Last full week at Chopyeong

So this week went by pretty fast. Can't believe it was my last full week teaching at Chopyeong Elementary! I did Christmas themed classes for most of my grades and we watched Christmas movies / English movies of their choosing to ease out of the school semester. We also did some holiday arts and crafts like making snowflakes! I don't think this is a big thing in Korea at all because a lot of my younger grades didn't seem like they knew what they were doing at first but they really got into it (and there was a helluva mess left over to prove it). I'm going to miss my kids :<

Gr 1s making snowflakes

Made my own and stuck them up on my bedroom window!

Unfortunately I didn't take many photos of the beautiful rice fields and mountains surrounding my school throughout the year. When I came to Chopyeong in March they were bare and naked. Then spring came and they got flooded and tiny rice shoots were planted. They grew green and lush in the summer time and fall came and they turned golden and were harvested into bundles. I got this photo of the rice field across from my school this week though, looking lovely covered in snow with the white mountains in the backdrop. Maybe my new school will be surrounded by rice fields too and I can capture them next season :)

snowy rice fields at sunset

Also got my Xmas cards and stocking stuffers sorted and mailed out:

I love Xmas ^_^

Since it's so cold out I felt like cooking something hot, so I tried cooking Kimchi Jjigae for the first time. It turned out pretty decent! A little sweeter than I'd like (I like my kimchi jjigae on the more sour side) so I think I'll use a more sour kimchi next time and add less sugar.

home made 김치 찌개

Tomorrow I go on a group cultural trip with my mentor teacher Anthony, coteacher Bella and another TaLK scholar Maiday and his MT and CT as well. I will update with photos of the place we are visiting: Yeongdeok, Gyeongbuk! Apparently known for it's seafood - especially crabs :)

Snow day (❁´◡`❁)*✲ﾟ*

Woke up today to a huge snow flurry outside. Coming from temperate Vancouver, it is definitely unusual to see snow in early December, and this much of it too.

View from my window this morning.

Caught the bus and on the way to school my mentor teacher Anthony called me to say that our after school classes were cancelled but since I was on the bus already to come and have lunch at school and then go home. That's last minute Korea for you! However, it sounded good to me - I love our school lunches and I would much rather eat at school than cook something for myself or go out and eat.

Got to school and went for lunch with the teachers and students. We had sam gye tang aka ginseng chicken soup today! ah~ it was amazing - perfect for this cold weather. Had a second serving, was completely stuffed.

During lunch the school nurse came over and told me in Korean and with sign language to go back to Jincheon at 2:40 via bus. Not too sure if she means the regular bus (since it does come at that time) or if the school bus is taking us. Either way, just chilling in the staff room until that time since it's freezing in the English classroom and I don't want to turn on the heater and sit in there by myself. Had an inkling to bring a book with me today too - "Beloved" by Toni Morrison - but had full classes today so wasn't expecting to have time to read. So much for reader's intuition! But perhaps a good thing I didn't bring it anyway because I've decided to start this blog in my spare time instead. Although I started teaching in Korea as part of TaLK (teach and learn in Korea) in February 2012, I've decided to start this blog chronicling my stay here. This blog will focus on my school life and my travels around Korea. Although it is already December 2012, better late than never, so they say.

Lesson topics today were going to be accessories and shoes since we did clothing this past week. Thought it was appropriate as the students are going to be wearing winter accessories (e.g., gloves, socks, hats) since the weather has turned so quickly. Oh well, just means I have a few lesson plans ready for next week!