Field Trips and Shoes!

Our field trip to introduce Spring and the warmer weather with a field day!  It was held on an army base of sorts.  We saw baracks and things but our school had other plans in a more sacred place on the property.


The school hired a couple of guys to do some PE games with the children and all of the teachers helped and just over saw everything going on.  We had a nice lunch, snack and play time then it was back to school for our last class.  It was a great, relaxed day and honestly probably the best day we've had at this school. 

Teacher's Day is basically the same as Teacher Appreciation Week in the United States.  Except all on one day and the teacher's are given amazing gifts.  Chanel, MAC, Dior, 200$ gift certificates to expensive department store, cashmere scarves are just a few of the items Joseph and I and others have received. If you are working in a hagwon and your hagwon happens to be one where the parents are wealthy (as is ours) then the parents will usually give you and the people at your school copious amounts of gifts.  Coffee from Starbucks for EVERYONE (like 30 people an individual grande sized latte which in Korea is about 6$ per person), huge orchid plants with the child's name and class name on beautiful ribbons in the front office, dozens of cakes and donuts in addition to flower bouquets.  It is quite an event.  Some individuals see these gifts as buy offs to treat their children favorably and give them extra attention and education.  Most parents just do it because they love that their children love their teachers and they want to repay them.

PJ Day is a throw back to what Korea thinks the American schools do for Spirit Week in some schools.  The students wear their PJ's and relax during the day.  It is a big deal for kids or anyone, to wear PJ's outside of a bedroom in Korea so the students and their parents enjoyed their day.  The students played in a tent and were read stories after lunch while they had a rest during.  It was a nice day for children.

Science Museum field trip was pretty fun.  Joseph and I really enjoy science museums.  It is right by our house and we got to go with our students on a field trip.

Shoes!  Joseph bought me running shoes.  I use them to jog/walk but perhaps I will be running/jogging soon.  I have run 2.5 miles each day this week except today.  We will see.  :-)

On a super high side, Joseph and I have 14 weeks until our contract is finished.  Cannot tell you how happy we are about that.  

Also, Japan is a GO!  We will go to Japan in July and are over the moon.

The Divine One [April 26]

Feliz cumpleaños to me. 

I love my birthday.  Joseph and I each get a birthday week.  Really the entire month, but we shoot for the week.  It's super.  

My birthday this year was a Friday and the students at our school were great.  They sang to me, made me little cards and were asking me how old I was and what did Joseph Teacher get me.  


Our work family, Joseph and I had a fun lunch at Pascucci with real American cheesecake from Costco (thanks Tiffany and Brian!) and the ladies that work there gave me 2 coupons for free coffee.  So unexpected and so kind of them!  I asked if it was okay to have a picture with them but they were unable to.  

The next day, Joseph, Brian, Tiffany and I went to Busan.  We took the KTX (fast train) and had a list of things to choose from.  We went to the Wolfhound first and ate breakfast while we decided what to do for the rest of the day. 

A walk around Dongbaek Island which is not a real island, but is a pretty forested area with a walk along the coast.  We wandered around here for awhile and saw a poster image of the perfect Korean couple enjoying the scenery. 

Next, we went to a beautiful Temple and perhaps the most beautiful spot in Korea.  Definitely in my top 2.  There is a bridge you cross to get to the temple and while you are on the bridge you throw a coin and try to make it into the bowl.  If you do, it is supposed to mean good luck.   Guess who got it in the bowl?  Tiffany!  She is now the Divine One.  :-P

We were a bit tired so we headed to the largest Shinsege in the world.  We had dinner then Tiffany and I went shopping and Brian and Joseph wandered around the area.  

An incredibly fast taxi ride later we arrived at the train station for our ride home.  

The next day, Kate, Joseph and I hung out near the river and walked around.  

Super fun birthday and brilliant people to share it with!  

Seoul Shennagians

Joseph and I had a great weekend with Ray and Chien.
We ate and drank our way through a few different districts and met some hippies. Korean hippies are weird but no less endearing than western hippies.


We began our day at 8:00am or more accurately about 8:30 with delicious coffee at Casa de la Reed.  Senior Joseph made us coffee to help kick start our day.  Thanks honey!
We packed the rest of our junk for a weekend of fun and off to the bus terminal for tickets.  While waiting for our bus we hopped across the street and had some breakfast before our 2 hour bus ride (or I get sick--apparently I have age to thank for that).  We saw Florida grapefruit and tried to buy one but they were only for a smoothie...AGH!  We just wanted it halved in a bowl.  Boo.

We met Ray and Chien in a neighborhood that is primarily Chinese and Taiwanese.  Chien took us to a Chinese restaurant for lamb leg!  YAY!  Joseph and I love lamb and we have only had it one other time since we have been in Korea. 

best. time. ever.

the restaurant owners on the right and random friends on the left sharing what Koreans do best

Next, we all walked around the neighborhood in the open market streets and sampled what this delicious neighborhood had to offer and picked up a few things for later.

just read it.

yummy street food: dumplings with *beef* (hopefully)

for you, dad

duck eggs.  HUGE!

After that, we headed toward another neighborhood near a university and saw hippies, fun signs and lots of people waiting in line.

Time to eat again and we could not pass up a Taco place called: KrissKo.

boys with their matching hats

The Korean says "mut"  haha

Korean hippies!

Joseph and I stayed the night in a real hotel and then the next morning met up with Chien to go to the bus terminal and have lunch.

We found a Dean and Deluca that absolutely made my day so we had to do a bit of shopping.  Honestly, I started jumping up and down and everything.  Joseph and Chien stayed with me but also went and did their own shopping. Then we said good bye to Chien and got on our bus.

"drool"

It is funny how quiet the trains and buses are here. Coughing and snoring are the occasional sounds you hear in addition to cans or bottles being opened.

Thanks Ray and Chien for a fabulous weekend!  We will be up again to bother you.  :-)