Let's Play Catch Up

Hello? Is anyone out there?

More recently people have been asking about my blog - wow it's been a long time! I guess that shows that I was quite busy after the start of the newest school year ... last year. For my own benefit, as I want a keepsake of all of adventures (one of the reasons I started this to begin with) and for your benefit, to find out what I have been up to this past year, I am going to go back to where I left off and do the best I can at retelling my stories. I am also in a place where I am able to sit down and do this again, which I realize now I have missed so much!

My last kindergarten class I had in Korea was a challenge as the children came in with little to no knowledge of English. It was so rewarding though, those children will have a part of my heart as will all of the other children and people I have encountered.

Highlights from March:

Mel and I checked out the CNN Cafe on one of the worst days for air quality which resulted in us wearing masks. We felt like secret ninjas and had fun with it!

I also bought my first dive computer! I was slowing trying to accumulate dive gear in anticipation of doing my Divemaster course later on in the year. 

Highlights from April:

April brought the beauty of cherry blossoms so Mel, MJ and I spent a day taking fun pictures around Seoul to enjoy them. These are some of MJ's amazing photos. 

                                        

Of course we couldn't escape other wanting pictures with us. This lady then followed us for a bit longer trying to get us in the back of her photos. 

We also celebrated Easter together at CCS (the school Mel worked at) in usual fashion. Liisa and I made spring rolls which were a hit. 

We went on a field trip to the car museum too! The boys could handle having a step each, but the girls all had to be number 1!

Mickey, Tommy and Daniel

Rosa, Lily and Eunice

Highlights of May:

Since arriving in Korea I had always wanted to go to the Boseong Green Tea Fields but never made the time for it. Finally I booked a trip down there with MJ and Liisa. The weather wasn't great, but it was beautiful! First we stopped at Naesosa Temple which decorated for Buddha's Birthday. 

We also went to this beach (which names escapes me now) but took some great photos. 

So pale!!

Made a pit stop at a park at dusk - Gwanghanru

And another stop at some wetlands...

Finally, we went to the tea fields!! I bought a bunch of green tea and tried a green tea churro with my green tea ice cream. Yum!

                                   

The area we stayed in for the night:

We also hiked to the tallest peak of Bukhansan and enjoyed a picnic on the top!

 
                 

Eating a cucumber the Korean way

Wow! Who knew that May was so busy! Stayed tuned for part two of May! <3

A New School Year

At the end of February we had graduation for all of the seven year old kindergarten classes. I was asked to MC the ceremony which was okay, but that meant that I didn't get to be part of the backstage excitement as I otherwise would have been. My students did an excellent job though and saying goodbye to them was tough. It was definitely harder to say goodbye to them than my first kindergarten class the year before. I tried my best not to cry but as we lined up at the end of the day for the last time, knowing I would not see them again, I told them that I would really miss them and the tears flowed to their surprise - "Teacher, really crying?" Yes. Really. I love those kids to bits. 

Monday morning brought a whole new set of children and changes (mostly in my opinion, for the worse). I now have a class of six year olds who arrived without knowing any English. I walked in on the first morning, stood in front of them and my supervisor, threw my hands up and said "I don't know what to do with these children." I ended up taking them to the play gym to break the ice. That first week has to have been the most challenging teaching week I've ever had. I wanted to quit everyday and sometimes I was fighting back tears as I taught.  

A whole month has gone by now and while there are definitely still challenges, things are starting to get more routine ... sort of. The kids are cute, but it's not a level that I really enjoy teaching. (Note that the last two kindergarten classes I had were students who already had 1-2 years of English learning already.) 

One thing that is a bit adorable, and awful at the same time - I was told before I met my students that one of them is particular about what their teacher looks like but that he approved of me (he saw me at the orientation). Since, this boy, Tommy, continues to tell me everyday that I am soo pretty. His mom wrote me to tell me that Tommy told her that his heart beats faster when he sees me, and that he checks his hair before he comes to school. 

Here are some photos of the new kiddos and my new classroom:

Lily

Sunny (who recently changed her name to Rosa)

Micky and Daniel 

Tommy

Eunice

March also meant saying goodbye to my best friend! I spent as much time as I could with Chris and her amazing Mom but was still super sad to see them go home. We both did so well, but on the last final goodbye we were both a mess. I miss her being in Korea so much!!

<3 <3

Chris and her Mom, Cindy - 3 years in Korea creates a lot of luggage

Things have been pretty uneventful aside from these things, when I am not in Paju doing diving stuff, I am usually at a cafe playing board games, reading books or simply relaxing. 

Coffee Prince (a famous Korean drama) Cafe 

A cozy cafe near my place where you get to take off your shoes and curl up with pillows and blankets!

Mel and I have booked tickets to Vietnam for summer vacation. The day before it starts is my last teaching day, so I've booked a one way ticket. I still have no idea what I'm doing, I have no plan, but that is where adventure begins! 

<3