Ahhhh… the Christmas spirit is here in Korea – even if it is just radiating from the foreign faculty! Christmas is not a holiday celebrated here as it is back in the states – the only Koreans to celebrate Christmas are the Christians, and they leave all of the Santa’s and reindeers out of it!... and Isn’t that how it should be? CHRIST is the real reason for the CHRISTmas season J
Check out http://timothycushing.bandcamp.com/album/christmas-card-from-korea. This was made by a boarding specialist in one of the dorms... pretty creative!
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I had a discussion a few days back with our business director about the possibility of transferring over to work as an admissions officer – this would be an awesome opportunity to learn more about schools from a different perspective – this would be an awesome opportunity to build my knowledge base about boarding schools for the eventual opening of a boarding school in inner-city Houston – this would be an awesome opportunity to work with the Korean Business staff and experience a total shift in cultural hierarchy and expectations in the work atmosphere!
Speaking of Business staff... one of my favorite girls has left our campus to go back to Seoul and work at the KIS Pangyo campus. I miss you Julianne!
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Lets see... what is new since last time?! Well, a few super cool field trips! Here are a few pictures from waterfalls, a botanical garden, lava tubes, and a hike with the 6th grade up a mountain near a museum focused on some of the first settlements of Jeju!
Some of my incredible students... Cheese!
Breath-taking
I think this is the coolest picture I have ever taken!
This is just a shot of a cabbage patch at the botanical gardens...
Another Beauty.
A hike to the top of the mountain where my 6th graders sang and danced to their song
"If You're Out There" by John Legend. They have no idea how talented they are!
Underground caves created from the Mt. Halla - Lava tubes!
Hard at work filling out a Social studies booklet while learning about the Neolithic Village!
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A few weeks ago, I flew from Jeju to Shanghai, where I met Ms. Stephanie Minda for a Chinese experience that will not leave our memories anytime in the near future. It started off on Thanksgiving day, and as any thankful and grateful American, we did our best to find a legitimate Thanksgiving Meal. What did we come across? A Shanghainese restaurant that was recommended… or so we thought. First bite… Gee-rong-gu… You want to know what that translates into English?!... Chicken Testicles! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! The texture was that of what I imagine biting into the deep fried knee cap cartilage of a small rodent to be. Seriously – DISGUSTING. Happy Thanksgiving Feast for us…
After a rough first meal and an early night, we managed to have an incredible remaining time in China. The second day, we started off the day with the most amazing breakfast spread I have ever experienced in my hotel travels! Our stuffed bellies then wandered down to the fabric market, where we stored up on silk pajamas, scarves, and where I even managed to sneak in a fancy fur vest purchase! We ate the most amazing noodle meal off of a street vendor on wheels for less than $1 USD each, and continued our shopping spree by making our way over to the Pearl Factory. Man… our feet were tired at this point – so, what else would you do than ask a local for a good place for a foot massage? Though the location we were taken to was sketchy to say the least, it was seriously the best foot massage I have EVER had for $10 USD! We walked to the subway, hit up the hotel to get changed, and finished the evening off with another attempt at Shanhainese food (much more success this time around) and a night cap.
Yum on the noodle dish - and it was so cheap!
Day 3 was really hard to start off. After another AMAZING breakfast, we took a quick nap at 9am and were out the door by 10am. Our mission – to find Yu Garden. Mission failed… BUT we did walk down an alley that had foods of all sorts lining both sides – eventually leading us to come across an amazing Chinese structure that had been remodeled to hold numerous stores and restaurants. Other than the odors, this was a legit people watching experience. We were “stalked” by several men and women trying to sell knock-off watches and purses, observed several girls eating chicken feet off of a stick, and Stephanie was even attacked by a short little woman who wanted to be in a picture with her. When we were ready to head to our one “tourist site” we grabbed a man with a taxi attached to his bike for a quick 5 minute ride to the subway (he charged us $20 USD… not thrilled at how he ripped us off!) We went up on the TV Tower and saw Shanghai from a circular viewing deck… well, most of Shanghai… it was as if the city never ended. We could not see the end of buildings in any one direction! Closed out the evening with Italian food… yes, that is right, the best meal we had while in Shanghai! We figured… when you are in Houston, you don’t HAVE to experience Tex-Mex or steak to have an amazing meal… so we opted to ask for a recommendation and went on it. Good call.
Chicken feet in plastic - a must have...?
Incredible architecture - and of course, I am sporting my Seminole pride everywhere I go! ;)
Heading back to Jeju, we took a super fast train! Check this out…
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Ok… signing off for now as I have PACKing to do with a trip back to Houston and Florida less than a week away! I cannot wait to go to church, walk my puppies, love on friends in Houston – new and old, visit with family in Florida, and have a Dos Rita! I will miss Korea – and will be returning to a new room (moving off campus and into the city! Yay for Korean Culture!)… See you soon!
