"Hana, duel, set... KIMCHI!"

Today was teacher picture day, out on the field!  What a good looking group I work with huh?!  As a side note, I was really excited that they placed me in the front row, as the front row is typically for the Administration and mentor teachers!  Looks like I'm moving up in the world!  Or, maybe they just liked me dress! 

As we were all walking back inside, Herra, the teacher in the middle making "bunny ears" over the principal was laughing and said, "Chelsey, I did something naughty in the picture!" I was thinking she flipped off the camera or made a sexual innuendo with her hands... but nope, just bunny ears!

Then, a couple hours later, I was pulled out of class as if there was some sort of emergency... just to find that it was time for me to take my personal yearbook picture!  Really?  I had to run down 5 flights of stairs for this?!

Here's me and Okk in the "manners room," sitting pretty, like good Korean girls, for our yearbook pictures!

 

"Hana, duel, set, KIMCHI!"

Prostitution in Yeongdo

So, as it turns out, the "Coffee Shop" on the 2nd floor next door to my apartment isn't actually a coffee shop at all... but rather a whore house!  I had no idea!  Yesterday, the police came to raid it when a fight broke out!

Keep it classy Korea!

Goodbye Gilly...

In just 3 days, my dear friend Gill will be moving back to South Africa.  Uuuugghhhh!  Another friend comes and goes.  Her plan is to go home and help her mom with some things for 3 months, and then come back in August... but since nothing is set in stone and there's no job in place (yet), it made last night an extra emotional night for her... and me! 

We all met in Kyungsung at Shabana, an Indian restaurant, to have a big send-off-get-together-sit-down-dinner for her!

Then we walked down the street to Eva's for some drinks and dancing! 

Erika (in the red dress) had come to Eva's early to decorate a table at Eva's. She had bought gourmet cupcakes, had about 7 bottles of champagne and glasses out for us, and made a million little origami stars to decorate the table.  Can you tell we're all teachers?!! haha  Gill's friends from work had stolen her computer and made a music mix for the night of some of Gill's favorite songs!  As we walked in, Diddy and Skylar Grey's song "I'm coming home" was playing on the speakers.  Made me sad....

My beautiful, beautiful Gilly!

I’ll miss you Gilly!

Lunch with Serry's mom!

This afternoon, Aaron and I rode scoot over to see Serry and bring her some treats!  We do this at least once every weekend, and as many times as we think about it during the week!  We love, love, love this dog!  Other than Cash (Aaron's dog back home) she's the best!  Serry spends her days tied to a 3 foot rope in front of this tiny shop... but she doesn't seem to mind.  Everyone who walks by stops to love on her, so I'd like to think she's got it pretty good here! 

Serry's mom (human mom!) has grown to love Aaron and I because we come see Serry so much... and although we can't always understand each other, we try our best to communicate in Korean, and she loves that we try!  Almost everytime we come to see Serry, she gives us bottles of blended coffee or a bottle of water, but this time she asked Aaron and I to go to lunch with her!  :)  

We said yes, so with an excited look on her face, she quickly locked up the door to her shop and took us to this restaurant a couple doors down! 

... where we ate this!   She was so proud to show us off to her girlfriends who ran the restaurant.

Introducing Serry's mom!   She is very sweet and has loved on Aaron and I like we're her own.  She is divorced and lives all alone in an apartment above her shop.  Her son, who's also 30 years old lives about 2 hours away, so I think she probably gets really lonely.  We're more than happy to be her stand-in kids! :) 

It's moments like these that remind me why I love living in Korea!   

My lil' garden!

Just over a month ago, Aaron and I planted seeds for a future little veggie and herb garden... and some flowers too for my windowsil! 

I have an awesome rooftop at my apartment that I can access at all times of the day and night, so the herb and veggie babies live there and soak up the sun all day long!  I am terrible at taking care of plants, but luckily, Aaron grew up with a grandfather who owned a nursery and a mom with a big garden, so he knows exactly what to do to tend to them!  He's got the green thumbs I've always wanted I guess, or maybe it's just patience!

This afternoon, we went up on the rooftop to check on the lil babies and hang out for a minute!

These little guys were all planted from seeds we found in America during Christmas break.  They are dill, cilantro, and basil, and they were officially "born on April 21st, 2011!"   I'm especially excited about the basil...  Looks like we'll be making PESTO in no time!

The one I'm most excited about though is the cherry tomato plant!  Look at this guy go!  He's been growing like a weed and currently has 17 buds, which will produce yummy cherry tomatos in about 2-3 weeks!

I think these should be ready to devour by next week if the sun stays out!

Who would have thought you could have a garden in the middle of the city?!