China II: Ningbo!: 6월 2011

2011년 6월 26일 일요일

Last week of June?! CHINCHA?!

Eric, Daniel, Tom, Mark, Sally, Kate, Amy, Jenny in blue.

This is Robot Class, minus Jessica. There is apparently some sort of fungus going around the kids. Maybe Foot and Mouth? We don't know. It's hard to communicate about that kind of thing. But kids have been missing a week and then coming back fine.
It's here. The last week of June. Woah. I am 99% sure that that means that I have been here for eighteen months. Happy Birthday Mom! I love you! We did not have a field trip this week, we had a puppet show. It was weird. I did have some free time with Robot Class and I was able to convince them to behave (sort of) for some movies that you might find entertaining.

Enjoy!

Their favorite morning game.

Oh No, Don't Do That

ABC...sort of.

They're just cute.

2011년 6월 19일 일요일

스물넷

Dinner, cake and Jason.

That's right. This post is coming to you from a 24 year old American on her second year in South Korea. Strange. Thanks for all the birthday love. How I celebrated:
Friday after work, the foreigners, our boss, three Korean co-teachers, the boss' kids, and another teacher's kids went to dinner. It was delicious. Next, the foreigners, and three coteachers went to a bar. Much mekjew was consumed. Finally, Peter and myself went into Suji to meet up with the friends. It was another guy's birthday Friday, so pretty much everyone I know here was there. I remember a very small amount of the night due to a few 151 sneak attack shots. I woke up very confused to my alarm at 7 on Saturday. I journeyed to the train station, and let me tell you-life was rough. I met up with Ian and we caught a train to Daecheon. Daecheon is about 2 hours away (via train) and it is the beach where mudfest is held. We set up tents and played in the ocean and on the sand for the remainder of the day. We had dinner. Finding dinner was a chore because beach towns tend to mostly have seafood restaurants and Ian is allergic to seafood. As a result, we needed something else-hopefully pork. We were able to find some pork galbi. So we ate that and walked around the town and then called it a night at 12:06. I woke up around 7 on Sunday and read on the beach until Ian woke up. We played frisbee for a while, packed up, had some breakfast milkshakes and caught a train home. Enroute, I was thinking about how I would spend the rest of my day and I realized that I was out of shampoo AND laundry detergent. So I dropped my stuff off at home at 4:30, grabbed Beth and introduced her to my preferred grocery store. I then cleaned and showered and ate and spent the rest of my night watching Dharma and Greg. I did get to talk to Dad for father's day.

Peter with Jason (the boss' son and Pmac's little buddy)

I think we have a field trip this week-which means I'll take some cute pictures of my babies and show you soonish.

School has been going well. Robot Class has been improving weekly.

I've been thinking about what to do next with my life and I have some vague ideas, but am 100% open to suggestions, ideas, hints, job offers, etc.

I hope all is well and that you are enjoying your summers. I love you, miss you and would love to hear from you.

2011년 6월 9일 목요일

One era ends and a new one begins.

The end of the Age of KatieDale and Sophia. (for now)

It is currently Thursday night. In order to explain my feeling of total exhaustion, I need to go back two Fridays. Hold tight please.
Friday. We had a field trip to a role playing facility. The kids went to stations practicing various dialogues (market, hospital, bakery, etc.). We went out for staff dinner. We had traditional Korean food. It was delicious. After that we went to a chicken and beer joint. Followed by a norebang (Korean singing room).
Saturday. We went to BigguyBill's roof for a cook out. Typical Suji night followed.
Sunday. I went to Ians. Typical Sunday followed.
Tuesday. The new girl (Beth from Hawaii) arrived at 7. It was also James' birthday. Sophia, Peter, Beth, Ian, and James did dinner in Suji. Beth experienced galbi and her and Sophia went to bed. The boys and myself stayed up entirely too late for a school night (3am) celebrating the birthday.
Thursday. We all ventured to Traveler's for Sophia's final cheeseburger and rum-and-coke night. We dressed as pirates. It was a fun night, tears and all.
Friday. Sophia cried all day saying goodbye to her kids and our amazing coworkers. Sophia, SaraBrown (it was also SB's birthday), Ian, Peter, and BigGuyBill went out to dukgalbi (chicken) and makgeli (rice wine). We had some great laughs and cried a lot. Final goodbyes were said. Sophia and I returned to my house at 3. Sophia needed to get the 4:30 airport shuttle, so we stayed awake. We talked, repacked her bags, did some bank nonsense, and at 4 am we started the walk. It was a horrible morning. Said good bye. Cried. A lot. Got her on her way and I came home and showered. At this point it was 5:15 am Saturday morning.
Saturday: I woke up at 8:28. Peter, Beth, James, Ian and I caught a bus to the beach. It was a 4 hour trip. We got there, set up tents, played a little, met some friends there for dinner and drinks. We came back to our tents, put Beth to bed, and Peter and Ian and I played frisbee and drank some soju until 4.
Sunday. We woke up around 8 due to a sweltering hot tent. I dug some holes, buried people, read a weird book, played football, walked a lot, ate some galbi, general dicking around on the beach. Dinner and drinks again. Again, Ian, Peter, and I stayed up with soju, although this time with some random Koreans, until 4.
Monday. Woke up at 8. Played some football, layed around. Caught the 2:30 bus home. I could not keep my eyes open. Got home at 8. Showered. Passed out.
Tuesday-today: work as usual.

Let me clear some things up. First, this past Monday was a national holiday. Memorial Day I believe. Second, I have been totally exhausted at work the past two weeks. I think that sleeping only 8 hours this past weekend did not help, but I also think that I am not used to dealing with so many emotions and it just wore me out. Third, Sophia is safely in Vietnam and having a great time. I miss her a lot and it's been a slap in the face-how much I counted on her and enjoyed our conversations and routines. Fourth, Beth is great. I think when I'm more used to the idea that she's not Sophia, it's going to be great. I'm just not there yet. Fifth, I cried randomly all night Saturday-which I was super embarrassed about, cause I don't like crying that much-and Peter and Ian were super nice to me.

Things are good here. I'm going to be 24 next weekend. That's weird.

Here are some pictures.

Thanks for reading. I hope it wasn't too confusing. Kisses!