fun time!

Summer... summer...summer, oh how I love it! The weather is fan-freaking-tastic! I'm so ecstatic about the sunshine and hot summer breeze, I never knew I would appreciate the hot weather like this.

This weekend we went out, enjoying the balmy summer days.

Yesterday we walked around town and ate Korean fast food for a change. It was filling, healthy, and cheap! We bought some souvenirs, too. L got an expensive pewter set from a small gift shop. On our way home we stopped by the nearby museum. I got the traditional figurine dolls I had been wanting for so long. They were a bit pricey but worth keeping as a memento from Korea.

Today we strolled in town again, and I had my hair done - permed straight, that is. We took some pictures while we were out and headed home before the sunset. We didn't do that much but I can say it's better than hibernating at home, especially when it's so nice outside.

Well, that's it for now folks! My apologies for not updating, but recently we have been rather busy. Things are about to change for us, and in the next few weeks there'll be something new! Watch out for it!

Have a great week ahead!

being an ESL teacher.....

Last Tuesday was my last day of teaching at the Hogwon. As you know from my previous post, I started teaching last February. I tought once a week to relieve L, since weekend classes had started. But there aren't many student enrolled, or should I say none! So they told him that they needed his hours back. The worst part is they arranged for him to teach high school. One thing about hogwon directors is that they take advantage of their foreign teachers. They tend to monopolize your time to the fullest so they can get their money's worth. Anyway, that's another story!

In any case, I am greatful that they allowed me to teach in their school. It was one big experience for me, albeit a short one.

Being an ESL teacher is not an easy task. One needs to be flexible, spontaneous, and creative. The teacher must keep the class's interest up and find different things to do each day.

It is very stressful being an ESL teacher. One's patience is always being tested. The fact that we are foreigners and can't speak their language makes it really hard. It's not just that we're dealing with students attitudes, but trying to make them learn. Most of the students are hard headed and unmotivated. If you ask them why they are there it's "Because of my mother said so." At times I wanted to pull my hair out when a student was being stubborn and couldn't get what I was trying to say no matter how I tried. Once you become an ESL teacher you must really work on being patient.

One good thing about teaching English is it makes you a better English speaker. You learn things that you never knew about the language. Sometimes it amazed me how bizarre the language is when it comes to spelling and pronunciation.

The best part of being an ESL teacher is getting to know the students. Sometimes they blow you away by being very cute and sweet :)

mothers love.....

    rekindles our joys...

      restores our hopes...

        renews our dreams....

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

to my two wonderful mothers....

and all the great moms in the world!



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Orini-nal (children's day)

May 5th is a national holiday in S. Korea, a day of celebration for children called Urini-nal. Parents give gifts to their children, and I guess they also get gifts from any store they visit while out celebrating. Some cities have parades and public activities. Museums, zoos, amusement parks, and movie theaters are said to offer free admission to children.

Traditional foods such as kimchi, bulgogi, and shell fish play an important part on this holiday. From what I read, in earlier times Koreans spent the day in restful celebration wearing their finest clothes and playing an indoor game such as Yut.

Surely some places were crowded with families enjoying the holiday in the spring weather, but not here in our small town, where it rained the whole day. The rain was, however, a nice break from the hot temperatures- as high as 85- we've been having for a few days now.