The Real World: Korea

Inspiration

Something new we had to do this term was create a mini bio of ourselves for the parents to see in the monthly newsletter and for the students to see on the bulletin boards at April. I basically talked about my class expectations and my favorite part about teaching. As much as I wanted to quote "Wicked," nothing seemed just right, so I made up my own quote to sign off with. It went a little something like this...

"When you dream big and think positive, you can achieve anything!"

I thought it was pretty inspirational, a little cheesy, and I might've even sparked a Hallmark making card future for myself.

It's not Goodbye, it's see ya Later

I just got back from a farewell dinner for my Korean co-teacher, Naomi. Friday is her last day at April and I'm sad to see her go. Both of our classrooms are on "the other side." Some people call it an annex or addition, but I call it the reject hall* (just kidding). Since we were both on the other side at April, we shared the majority of our classes together. Not only was she a helpful teacher, but she also acted as our travel agent on numerous occasions. Naomi helped book flights, hotels, and transportation through Korean sites and got us some great deals. She will definitely be missed.

Naomi is the one wearing red in the middle.

*I really shouldn't call it the reject hall. The classrooms are newer, nicer, and quieter.

New Term, New Names Pt. 2

Even though Music Bank, Fire Dragon, and Ice Dragon are no longer my students I have a hand full of entertaining ones with just as amusing names.

-Megatron: Character name from "Transformers."

-Silver: Just the color.

-Shine: She wears pastel purple glasses.

-Ice Dragon: Not the original, but another one.

-Hans: I've mentioned his name before.

-Curi: At first, I thought it was pronounced Suri, like Suri Cruise, but it sounds more like 'curry' than Suri.

I also have a student that looks exactly like Randall Weerns aka the tattle tail from Disney's "Recess." The first week I knew he looked familiar and after a few minutes of searching old school cartoons on Goggle, I finally figured it out.

If Randall Weerns was a real person, he would look exactly like my student, Brian.

The Kids are all Right, but Something is Wrong

On Saturday, I had a nice girls day out filled with a trip to the movies and TGI Friday's. I've been craving western food, so TGI Friday's was a treat.

We saw "The Kids Are All Right" and it's a movie I'd definitely recommend. There were five of us so one person just paid for all of the tickets and we paid her back. I was standing behind everyone and the lady at the counter pointed at me and asked how old I was. Ok, so this could go one of two ways, neither of which are ok.

1.) She thought that I was young enough to qualify for a kids ticket (ok, saves me a few bucks), but that means I looked 12 and under.

-or-

2.) She thought I wasn't old enough to see an R rated movie which means I looked 17 and under.

For those of you who lost track, I'm 23 years old.

I'm hoping that this whole age thing will eventually catch up to me so I figure by the time I'm 50 people will actually think I'm 40 which is the new 30. So there.

Happy Labor Day!

Labor Day weekend is an annual Curtis family (plus Whit and Ki) reunion and this year marked the first time I wasn't in attendance. Luckily, I was (finally) able to catch everyone on Skype just a little while ago and had a nice catch up sesh with them. My two little cousins are now in second and fifth grade and they looked so grown up! Baby Adam also made a cameo appearance and I saw my first smile from him. So adorable. I also let them know what I'm up to next weekend.

Gretchen and I are heading to Busan for a mini get together with some people she went through training with and on Sunday we're swimming with SHARKS! I keep psyching myself out by looking at pictures, but you can check out the details below.

http://www.scubainkorea.com/divedates.html

My dreams came true when I swam with dolphins a few years ago so this year I decided to step it up a notch and swim with sharks! Eeek. More details to come.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Labor Day! And to everyone who went to the Eminem and/or Lady Gaga concert in Detroit over the weekend... I wish I could've been there.

Watch Out Korea...

Soj officially booked her flight and will be here December 17th! Eeek. I can't wait!

On the Banks of the Red Cedar

College football season has begun and there was a victory for M-S-U on Saturday! Woohoo. Go Green! I feel so old thinking that I've already been out of college for a year! Here are some of my favorite tailgating pics with my besties.