No thanks.... no comment either.

Highlights of my Day... Friday, March 31

1. Love it how some Koreans totally misuse English words. Today’s word was “date”. One of my coworkers at Eumbong Elementary School asked me if I wanted to have a “date” with him. I knew he was married and obviously meant something different. Had a good laugh though.
2. After teaching at Eumbong Elementary School I returned to Eumbong Middle School with three hours to kill till hometime. Preoccupied myself with trying to set up a website for my new ePALS club at Eumbong M.S. I’ll link it later to this blog, no worries.
3. Gave my VP a new notebook for him to write all his English questions of the day in and apparently, while I was out of the staff room, he boosted about it to all! He’s hilarious!
4. After numerous attempts at erasing my id on theknot.com, they’re still sending me emails. Thanks but I don’t need to be reminded that in 58 days I was suppose to be married. I plan on spending my March 28th celebrating my new life with Ryan thanks.
5. Thought it a good idea to get my hair cut and dyied. I’ve lived here for over a year and so I thought it wouldn’t be a problem…. WRONG! My stylist for the evening was Ms. Attitude. A pretty clueless Korean woman who was quite proud of her ignorance.
6. Thankfully Ms. Attitude’s two faithful side-kicks were super sweet and more attentive. I tried to teach one of the guys some funny English phrases. Buy the end of the night he had learned “Yo, what’s up homey?”, “I’m pimpin’”, “You want a piece of me?!”. So funny!
7. After 4 ½ hours, they must have washed my hair 6 times, bleached it once, died it 3 times. I left the salon upset and hating my new hair colour.
8. I loved my black hair but admit that dying it black was the WORSE thing I’ve ever done to my hair. That hair colour raped my hair of it’s health and beauty!
9. Needless to say I was in NO mood to meet up with Tasha and Woo. Sorry dudes. I wasn’t good company at the point and when I got home I found out that Ryan was really sick.
10. Ryan reassured me I still look beautiful but now look more “white”… dang

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
How have you changed this year?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
Love is grand; divorce a hundred grand.
-- Author Unknown

Ahhhhhhhh..... I'm Pete. Look, my arm is bigger than my head!!! Be nice to Amy or I'll eat your whole family for my lunch!
Hey Pete, looking for you online, where ya been?

Highlights of my Day... Thursday, March 30

1. Funny boy Ryan in my level two middle school class always seems to make me laugh with his surprising comments. Today he told the class that I invited to join ePALS because I’m going to set him up with an American pen-pal girlfriend.
2. I especially was caught off guard by Ryan (Eumbong student) when I told the class I’d show them a movie next week and he yelled out, “adult movie, yes?”
3. Chloe in my 2-2 class told me that Rob said he hated me. My response, “That’s great. Tell him that’s going to get him a great mark in my class!” I was rather insulted by the comment but forgot about it two minutes later when my co-teacher told me he hates every teacher, every class and every thing about school!
4. It’s funny how people definitely become their names! Rob in my 2-2 is definitely a Rob! This little guy is like a miniature version of my brother Rob who hated school and definitely had a certain attitude about school. Don’t get me wrong, once he found his passion (photography class) everything changed.
5. Meet up with my little sister Sue. I brought her some books thinking it’d take her forever to get through but we finished them in about an hour. Looks like the intelligent gene runs in the family. Ha, ha, ha.
6. I love it… text messages from my middle school students. These kids are amazing!
7. Some play computer games, others play card games, Ryan and I play scooter games. I especially like the scooter game “stop and go”… he stops, I run, he goes, I stop. Or, “bouncy times” where we bounce up and down on the scooter while it’s in motion (I’m sure that’s really good for the shocks).
8. Thought I was going to freeze to death when Ryan thought it’d be funny to lean forward while blazing the streets of Cheonan on his scooter. The cold, cold evening weather hit my exposed face like a brick wall.
9. Ha, ha, ha….someone soiled their pants!!!
10. Figure I’m worse off because Paul gave me a dvd player. After buying an extra wire and getting Ryan to inquire about the stupid machine, it still doesn’t work. We haven’t had a movie night since the big move. This bites pickles! Ventured to Emart to check out a new dvd player.

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
Is that you that smells?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
I soon found out you can't change the world. The best you can do is to learn to live with it. ~Henry Miller

My massive and loud poster that I made for my new school club, ePALS.

Highlights of my Day... Wednesday, March 29

1. Techno melt-down AGAIN at Wollang Elementary School with the computer cd drive. EVERY week I teach there the cd drive chews up my cd (school textbook cd) and so the school has to give me a new one. I’m up to three chewed up cds… you think they’d figure some kind of solution out.
2. Tried my hardest to not show that I really wasn’t impressed when a “certain someone” (hint, hint… teacher) insisted on “correcting” my CORRECT English. I was especially thrilled when she erased the word “corner” on the street and rewrote it as “corrner” I guess becoming a teacher was the only way they could get her to stay in school.
3. During tea time at Wollang, I got invited to play volleyball with the teachers after class next week. Turns out they do an activity together after school every Wednesday but my co-teacher Mrs. Chung had already told them I can’t. She says I have to return to Eumbong M.S. to work… work on what? I teach 20 classes a week and that means on Wednesdays I’ve got 4 hours to kill! I’ve got to see if I can change this!
4. Must admit I gave a terrible lesson for my grade 6 students… was more focused on what the heck the teacher was doing. She was like 6 students combined. Long story.
5. Walked into Eumbong and instantly knew something was up. Turns out most of the male teachers were sporting hangovers from yesterdays social event we had. I found it particularly interesting that even the VP was hung-over and the principle thought the whole thing was funny!
6. Because of the other day’s parent-teacher interviews, it seems like my new ePALS is of top priority among many. Now even the parents of my students want me to teach them English. Of course, Supervisor Lee is partly to blame for this added work this now causes me. Supervisor Lee, former Director Lee…. both LEEs, coincidence with character?!
7. Definitely the highlight of my day was when I told Jack I’ll let him in my ePALS club if he says please. A simple “please” would have done me good but he got down on his knees, pounded on my desk and begged! Wow!
8. Joked around with Ryan about the fact that we’re almost the same size and so he reassured me he’s “the man” by throwing me over his shoulders and carrying me around the house. Ohhhh…. what a strong man! Can I touch your muscles?!
9. Still get butterflies when Ryan kisses me!
10. Because Ryan has lost his cell phone, my planned dinner out at TGIF for “Rainbow night” was a bust… they give you 40% off to certain cellphone users.

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
Can you give me a question of the day?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
-- Anonymous

Today all us teachers let loose and had some laughs, lots of food, and good times.

Highlights of my Day... Tuesday, March 28

1. Spent a good part of my morning squirming over the lingering smell that lured in the staff room. Quite relieved too when I found out it wasn’t my feet.
2. Question of the day from my VP was so comical, “What do you think of the principle, please, I need an honest opinion.” He’s been really going hardcore with studying English.
3. As the army stretching session started I snuck out of the teacher’s room only to be chased by Mr. Science Guy as he yelled, “Haji-ma ssangnhem Amy… e-de-wa!!!” (translation: “Don’t do that teacher Amy… come here!!!”). Found refugee in the woman’s bathroom for about a minute until he came pounding on the door.
4. My strict new strategy that I’ve picked up is locking the classroom doors after the bell goes. Students late for my classes thought it was funny being stuck in the halls until the principle came and gave them a licking!
5. What was originally thought to be a small class is now a big production. I am planning to teach English to my teachers at Eumbong M.S. but was only expecting 4-6 and every second week. Now, there’s about 9 signed up and they’re eagerly asking for classes EVERY week!
6. Today was the big ping pong tournament and staff supper. I did some early morning cramming of how to play ping-pong but I was really dreading the tournament. It wasn’t even suppose to be a tournament. It was suppose to be a casual game but then they went all hardcore with it!
7. My partner was the computer teacher who’s cute and so nice. I felt bad because he had to deal with me, a totally clueless ping-pong player. The only advice he could say in English was “one thing important… hit ball is must”. Thanks partner.
8. I didn’t know what the heck I was doing and I was sure we were doing bad but then all the cheering started… they were cheering for my partner and me. Apparently in our group (2 groups) we WON! I have no idea how that happened!!!
9. Celebrated the definitely unexpected victory with a large plate of octopus. Thanks to Mr. Jo for taking that plate of live octopus away and cooking it for me.
10. As Mr. Jo cut the octopus open, brain juice shot across the table. “Mrs. Prego” was a quick victim and I hid behind Mrs. Chung. I’d like to think that I’m pretty opened-minded but eating octopus brain and drinking up all that brain juice is going a little bit too far for my comfort level.

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
Englisheee yes?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
It is a fearful thingto love what death can touch.
-- Unknown

Eumbong Middle School as I see it from the end of the school's driveway....well almost the end. The picture doesn't show it but it's nestled away in the landscape and surrounding mountains.

Highlights of my Day... Monday, March 27

1. Got informed today that the big ping-pong tournament is tomorrow!!! My VP gave me a crash course in the game and sent me to class late and sweaty. Thanks for the practice coach!
2. Much thanks to my two students Rupie and Rob for posing as my “stretching teachers” during the school’s routine stretching time. Rupie you were super funny and helpful, Rob… this seemed more like a dance routine to you so you kind of freaked me out with your ballet hands and how you were too into it!
3. Was forewarned I’ve got one day to find out what “cockle” is and accept it before I’ll be forced to eat it with the staff.
4. You think someone would have warned me that today is Parent-Teacher interview day! Instead, I taught class and about a million and one mothers peeked into my class and flooded the halls.
5. Got lots of cheers from my students’ mothers as I exited the staff room and gave it my best go at a few Korean phrases. They were all surprised…. yes ladies, I’m not just another pretty face!
6. Met morphed into the “English Nazi” right before my students’ eyes. They seem to think that using Korean to get English answers on their activity survey is cool with me. So I threw out a few warnings and when that didn’t work I threw out a few student’s papers and with that, the “310 club” was officially formed. In other words, the “310 club” is detention.
7. So cute… now my two nice new wool sweaters are fit perfectly for a midget! Totally forgot about the shrinkage effect the dryer has on my clothes. I think I can stretch it out maybe.
8. I want to punch this computer so much… not only did the scroll button cause me to lose my whole email but then when I tried to type it up in a word document it froze on me. Andi… you better read your email cause I wrote it THREE times!!!
9. Countdown is on until Ryan buys his new scooter.
10. Word on the street is Ryan may be teaching me how to drive his current scooter!

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
What in the world is cockle?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
“Do you know French toast?”… “French toast, I know African toast!”
-- Yoonbeer

Add one cool homegirl, a few cups of girlie talk, a splash of Koreans in the background, a combo of ice cream and orange juice, a splash of good weather, put it all together and what do you have?
.... my Sunday outing!

Highlights of my Day... Sunday, March 26

1. Met up with my homegirl Jenn for ice cream, shopping and lots of girl chat.
2. Ventured back to the bookstore downtown here and brought Jenn with me this time. This time was definitely more successful.
3. I love it… text messages from my student Lyndia. She’s so cute and I feel like such a mentor to her and so today I bought her an English book, “The Secret Garden”. This girl is going to go far in life and I want to be there pushing her!
4. Hey Jenn, you remember that cute black shirt I bought today with you, well when I got home I realized I read it wrong. It actually reads “Please make me to heaven” on it… what the heck does that mean?! Made in Korea, go figure!
5. Sweet.. bought a pair of jeans without trying them on and they fit.
6. Spent a bit of my evening listening to “The Secret Garden” on cd. In my attempts to get Lyndia all pumped up about reading English, I had told her it was one of my favourite books. I didn’t lie though… at the time I thought I was going to buy “The Phantom of the Opera” but then had changed my mind. Jenn influenced me on that one…. blame it on her!
7. Ryan showed his true Korean colours with insisting on eating pickled garlic with every meal. He claims it makes him more of a “man”… maybe he meant more of a “stinky man”. Ah be quiet… you know I love ya. Eat your garlic baby!
8. Thought I would have lost the title of “Reptile Girl” by now but apparently my skin is still peeling from my trip to Thailand and Ryan thinks it’s so funny to call me that, thanks.
9. Oops… I wasn’t suppose to mention “his” name seeing as I’m sure no mention of my name and the term “girlfriend” is made on his CY World.
10. For some reason Ryan and I thought it’d be funny to text message each other while sitting BESIDE each other with our computers…. hmmm, are we that bored?

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
How many hairs do you have?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
Every hair has it's own purpose.
-- Yoonbeer

As Ryan slept on the bus ride to Seoul I sat there bored out of my mind with nothing better to do than play with my camera.... gotch ya!

Highlights of my Day... Saturday, March 25

1. A simple trip to the bookstore with Ryan turned into a bit of a drama episode. But, like all Korean dramas, the guy always gets the girl in the end. Look at him… he’s too cute for me to stay mad at. It’s not my fault. I’m not weak…. okay maybe a little when it comes to Ryan!
2. What was initially meant as a quick trip out to Seoul with Ryan to pay for his new scooter turned into a trip and a half. He got offered a huge discount but now he’s got to go back there again. It’s never just a three hour tour… I should have learned that watching “Gilligan’s Island”!
3. Looking forward to Ryan’s sweet new scooter… bigger scooter means better seat for me!
4. Dude, my English is getting really bad, even I don’t understand what I’m saying sometimes. Ryan asked me what some English word meant and I had no idea!
5. While out in Seoul we decided to go to Costco to stock up on a massive jug of pure Canadian maple syrup, baby dill pickles, and croissants. The croissants we could have bought in Cheonan but their oh so delicious aroma at the fresh Costco bakery lured me in and I just had to buy them!
6. Turns out bus seats for Cheonan were all sold out and so we had to waste more money and even more time trying to explore another way home. Definitely shocked…. who goes to Cheonan anyways?
7. Rule of thumb is that if it doesn’t have wings, it can’t fly then. Today I thought maybe my candle could fly. Turns out it can’t fly, nor does it maintain it’s shape.
8. Consider myself Korean-washed because I definitely have been getting too sensitive about some things lately. The fact that Ryan’s a bit white-washed doesn’t help the situation either.
9. Laid back and thought of what it really meant to be a foreigner in this country and dating a local… If I were to run away from Ryan where would I go?, who would I go to?. In thinking all this and getting myself all worked up about the harsh reality of it all, I got totally stressed out and upset.
10. Stained the new couch with my runny nose…. oops!

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
I have given a name to my pain, and it is Batman.
-- one of Joker's line in the movie "Batman"

Took a bite of an adventerous walk after work. If you can spot in the distance the blue tall building beside the crane, well, that's my apartment building!

Highlights of my Day... Friday, March 24

1. Finally got to meet my new students at Eumbong Elementary School. The past two Friday’s I’ve been business with business trips, first to Thailand for the visa run and than last Friday with registration at Daejon Immigration.
2. My first impression of the Vice Principle was “oh no, he doesn’t like me”. He made somewhat of a big issue about my indoor shoes and kept on repeating “soft shoes”. I was embarrassed and so I played it off like his English made no sense and made sure at lunch not to sit nere him if he was there.
3. Turns out my Eumbong E.S. classes (grade 5 and 6) are small classes of about 20 students and they stare at me just as much as the Wollang elementary kids in the lunchroom.
4. Still confused as to why the name “Jennifer” and “Jess” is so funny. I happen to like the name Jennifer, don’t care for Jess, but whenever I read out possible English names they can select from those two names always get the classes laughing. Sorry Jenn. I think you’re name is pretty.
5. First day of teaching Eumbong E.S. students and already I’m receiving gifts. Got this really cool mini bottle with a flower in it. I think I’m suppose to wear it on a necklace.
6. Coffee time after lunch with the staff was exactly what I needed. I hadn’t had a first good impression of the school and was kind of sad about that. Coffee time gave me a chance to bond a bit with these three select male teachers in a much more relaxed atmosphere.
7. No matter what I feel of think about the elementary schools I teach at, it always feels good to return to Eumbong Middle School. I’ve really bonded with the teachers and students. It’s like a second home.
8. Mr. Science Man had an appointment and so he couldn’t drive me the whole way home, no problem though. He dropped me off at the bridge right before downtown and so I took this opportunity to go explore some of the shops.
9. My big mistake for the day was entering some pet store. I was lured in by these two Korean guys who looked straight out of some punk band from the 80’s. They stood there at the stoplights with two puppies and so I just had to pet the little guys… the dogs that is. And that’s when they insisted I go inside and look at the other puppies, so I did. Fortunetly I have more willpower today than I have had on other days and so no, I didn’t walk out with that little pug that was yelling at me, “Take me home Amy. I’ll be a good boy”. Well I thought he was yelling that at me but that’s when flashes of Daewoo eating my wallpaper popped in my mind and rescued me!
10. Any plans for the night got stomped out when I misplaced my foot on my stairs (in my apartment) and came crashing down. I landed on my back and my head seemed to bounce off the floor a few times.

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
Maybe if we were the last two people on earth and there was no sheep. Are there sheep?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
Some things are true whether you believe in them or not.
-- from the movie "City of Angels"

Introducing my new little sister. She loves lions, the colour blue, singing and school. She's so cute.... that must run in our family!

Highlights of my Day... Thursday, March 23

1. Wore a skirt today to my middle school despite the horror stories about teachers with skirts and boys with mirrors.
2. Should have taken my advice Shine… I told you, stay away from girls; girls are trouble! Turns out one of my prize students at Eumbong M.S is in a rut because of some girl. Girls change everything! Take Tony in my level 2 class… he’s known to be a rotten student but in my class he is like my shadow!
3. Same problem with Ryan in my 2-2 class…. he really liked this girl but she totally rejected him today in the lunchroom and so he’s now a crushed 14 year old boy.
4. Yes Tony, I know you love me but you really have to stop yelling that out in class!
5. Today’s question of the day from my VP was “How long will you stay in Korea?” My answer, “Hmmmm, no answer.”
6. The drama continues as the identity of “the girl next door”, who just entered the discussion yesterday, still remains unknown and Mr. Anonymous continues to add his I insight. Apparently I created quite a discussion with my blog entry on Monday.
7. I’m all about Sue… her father is a doctor and her mother is a beautiful Korean housewife. They both adopted me to be her big sister so today was the first day us sisters met each other.
8. Hung out at Sue’s penthouse apartment and it definitely has to be the most styling pad in Cheonan!!! I’m talking about fur couches, chunky marble coffee tables, a kitchen that’s bigger than basically my whole house, a TV bigger than my whole body times 2, and an interior design that was obviously created by someone with class, cash and rich taste! And here I thought my pad was the most stylin’ around!
9. By the end of our time together today, Sue and me were all giggles as we had five minutes of tickle time. She’s such a cool little sister.
10. Chilled out the rest of the night and chatted on msn with Papa Bere.

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
Who are you... tell me your name.... were you sent by the Feds?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.
-- Anonymous

When I stand in my classroom, here's what I see out the window... nothing but mountains and farms. Oh, and two houses, one of which is the schools. The driveway of the school is so long... you can see the start of it because it's right were that bus is... so far!

Here's some snapshots of my English room at Eumbong Middle School. Check out the projector and the four whiteboards the move away to reveal a massive screen. Flat screen computer and new tables... sweet!

Highlights of my Day... Wednesday, March 22

1. Thought I’d experience horror again with my Wollang Elementary grade 5 class (I only teach them once a week) but today was different! I stood there all nervous that they’d test my “I’m going to hit you” comment I made last week but it turns out their homeroom teacher did that so today they were angels… seriously! Word has it half of them got a beating from him.
2. Despite our jokes about the “bad fat kid”, I didn’t give him the English name Cartman like Tasha had joked about. Instead he’s now Mike and his little side-kick is Jackson. Turns out Jackson has rebelled against Mike and is now my side-kick in class. This little guy was an angel in diquise!
3. Found out that Lyndia, my pride and joy at Eumbong Middle School, has a brother in my class at Wollang Elementary School…. Brent. Turns out I’m apparently a favorite of Lyndia too cause he told me all about how she goes on and on about me at home. Good stuff!
4. After a couple of weeks making my face known at Wollang Elementary School, I still remain the freakshow in the cafeteria at lunchtime as pointing girls and boys push their way to catch a glimpse at me or, better yet, to point at me.
5. Tea time at Wollang started off on a very akward note as I went to the tea room with one of the teachers. She didn’t speak a word of English (mind you most of them there don’t) and we were the only one’s there for about 15 minutes. I struggled a bit but I used as much Korean as I had collected in a year and left her laughing. Not too sure if she was laughing at my story or me, regardless, she was smiling.
6. I only teach in the morning and for the rest of the day I simply kicked up my heels, turned on some music and took it easy back at Eumbong Middle School. I love this job!
7. Everyday my VP at Eumbong MS tries his English on me. Today’s English question of the day was, “What kind of men do you like?” I responded by saying “funny men”. Then he asked me “What kind of WOMEN do you like?” and I was totally thrown off guard. How do I answer that? I’m not into women but maybe he meant female friends. My response “breathing”, I don’t think he got my joke so I changed my answer to “sweet”.
8. I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of all the screaming girls who flock my classroom to chat about silly things or the numerous boys who tell me everyday I’m pretty. The world needs more Eumbong students!!!
9. Oh my gosh… I’ve got a post-teenage pimple on my chin! Don’t look at me!
10. It’s official… Ryan’s lost his cell phone but it’s cute how he still checks in with me to tell me he’s on his way… hint, hint you’ve got 10 minutes to finish making my supper. Just joking, I like it. It reminds me of my father calling my mother from work.

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
How do you turn off this GREAT scroll pad on my mouse pad?!

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
The more you learn, the more you learn how little you know.
-- Anonymous

1-2-3... Make a wish!

Highlights of my Day... Tuesday, March 21

1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KOREA’S GREATEST MAN… RYAN!
2. Yes Ryan, in a matter of a couple of days I did in fact inhale the whole pack of M&Ms!
3. Oh the horror… I’m down to my last bottle of pure Canadian maple syrup! How devastating!
4. Easy there Tiger…. Tony (little Mr. I love Ms.B) literally tried to kiss me at school. He leaned into me when I was standing beside him and thankfully I’ve got reflexes like a cat and so he ended up kissing the backside of my hand as I blocked the kiss. I was so shocked and he was so embarrassed so I didn’t tell my co-teacher. I’m hoping he was just joking.
5. Laughed just as hard today as I did yesterday as the school did their stretching time to that loud military music and yelling. Instead of participating, I slipped out of the teachers’ room to check out all the classes and sure enough, they were all stretching. It was the funniest thing I’ve seen in awhile!
6. Today at school all the staff and students wrote new school term resolutions. My VP wrote that he wanted to say a new English phrase everyday to me. So cute. Today’s phrase was “How do you like your coffee?” I couldn’t help but giggle as I could totally relate with him and his inability to understand the answer. I remember when I first learned “how much is this?”. I knew the question but couldn’t count to understand the answer… mind you, I still struggle with counting. Ha, ha, ha.
7. Looks like I’ve got an avid reader… Mr. Anonymous. Thanks for the input and comment you posted. If you ever eventually tell me your name maybe I’d actually write you some directed personal opinions… oh wait, I just did.
8. Finally came to a decision as to who’s going to be in my ePALS club at Eumbong Middle School. This is going to be the start of something great, I can feel it!!!
9. Showered the Birthday Man with lots of much deserved birthday love…. dinner at TGIF, special handmade birthday gift, gold earrings (no.. he only wears one), ice cream cake and even a birthday video taping I made. Thank goodness his birthday only comes once a year cause that was a lot of work!
10.Today’s lesson 101 on Korean culture was a shocker… apparently it’s socially accepted and practiced for grandmothers and mothers to touch their grandson/son’s private part up until they’re in their late teens. And no, it’s not fondling and it doesn’t necessarily mean bare skin (especially when it’s a teen boy). In my country we’d think this is definitely disturbing but I can understand a bit as to why they do this. I think it all relates back to how valued boys are in Korea and the significant symbolism behind “it”. “It” afterall is what continues the family lineage and so symbolically speaking it gives life (baby) and sustains it too (continuation of the family name).

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
What is something that would shock Koreans?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
Love is ice cream.
-- new advertising slogan for Baskin Robins (couldn't agree with them more too!)

With tomorrow being Ryan's birthday, I spent a good part of my evening preparing some stuff.

Highlights of my Day... Monday, March 20

1. Discovered I don’t know how to count when I sat back and counted the days since my and Ryan’s first kiss. Now I know why my highschool math teacher, Mr. Eaton, passed me. It must have been cause I was cute cause I now see just how much I suck with numbers… ha, ha, ha. Thanks Mr. Eaton, so kind.
2. While sitting in my English room I was suddenly bombarded with some kind of military wake-up call and some dude yelling “1-2-3-4… 10” in Korean. It scared the heck out of me and so I went in search of the source. Turns out someone forgot to tell me of their new stretching time during third period that apparently the WHOLE school takes part it. I’m sorry but I just couldn’t stop laughing.
3. Turns out there’s this unusual golden rule among us staff. Apparently if you buy a new piece of clothing then you’re responsible for buying everyone some food the next day. On Friday it was bread because one teacher bought a dress and today our VP gave us all ice cream drumsticks because last night he bought some new ties. Yup… I’m definitely living on the flipside!
4. Hosted an in-class writing contest for my new ePALS English club I’m starting up. My pride and joy from my level one classes, Lyndia, was so nervous that she ended up text messaging my cell after school. Don’t worry Lyndia, you rocked that contest!!!
5. Much to my surprise, Troublesome Timmy wasn’t troublesome at all today. He even volunteered to collect my pencils and wrote a great contest entry piece. Thanks to my co-teacher for talking to him for me.
6. Today is Ryan’s last day being 29 years old and he spent it up on a cold mountain doing reserve military training. What a trooper.
7. Thanks Ariel for the email but I thought I’d write an opposite list to your “you know you’re living in Korea too long when”… So here’s my list:

You know you’re one of “those” foreigners in Korea when…

a. You seem to forget that you’re in someone else’s country and yet get mad when they don’t speak YOUR language.
b. You refuse to eat kimchi when you know Korea prizes it.
c. You expect Korean girls to flock to you cause you’re different even though in your own country you’re the biggest geek!
d. You think you can change the Korean way of thinking when they’ve been thinking like that for generations.
e. You make fun of Koreans for living at home till marriage (hmm... family values) and yet your family is separated and doesn’t even get along.
f. You think it’s funny when a Korean asks you if you think rice is delicious when that’s probably the extent of their English vocab and you still haven’t mastered “anyoung haseyo” (hello).
g. You make fun of grown men in Korea for holding hands and yet your own girlfriend doesn’t even want to hold yours.
h. You’re the only one complaing about a motorcyclist driving on the sidewalk while you sit in traffic in a taxi wishing he’d somehow get around this intense traffic.
i. You point out the “creative” parking techniques of Koreans and yet you have no better solution for the over-crowdedness of this country.
j. You make fun of Korean men and joke about stereotypes and yet you’re too chicken to go to a public bath house.
k. Again with the stereotypes… and yet you’re the one with the chunky, overly-hairy body (directed at the men here, or maybe not) when in fact most woman prefer a smooth body!
l. You order pizza and it comes with corn and mayonnaise as well as a side serving of pickles to put on top and you still think it’s funny after a few months when this is how their whole country eats pizza.
m. You wear a chip on your shoulder and think your Western country is better when in fact Korea is better off without people like you.
n. You make fun of Korean men for wearing pink shirts and retro bone ties and think wearing your pants near your knees and sweaters you’ll hopefully one day grow into is styling.
o. You think Korean men are gay and silly for holding hands among friends and yet in your own country they marry gay couples… what’s sillier?
p. You swear that the Korean education system only robs children of their youth and claim you’d never put your kid into it but fail to consider doing that would rob them of any kind of descent future.
q. You complain about the “interesting” things Koreans eat and yet are too shallow minded to think of the logic or reasoning behind it, or too chicken to even try.
r. You consider Koreans as being fools for being workaholics and yet fail to step back and see how us foreigners are treated like royality here and so that’s the only thing that exempts us from it. It’s the Korean way.
s. You stick to eating at Western restaurants (or starving) and stick to hanging out with only foreigners and then still complain that Korea is boring.

... that's all I got (so far)

8. Spent the evening putting the finishing touches on Ryan’s birthday gift. I plan on hiding his gift and then posting up these three mini birthday signs I made. I even made a video on my camera that will greet him in the morning with a special birthday wish from me… props to me for my creativity!
9. Looks like Ryan and I are more alike than expected… turns out we both have the habit of doing our grocery shopping at our parents’ houses! Moving overseas kind of killed that habit for me. Shopped at their place at Christmas though.
10. Spent my evening remanising about my mother after I heard that Ryan’s mother didn’t remember it was his birthday. I felt so sad for him and so I tried to keep my memories to myself so he wouldn’t feel sad. Don’t worry sweetie, I definitely remembered your birthday!

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
Do I still have that birthday alien song tape my mom once bought for me?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.
-- Confucius

What a good looking soldier! After Ryan completed his military time as an active soldier (2yr, 2mth period), he became an inactive soldier (8yr period) and so he still has responsiblities to Korea's military for the next few years.

Highlights of my Day... Sunday, March 19

1. I argueed with the TV and Ryan prayed for a miracle as we watched in horror today’s baseball game between the Koreans and the Japanese.
2. Agree with Ryan… the Americans are fools! Today the Korean baseball team played the Japanese again even though they beat their sorry butts on Thursday. Apparently Thursday’s win meant nothing but today Korea’s loss meant EVERYTHING because of the stupid way the Americans, who are hosting, organized the tournament teams. Jokes on you America, our Korean team smoked you so now what do you have to say about Asian skill? Korea’s out now though and that’s so bad.
3. One word for you Japanese…. CUBA!!! They’re going to cream your team on Tuesday, you can bank on that and you can bank on me watching it and cheering them on as they do so!
4. Oh my gosh… I’m still reptile girl. My skin is still peeling and so it’s rather annoying having to vaccum my bed blankets.
5. Basked in pure happiness as I sat there with Ryan eating cottage cheese. Thanks again Jenn for it! This stuff is like gold to me. Thankfully for Ryan, I love him and so that’s the only reason why I even shared it with him.
6. Supper with the Club Sizzi guys. Sorry guys, I just can’t take 5 guys dressed in the same cheesy blue old-school blazers seriously.
7. After a stupid spat, I left my house and returned to find that Ryan had already left for Seoul… or so I thought. Needless to say, him returning gave me the chance to apologize and so I was quite relieved.
8. So hilarious… Ryan went to sell his TV at the second hand shop and they refused it. They wouldn’t even take it for free.
9. So cute… Ryan’s off to Seoul tonight for some military training tomorrow morning and so he asked me to walk him to his dad’s car to wish him off.
10. Had a quiet late night. With no Ryan hanging around I was able to get down to business and work on his birthday present.

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
What were they thinking?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
I'm not beautiful like you, I'm beautiful like me.
-- Joydrop (music group)

...and the winner for the sweetest couple goes to US!!! Ryan I love you so much!

1-2-3... say "kimchi"! Thanks to all who came out to the house-warming party!

Highlights of my Day... Saturday, March 18

1. Finally blogger has fixed their techno meltdown.
2. Had a very successful business meeting with the mother of a possible “candidate”, Sue. She’s very much interested in my offer and so I start Thursday. Sweet!
3. Spent the whole day cleaning all 2000 and 1 parts of my house. It’s so spotless you could eat right off the floor! Take that Martha Stewart!
4. Ryan proved once again to be the hero of the day with his trip to LotteMart for my contact lenses. He got the eye doctor there to clean them for me and so now I can see again. Wow… my eyes are so much bigger now!
5. HOUSE WARMING PARTY!!! It started at 8pm but of course everyone was late and so they started arriving at 9:30pm. Party for two until then.
6. Good times with my international guest list… from South Africa we had Ariel, Aaron was from the USA, Ryan represented Korea, from Australia we had Tasha, and representing Canada was Patty, Shannon, Jenn, Darren, and me!
7. Score with the house warming presents… thanks guys! Now I have enough classes for my next party! I especially was happy with Jenn’s gift of cottage cheese… I hope you didn’t see me drooling as I opened it up Jenn. Ha, ha, ha.
8. Joke of the night was the party-goers who nervously had to use the bathroom but were scared of my “sexy doors”… ha, ha, ha. Ended up hanging up a Canadian flag in attempts to block their silhouettes.
9. The party moved to Mbar where we were greeted by an extra skinny Je Min! Apparently he had tried to stop a fight and in the process he got punched. So with his broken jaw all wired up via his teeth, he’s really limited with his talk and eating habits. Talk about a crash diet! We all felt so bad for him but I was especially impressed with Ryan (who doesn’t care for Je Min) and his show of concern.
10. Hmmmm…. what a great idea, let’s use my boyfriend as bait for girls, um, how about NO! Bone-head.

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
Are you really that dumb or are you too dumb to know that you are that dumb?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
I hate dumb people.
-- Me

Getting down to business and silliness at the Immigration Office in Daejon. I'm officially a registered ALIEN now... great.

Highlights of my Day... Friday, March 17

1. Thankfully Wonder Woman called me today cause she was my wake-up call. I would never had woken up if it weren’t for her call. Raced out of the house, jumped into a cab and I was off to the Asan Education Office.
2. Road trip! Me, two Americans (Patrick and Aaron), a South African (Ariel) and a Korean (Mr. Park… Ariel’s principle) journeyed out to Daejon Immigration Office to register our alien status… as if being a foreigner didn’t already make us stand out like sore thumbs, now they call us “aliens”, nice.
3. Talk about confusion and lack of organization at Immigration. Thankfully I’ve been there before and so I was kind of the veteran there.
4. Got told by Mr. Park that I must save him a good seat at my wedding… wedding? Who said anything about wedding?! Here in Korea dating is viewed on a much different level than I’m accoustomed to and so today I was repeatedly asked when I was going to get married.
5. So funny, when I had no answer for Mr. Park on the “wedding” issue, he told me that he has a good man for him. Not too sure how to take that comment.
6. Really impressed myself with losing a contact lense in the bathroom (sarcasticly speaking of course). I spent a good 20 minutes searching the floor, walls, and counter tops for it but no luck.
7. Got escorted to LotteMart by Ryan where I was tested and fitted for new contacts. We originally went to Emart but they wanted me to wait a week… hmmm, did I mention that I’m COMPLETELY BLIND without my lenses?!
8. Cool… my new contacts make my eyes look a bit bigger and they’re coloured, light honey brown.
9. Opted out of cooking tonight and instead went out for supper with Ryan. We had such a delicious meal until I ate that KILLER pepper! In a matter of seconds my lips and tongue went tingly and numb and my stomuch turned. Had to sit and wait it out. Thankfully it didn’t last long.
10. Just when I thought that killer pepper had passed, it attacked me again… this time in my eyes! I don’t know what the heck happened but after eating I rubbed my eyes and that was it… I couldn’t open them. Oh the pain!!!

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
Why didn't you listen to me?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
My eyes are on fire!!!
-- Me

Do I look impressed?! After slaving over a hot stove and making a masterpiece out of nothing, my dinner date (Ryan) shows up late... he's lucky he's my favorite Korean!

Highlights of my Day... Thursday, March 16

1. With tomorrow off, today was my Friday! I only worked three days this week…sweet!
2. Thankfully Tony in one of my middle school classes has tamed down a lot. Today he only interrupted my class and yelled “I love you Ms. B” three times.
3. Student Ryan is really pushing it in my class. He’s apparently has a little infatuation with me and today I caught him smelling my jacket that I had left in the English classroom. Hmmm….
4. Communication melt-down at work…. my principle and vice principle were in a pure panic with Mrs. Jueng away and having to fill her English classes but me being the only one able to teach English. Turns out she doesn’t have classes on Thursday, they’re my classes actually and so they were so relieved. They were so happy that they offered to take me out for drinks…. hmmm, no thanks. I’m quite the homemaker now so I have plans to cook for Ryan.
5. Come on, let’s get going!!! Totally eager to start up my after school ePALS English club but with Mrs. Jeung away on sick leave, I’ve got to wait yet another day before I start the entrance contest.
6. The cocky Japanese got their butts kicked in baseball by the Koreans…. good work boys!!! Way to totally put them in their rightful place!
7. Apparently we’ve evolved… Science guy went from being all nervous and giggly on our route to school to him now trying to use English. He reminds me so much of my brother Troy.
8. Ran into Mr. Downtown Flirt at Emart. I seem to see him all the time nere Mbar and it turns out he works there at the photo shop were I was getting some pictures developed. He tried really hard to make me laugh by pretending to fall and being all giggly, but his efforts were shot down when his co-worker, who knows both Ryan and me as a couple, came and asked about Ryan. Nice.
9. Well it’s nice to note that after giving all my former students my email and cell phone number that the one person to actually use them was a friend of a former student’s parents. I suppose everyone’s replaceable to a certain degree but that kind of hurts.
10. Tonight’s meal was perfect until Ryan showed up 40 minutes late! His boss kept him at work to talk about things while I tried hard to keep the food warm. Hey… don’t blame me for the dried-out bulgogie meat, blame Mr. Kim!

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
How does it feel to be defeated boys by a country you once use to control but now can't even win a baseball against?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
Bad breath is better than no breath at all.
-- Stanton's Law of Minimum Requirements

After a long day, acting like school girls with some of my Eumbong Middle School students was just what I needed!

Highlights of my Day... Wednesday, March 15

1. Hadn't even got to class yet when some student at Eumbong Elementary School approached me and forwarned me that he heard I pick-up and throw out "bad boys" from my class. Had no idea who this kid was.
2. Five minutes till class and we experience a techno melt-down. Thankfully one of the two teachers who does know a bit of English is also a computer genious! Saved by the bell!
3. Two new students in my grade 6 class, Vivian and Christina. Their English rocks and Christina looks like a Korean version of Lisa Loeb (singer from back in the day).
4. Horror on the home front with my grade 5 class. Turns out that "bad boy" from earlier today is a new student in my class and he's almost my size. I ended up kicking one boy out and literally kicking that bad boy.... not hard, don't worry.
5. Rule #3 in my class: Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Turns out that "bad boy" can't understand that and so I gave him a brutal example...
"Do you like kicking?" I asked, "No" he said.... so I kicked him.
"Do you like hitting?" I asked, "No" he said.... so I hit him.
"Do you like punching?" I asked, "YES" he said... so I slapped him.
My point here of course wasn't physical abuse but instead, if you don't like it then don't do it.
6. Turns out he didn't take my point seriously and so when he hit a girl in class I allowed her to hit him back.
7. Realized just how flipped this flipside living is.... said "shut-up" in class and everyone freaked but when the homeroom teacher came in and gave a public beating to the bad boy and hit him with a stick on the neck, no one flinched!
8. Tea time!!! I love it... after lunch at my elementary school all us teachers join for tea!
9. Returned to Eumbong Middle School and the big topic in the teachers' room was Korea kicking the American's butt in baseball last night. Where's Louis when I need him eh?... just jokes.
10. Scored another day off work, Friday. Now that I have my work visa I now have to register my status. Sweet!

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
What the heck am I suppose to do with "bad boy"?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
Just hit him.
-- fellow teacher

Hmmmm.... what's that? Happy White Day!

I'm speechless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Highlights of my Day... Monday, March 14

1. Happy White Day!!! No, today’s not a celebration of us “white people”, instead it’s Valentine’s Day here in Korea for us girls! Valentine’s Day (Feb 14) is gift-giving day for the guys; White Day (a month later) is gift-giving day for the girls. Sweet!
2. Scored an additional hour of sleep in the car due to traffic.
3. Flooded with tons of chocolate and candy from my students at Eumbong Middle School. Of course my student Ryan (he named himself after my boyfriend) was the first to search me out and hand me a bouquet of candies. Thanks!
4. Figured out how to work the wicked new projection screen in my classroom. Looks like I’m a techno-master now baby!
5. Difficulties with Timmy in my 201 class AGAIN. Sarcastically told him I knew who his next girlfriend (of victim I should say) will be…. the classroom door. Cause the next time I throw him out of class, I’m not going to open the door. He of course played clueless and so I shocked him by yelling at him in Korean.
6. Visited SLP to get back my picture CDs. It was interesting to note all the changes since I’ve left but it was particularly more interesting to note just how much I don’t miss it. I miss my former students but my new job totally kicks my old one to the curb!!!
7. Oh my gosh…. opened my apartment door and there sat a box jam-packed with chocolate, candy, and even perfume. For a guy that doesn’t like “commercial holidays”, he sure went so far with this one.
8. Lately a certain issue has kind of been making me sad and so definitely the highlight of this WHOLE YEAR was the pink post-it note Ryan left on his gift box!
9. Tonight's late, late night entertainment was provided by a sucidal Korean girl who laid out on the street screaming at the top of her lungs. Ryan and I both thought someone was getting killed in the building but instead it was some crazy chic who was trying to run into the on-going traffic. Some guy and other girl tried hard to stop her repeatedly. I told Ryan that if she didn't stop, I'd go out there and push her myself into the traffic. That'd definitely give her something to scream about! Drama ended with the guy carrying her off as she kicked and screamed some more.
10. The very last thing I experienced today was Ryan saying “I love you too”. It seems like I’ve waited so long for this and now it's finally happened. I’m so happy!

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
How come some people fall in love way faster than the other person?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
I love you too.
-- Ryan

My last sight of Thailand was at the airport. Somewhere out there was my plane and I was eager to board it!

Peace Thailand.... I'm outta here!

Finally solve the question of how to use a Thai toliet, mind you, it was solved as I was leaving the country.

Highlights of my Day... Sunday, March 12

1. TODAY I GO HOME!!!!!!!!!!! Wake up call woke me up at 3:30am and I was so excited to start my journey home!
2. Walked out of the hotel and low and behold, who was standing there but one of my driver friends..... wicked!!! I told him the night before that we may never see each other again and so today he woke up just to drive me to the airport.
3. Boarded the plane and waved good-bye to Thailand.... the land of a thousand smiles!
4. My seating partner in the plane with this American named Gary. His amusing stories about being married to a Korean for 29 years was amusing but his stories about his business put me to sleep, sorry. Thanks for telling me how to use a Thai toliet... it's a bit too late now but I appreciate the insight.
5. Woke up thinking I was finally in Korea only to hear that we're doing a stop-over in Taipei for an hour and then we have another 2 1/2 hours to go.... great.
6. Finally reached Korea and was greeted with the chilling winter weather. I knew it'd be cold but wasn't expecting it to be this cold and so I was still wearing sandals. Yikes!
7. Much to my surprise, got picked up at the airport by Ryan! I think we both missed each other so much. It was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo great to see him.
8. Ventured over to Costco with Ryan. Was only expecting to pick up a couple of things but.... hey it's Costco.... so we bought more. I love this place!
9. Ryan apparently has this weird habit of being a "wolf crier" and so when I got home I was totally shocked to see that my TV and couch had finally arrived. He had told me earlier that they hadn't. Apparently he gets kicks out of this.
10. Despite spending the rest of the evening freezing my butt off and trying to recover from the weather shock, it felt so good to be back in Korea. This is my home.

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
Did you forget about the point of the "Little boy who cried Wolf" story?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

Tonight we went to this hip resturant and ate mystery meat. The bottom pictures are us with one of my driver friends.... he's super sweet!