tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2326681432535660532024-02-07T18:12:39.634+09:00Window to Another WorldWe are two university graduates who have left our native Canadian land to teach English in Bundang (South Korea) for a year. This blog hopes to document our many adventures while preparing for, traveling to, and living in Korea. We hope that you’ll enjoy reading our thoughts, and we’d love to hear from you :)Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14370588456336068506noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-19676873606056885892010-02-27T23:24:00.001+09:002010-02-28T00:43:31.886+09:00Correcting the BLOG<p>Those below posts were by me :) My beloved Montreal class. I am not sure why it says Jen posted them :) *Shrugs* Goodnight all! Check facebook videos soon for actual footage of the kids! They rocked that grad ceremony ;)</p> Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241615196663766529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-39752163896388460132010-02-27T23:10:00.000+09:002010-02-27T23:10:41.285+09:00Montreal Class grad picture :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWyJA9O9AEmyr_IbgRj-j6vyLA0_zbFAXfmct2ELe23-7zQEjnEufHpmzmkD7E0FMb8cUrN3wLDfxjXDSHtpmxU2_fFsPU22ynBo1n_IEO7KrrCH3QRQCr7BFsRVwFVhoIqQ6UUG-0wLP/s1600-h/IMG_2017.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWyJA9O9AEmyr_IbgRj-j6vyLA0_zbFAXfmct2ELe23-7zQEjnEufHpmzmkD7E0FMb8cUrN3wLDfxjXDSHtpmxU2_fFsPU22ynBo1n_IEO7KrrCH3QRQCr7BFsRVwFVhoIqQ6UUG-0wLP/s400/IMG_2017.JPG" /></a> Here are six of my kiddies :) All grown up!<div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14370588456336068506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-51770154220900905882010-02-27T23:07:00.000+09:002010-02-27T23:08:05.985+09:00Montreal Class Graduates :) I am very proud!<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxL5DaT-UpVWc95w4VlQVyFcLjdttguHShNNapO3C9OO8paZ7UAhL-CfslKakHNpMS4dMhd6LLljGeXFwYgfK-lfGz4Nz8DecxxdKCMZC43qfFwhCa5ne1YLam1l4XLZRCG-uQjhBmXX3b/s1600-h/MVI_2010.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxL5DaT-UpVWc95w4VlQVyFcLjdttguHShNNapO3C9OO8paZ7UAhL-CfslKakHNpMS4dMhd6LLljGeXFwYgfK-lfGz4Nz8DecxxdKCMZC43qfFwhCa5ne1YLam1l4XLZRCG-uQjhBmXX3b/s400/MVI_2010.jpg" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14370588456336068506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-46144254700940254192010-02-19T14:36:00.003+09:002011-09-18T10:24:51.216+09:00Translation of Korean Washing Machine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmVuc42UvV4oybOhVJ9hSMJYrAcDz6UTt4wzjDiaer0QplKdr7TGha38NWm9Nq4Za0Abhe2aisAoPVswSgEf4bshzk6U8KAVaNek61ld9M6Ts3P__o3L5pJE2mpuRG3OYt3GHVSXy9bA/s1600/Translated+Washing+Machine.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 570px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmVuc42UvV4oybOhVJ9hSMJYrAcDz6UTt4wzjDiaer0QplKdr7TGha38NWm9Nq4Za0Abhe2aisAoPVswSgEf4bshzk6U8KAVaNek61ld9M6Ts3P__o3L5pJE2mpuRG3OYt3GHVSXy9bA/s400/Translated+Washing+Machine.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653504237388835762" border="0" /></a><br /><p>In addition to my translation of my thermostat, I will now provide the English translation of my Korean washing machine buttons.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/S34jPzMJnRI/AAAAAAAAAbE/vNZ7cuPqHGU/s1600-h/Washing%20Machine%5B4%5D.jpg"><br /></a> </p> <p>I hope this will help someone else! If anyone needs a bigger version of the picture, email me (click button below). I don’t know why it’s not showing a larger version!</p> <p>~Katie</p> <p>PS – I will write a new blog soon. I hope :)</p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241615196663766529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-75233467259435953062009-12-16T11:56:00.002+09:002011-09-18T10:26:14.786+09:00My battles with the Thermostat.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZMHhq0ZtwkRizkFfACRPUKBZaIR9uBL0hZaeMFaM-gjcrB4XCYUJZ0qAtlixiA9RvMV4-PkPhkspUXuREKIAzqSqYve1IHpcufx1V_jVJGHmQo6U9w90zr2z1VOlf_Hcxwhur7XqyW8/s1600/Thermostat+decoded+%253B%2529.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 145px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZMHhq0ZtwkRizkFfACRPUKBZaIR9uBL0hZaeMFaM-gjcrB4XCYUJZ0qAtlixiA9RvMV4-PkPhkspUXuREKIAzqSqYve1IHpcufx1V_jVJGHmQo6U9w90zr2z1VOlf_Hcxwhur7XqyW8/s400/Thermostat+decoded+%253B%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653504833568899906" border="0" /></a><br /><p>So. Up until today I had been looking at my Korean Thermostat with cautious curiosity. I googled, I researched, and all my efforts left me just as clueless as before. While it was plain to see that I had no clue how to heat my apartment (even having been here for 5 months already), I neglected to take the appropriate –and obvious- actions and request the assistance of my Korean coworkers (hindsight is 20-20 folks). </p> <p> <br />So, here, in all its glory, is my decoded, Korean Thermostat / Temperature gauge. This could also be entitled “How to work my Korean heating system”. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SyhNKs98dOI/AAAAAAAAAa4/QogJrk1sf_U/s1600-h/Thermostat%20decoded%20%3B%29%5B12%5D.jpg"><br /></a> </p> <p>I’m now going to proceed to label this post in a billion ways in hopes that some other poor foreigner in Korea will be able to get their heating situation worked out for the winter. Merry Christmas! <br /><br />(Sidenote: Heat still takes a long time to kick in over here. I’m now going to fearlessly experiment with my settings and see if I can get more heat to rise out of the ground by lowering my water temperature?)</p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241615196663766529noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-34045496287782734322009-12-13T14:34:00.001+09:002009-12-13T14:39:32.246+09:00“As Kids See it” – the non-readers digest version.<p>Here we go. I usually wait to write a blog after a good week of teaching… but lately the little munchkins have been acting more like rascals and I haven’t felt inclined to share any of their latest antics… BUT. The redeemed themselves yesterday. Well, Anthony’s kids were cute enough to re-melt my heart and give me happiness at the end of a long week (thank you support class!). <br /> <br />********************************************************************************** <br /> <br />My support class is lovely. Here, we find six beautiful children. Five girls and a boy. The boy is hilarious. Chubby little cheeks, big puppy eyes… and he loves all things princess. Princess pencil cases, pencils, crayons… anything pink really. So funny. His name is Peter. He never ceases to surprise me with the funny things he does. <br /> <br />Peter is always the first one to get ‘out’ while playing musical chairs. It isn’t that he’s not coordinated, or unable to understand the game… its that he has other things on his mind. Sitting next to me, he holds up his hands, makes a square with his fingers and proceeds to ‘take pictures’ of the girls as they are circling the chairs. <br /> <br />Me: “Peter, what are you doing?” <br />"Peter: “I fashion photographer.” <br />Me: :) <br /> <br /><u>Later that day, while grading homework, I hear:</u> <br />Peter: “TEACHER! ME DRESS!” <br />(I look up to find he has constructed a strapless dress out of our plastic connector toys and is modeling it for me.) <br />Peter: **Swishes the skirt and giggles**. <br /> <br /><u>Later that week:</u> <br />Peter is drawing a picture of a mermaid. Complete with seashell top. He beams at his picture. <br />Me: “Wow, Peter! Who is this?” <br />Peter: “She Cinderella. She beautiful!” <br />(Peter picks up the picture, kisses it, hugs it, closes his eyes and smiles). <br />Me: “Is she your friend?” <br />Peter: (nods) “She my girlfriend.”</p> <p><u>Later that month:</u> <br />Peter gets up abruptly from his chair, walks over behind Amy, and proceeds to start finger combing her hair. <br /> <br />Me: “Peter, what are you doing?” <br />Peter: “Hair is (makes messy hair with his hands). Me make pretty.” <br />Me: “Oh, are you a hair dresser?” <br />Peter: nods. <br />(By the end of the class he has helped two other girls with their hair issues.) <br /> <br />**********************************************************************************</p> <p>My older kids have their funny moments as well. This is from my class of nine-year-olds: <br /> <br /><u>Question: What is your favourite food?</u> <br />Their sincere responses are as follows: <br />Se-min: “Cookies.” <br />Sally: “Eating.” <br />Jack: “Teacher.” <br /> <br />At least Se-min understood the question :). <br />** <br />I’m also convinced that some of these kids are brilliant and genius-like in the way they process information. <br /> <br />Me: “Se-min, what does “the rest” mean?” <br />(Se-min looks at me, grabs a pencil and starts writing. Upon looking at her paper, I see that she’s drawn out a complicated math problem, and is in the process of solving it. Confused, I wait to see what  happens.) <br />Se-min: (Turns her paper around. The math problem has been solved, and Se-min points to her conclusion “1 remains”) “There, Teacher, 1 is the rest.” <br /> <br />Genius I say. <br />**********************************************************************************</p> <p>Recently I noticed that my eleven-year-olds were continually asking me about a teacher named Justin. He was apparently very mean and  they strongly disliked him. I was very puzzled by their inquiries because there is no Justin working at the school. Then, it hit me. <br /> <br />After the bell rings, I always rush to erase the board just in case a teacher wants to use it after me. <br /> <br />This is what the girls were constantly hearing me say: <br />"OK Girls! We need to erase the board. Justin Case Teacher is coming and wants to use the board.” <br /> <br />For the past while, they have been bitter against the fictional ‘Justin Case’ for his lack of respect and for being the reason their precious drawings were being erased at the end of each class. <br /> <br />**********************************************************************************</p> <p><u>Here are the latest occurrences in my core classroom: <br /></u>As a bit of background info, my six-year-old kids, being ever so creative, have decided to adopt a class pet. Thankfully, it is an inanimate dinosaur they’ve fondly nick-named “GABOO”. This is pronounced “Gab-boo”. Emphasis on the ‘Gab’. They have also developed a cheer for it (“GABOO! GABOO! GABOO!…” *little fists are pumping in the air*) which they will chant at any opportunity. Literally. 8 little pairs of lungs and vocal cords exerting great energy into the GABOO chant. Yeah. Lucky teacher. <br /> <br />Also, the kids are obsessed with being each others ‘pets’. Apparently this means that they are the animal of the ‘owner’ for that entire day.</p> <p><u>Typical morning with my kids:</u> <br />Me: Ok guys, lets get out our Reading Street books!!! <br />Will: I get GABOO at lunch. <br />Rachel: No! Me GABOO! <br />Kelly: No, you GABOO yesterday! <br /> <br />Me: Come on guys, please get out your books! <br />Harry P: I want GABOO! <br />Harry L: No, GABOO is Rachel’s (gazes lovingly at Rachel). <br />Michelle: GABOO is Will’s. Will, can I be your pet? <br />Will: Rachel is my pet. <br />Rachel: And you Gaboo? <br />Will: Yes, me Gaboo. <br /></p> <p>Me: GUYS! Please get your books out! <br />Sue: Nooooooo, Teacher say we share Gaboo. <br />Me: We will talk about Gaboo at lunch time. Go get your books.</p> <p>(General shuffling towards bookshelf) <br /> <br />Harry L: Rachel, I’m your pet? <br />Rachel: OK. <br />Alan: TEACHER. I WANT GABOO. <br /> <br />The whole class: “GABOO! GABOO! GABOO!” <br />(*sigh*) <br /> <br />*************************************************************************** <br /> <br /><u>Another couple of stories of romance and rejection:</u> <br />My classroom is a mini soap opera. Here is the complicated love line/triangle/square: <br /> <br />Kelly, Sue, and Michelle all like Will. Will likes Rachel, but will play off the attention of the other girls to get her attention. In return, Rachel will torment poor little Harry L., because she too likes Will, but knows SHE will get Will’s attention if she gives Harry L. attention. Poor little Harry L. is head over heels for Rachel. <br /> <br /><u>An example of a typical Harry L. crush moment:</u> <br />Harry L.: (whispers shyly) “Teacher, can you put me on Rachel’s team?” <br />Me: “We’ll see what happens.” <br /> <br />(Later while drawing names out of a hat, Harry L. gets his wish) <br /> <br />Me: “Harry L., you’re with Rachel!” <br />Harry L: (Beams. Then, after thinking about it for a second, looks panicked and runs to me) “TEACHER! I CAN’T DO IT!!!! PLEASE! I NEED ANOTHER TEAM!!!!” <br /> <br />********************************************************************************** <br /> <br />Likewise, there has been a declaration of love by Harry P. for Michelle. She flat out rejects him each time. The more recent overheard conversation between the two of them is a classic tale of boy likes girl, girl breaks boy’s heart. Keep in mind, these are six year olds: <br /> <br />Harry P: “Michelle, I your team?” <br />Michelle: “No.” <br />Harry P: “I’m your pet?” <br />Michelle: “No.” <br />Harry P: “I your team then?” <br />Michelle: “HARRY P. YOU ARE NOTHING TO ME, OK!?”</p> <p>(ouch). <br />********************************************************************************** <br /> <br />It’s also amusing to see these romances play out in the kids’ writings. Whether intentionally funny or having created double meaning phrases by accident, homework marking has never been more entertaining: <br /> <br />* In Will’s writing journal: “I have too much game.” <br />* In Michelle’s writing journal: “My friends are all simple.” <br /> <br />Sue’s journal was also humerous. Somehow, in a single sentence, she managed to declare the following. <br /> <br />* In Sue’s journal: “Everyone likes Katie teacher. Except men the.” <br /> <br />That got a nice appreciative laugh :) These kids are so perceptive ;) <br /> <br />Sidenote: <br />From Alan’s journal: “Grapes become win.” haha. My kids like wine.</p> <p>********************************************************************************** <br />There was also a moment the other day where I felt like I had been teleported to the Twilight Zone. My class had turned into a gangster film or something. <br /> <br /><u>While cleaning up after snack time:</u> <br />Rachel: “Teacher, mommy said I could bring a gun for show and tell.” <br />Me: “… what kind of gun?” <br />Rachel: “Daddy’s gun.” <br />Me: “… a real gun?” <br />Rachel: “Yes. but no POW POWs” (makes gesture). <br />Me: “… a real gun..?!” <br />Alan: “POW POW!” (makes gesture). <br />Rachel: “Yes, but no shoot.” <br />Me: “No, I don’t think it would be a good idea to bring a gun to school.” <br />Harry L: (great excitement) “TEACHER!” <br />(I look over. Harry L is sitting on his chair with a fan of 1000 won bills. He is fanning himself with the money and squinting at me.) <br /> <br />:D Seriously?!?!?! :D <br /> <br />Then, already confused by this convo, from the other side of the class, I hear this conversation: <br />Michelle: “Yes, Will, you can be my mermaid.” <br /> <br />Gracious. What response is there but to laugh? <br /> <br />********************************************************************************** <br />Gotta love life as an English teacher :) </p> Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241615196663766529noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-52144943610105095212009-11-12T19:20:00.001+09:002009-11-12T19:31:01.942+09:00Recent Observations :)<p>Hello! This isn’t going to contain a great deal of cleverness or anything as exciting as the sort. Instead, it will simply contain my observations as of late.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhAJAfojI/AAAAAAAAAXY/G6FWXPRTz_s/s1600-h/SwineFlu%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="SwineFlu" border="0" alt="SwineFlu" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhBXkJp6I/AAAAAAAAAXc/sZIqvVvV4_g/SwineFlu_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="402" height="356" /></a> </p> <p>1. While the majority of students and their parents are panicked about the Swine Flu thing (it’s hit our school a few times now and a bunch of the elementary schools in the area are closed), my students seem to be troopers. That’s right. Not one of them has abandoned me at this time. We remain now, and probably forever more (until March), a family. All nine of us. Me and the eight children. I can officially say that I could not survive single-parenthood of octuplets. It just would not work. Period.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhCfUOpZI/AAAAAAAAAXg/gduulvLVpsg/s1600-h/IMG_1119%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1119" border="0" alt="IMG_1119" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhDHiXNhI/AAAAAAAAAXk/D4DYSaIyne8/IMG_1119_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="418" height="211" /></a> </p> <p>2. English is a hard language to learn. I know this because I’m now trying to learn it. I have no idea why adding ‘s’ to the end of a noun makes it plural while adding ‘s’ to the end of a verb makes it present-tense-<em>singular</em>. Why? Why did English people decide that was a smart thing to do? Furthermore, I’ve never given any former thought to things such as ‘inflectional endings’. What is <em>that</em> you might ask? My response… well. I have no clue. Ask me at the end of November when I stand up in front of my class and present my research.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhDkJHixI/AAAAAAAAAXo/8Yn7G9-HjBM/s1600-h/Verbs%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Verbs" border="0" alt="Verbs" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhER9VrAI/AAAAAAAAAXs/odmEVx-S6Ls/Verbs_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="172" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>3. My students understand their Reading Street stories, scoring nearly perfect on the reading comprehension portions of exams. Unfortunately, they don’t understand the<em> words </em>and fail the vocabulary portions<em>.</em> I’m not really not sure how that works… </p> <ul> <li>Example: <br />(Question) “What was Mama’s favourite birthday present?” <br /> (Response of student) - “Mama enjoyed it when Francisco gave her a surprise party for her birthday! It was her favourite present!” <br /> <br />Later: <br />(Question) Fill in the blanks with a word from the word box. <br />1. On my birthday my Mom gives me a ____<u>edge</u>____ to open. 2. Once, my friends had a _____<u>draw</u>_____ party for me! </li> </ul> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhFK7nSyI/AAAAAAAAAXw/YJIrU8r_u-s/s1600-h/Reading%20Street%20Book%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="150437 .tif" border="0" alt="150437 .tif" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhF7EO7UI/AAAAAAAAAX0/q9xLJwSPkCw/Reading%20Street%20Book_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="155" height="200" /></a> </p> <p>4. Kids here are very open about their past traumas. For example, while waiting for the bell to ring, a few teachers and our students were waiting in the stairwell. This is the conversation that followed: <br /> <br />Boy to teachers: (Gesturing to girl in another class) In grade two she always hit me. <br /> <br />Girl to boy: You hit me too! <br /> <br />Boy to girl: You read my diary! <br /> <br />Girl to teachers: See!? What kind of boy is that?! (looks appalled).</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhGj1EJeI/AAAAAAAAAX4/ldGW26Luog0/s1600-h/Journal%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Journal" border="0" alt="Journal" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhHafQZdI/AAAAAAAAAX8/aV2UjcdjTQY/Journal_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="176" /></a> </p> <p>5. My kids thought I lived at GDA. Specifically, they thought that I lived in my classroom. It’s named Montreal Class. They had a giant discussion about it with me. I slept under the table and ate in the closet. For some reason, my partner-teacher, Anthony, lived in the staffroom (as opposed to his classroom). He ate in the kitchen (seems unfair!). The awesome thing was that they were 100% serious. They were shocked when I explained I lived in an apartment.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhIJl8pfI/AAAAAAAAAYA/0MbpB9UmPHc/s1600-h/GDA%20-%20my%20home.%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="GDA - my home." border="0" alt="GDA - my home." src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhIoiQCeI/AAAAAAAAAYE/fVDmpVrwcDk/GDA%20-%20my%20home._thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="415" height="277" /></a> </p> <p>6. In all the 22 Remembrance Days I’ve lived through, I remained completely ignorant to the fact that half-way across the world people were buying bulk orders of chocolate-covered-cookie-sticks and spending the day passing them out to… well. everyone. That’s right. On November 11th, Korea celebrates PEPERO day. Pepero is a fancy name for a chocolate-covered-cookie-stick. I’ve seen them reach a length of over 1.5 feet. That’s one big chocolate-covered-cookie-stick. Anyway, on this date, everyone seems to bestow chocolate-covered-cookie-sticks to everyone else in celebration of the fact that November 11th’s date looks like four giant Peperos when its written like this: 1111. I’m not really sure why this is so exciting… but man, the Pepero makers sure struck it rich off that observation. Remembrance Day was celebrated in style this year. I was probably given over 50 sticks. I can’t eat them due to the gluten-thing :)Peperos anyone?</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhJucOgiI/AAAAAAAAAYI/4Ufpz4AQhN0/s1600-h/Peperos%21%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Peperos!" border="0" alt="Peperos!" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhKg9UVjI/AAAAAAAAAYM/ygDvZNIfxiM/Peperos%21_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="378" height="397" /></a> </p> <p>7. Teaching children how to express their emotions in a foreign language can be quite interesting. First, they think you’re happy. Then really happy. After cycling through ‘surprised’, ‘angry’, ‘sad’, ‘scared’, and make it back to ‘very happy’ they think that you’re suffering from a massive crisis and are developing severe mood swings. The reactions of children to such lessons vary.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhLUeFbEI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/msdRlRg4KpE/s1600-h/1907180%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="1907180" border="0" alt="1907180" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhMFc5VMI/AAAAAAAAAYU/YA5pc7dTCeg/1907180_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhMz4Q-eI/AAAAAAAAAYY/i_cCSBaj0BI/s1600-h/190527%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="190527" border="0" alt="190527" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhNj2s7vI/AAAAAAAAAYc/foxhLhuzzOs/190527_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhOZAexGI/AAAAAAAAAYg/I7EKL-96Agg/s1600-h/185218%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="185218" border="0" alt="185218" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhPElKzjI/AAAAAAAAAYk/SCbhDeucxRQ/185218_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhPxxNI8I/AAAAAAAAAYo/AovaJbnsP3A/s1600-h/1908030%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="1908030" border="0" alt="1908030" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhQUwLsUI/AAAAAAAAAYs/63jRDoBrFTY/1908030_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhRdW2y7I/AAAAAAAAAYw/RVKVrB3XS28/s1600-h/1908320%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="1908320" border="0" alt="1908320" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhRwFe7xI/AAAAAAAAAY0/yRuagonmCZg/1908320_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>        <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhS1dXHAI/AAAAAAAAAY4/vli5R-MJrMA/s1600-h/1906520%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="1906520" border="0" alt="1906520" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhTqpZRbI/AAAAAAAAAY8/AJmrp-coip4/1906520_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhMz4Q-eI/AAAAAAAAAYY/i_cCSBaj0BI/s1600-h/190527%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="190527" border="0" alt="190527" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhNj2s7vI/AAAAAAAAAYc/foxhLhuzzOs/190527_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Wouldn’t you be confused?</p> <p>8. Even if they don’t know the words, Korean children will sing with great gusto. GREAT gusto. “THERE WAS A MMMAMMMRRRRR WHO HAD AFFOOG AND IINGO WAS HISSSSAAMMMMMOOOO”. Practically angelic.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhUfS06hI/AAAAAAAAAZA/N467wmey41g/s1600-h/IMG_1352%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1352" border="0" alt="IMG_1352" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhVEMtTjI/AAAAAAAAAZE/df99Ksb0wJU/IMG_1352_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhWIB2MDI/AAAAAAAAAZI/AG5GKpbffTE/s1600-h/IMG_1351%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1351" border="0" alt="IMG_1351" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhXOaKaXI/AAAAAAAAAZM/gbHJM5zbUIk/IMG_1351_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>  </p> <p>9. My neighbours (who don’t speak any English) love to give things to me. They are very sweet people, and have been very generous! In addition to their lovely smiles, there is one lady who gives me a full carton of milk every time she sees me, a couple guys at the grocery store next-door who will run over to me and give me fruit (plums and tangerines!), and today my next-door neighbour (whom I just met today) proceeded to run into her apartment and come back with four plump tomatoes for me :) What lovely people they have over here! If they could read English, I would write them happy thank-you notes :) Since they can’t, I’m settling for big smiles and thank-you’s. I’m going to repay them somehow though… They’ve made my day on numerous occasions. Such things are very rare in Canada. </p> <p>Remind me to make brownies or something for my neighbours when I return to Canada.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhXyN3j6I/AAAAAAAAAZQ/S3oT6YlvWjo/s1600-h/Gifts%20from%20neighbours%20take%201%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Gifts from neighbours take 1" border="0" alt="Gifts from neighbours take 1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhYfB0HKI/AAAAAAAAAZU/eRoy2d5j1eA/Gifts%20from%20neighbours%20take%201_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhZPOet2I/AAAAAAAAAZY/slCMlB5m26w/s1600-h/Gifts%20from%20lovely%20neighbours%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Gifts from lovely neighbours" border="0" alt="Gifts from lovely neighbours" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhZsvXzSI/AAAAAAAAAZc/0Fj4qb6p1BQ/Gifts%20from%20lovely%20neighbours_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>10. My afternoon kindergarteners are really funny. Unintentionally so. For example:</p> <p>Me to Wina: “You are from Korea, and you live in Bundang.” <br />Wina: “I live in Bundang!” <br />Me: “Ok, try to answer my question: Where do you live?” <br />Wina: “I live in a cave.” <br /> <br />I never found out where that answer came from. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhanjJy3I/AAAAAAAAAZg/G5bcv-LZsWk/s1600-h/Earth%20Sign%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Earth Sign" border="0" alt="Earth Sign" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhbRLeQpI/AAAAAAAAAZk/6vef4WzMsDA/Earth%20Sign_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="172" height="244" /></a></p> <p>11. With the proper pre-Korea planning, all Canadians can enjoy delightful meals of POUTINE while in Korea. Just bring along gravy mix, spices and buy some mozza-cheese from COSTCO once you’ve arrived and you’re all set. Mmmmmm Canadian food tastes so good. This is actual photo proof of such culinary achievement in Korea.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhcD3zKJI/AAAAAAAAAZo/fb7arQ0wZzs/s1600-h/IMG_0998%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0998" border="0" alt="IMG_0998" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhcyB_fNI/AAAAAAAAAZs/A-U6gk6IKxQ/IMG_0998_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="532" /></a> </p> <p>12. I have amazing friends and family :) Thank-you to all the people who have sent me letters/cards :) I absolutely love reading them! I have you on a list and I’ll be sending you Christmas cards in the near future :) </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhdolDuhI/AAAAAAAAAZw/uozdPWBDzGE/s1600-h/Cards%20from%20home%21%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Cards from home!" border="0" alt="Cards from home!" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SvvhemPh_pI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/sFsMV2jSi9Y/Cards%20from%20home%21_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="391" height="514" /></a> </p> <p>Even if you haven’t sent cards/letters, I probably still think you’re awesome ;) Have a lovely day/night everyone!</p> <p>That’s about it for now! I hope you’re all doing well :) <br />~Katie</p> Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241615196663766529noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-71640631816371619962009-10-22T19:47:00.001+09:002009-10-22T20:23:04.700+09:00The awesome life of an ESL teacher:<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4Ez4_PsI/AAAAAAAAAVg/-Uk7NjCgz9M/s1600-h/IMG_1062%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1062" border="0" alt="IMG_1062" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4FpArj9I/AAAAAAAAAVk/ayjPpjDEcDY/IMG_1062_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="391" height="515" /></a> <p>The life of an ESL teacher at GDA Junior, Bundang, brings with it much excitement; but along side the hard times are the wonderful moments where you could just about melt over the sweetness of some kids, or perhaps grin in deep amusement at the blunt, honest ways in which kids approach each other, or laugh aloud at the hilariousness that can happen when meanings get lost in translation.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4GWQhbrI/AAAAAAAAAVo/-tWyA_Gattw/s1600-h/IMG_1348%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1348" border="0" alt="IMG_1348" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4HAj5VCI/AAAAAAAAAVs/po-WLpTa6EI/IMG_1348_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="532" /></a> </p> <p>Here are some of my favourite memories as of late:</p> <ul> <li>(While with my 9 year olds): <br />Me: “Ok guys, who knows what the word ‘wonder’ means? <br /> <br />Jack: Teacher, it’s like this… (stops and pretends to think… then gets an insanely happy look on his face) “There teacher! I wonder about a gorgeous girl!” <br /> <br /></li> <li>(After a particularly long day with my six-year-olds, while reviewing vocabulary words"): <br />Me: “Who can give me a sentence with the word ‘beautiful’ in it?” <br /> <br />Harry L: “OH! OH! TEACHER! I KNOW!” <br /> <br />Me: “Ok Harry L.! Raise your hand!” <br /> <br />(Enthusiastic waving of hand) Harry L. Blurts out “Teacher! You’re beautiful!” (Harry L. beams) <br /></li> </ul> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4Hx_Z1NI/AAAAAAAAAVw/zvMWcE7DQRM/s1600-h/Korea%20032%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Korea 032" border="0" alt="Korea 032" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4IvOyuRI/AAAAAAAAAV0/7TuXOjUO66w/Korea%20032_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="551" /></a> </p> <ul> <li>(While correcting nine-year-old Belle’s homework – writing vocabulary words in a sentence): <br /> <br />“Shining: Katie teacher is shining.” <br /> <br /> <br /></li> <li>(Alan got glasses one day and some of the kids were making fun of him): <br /> <br />Rachel to Alan: “You’ve got glass eyes!” <br /> <br />Kelly to Rachel: “Rachel, you have glass eyes too!” <br /> <br />Rachel to Kelly: “noooo! Mommy said that’s ok!” <br /> <br />Sue to Alan: “Alan, I think that’s ok because your glass eyes make you look really cute (beams at him)” <br /> <br />Alan: (*giggle*) <br /> <br />Me to Alan: “Hear that Alan! Sue thinks you’re handsome with your new glasses! And, she’s right – you are looking very handsome this morning :)” <br /> <br />Alan to me: “Teacher, handsome is what?” <br /> <br />Me to Alan: “Um, handsome is like… man-beautiful!?” <br /> <br />Harry L.: “Teacher, am I man-beautiful too?” <br /> <br />Will: “Me too?” <br /> <br />Harry P: “Me too?” <br /> <br />Me to boys (with big grin): “Yes boys, you are all man-beautiful.”</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4JcnsXBI/AAAAAAAAAV4/aEPwOYtDcl4/s1600-h/Korea%20025%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Korea 025" border="0" alt="Korea 025" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4KOLBZsI/AAAAAAAAAV8/HsriE07bKHc/Korea%20025_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="416" height="547" /></a> </p> <p> <br /></p> <ul> <li>(While walking down the hall to get the snacks, I encountered a small boy from Jen’s class – about 5 years old. Walking in earnest beside me, he looks up and…): <br /> <br />boy to me: “Hello, I’m Justin. What’s your name?!” <br /> <br />Me to Justin: “My name is Katie teacher! Are you in Jen teacher’s class?” <br /> <br />Justin to me: “Yes. Nice to meet you! How are you today?” <br /> <br />Me to Justin: “I’m doing pretty well! How are you?” <br /> <br />Justin to me: “I am very HAPPY!” (he then runs away laughing). <br /> <br /> <br /></li> <li>There was the time where the kids were having a massive conversation about a special sheet of paper. I still don’t know what made the sheet so special, or why they were talking about it… The problem was that they couldn’t properly pronounce ‘sheet’. I spent a good 5 minutes getting them to pronounce the ‘eeeeeeeeee’ sound instead of the [it] sound. Those poor kids. I hope they figure it out eventually. <br /> <br /> <br /></li> <li>(While in class, during lunchtime): <br />Rachel to me: “Teacher, I want to change my name.” <br /> <br />Me to Rachel: “What do you want to change your name to?” <br /> <br />Rachel to me: “Teacher, I want to change my name to… (she pauses for a second to build suspense, then, in a moment of complete drama, she flings her head around to cause a giant hair swoosh, gives me a dramatic, intense look, and proclaims…) RACHE.”</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4K1rvEJI/AAAAAAAAAWA/1mW67fSpJ_0/s1600-h/IMG_1133%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1133" border="0" alt="IMG_1133" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4Lk0RD8I/AAAAAAAAAWE/1GT_kK03RYw/IMG_1133_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="388" height="510" /></a> </p> <ul> <li>(Seconds after Rachel changes her name): <br />Will to me: “Teacher, I want to change my name too!” <br /> <br />Me to Will: “To what Will?” <br /> <br />Will to me: “WILLIAM” <br /> <br />Me to Will: “Why William and not Will?” <br /> <br />Will: “Because, everybody go WIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLL when they mad at me and now they can’t go. Now, they have to just go WILLIAM. And that is all.” <br /> <br />(Will crosses out the name “Will” on a nearby worksheet and in rebellion writes WILLEAM” <br /> <br /> <br /></li> <li>While completing an exercise in their “Exploring Writing” texts, my students came across the following details and instructions: <br /> <br />Firefighters put out fires, rescue people and help people who can’t get to a doctor. Answer the following questions: <br />1. What do firefighters do? __________________________________________. <br /> <br />Students to me: Teacher! We don’t know! <br /> <br />Me: “Ok guys, lets read the top part again” <br />(They read it out loud) <br /> <br />Students: “Teeaacchhhheeerrrrrrr. UGH!” <br /> <br />Me: “Come on guys! We finish this and its playtime! Think really hard. What do firefighters do?” <br /> <br />Class: “They put out fires.” <br /> <br />Me: “Ok, that’s one thing that they do, what else?” <br /> <br />Class: “Teacher, how do you spell ‘put’?” <br /> <br />Me: “Its written right here” (I point at their books) <br /> <br />Class: “Teacher, how do you spell ‘fire’?” <br /> <br />Me: “It’s written right here guys! Make sure you look at the text!” <br /> <br />Class: “Teeeaaachhhheerrr. UGH!” <br /> <br />Me: “Ok, firefighters put out fires. They p-u-t… o-u-t… f-i-r-e-s.” <br /> <br />(Actual responses discovered while marking their work): <br />“Firefighters are people.” <br />“Fire.” <br />“I don’t know teacher.”</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4MaJzXHI/AAAAAAAAAWI/6oYbAygqRss/s1600-h/IMG_1075%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1075" border="0" alt="IMG_1075" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4M5Hnr7I/AAAAAAAAAWM/vyeQ7X-_8V8/IMG_1075_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="413" height="314" /></a> <br /></p> <ul> <li>(During the next activity, the assignment was “Write a thank-you note to your local firefighters”) <br /> <br />Class: “Teeeaacchhheeeerrrr, how do you spell firefighters?” <br /> <br />Me: “Guys, I want you to look in the book.” <br /> <br />Class: “Teacher, how do you spell thank-you?” <br /> <br />Me: “Try to look in the book.” <br /> <br />Harry L.: “Teacher, how do you spell handsome?” <br /> <br />Me: “Huh?” <br /> <br />Harry L.: “Teacher, how do you spell handsome?” <br />(I love his randomness :) <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4NnfWN6I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/EmyAU6QWX3g/s1600-h/IMG_1072%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1072" border="0" alt="IMG_1072" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4Odc24XI/AAAAAAAAAWU/brpA5wYoi88/IMG_1072_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="351" height="462" /></a> </li> <li>(While the rest of the kids simply wrote “Thank-you firefighters, Harry L. wrote a masterpiece of child-creativity):</li> <p>"Thank-you. You save my baby. Dear firefighter thank you. <br />here is a meat. Thank-you it is very dilishas. <br />Thank-you it is very beautiful. <br />thank-you it is willy willy nice. <br />Thank-you it is very very beautiful and whondlful. <br />Thank-you it is very handsome.”</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4O02ZiII/AAAAAAAAAWY/Smj5Hse9b3Q/s1600-h/Harry%20L%27s%20Masterpiece%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Harry L's Masterpiece" border="0" alt="Harry L's Masterpiece" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4PkBwRVI/AAAAAAAAAWc/qw0ZJ6Hz6vI/Harry%20L%27s%20Masterpiece_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="447" /></a> <br /></p> <li>(Earlier in his writings, it was asked what he wanted to be and why. He replied that he wanted to be a firefighter or a doctor, because…):</li> <p>"I help a people. <br />I rescue a people. <br />I save a people."</p> <p>Sounds like a new firefighter/doctor’s motto to me :)</p> </ul> <p> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4QVdQ42I/AAAAAAAAAXI/qKU6xgjZKNo/s1600-h/IMG_1381%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1381" border="0" alt="IMG_1381" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4Q8-r1ZI/AAAAAAAAAXM/emhReXufDUQ/IMG_1381_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="412" height="272" /></a></p> <ul> <li>(Background info: Harry P. loves attention. He craves attention. He will do ANYTHING for attention. He is also very pushy when he doesn’t get attention. At this point, I was very tired with him, and was willing him to stop poking, yelling and pulling at my arm/sleeve/pen/pencil/etc. My attempts at having him sit down and quietly complete his work were proving futile) <br /> <br />(Michelle, in her innocent,blunt, ‘precisely what I was thinking’ sort of way stepped up in the battle to bring Harry P. back down to normal behaviour): <br /> <br />Harry P.: EVERYBODY! EVERYBODY! LOOK AT ME! (he is currently holding paper over the garbage can and has a pair of scissors posed in a threatening way). <br /> <br />Harry P.: EVERYBODY! EVERYBODY! I AM GOING TO CUT THE PAPER! (waits for people to look. no one does). <br /> <br />Harry P.: MICHELLE! MICHELLE! (pokes Michelle repeatedly and waits for her to watch) MICHELLE! I AM GOING TO CUT SOME PAPER! <br /> <br />Michelle (without looking up): “Harry P. You speak a lot of words but say nothing. Stop talking please.” <br /> <br />Harry P.: (looks baffled, cuts the paper, and then goes and sits down at the table – note: he was not overly hurt by this, mainly just confused.)</li> </ul> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4RlhgjhI/AAAAAAAAAWo/Vv8TgZV8qos/s1600-h/IMG_1069%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1069" border="0" alt="IMG_1069" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4Sbrwk4I/AAAAAAAAAWs/poYch9SSa3s/IMG_1069_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="412" height="313" /></a> <br /></p> <ul> <li>(While “A Whole New World” is playing in the classroom during Arts and Crafts"): <br /> <br />Rachel to class: “OH! OH! I KNOW THIS SONG!” <br /> <br />Kelly: “You know words?” <br /> <br />Rachel: “Yes. Words I know.” <br /> <br />Harry L.: “What the words?” <br /> <br />Rachel: “I know words” (starts humming) <br /> <br />Harry L.: “Noooo, you just make noise! No words!” <br /> <br />Rachel (with sincerity): “I know them. Um,,, ‘A WOOO WOOO OOOORD. A WAA WOOO BA BEE DEE BE BOOOO. LAA LAA KA MAAA LAA LOOO… um…” <br /> <br />Kelly: “You no know words.” <br /> <br />Rachel: “I know music.”</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4S6B1OUI/AAAAAAAAAWw/YRrfpHrtBwk/s1600-h/IMG_1350%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1350" border="0" alt="IMG_1350" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4TkvCtvI/AAAAAAAAAW0/JN7AC-2stcU/IMG_1350_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="395" height="520" /></a> </p> <p>And, then of course there are the massive hugs and the “KAATTIIIIEEE TEEEEAAAACCCHHHHHEEEEEER – YAAAYYYYY!” Moments that just make this whole tough-job-on-the-other-side-of-the-world seem pretty crazy good. <br /></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4UUn93NI/AAAAAAAAAW4/H2abH0jr7Lw/s1600-h/IMG_1349%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1349" border="0" alt="IMG_1349" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4VOYw-TI/AAAAAAAAAW8/fgC3kGRtdVU/IMG_1349_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="399" height="521" /></a> <br />What a bunch of nuts :) The kiddies sure have their cute moments. In fact, I’m glad I finally sat down and wrote up this blog – it’s almost made me forget my super crazy day :) I really do love these kids, and as much as they drive me insane sometimes, I don’t think I would give a single one of them up to a different teacher if I could :) All it takes to completely change a hard day around is a good laugh with my 6-year-olds, a dance party with my 5-year-old princesses (complete with spins, leaps, twirls, ‘walking on teacher’s feet’ and ‘pick-em-up and slow dance’ moves), a hardcore game of ‘make the shape’ with my afternoon kindergarteners or ‘act out the vocabulary words’ with my older kids and all is well :) <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4V9CtshI/AAAAAAAAAXA/twSRfZjU1No/s1600-h/Sue%20and%20I%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Sue and I" border="0" alt="Sue and I" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SuA4WdmcQHI/AAAAAAAAAXE/kh3A7jkV-2g/Sue%20and%20I_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="261" height="381" /></a>  <br />It is now time for me to buckle down and do my lesson plans for November (due tomorrow). It should be fun! I hope you’re all doing well back in Canada and that today is beautiful for you :) </p> Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241615196663766529noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-17054974073057286302009-10-04T15:42:00.001+09:002009-10-04T16:30:49.169+09:00And I’m back! Chuseok holiday - part 1 :)<p>Back and blogging that is. Gracious, it’s been awhile! Now that I’ve tackled a cold and a [almost] conquered a determined flu bug, here’s some awesome new stuff from Korea :) OH! And Jacob (Jen’s boyfriend) has also arrived since the last post :) Welcome to Korea my friend!<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshDx2xJgwI/AAAAAAAAATM/mUExKZYsXzc/s1600-h/IMG_1190%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1190" border="0" alt="IMG_1190" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshDy2t2gJI/AAAAAAAAATQ/ccJ2wxqkOnc/IMG_1190_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="417" height="321" /></a>Ok. Here in Korea they celebrate a holiday known as ‘Chuseok’. I’ve been told that it’s kinda like Korean Thanksgiving… Being that we’re in Asia though, it’s actually nothing like either Canadian nor American Thanksgiving in terms of appareance. It’s something entirely new and special. The above picture features about half of the GDA morning kindergarten kids wearing their special outfits – Hanboks.</p> <p>Let us zoom in on my children for a second…<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshDzrFoEEI/AAAAAAAAATU/CxMc8vvv544/s1600-h/IMG_1190-1%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1190-1" border="0" alt="IMG_1190-1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshD0oX69uI/AAAAAAAAATY/g57bN8hvIaM/IMG_1190-1_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="375" /></a> Please note that not a single one of them is looking to their left, where the camera was, and where they were directed to look. It was a long day. I had no voice at all, and watching over the eight kids in a public park was quite a task :) They are cute though eh?</p> <p>The school celebrated the holiday with great passion, renting Hanboks for even us foreigners. Huge in dimension, the dress poofed enough to make any prom dress blush and allowed me a bit of insight into what prom may have been like…<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshD1dsnwmI/AAAAAAAAATc/pnLfkueZ3Cg/s1600-h/IMG_1117%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1117" border="0" alt="IMG_1117" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshD19kkoBI/AAAAAAAAATg/RsnqTTcNKi8/IMG_1117_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="429" height="410" /></a> For all the guys out there wondering “but what would I get to wear at Chuseok?” – don’t worry! Here is a photo featuring Jacob, who in combination with Jen got to sport the lovely ‘couple's Hanboks’. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshEY0SSjBI/AAAAAAAAATk/FL-067PUwDg/s1600-h/IMG_1116%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1116" border="0" alt="IMG_1116" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshEZn2wmkI/AAAAAAAAATo/4ojajQldMpY/IMG_1116_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="600" /></a> </p> <p>The kids all brought their own outfits :) Here are my lovely ladies!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshNqCFj5WI/AAAAAAAAATs/jto4hwwOt8k/s1600-h/IMG_1126%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1126" border="0" alt="IMG_1126" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshNq0GPDiI/AAAAAAAAATw/WhLeglcH0X4/IMG_1126_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="412" height="313" /></a> </p> <p>Here are the handsome gentlemen. I’m not sure how Harry P and Alan managed to make themselves looked conjoined, but Will and Harry L look as sweet as they normally do :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshNr_H8QxI/AAAAAAAAAT0/RIbvP7OYjXA/s1600-h/IMG_1127%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1127" border="0" alt="IMG_1127" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshNssbUwCI/AAAAAAAAAT4/jWXZgJf_5ew/IMG_1127_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="418" height="318" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>And just because I love my kids and think they looked so beautiful/handsome in their outfits, here are some more pictures from their proud teacher :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshNtcu9uuI/AAAAAAAAAT8/jWvr4EiA_IU/s1600-h/IMG_1125%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1125" border="0" alt="IMG_1125" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshNuqROecI/AAAAAAAAAUA/fqBhSs4uvE8/IMG_1125_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="407" height="536" /></a>Michelle and Sue :)  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshNvhzT25I/AAAAAAAAAUE/kouRchWnHUY/s1600-h/IMG_1123%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1123" border="0" alt="IMG_1123" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshNweVvirI/AAAAAAAAAUI/v8puxeB7UaA/IMG_1123_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="416" height="320" /></a>Kelly, Will, Harry L, and Miss Rachel :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshNxN6FAdI/AAAAAAAAAUM/7TXjNzQuFg8/s1600-h/IMG_1133%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1133" border="0" alt="IMG_1133" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshNx1zK2-I/AAAAAAAAAUQ/PeyP7e10jnk/IMG_1133_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="422" height="552" /></a> Harry L, Rachel (the heartbreaker ;), and Will (the ladies man) :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshNypVUQNI/AAAAAAAAAUU/W1czRfPEV6o/s1600-h/IMG_1137%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1137" border="0" alt="IMG_1137" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshNzVpsGlI/AAAAAAAAAUY/OinoNqYse1c/IMG_1137_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="423" height="322" /></a> Traditional Korean dancing? :)<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshN0P7k1aI/AAAAAAAAAUc/7UPhHdEKR6o/s1600-h/IMG_1138%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1138" border="0" alt="IMG_1138" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshN0-6RoHI/AAAAAAAAAUk/aS2Tk8NjlSc/IMG_1138_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="421" height="320" /></a> Cooking up traditional Korean Chuseok treats (rice and sugar balls…)<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshN1p9lUZI/AAAAAAAAAUo/Z21XGEYUrUU/s1600-h/IMG_1168%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1168" border="0" alt="IMG_1168" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshN2UDM8pI/AAAAAAAAAUs/rFCfK-5EJVI/IMG_1168_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="542" /></a>My beautiful Michelle with one of the Korean teachers :) I love her smile :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshN3Gb7zPI/AAAAAAAAAUw/N-r_JEKKLyI/s1600-h/IMG_1181%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1181" border="0" alt="IMG_1181" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshN3wxQPRI/AAAAAAAAAU0/0OsIcCNI3dc/IMG_1181_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="412" height="313" /></a> Rachel preparing to throw her ‘spear’ in a traditional Korean game :)</p> <p>And finally, since my old core and support classes have been combined, I now have a new support class featuring these lovely young (5 year old) ladies:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshN4r1YbQI/AAAAAAAAAU4/IRTSyaOrS44/s1600-h/IMG_1143%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1143" border="0" alt="IMG_1143" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshN5UfGYTI/AAAAAAAAAU8/RBFub16B-oM/IMG_1143_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="412" height="539" /></a> Jessica the little cutie. She speaks almost no English and only knows how to say “Hi, my name is Jeshhica” and then she’ll beam at you :)</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshN6KcEGKI/AAAAAAAAAVA/Xt_2ZYLE-Ac/s1600-h/IMG_1146%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1146" border="0" alt="IMG_1146" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshN6yn5uUI/AAAAAAAAAVE/uvQI8M8xS5g/IMG_1146_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="542" /></a></p> <p>Sarah the little punk :) But a cute punk. She’s the “no!” kid. You know the type. The one who has learned the word and is determined to use it anytime she wants ;) But, she likes to dance. So we just dance and she will eventually start listening!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshN74fKdFI/AAAAAAAAAVI/BegJWdgo290/s1600-h/IMG_1193%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1193" border="0" alt="IMG_1193" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshN8p1juEI/AAAAAAAAAVM/UhkYixnqmo8/IMG_1193_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="424" height="322" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>Rachel (background) – the super sweet perfect student with the crazy mother, and Kate (foreground) the attention-loving, attitude giving princess with a charming little smile :)</p> <p>and finally, my little ray of sunshine:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshN9KurIQI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/0XpYC3c9Rwc/s1600-h/IMG_1192%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1192" border="0" alt="IMG_1192" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshN-LUojmI/AAAAAAAAAVU/mvEKJFQWx18/IMG_1192_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="423" height="550" /></a>This is Miss Amy. I love this kid so much. She just beams with happiness, listens perfectly, and has a nice mother. She’s the kid that runs to give you a hug when you’re a bit grumpy on a Monday morning, or who smiles and says “teacher, Octopus dance?” when we’re trying to learn the Letter “O”. Indeed, the Octopus dance was a smash hit and teacher and students left the class mutually happy that day. What a beautiful child. I’m sure from now on the name Amy will bring happy memories of this kid into my heart. <br /> <br />Now that I’ve gushed about Amy for a bit, I also feel inclined to point out Harry L in this picture. Bahahaa. What a kid.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshN-lT34jI/AAAAAAAAAVY/T1S9uN4bBYk/s1600-h/IMG_1192-1%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_1192-1" border="0" alt="IMG_1192-1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SshN_bsW-wI/AAAAAAAAAVc/XkUpZtFwfzs/IMG_1192-1_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="187" height="290" /></a> Ok. That’s about it for now. This is part 1 of probably about 4 blog entries that I will be posting in the next few days :) Check back later to read more about my lovely vacation featuring the purchase of two essential kitchen items (oh the suspense!), and the second trip to the Aquarium (sans enfants). :) Woooooo! </p> <p>Here’s wishing you all a HAPPY CHUSEOK! <br />~Katie</p> Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241615196663766529noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-80190017408658159992009-09-14T19:19:00.001+09:002009-10-04T16:31:24.892+09:00All in a day’s work. Or, more appropriately, all in 5 minutes’ work.<p>here is the dialog: <br /> <br />"BOYS! Don't play with the hand sanitizer! It'll get the floor wet and someone will get hurt." <br />"BOYS! DON'T DO THAT!" <br />"BOYS!" <br />"Girls, don't run" <br /> <br /><b>Elizabeth runs, slips in the hand sanitizer and clutches her arm.</b> <br /><b>The big boss takes Elizabeth to hospital. <br /></b> <br />Belle to me "Teacher, my leg is bleeding" <br />Me to Belle "What? Oh, my, it is. How did THAT happen?" <br />Belle "I don't know." <br />Me to Belle "Um, one second… grab some tissues!" <br /><b> <br />*Sally keeps reading out loud* <br /></b> <br />Joon to me "TEACHER! MY TEETH ARE BLEEDING!" <br />Me to Joon "Well, stop wiggling and poking at them :)" <br />Joon "BUT TEACHER! THEY ARE BLEEDING!" <br />Me "Well, stop poking at them and the bleeding will stop." <br /><b>Joon pokes his teeth and gums</b> <br />Joon "SEE TEACHER! THEY ARE BLEEDING!" <br />Me "If you stop touching them, they will stop bleeding" <br /> <br />Belle "I'm still bleeding" <br /><b> <br />*Sally keeps reading out loud*</b> <br /><b> <br />Jack starts to clucks like a chicken and frantically starts saying "TEACHER! TEACHER! BLOOD!!!" <br /> <br />~*~ <br /> <br />Hahaha. Gotta love kids.</b></p> Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241615196663766529noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-14758211499526558392009-09-05T12:40:00.001+09:002009-10-04T16:32:13.798+09:00How do you teach children the meaning of words like “about”, “except” and “would” when they don’t understand the words used to define them?<p>You draw comics about hamburgers and hope that the repetition of the words somehow implants meaning into their brains.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SqHdsUN1pNI/AAAAAAAAAS0/Iq8Op9Kh7K4/s1600-h/IMG_1093%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_1093" border="0" alt="IMG_1093" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SqHdtauuKGI/AAAAAAAAAS4/7PgFnNxwkUY/IMG_1093_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="430" height="334" /></a> When teaching verbs, draw big information sheets and make them rewrite the definitions. That way, they at least know what to say if someone asks them what a verb is. We’re still working on the comprehension part of the learning process ;)</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SqHdtzPlncI/AAAAAAAAAS8/xxGzBCp5vYg/s1600-h/IMG_1096%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1096" border="0" alt="IMG_1096" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SqHduh4KezI/AAAAAAAAATA/YHbz9PQFdBY/IMG_1096_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="426" height="557" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SqHdvSvpQqI/AAAAAAAAATE/4SLIUKd9wns/s1600-h/IMG_1097%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_1097" border="0" alt="IMG_1097" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SqHdwfpP2qI/AAAAAAAAATI/tu0sM3w1bgs/IMG_1097_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="424" height="554" /></a> </p> <p>Oh, and since the last post I’ve been given 15 brand new students (ranging from age 3-9). FIFTEEN! Oh, and my core and support classes were combined to form one awesome class of eight. Welcome to my class Rachel, Kelly and Will.</p> Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241615196663766529noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-16102881434813820212009-08-27T19:04:00.001+09:002009-10-04T16:33:34.190+09:00Here they are: The Kiddies :)<p>Well, I’ve had a CRAZY few weeks! Since my last real post: the internet was lost and then regained a week and some later, I’ve been through exams, report cards and lesson plan making for the kids, I’ve created my portion of a unit test, corrected countless homework pages, made a multitude of paper caterpillars, flowers, bumble bees and trees, and have been had one of my fave afternoon classes canceled… and replaced with 7 new kindergarteners teaching the most intro of English courses availible. Oh, and I’ve lost two kids from my IK support class. But I’ll talk more about that later :) For now, here they are~ My Intensive Kindergarten ‘homeroom’:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZZx9BsrLI/AAAAAAAAAQk/4_W5K6cqRbo/s1600-h/Korea%20010%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Korea 010" border="0" alt="Korea 010" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZZywgpdHI/AAAAAAAAAQo/XQvvLcSDHv4/Korea%20010_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="418" height="318" /></a></p> <p>(Left to right: Sue, Alan, Michelle, Me, Harry P. and Harry L. is the kid doing the peace sign :) <br /> <br />For our August fieldtrip we went to the Coex Aquarium in Seoul. I’m convinced that I didn’t even look at a single fish – with five kids to keep track of and the inconvienent truth that all Asian children look alike from behind, I prayed constantly I wouldn’t lose one of them in the mass that was *seven* kindergarten schools combined into one fish museum. Yes, it seemed to be national fieldtrip day… and it didn’t help that most of the schools seemed to have the white and blue uniforms in abundance. We made it out alive, with the kids enjoying themselves and the teachers trying not to panic. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZZznSbgBI/AAAAAAAAAQs/OsCvZ6lUMkQ/s1600-h/Korea%20012%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Korea 012" border="0" alt="Korea 012" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZZ0aZdzgI/AAAAAAAAAQw/1QOpnBKup34/Korea%20012_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="423" height="327" /></a></p> <p>These are the typical looks of Harry L. and Harry P. Their characters are accurately reflected in this shot. Harry L. is the serious, contemplative thinker of the group. He is going through the lovely “why?!” phase, and uses this favourite word at least 10034 times per class. Harry P. loves attention and spends his time trying to look cute. When he’s not looking cute and being brilliant he’s usually crying because someone wants him to share 2 of his 23 blocks. These boys weren’t getting along on this day, and it’s awesome that they calmed down enough for this picture… thank goodness for the girls:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZZ1aTXSoI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/uKiof3zZOHU/s1600-h/Korea%20024%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Korea 024" border="0" alt="Korea 024" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZZ2Lw6hRI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/uS9s9zYCOSo/Korea%20024_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="424" height="322" /></a></p> <p>Sue and Michelle. Just wonderful kids. Sue wants to be a doctor when she grows up and spends class time being the mother for everyone else. Getting the boys tissues when they cry (Harry P. and Harry L. are both still growing into their manhood), and patching up Alan after his latest collision with ____insert any object that’s sharp here____. Michelle wants to be an artist. She is a true perfectionist when it comes to arts and crafts, spending a record hour and twenty minutes making one paper bumblebee. Sue made three bees in less than half the time. They welcome me each day with smiles and “KATIE TEACHER!!!!” enthusiasm :) Looooove them. </p> <p>The next shot was taken between “teeeaaachhhheeer. we’re hunnnnnngrrrryy / I doooonnn’t waaaannntt toooo waiiiiiiit” whines. As much as I sympathized with the little dudes, I found their looks of total dispair to be at least slightly amusing, and proceeded to photograph them. In all their anxiety, Harry L. at least managed to pull himself together enough to form his traditional “peace” sign. Classy.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZZ2xlKYqI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/1JPw3rMO48c/s1600-h/Korea%20025%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Korea 025" border="0" alt="Korea 025" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZZ3umqjUI/AAAAAAAAARA/lwKaM_4XIrk/Korea%20025_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="422" height="552" /></a> </p> <p>And then there was Alan. He rarely complains. He’s a huge cuddler and is always asking for/giving hugs. In the midst of his classmates whining, he took the opportunity to poke me and say “teacher, picture.” What a good kid. This was his chosen pose:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZZ4B0RF4I/AAAAAAAAARE/4Cn7NNmJQl8/s1600-h/Korea%20026%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Korea 026" border="0" alt="Korea 026" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZZ5H2gdUI/AAAAAAAAARI/PgZS2w8UFZo/Korea%20026_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="542" /></a></p> <p>Once I got them all fed and watered, the boys calmed down and my entire class was willing to offer me happy smiles :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZZ5skJGLI/AAAAAAAAARM/UNIcl8VasDk/s1600-h/Korea%20032%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Korea 032" border="0" alt="Korea 032" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZZ6C-X78I/AAAAAAAAARQ/ZTVn1aCZyfI/Korea%20032_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="192" height="250" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZZ68oadKI/AAAAAAAAARU/c8sYfGwTj5g/s1600-h/Korea%20033%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Korea 033" border="0" alt="Korea 033" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZZ7VqCyAI/AAAAAAAAARY/zH37T2YdRm8/Korea%20033_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="259" /></a>  </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZZ7399bBI/AAAAAAAAARc/S6mRw7zJGi0/s1600-h/Korea%20031%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Korea 031" border="0" alt="Korea 031" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZZ8qO0H_I/AAAAAAAAARg/b1_-zn8z59A/Korea%20031_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZZ9bHjHGI/AAAAAAAAASk/b27a4YweCFI/s1600-h/Korea%20034%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Korea 034" border="0" alt="Korea 034" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZZ-S7GX4I/AAAAAAAAASo/FaCAw1laOzo/Korea%20034_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZZ_aFnoTI/AAAAAAAAARs/-r9Rc4J-ur4/s1600-h/Korea%20035%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Korea 035" border="0" alt="Korea 035" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZaACqNiiI/AAAAAAAAARw/okWQgjCvmv8/Korea%20035_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="408" height="537" /></a></p> <p>Well… except for Harry P. He was trying so hard not to grin it was great :) </p> <p>Then, in the midst of all the complaining children, and exhausted teachers, you have moments where the kids just win your heart:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZaAs4IClI/AAAAAAAAAR0/Md93JJSWTM8/s1600-h/Korea%20038%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Korea 038" border="0" alt="Korea 038" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZaBnK60hI/AAAAAAAAAR4/PMdSqRC5F7Y/Korea%20038_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="513" /></a></p> <p>and there is no place in the world you would rather be than sitting next to them and smiling so much your cheeks hurt for hours afterwards :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZaCZIuYOI/AAAAAAAAAR8/0VaYjqrr1KY/s1600-h/Korea%20046%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Korea 046" border="0" alt="Korea 046" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZaCyPiLgI/AAAAAAAAASA/LoCQOBixYYE/Korea%20046_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="381" height="290" /></a>  </p> <p>Next to my homeroom kids (who are called my ‘core’ class), there is another homeroom class (Anthony’s) who serves as my ‘support’ class. While I teach both my kids and Anthony’s kids Language arts five times a week, Anthony will teach his class and my class a combination of Math, Science and Social studies. Essentially, I see these kids quite a bit as well: </p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZaDiV5kQI/AAAAAAAAASE/mvA96Ms4R5g/s1600-h/Korea%20030%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Korea 030" border="0" alt="Korea 030" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZaEuSgUkI/AAAAAAAAASI/Wa67S0-fr-4/Korea%20030_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="539" /></a></p> <p>The tallest guy is obviously Anthony. He’s a great partner teacher :) The smiling boy next to him is Justin. He’s a brilliant, hyper kid. Then we have Draco. He was my star student, acing anything that was thrown at him in record time. Below Draco is Will. Will is insane. He’s fully capable of mass manipulation and he’s a true leader in every sense of the word. Luckily, Anthony and I seem to have gotten on his good side (another teacher alegedly got on his bad side and ended up quitting after a month due to stress). and in general he’s managable. Then we have Rachel sporting the stylish glasses and hair bow and Kelly.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZaFYbSPFI/AAAAAAAAASM/a3XXPuCapcA/s1600-h/Korea%20047%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Korea 047" border="0" alt="Korea 047" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZaGDnYWBI/AAAAAAAAASQ/8oOG24vUSgw/Korea%20047_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="405" height="531" /></a></p> <p>  For complicated reasons Justin and Draco ended up dropping out of GDA and heading off to another place. They will be missed! </p> <p>The only good thing about their departure is that Will will now have two less hyper children to lead in his classroom domination. He also no longer has to compete for the girls attention. Recently he decided that he’s Rachel’s man though… he wrote all about this decision in his journal for me. Poor Kelly is losing her Draco. It’s a tragic world really.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZaGpB-ahI/AAAAAAAAASU/M-9XbUAUUfE/s1600-h/Korea%20049%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Korea 049" border="0" alt="Korea 049" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZaHoGnU7I/AAAAAAAAASY/vesltXPV4tE/Korea%20049_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="405" height="529" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Finally, in honor of my ‘co-blogger’ (that’s right Jen, you’re getting the half quotes – this is my challenge for you to actually make a post ;) we have her lovely class of 10 – that’s right, TEN – 5 year olds. If you count them, there appears to only be nine children in this picture. I can assure you there are 10. Asian kids are just amazingly brilliant at camouflage. Aren’t they happy looking? :) So cute though!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZaIcsB-9I/AAAAAAAAASc/8XmFUrGzi0s/s1600-h/Korea%20028%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Korea 028" border="0" alt="Korea 028" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SpZaJP--lcI/AAAAAAAAASg/Hjx63_EFmnc/Korea%20028_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="410" height="314" /></a>    <br />Well, that’s all for now! I hope I’ve satisfied the requests for pictures of the kids :) I wish everybody a wonderful last week of summer, and a happy “back to school” for all!</p> <p>~Katie</p> Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241615196663766529noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-79120412051839716352009-08-17T10:01:00.001+09:002009-08-17T10:01:33.245+09:00Blog update coming :)<p>Don’t worry! I’ll be posting a new blog soon. The internet in my apartment has been down for awhile and shows no signs of recovery… I’m going to be talking with the admin at my school soon to see if they can call the company for me.</p> <p>Being that I can only use the internet for small spurts of time while on break or stealing it from Jen, the blog entries have been put on a brief break. I’ve got one planned though! Perhaps once the internet has been restored I will finally be able to put up some pictures of the kiddies :)</p> Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241615196663766529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-15851440657407981302009-08-05T18:15:00.001+09:002009-08-05T18:25:02.931+09:00Filled with hot air, doing loop-de-loops, kung-foo fighting and meeting Romeo.<p>Last weekend Jen and I had the pleasure of meeting up with some old ABU friends who are also living here in Korea. They were kind enough to teach us how to use the subways, bullet train and bus systems of Korea, as well as treat us to some great adventures and experiences. This blog will mainly be a picture blog… I’m horrible at remembering the place names and spellings of all these Korean places… and I figure that the pictures will be relatively self-explanatory. The following were taken in Daejeon, South Korea :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNNBc7WNI/AAAAAAAAANg/z2pJebXH29s/s1600-h/IMG_0893%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0893" border="0" alt="IMG_0893" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNNyQemCI/AAAAAAAAANk/qqUy6-EkQPo/IMG_0893_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="315" /></a> </p> <p>After eating a wonderful Korean lunch, strolling through some sort of Korean market and then experiencing a nice downpour and thunderstorm, we arrived in Daejeon. As we were on our way to an amusement park we noticed this balloon. Who doesn’t love hot-air balloons? We were perhaps abnormally excited with our close proximity to such awesomeness, and proceeded to take massive amounts of photos. Eventually, we ended up continuing on towards the park when we heard yelling behind us. A nice Korean woman caught up with us and with a combination of broken English and gestures she communicated that the people working with the balloon wanted to take us foreigners up in the balloon. “We want to take pictures!” she said. Who are we to refuse a free hot-air balloon ride?!!? Very excited, we trotted back to the balloon, ready to have our photoshoot.</p> <p>First up were Darrell and Shannon:<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNObRE2pI/AAAAAAAAANo/kM3djxSld54/s1600-h/IMG_0900%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0900" border="0" alt="IMG_0900" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNPbUl1FI/AAAAAAAAANs/DMu4GpUuHPw/IMG_0900_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="401" height="523" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>Next were Chelsea, Jen and I: </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNQMbe0lI/AAAAAAAAANw/a-F_TDcWQbc/s1600-h/IMG_0907%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0907" border="0" alt="IMG_0907" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNQ7gOBlI/AAAAAAAAAN0/TUtEGZ9Gfno/IMG_0907_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="417" height="543" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>Below is a picture of the tour bus crowd that appeared beneath us. I wonder how many pictures we are in?! It was great fun, albeit a bit loud and hot what with the blasts of flames shooting up in the air. Just ignore the scorch marks and the rip in the balloon. It was all perfectly safe I’m sure ;)</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNRtJd-cI/AAAAAAAAAN4/WNityUZJVfw/s1600-h/IMG_0906%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0906" border="0" alt="IMG_0906" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNSdCA7kI/AAAAAAAAAN8/enKPP1qhyj4/IMG_0906_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="540" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Soon, we were on our way to the park. I believe it was called Kumdori Land or something like that. I’m not good with symbol reading yet:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNTLkBmQI/AAAAAAAAAOA/A6Hz6vVbAqM/s1600-h/Kumdori%20Land%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Kumdori Land" border="0" alt="Kumdori Land" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNT_6okBI/AAAAAAAAAOE/pf32HkSbqgk/Kumdori%20Land_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="413" height="421" /></a> </p> <p>While many delight in the big rides and so forth, we initially embraced the free amusements:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNUjI42XI/AAAAAAAAAOI/sgrqrNHUW3k/s1600-h/IMG_0913%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0913" border="0" alt="IMG_0913" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNVvPse4I/AAAAAAAAAOM/ZyCI8n7U80s/IMG_0913_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="399" height="303" /></a> </p> <p>This is me being super short. Below we are being short AND stout. The little teapot would be proud.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNWdChQFI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/CIC5bh5mf94/s1600-h/IMG_0915%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0915" border="0" alt="IMG_0915" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNXA5Td6I/AAAAAAAAAOU/zx26rUjSf0o/IMG_0915_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="410" height="282" /></a> </p> <p>Next I experienced alien fingers and extreme tallness:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNX9Dt0LI/AAAAAAAAAOY/R5tmn_dQxUM/s1600-h/IMG_0917%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0917" border="0" alt="IMG_0917" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNZMBZpvI/AAAAAAAAAOc/a0yES_BoPYo/IMG_0917_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="398" height="521" /></a> </p> <p>And then met myself for the first time:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNZqbZG_I/AAAAAAAAAOg/26qmBEARoVk/s1600-h/IMG_0919%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0919" border="0" alt="IMG_0919" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNaU7jDKI/AAAAAAAAAOk/waXvzeBFChs/IMG_0919_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="514" /></a> </p> <p>Jen had an alien encounter:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNbBJHNbI/AAAAAAAAAOo/ZGAUIXKfcho/s1600-h/IMG_0922%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0922" border="0" alt="IMG_0922" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNb02uqUI/AAAAAAAAAOs/eImmqLGtgI8/IMG_0922_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="398" height="520" /></a></p> <p>We considered the Ferris Wheel: </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNcx8Q_EI/AAAAAAAAAOw/Q41-ZmVh3OA/s1600-h/IMG_0923%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0923" border="0" alt="IMG_0923" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNd16jjgI/AAAAAAAAAO0/joVMOKaeeGo/IMG_0923_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="416" height="316" /></a> But it was going super slow and the things were enclosed and strange. Instead, I tried out the Roller Coaster and the Viking Ship. Childhood was relived.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNej23QMI/AAAAAAAAAO4/co0WJzDCaJk/s1600-h/IMG_0934%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0934" border="0" alt="IMG_0934" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNfXNSH0I/AAAAAAAAAO8/RQD0W9jM80o/IMG_0934_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="424" height="324" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNf7CMuhI/AAAAAAAAAPA/B2pN6I5oiIw/s1600-h/Roller%20Coaster2%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Roller Coaster2" border="0" alt="Roller Coaster2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNgnXLiYI/AAAAAAAAAPE/U0xBpCWr4pE/Roller%20Coaster2_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="420" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNhPlWKPI/AAAAAAAAAPI/svoocezb5CM/s1600-h/Viking%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Viking" border="0" alt="Viking" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNh2uhigI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/6o2SxIj9eS8/Viking_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="422" height="295" /></a> I think we foreigners were the loudest people on the rides. Koreans are very reserved and apparently ride in nearly complete silence.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNirtYRMI/AAAAAAAAAPU/pm7Df3azWe8/s1600-h/IMG_0924%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0924" border="0" alt="IMG_0924" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNjWDMIJI/AAAAAAAAAPY/NcOsrrXBHzo/IMG_0924_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="425" height="327" /></a> Jen decided to stay grounded, and embraced… well, whatever this is:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNkNPmKII/AAAAAAAAAPc/LOTAgkDY8as/s1600-h/IMG_0948%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0948" border="0" alt="IMG_0948" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNlGWYZDI/AAAAAAAAAPg/gxPeDsIHAds/IMG_0948_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="538" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>And because everything in Korea is best described as “cute”, we were not at all surprised to find a love seat at the park:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNl8rzn3I/AAAAAAAAAPk/otsyR1jqOhI/s1600-h/IMG_0952%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0952" border="0" alt="IMG_0952" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNmjf30-I/AAAAAAAAAPo/lGhDsklYMw8/IMG_0952_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="409" height="536" /></a> </p> <p>Gotta love it.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNncWh_fI/AAAAAAAAAPs/hjQchHDfmEs/s1600-h/Katie%20and%20Jen%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Katie and Jen" border="0" alt="Katie and Jen" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNoM7jZUI/AAAAAAAAAPw/ehtjt2NqlmY/Katie%20and%20Jen_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="409" height="443" /></a> </p> <p>Then we found this:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNo5EMcMI/AAAAAAAAAP0/2k6uaAJDZuQ/s1600-h/Mace%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Mace" border="0" alt="Mace" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNpvtLuJI/AAAAAAAAAP4/ne-ybhlBixg/Mace_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="286" /></a> </p> <p>If you look close enough, you will note that the park was selling mace balloon things for kids… hahahhahaa.</p> <p>Thank-goodness for road signs. We would have gotten quite lost were it not for this sign:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNqJjqPYI/AAAAAAAAAP8/NQsjk4iTDzY/s1600-h/Earth%20Sign%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Earth Sign" border="0" alt="Earth Sign" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNq8D5KJI/AAAAAAAAAQA/4j_0wVOC3A8/Earth%20Sign_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="418" height="584" /></a> </p> <p>“Earth. Straight ahead.”</p> <p>We then continued on to dinner. And man, it was unbelievable. Soooo good. May I present “gal mae gi sal”:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNrrzQWQI/AAAAAAAAAQE/R32NWxf1IR0/s1600-h/IMG_0968%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0968" border="0" alt="IMG_0968" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNsTFPTyI/AAAAAAAAAQI/OBklZ8fdQl4/IMG_0968_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="413" height="541" /></a> </p> <p>We ate until stuffed, then moved on to a Noraebang. This is a sort of private Kareoke room that you can rent. Think somewhere along the lines of a soundproof room, complete with disco balls, tambourines, water to drink and a great many awesomely translated English songs.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNtFY7h5I/AAAAAAAAAQM/HY098CU51lk/s1600-h/Songs%202%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Songs 2" border="0" alt="Songs 2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNt2Pr8ZI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/TK5wmyZobA8/Songs%202_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="408" height="596" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>It’s hard to pick the songs, but once you’ve chosen you get to stand up, dance and belt out some tunes like you’ve never belted or danced before!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNunDLTNI/AAAAAAAAAQU/5GG6dD-a1sA/s1600-h/Kung-Foo%20Fighting%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Kung-Foo Fighting" border="0" alt="Kung-Foo Fighting" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNvJ3CNaI/AAAAAAAAAQY/yZZF-7bj5P4/Kung-Foo%20Fighting_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="401" height="273" /></a> </p> <p>Here I believe we are Kung-Foo Fighting :)</p> <p>As for the rest of the weekend, we got up for church the next morning and enjoyed a great service. It was there that we met a young guy named Romeo. All of these awesome English names will never fail to amuse me.</p> <p>Finally, we hit up Cost-co and Save-zone in an attempt to locate some dearly missed ‘American’ products such as cheese, coffee and hair conditioner. Then, Jen and I were off to find our way back home.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNvyY5YmI/AAAAAAAAAQc/IZc2X-woNfk/s1600-h/IMG_0976%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0976" border="0" alt="IMG_0976" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnlNwQrAB1I/AAAAAAAAAQg/10LyYEw-p_8/IMG_0976_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="538" /></a> </p> <p>This picture was taken from the Bullet Train. We had to ride first class because all of the economy class tickets were sold out for the entire day. Korea certainly has some nice pretty scenery.</p> <p>Overall, it was an AWESOME weekend. Thanks Darrell and Shannon for your hospitality and allowing me to steal some of your pictures for this blog :) We had a great time!</p> <p>To all you back home, I hope you’re all doing well :) Send me some email updates if you want! I love hearing how everyone is doing!</p> <p>~Kate</p> Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241615196663766529noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-74119031511992819422009-08-03T13:50:00.001+09:002009-08-03T14:04:01.256+09:00“Greeting Card mishaps, getting lost, and being found” :)<p>Well, so much has happened since my last post and there have been enough adventures to cover two blogs. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnZt2lloNhI/AAAAAAAAANY/CcvSMkeuxdk/s1600-h/AK%20Plaza%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="AK Plaza" border="0" alt="AK Plaza" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnZt3dykYhI/AAAAAAAAANc/13Gp7umiS8o/AK%20Plaza_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="405" height="278" /></a> </p> <p>AK Plaza: I confess this picture was taken off the internet – it was PACKED the day we went and to have stopped for pictures would have meant being trampled.</p> <p>Two weekends past, Jen and I set off on an adventure to a giant shopping centre known as AK Plaza. Upon reaching the facility, both she and I decided that neither one of us were big ‘mall’ fans, and attempted to find a more quaint area in which to stroll and observe Korean life. We ended up in a relatively large store which seemed to sell a bit of everything (reminded me of a cross between Chapters/Indigo, Michaels and Staples) with a small bit of a toy store thrown in for kicks. It was there that we discovered some awesome greeting cards, and were impressed to find an English card section. The only problem was that the Korean attempts to express themselves in English were a little off base… resulting in some rather humorous mistranslation of ideas:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnZsXYl_xpI/AAAAAAAAAMg/uzu2ZKNTbOc/s1600-h/IMG_0978%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0978" border="0" alt="IMG_0978" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnZsYIMJVcI/AAAAAAAAAMk/zZ9rOCNI6bA/IMG_0978_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="317" /></a> </p> <p>“Beautiful people make beautiful love like flowers in a Garden. Thank-you for your love.”</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnZsYyCwgtI/AAAAAAAAAMo/XsBc9DIB0co/s1600-h/IMG_0980%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0980" border="0" alt="IMG_0980" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnZsZs4etxI/AAAAAAAAAMs/O3KuoSIkHp8/IMG_0980_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="408" height="310" /></a> </p> <p>“YOU ARE NOT UGLY.”</p> <p>And then there were the random language swaps, where a card would start off in English, and end in French (PS – Chrissy, this is your birthday card! I have yet to find a post-office so I can mail it! I hope you had a great one!):</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnZsahZI8eI/AAAAAAAAAMw/pfat0Ux_WIo/s1600-h/IMG_0982%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0982" border="0" alt="IMG_0982" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnZsbO84AHI/AAAAAAAAAM0/eSkth9Uj634/IMG_0982_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="409" height="313" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnZsb4ocK-I/AAAAAAAAAM4/uTH9kC8Gdxs/s1600-h/IMG_0986%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0986" border="0" alt="IMG_0986" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnZscj6GewI/AAAAAAAAAM8/l7t9LRuHrgg/IMG_0986_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="418" height="319" /></a> </p> <p>“HAPPY Birthday; je te souhaite un heureux et joyeux anniversaire.”</p> <p>It was also at this store that I found my travel mug:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnZsdVKTpPI/AAAAAAAAANA/_OM06Mmamwo/s1600-h/IMG_0891%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0891" border="0" alt="IMG_0891" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnZseF8b2EI/AAAAAAAAANE/TRYYeEq0o8I/IMG_0891_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="294" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>A very blurry “loveing sky without wings.” Classic.</p> <p>After stopping off at a local coffee shop we headed home for the evening. </p> <p>The next day we set out on our 1.5 hour walk to find our English speaking church while in Korea. We only got lost twice! Eventually we found it and were pleasantly surprised to find that it’s a decent sized congregation – mainly English-speaking Koreans – who all seem really sweet. There was a great welcome centre type deal where us newcomers got to sit down with some other new people as well as meet the pastor and pray. There were a few other ‘foreigners’ who were extremely kind as well, and many people have offered to help us find our way around life in Korea. One of the young Korean girls offered to teach us how to use the subway system and got us an English copy of the subway maps. With her help we were able to get home much faster with only a half hour walk after getting off the subway. So far, Global English Ministry seems to be an awesome church, and we’re excited to be going back next week :) They also have some sort of orphanage ministry starting up again in the fall, and we’re super excited about that!</p> <p>Later that week, I got a strange knock on my door. Very persistent, someone kept yelling “Annyeong?! Annyeong?!” (translated that means “Hello?! Hello?!”), at which point I would respond with “Hello?!”. The lady sounded confused and yet kind enough to warrant a response, so I opened the door. I’ve never seen Korean women look so shocked :) Eyes wide, they bowed and handed me this:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnZse73k_wI/AAAAAAAAANI/PQMPW7Ir7Ks/s1600-h/IMG_0988%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0988" border="0" alt="IMG_0988" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnZsfplRGPI/AAAAAAAAANM/ujkgtE7OpZw/IMG_0988_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="355" height="467" /></a> </p> <p> Having no idea what this was, I smiled and thanked them, returning their bow. Apparently they hadn’t seen too many foreigners before, and looked utterly perplexed at my presence. To fill the awkward silence, they offered another bow. As is polite custom here, I again returned their bow. Then they bowed again. Thinking that this was the final goodbye bow, I returned it once more and took a step back into my apartment… but they didn’t stop… they kept bowing. Not wanting to be rude, I kept bowing as well. Eventually, as time continued to pass, and no end was in sight, I offered “Komsumnida” (“thank-you”). They bowed again, I bowed again, I waved and backed into my apartment, closing my door behind me. Looking at the nifty pamphlet, I thought it was an advertisement for a fruit store or something… until I spotted this:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnZsgR3yTxI/AAAAAAAAANQ/kj5TyOUaHc8/s1600-h/IMG_0991%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0991" border="0" alt="IMG_0991" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SnZshMVN8eI/AAAAAAAAANU/xhbHZE230lo/IMG_0991_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="388" height="507" /></a> </p> <p>That’s right. Korean Jehovah’s Witnesses. Fascinating! I’ve never had any come to my door in Canada, and yet here in Korea they have already found me. Later there was a giant group of them meeting in the park outside my apartment. It was quite the sight. </p> <p>Well, that’s it for today! We’re on vacation this week so sometime within the next couple of days I’ll have the next post up – this one will involve last weekend’s adventure in Daejeon: “Filled with hot air, doing loop-de-loops, kung-foo fighting and meeting Romeo.” There will be lots of pictures :) </p> <p>Hope you’re all doing well!!!</p> <p>~Kate</p> Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241615196663766529noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-73104499249787198662009-07-26T18:19:00.002+09:002009-07-28T21:13:26.820+09:00Travel Mugs, First Days, and Pink.<p>Hello everybody!</p> <p>It’s been about a week and a half now that I’ve been in Korea… and I am loving it so far! <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmwfbY1WqlI/AAAAAAAAAJM/wlDy1Ae2OBI/s1600-h/IMG_0892%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0892" alt="IMG_0892" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/Smwfb3x5b3I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/bMckO0mfNZY/IMG_0892_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="184" /></a>This is one of the many phrases that I’ve loved discovering in Korea. It is on my travel mug. :)</p> <p>Friday was my first solo teaching day, and it went fabulously. These kids are just so cute that my jaw has been super sore lately due to over-using my smile muscles. I teach six different groups of students, and each and every one of these kids fascinate me. They all have such different personalities and they are so full of life! In Canadian ages they range from about 5 years old to around 10 years old (I think?!), and they are pretty much brilliant. Remember when we were in Kindergarten and learned the Alphabet and how to count and stuff? These kids learn about “blends” and “special titles” and “homophones” and “compound words” and how to tell time and describe nouns and use effective adjectives and properly capitalize all months, seasons, days of the week and holidays. They are spelling words like "minute” (note: the use of this word was intended as a descriptive of something ‘tiny’) and “triceratops” and so forth. They write in full sentences, sound out spellings like pros and are completely capable of describing how the phonetic long vowel sound will affect the spelling of their words. Communication barriers are practically non-existent with my kids as they are pretty crazy good with their English (well, as much as young kids could be)… and did I mention how insanely cute they are?</p> <p>Yesterday completed my 1.5 week break from reliable internet. I am so thrilled to have access to the web once more. Being in a foreign land is quite complicated when you don’t have internet maps to rely on, or ways to look up information! My now stable source of internet was made available to me upon moving into my official apartment :) That’s right! I’m HOME! This little place is all mine for the next 355 days (ish).</p> <p>Any of you who know me know that I’ve never been the girl who whole heartedly embraced the color pink. Well, out of necessity, this has now changed. My life has become a vast sea of pink-happiness. I never intended to have pink as my primary life color, but it appears to be fate. This is what I found when I entered my apartment:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmwfcqeMnFI/AAAAAAAAAJU/fhM-BgWrE7Q/s1600-h/IMG_0884%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="IMG_0884" alt="IMG_0884" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmwfdcNOrjI/AAAAAAAAAJY/WaFVtxl8RfQ/IMG_0884_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="406" height="531" /></a> </p> <p>Well, to be a bit more honest, it wasn’t quite organized like this… but all of the pink things you see here were left in the apartment for these purposes. Well, except the apron. That was given to me by my Nannie Austin (thanks Nannie!). It just conveniently matched everything. For those of you who are very interested in the apartment, I shall include some more photos (though, Danielle, I confess I did not take one from every possible angle as requested :).</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmwfeJs2QcI/AAAAAAAAAJc/GvSyp6W6q98/s1600-h/IMG_0878%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMG_0878" alt="IMG_0878" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmwfeysRHgI/AAAAAAAAAJg/V0kkwYbvRsk/IMG_0878_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="241" height="178" /></a> </p> <p>This is my very pink couch… and blanket. It’s pretty cozy, and it seems to match the rest of the decor rather splendidly :)</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmwffTOYfwI/AAAAAAAAAJk/XTdC-1QFYqc/s1600-h/IMG_0879%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMG_0879" alt="IMG_0879" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmwfgHCkowI/AAAAAAAAAJo/O4BicvMVcZU/IMG_0879_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="right" border="0" width="177" height="217" /></a> <br /></p> <p> </p> <p> <br /> <br /> <br />To the right here is my table and chair set. I’m actually rather fond of them. The lamp and telephone are pretty sweet and leave the room feeling just a little bit Asian retro. Snazzy! <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/Smwfg-kWzPI/AAAAAAAAAMA/f86aF49-OWQ/s1600-h/IMG_0886%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0886" alt="IMG_0886" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmwfhezdQFI/AAAAAAAAAME/-b0LcDDWwdA/IMG_0886_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="276" height="176" /></a> <br />This is the other side of my apartment. It has a wonderful wardrobe, microwave, kitchen and rice-cooker. Please note the pink tiles. Let’s zoom in on these shall we?</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmwoVL3Y54I/AAAAAAAAAMM/Johrj1u3j5Y/s1600-h/IMG_0885%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0885" alt="IMG_0885" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/Smwfil26YcI/AAAAAAAAAMY/UHZc-6q3qqU/IMG_0885_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="294" /></a></p> <p>This is my pink cooking area. Marvelous isn’t it? The pink dish sponge is a lovely touch don’t you think? Korean kitchens don’t tend to have stoves, so I’m going to be getting used to using a gas-range stove-top for all my cooking needs. The lack of counter space is made up for by the awesome sink nozzle. It’s almost as bendy as a pipe cleaner. Off-screen: pink garbage bags.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmwfjK-RhGI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/-8seqT5Rqhk/s1600-h/IMG_0880%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMG_0880" alt="IMG_0880" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/Smwfj0390-I/AAAAAAAAAKA/LT0T2H5tfYE/IMG_0880_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="218" height="282" /></a></p> <p align="left"> ~*~ <br /> <br />And what apartment would be complete without a pink tiled bathroom, with a pink sink, pink toilet, pink loofa and a pink toothpaste cup? Certainly not mine. Notice the mirror: 360 degrees of pink here people. Be amazed. I sure was. <br /> <br /> ~*~ <br /> <br />The other side of the apartment is a bit less pink. Aside from the pink candle, the desk only hints of its surroundings. Oh, and behind the map there is a room with a washing-machine that plays a full piece of music when it completes its load. Everything here has nifty jingles.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmwfklJym2I/AAAAAAAAAKE/NIyHXK-ui6o/s1600-h/IMG_0883%5B7%5D.jpg"></a> </p> <p><img style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0883" alt="IMG_0883" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/Smwfle4yxHI/AAAAAAAAAKI/nOV1UabgW-E/IMG_0883_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="389" height="299" /></p> There is really only one place in the room where pink is upstaged. With a lovely hand-me-down comforter and bedset from the former apartment owner, I have created a sort of sanctuary. Here it is folks. My orange and purple haven: <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmwfmYbIcMI/AAAAAAAAAKM/K7F-L0RqdMw/s1600-h/IMG_0888%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0888" alt="IMG_0888" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmwfnKWyvdI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/nyucIVHlSOw/IMG_0888_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="400" height="304" /></a></p> <p>I am actually growing really fond of this place! There is a children’s play park right outside my window and I love being able to hear the children playing while I type :) <br /> <br />Well, there have been a whole ton of other interesting things that happened this weekend, but this blog has already reached epic length. I’ll update again soon! The next instalment will probably be entitled “Humerous English phrases written on greeting cards, Getting lost while trying to find a specific Church, and My experience with Korean Jehovah’s Witnesses.” <br /> <br />~Katie</p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241615196663766529noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-37398329955817800322009-07-21T07:27:00.002+09:002009-07-28T21:12:54.395+09:00Hospitals, Apartments and Parks<p>Since we’ve only got out once with the camera and only took 4 pictures, they will be randomly interspersed throughout this entry:</p> <p><img style="border: 0px none ; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0874" alt="IMG_0874" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmTvHr8o2mI/AAAAAAAAAIM/qjGTS3iLuiY/IMG_0874_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="184" /> </p> <p>GDA seems to be quite the friendly place; nice staff (both Korean and foreign), cute kids, amicable decor. I’m temporarily living in a two-bedroom apartment with a fellow teacher and will be moving into my own place as soon as a one-bedroom becomes available this coming Friday. As my current roomie showed me to work on Friday morning, I was able to see a bit of the neighbourhood and discovered that it was quite the cheerful spot. There are a few corner stores around (one of which is open 24 hours), a little park and finally – GDA.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmTvIyoByCI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/Z430uJgUpWQ/s1600-h/IMG_0877%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMG_0877" alt="IMG_0877" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmTvJfsBhMI/AAAAAAAAAIU/0ZvaNsNW7iA/IMG_0877_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>Jen’s already described it (see archives for her post), so I won’t go into much detail on the school itself :) My first day consisted of meeting the teachers and being informed that I wouldn’t be able to visit with the kids quite yet – they needed to have proof that I wasn’t infected with swine flu so that if parents called asking, they would have my medical record on hand and a clean bill of health. So off I went to the Korean hospital to have blood drawn, chest x-rays, eyes and ears tested, height and weight measured… the list goes on. Thank goodness for Mr. Park (one of the administrative people), who greatly helped as my escort and translator through the hospital. All-in-all, it was a fascinating trip through a Korean medical centre.</p> <p>When I returned, I was told that I was able to head home and relax for the rest of the day… except that I didn’t know where I lived. So one of the teachers (who knew where Jen lived but not where I lived) showed me to Jen’s spot and Jen let me relax at her place until she got off work. Later that night, Jen and I got our first introduction to Seoul via the subway, bus and taxi systems - one of the teachers showed us around some sort of shopping centre place where I appreciated such t-shirts as “No Slept” and “Truth – the opposite of Love.” Upon returning home that evening, we found where I lived and attempted entry, only to discover that my key didn’t work and my temporary roommate wasn’t home. I was locked out!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmTvKTxutxI/AAAAAAAAAI4/eOOFhmbS2ok/s1600-h/IMG_0876%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="Bungee Jumping" alt="Bungee Jumping" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmTvLOsMpLI/AAAAAAAAAJA/J6LwIktgh1E/IMG_0876_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="214" height="278" /></a> </p> <p>Thank goodness for Jen! We ended up running back to her place, where I stayed for the next couple of nights :) Good friends are priceless – she saved me from being homeless in Korea! Later that weekend, upon finding the roomie at home, we discovered that the key actually did work – you just needed to know how to use it. So, technically, I had never been locked out, but instead proved myself incapable of opening doors :)</p> <p>Despite our attempts to find directions to the church we wish to attend, we were unable to figure it out before Sunday morning. We set out instead on a mission to locate a map, figure out where we are, and hopefully find some landmarks with which to navigate. We ended up touring a local park and getting some groceries. By Sunday night we were confident that we had some sort of understanding of our area and are hoping to reach the Church soon :)</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmTvMJGPlxI/AAAAAAAAAIg/7nZx2EuSDUI/s1600-h/IMG_0875%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0875" alt="IMG_0875" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmTvM3gokII/AAAAAAAAAIk/I3tevVxgIAg/IMG_0875_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="184" /></a> <p>My access to internet is extremely limited thus far, so I apologize if I’m not keeping up with my emails! I’m off for my third day of work soon, and I get to meet 2 new teachers who supposedly arrived in Korea last night – orientation day for the three of us today! <br /> <br />I hope you’re all enjoying life :) <br />~*~Kate~*~</p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241615196663766529noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-41002265104927774312009-07-18T15:34:00.002+09:002009-07-28T21:11:44.377+09:00Airports, squat toilets and crosses.<p>Hello! I’ve made it safely to Korea, and have snagged brief access to the internet. So! I’ve got much to say, but now I’ll stick to the flight/arrival so as not to bore/overload anyone :) This is the Korean airport (from online advertisement):</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmFs41avgoI/AAAAAAAAAH4/lhOPun3hcKI/s1600-h/Airport%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Airport" alt="Airport" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmFs51FycuI/AAAAAAAAAH8/o08QzXfSCj0/Airport_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="164" /></a></p> <p>My experiment had interesting results. I arrived at the Halifax airport around 5:20am, and proceeded to the checked baggage counter. Luckily, my lovely bags weighed in at 49.3 lbs and 49.4 lbs ~ SUCCESS! They were x-rayed and passed inspection. Proceeding onto security, excitement built as I stepped up for my turn at the counter. I smiled at the personnel, trying to appear as normal as possible. Perhaps that was my mistake, because instantly I saw hands waving at each other and a female security officer step forward. *Great* I thought, knowing full well what was to come. At least I wasn’t wearing anything metal – I’d taken great care to avoid metal in any form. I stepped through the gates, ready to pass the inspection with flying colors. The buzzer went off. “What?!!” Confused, I looked to my left, and noticed that my watch was happily resting on my wrist. All that effort wasted! The security man got out his wand thing and waved it all about, eventually allowing me to continue on towards the awaiting female officer. This search took the cake though. Not only was it the full pat-down, it was an in-depth shoe inspection and then a full bag search. Overall, the most thorough search I’ve participated in thus far. This officer seemed friendly enough, smiling as she put my fave stuffed animal back into my carry-on (“My daughter has one of these that she carries everywhere too!” – I never did ask how old her daughter was).</p> <p>I passed through customs, endured my first and second flights (16 hours), and arrived in Japan around what would be 4am Atlantic Time, 4pm Japanese time. Security lines were huge, but it allowed me time to mentally prepare for the next encounter. I removed the watch, took my laptop out in advance, and stepped confidently up to the counter. The lady waved me through, and I was amused to notice that the guy who was supposed to be watching my gate was rather distracted and staring off into some distant land located to his right. I passed through without any acknowledgement from him at all, picked up my bag, and with a special thrilled feeling in my heart I pranced down to my boarding gate. I had, at last, gone unnoticed at an airport. *Joy!*</p> <p>Having some time to wander the airport, I headed off in search of the restroom facilities. For those of you who are like me, be prepared for a bit of a shock here: not all toilets look like our toilets. That’s right. TOILETS are different. I experienced genuine shock. I had <strong><em><u>NO</u></em></strong> idea what to do with this:</p> <p><img style="border: 0px none ; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Squat Toilet" alt="Squat Toilet" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmFs6jid3uI/AAAAAAAAAIA/vBJcWgmm_xo/Squat%20Toilet_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="171" /> </p> <p>While I was standing at the door peering in, the Japanese women found my confusion to be quite amusing, and kept repeating “squat toilets!” I told them I had no idea how to use the things, and they, again, laughed to themselves. Befuddled, I simply left. Ah well.</p> <p>I made it to Korea around 8pm, managed to get through all the health-checks and somehow was able to prove that I was not infected with swine flu. By-passing the mandatory quarantine for all persons experiencing headaches, runny-noses and sore-throats, I made it through customs, retrieved my bags and met my taxi-driver. As I was making the hour long trip to my new hometown, I was amazed at the amount of crosses displayed <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmFs7V1FHzI/AAAAAAAAAIE/1riJQSr6h_o/s1600-h/Crosses%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="Crosses" alt="Crosses" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SmFs8ZuwlxI/AAAAAAAAAII/G9jIxAPLvu8/Crosses_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="right" border="0" width="233" height="244" /></a>proudly on buildings in the area. Lit with red or white Christmas-type lights, *hundreds* of crosses illuminated the skyline – there was never a time where I could see less than five crosses within eye-range, and usually it was more like 10+. I found out later that each of those crosses were placed on the rooftops of Christian churches, acting as beacons. It’s pretty crazy sweet and comforting.</p> <p> </p> <p>I arrived at my temporary apartment around 9:30pm, ready for a nice night’s sleep ~lovely!</p> <p>Well, that was the adventure of the trip over! I’ll write more about the area and my exciting first day in Korea soon (it involves me going to the Korean hospital and, later, being locked out of my apartment for the weekend ~ oops). </p> <p>As soon as I find camera batteries, I will post pictures! We love to get emails from home (hint hint ;) and thanks to everyone who was praying for safe travels! <br /> <br />~Kate</p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241615196663766529noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-8576480645561167312009-07-14T13:31:00.001+09:002009-07-14T13:41:35.204+09:00The last night in Charlottetown…<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SlwKDIqJizI/AAAAAAAAAHs/RDpGRCOk8DA/s1600-h/2321973-Travel_Picture-Prince_Edward_Island%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="2321973-Travel_Picture-Prince_Edward_Island" border="0" alt="2321973-Travel_Picture-Prince_Edward_Island" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SlwKDrfQa1I/AAAAAAAAAHw/DwtMQvNYuEA/2321973-Travel_Picture-Prince_Edward_Island_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="155" /></a>Well, my last full Island day is over.  <br /> <br />This afternoon (Tuesday) I head off to Nova Scotia in preparation for my early check-in (6:30am Wednesday!) at the Halifax airport. My bags are packed and nestled silently in my dining room as I prepare myself mentally for the adventure that awaits. Soon, they shall be my sole allies in a world of airports, customs lines and security personnel. Within a single 24 hour time period (starting tomorrow morning), I shall find myself in 4 different countries – Canada, the United States, Japan and finally Korea.  <br /> <br />If I weren’t so horribly unlucky in airports I would probably feel much more confident… but as it stands its security personel – 5, Kate – 0 in terms of quick, non-evasive and efficient travel. That’s right; with every plane trip so far, it’s either been a full bag search or one of those ever-comfortable pat-down experiences. I must look really intimidating or something. I’ve got an experiment planned this time though – I am wearing absolutely nothing that has metal in/on it. Sure, I’ll look a bit frumpy in my oversized hoodie and sweatpants, but hey, at least the security people can keep their hands to themselves! I’ve actually rehearsed getting my laptop out of its bag quickly and have limited the metals in my carry-on to one pocket (for easy retrieval at the x-ray machines). This may seem excessive, but you’ve probably never traveled with me before. Bag checks and pat-downs take time… and I have very limited time between connections. I will post the results of my experiment post arrival. Be excited everyone! :D <br /> <br />In tonight’s “last night on the Island” thoughts, I compiled a sort of list in my head of the top things that I will miss about my homeland:</p> <p>1. Poutine. Mmmmm, poutine. <br />2. Bathtubs. Oh, I shall miss thee bubble bath. <br />3. Clothes dryers. Toasty warm towels and sweaters in winter… <br />4. English. Due to the convenience factor really. <br />5. Friends, family and all those other awesome people who live here. <br /> <br /><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Maggie and Katie" border="0" alt="Maggie and Katie" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMSPtw_aAm4/SlwKD7vsHnI/AAAAAAAAAH0/XfH9ixWqyY8/Maggie%20and%20Katie_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="228" /> <br />5b. The dog. She may smell, she may eat my supper, but those big eyes just melt my heart. <br /> <br />Yep. Pretty sentimental eh? I’m sure I’ll think of a ton more once I arrive, but for now I’m pretty optimistic of the future. <br /> <br /> <br />I’m bringing the camera with me, so this blog shall soon get fancied up a bit, and visualizing our Korean experience shall become much easier!</p> <p><strong><u>Oh – a quick note about my packing experience:</u></strong> <br />To travel economy class we’re allowed two 50lb bags for checked luggage, and 1.5 carry-ons. The .5 is the so called ‘personal item’ that is allotted to each passenger in addition to what I assume they consider to be a ‘true’ carry-on *shrugs*.</p> <p>Due to the unfortunate fact that I’m gluten-intolerant (can’t eat wheat, rye, barley, bran) and heading to a country where gluten abounds, I had to take food into consideration while packing. Thus, I’ve got one suitcase full of clothes, my pillow (yes, I’m bringing my pillow) and a year’s supply of deodorant (you can’t buy it over there!), while the other is filled with shoes and gluten-free soya sauce, flour, noodles, and seasonings. Oh, and Kool-aid. I can’t forget Kool-aid. My carry-on is carrying comfort and entertainment – my fave blanket, another pillow, my journal, books, toothpaste and brush and a change of clothes. My .5 carry-on holds my laptop, Ipod shuffle and pictures of home.</p> <p>Due to the strange amount of food I am bringing, I’m not considering my packing to be normal by any means. If, in the future, someone is interested in coming to Korea and is wondering what sorts of things to bring I recommend checking out our more complete packing list, located somewhere in our achieved posts :) <br /> <br />In conclusion, I bid my Island home farewell, say “see you later” to all my Canadian friends and family, and thank anyone in advance who will pray for safe travels and successful airport experiences :) <br /> <br />~UNTIL I’M IN KOREA (!!!!), <br />~*~Kate~*~ </p> Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241615196663766529noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-39733786533654223342009-07-13T18:13:00.005+09:002009-07-14T01:38:16.602+09:00Segment #3..... of First ImpressionsSo.....the kids and classes here at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">GDA</span>....<br /><br />I have a weird schedule which consists of me working mainly afternoons-early evenings while most other teachers have a morning schedule (as well as some afternoon and evening classes). This schedule might be changing at some point so that I have a regular one as well, but for now I am enjoying three mornings a week of sleeping in (Thursdays and M<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ondays</span> being the exceptions)...<br /><br />For future reference there are a few types of classes (in which there are different levels):<br /><ul><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">IK</span> (Intensive <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Kindergarten</span>--3 levels, I think)</li><li>AK (Afternoon <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Kindergarten</span>--not sure how many levels)</li><li>Returnee (Kids who have been through some of our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">kindergarten</span> programs and have returned for more!)</li><li>Speedway (advanced kids, usually around the ages of 10-12)</li><li>Tutoring (can be any age, usually just one-on-one)</li></ul><br />So on Mondays I go to school for 9 like all the other teachers because there is supposedly a meeting for those teaching <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">IK</span> classes (which is everyone) because that is the main thing about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">GDA</span> (their <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">kindergarten</span> program). This "meeting" is usually about 2 minutes long, if that. Then, because I technically have less teaching hours than the others and we get paid on salary, I am supposed to put in some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">administrative</span> time from 9-12 (when my regular shift starts). However, they haven't needed me for admin yet so I have been using that time to prep for my classes and this morning I used it to start lesson planning for next month! (a whole other adventure!)...then from 12-1 I prep for my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">IK</span> class. On Mondays I teach them math, Tuesdays is Science, Wednesdays is Social Studies, Thursdays is math again, and Fridays I work with them on a play as well as reviewing info and just having playtime or drawing time or story time....anyways, I have them until 2:20. There are eight kids in this class and they are SUPER smart but also SUPER energetic. They kinda get out of hand pretty easily, so I have already been working at laying down the law! Raising hands and silence when others are speaking is on the agenda for the next little while or else....no play time! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">haha</span>....Anyways, then I have to make sure I pack up their things, put on their outdoor shoes, handout <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">GDA</span> stickers (their rewards system here) and take them upstairs where they are herded to buses by the Korean support teachers. Then I get a break till 2:40 when I start my Returnee class (one of the lower levels). On Mondays I teach them Reading Street (basically reading a story and Practice book activities) for two hours. Then at 4:40 I am off!<br />On Tuesdays I come in for 12, do my lesson prep and start my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">IK</span> science class until 2:20. At 2:40 I have an AK class for an hour. I teach them listening and basic vocabulary. This is followed by another AK class who I also have for an hour. I teach them phonics. Then I have a break from 4:40-4:50. At 4:50 I have my Speedway class for an hour. I teach them Reading Street (like my Returnee class but at a higher level).<br />On Wednesdays, I show up at 12 and do the same thing as Monday and Tuesday (except I teach <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">IKs</span> Social Studies). At 2:40 I have my first Returnee class again but this time I teach them science and listening/dictation. At 4:40 I have a break again and then at 4:50 I teach my second returnee class. I teach them Grammar and Science on Wednesdays. I have them for 2 hours so I am done by 6:50.<br />Thursdays, I go in for 9:30 because I tutor a girl from 9:50-10:50. Basically I just sit and read through stories in a book with her and do the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">corresponding</span> activities with her.<br />Then from 10:50-1 I do lesson prep and repeat the process of Tuesday. Except I teach the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">IK's</span> math....Then, starting this week, I will be tutoring a 12 year old girl at 5:50 for an hour. I guess she is very much a beginner English speaker so it will be very basic vocabulary and such.<br />Then on Fridays I start at 12, once again and go through the same process as every other day. At 2:40 I have my Returnee class for Grammar for two hours. I get my break and then I have my second returnee class for Reading street (same level as my Speedway class). Then I am done for the weekend by 6:50!!!<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Ok</span> so the names and class sizes:<br /><ul><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">IK</span> kids: Gordon, Lu-Mi, Min-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">ki</span>, Sally, Monica, Nathan, Brian and Emily</li><li>AK 1-5 kids: Rosie, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Rin</span>, Hannah, Jay, James, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Sige</span> and Andy</li><li>AK 1-10 kids: Angel, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Yumin</span>, Ray, Tony and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Wina</span></li><li>Speedway 2.2 kids: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Chaemin</span>, Alice and June</li><li>Returnee 2.1 kids: Ellen, Sally, Maya, Richard, Gabriel, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Hyeok</span>-In, Gloria and Annie</li><li>Returnee 2.2 kids: Jenny and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Christy</span></li><li>Tutoring--Thursday morning pupil: Stella (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">IK</span> level)</li><li>Tutoring--Thursday evening pupil: haven't met her yet!!</li></ul><p>So, other than remembering which classroom to go to for all these classes, that's about it! :) I especially love my Speedway girls and my Returnee 2.2 girls...they're a bunch of sweethearts and we just kind of chat for part of the class (as long as they are practicing their English, it's all good!!) ....but don't get me wrong, I like all my other classes too...they are just a little harder to handle sometimes, that's all! :)</p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Ok</span>, folks...this has been such a long one that I took a break in between to clean my apartment (much needed!) and rearrange my furniture to give it a homier feel....and create a list of things I need to make it feel even MORE like home....however I will probably wait till I have money at the end of the month and till Katie is here to go shopping with me (which is in THREE days!!!)</p><p>Love <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">ya'll</span>!</p><p>~<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Jenz</span>~</p>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14370588456336068506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-68044443467358352432009-07-07T01:36:00.001+09:002009-07-07T01:36:46.977+09:00Us vs. the Comment Box<p>Hello :) Apparently our comment box is being temperamental and not allowing some of our readers to post. I really have no clue how to fix it, and have since discovered that it doesn’t work for me either… if you want to email/facebook us we’d love to hear from you though :) <br /> <br />PS – if anyone knows how to fix this comment box thing, I’d love to know! ~Thanks! <br /> <br />PS#2 – As I was testing the box, I was dismayed to see that my comment to Jen wasn’t working – so Jen, “I love your last post :) I’m greatly enjoying sharing a blog/adventure log.”</p> Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241615196663766529noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-19301915978650465982009-07-06T18:43:00.005+09:002009-07-07T03:35:05.533+09:00Segment #2 of the Continuing Broadcast (wink, wink Katie)Hello Everyone from little Bundang in Korea!<br />So the sad news is that I just wrote a nice long blog but my internet quit working so I lost the whole thing :S.... so this will be a shorter one.<br /><br />So the school, GDA Junior, is eight storeys (yes, that's right, EIGHT storeys): Three are sub-levels (underground) including parking, swimming pool and something else (not sure). Then the ground floor is reception are and bus pick-up/drop-off. Floors 2-4 are classrooms and floor 5 is the teacher's lounge/staff area and gymnasium.<br /><br />All of the classrooms are named after cities (Montreal, Seattle, Ottawa, etc) which is kind of confusing at first until you realize that they are arranged in alphabetical order. The classrooms are fairly small, given the fact that the cap for class size is 10 students. There is, thankfully, air conditioning in all the rooms ... much needed!!<br /><br />The teacher's lounge area is pretty nice...everyone gets their own desk. Mine has a class cover on it so I put photos underneath it so now lovely and beloved faces look up at me all the time :) ...<br />There are two photocopiers, a printer, one wall of bookshelves filled with textbooks/lesson plan ideas/handouts/craft supplies and four computers.<br /><br />Anyways, this is not a long one...I'm pretty wiped, as per usual....I hope this gives some idea of where I work and where Katie will be working in just under 2 weeks! :D<br /><br />Peace and Loves!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14370588456336068506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-9750884219120874022009-07-06T17:48:00.003+09:002009-07-07T03:34:44.325+09:00Segment #2 of this Broadcast (wink, wink, Katie!) - The Deleted Edition :)<div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hahahhaa, Jen, I found your previous post in our 'drafts' :) Here it is everyone:</span><br /><br />Hello everyone, all the way from Little Bundang in Korea! As promised, here is the next installment of the Korea First Impressions series. :) Enjoy!</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>So the school, GDA Junior, is a 8 storey structure (yes, EIGHT storeys): 5 are above ground and 3 are sublevels (the lowest one is parking, then a swimming pool, and then something else--not sure). The first floor is the reception area and also where the kids get on the buses. Then floors 2-4 are classrooms and the fifth floor is the teacher's lounge/staff room and gymnasium. So yes, dear friends, that means five flights of stairs....or you could take the elevator ;) ....so far I have tried the stairs as often as I can but humidity and strenuous exercise and teaching rambunctious kids does not always make for the best mixture. Just take it from me...that and the fact that my apartment building has no elevator and I live on the 3rd floor....yeah. I get my exercise...haha!</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>So anyways, each of the classrooms is named after a city (Seattle, Montreal, Denver, etc)....which is kinda confusing until you realize they go according to alphabetical order. The kindergarten classrooms are kinda small but equipped with air conditioning! :) The other classrooms are a much better size...The staff room is quite large....all the teachers have their own desks and there are four computers for lesson planning, etc (plus, we are allowed using them to check email and such if we are not busy or no one needs them for school business), there are two photocopiers and a printer.....plus shelves full of lesson plan ideas/handouts/textbooks/craft supplies. I have to say I love having my own desk. It has a glass cover that I have slid some photos underneath so I have lovely and beloved faces looking up at me all the time....I also have a little shelving unit for my curriculum books...</div><br /><div> </div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14370588456336068506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-39616198349707029002009-07-02T20:57:00.003+09:002009-07-06T01:42:16.285+09:00Korea!! Some first impressions....Alright everyone! Here I am, in my small apartment in Korea after having finished my third day of teaching. Let me say, it is hard work, but very rewarding! I am currently SO tired...no joke, so I will try to write this as quickly as possible. I have several things to talk about so I will divide this blog into sections.<br /><br />Section #1. Where I live<br />So I am in a tiny apartment...wood floors, single bed, armoire, desk/chair, fan (SO IMPORTANT because it is HUMID here), low coffee-table type thing, TV/cable, internet, a mold infested fridge, a two burner stove,a sink and NO counter space....a few cupboards and two shelving system things...all in one room. My washer is in a closet (no dryer) and of course my bathroom is in a different room. The shower is typical of Korean homes--just a drain in the middle of the room and the water sprays everything so I have to make sure the toilet paper and such are out of the way so they don't get wet! <br />Hmmm, what else...oh yes, I have a tiny window in the bathroom and a slightly larger one that is covered in tin foil (yes, tin foil...apparently, a lack of curtains or something) in the main room....these windows have a picket fence type thing in front of them so you can't really see in or out...sorta between the cracks. It's really weird and hard to explain and sucks a bit. But my time spent in basement apartments helps! haha...these windows are ALWAYS open. I have not closed them once because to do so would warrant an early death perhaps, due to not being able to breathe in the heat.<br />...oh and when I first arrived, I couldn't get the hot water to work so I had about 5 days worth of cold showers...which was interesting and not horrible because it is so hot...but I was glad when we figured the situation out....hot showers are definitely a luxury I don't want to overlook!<br /><br />Apart from these things there is not much more to my living situation....I will write some more installments of first impressions as I find time and energy to do so!! I have not forgotten the reading audience!<br /><br />The next few installments:<br />Section #2. GDA (the School itself)<br />Section #3. Students/Classes<br />Section #4. What I have explored<br /><br /><br />Peace All!!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14370588456336068506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232668143253566053.post-45956064991765999092009-06-25T05:57:00.001+09:002009-06-25T05:57:22.505+09:00Jen is on her way!<p>Just so you all know, Jen left this morning for KOREA! She’s taken a plane from Montreal to Toronto, and she’s probably on her flight from Toronto to Tokyo as I type. From there, she’s got a nice layover and then she’ll be on a plane to Korea. If anyone feels inclined to pray for safe travel for her, that’d be very nice of you :)</p> <p>I’m excited for the next blog post! It will probably be from Korea!</p> Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241615196663766529noreply@blogger.com0