Hey Korean Won, Sort Yourself Out

December 17, 2007: 1,000,000 Korean Won = approx. 1,000 US dollars

currently...

December 17, 2008: 1,000,000 Korean Won = 705 US dollars

All You Need Are A Few Good Friends...

For awhile, I was trying to cram in as many festivals and short trips into my last few days. Now I prefer to spend my weekends without an agenda, soaking in Korea with fabulous friends, doing everything, doing nothing at all.

Plight of the cheap flight

Cheapoair just informed me that my flight to Bangkok has been changed.

I now have a four hour layover in Shenyang, China and an overnight layover in Guangzhou China. Essentially, it's going to take me longer to fly from Seoul to Bangkok than it would be for me to fly from Seoul to St. Louis. I mean, whatever, that's what I get for buying a dirt cheap flight. I'll take the extra hours for the reduced price.

Gotta gotta get up to get down.

Happy Pepero Day!

I cashed in on Pepero Day this year. Thank you Lotte for having enough brand power to create a holiday bigger than Valentine's Day (at least in Korea).


My kids have been amazing, making it harder for me to come to the realization that in a couple weeks we'll part ways, and I will most likely never see them again. Leaving is so bittersweet, and is more difficult than I thought it would be. Especially when I think about saying goodbye to my sweet babies. I can not even begin to describe the relationship I have established with these little ones. They've touched my heart, and I hope I've somehow found a place in theirs.

Oh, Jun.
Nicky.
Leah.
Dorothy

This week I scribbled down a few things that have amused me thus far:
Kindergarten
Me: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Jun: "A doctor."
Dorothy: "A doughnut."

Elementary
Me: (While giving the vocabulary test): "Maker...like a shoemaker or dressmaker."
Chris: "Chris' maker is his mother."

After telling my favorite class I was leaving in three weeks
Timothy: "Teacher's airplane boom (crashing hand motions), and Teacher, parachute (floating hand motions). Then Teacher, car (driving motions), come back to Korea."
That simple, eh?

Teaching has been so much more than a job.

Korea reacts

Seoul, Korea courtesy of Time

It was interesting experiencing the election from abroad. I think it's safe to say that on November 4rth, all eyes were on America. Personally, for once I think we didn't disappoint. Even after a week I get students who tell me they love Obama, or rock back and forth in their chairs chanting his name: "Obaaama, Obaaaama." Then, tip..tip...tip, crash!

Quirks and Characteristics

A lot of people think they are ugly, but for some reason I've always been obsessed with the big, white Korean apartment buildings. There's something both haunting and beautiful in the multitude of these faceless structures.

Same Same = Love love

Matching couples are all the rage in Korea. What better way to show your affection?

Guy: "I love you."
Girl: "Prove it."

Hey, remember that one fun night in Daejeon?

Pumpkins & Rice

Meet Wall-E
Filling carved pumpkins with rice.


Halloween lunch

This year I realized that going out on Halloween is a lot like New Years: you build up both holidays so much, that they end up being a let down and you're left feeling like this little guy:


I did, however, have a blast with the kids.