Lucky Mart aja-shi (older Korean man)

This kind man works at Lucky Mart - where I do my everyday general shopping ~ and he always helps me with my things back to my apartment - especially when I buy bottled water!

My first attempt at making Korean food ~

I'm pretty proud of myself... I made 콩비지떡 (Kong Bi-ji Tteok) It's a savory Korean snack/side dish. It's made with soy bean curd, but looks like a potato patty. I added spring onions and some green chillies. I took it to school for my co-workers to taste. I was so happy ~ they said it was tasty and good ^^ The senior teacher told me, "Make more!"

Yong-Jae, teacher is waiting for you!

I was taking register for my after school class. One boy (Yong-Jae) wasn't there. I asked the others, "Where's Yong-Jae?" and within a few seconds, Seong-Bin (boy in the middle) whipped out his cellphone and called Yong-Jae... "Where are you? Teacher is waiting for you..."

These kids are in 5th grade ... and they have snazzier phones than me!

Lunchtime visitors

Sometimes after lunch, these 1st graders come to just say "Hello" to me!

Cabbage!

Check out the amount of cabbage loaded on this truck!

I saw this on my way to work this morning....

First snowfall of 2008

On my way to the gym this morning (at 6am!) it was snowing ever so slightly. By lunchtime, it snowed more... but the ground isn't fully covered as yet.

Nothing is ever as bad as it seems ~

Last week was a trying week for me. I was hearing bad news from all corners of the world and everything seemed to be happening at once. At times like this, it is so difficult to be far away from the people you love most.

I didn't know how to react to everything that was happening. People around me here were oblivious to what I was going through. I wore a proverbial 'mask' for 3 days and kept myself occupied as best I could.

I stayed after work on Thursday and Friday, and spent 2 hours at the gym on Friday night. I don't work on Saturdays, even though schools in Korea are in session every alternate week. However, I went to work just so that I could keep my mind busy.

On Sunday night, I convinced myself to get rid of the nasty feeling hovering over me. On Monday morning, I was back on the radar and back to my old self.

I just realized that things are almost never as bad as they appear to me.

This was a busy week for me, which I'm glad for because it made the days pass by very quickly ~

Pepero Day in Korea

Image from Google Images

Today is November 11 (11.11) which is PEPERO DAY in Korea. Snacks called "Pepero" are exchanged between friends. This is done because the snack is like a biscuit stick and looks like a '1' So when written, the date is 11.11.

My students gave me gifts of Pepero snacks today... I'll a post a pic tomorrow.

Miriam Makeba dies at age 76

Image from Google Images

I was so sad to read that South Africa's singing legend, Miriam Makeba passed away. I won't go into detail, as there are a number of websites that have covered her life & death.

Another wedding...

On Sunday, November 2 2008, my principal's daughter got married and many staff members were at the wedding. It was held at the Cheongdam Wedding Plaza in the heart of Gangnam, a corporate and upmarket area of Seoul. This was my 3rd wedding that I've attended in Korea since I've been here...

The couple's portrait

The bride's parents greeting guests

The groom & his parents
The men behind the desk make a note of the (cash gifts) that guests give to them,
afterwich they are issued with a food coupon for lunch after the ceremony.

The aisle

Where the ceremony took place

Bride with dad

Wedding cake

After the ceremony, at the reception