And off for three and a half days
Yesterday it was minus 8 and over the next few days it will only get colder. Winter has settled in and seems to be comfortable. I regret that warmer conditions can only be found a plane ride away. Unfortunately I have to stay where I am.
This morning I taught for three hours a SAT class. It wasn't that difficult but I was tired from the night before. Angus, one of the new teachers arrived yesterday so I took him to Obs for a few drinks. We met up with Wayne, who had been there for about four hours. Then Mary Jane, who was in good spirits joined us. I left them at about 1 am.
Now I am off for three whole days. I don't know what to do with myself. Since we have two new teachers starting next week, Jake really wants to be to be around to help out. I don't mind so much since both my body and pocketbook need rest.
Tonight I am meeting up with Julie and Tae Woo.
This morning I taught for three hours a SAT class. It wasn't that difficult but I was tired from the night before. Angus, one of the new teachers arrived yesterday so I took him to Obs for a few drinks. We met up with Wayne, who had been there for about four hours. Then Mary Jane, who was in good spirits joined us. I left them at about 1 am.
Now I am off for three whole days. I don't know what to do with myself. Since we have two new teachers starting next week, Jake really wants to be to be around to help out. I don't mind so much since both my body and pocketbook need rest.
Tonight I am meeting up with Julie and Tae Woo.
I wasn't prepared for the onslaught of frigid weather I encountered this morning on my way to taekwondo. My cheeks were red within seconds and my hands felt like they were going to break off like ice. In order to keep warm, I ran several blocks to get my blood pumping. It didn't help much but I arrived to tkd a little earlier than usual. My master told me the next few days are going to be just as cold. I'll have to bundle up even more so.
Winter vacation started yesterday for all the elementary and middle school students. As a result my once solo tkd class multipled into a tally of about 12 new classmates. Believe me it's cute for about 10 seconds to have a bunch of little kids practicing tkd moves but it gets old really quick. I hope they don't hinder my practicing for my test.
Winter vacation started yesterday for all the elementary and middle school students. As a result my once solo tkd class multipled into a tally of about 12 new classmates. Believe me it's cute for about 10 seconds to have a bunch of little kids practicing tkd moves but it gets old really quick. I hope they don't hinder my practicing for my test.
Buffet Dinner at Lotte Hotel
Last night we had our anticlimatic dinner at Lotte hotel. The buffet was okay but the food went really quickly. By the time John and I arrived everyone was nearly finished eating. And we got their at 830. In fact, I heard that some of the Korean teachers from another branch took the food home. Generally the food was good. The atmosphere wasn't as festive as I thought it would be. Jake and other Koreans made some speeches in Korean on a stage. I have no idea what they were saying but there were lots of cheers and applause.
Secret what? You guessed it... it isn't!
In many of my past jobs, I enjoyed playing Secret Santa with my coworkers. This is the game where participants draw a name out of a hat. Then they purchase a small gift for the person they have chosen. In order to make the game fun, you're not supposed to tell anyone whose name you drew. Hence the name Secret Santa. It sounds simple enough, doesn't it?
Trying to grasp the holiday spirit, I organized Secret Santa with my Korean co-workers. Most of them were gung ho to play. However, within fifteen minutes, I knew who picked my name and who everyone else had chosen.
Although the secret part is ruined, we will give out our gifts today. And who doesn't like receiving presents? Tonight we'll have our Christmas staff party at Lotte Hotel. The dinner starts at 8 pm but I had a class scheduled until 9 pm so I told my student class was cancelled.
Trying to grasp the holiday spirit, I organized Secret Santa with my Korean co-workers. Most of them were gung ho to play. However, within fifteen minutes, I knew who picked my name and who everyone else had chosen.
Although the secret part is ruined, we will give out our gifts today. And who doesn't like receiving presents? Tonight we'll have our Christmas staff party at Lotte Hotel. The dinner starts at 8 pm but I had a class scheduled until 9 pm so I told my student class was cancelled.
lucy leaves today for Canada
Lucy left for Canada today. She's done with Korea. Yesterday we went to our favorite sam bap restuarant for her last lunch. Then that night John came with us for a last beer at O'briens. I'm sad to see Lucy go even though the last few weeks were sorta not speaking. But we made up in time before she left. Next to go will be John in ten days.
first real weekend...whoo hoo!
Now that's what I call a full weekend! It was simply wonderful to have two full days off from Wilshire. Two whole days! You can do so much in two days.
On Saturday, Lucy and I watched Ji Eun take her 4th dan test near Sajik stadium. The building was really small with no places to sit. We didn't have a good view for taking pictures. About 50 people were testing for their 4 or 5 dan levels. Lucy counted only eight women testing. Ji Eun did well aside from our master was bitching at her because she apparently missed one kick during one of the poomsaes. I think she did fine.
Afterwards, Lucy and I ate at our favorite restaurant. Relishing the fact it was Saturday afternoon and we weren't working, we drank some soju and beer with our lunch. That did me in and I was out for the day. I took a nap then stayed in the rest of the evening.
Football was the name of the game on Sunday. We doubled our numbers and had a good time. Granted we only had two people last time, but we had enough to throw the ball around and run patterns. Between that and tkd, I am stiff as a board so I skipped tkd this morning. I should have stretched more.
Then last night, I had dinner with Andrew and I gave him his Christmas present. Early yesterday morning, I managed to get to Nampodong and finish my Christmas shopping. I think he was happy with his Korean Reds T-shirt and Choi Ji Woo calendar.
To cap off my full weekend, Lucy and I went to see Romantic Comedy starring Jude Law. Now that's one way to ensure sweet dreams-- gazing at Jude Law for two hours!
On Saturday, Lucy and I watched Ji Eun take her 4th dan test near Sajik stadium. The building was really small with no places to sit. We didn't have a good view for taking pictures. About 50 people were testing for their 4 or 5 dan levels. Lucy counted only eight women testing. Ji Eun did well aside from our master was bitching at her because she apparently missed one kick during one of the poomsaes. I think she did fine.
Afterwards, Lucy and I ate at our favorite restaurant. Relishing the fact it was Saturday afternoon and we weren't working, we drank some soju and beer with our lunch. That did me in and I was out for the day. I took a nap then stayed in the rest of the evening.
Football was the name of the game on Sunday. We doubled our numbers and had a good time. Granted we only had two people last time, but we had enough to throw the ball around and run patterns. Between that and tkd, I am stiff as a board so I skipped tkd this morning. I should have stretched more.
Then last night, I had dinner with Andrew and I gave him his Christmas present. Early yesterday morning, I managed to get to Nampodong and finish my Christmas shopping. I think he was happy with his Korean Reds T-shirt and Choi Ji Woo calendar.
To cap off my full weekend, Lucy and I went to see Romantic Comedy starring Jude Law. Now that's one way to ensure sweet dreams-- gazing at Jude Law for two hours!
kimchi and candy canes: bringing people together
Yesterday I hosted my monthly kimchi party with my 4 pm class. You see the woman who cleans my building continues to give me enough kimchi for a family of four. I can't eat all of it and I don't want to bin it, so I thought I could share it with my students. My students and I have a deal. If they all get at least 70% on their daily tests, we'll have a monthly party. I will bring the kimchi and kimbap, while they will bring ramyon. There's not much teaching going on but the kids are more apt to speak when food is involved.
Before this class, I teach this cute little girl who is going to Australia next month. I teach her basic writing and grammar. On Wednesday, I was telling her how I love candy canes and I wish they were sold here in Korea. Imagine my surprise when she presented me with a small candy cane yesterday! Her uncle is Canadian so he had brought her some candy canes a few weeks ago. So this adorable little girl gave me one of her treats out of her stash. How sweet is that!
Before this class, I teach this cute little girl who is going to Australia next month. I teach her basic writing and grammar. On Wednesday, I was telling her how I love candy canes and I wish they were sold here in Korea. Imagine my surprise when she presented me with a small candy cane yesterday! Her uncle is Canadian so he had brought her some candy canes a few weeks ago. So this adorable little girl gave me one of her treats out of her stash. How sweet is that!
I'll let you in on a little secret. Opening cardboard milk containers drives me crazy. I know it shouldn't but this domestic endeavor annoys me so much that I'm fuming for a good ten minutes afterwards. If you are visiting me, chances are I will get you to do me the favor. Otherwise I have to do it myself.
I just can't grasp how to bend and pull the cover open without ripping the whole top off or in most cases not ripping enough. As a result, I have a disfigured hole, where the milk gushes out and spills everywhere. As I I can't shut the lid properly, my milk will spoil quickly. I can't tell you how this frustrates me.
I just can't grasp how to bend and pull the cover open without ripping the whole top off or in most cases not ripping enough. As a result, I have a disfigured hole, where the milk gushes out and spills everywhere. As I I can't shut the lid properly, my milk will spoil quickly. I can't tell you how this frustrates me.
By definition, a highlight is something (as an event or detail) that is of major significance or special interest. If I were to give the highlight of my day I would be hard pressed, as so many interesting things happened today. It would be difficult to choose just one. For instance, I could mention my near death experience with a bicyclist. Though, that's so common here. Rarely a day would go by without some incident with a motorist. Or I could mention my new pencil case. It's yellow. Yellow is written on the case so if I ever forget how to spell it, I can just look. No both events are a bit boring. While washing my dishes this afternoon, I accidentally dropped my cellphone in the sink filled with soapy water. Now that's happening news.
Now I can't text or call anyone until my phone recovers from its unwelcomed dip into soapy waters.
Now I can't text or call anyone until my phone recovers from its unwelcomed dip into soapy waters.
if i were a rich man.....
Moving at a snail's pace, I toiled around my apartment this morning cleaning up. I had a slight headache from the previous night's drinks. It was such a beautiful day that I sucked it up and I walked around Nampodong for a few hours. I ran into a friend and we had coffee.
This sweatshirt caught my eye. I would have bought it but it was about three sizes too small. Korean shirts are pure gems.
Merry Christmas with Sarah and Paul in Busan
I went to Sarah's tonight after work. I had a long,long day but I made myself go out and have some fun. Sarah trimmed her apartment wonderfully with Christmas ornaments. It looked so wonderful that even Santa Claus had to pay an early visit.
I want to go Christmas carolling but Sarah thinks I'm nuts. Where would we go, she asked? Everywhere! I think it would be hilarious just to stand outside in front of a popular kimbap restaurant and belt out the tunes. I bet we could earn some extra dosh.
It's Santa Claus waving a Korean flag! Gordon, a buddy of Paul's, works at PM with Sarah. After I left Sarah's, I joined him at the U2 bar for a drink. In the short time I was there, I met a nice Korean lady, who gave me her phone number. My memory is a little hazy today but I think we have a date next week.
Look at the happy couple. Reunited once again. Paul was so kind to bring me a football all the way from North Carolina. I can't show a picture because I left it in the cab I took home. Once again, my absentmindedness was in full force. I think it was because I leaped out of the cab in search of food. Anyway, I am annoyed with myself right now.
Sarah looks so beautiful here. I swear she has modelled before. Actually now that I think about it I do recall Sarah mentioning something about Australian Playboy.
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