Finish Fun Fun English Camp. Check
Print off flight tickets. Check.
Pack. Check.
Get really excited for cheese, beer, and bread. Check.
Germany and Czech Republic here we come!!
I will post when we get back, with plenty of pictures I'm sure! Have a wonderful two weeks everyone! (email either Ed or I at our hotmail accounts if you need anything :))
Friday, July 31, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Going Public....Again
So it has been a year and thus far, this blog has just mainly been a family blog. Once a few months ago, I published the blog as public, just to see what kind of hits I would get. Well the most common hit post was the post then titled "Strippers and Prostitutes", and to be honest I didn't like that, so I unpublished it.
Well, I've made some changes (including renaming some posts) and I'm going to try to go public once again. Sooo...tell your friends. Check out the blog!
Well, I've made some changes (including renaming some posts) and I'm going to try to go public once again. Sooo...tell your friends. Check out the blog!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Bittersweet Days
As July comes to a close, enters in August. Officially, Ed and I have been in Korea a little over 11 months. It has been a crazy 11 months, that surprisingly has gone by very fast for us. A little over a year ago, I couldn't imagine being able to survive in another country, never mind live and love it.
Part of the reason why we have both found it surprisingly easy to live here is because of the people who we've gotten to know. Now enters the sad part. No one really stays in Korea forever. They all leave. Some after a year, some after 3, and while some are on the extended program and may never leave, this place really can never be home.
August is the one of the change over months for people to leave and people to come. I have to admit, I am a bit sad because some great and wonderful friends are moving on for new adventures around the world. While I am excited for them and the possibilities of new adventures they may have, it is a bit heart breaking because so many of our friends are leaving.
So this is my tribute post to them. While I'm not going to dwell in the sadness of friendships becoming distant, I am going to celebrate the great times we have had together in this Land of the Morning Calm, and I am going to wish them the safest possible travels, where ever they may go. I've learned that over my own personal travels, that people make the place. So long as you have a good friend (or two) to share a bottle of wine (or soju), eat some pork, and play a game with then life is good. Ed and I consider ourselves very lucky for the opportunity to have met several such people here. So good luck and safe travels my friends!
Part of the reason why we have both found it surprisingly easy to live here is because of the people who we've gotten to know. Now enters the sad part. No one really stays in Korea forever. They all leave. Some after a year, some after 3, and while some are on the extended program and may never leave, this place really can never be home.
August is the one of the change over months for people to leave and people to come. I have to admit, I am a bit sad because some great and wonderful friends are moving on for new adventures around the world. While I am excited for them and the possibilities of new adventures they may have, it is a bit heart breaking because so many of our friends are leaving.
So this is my tribute post to them. While I'm not going to dwell in the sadness of friendships becoming distant, I am going to celebrate the great times we have had together in this Land of the Morning Calm, and I am going to wish them the safest possible travels, where ever they may go. I've learned that over my own personal travels, that people make the place. So long as you have a good friend (or two) to share a bottle of wine (or soju), eat some pork, and play a game with then life is good. Ed and I consider ourselves very lucky for the opportunity to have met several such people here. So good luck and safe travels my friends!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Ahhhhhhh My Eyes!!!
Yesterday (okay now two days ago) was the Longest Solar Eclipse in 100 years. Pretty interesting stuff let me tell you!
I'm not sure how it worked over on the other side of the world, but here in Korea, we were privileged enough to have an 80% eclipse which is pretty darn cool.
So at approximately 10:30, Ed and I are outside our apartment building, looking (or not looking) at the sun. I had quickly created a 'solar eclipse box' which didn't work to well. Ed had the more practical idea for solar eclipse viewing: looking through an unused film (it was a special kind of film for a special kind of camera; not your typical film roll).
Anyways, Ed's idea worked better, and we could actually see the eclipse pretty well.
Now the humor lies in the fact that we were the only people outside trying to see the eclipse. The Koreans that were coming and going could care less. Actually a few seemed intrigued by us; me with my head in a box, looking away from the sun, and Ed with a film strip over his eyes. But as far as that a major astrological event was happening, well that wasn't so interesting.
We did get a following of a mom and her two children (who had color cellophane over their eyes for protection). We gladly gave them our box and film so that they wouldn't burn out their eyes too much.
And just in case you missed it (because you know, you weren't in Asia at the time) here are two pictures of the eclipse.
Okay so this is a professional photo taken from National Geographic (and over the Philippines), so its not what we really saw, but it is what I wanted to see!
I'm not sure how it worked over on the other side of the world, but here in Korea, we were privileged enough to have an 80% eclipse which is pretty darn cool.
So at approximately 10:30, Ed and I are outside our apartment building, looking (or not looking) at the sun. I had quickly created a 'solar eclipse box' which didn't work to well. Ed had the more practical idea for solar eclipse viewing: looking through an unused film (it was a special kind of film for a special kind of camera; not your typical film roll).
Anyways, Ed's idea worked better, and we could actually see the eclipse pretty well.
Now the humor lies in the fact that we were the only people outside trying to see the eclipse. The Koreans that were coming and going could care less. Actually a few seemed intrigued by us; me with my head in a box, looking away from the sun, and Ed with a film strip over his eyes. But as far as that a major astrological event was happening, well that wasn't so interesting.
We did get a following of a mom and her two children (who had color cellophane over their eyes for protection). We gladly gave them our box and film so that they wouldn't burn out their eyes too much.
And just in case you missed it (because you know, you weren't in Asia at the time) here are two pictures of the eclipse.
Okay so this is a professional photo taken from National Geographic (and over the Philippines), so its not what we really saw, but it is what I wanted to see!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
School's Out for Summa!
Yup, we are on summer vacation, technically. While summer vacation here in Korea lasts approximately 5 weeks, we will only be enjoying 3 of those weeks as vacation. For the next two weeks, Ed and I will be entertaining 60 odd middle school Korean students who would most likely rather be playing Warcraft or something than trying to learn English. Alas, we are in charge of "Fun, Fun Summer Camp" designed by yours truly. I've created about 20 activities where these summer campers will be forced to speak and particpate in English learning.
It is my current plan to scrap most of the lessons with the hopes that the Korean teachers will okay a massive dodge ball tournament. Haven't really approcached them about it yet, but here's hoping they approve it. I've even got the objectives mapped out.
1. Students will be able to understand and accept what it is like to lose to a supreme dodge ball power (me). (Globalization)
2. Students will participate in and learn about the all important American language "talking smack". (English Language Arts)
3. Students will be able to apply their first aid abilities (for when they get hit in the head with the dodge ball). (Science and Health)
And my most favorite student objective when playing games:
4. Students will learn the value of cooperative learning in a social environment while using English to express themselves. (Character Building)
BAM! There's my plan. Now lets see if they buy into it...
In other news, it's rained here every day for the past two weeks. We saw the sun for half a day last week, but no one went out into it because if you did you would sweat out all your vital liquids in about 20 minutes. So Ed and I have been trying to stay dry and cool, a task that I have failed every day thus far. However on a positive note, my students are no longer asking why I sweat so much (or why my armpits and sides of my body are wet). So progress is being made there.
We are being recruited almost daily to go to church here. When a Korean stops us and asks about church we usually just say "Ummm we already have one. It's in my living room and transmits Tyra to me on a daily basis." All jokes aside. Why would I want to go to a KOREAN church? Even if I was practicing, well I wouldn't be able to understand what the hell the preacher was saying would I? Because it is in KOREAN!! Ahhh well I appreaciate their tenacity.
And finally, our fruit guy (and current church recruiter) speaks a little English. Well yesterday he saw my tattoo on my foot. He really couldn't comprehend that it was a tattoo (or refused to) and thought it was a scar instead. He told me to go to the doctor's because they can try to fix the scarring on my foot. I said well thanks but I like this scar. He didn't quite get it.
So thats about all for now. This weekend we are heading back to Sado with a few friends. Most of our friends are taking off in about a month or so...so once again we are going to be pretty busy!
It is my current plan to scrap most of the lessons with the hopes that the Korean teachers will okay a massive dodge ball tournament. Haven't really approcached them about it yet, but here's hoping they approve it. I've even got the objectives mapped out.
1. Students will be able to understand and accept what it is like to lose to a supreme dodge ball power (me). (Globalization)
2. Students will participate in and learn about the all important American language "talking smack". (English Language Arts)
3. Students will be able to apply their first aid abilities (for when they get hit in the head with the dodge ball). (Science and Health)
And my most favorite student objective when playing games:
4. Students will learn the value of cooperative learning in a social environment while using English to express themselves. (Character Building)
BAM! There's my plan. Now lets see if they buy into it...
In other news, it's rained here every day for the past two weeks. We saw the sun for half a day last week, but no one went out into it because if you did you would sweat out all your vital liquids in about 20 minutes. So Ed and I have been trying to stay dry and cool, a task that I have failed every day thus far. However on a positive note, my students are no longer asking why I sweat so much (or why my armpits and sides of my body are wet). So progress is being made there.
We are being recruited almost daily to go to church here. When a Korean stops us and asks about church we usually just say "Ummm we already have one. It's in my living room and transmits Tyra to me on a daily basis." All jokes aside. Why would I want to go to a KOREAN church? Even if I was practicing, well I wouldn't be able to understand what the hell the preacher was saying would I? Because it is in KOREAN!! Ahhh well I appreaciate their tenacity.
And finally, our fruit guy (and current church recruiter) speaks a little English. Well yesterday he saw my tattoo on my foot. He really couldn't comprehend that it was a tattoo (or refused to) and thought it was a scar instead. He told me to go to the doctor's because they can try to fix the scarring on my foot. I said well thanks but I like this scar. He didn't quite get it.
So thats about all for now. This weekend we are heading back to Sado with a few friends. Most of our friends are taking off in about a month or so...so once again we are going to be pretty busy!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Change in Travel Plans...Thanks Swine Flu!!!
Because Ed and I are known through out Yeosu as "Pig Kissers" our schools have asked us to change our vacation plans to include a one week self-quarantine. Which ultimately means that we have to shorten our previously approved three week vacation to two weeks (and one 'staying in your apartment never leaving---ummm yah okay)
Anyways due to Swine Flu regulations we dutifully changed our trip. So instead of going to Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia we are now heading to Germany (Munich) and Czech Republic (Prague).
Oh and on a side note, its only foreigners (that I'm aware of) that are being asked to quarantine themselves. Korean teachers (and students) won't get Swine Flu due to the massive amounts of Kim-chi they consume.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Happy I-Robot Day!!
**For those of you not on Facebook.....
While teaching one class about the traditional and all important Independence Day, the following conversation actually took place.
Me: "Okay who knows what American holiday is happening this weekend?"
Student: "Halloween?? Oh teacher candy?? Give me candy?"
Me: "No, its not Halloween. Here's a hint, it begins with an I."
Student: "Oh Thanksgiving?"
Me: "Thanksgiving begins with a T. There's also a famous movie starring Will Smith with the same name."
Student: "OHHHH!! I-Robot Day!!! Yaaaayyyyy!"
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