This is a test

So this is a test to see if I actually still have any readers left
I AM LEAVING THIS CRAZY COUNTRY IN 9 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yes you've heard it here. my contract ends on the 21st and i will be leaving early, and leaving on the 19th!
Kay and I are pretty freaking ready to go.. well, Kay doesnt know that we are going... but yah! This weekend is my last weekend here... thinking i'll do a hair cut and get my nails did... Kay is going to the vet tonight to see her.... and get some paper work together... but yep
WE ARE LEAVING

Time for another post

Seems like right now might be a good time for another post. I currently dont have classes for a while, so I can sit back and just write.
Its also a good time to write because I have been here 7 months now.... in 5 months I will be at home. So lets sit back and reflect.

Life has been pretty normal here. I go to school, I teach for 8hours, then go home and play with Kay, and go to the gym. And thats how it is pretty much everyday. I am learning that I do enjoy teaching these days. I love making the students laugh, and freak out at what I am doing. They love the engergy I have... and it shows in how they treat me. I have students who will randomly give me candy, or gum. I got a love letter today even.
Its cute how much they like me. The school is going to Everland on the 4th of May, and all the students are asking if I am coming, and if I will go with them.. Right now my lunch class is 1-11 and they are all bragging that they get to have me go with their class to Everland. Its almost daily that I am asked if I am going.
The grade 1's have definatly made me more satisfied with my job... and having Mr.Lee as a new co-teacher helps too. He can tell me if I should fix things, or if he didnt like something I did.. and when he does that I dont feel like a pile of crap. He knows how to do the constructive criticism. And he treats me as a colleauge, not just some english slave like ms lee did. He doesn't resent me. So I can get up in the morning and be happy that I will be going to school.
I think that is what is making leaving in 5 months kind of bittersweet. Like I finally have become comfortable here, and sooner then i know it, it will be time for me to go home. Plus this is where I have been for year. Where I have friends and a very comfortable life. It will be hard to leave the park where I walk Kay, and my comfortable home that is perfect for the two of us, since I dont need a lot of space. I will miss my adoring fans, the ones that scream when I walk into the room, and the ones who say hello to me if they see me on the street... or run away giggling. It will be hard to go back home to so many unknowns.

Other things that have happened. It is finally spring here! The cherry blossoms are done and the leaves are coming out, and now the liliac bushes are blooming and these cool bushes are blooming too. And the grass is slowly becoming more and more green. It makes the walk to school nice, because there is color again.. no more brown and gray...
Kay likes the fact that the grass is turning green too. She has this strange love of eating grass. i cant wait to take her home where she can have a lawn to eat whenever she wants. Kay seems to use the grass as a break. She will be running at full out puppy speed, then grab a tuft of grass, let her back legs go behind her, and lay down and eat that mouthful of grass that she used to stop herself. Kay is definatly a character. She makes life exciting for me. Like her game of pop bottle chasing, or her love of cardboard boxes and standing in them. Even when she lays down she is cute. Having her here with me was one of the best things that could have happened to me. I'm excited to bring her home and have people met her. She loves people... too much sometimes... the hard part, is that she isn't a big fan of other dogs. I hope she and Buddy get a long....

Hmm. I've also started a diet and its working well. Now before you think "Melanie didnt need a diet..", let me explain. When I came here, I was eating a lot of comfort foods and not working out. So I was able to put on a bit of weight, even if you couldnt see it, it was there. Since bathing suit season is coming up the girls and I here decided that we should try this korean diet. At first it was intense how we followed it. We took out all bread, all pasta, and all rice. And all we ate was cereal, chicken breast and sweet potato with as much fruit and veg as we needed. I lost about 5 pounds in the first 2 weeks and a crap load of inches. After those 2 weeks we have broadened our eating choices, as long as we keep our calorie intake below 1500 we are ok. Plus we are working out every other night.
Its a good diet though, because I feel like I have a lot more energy and its kinda easy to keep the calories below 1500.. i do miss candy and ice cream. I will do my best to keep this diet up for the next 5 months actually too. Hopefully i can get my weight down further and just be healthy even if its hard to eat healthy here all the time.

So you can see that I do miss things at home, like the people. And the space and the ability to cross the road without fear of dying. I miss the food choices, I miss the ability to drive, I miss the clean air, and just a lot of things.
Thats what makes this all so bittersweet. This place has been my home for a year, and I will be leaving it to go home, which i know... but there will be many things that will be different.
I'm done university, so that seaon of life is done and I can move on from those things and anything was was part of those 4 years. And Hamilton was never really home. its not like I had a home church there that I was heavily involved in. So I wont move back there.
And sadly I know that Tillsonburg will only be temporary.. finding work there will be difficult, so I will have to move on from there in time. Move out on my own somewhere. Thats the biggest unknown. Sometimes I am unsure of where I should go after this. Ottawa is in the picture, but whatelse God might have in store, I dont know.... I'll just have to wait and see. I am doing my best to not worry, and let Him control it. Thats why I dont have solid plans for what's next. Its in His hands, and He'll let me know when its time.

To summarize. Things are good. I am happy here, but at the same time, Can't wait to get home.

Easter in Korea

Now I know i haven't updated in a while.. but I thought i would reflect a bit on Easter in Korea.

Easter in Korea is not at all like it is at home.

Easter here is something you have to choose to celebrate.  There are no chocolate bunnies, no chocolate eggs.  No pictures of rabbits or spring chicken. No tv commercials about the bunny that clucks... or telling you that Zellers is having its easter sale.

No days off...

Even in a country where most people go to church, there is no reminder that "its Friday, but Sunday's coming"!  (except for 1 or 2 posters for korean church services).

You have to choose to remember that this weekend is Good Friday and that Sunday is Easter.

Yet having to make the choice to celebrate, should be how it always is.  I find so often at home that I just go through the motions, but while I have been in Korea I have to make the CHOICE to celebrate.  I have to make the choice to remember.  It could be so easy to just let things fall to the way side. And sometimes I fail.  But the challenge to make the personal choice to remember and to be active in my faith seems to be a benefit for me.  The biggest struggle will be continuing to remember that I have to actively make the choice when I get home.

So often I wonder what things are going to be like when i am back.  I still don't know what direction I am going to take.  Or where God is going to lead me next.  I wonder where I will end up.  If I will find a church where I can become actively involved.  Or if I will continue to be lazy in my faith. Thats why I dont get involved here.  I get lazy.  I dont want to go too far from my house to a church that might have more interest and benefit to be, because i want to be able to come home.  And I dont want to get involved at the church I go to, because I like being at home, and only seem to want to give up one day a week for the church.  Is it like this because I am only here for one year? I wonder...  that may be the excuse that I use, but i don't know if its right.

Last night I was able to go to Seoul and join in a Good Friday service, with many international churches from all over the area.  Just another glimpse on how it will be some day.  So many different colors and different backgrounds of faith, coming together to remember the gift that we were given more than 2000 years ago.  It was defiantly a good way to remember.  And even though it was a long subway travel, it was worth it.  I was glad that I went against my desire to stay home, and went. Now I need to remember to stop being so lazy.

Its Friday, but Sunday's coming! Thanks be to God for that!

not too long ago...

I know it hasn't been as long with waiting BUT I have time at work :)
So, last time I wrote, things were going great.
And the good news is that school wise, things are still going great.. The new students have so much energy, and really like the stuff that I have been teaching them. And the grade 2's are still in shock of becoming a mixed class, so they are not acting out, and seem to be interested in what I am teaching them.
The bad news is that personally, the last few days have been kinda difficult. And the hardest thing, is that I really can't put my finger on what it is. I am really tired all the time, and sometimes just really fustrated.
Wednesday I was just really tired, and just felt funny, like tired of being in Korea, and just needed to cry.. I wasn't homesick.. but just didnt want to be in Korea... I needed some English speaking.. and English surroundings. Thankfully the weather was really really beautiful and Kay and I were able to go for a nice walk. And then Huong and I went for an even longer walk... so I was able to talk abit about what I was feeling, and just walk out the fustration. I had hoped that the walking might cure it, but I guess I was wrong.
On Thursday I ended up having a tear up day at school, and I hadn't had one of those in AGES.. so it kinda sucked... it seems that my bodies first response when someone asks how I am, is to cry, hoping that the tears will freak them out and they will leave me alone.
Thats something that hasn't been happening now in the new office, I don't get left alone as much.. so maybe that might be it? Just feeling like my personal space is always being stepped in here. Like you know, when you say "i have to be somewhere tonight, and I really dont feel like staying late for something", in Canada its usually taken at that, and they dont wait around trying to make you change your mind. If you have plans they really should just let you be! Not try to tell you that you should still go!

Then friday, my bubble got bugged again. I was preparing for class, and one of the new teachers, who I have had some trouble with, comes and asks some questions.. which I was glad to help with BUT she started the converstation ALL wrong.. starting with mentioning that she heard I cried a little at lunch is NOT a good converstation starter... so then i was a little bothered by that one. We had maybe 20 min before class, and I figured she would head to her office, and I would meet her at the classroom.. but i was wrong.. instead she decided to wait around... i had to tell her that I needed to go to the bathroom.. because she almost followed me out the door, wondering where I was going.. (the converstation had ended by then...) THEN we get to the class, and this teacher is NOT GOOD at discipline.. and the kids were being loud and rowdy, so first I spoke to them.. and started the lesson.. This teacher also does NOT translate anything that I say in class.... So i dont know if my students are getting it.
We did a worksheet so I could try and see if they understood... thankfully they did.. BUT they were getting really loud while we were doing the worksheet, and I was getting really tired of NO TRANSLATING, and NO DISCIPLINE... so i stepped up
... yep.. I yelled in a tone the students have never heard. They have heard me raise my voice before, but they had never heard anger in my voice like there was that time. They needed it though. The shock in most of the students faces showed that they didnt expect it. At least it made them quite.
The down side is this incident really made the week feel even worse...

At least this weekend I got out of the house. Friday night I had dinner with Huong, and then we did some grocery shopping.. it was getting out of the house, but not doing something to big and draining.
Saturday Kay woke me up bright and early, and we cleaned the house, went for a walk, and then relaxed. In the afternoon, like at 2, I left to go to Seoul. Our plans there were to go to a soccer game at the World Cup Stadium, to see Seoul FC at 5 pm.. it was GREAT! the stadium was super cool! We bought the 20 dollar seats, and sat 8 rows from the front of the seats.. nice and close to the field. We were sitting right behind the home bench.. BUT we made the mistake of sitting in the away team "rich person" seats. Yet it didnt matter, we cheered for Seoul FC anyways. We're waygookins... they are going to look at us funny anyways... so might as well cheer as loud as we wanted and do what we wanted.. since they thought we were crazy anyways.
After the soccer game, we were supposed to meet up with some friends, for a birthday gathering. Supper at 8 pm and me dont get a long :P
With the last few days being sucky, and me being so tired, by 8 I was exhausted. And then having to wait till 9:30 for my supper to get there, and then not being hungry, and just tired... well, you can see that it wasn't great. And then the hour and half subway ride... NOT FUN! I was super tired and just a little cranky. I let kay just sleep downstairs by herself on saturday night, so that she could just let me sleep.. and leave me alone.
I got to sleep in till 8.. which was great.... but I was still tired and exhausted feeling. Went to church, and then had a nice lunch with some friends from church. Then came home and slept a lot more, and went to bed at 10:30 and slept straight till 7... (i still worry that something is wrong with me)

Monday came with gross clouds and greyish/yellow skies. This is the "lovely" Korean phenomon known as "yellow sand". Mhmm.. what happens is that on windy days, the sand from the deserts in China is picked up and blown into Korea. These sand particles also carry lots of nasty micro-organisms that can make a lot of people sick. I bought a mask, just to avoid getting sick or anything.. so here's hoping it will help.
I also woke up this morning just feeling tired still.. BUT i have been praying today, just to get over this feeling. And perhaps another reason this feeling is here, is because I have been here 6 months now... (YIKES).... and maybe I am a little unsure about how I feel about all of this.. like leaving in 6 months.. because with school during the week, Time FLIES! and people are leaving soon already... so we talking about what it will be like being at home... and who knows.. i might be a little worried about that already.

Well, here's hoping that this week goes better! School is great, remember that! Its me personally, that has been feeling a little rough.. So if you guys could help with just praying for peace here.. that would be great.....
lots of love from korea

its been awhile again.

Well, the last time I wrote, my parents had just left. Its now been about a month since they arrived... and after this week, a month since they left.

So what has happened in that time...

I spent most of the weeks, at school, doing nothing. Since there were no students there. The girls and I tried to go to the gym every night so we were able to hang out, and get some exercise. Weekends were spent walking and playing with kay, and sometimes getting together with everyone. One weekend, I went and cut off all my hair :) Yep.. short hair now.. and its a light brownish too. I needed change too. Since there was so much change happening at school and life.

Then on March 2nd classes started again. I have a new co-teacher, Chul (or MR lee), i have all new grade 1 students, a new office, and working with different teachers. See, a lot of change happened here.

So last week was my first week back to teaching, and it went so well! I felt comfortable and confident in the classes, and the students responded really well to my lesson! I wonder if my confidence in teaching is because ms lee is now longer there bringing my confidence down. But yeah, its been a great week!

Other things in life: Kay got spayed last Thursday, and she is doing well now.. happy and still energetic. She had a little bit of pain right after the surgery but she pulled through well.
Things with the friends here are good. We get together for the gym, for supper randomly, and to go shopping some weekends in Seoul.

I had a bit of time where I was ready to go home. Strangly, not because I missed home, but because I had gotten bored here. Life has fallen into a comfortable pattern... which is a good thing, BUT it was also kind of boring and driving me nuts.. I think it was the not teaching for 2 months.

So, I am almost half way through. YAY for me making it through those first few months! and now with spring coming, and starting teaching.. I have a feeling the rest of the time will fly by!

OH! there is also a chance that I may go to Thailand.. if i have the money.. SO if you want to help me be able to go to Thailand.. send money to my parents :P

My Parents were in Korea

hey Everyone!

  So I just got back from putting my parents on a bus to the Incheon International airport, so that they can get back to Canada. You might wonder if I am sad, and I am.. but I will be ok.  I didn't desperately want to hide in their suitcases and go back to Canada with them.

  I guess I should start at the beginning of my parents GETTING here, right?

Well, on Thursday Feb 5th I started my vacation.  I slept in, cleaned my apartment, and took Kay to the vet (again).  

Friday Feb 6th was the day that my parents were to arrive.  Their flight wasn't to come in until 5 p.m., but I was heading on a bus out there by 3 o'clock.. ok, so I left my apartment at 2 p.m., but the bus didn't come till 3, and then it was an hour ride.  So I really just had to wait at the airport for about 45 min, and I was very ok with that.. because I was so excited that Dad and Mom were coming.  Now just for the record, I didn't cry to much when they arrived :P Just a few tears and they were happy tears. It was great to see them again, and to know that I would have a few days to spend with them.   We then took a very long bus ride back to Ansan.  By the time we were home, it was late, so we unpacked, and just relaxed, took a walk around the area I live in so mom and dad could see the city at night and then went to bed.

  Saturday morning came with mom and dad waking up pretty early, due to the 14 hour time difference, and as my dad says, my doggy too.. but mom and dad were up way before that.  So I took mom and dad to the park near my house, Hawrang Park.  We didn't take Kay with us because its a pretty long walk.  Then we took a nap :) after we found out that the family we thought was going to do lunch with us, wasn't.  We had made plans to have supper with my Ansan group.. and so we went to Juangang, saw some of the shops there, and then met everyone for dinner.

  A note about the weather.  It was a little colder here for mom and dad.  Not really in the temperature, but in the wind, I guess.  It is a bit damper here in Korea, due to the fact that it is mostly surrounded by water, and Ansan is not to far from the Yellow Sea.  So thats what made it colder for Mom and Dad.  Today when they left, it was actually -6, which is the coldest its been in a long time.

  Sunday arrived with church in the morning, and a side trip to starbucks :).  Pastor Nick gave us, well mostly Dad, a tour of the church after he found out that Dad was a pastor too (we didn't tell him until after church).  During the tour I learnt some things about the church that I didn't even know.  The church started 30 years ago, with only 11 people. Today they have a sanctuary that can fit 4,800 (edited... thanks dad.. see, not good with remembering numbers) people, and this church has a lot of services through out the day.  I also learnt that this church denomination is a sister church with the CRC at home.. yep.  What Dad said to explain this better, is that if Pastor Nick moved to Canada, and wanted to become a pastor in Canada, all he would have to do is take one little test (and pass) and then he could be a pastor in North America.  Cool eh?

After church I took Mom and Dad to Seoul.  Its about an hour subway ride, we were heading to the Seoul Tower.  Because Korea is pretty smoggy/cloudy, we figured it would be better to go up to the tower at dusk/night.  So first I took them to Myeondong, which is a higher end shopping market.  So they got an idea of shopping malls in Korea, 8 floors of stalls filled with stuff.  By the time we had wandered about all the markets, the sun was below the smoggy clouds, so it was a good time to go up.  So we headed up this BIG hill, and then took the cable car up to the top (we could have walked, but it was cold again.. and the walk would have taken a few hours).  At the top we got a nice view of Seoul, saw the lovers locks, and saw the old fire signal ovens.. and then headed back down on the cable car.  By then we were pretty tired so we headed home.

   Monday was a day that we headed back into Seoul, to the tourist commission, Insadong, and Yongsan.  We went to the tourist commission to get some info about Jeju Island, and just find someone who spoke English to help us make some choices.

Insadong is the tourist shopping area of Korea.  Its also a place of traditional tea shops, and antique stores.  So we looked at a lot of tourist gifts, and nick nacks.  

   A side note:  Before Dad and Mom came, Dad sent an email to a CRC Home Missions guy that he knows about churches we might go to while in Korea.  The Home Missions guy sent Dad's email on to Tong Park, a Korean that is working for Home Missions in California.  Tong Park sent us an email, and in the email he told Dad that there was a conference going on, and that if he wanted to drop in on the 10-12 (so Tuesday to Thursday) and meet other pastors he could.  Dad declined (because thats when we planned to go to Jeju).

Now I bet you are wondering where I am going with this.. When we were in Insadong, in one of the tourist shops there were some other foreigners, and its habit of mine to smile, and eavesdrop a bit to see if they are English, guess their accent, and maybe strike up a conversation.  When I was doing this, I heard the gentleman mention "seminary" and right away I was thinking, I bet these are the people from the conference.  So I started talking to his wife, with Mom, and she told us they were in Korea for a conference.. and I asked if they were with Tong Park.  And they were :)  Yep, so Dad got to talk to Tong and met a pastor, and just laugh about the fact that we would meet up in a city of 10 million people (ok, thats a guess).

   After wandering around Insadong, we went to Yongsan.  I have a love/hate relationship with that place. Its super cool, but it drives me nuts.  Yongsan is where they sell electronics, and they sell them cheap.  But you have to deal with being yapped at by the sales clerks and told that they have good sale.  We were there to find David a camera.  You'll have to ask him about it, once he figures it out.  But we got a pretty super deal.  After Yongsan, we were tired, for 2 reasons... crazy store and a super long and confusing subway ride (i hate that subway line.. its the one i got super lost on).  When we got home, I took Mom and Dad for Chinese food.. yes, I don't really like Korean food... BUT i did order in Korean.

  Tuesday we were planning on going to Jeju Island.  And I am SO glad we did.  We sorta did it by the seat of our pants.  We left at 9 am, took the subway for 2 hours, and got to the Gimpo airport with no ticket reservations.  When we got to the Jeju air counter they were able to put us on a flight that was leaving in like a half hour :)  Thank goodness for it being the off season :)  The flight only took an hour and 5 min, and when we arrived in Jeju we were greeted by sun, palm trees, oranges, and a nice sea breeze.  Our next hurdle was getting a hotel.  We went to the tourist desk, and the lady booked us into a 5 star hotel. (thanks Mom and Dad for that treat).  

We took a cab to our sea side hotel, and then before  laying down (we knew if we laid down, we would not get up).. we went for a walk.  The ocean was a little choppy that day, and it was windy, so a little cooler, but warmer then Seoul/Ansan.  We walked to where all the fish restaurants were, and saw many tanks of fish, and some very funny looking fish.  We also went and looked at some fishing boats. After seeing all that fish.. we decided to eat at McDonalds.  Yeah, we did.  We are all not really into fish, and yeah, they way they cook it here, I don't like it. After some McD's we headed to the store near by, to waste some time, and also to pick up some breakfast because we didn't want to pay 13 dollars a person for some baked goods for breakfast.  Then it was time for a bath (i LOVE bath tubs, to bad it wasn't bigger).  We had hoped that because we were at such at nice hotel, they would have some english channels... WRONG.. only Korean tv.  So we watched Kids shows and then soccer.. and all fell asleep early..

  Wednesday the 11th arrived in Jeju a bit cloudy, but we had some bagels and then headed back to the airport to rent a car.  We had decided to do that over going on a bus tour of the island, and thank goodness we did.  Jeju isn't a huge island, so it is very possible to drive around the whole thing.  We started out and decided to drive along the sea coast road.  The water was a little rough, so I got some cool pictures of waves.  Davids camera is pretty awesome for taking pictures, because I was taking photos while Dad was driving, and they were still and clear. ( we used David's camera so that Mom and Dad wouldn't have to claim it coming into Canada :P).

As we drove, the sun started burning through the mist, and we got a BEAUTIFUL day.  After skipping on a lame Chocolate museum, we drove to the Jeju World Cup Stadium, walked around it, then went to the E-mart, and had some sandwiches and juice in the car.  Then we drove to a famous rock... and had to stop on the side of the road for me to pick up an orange that Dad wanted.  It had fallen off a truck.  At the rock in the sea, Dad tried the orange, and it sure wasn't ready yet :P  They pick them early here, so they can ripen when shipping.  We saw the rock and then got back into the car. 

Then we headed to a waterfall, and payed 2 dollars to walk to it, and just enjoy the sun and the trees and the warm breeze.  Then we went to another waterfall, one that goes into the ocean.  And then drove up the mountain in Jeju.. saw some snow.. and headed back to the hotel.

   It was such a beautiful day and it was great to do things at our own pace.  We had a much more enjoyable time doing our own thing, then having to be on a bus, listening to Koreans and a Korean tour guide, and being dragged to tourist traps.  We figured out that Jeju has a lot of those.  It was great to just be able to spend time with the 3 of us in the car, and just see things at our own pace and stop where we wanted.

We headed back to Jeju city, but it was to early for dinner, so we went to the lava caves.. SO COOL.. we went underground, and were able to walk in a tunnel that was made by lava.. and it was chilly underground, and really wet.  Doing that took up a good amount of time, and so when went back to the hotel.  There we had to figure out what we wanted for dinner... and we walked around, looked at other restaurants.. and well, we ended up at Mc Donald's again.  Yep.  Jeju is also known for something called the 'shit pig'.  Its a pig that is fed feces, and thats what makes the meat special.. and so knowing that i WOULD NOT eat any pork on Jeju.  And fish was just not on the menu.. so we settled for McDonalds.  Then headed back to the hotel, after some Duncan Doughnuts for coffee... watched some more Korean tv and went to bed.

Thursday, the 12th, we had to get the car back by 9.30.. so we thought ok, we will and see if we can get on an early flight.  To bad we couldn't.  So we were stuck at the airport from 9:30 till 12:30.  It was a pretty long wait in a rather small airport.  We wandered around, bought and english paper and did some people watching.  Then we boarded our plane, and got home in 50 min.  Then took the subway again for 2 hours and were back in Ansan by 4.  We then had to wait for my keys to come back, and then we got Kay, said hello.  

Thursday night we got together with more of the Ansan crew.  We went for some Korean food.  So yes, Mom and Dad had Korean... BUT we made the mistake of getting some very SPICY food.  Both mom and dad tried Kimchi (i haven't actually, because i HATE cabbage). And Dad finally got his rice.  Mom did pretty good with the chop sticks actually, Dad had a harder time.  Mom was able to eat more of the spicy food.. Dad and I couldn't.  So we had some rice.. Then we headed out to Baskin Robins to cool our pallets.  Then we headed home, watched some tv and just headed to bed early, because we were pretty tired.

   Friday, the 13th, arrived really really rainy.  That was the day we were supposed to have lunch with my school principal, so we headed to the school during a dry bit.  We met with the principal, and she was so cute.  Ms. Lee had helped her write something in English, and she read it to my mom and dad.  Ms. Lee also gave me GREAT news.  She got the Transfer !!!!!!! Yep, that means that she is gone.  I am happy that she got what she wanted.  Its not just that I am happy that she is leaving.. its more that i am happy for her.  Life will be easier for her, less of a commute, and she might be a happier, less stressed out person. 

 Sadly, the principal was unable to join us for lunch :( But ms lee, ms jung and mr lee were able to take us to TGIF's for lunch.  Ms Jung is to be my new head co-teacher.  She'll be the one giving me direction.  And Mr. Lee is a great co-teacher.  He cares a lot for me, and asks how I am doing, and does a lot of praying for me.  So I was happy that mom and dad got to meet those two, and experience Ms. lee.  Her driving reflects her personality.. and she is a CRAZY DANGEROUS driver.  

When we got home, it was pouring, so we decided that Friday would just be a day for recovering and for relaxing at home.  We watched some tv, had sandwiches for supper and watched a movie and then headed to bed.

  Saturday, the 14th, was the last full day that mom and dad would be here.  it was also Valentines day.  So what did we do?  We got on the subway and went to Seoul!  I took them to the Neundaymun market.  Which is sorta known as the Korean Black Market.  And holy crap! It was crazy, and busy, and one of those places that I DON'T LIKE!  I have this issue with crowds, small spaces, and people walking in my bubble.  And this market violated ALL of those!  Dad found it fascinating.. I found that it drove me nuts!  I had never been there before..  so I was pretty overwhelmed by everything, and just generally confused.  

After that chaos, we went to Itaewon.  This is known as the western area of Korea.  Its not as piled up with shops, and there are a lot of western shops (i needed something calm after that crazy market).  We walked up and down the streets, and went into some of the shops.  Then we saw the American Army base, and headed to Kraze burger.  NOT McDonalds.  And Kraze burger is a more upscale burger.  Real meat, and real nice bread etc.  Then we headed back to Ansan.  Watched Little Rascals, and got some packing started, and then went to bed.

Sunday, today, the 15th, we woke up, i woke up a little frustrated with my dear doggy.  At least mom and dad found it funny.  We had breakfast, and then headed to church.  After church we had some lunch.. and then had to figure out how we were going to get to the Ansan bus station.  We had trouble getting a cab, and so we ended up taking a bus (mom and dad, its a good thing we got on the 62, because the 511 doesn't go to the stop we were waiting at... we would have waited for a looong time).  So we got to the Ansan Station.. and when we got there, the lady who sells bus tickets wasn't there, shit, BUT we headed to where the bus does go, and there were people there waiting.. thankfully.  You can give your money to the bus driver.  So we waited together for a few minutes, and then the Long bus came (i hope it didn't take to long this time).  I was able to hold it together until I got back to my apartment.  Then I cried a bit.. because 7 and a half months is going to be a long time.  Instead of sitting around and crying, i decided to clean my apartment.. and that helped me clear my mind and think about other things.

  Now I just spent a good hour writing this.  And yeah, I am doing ok.  These 7 and a half months will fly by actually.  Ms lee is gone, I have a new co-teacher that I like and get a long with.  I will have new students, and they will have a clear slate about english.. and maybe will even be excited.  I have a great group of friends here, and our gym time together is really great.. and just wait till we do the diet.. that will bring us even closer.  

This time will fly.  And I will be ok. 

  Sure I miss you guys, but I am dealing... I really am.  God's good... no, He's great actually.  He's got this all in His hands, and will continue to bless me.. and cause me to grow in these next months.  I know it.

  Love you all, and take care of my family!! Ok?!

Feeling light

i just thought i would write a positive blurb today.
This week is a short week for me. I only have 3 days of work, and yesterday they let me go home early.
So why am I only working 3 days? Well, it would be because my parents are coming on FRIDAY! I am taking Thursday off, just so I can get my apartment clean, and have a day off to sleep and stuff.. because i know i wouldnt be able to do much at work for sure :P
Now my positive note. Since January 9th I haven't been teaching.. just working in the office, but this whole time ms lee has been away. Yes, we still have had our issues, and me getting crushed sometimes.. but she was not here, and it was nice.
Today, Feb.3rd, she came back though. So this morning while I walked I kept telling myself, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Yep, little sunday school there. Anyways, we did have an issue right away, but I didnt let it bother me. And one of my favorite co-teachers, Mr. Lee is here today too.. He makes me feel better often. So after lunch Mr. lee was messaging me on the internet chat that we have. We were talking, and what we talked about really brightened my day. Ms lee has already decided herself not to be the teacher in charge of Native English Teachers next year! So that means that I dont have to make that recommendation to her :) There is also a chance that she may be moving to another school. Yep. Ms lee would like to be at a school in Seoul, since that is where she lives. I will be praying that God will give her what she wants, even though she doesn't believe in Him. I dont know what it will change, but it will be a good thing if she can get what she wants, perhaps it will help with her attitude.
So thats the happy news

Lunar New Year Weekend

Hey Everyone.

  So this week was the lunar new year here in Korea.. you know, that Chinese Lunar New year that everyone talks about.  Welcome to the year of the ox.

So the cool thing is that we got a four day weekend because of the holiday.

  At first we had thought about going to Busan for the weekend, but we were told that the traffic would be awful and not worth trying to go.

  So then we changed our plans to just going to a spa on saturday, and doing some small stuff in the area.  Well, we learnt that the traffic WAS awful on saturday... it was pretty much impossible to get to the spa where we were going.  We had taken a 2 hour subway ride to met up with our korean friend who has a car.  Then we started our travels... and lets say this, it took us two hours to get back to Ansan... by car, when it usually takes about 45 min.  So we decided to just order food, and well, drink instead.  So we had chinese food, and watched tv.  AND Nikia gave me cornrows... so 4 hours later, i have awesome hair now.. It was a bit painful since I was getting tired and was not able to stop the pain feeling like i usually can... so we were done at about 2 am... and then I headed home and crashed.

  Sunday i just caught up on sleep, and chilled out... OH! and Korea got a lot of snow!!!!!! so on sunday Kay and I went out to play in it.. it was super cute, and we did some off leash practice, and she is pretty good at it.. but i did leash her whenever i saw a person.. because Kay thinks that everyone in the world is there for her to visit with..

   OK, for this next part I have to go back to Friday.  By Friday we knew that our plans had changed, and my principal asked about it, and when she found out that i was free, she called up the family that was interested in having me for the Monday and Tuesday that we had off.  This family goes to my school.  The oldest son was in Ms Lees homeroom, the class I ate lunch with every day, and he speaks english well.  The mom is on the PTA, and she was with me on my first day at the school.  She was part of the group that took me out to lunch, where I did end up crying because of jet lag, and just being overwhelmed.  And crying here in Korea, is a really personal thing, so I sorta won a lot of people over with it... i wasn't planning to do that though :).  At first I was sorta a little down that I had to do this, BUT i told myself that I am only in Korea once and that its a one time experience.  So I sucked it up, and prepared myself to be exhausted, but like it anyways :)

So Monday, they picked me up at 8 am.  Yep.. bright and early.  The family then took me to the eldest brothers house,  for the traditional new year celebration.  There they prayed to the great great grandfather, the great grandfather, and the grandfather, who had passed.  They also had some food for the spirits, and even had to door propped open so they could enter.  It was a little different.  I asked Micah, who is a Christian and Korea, if his family did this, and he said No, because they are Christians.  

 After they prayed, the grandmother, and the grandchildren came together.  the grandkids bowed and the grandmother offered her blessing to them, and then gave them money.  Then the kids parents took the grandmothers spot, were bowed to by the kids, and then they offered the blessing and gave the kids more money..

Then we ate food.. and then watched some tv.  

In the afternoon the family took me to the Korean Traditional Folk Village.  Great fun.  We ended up playing on the ice with the sleds, and the tops, more then we did learning.  They also fed me there, I had some nice chicken and ginseng soup.. and all the stuff we ate was grown there.. i was the ginseng fields.. and the chickens :P.  The traditional village was pretty cool though, because you could see how the houses changed in Korea through out the ages.

We also got to see some stuff from Jeju Island..  

PARENTS: I must make sure to write down in korean what Black Pig is.. because we are NOT eating that.  Its a special food in korea, its pork. BUT this pork is fed human feces.  Yep, POOP.. and thats what makes the meat special... SOOOO yucky.

  Well, after the traditional village, it was pretty late, and the traffic was still a little heavy, so we headed home.  On the way home we stopped off at the Suwon World Cup Stadium.. OHHH MAN! it was ASS-A!  It was huge and awesome and super cool looking.

  thankfully the family lives very close to me, so instead of spending the night, they kindly dropped me off at home.. and I was able to sleep here.  The biggest thing that i was thankful on Monday was the fact that there son speaks English so well.  It makes everything so much easier.  I was able to talk to them, through him, and they could talk to me too.. it wasnt just the smiling and acting things out.. which can be super draining.  Plus they let me nap in the car, we all did...   Another thing that is great.. even though the mom doesnt speak english at all really, she communicates with me through touch.  She was holding onto my knee the whole day on monday when we were in the car (which was a long time).. and sometimes just grabbing my hand... showing she was happy and that she cares.

  I was pretty exhausted after monday.. went to bed, to be prepared for round two of the korean experience.  At least today, they didnt pick me up until 11:30.  When they picked me up, it was lunch time, so they took me out, but i wasnt that hungry.. at least it was a bit further away, and we went to a pasta place (that was fancy).. but we shared a pizza :) so I didnt have to eat to much.

After our lunch, we drove to Seoul.  The traffic was a little rough again today because of people coming HOME from the holiday.  We were heading to the COEX mall, so that the family could take me to the aquarium :)  I have been there before, but it was still fun.. and we just got to spend a lot of time on the road, hanging out again.  We did the aquarium for a few hours. And the whole time the mom was holding my arm, and making sure I was there.  We got a lot of looks, because first, white girl with cornrows.. and then its white girl, with Korean family..  who has a Korean mom worrying about her a lot.  After the aquarium, we headed back to Ansan..I fell asleep on the way home.. and then we went to the big Homeplus for McDonalds for dinner.

  This family did so much for me.. and didnt expect me to pay... which is sorta frustrating.  But i am super thankful that they did this for me.  Instead of spending my weekend just sitting at home and working on training Kay.. I was able to spend time with a great family, and to see something of Korea I hadnt seen yet.  And this family was great.  Just being with them was nice. The dad isn't the typical one that you see, he really was able to show that he loves his sons, he would hug them and stuff event in front of me, and he was smiling and really nice to me.  And their mom, like I said she cares a lot.  They were all so giving, and really wanted me to be happy.  Thats what made it great.    

I will make sure to get a lot of sleep tonight.. so that I dont sleep on my desk at work.. only a 3 day work week.. YAAAAAAY!  and then the next week is only 4 days, because I am taking the 5th off (my thursday) and then my PARENTS COME ON THE 6th!!!!!!!!!!!! Very thankful.. Oh and Parents.. my adopted family wants to take you out for lunch (see what I mean, this family is super kind)

  Hope you enjoyed that blog. Things are good.  Sorta.  Ms Lee comes back on the 3rd of February, so lets keep praying that things wont be terrible.  I have spoken to someone at the school about the stress i have with her, but I know it wont solve it, but someone knows at least.  Next step is actually talking to ms lee about it.  Perhaps in writing, since I can present myself much better in writing.

  Well hope everyone is great!  Lots of love from Korea

life right about now

haha.. so i just posted this without writing anything.. i think that sums up what has been happening as of late.

Not that nothing has been happening, but that stupid little things have been happening and I can be rather absent-minded.

  Lets see, its been a while since I have written.  There has been snow here, and then it melted.

I have been going to school every day.. 9-5.. I am supposed to be lesson planning right now.  And i was...

   Lets do that story I guess.  So I was lesson planning. I have to make 14 grade 1 lessons and 14 grade 2 lessons.  So i take about an hour to make a powerpoint, thats with pictures, words, formating and transitions.. very clean and fancy.  And I had to make lesson outlines, and we'll say that for the grade 1s, it took about 3 hours.. so about 17 hours of work.  It was a lot of work, and I was super excited when I was done.  I felt rather accomplished and proud of those lessons.

I was talking to another middle school teacher and she said that she couldnt lesson plan like me because she hadnt gotten the new text book.. which made me just a little worried.

So i emailed ms lee

at 5 i get a phone call.

Yep, Oh Melanie, I forgot to tell you, we are getting a new text book.  

SHIT 

so 17 pointless hours of work.  well not pointless, but i was pretty depressed today.  Its not pointless because I will just use all of those lessons for my extra class in the spring (which i havent found out about yet.. but it will happen).

THEN ms lee goes, and i dont know if you will be teaching grade 2s.. but you should plan their lessons anyways... Right now I am thinking whats the point.  So I spent today watching tv at work and doing nothing.  We also dont know when I will get the new grade 1 text.  Maybe march... when i have to teach from it...

   YAY korean lack of COMMUNICATION.

  So the general feeling about this.  I like Korea, I like the people here, I HATE my job.  Its a long story.

  Life here is nice though.  Kay got a hair cut, but thank god its growing back nicely.  And she's growing fast.  She is learning to sit, and do tricks with snacks. Also her baby teeth are falling out...  She likes to come into the bathroom at shower time, and drink the water... Right now she is sitting on my lap, sleeping.  She's the baby of Neulbom.. thats the name of the apartment.  But yeah, everyone loves to come see her.. and she loves the attention.. thinks everyone in the world is there for her.  

  My social life is nicely growing.  I get a chance to cook for people if i invite them.. we also did a games night.. and succeeded in fitting 9 ppl in my tiny apartment, plus 2 dogs.  We have been staying closer to home these past days because Korea is going through a cold snap.. I do hope its warmer though when Mom and Dad get here.

  Yep, 2 weeks till my parents come... very exciting.  we have an idea of what we want to do, and I have some foods that they will like and are not spicy or fishy... And I like them, so it should be alright.  

I also get my monday and tuesday off, because of the Lunar new year.  Really glad for that. I just need out of the school.  we were going to do a trip, but those plans fell out.. so we are going to go to a spa in Ansa (not Ansan)... it has hot springs and massage... it will be great :)

  So I am well.. 

Keep praying for ms lee.  and for me to be kind to her, thankful for her, and have the ability to compliment her... 

recent activity

so what has happened since I have written?

  well i did my week of winter camp.  we will not write about that, lets just say I have had better weeks.  I need prayer in this situation you guys.  I am running out of kindness and understanding for this woman.. and Ms lee has succeeded in doing a lot of emotional damage to me...

  Kay got a hair cut... and I mean a hair cut!  she is now shaved.. and has to wear a sweater because she was not functioning properly... right now she is trying to remove it though.. she loves to chew and its now something to chew on.. we are trying to work on NOT chewing on everything.  

 

So other things that have happened.. my saturday was just me and Kay staying at home and doing nothing all day.. it was great...

And Sunday was nice.  I went to COSTCO with a group of people from church! It was great! there was the Costco food (western) and all the glories of Costco.... it was so nice to just see the all the stacks of food like that. I got Honey nut Cheerios.. and Oatmeal :) and coffee grounds... so happy...

It was also super nice just to hang out with such a great group of people.  Most of them teach at Hagwons in the area.. and so they have a bit of a different situation then me.. but they were super supportive when i was talking about what happened this week for me.    

It really good just getting to know the people from my church and having even more great people to hang out with....

So perhaps with my sunday being so good.. maybe my week will be alright... heres hoping!

100 days

hey everyone

  today micah and I went to Dunddemun to do some shopping (yes david we got your jersey!)..  and while we were on the subway home we were looking at my cell phone, and i noticed on my countdown that i have 265 days left here... that means that I have been here 100 days already.. and if you think about that.. its a long time.

  OH! and happy new years everyone!

I guess i should talk about that first!

  My new years was a calm celebration.. we went out for dinner, and then off to a bar where there was a lot of other foreigners, and we counted down, and then headed home.  There was a celebration in Hwarang park, but my dear friends from the southern hemisphere, whose summer it is right now, found it too cold to be outside.  So I did not experience the tradition of ringing the big bell, or the fireworks... but it did happen.. and we had a really nice taxi driver on our way home.

  So its 2009.... I am considered 24 now in Korea... so instead of making a new years resolution.. i thought i would look back a bit at what i have achieved in 24 years of life.. i think i'll start from the most recent..

  - moved to korea and become a teacher

 - see close friends get married (sorry i miss Jelma and Fritz

 - live in Hamilton in an apartment, and get more self-sufficent

 - graduated from University with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Theology... 4 long years, filled with education, in and out of class....

- attempted moving out to Alberta for a summer.. that was a challenge... but even failing in that helped me be who i am today

 - worked 3  summers at Circle Square Ranch, and one summer running my own day camp.. so being a part of so many youths lives.. and growing up there myself and gaining a solid experience in my youth...

 - dealing with moving away in right before my grade 12 year... that was crappy as all get out.. but a lot of stuff, good and bad, came from it.. its another thing that has shaped me.

 - getting to go to Redeemer Christian High School for 3 years.. meeting my best friend ever there... God had that planned out for sure.. remember mom and dad, how it looked like I would have gone to North Dundas..... i don't think i would be where i am today, if we hadn't had the help we got....

 - being blessed enough to also go to Christian grade school... mom and dad you sacrificed a lot to do that for us.. sure it might have been expected because we were the pastors family... but it still was a lot of work.. 

  - being born into the family I was born into.  We never went without.. Mom and Dad always made sure that we had things, and a great childhood.. sure we missed out on family trips to far places :P... and sure, sometimes being a pastors kid was a pain.. but who else got to go to Florida to see a church, or be the only white kid in her pre-school, or to live in so many different places before settling in the third grade... and you dont notice that till you sit down when you are "24" and look back at how it all shaped you.

Now reviewing 100 days in Korea.. what have I achieved?

 - made great friends.. korean and english. They are willing to help me, and answer my stupid questions, and they dealt with me being so, umm, freaked out, in the beginning

 - i can pay my bills, go to the post office, all by myself, (remember its in Korean)

- i can generally find my way around the city... wether it be by taxi, bus , or even the subway to seoul... and only get sorta lost (and even Koreans get lost on the subways.. right Micah?)

 - i can say 3 words :P, but i can usually understand conversations that do go on in korean.. by reading the tone, and facial expressions, and looking at the situation that the conversation is in...

 - I can recognize some of my students on the street.. i dont know their names, BUT you try remembering the names of  640 students (yes, i see 40 students in 16 classes in one week), and most of my students look similar... and have the same last name.. there are like 4 common last names

 - I can teach a class all by myself, and actually get what I mean across.. that was my advanced class.. i was very thankful for them.. even if it made my days very long... 

 - i have grown in so many ways that i would not have expected. my faith has been challenged , my personality has been challenged, my perspective has been challenged... pretty much all of me has been challenged AND will continue to be challenged while I am here..  

- i have a better understand of friendships and how fragile they can be.. and how they fade in and out in life...

 - I have never been so homesick in my life :P (its gotten a lot better.. but i still miss home)

- My relationship with my family has changed in so many ways too... heck, i can tell my brothers i love them now.. and I think my parents are seeing me as a grown up now.. since I have stopped freaking out so much

Theres so many other things... but i am running out of thoughts.... 

All I know is that I am thankful for each day of my 24 years on this earth... and for each of the 100 days that i have been here.  i might still have bad days.. but even the bad days shape me.

  I guess what I can pray for this year is that I can be joyful on all of the days.. and keep this view of being shaped...