Practices for Field Day have officially commenced as of this morning! I took this video, just minutes ago, from my office window, looking out to the playground. I am soooo excited that May is around the corner, because that means Field Day is almost here! Can you tell it's one of my favorite days of the year! How could it not be? I get to hang outside all day, watch kids laughing and playing, see proud parents cheering on their kiddos, and to make it even better, I have been nominated as the official photographer of the event, so I'll have tons of pictures and videos to share!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Teacher Volleyball Season
It's "teacher volleyball season" in Korea and my school's staff has begun practicing twice a week to get ready for the big Saha-Gu Elementary School Staff Volleyball Tournament! Believe it or not, volleyball is a really competitive sport amongst elementary school teachers in Korea! In fact, Aaron was actually recruited to teach at his school because the principal heard he was such a good volleyball player! The first day I met my new Principal he asked me, in his broken English, weather or not I could spike a ball! haha
Today will be our 3rd staff volleyball practice of the year! We started practicing 2 hours a day, twice a week, but this week we've added a 3rd practice - yes a Saturday practice! I actually don't mind the excessive practices because: 1) I have really enjoyed the camaraderie that happens at the practices, 2) I can't complain about the great exercise, and 3) I get to leave school at 2:00pm to go play!
In Korean voleyball, there are 9 players to a team. We stand on the court like a bingo board! I am currently on the far left, in the middle... but last week they were impressed with my spiking (I don't know how or where I learned it, but I actually spike once in a while!) so I was moved to the middle, the HIGHEST RANKED position on the court! I told Aaron, later, that I was almost hoping the other team would hit the ball right at me, because I was on a roll! :)
Needless to say, I have more street cred at school than I did before Volleyball started! The teachers used to compliment me on my outfits or my ability to speak Korean... but now they just talk about my skills on the court! haha! Who knew?!
Here's to a great Volleyball Season! Wish me luck!
(I hope I didn't just jinx myself!)
Sunday, April 24, 2011
A special gift...
As I was walking to school this morning, I ran into 하나 (Hanna), the 6th grade teacher who I love! She and her daughter live near me and walk to school as well, but today was the first time we've ever bumped into each other on our ways! Anyhow, as soon as she saw me, she pulled out a red jewelry box from her purse and said, "Chelsey, this is for you!" with a huge smile!
Inside was this beautiful starfish necklace to match some earrings I have, and to match HER own starfish necklace! She said it was "Many thanks, many thanks, for what you have done for me and my students."
Two of my love languages are affirmation and small gifts, so this meant a lot to me! :) I'm wearing it proudly around my neck today, and love that it came from her!
Happy Easter!
Today was a wonderful day filled with laughs, sunshine, yummy food, and awesome fellowship!
The day started with a fantastic skype date with my mom and dad, who are beyond wonderful! I love those two!! Then I took a walk from my apartment over to Nampodong where I met Aaron for a lovely Easter brunch at a new restaurant that recently opened! Yes, this was the best shot I was able to get of him! He's like a child with ADD when I break the camera out!
This was what we had for Easter brunch, Korean style! (Actually, this one was Indonesian style!) Good ole' Nasi Goreng with steak! Yumm!
I was sooo excited to endulge in such a yummy salad! Believe it or not, they just don't exist like this in Korea! It's usually shredded cabbage and yogurt on top. Weird, I know! So, this was a big treat for me!
After brunch, we walked through the market, looking for a fun easter gift for each other... but believe it or not, neither of us could find anything we really wanted or needed! It's an amazing physical and emotional place to be to feel like you don't need or want anything!
We headed back over to my neighborhood and visited Serry, the neighborhood dog! I visit Serry everyday on my walk home from work, and so I thought it would be okay if I asked her mom (the store owner) if I could take her for a walk. I was fairly shocked when she was more than happy for me to walk her! As we were walking away, she rambled off about 15 sentences in Korean, to which Aaron and I just nodded and said, "Okay" as if we understood!
When we got down the street, Serry automatically stopped in the middle of the road! She wouldn't go any further, even when I tried to pull her! We then realized that that's probably what her mom was trying to tell us! She knows her boundaries!! :)
So, we all turned around and walked down another street! Sure enough, we got to a certain point, and she stopped again! When we tried to pull her further down the street, she laid down, like this! We couldn't stop laughing!
After saying goodbye to Serry, we hung out on my apartment's rooftop, enjoying the sunny weather and tending to the new herbs and vegetable plants that Aaron recently planted!
Then... I took the bus over to Gwangali Beach to meet my friends Anne and Crystal at Thursday Party for the Easter foreigner BBQ/potluck! This time's theme was Mexican! Needless to say, it was a big hit!
I stayed at the BBQ for a couple hours and then took a long bus ride over to Kosin Univeristy for my weekly bible study at one of the professors house! I've been going here for a little while now and REALLY love it! My favorite part is the fact that there are people from ALL OVER THE WORLD that come! There was a fantastic guest speaker tonight from Brittain, who passed this notebook around, asking everyone to write their names and their home countries. When it got to me, I snapped this picture to show just how diverse it actually is!
Here's a video of 1/2 the room singing the last verse of Seek Ye First. I love that you can hear everyone's individually beautiful accents!
I was so touched tonight, and inspired to be more like Jesus - patient and loving!! This was my favorite verse that was read.
And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. -Colossians 3:14
Thursday, April 21, 2011
A little update
A little update for ya'll. :)
WORK: I've now been teaching at my new school for 2 months and I have no complaints. I wake up everyday, excited to go to work to see my students and visit with my co-workers (who by the way, almost ALL speak at least a little bit of English)! They've also turned me on to tea, which I have NEVER liked until this week! Now I'm drinking at least 2 cups a day! Much more healthy that the (2) diet cokes I was drinking a day!
WORK SCHEDULE: I start work at 8:30am and leave @ 4:30pm. I usually teach (4) 40 minute classes a day, and the rest of the time is spent doing whatever I'd like! :) I teach (2) 3rd grade classes twice a week, (3) 4th grade classes twice a week, (3) 5th grade classes twice a week, and (3) 6th grade classes twice a week. In addition, I teach a beginners level English conversation class once a week and an advanced English conversation class once a week! and I can't forget my English TV show on Wednesday mornings where I'm free to teach whatever I'd like! My students especially love the food shows where I explain the types of food we eat in America and allow some of them to try it on air!
AARON: Aaron is as wonderful as ever! He's my best friend and my biggest fan. I am so thankful for him! He's been busy with his recent hobby - photography! He's getting REALLY REALLY good, as you've probably seen by his flickr page! He's also started a new workout called P90X which I join in once in a while... until it kicks my but and I give up! haha
FUTURE: Well, I'm always up for a change in plans, but as of right now, Aaron and I are both leaning towards applying for University teaching positions in Seoul for next school year. (beginning March of 2012) Jessica and Carlos are both really happy with where they're working and are gonna try and put a good word in for A and I for next year so we can all work together! So, we'll see! :) If we got the jobs, we'd be making just as much but would only work 14 hours a week and have 4 months vacation - TO COME SEE YOU!!!
FEELINGS: Living in Korea can be a bit of an emotional roller coaster... It never gets too wild, but it does go up and down a bit. The weather has played the biggest roll into the down times, I think. It's been extremely cold for the past 7 months, and being a California girl, I'm not all that used to the cold! (Granted we've had 2 or 3 warm and sunny days in the last couple weeks, which I took full advantage of by being outside!) But even today, it happens to be pouring rain, and my co-worker said it's going to get even colder this weekend! :( I've been mainly cooped up in my apartment trying to stay warm, watching entirely too much TV online! On the other side, I love my job, and my guy, and have been able to connect with my family and friends through skype and my new texting app for my iphone!
I'M EXCITED ABOUT: I'm really excited about the next couple weeks school schedule! There's no class next Thursday because of testing, and then field day, children's day, and a 4 day weekend follow! :) Aaron and I talked last night about checking out Taiwan or maybe spending a couple days climbing the Great Wall in China! This summer vacation, Aaron and I are planning a trip to Vietnam for 16 days! I've recently been really interested in Vietnam, and am excited to learn some common sentences, so I know what the nail ladies are saying about me! Let's be honest, we all wonder, right?! We're not sure, but we're thinking of starting in the north and either renting a scooter, or paying for scooter taxis to scoot us down south, stopping in places that look interesting, like Ho Chi Minh, and Halong Bay!
I think that's about it for updates! Hope you feel a little more connected! :)
Love always,
Jill
WORK: I've now been teaching at my new school for 2 months and I have no complaints. I wake up everyday, excited to go to work to see my students and visit with my co-workers (who by the way, almost ALL speak at least a little bit of English)! They've also turned me on to tea, which I have NEVER liked until this week! Now I'm drinking at least 2 cups a day! Much more healthy that the (2) diet cokes I was drinking a day!
WORK SCHEDULE: I start work at 8:30am and leave @ 4:30pm. I usually teach (4) 40 minute classes a day, and the rest of the time is spent doing whatever I'd like! :) I teach (2) 3rd grade classes twice a week, (3) 4th grade classes twice a week, (3) 5th grade classes twice a week, and (3) 6th grade classes twice a week. In addition, I teach a beginners level English conversation class once a week and an advanced English conversation class once a week! and I can't forget my English TV show on Wednesday mornings where I'm free to teach whatever I'd like! My students especially love the food shows where I explain the types of food we eat in America and allow some of them to try it on air!
AARON: Aaron is as wonderful as ever! He's my best friend and my biggest fan. I am so thankful for him! He's been busy with his recent hobby - photography! He's getting REALLY REALLY good, as you've probably seen by his flickr page! He's also started a new workout called P90X which I join in once in a while... until it kicks my but and I give up! haha
FUTURE: Well, I'm always up for a change in plans, but as of right now, Aaron and I are both leaning towards applying for University teaching positions in Seoul for next school year. (beginning March of 2012) Jessica and Carlos are both really happy with where they're working and are gonna try and put a good word in for A and I for next year so we can all work together! So, we'll see! :) If we got the jobs, we'd be making just as much but would only work 14 hours a week and have 4 months vacation - TO COME SEE YOU!!!
FEELINGS: Living in Korea can be a bit of an emotional roller coaster... It never gets too wild, but it does go up and down a bit. The weather has played the biggest roll into the down times, I think. It's been extremely cold for the past 7 months, and being a California girl, I'm not all that used to the cold! (Granted we've had 2 or 3 warm and sunny days in the last couple weeks, which I took full advantage of by being outside!) But even today, it happens to be pouring rain, and my co-worker said it's going to get even colder this weekend! :( I've been mainly cooped up in my apartment trying to stay warm, watching entirely too much TV online! On the other side, I love my job, and my guy, and have been able to connect with my family and friends through skype and my new texting app for my iphone!
I'M EXCITED ABOUT: I'm really excited about the next couple weeks school schedule! There's no class next Thursday because of testing, and then field day, children's day, and a 4 day weekend follow! :) Aaron and I talked last night about checking out Taiwan or maybe spending a couple days climbing the Great Wall in China! This summer vacation, Aaron and I are planning a trip to Vietnam for 16 days! I've recently been really interested in Vietnam, and am excited to learn some common sentences, so I know what the nail ladies are saying about me! Let's be honest, we all wonder, right?! We're not sure, but we're thinking of starting in the north and either renting a scooter, or paying for scooter taxis to scoot us down south, stopping in places that look interesting, like Ho Chi Minh, and Halong Bay!
I think that's about it for updates! Hope you feel a little more connected! :)
Love always,
Jill
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