. Although he seems faaaaar too grumpy about all of it, in my opinon.
Yesterday was graduation day for the 7 year old class at Reading Town. A room for the ceremony had been rented out in Hopyeong, and the parents all came to watch a) their babies graduate, and b) their babies sing songs and do various other entertaining things in English. The day was hectic, unorganized, and stressful, as usual. But the children were lovely. And I was so busy that I only had time to cry twice-which was maybe for the best anyway.
Goodbye my little ones. I’ll miss you.
My little Lions, all grown up (and graduating from kindergarten)
All the parts of my year that included these children were wonderful. And I will never forget them.
One year ago today I got off of a plane and found myself in the *ahem* “Land of the Morning Calm”. It’s been a crazy year, for certain, and anyone who has read this blog can see why. So I think I’m going to do a little photo re-cap of some of my favorite things that I did/saw this year. At the very least you can see how much my hair has changed. Really, it’s gotten a lot longer, and my bangs are almost completely grown out!
February 2009
The weather was quite nice when I first got to Korea-much warmer than Ohio. Unlike this year, there wasn’t a speck of snow on the ground (although we got an unexpected heavy snowfall in March, but that only stuck around for a few days). My roommates who were moving out did a wonderful job of showing me their hospitality, and took me on a little tour of our town. I wasn’t too overwhelmed back then, just excited and a little nervous to be living in Asia. Oh, and impressed by the sheer number of neon lights that can inhabit a city block around here.
Downtown Pyeongnae on a Saturday morning.
March 2009
This photo is from my first field trip with Reading Town. We took a bus to Guri, a city about 20 minutes away from our school, to see the “children’s theatre”. I adored how absorbed the little ones were by the play we saw-I can’t remember much of it myself now, although I remember Lucy leaning over to me at one point to translate some Korean into English for me. “Teacher, it is ‘the sun and the moon’.” Sweet, sweet child. She ended up being one of my favorites.
April 2009
April was when things started picking up around here. Our next class field trip (can you tell I love field trips?) was to a farm. Potatoes for everyone! The kids spent a significant amount of time trying on my stunner shades. Which was really cute. Here is Tony, who would eventually leave Reading Town, and who was an unforgettable character in my teacher-life.
I also went to see my first Korean palace, Changdeokgung, with Marisa, Jenny, and Gloria.
AND we took a trip to my favorite park in all of Seoul, Yeoido, to try to catch the blooming of the cherry blossoms. Only a few trees were really bursting, leading to a Korean bottlenecking of picture takers-everyone lining up to take their photo in front of the sporadically placed foilage. Humorous.
May 2009
May gave me my first real holiday in Korea-Children’s Day! This meant no school, so the adventuress-es of RT (Marisa, Jenny, Gloria and I) took a terribly long bus ride to Sokcho. The weather was beautiful, the scenery was beautiful, and I fell in love with Seoraksan Mountain. I’m still disappointed that I never had the chance to go back in the fall to see the leaves change. I’m sure it was gorgeous.
That was also the month we discovered that Korea has recreational trampolining areas where you can pay 2000 won for an hour of jumping goodness!
June 2009
The first true month of summertime brought wonderful hot weather and tons of things to do. It was a super busy time, with a Korean wedding to attend (and bachelorette party to organize), an in-honor-of-4-people birthday party to host at our apartment, a trip to that wondrous amusement park- Lotte World, and a weekend adventure to Everland and a traditional Korean Folk Village.
Happy Birthday Johnnie, Frank, Kimmy, and Jenn!
Bachelorette Party, Korean style.
July 2009
By now summer was in full swing. July was rockin’ with two big events: Mudfest and a huge 4th of July America/Canada loving bash that brought expats and Koreans from a 30 mile radius to a little rooftop in Pyeongnae. Mudfest didn’t go so well, fun, but rainy, and I got a severe case of flu. (Was this due to swimming in the ocean and in the rain at 5 in the morning and running around in wet clothes all night long? I really couldn’t say). The Independence Day celebrations-mine included a baseball game with some other Americans before coming back for the party-were a wonderful way to celebrate my swell country.
mud mud everywhere
USA! USA!
And then I went home! For one glorious week I went back to Ohio, saw my beautiful niece for the first time, and soaked up some time with all my favorites.
With my sister, my niece and my mama.
Taken via disposable camera. Ladies' 80s night at one of my favorite clubs in Columbus!
August 2009
My last summer month was full of frolicking. Lady Gaga came to town and put on an amazing show. I took a trip to Busan to enjoy Korea’s South Beach. And Jenn and Colin bid us farewell as they flew back to life in Canada.
Lady Gaga!!
Busan's umbrellas for sale. Come buy a space!
strolling by the sea
Jenn and Colin's last night out in Seoul, Colin wasn't even drunk. Just silly.
September 2009
Autumn came, and school continued at its steady pace. Life chilled out a bit. The biggest events that I recall-going to the Dog Cafe with Jon, and heading for a lovely night out at a jazz club in Apjugeong to say goodbye to our friend Delanie.
The cutest puppy in the world.
Saying goodbye to Delanie with a whole lotta red wine and some salsa dancing (at a jazz club)
Also, Juan and I took this picture that night-it’s still one of my favorites of us.
October 2009
Who cares what else happened this month? It was my BIRTHDAY! I rang it in in style. On a boat. Then, when the weekend came, with dancing and snake-striped spandex.
That boat ride was really fun.
But there was more to October than my birthday. There was Chuseok, and the ensuing adorable child pictures…
And there was arguably one of the best Halloweens I’ve ever had. With definitely the best costume so far in my 25 years.
Panda vs. Elephant...dun dun dunnnnnnn
This was also when my lovely boyfriend bought me my own real live Olympus E-450, so I began to take both more and better photographs.
November 2009
It was nice and quiet. A few birthdays, a few goodbyes, a lovely cocktail party and a traditional American thanksgiving in my little home.
Lady Lydia at the cocktail soiree
Who loves to eat?? These ladies do.
December 2009
No matter where you live, December is a busy month. Gift exchanges, holiday parties,frolicking in the snow, school vacation…it’s not slow for anyone. My Korean December was full of the above, plus a short jaunt to Hong Kong with the bf for Christmas. Pretty fabulous.
The Big Budha on Lantau Island
Christmas Day
January 2010
I brought in the new year with a few too many drinks and a Chinese dress. It was alright though, because Jon, Ha Young, and Dave with there with me-no taxi rides home!
New Year's Eve
Then there was pajama day at Reading Town….and the wine train…..and Phantom of the Opera
Henny on pajama day. Rarrrrrr
February 2010
Alright! So that brings me here. A full year later. This month alone has been super busy-birthdays all over the place, the academic school year ending this week, graduation ceremonies for the babies, along with some cultural explorations (i.e. DMZ tour) thrown in for good measure. I’m not quite done with my Korean life yet-another month or so till I take another plane far and away-but it’s been one hell of an adventure, for better and for worse. And I’m still alive! (And I’ve developed quite a fondness for kimchi dumplings and spicy ramyeon. Uh oh.)
That's fear on our faces at the DMZ
Angela on the 7 year olds' graduation field trip to Chuncheon
Valentine's Day with Jon on top of Namsan Tower.<3
Getting rowdy for Marisa's birthday- a night of dancing in Hongdae
Hey Korea...thanks for an interesting year!
Today I am so tired, because I was very sick. But Mom and dad said “we are go out. And we eat meat.” I think “oh my god.” So we are go outside and eat some meat and mom attach the paper. It is about art, because Mom will open the art class with Jounghung.
-Edwin’s Journal 2.10.10
Never too sick to eat the meat, eh Edwin. Stay strong!
I like the part where he has to contemplate eating the meat, and he thinks omg…meat! Also, I like the segue into discussing art. Well said Edwin.
I Will See You In Far Off Places 