Been too long in Korea yet somehow not long enough

Been far too long since my last post. I have been putting the finishing touches on my Japan blog as I feel that I should post it before I head back there (which will be in two weeks :) ). I am super excited because my sister Johanna is coming to visit me, and she's bringing among other things, her husband, my Pat's jersey (even though its cursed), several pounds of Mexican rice, as well as her husband Keith!

Couldn't be more pleased with the state of events in Korea right now. Which is why I claim that I have been far too long in Korea. I have started to think like a Korean. I wonder when I will get my next batch of Kim chi, TKD consumes my life;one day I will be good I swear, and of course I find less and less things that would have originally shocked me. For instance they serve Ice cream in condoms in this country. Take a few seconds and process that. Ice cream. Condoms. Together in a tasty chocolate treat! Also I see gochu drying on the side of the street and I think it's gochu season already? Rather than why are they putting vegetables on the side of the street, or as Landon noted cabbage on the floor of a stairwell.

Also, and well this is not a bad thing just something that I had not anticipated in the slightest when I was coming over here, I love teaching my Kindy kids. They are all spectacularly funny and brilliant little beings with terrific personalities. Even the ones that make me want to bang my head against the wall, or curl and cry in frustration (talking to you Pluto ;) ) are all worth the effort and toll it takes out of me. Who knew that I would be fond of little children? I always thought they were annoying and a waste of time, and I still believe babies are, but I am now confident in saying that kids. Well kids are alright. Its interesting, and perhaps it is because the children are so receptive and inquisitive about my life at least more than most people in K-Town, that I find myself truly missing them when I haven't seen them in awhile. Maybe its just Korea, maybe I should think about being a teacher for more than a stopgap, or maybe I just don't know, but I am fairly certain I'm like one of those annoying parents that always talks about their kids, because I for sure know they are always near the top of what I want to talk about. Funny how being a pseudo-parent does that to you. So without further ado some shots of the kids.

Lisa modeling her sock puppet

Brian has to be one of my most emotional children.

What is there that I can say about Johnny. Oh yea biggest handful at ECC
5 months running. Congratulations Johnny you surely have earned it.

Sweet little Tiffany always a little scared of new things.

These pictures were taken during a drama contest, from left to right
Sophia, Daniel, Tiffany, Lisa, Jeremy.

I don't remember the song they were singing...er pantomiming Milli Vanilli style

This is Karen, who sabotages me by saying "Teacher big hug please!"

Saturn Class: I think it was put best by Landon "Even I think they're cute and I'm a heartless bastard!" (Left to right: Jess, Angel, Rachel, Joseph, Taylor, Jade, Karen, David, Bianca, Stuart)

All my charges.

Lastly, some fantastic works of art. The kids were coloring so I decided that I would also color. I used chiaroscuro to give definition to the whale while also giving a nod Monet and his peers with my impressionist piece of a seaside sunset. Landon also did a top notch 3-d representation of the death of the dinosaurs. Hold on I think I hear the Louvre calling, Until then pasties...

Will Out

Four months and Fifty posts

For my fiftieth post, and second in as many hours I decided I would show you some of my kids so you can see all the fun I get into. I still have a bunch more pictures of them, but most of the time they are really gun shy, something I had not expected.

The woman in yellow is my co-teacher Kate and these are most of my 6 year olds, They were really confused about being at school on a Saturday.

Little Angel and I


Way to act like you know each other Taylor and Angel

Angel is in the front making a deranged face...whilst Bunnie laughs and Brian takes a picture of me.

Rina, Rachel, and Angel, they love cameras.


The classic Korean pose. From left to right Danny (the solution to our energy crisis), Max, and Anna (always struck me to be like an big bird)



Ashely trying to make Tiffany stand still for the photo.


Way to go Tiffany!

This video was the activity we were doing for Dad's day, which in this case had the children stand there and have balls thrown at them. They didn't seem to mind though.

Well that is all for now, have a lovely Father's day and a great week. Until next time pasties!