Even though I have a ton of work to do for tomorrow, I'll take this moment to GIVE THANKS over my tuperware of heated-up leftovers...
I'm thankful for:
- these leftovers of rice "dok" with quail eggs and soy sauce (from dinner last night at the principal's house for which his wife cooked ALL DAY!)
- Principal Lim and his wife
- Anne, who helped make the dinner last night possible
- this spoon
- this laptop
- internet
- this light by which to type
- my soft warm clothes
- my heated floor (which is one thing I'll miss for sure in the U.S.!)
- my wonderful students with all their funny quirks
- my excellent Korean Teacher Partner who is so flexible
- my awesome grade 4 foreign teacher team who is so patient with me
- my fairly good health
- the wonderful couple who run the corner Kosa Mart
- these legs and feet that get me around, and these hands and arms that come in so handy too!
- for my 5 (6?) senses
- for the breathe of life!
...and the list goes on...
My students wrote these kinds of things on the "I'm thankful for..." hand-traced turkeys we made yesterday: family, friends, good health, good food, pets, teacher, Jesus (we are in an SDA school after all)...
Hope you have a lot to be thankful for too!
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Saturday, November 10, 2012
11-11: Happy Pepero Day!
On Friday morning, one of my students gave me a fake red rose. Why would you give someone a fake rose? The gift wasn't really the rose but the pepero inside. Actually, many of us teachers received pepero from students because Sunday, 11-11, is Pepero Day!
They're everywhere right now. Paris Baguette - a popular coffee shop and sweets chain - has a whole table dedicated to Pepero Day. The convenience store has an entire multi-leveled display with huge sign outside. You can buy stuffed pepero toys (soft and comfy looking like teddy bears).
What is it? Pepero is a dessert treat that is a stick made of cracker-like ingredients but sweet. The pepero comes dipped in just chocolate, or chocolate and nuts, or strawberry flavoring.
Pepero Day was created by the makers of pepero to be observed on 11-11 because the number '1' looks like a pepero stick. This holiday is mostly celebrated by young people and couples who give each other pepero to say, "I like you!" Teachers too often receive pepero from students, as we did.
They're everywhere right now. Paris Baguette - a popular coffee shop and sweets chain - has a whole table dedicated to Pepero Day. The convenience store has an entire multi-leveled display with huge sign outside. You can buy stuffed pepero toys (soft and comfy looking like teddy bears).
What is it? Pepero is a dessert treat that is a stick made of cracker-like ingredients but sweet. The pepero comes dipped in just chocolate, or chocolate and nuts, or strawberry flavoring.
Pepero Day was created by the makers of pepero to be observed on 11-11 because the number '1' looks like a pepero stick. This holiday is mostly celebrated by young people and couples who give each other pepero to say, "I like you!" Teachers too often receive pepero from students, as we did.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Learning like a baby
I've been realizing that I'm learning Korean like a baby learns a new language - just by picking up bits and pieces from hearing it all the time.
Randomly a word will pop in my head. Sometimes I find myself repeating it over and over to myself, even out loud. Usually I don't know what the word means. I may have an idea but not always. "Borragi..." is one example. I hear it all the time used by people of all ages when they seem to be stuck as to what a word means... So this would be perhaps a good time for me to use it...
Borragi?...
Randomly a word will pop in my head. Sometimes I find myself repeating it over and over to myself, even out loud. Usually I don't know what the word means. I may have an idea but not always. "Borragi..." is one example. I hear it all the time used by people of all ages when they seem to be stuck as to what a word means... So this would be perhaps a good time for me to use it...
Borragi?...
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Side-Effect of Education Being #1
As you may know, Koreans put education first. This is awesome for many reasons.
However, there are some side-effects as well. Education is so important that kids come to school even when they are sick. Teachers come to school even when they are so sick they practically cannot breathe or speak. It is rare for a child, or teacher especially, to not come to school.
More reason to eat persimmons!
However, there are some side-effects as well. Education is so important that kids come to school even when they are sick. Teachers come to school even when they are so sick they practically cannot breathe or speak. It is rare for a child, or teacher especially, to not come to school.
More reason to eat persimmons!
Friday, November 2, 2012
Gift of the Tawn-gam (persimmon)
One evening, I went for a hike. The setting sun highlighted beautifully the autumn leaves... After a short stop to take a breather, I headed back towards my apartment because I knew it'd be dark soon.
On my way, two ladies, sporting new-looking perfectly-fitting hiking gear, motioned me over to their bench. One held out a ziploc baggy with pieces of orange-peachy-colored fruit in it. "Tawn-gam," she said. I took a piece, figuring it was persimmon, which I happen to LOVE. Indeed it was - it was delicious!
They then asked me a question and again I felt silly because I didn't know what they were asking. Dangit - I've been here now 9 months! So I answered with whatever hangul (Korean) I know - I said the one word I know for "American," I said the few words I know for "elementary school teacher," and I motioned with my figures and said words for 10 (this month being the 10th) and indicated I arrived in th 2nd month.
Beneath a very bright white rabbit moon I happily dance-walked back down the mountain, eating the gifted 'tawn-gam' and admiring the sparkly city lights decorating the already-pretty-picture view of the city at dusk. I gave thanks for all the blessings I experience each day and in short moments such as these!
On my way, two ladies, sporting new-looking perfectly-fitting hiking gear, motioned me over to their bench. One held out a ziploc baggy with pieces of orange-peachy-colored fruit in it. "Tawn-gam," she said. I took a piece, figuring it was persimmon, which I happen to LOVE. Indeed it was - it was delicious!
They then asked me a question and again I felt silly because I didn't know what they were asking. Dangit - I've been here now 9 months! So I answered with whatever hangul (Korean) I know - I said the one word I know for "American," I said the few words I know for "elementary school teacher," and I motioned with my figures and said words for 10 (this month being the 10th) and indicated I arrived in th 2nd month.
Beneath a very bright white rabbit moon I happily dance-walked back down the mountain, eating the gifted 'tawn-gam' and admiring the sparkly city lights decorating the already-pretty-picture view of the city at dusk. I gave thanks for all the blessings I experience each day and in short moments such as these!
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