Slippers at School!

I've written before about how Koreans never wear their shoes inside. They believe that outside shoes can carry diseases, and are terrified of becoming sick. This idea carries over into the schools. Students literally take of their shoes at the door and walk in their socks, carrying their outside shoes up to their classrooms. Outside each classroom are these shoe cubbies (that's a fun word) that house their school slippers.

So, during the school day, the cubbies are filled with their outside shoes...

And after school is out, they are re-filled with their school slippers.

Today, I took my slippers off all together and walked barefoot while I taught. I love, love, love the freedom around here to not have to wear heels all day! :)

Tan is NOT PRETTY in Korea!

I was soooo excited to get some color in Thailand, and to feel like my California self again, but I was rudely awaken today, on my first day back at work, to the harsh reality that the tanner you are, the worse you look!

"Alexis teacher, you don't look good. You look burn."

"You have farmer legs." (Because the farmers all work outside in the sun).

"Alexis teacher, you have black face."

Kids, they're so honest!

Eat, Pray, Love!

In the last couple months, I've had 4 girlfriends tell me that I have to read the book "Eat, Pray, Love."  This afternoon, after trying out a new church in Haeundae (which was really great and refreshing by the way), I met Jess at a bookstore and she had the book in hand.  She said, "It's my gift to you!" and handed it to me!  I thought it was soooo thoughtful.  Thank you Jeshi!  I can't wait to start it.  Have any of you read it?!

Trouble at the ATM

I had a funny experience at the ATM today when I meant to pull out 80,000 won ($70.00), and accidently typed in 800,000 won ($700.00)! When the ATM's language is all in Korean, it's hard to cancel and go backwards. I was laughing out loud as I heard the machine counting all my cash! On the positive side, I look like a baller when I go to pay for something and have all this money in my wallet!

The Gambling Shack!

For all your gamblers out there, this is YOUR PARADISE!  This little gambling shack is about 100 feet from my apartment!  Every night, there is a group of Korean men inside, smoking cigarettes, with cards in hand, and money laid out all over the table!  This picture really doesn't do this place justice, but thought it was worth sharing anyhow.