If only...

I was in the office in the English classroom when these boys were peaking in through the window. Looks like they're in a cage or something, right?! If only...! (LOL)

Rice Cakes for everyone

When I speak about rice cakes to family & friends back home, they think of the crispy snacks... but this is what it looks like in Korea. My favourite is the ones filled with honey, nuts & sesame seeds.

Rice cakes (tteok) is a popular gift to give for special occasions. One of the 4th grade teacher's at my school had a family celebration recently. I'm still not sure who it was (one of his parents or in-laws). Anyways, somebody celebrated their 70th birthday.

One's 70th birthday is a milestone in Korea. It used to be 60, because before people used to only live to the age of 60. Anyways, the teacher at my school distributed boxes of rice cakes to every single teacher and it was presented in a gift bag! To give you a rough idea of how many teachers there are... Grade 1 - 6 (and there are about 10 staff members in each grade).

Spontaneous Sunday Road Trip (3)

Incheon Grand Park & Zoo

The candy floss guy gave me free candy floss ^^

Miniature Ass

Guanaco

Spontaneous Sunday Road Trip (2)

Yeungheung

How about that?! I stood in the middle of the road to get that shot!

Silkworm Pupa

Yeungheung Fish Market

Lunch time!

Spontaneous Sunday Road Trip (1)

Daebu-do & Seongjae-do

On Sunday, October 12 2008 I went on a spontaneous road trip yet again with Mr Lee. We went to the countryside, which was really nice... I was breathing fresh, clean air by 08:00!

We went to Daebu-do ... famous for its grapes. As you drive through, there are vineyards on either side of you. And there are vendors selling grapes *everywhere!*

I don't know the name of this (the green one), but it's from the pumpkin family.

Seongjae-do : known for its clean & salty water.

Sun-Young's baby

My friend, Sun-Young (a 5th grade homeroom teacher at my school) had a baby about 3 weeks ago. So, this past Friday (October 10, 2008) my friend, Ki-Young & I went to visit Sun-Young & the newborn.

I have followed Sun-Young's pregnancy since the very beginning, so it's been really special to see her everyday at school and watch her belly grow. We always joked around that I was going to be the first foreigner her baby would meet. During classes, when Sun-Young was lying down on the floor in the teacher's room, we used to sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" to Gae-Tong (the name she gave the baby before she was born.

Now, she's been named Sim-Young. Isn't she gorgeous?! Ki-Young and I were pleading with her through the window to open her eyes for us, but she was sound asleep.

(Sun-Young didn't want to be photographed!)



In Korea, they have a special place (almost like a retreat) for new mum's. It's been described to me as a combination of a motel & hospital. For about 2 weeks after giving birth, the new mum can bond with her baby - and get assistance from the nursing staff. They can relax and meet other new mum's. So, this was Sun-Young's room. (Husbands can sleep here, too)

My fave boys

These boys are a few of my favourites in Grade 5.