It's been awhile since I've posted anything, but...

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

This is my Nina 2-day class saying Merry Christmas...(to me)

and singing Jingle Bells.

recent developments

from Wednesday & Friday:

after noticing a constellation on the wall by John, Hayley's student, in our classroom . . .

Sally: I know John.

Me: Oh, how?

Sally: We're in same class.

Me: Is he nice?

Sally: Yes.

Me: Do you like him? Is he your friend?

Sally: No, he's a boy.

Me: So you don't have any boyfriends?

Sally (while shaking her head vehemently): No!

after watching me sitting at the front of the class while the students were working on a worksheet . . .

Sally: Teacher, are you boring?

oh Sally, so my fav.

in other developments, i now have an exercise bike, which i was able to purchase for only 100,000won from one of Cindy's friends who is moving. i also scored some speakers and a toaster. i hope it's worth the aching in my arms after carrying the chair half of the bike back. luckily i had Cindy & Jon's help to get the rest back to my place, on the subway of all things. we got even more looks than normal, but we only had to endure one subway stop. fingers crossed that i use it as much as i'm hoping i will.

free day = journey!

so yesterday my 5D class took the term test and that meant that today we had nothing to do really for class so it was entirely up to me what we did. so i decided to do a spelling bee for the first half, and then coerce my kids into singing journey ("don't stop believin'" of course) for the second half. now it was rough going at the beginning cause all the kids were just laughing at my choice of song, like sally who kept asking, "teacher, you like this song?" though lily did eventually say she knew the song cause her younger sister sang it in kindergarten. i tried to take some video of them singing, and this would be the best i got . . .

there's only 4 kids in this class to begin with and one was absent. that would be sally, lily, and william running away from me in this, hehe. it's hard to see much of them though so i took some pics too.

sally is one of my favorite students ever. she says whatever is on her mind, and is always cracking me up. this is her showing off all her stickers.

this is william, lily, & sally. it was pretty hard to get them all to smile at once, especially william.

william is starting to crack a little here . . .

finally got them all! and lily and sally making a heart.

things to know when shopping in gangnam

1. When shopping underground, fitting rooms do not exist.

2. If you try something on, perchance a skirt over the skirt you are wearing, you will receive dirty looks from salespeople. 

3. Or if you look like you are about to try something on, maybe a shirt, then you will be stared at and told, "No try!"

4. And even though you may see Koreans going into a tiny room to try a dress on, when you ask to try something on, you will still be told, "No try!"

5. Shoes are a different story. Do not touch a shoe unless you wish to have attention from a salesperson who will attempt to find your size or try to shove your foot in the smaller size if that is all that is available. Either way, your foot will be felt up. 

6. Be prepared to see the same clothes 50 times over in various shops who pretend to be different stores. 

7. Above ground . . . fitting rooms exist! But trying on something that is 100% cotton is a no-no.

Despite the annoying reality of no fitting rooms for the cheap shopping in Gangnam, I did find some skirts and a couple shirts. And there's also the plus of being underground where it isn't quite as hot as above ground. I much prefer being a shopping mole. 

another fun conversation, same class

Me: What teachers did you have before me?

William, Eric, and Sally: Claudia Teacher and Todd Teacher.

Me: Did you like them?

All: Yes!

Sally: But we like you too.

Me: Thanks, Sally.

Sally, one of my favs . . .

Sally: Teacher, are you from Canada?

Me: No, I'm from America.

Sally: Teacher, do you go home to America every night?

if you wondered what life is like here in korea for us foreign teachers, here's a taste (of the weekends). these guys crack me up, and it's pretty much exactly what life is like here for us, heh.