Lazy Saturday....

Take a ride on my bus...

Week One finished....

This is my second hour kindergarten class...

These kids are Korean age 6, which makes them 4 years old. This class is DEFINITELY one of my favorites so far. THEY'RE SO CUTE!   

PUPPIES!!!

While I was in I-Park mall, I found a puppy store on the 4th floor next to the camping goods (go figure!).  Needless to say my ENTIRE DAY was AMAZING after this experience....

There was also a hedgehog, (which I just recently became obsessed with) and lovebirds, and bunnies!!!

I-Park--Korean Mall & smoothie adventure

I'm in Yongsan at a place called I-Park, it is mall with 9 floors of madness, one strictly dedicated to weddings. I just bought a super delish smoothie from "Smoothie King"~this flavor: Mango Festival. Sure is!! I'm looking for some sort of cell phone/Internet wifi thing called an olleh/wibro egg. Basically a hotspot you can take with you in your pocket.

Also, my manager took me to a small pharmacy and bought me isotonic compressed saline spray for me sinus issue and Vaseline. For this, and many other reasons, I luff her. I could not have asked for a better place to have been blessed to work. I like all of the other teachers and my boss is literally the best friend I have here in Korea. I eat traditional homemade Korean food with them everyday. The other foreign teacher goes out for lunch (I don't think he likes the food), but I think he's crazy. It's so good.

My manager also invited me to go to the spa and acupuncturist with her!!! Eeek! I can't wait. I'm actually really stoked about that! This weekend we may go, I'll also have to go to the realty company and meet my new landlord or something like that. I was just told to go. First week, so far, a big success!!

New Apartment??

Today after lunch, I am going with my school owner and mentor teacher to look at another apartment in Daebang. They said since they took me away from my parents they are my Korean parents. Therefore, they do not like where I live and think it is unsafe for me. I agree because the streets only come alive at night and it is not my first choice for friends. I am told mixed things from the foreign teacher here but I get a feeling he is really jaded by Korea and is ready to leave. I will post pics of new apartment and status IF we choose to move me.

Korean Frosted Flakes!!!

Some delicious treats...

Jump English Academy

Daebang-dong MY NEW WORK PLACE!

 I went for a walk-about today to photograph my neighborhood.

I enjoyed my first Korean meal: Bulgolgi! 

 The  restaurant I ate at....

More of the Yongsan village...

This is the view looking up my street

In front of my building...

And finally, my building. I'm on the 3rd floor!

After the first day of school.

WARNING: 

TEARS ARE INVOLVED IN THIS VIDEO

If you managed to make it through all 14 minutes, may Buddha bless you.  

A walk-about adventure.

This is a brief video that shows the main intersection where I am living.  

My new favorite Korean donut!

Chocolate covered-dense-croissant-danish-of-delight, is what I would call this....

Morning of my first day at school.

Today will be my first Monday of the next year of teaching I will do. I'm very excited to be able to wake up feeling positive and confident, even though I keep waking up at 5:30am (1:30pm west coast). I feel very comfortable in my new house and familiar with my neighborhood surroundings. Today, I will go to the general hospital for a physical so that I can register for my Alien Registration Card number. My ARC will allow me to get a bank account and a cell phone.

Last night I was able to talk to some friends and family members via Skype and that helped make me feel more secure with my distance from you all. Skype is a blessing!

As far as this morning goes, in preparation I think I may go for a jog. Eat some yummy pastries I bought and pick out a very nice conservative "teacher" outfit. I absolutely CANNOT wait to meet my students. They will be ages 5-7(KOR), which is 3-5(USA). TODDLERS!! Eeeeek! :) In the afternoon I will observe the older kids, at ages 7-11(USA). This week I am shadowing the other foreign teacher and will watch him run his class, so that on Monday I can pick up where he left off!

Cheers to excitement and first days of school!

Here's lookin' at you, Korea!

Here is my house tour, FINALLY!

My flight friends!

So on my flight I was lucky enough to meet some really awesome people and share some laughs. This quick clip shows just a couple of them: Kia, Tiffany, Joe, Matt and a Ebony! Great meeting you guys! Hope you enjoyed your time in Seoul!

After landing...

After spending 13 hours-ish on a plane I was still peppy and coherent. Lazy enough for the people mover, though!! 

In Korea!!

Airport arrival sign

It's Official

Korea and I are in a committed relationship now and we have decided to go steady for a year, at least. I'm excited to be in this new relationship, exploring new worlds and to have the opportunity to learn and grow so much from such a wise partner. I have caught up on some sleep for now (me and Korea were up all night) but I still feel the lag of travel in my body. So, this will be my short post for now! Thanks everybody for believing me! We'll see if this new relationship means love! Here's lookin' at you, Korea!!