Elementary Days are Over

Thursday was our last day at elementary school. It is just crazy to think that it's over. We're done! And only like 3 more days at Middle School. Where in the heck did the time go!?

All of these are from Jon's school... seriously how cute is this classroom!?

And Jon's co-t is adorable too :) Ahra and her husband are like cartoon characters... so funny, goofy, and  just cutesy. 

Look at those faces :)

Wouldn't be Korea without the peace signs.

I made cookies for all of our students and they LOVED them. I enjoy how excited they get over a simple cookie :) Ahh the simple things in life.

And speaking of the simple things, I got some pretty sweet notes (90% are in Korean)

Some sweet pencil holders

and a creepy clay baby... whose head fell off directly after this picture was taken. Slightly disturbing.

We are going to really miss those kids, and our wonderful co-teachers. Just one more good-bye to add to the list. But we just like to think of how blessed we are to know these kids and adults. The islands will truly always hold a special place in our hearts. *tear*

Exhaustion

It's been hot here in Korea land.

I mean reeeeeeaaaaallllllly hot.

Like, I have the AC on, a fan blowing, and all I'm doing is typing on my computer yet I'm sweating bullets...hot.


Now that the rainy season is pretty much over, the humidity has set in and let me tell you... it's a treat.

Despite the heat Jon and I have still been trying get our workouts in and this week it has been a bit of a struggle. Jon was biking to and from school (one of those bike rides at 12), then we were heading to the gym and playing with my students for an hour...and then coming home to do p90X or and Insanity workout. Talk about some serious sweating.

yes... this is after 2 games of badminton and some jumping rope in the gym. And it gets worse.

and yes... it does get worse than this.

I didn't realize until I sat down on the gym floor just how sweaty I was. My legs were slick... like just taken a shower slick. The students gathered and were beyond confused. They had all been spraying water on each other... and yet I (who had, had NO water sprayed on her) was wetter than the students.

It was slightly uncomfortable. I wish I was lying, but the students were actually touching my legs and hair feeling the sweat, trying to figure out how someone could possibly expel that much water from their body. And just be thankful I didn't take a picture of my head. It literally looked like I came out of the shower.  My students were fascinated with my copious amounts of sweat. 

I'm cool like that.

Now I handle heat pretty well, and it hasn't really effected me in quite the same way... but as for Jon...

This was him "getting ready" for P90X....

Attractive honey... attractive :)

He also managed to get heat exhaustion and has spent the last 3 days taking cold showers, feeling dizzy, having major headaches, muscle fatigue, and has not been able to function at a normal level.

Honestly as much as I enjoy the heat and the sun, I'd be ok with a little rain for a day. It is bloody hot here and I don't think my husband can take much more of it :)

Korea Vs. Argentina

Last week I wrote about the Korea game we hit up at the high school. Welllllll tonight Korea plays Uruguay and if they win, and we perchance happen to win again Ghana... we will play each other. Which could get interesting.

Anyway, I shared why I thought Argentina won , but what I didn't get to share was our experience at the game. The students were funny and everyone was all riled up!

The crowd getting ready for the fight!

They had plastic bags on their heads... please don't ask why. I still have yet to try and figure out the way Korean students think... and I don't know that I ever will.

And yes... they also put on make -up they're comfortable with their masculinity.

Now it's game time. Soon after they turned off all the lights. It was pretty fun watching it on the big screen.

Korea Scores!!! In overtime of the first half. It was a great way to end the first half! And everyone went WILD! The lights were still off so you couldn't see the excitement but they were pretty pumped!

Taking a break at the half. Ian with his manly students.

Then there was this guy. Just meandered up to the stage and started beating on the drum. The REST OF THE GAME. It seriously felt like I was being led into battle. All I could imagine was Lord of the Rings, and I was just waiting for the Orcs to come out and attack. It was honestly stressful to hear the drums for over 45 minutes straight... apparently I wouldn't do well in a battle.

Unfortunately, Korea didn't do so great. A 4-1 loss took it's toll on everyone.

And this is how they dealt with their pain.  I have to say, before we took this picture, in the dark. The boy with his leg over the other one was on his back, with the other boy laying on top of him. And he had his legs around the boy on top of him. 

Awkward... yes.  Typical of Korea... yes.

And there you have it folks. An interesting way to spend the evening :)

Have any of you been watching the World Cup??

Why I Love being a Teacher

As you all obviously know by now, teaching is not my passion in life. It's difficult for me to feel excited about a lesson. And as much as some of my students drive me up the wall,  there are some students that it will break my heart to never see again.

I know leaving after this contract will be difficult for me, leaving this school, these teachers, these students... it's a struggle for me to think that I'll probably never see them again.

Well, after the corn dog adventure the other day we found out the day after that it was our last day. And we were all a little upset about it. I then had to break the news that they wouldn't be seeing me again after September... it was so sad.. and touching to see how upset they were. They couldn't believe I was going. They then told me if I got bored in the U.S.A. to come back and move to Jaeun... cute... but probably not happenin' :)

Then they gave me these:

And that's an order!!!! :)

(sorry for the blurriness)

I  may not enjoy teaching, but at least with these students I feel that I made a difference and that we all really enjoyed that extra class. Even now as I re-read them my heart just breaks a little and tears come.

Can I just take these kids with me??

Deep Fried

I love corn dogs. Always have, always will. Especially at the Fair... there's just something so delicious about it. I will say, however, I never really cared to know how to make them myself. They were always a once every couple of month treat... so I didn't really need to know the inter-workings of corn dog making.

But, because I love my extra class, and because we'd had so much fun baking together before, and because it was one of our last days together I told them we could try to make corn dogs.

Apparently I believe that large pots of boiling oil around 13 year olds is a good idea... I believe Korea has changed me a bit. But learn how to make corn dogs... I did. And as usual we had a blast making them :)

Puttin' it all together for the dough.

The Oil set up

Gettin' the dogs ready :)

There is more than one way to eat with a chopstick

Checking to see if the oil is hot enough

So much oil it's out of control. I truthfully have no idea how people own a deep frier... and use it on a weekly basis. it's just soooooo much oil!

We then started to run out of time, so I had to start frying 2 at once... it was HOT!

Golden Brown drippin in oil... * I feel the need to mention that as I type this I'm watching The Biggest Loser... little bit of a clash there*

For a first time deep frier, I think I did pretty well.

I love this class... when we found out it was one of our last days we all got a little upset. They have been so fantastic and I'll miss them so much! Tomorrow I'll show you one more reason why they are absolutely fantastic :)