The Day After

So Christmas has passed and I made it through the holiday alright. It was strange being away from my family on Christmas but it didn't realy feel like Christmas to me at all so I didn't cry. I have posted a picture of one of my favorite classes. These kids are hilarious and keep me laughing.

The picture of the snow is from today. I went to see Avatar with Jenny and Mike (Jenny is the girl in the picture with me on my profile) and when we came out the snow had really settled! There was definitely enough to make a snowman.

Since we have last spoken I have seen some pretty interesting things, and I got some birthday cake from strangers! We all know how much I love cake. I was with my friend Matt at this Japanese place and some people were celebrating their birthday.He was like, tonight we are going to get some free cake. So he interrupts their meal and celebration to tell them happy birthday. It was really funny. So of course when they cut the cake, they brought cake over to our table. I didn't want to be rude and not eat it...so of course we dug in....almost asked for seconds. haha. But seriously, it is their custom here to share with surrounding people..especially if you wish them a happy birthday. I wish somebody would try that in America. We would be like, Thanks, but you are not getting any of my cake, so keep it movin!

I also saw a random person dressed up as a pink bunny again. I really don't know what it is with these people and dressing up in random costumes. Sometimes I find myself being like, why am I surrounded by so many Asians!? Oh yeah...I'm in Korea.

In a couple of weeks I am going back to Daegu to see one of my friends off as it is the end of her contract. And then the week after I am going skiing! So I am sure I will have some more entertaining stories for you all. Hopefully I won't wipe out as bad as I did last year on the slopes, where my skiis were brought to me by a complete stranger and I had to walk down the slope. that was fun. Anyway...I hope all is well and I will talk to you soon!

Christmas in Korea

It's so hard for me to believe that it's practically already the middle of December!

So since we've spoken last, I have started taking Korean lessons which I find to be a wonderful challenge. I go three times a week and then practice with friends throughout. It's so hard! Now I know how the Koreans feel trying to learn English. So I have only had like 5 lessons total and still don't know much of anything, but on my walk home one day a Korean man asked me for directions...in Korean. Now you tell me, do I really look THAT confident walking in a foreign country? As a matter of fact, the only reason I knew he was asking for directions is because he was pointing and the change in his pitch at the end of his sentence. I figured that must be what he was wondering because I knew where I was going. Anyhow, there are some pretty interesting things that I see here in Korea. One of their traditions here is to bow to one another as a sign of respect. The other day I was walking home and there were like 15 Koreans leaving a coffee shop, and they were saying their goodbyes and I swear it took like 10 minutes because everyone was bowing. Then randomly, I see people dressed in what I assume are halloween costumes except halloween has been over for the past month. So why do I randomly see a pink bunny walking around, or people dressed like a horse with the head intact? I'm not really sure...I just shake my head and smile to myself and think, 'only in Korea'.

So an update on my outtings...I haven't been any place new since he last time, but last weekend for Jenny's birthday we went to a Bulgarian restaraunt. Then we went to this bar that I swear was a retirement community. I was like...ummmm, I think it's time to go. So we go upstairs (to another retirement community, except these guys are quite in Depends yet) and this man sits next to me at the bar and chats. I spoke to him briefly because its the nice thing to do...but the man was clearly 50+. He worked for Homeland Security and was in SK for business. His friends come over and they are acting like they are 18 year old frat boys. They were like we are gonna go, but if you want to stay man you should! I was pretending not to hear because all I could think was are they serious? Long story short, he invites me to his hotel room if I want to have 'fun' later. Seriously? Sir, not in THIS lifetime. What a pig...not only was he like 2 decades older than me, but he definitely had a wedding ring on. But, he was staying at the Westin, and I would have love to use that bathroom...aaaaah, a bathtub!

Anyhow, I am hoping to have some more pics to post soon of more traditional things! I am going to take my nice camera to work tomorrow so I can show you my students! Talk to you guys soon!