Going On A Backpacking Adventure..

That's right, I am ready for this adventure! 

Friends!  The time is here, I will soon be leaving for the airport.  This will begin my very first backpacking adventure.  I have to say I think I did a fairjob packing.  I was up late almost each night wrapping up activities for camp as it came to an end and woking on packing my awesome pack!  I will be taking this adventure semi-on my lonesome.  I will be flying to Malayasia and India on my own then finding a ride to where I will be staying and finally see Korean Family Jesse and Teresa who will be waiting for me!


 I will try to update you as best can!

Here is my travel plan:

Jan 14th- leave Anyang at 6ish and catch a shuttle for Icheon Airport.  Flight leaves at 11:20pm for MALAYSIA
Jan 15th- Arrive in MALAYSIA at 5am.  Take a random adventure in Kuala Lumpur for a little while because I have an 11 hour layover.  I hope I can push myself to venture out.  Right now that is undecided.
Jan 15th- Arrive in New Delhi, INDIA at 9pm.  Catch a ride to the meeting place of J and T. 
Jan 16th- TAJ MAHAL!!
Jan 17th- Corbett National Park- Elephant Safari through the jungle
Jan 18th- Jeep Safari to continue our search for the elusive Tiger...
Jan 19th- Head back to Seoul with a stop in Malaysia.



Well here it goes!  I have always wanted to travel and the best way to know how is just jump in there and do it!   Keep reading friends!



I am ready to get rid of my coat and
 scarf for a few days!  YAY!



Winter English Camp



Pablo (yep I named him Pablo) is
showing and telling us all about his favorite book


Hello Friends, for the last two and a hlaf weeks I have been teaching a English camp.  I got the opportunity (well-it was part of my job description) to create and teach a three week long winter camp where I would be targeting four grade levels.  I was pretty excited but of course with any thing that is new I was a little nervous.  Those who know me know I have a really difficult time making decisions so havinf a blank canvas is sometimes a little difficult for me.  So the challenge begins right away!  So far it has turned out to be a rewarding expereince.  I have been able to take criticism, see students grow, think fast on the spot (yep, make multiple decisions at a rapid pace) and just walk beside my students and get to know them and hopefully help them feel more comfortable speaking in English.  It has been rewarding for sure!  I really LOVE teaching!

Here is the theme I used:

Don't Be A Grinch About English





Since Christmas time was only a few days behind us I decided to do a winter social/emotional themed unit.
The goal was to learn, practice and HAVE FUN speaking English

My Scheduel was as follows:
Week 1- 3rd Grade Two, 2 hour sessions total of 23students
Week 2- 4th grade Two, 2 hour sessions total of 27 students
Week 3- 5th and 6th grade One two hour session each total of 14 students

We read two Dr. Seuss books, made Oreo balls, played a ton of games, sang a few songs, went on a few word hunts, got a few nerves out with some speaking presentations, got our hands dirty making our own weather (Oobleck) and made sure we laughed and learned together!



Here is my famous "eh, snap and I don;t think so"
This kiddo just had so much fun being "it"




Setting the stage for a story
 re-tell and then a fun game
of "pin the heart on the grinch"



Oobleck <3

 








Oh Oobleck is fascinating!



Ah, my sixth graders!  I was very nervous to teach sixth grade..it went well!
We had a ramyen party on the last day, yum : 0 )

 
Two more days and I am officially on my winter vacation!  Off to India I go!

Climb Every Mountain



Steps to help a person begin their climb
up a little mountain



This would be the mountain
we climbed to the top of!

 Hello there my friends! Have you ever climbed a mountain ALL the way to the top in S. Korea??? 

I HAVE!  It was amazing, and what a breeze!  I think I told you that I had high hopes to truly hike here in Korea.  I went on a small nature hike, experienced a crazy busy touristy hike, and now I can say I have experienced a hike where I got my knees dirty and even injured!  Yeah, injured, that's right. 

On the last day of my visit in Bonghwa, Jesse and Teresa took me on a beautiful hike up a small mountain near their apartment building.  We climbed to the top to take a look form a cute observation deck of the little town of Bonghwa.  Near this observation deck were a few exercise equipments.  Yep, they have these all over in Korea!  Now that is a cool fitness center, free and on top of a mountain in the middle of nature.  On a serious note though I think the mountain is much more beautiful without it : 0 )
Also on our hike we found a few interesting species of insects, found a beautiful Gingko tree, walked through a traditional Korean burial yard, and crossed a sticky suspension bridge.  It was much fun; this is where I am a little envious of Jesse and Teresa.  The access they have to such beautiful natural places to wonder off to and just enjoy during their stay in Korea.  Their new home has it's beauties and so does mine so I am content with that but will always look forward to climbing more Bonghwa mountains in the stillness of the country.

I enjoyed this day so I thought you should too <3 





The beauty of Bonghwa.



Oh! The Bus Rides!

 

 


                                


This is the note my Co-Teacher wrote for me to
 get to the Station in Seoul. 
Also pictured here is my first bus ticket in Korea!

 
     Hello Friends, I not so recently took my first visit to Bonghwa, S. Korea.  My two friends from the states happen to live in this not so big town in a not so populated area.  Their new land here in Korea is known as the country land or rural Korea.  Personally, it was a breath of fresh air and a gaze of beauty for my eyes.  My weekend can pretty much be summed up in one word BUS.  I took so, so many bus rides and realized I am very sensitive to motion sickness which is pretty sad, since the bus is a very prominent transportation option here in Korea.  I met so many people on this trip it was my biggest adventure yet.  I was a little terrified venturing to Bonghwa which is a whopping four hours away from me.  I had no idea how to get from one place to the other let alone navigate the bus system.  Somehow I managed and had a great time.  Let me tell you all about it in a few basic steps.  Here we go....
STEP ONE
Leave work early to make the 3440 Bus to Dongseoul (main bus station) to catch the 6:00 bus straight to Bonghwa

STEP TWO
Get on the "right" bus after leaving work, hand the bus driver a paper with Korean on it saying I have no idea what I am doing, please tell me when to get off the bus at Dongseoul.

STEP THREE
Freak out the whole 40 minutes into Seoul on the bus, because you got flustered accomplishing step three, hit your head and threw your paper at the bus driver, sat down in a daze possibly in the elderly seat but are too terrified to move kind of freak out.  With an added freak out of not really knowing what the note you threw at the bus driver says.

STEP FOUR
Chill out because the Lord my God is with me wherever I go (Joshua 1:9) I take refuge in that, right?  RIGHT. Even on personal vacations with a simple purpose of seeing friends for a few days. 

STEP FIVE
Enter a state of confusion when the Bus driver tries his best to tell me there is no Bonghwa Bus and accept the kind help from a fellow passenger who speaks no English but wants to completely disrupt his life to make sure I get to the bus station.

STEP SIX
Follow the friendly stranger to the station on foot and again accept the help of a station guard who refuses to let me buy a ticket to Yonju because there is a bus straight to Bonghwa

STEP SEVEN
Board the bus and journey three hours out of the city to the country

STEP EIGHT
Jump, yes, JUMP off the bus and greet J and T (Jesse and Teresa), and check out my weekend accommodation.

STEP NINE
Have a bus ride packed weekend of riding to an Apple Festival, Tourist Packed Mountain and Sweet Bonghwa

STEP TEN

REPEAT IN REVERSE STEPS ONE THROUGH SEVEN IN TWO DAYS : 0 (


Turned out a bus broke down so the bus we boarded was packed!
We stood(well, we sat on the floor some of the ride)
 the whole hour or so long ride to Andong that was a fun one!

 


Met these guys boarding a bus to Andong. 
They were nearing the end of their one
 month or so long biking adventure across Korea 

 



   


The bus rides were well worth all the free
 apples we would get at the festival! 

Did I have a good time, yes I did. I found that I was starting to feel homesick, exhausted from work and lacking in a lot of areas, it unfortunately affected my mood but regardless it was refreshing to see Jesse and Teresa, eat a comforting supper of potato soup made by Chef T and make a Halloween feast Breakfast together the morning before my departure. 

This trip was great because I had to remain calm in situations completely out of my control.  I also got to meet several people I consider pretty kind.  I met a man on my bus trip back to Anyang who just moved back to Korea from the Netherlands with his wife and daughter.  I must say we became instant friends and I have since met his family and had two fun outings in Seoul with them.  I am sure you will hear more about them through the year.  Alright keep warm readers and keep reading.

<3



 



We had to wait a very long time for a bus
that NEVER came at the festival.  So...we set off on foot. 
We were thankful when a very nice couple stopped to
give us a ride in ther new vehicle! 
THE END



Hiking in Korea (My first hiking adventure)



Posing for a pisture with my Principal




Beautiful

 Friends!  Two more posts to go and you are all caught up.  In Korean time I have less than twelve hours to accomplish this before it is officially 2011.  Wow, time sure can sneak up on you.  As the leaves were in their full mode of change illuminating beautiful colors of red, orange and browns my school Principal decided it was time for a teacher outing.  Turns out once every month the Principal takes all the teacher out on some kind of activity and then dinner is followed at a traditional Korean restaraunt (sitting on the floor and the menu includes traditional dishes and sides).  For October the outing would be a hiking trip.  I was pretty excited because I had been wanting to go hiking.  I had even set out to climb the mountain in view from my window and failed because it was merely an illusion of being closer than it truly was. 



Soo modeling a seed that is
said if eated brings good dental health. 
I did try it! ???

 Regardless the time had come; I would get to climb a mountain.  Watch out!  Hiking is very serious here and the franchise of hiking merchandise is booming.  You will not take a trip hiking and not see at least one person with boots, hiking jackets, packs and walking sticks.  So, I of course thought, Wooh hoo I am climbing a mountain, ready to be in shape I am and see what these muscles can do.  I actually thought it would be pretty strenuous.  Well as Yoda would say, Wrong you were, were you?  Yes.  Wrong I was.
Totally, not strenuous at all.  Still worth the time, due to the beautiful sites of nature.  There were many different types of trees including my all time favorite (weeping willows).  I have accustomed a favorite tree here in Korea, the Gingko Tree.  They are beautiful in the fall; takes a little of your breath as your eye is caught by the dark bark and yellow leaves that seem to dangle like earrings.  Any who, we had a guide that took us on an hour long hike (of course it was in Korean but easy to follow).  After the hike the Principal took us to a restaraunt that served us duck and a very strange seafood platter.  It was here I tried duck and some king of intestines for the first time.  Don't be grossed out, it was an adventure, and this is the adventures of Kate, right?  It was random I tried the duck considering I don't really eat meat.  Not a fan but I tried it : 0 ).  The intestines accidentally happened and I could barely keep them down, that was disgusting.  Still the experience was worth the trial to my taste buds and mental toughness.  I am living in Korea and do not want to miss out on fellowship with the people here or experiencing new things. 


Here in Korea it is traditin to serve
at least three or four side dishes with every meal.  here we have,
 spicy (SPICY) crab legs (really hard to eat w/chopsticks),
Kimchi (2 kinds), seaweed, and raddish


Ok, about time to wrap this up.  A few things I learned from this adventure:
1.  Hiking is not as fierce as I thought (well, at least not in this situation)
2.  There is a tree that you plant if you want your children to be scholars
3.  The smell of duck stays on your clothes until the next day at least.
4.  I do not enjoy all seafood
5.  There are weird seafood options served here in Korea with sprouts, intestines and little things that look like oyster but just disperse liquid into your mouth that tastes awful then you spit the chewy part out.
6.  Sitting on the floor is awesome but your feet fall asleep fast!

Check back later to catch up on my last two posts of the year!  <3

A little of this and little of that...



Soo (one of my two Co-Teachers) and her son Shioo

Soo took me on a bus adventure through Seoul

when I first arrived it was great fun!  

                                                                            

Soo also took me out to dinner when Anyang
(the city I live in) had a festival,
I met her husband and ate some Korean pizza!



Hello my friends!  You are almost caught up, yay!  I have had many random outtings here in Korea.  Random meaning they come up fast and are unplanned and the things I end up doing brings surprise to myself each time.  Here are a few of those moments. 

I made a instant friend upon my arrival who showed me much kindness.  I decided to show my thanks by
 taking this friend out to dinner.  Turns out they had some plans of their own to welcome me even more.
During dinner my friend asked me (knowing I am not much of a meat eater) if I ate fish and if I cook with it often.  I said "Oh yes, I like fish and I cooked it all the time for dinner back home". 
Something to keep in mind: 
I was answering yes I like fish while thinking the fish would be without scales and bones already preparred to eat and I cook fish I have boughten from the store ready to go nothing dirty involved. 



My dinner?


After my answer we began talking about something else.  For a brief second I though, "hmm that was a random question" then I was distracted and forgot all about it.  When we were finished and ready to part eachother I was reminded.  My friend gave me a present to show their appreciation and thanks.  This present was a freshly killed, still bloody FISH.  My friend said they were happy to hear I could cook fish so chopping the head off and gutting it should be no problem.  I thought, EH, UH what do you want me to do with this fish???  I have never, NEVER gutted a fish before.  Well this was sure to be an adventure.  It really was a kind gesture and part of me really did feel honored.  Random for sure!





SoonDooBoo

 The food here in Korea is definitely differnet compared to what I am used to, but I always enjoy trying new things!  My third week here I set out to find a church and made a new friend who took me out to my first dinner in Korea.  We ate SoonDooBoo (I have no idea if that is right, but it is how it sounds).  Turns out Soondooboo is one of my favorite dishes here.  It is soft tofu soup that is SPICY served with a bowl of rice and customary side dishes. The rice comes in a stone dish that.  You must take the rice out of the stone and place in a bowl then pour water in the stone bowl.  Ah, also before you eat your tofu soup you crack an egg in the soup, it is hot enough to cook the egg.
When you finish your meal you drink the rice water, it is considered as a dessert here in Korea and is defined as refreshing!  I liked it!  Ok, well hope that gave you a decent dose of what you are missing out on in my life, be ready to read more soon!  The year is almost over so I better get a hurry on catching you up, I have three more things that I must share with you before the year ends, so keep tuned in!  <3



Anyang JoongAng Elementary



Anyang JoongAng Elementary

 Hey Hey Friends!  Again time for a catch up.  Still behind, but let me tell you I am having some pretty different adventures that I know you want to hear all about.  You will, just bear with me ;0 ).  Let me first tell you about my school.  The school I teach at is fairly large and is in a building that has stood awhile ; 0.    There are five classes of each grade and the grades run from first through to sixth.  There is a seprate building where kindergarten is held, here in South Korea the kindergarten program is much like our Pre-school programs, it is not mandatory nor part of the elementary grades.  Also in my school is a dance studio, where the students take ballet.  Let me tell you, it is very magical.  It is taken very seriously here and these kiddos train hard,  and they are rather good.  Sometimes after my classes I make copies on the third floor across from the studio and I love listening to the music. 



The classroom I have been teaching in :)


I hope you enjoy the photos of my school expect to see more after winter vacation.  The English department is actually being remodeled into an English zone!  Thus, it will look completly different, exciting!






My students wrote me a nice note
(they spelled my name Cake*)