Happy Thanksgiving!

I kept forgetting today was Thanksgiving.

The last Thursday in November without family, food, my fat pants on, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, an afternoon nap, and games just didn't feel right. I'm heading to Seoul this weekend to celebrate with friends so hopefully that will make up for the lack of turkey I had today.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!

P.S. Happy (belated) Birthday to Scott and Happy (early) Birthday to Soj!

USA is A-OK*

My flight home is officially booked.

I'll be back in Michigan (GRR) on December 28th at approx. 9:52 p.m. I expect signs, balloons, familiar faces, and Mexican food waiting for me at the airport. See you then!

*Name that movie!

Wah, Wah, Wahhh

Its been awhile, but I'm back in action... making kids cry that is.

It seems like all of my students are extra sensitive these days.

• One boy was playing around with his pencil case and distracting the rest of the class. After asking him to stop and put it away (a few times) I took it away from him. He got so upset he burst into tears.
• Lining up is obviously a huge deal. On this particular day a boy lost at rock, paper, scissors (it was supposed to be fun) and was last in line. Boohoo.
• Perhaps it's only child syndrome, but this one girl didn't get the part she wanted during acting, pouted, and started to cry. I did not let her change parts... I'm so tough (ha).
• Today, all I heard was "TEACHER! John laughed at me! (put her head down) and waaah."

Turn that frown upside down and smile :)

Enchanted

I used to compare living in Korea to living inside a video game, but now I feel like it's more of an amusement park and far away land: bright, flashing lights, k-pop music, random carnival games on the streets (punching bags, claw machines), characters aplenty, balloon animals, and to top it off a corn dog stand just opened outside my apartment building. The Galleria department store is also decorated like a carousel (see my birthday post) with tons of pretty Christmas lights surrounding it. All that is missing is a little disco dust (TCJD anyone?!), rainbows and unicorns. La-la-la-la-laaa.

Balloon silliness.

The pink one was tired.

Kung Fu Panda.

Meerkat Manor

My students keep telling me I look like a meerkat. One girl even handed me an orange last week and told me it was meerkat food.

What do you think?

We Meet Again

If you remember back in February I mentioned that I was randomly spotted on the busy streets of Seoul by an old friend I used to go to church with. Well, two weeks ago I ran into him again! It's still hard to believe we met the first time let alone a second time in Daejeon of all places, but like before it was so nice to see him after all of these years.

Picture of us in Seoul back in February.

Hellow? Gorgeous

My student, Silver (seed 2, miniature stature, says "huh" after everything), made this portrait for me. I made it extra big for you to see all of the details on it. Kids always ask me "Teacher, do you have a boyfriend/husband?" or "Teacher, are you married?" and the answer is always no.

How am I ever going to find a significant other when I look like this?!