more Christmas festivities

This is my "card ribbon"... I put a ribbon on the edge of my cabinet and attached Christmas cards to it as they came in.  It's always so great to get greetings from dear friends and families.  Plus, this keeps them out of the way and I can still enjoy them.  Fun.

 This is the stocking I got from a friend last year (thanks, Evelyn!) - and it came with me to Korea so I'd have a little Christmas cheer here.  It is small, but just the perfect size for drink mixes (thanks, Mama G!).  Hooray.

found a white candle for my Advent wreath...

Christmas loot!

Looks like Santa could still find me... even though I moved from SC to Indiana to Korea over the last 6 months.  Here is a picture of my loot from students and a few cards from other teachers.  A couple of my students made me very nice cards - and then I had the notes inside translated, because they wrote in Korean.  Ha.  The chips and candy pictured here were in the large "plastic stocking bag" - a gift from one class to me.  This is sort of a big deal, because Koreans don't really have Christmas.  It is a bit like a quiet, subtle "valentine's-type" holiday - more for couples.  People simply don't send cards or give gifts.

 Merry Christmas to me!  Christmas Eve was a fun day - I had to work normal hours, but we had out Christmas party at school (which was a program - good times, but also a ton of work) and then we had smaller parties, as well.  Pizza and chips and candy ... yum yum.

One of last weekend's projects...

I wanted to give my students something for Christmas.  After a bit of debating, I decided to do what I would normally do "at home" - origami.  Now, I know this might seem ridiculous - me, making origami for Korean children... but I did two things they are not used to.  First, I glittered it!  (It simply can not be Christmas without glitter.)  Also, I made them ornaments - which is different because few people here have Christmas trees.  Even if they don't have a tree, I suggested that they put it on a door knob or something.

 The trees were given to my coworkers - other teachers, receptionists, aids, our boss.

 Stars and trees and hearts and cranes, oh my!

 Each student got a handwritten note and then the younger students also got an origami gift.  For the "littles" (my youngest students) - the girls got these hearts (which I think I used to make with my Grandmother, btw).  I put their notes inside.  They have not seen them before and loved them.

 Lots of origami.  My friend, Anna, helped LOTS.  She is a fantastic origami coach.

O, Tannebaum!

Here is a sneak peek...

 This was my tree "before" -- a friend used it last year.  It was expensive, but trees were difficult to come by here last year.  This year, she upgraded, and gave me her old one.  It had the ornaments glued on, and some of them were broken.  I knew I wanted to redo it, but didn't have time until, um, today.  (Yes, it's Christmas.)  Guess it's a good thing that I leave my tree up at least until Epiphany.

Here is my tree "after" I redid it.  Generally, I prefer the traditional green tree with classic white lights.  However, my tree this year has colored lights... which reminds me of the childhood tree I always had in my own room while growing up.  Fun.

 I got the ornaments (some of which were also used on my wreath) and the red garland while out getting other things.  Of course, my tree has more origami... it just isn't Christmas without origami, right?!

In case you were wondering...

  If you were reading a different post, I'm sure you were wondering what I did with the rest of that green garland... I made a wreath for my front door, of course.

  I really enjoy traditional green wreaths, perhaps with a bit of a theme or twist.  I wanted to include something Korean, or at least Asian, though these aren't really done here.  (yet... I'm sure people will see mine and want to put one up, too)  For Christmas, I do love to incorporate origami.  Also, as a side note, I got some mini silver and blue ornaments when shopping for something else... so it pretty much all came together.  THANKS to Anna, for her assistance with this and where to hunt for things and everything else she does.

A little origami with two of the ornaments.

 The finished project, hanging on my door to welcome those who visit or pass by.

 The center of the bow is, of course, even more origami.  Yes, each 

origami ornament has glitter... you know I just can't stop myself.  I love glitter!!

Home, Sweet Home, Part I

 Many people have been asking about my apartment... so, here is one of my two main rooms.

This is my  bathroom in my apartment in Korea.  I have pretty much "lucked" out with my accomodations... and I am thankful to have been so blessed.  When I first moved in, there were a few mildew/black mold issues... but I have been working on that.  I thoroughly bleached EVERYTHING and used a few things to disable the mold.  When my friend, Eric, was here, he got me some caulk and a caulk gun (um, yeah, total further confirmation that he def. likes me...); so SOON, I shall be ripping up some of the caulk that is there and cleaning under it, then reapplying new.  I'm very excited, just haven't had a chance to do it yet.  At least the area is cleaner, which helps me breathe a bit better.  Hooray.

 This is my "shower".  It is the whole bathroom, just a shower head on the wall above the sink.

 Notice the drain on the floor under the sink.  This is where all the water from my shower goes.  I pretty much just pour bleach down it every few weeks to keep it flowing quickly.  Otherwise, you end up with a few inches of water sitting on your bathroom floor after every shower; which is not my fav.  However, I am quite thankful that I have running water, that I now know how to operate the hot water and usually have it, that I have my own bathroom, etc.
  Yes, the floor is VERY slippery when wet.  I usually place one towel in front of the sink to help me avoid falling.  Then I put one towel by the door, so that I can go into the bathroom whilst getting ready and then dry my feet at the door before exiting.  This means I also can't put on my socks (or tights) until just before I leave unless I am done in the bathroom... a slight inconvenience. 

 This is the bathroom "fan"... Yes, it might also look like the window.  The Koreans love to open windows to "help circulate the air and keep you healthy"... I have yet to see the windows in the bathroom at school shut; no matter what the temperature is outside.  Often, I put my coat on to go to the bathroom at work.

After I took my first shower in Korea, all the "toilet paper shields" that I kept seeing suddenly made sense.  This is the counter running from my sink to the wall by the door.  Everything in the bathroom can and will get wet when you shower; so it doesn't really make sense to me to even have a counter here - you can't really store much on it.  Also, the towel rack is directly across from where the shower head is.  When I questioned this, I was reminded that it was probably put there because that is where "it is supposed to be" - like someone saw it in a magazine or something, so that is where they put it; never mind that it should be placed where it will be able to best function.

How do you celebrate Gaudete Sunday?

"REJOICE in the Lord always; and, again, I say REJOICE." -- Psalm 100

  As the third week of Advent begins, I finally finished my Advent wreath!  This is no small feat in Korea, mind you.  First, we had to find something for the green wreath part.  There are some Christmas wreaths in Korea - they are already decorated (um, not quite the way I would do it, to put it nicely) - and the embellishments are glued on, so there is no help for it.  Oh, did I mention that a SMALL (ugly) wreath, if you know one of the few places to find it - would be around $75 here.  Um, no thank you.

  So, as I was out and about doing other things, I was also on the hunt for a decent wreath, or actually just for some greenery so I could make my own.

  Finally, we found the Christmas section of the Electronics Mart and "talked" (which is more interesting since I do not know Korean yet) the lady into just selling us two bundles of greenery.  (for about $4 each, hooray)

  Candles are also not as readily available or decently priced here.  Additionally, I wanted specific candles (three purple, one pink, one center white...).

  This is what we (my friend helped me hunt for items) came up with.  I actually do have a larger almost white candle, but there wasn't room for it so I'm just using this yellowish one and pretending it is white.  I had to use paper Korean dixie cups for holders (hey, it was either that or old Jagger. shotglasses, which somehow just didn't seem appropriate), but it works.

  I can still use this as a reminder to prepare for what Christmas is really all about - that Jesus came to earth, to be my Lord and Savior; to live, die, and rise, for me and for you.  What a time for rejoicing!

December brings a new haircut...

  Last weekend, FINALLY, I got a long-overdue haircut. More than that, I got it straightened - which seems silly because I have always had fairly straight hair.  However, this is seriously changing my life.  I am def. a low-maintenance kind of girl.  This permits me to continue in my lazy hair ways, and still look presentable.  It's fantastic!  The straightening is like a "permanent" un-permanent.  I also got about 3.5 inches cut off... which I am still on the fence about.  It is easier and even my students say it looks better.  Hooray.

  Meanwhile, Gwangju, which doesn't really celebrate Christmas like they do in the "West" -- they put up a Christmas tree made from light strands.  On top is a lighted world, then a lighted cross.  It is interesting and so Korea...  As we were doing a bit of shopping downtown, my friend took my pic.  New haircut and city tree.

Advent Blessing from Pastor Harrison

   As you prepare for Christmas, don't miss the season of Advent.
Take a moment and check this out.  Keep watching.

      http://vimeo.com/17382359

"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!"

Bamboo and Pandas and More

Here are some more pictures from my birthday - when we went to the Bamboo Forest.  Enjoy.

Oh yes, I'm clearly sooooo grown up... something about the panda bear statues just screamed, "Pose by me for a picture!"

 There were multiple trails throughout the forest.  Each one featured a different theme.  Along one, we kept seeing little huts like this one. Many people stopped for pictures.  I had to duck.

 One of the trails.  They are more "uphill" than perhaps they look.  I was just thankful that my knee can now (sort-of) do the mini hikes.  Praise the Lord!

 Birthday girl... still goofy girl!

 Lots of bamboo.

 One of the trails was named the "love trail", so of course we took it.  Tee he he.  Right in the middle of the forest there was a coverless gazebo type area with cute little benches and this... so we stopped for a picture.  Cheesy cheesy pie.  Oh my!  However, I do think we look cute together...

 I really liked the little benches.

  If you ask the Chinese, pandas are not native to Korea.  However, I am in Korea and went to a bamboo forest.  I know that pandas eat bamboo, so I am likely to think they did live here at some point...  We didn't see any live panda bears, but we saw a few statues like these. Something about the panda statues asks for pictures.  Something about Eric's handsome face makes me want to kiss him.  Tee he he.

 Just a tiny little panda sitting up on the hill.

 Eric climbed up the hill to pose like the panda.  They are both cute.  Silly pandas.

Thankful in Korea

"Oh give thanks unto the Lord, He is good; His mercy endureth forever." -Ps.136:1

  Here is Anna carving the "turkey".  Actually, it was pork tenderloin.  Koreans do not really eat turkey.  We could maybe find it here, but it would be really expensive.  Basically, we could spend all of our dinner budget on one turkey for just a few people OR have the rest of the meal with pork.  We opted for everything else - and pork tenderloin here is fairly cheap and delicious!

My friend Anna hosted out "American Thanksgiving" in Korea at her house.  She also did most of the work for it - which was a ton of work.  Thank you, Anna!  I helped.  The kitchen got really hot, so here is a pic. of me walking away to strip down to a tank and then back towards the kitchen.  Not my best pic, but one of the few of me that day.

Our menu included pork tenderloin, garlic mashed potatoes, salad greens with sauteed onions and cucumbers and croutons, hot spicy carrots, sweet potato pie, stuffing, corn, and, of course, pumpkin pie with whip cream!

 Note that we had to make EVERYTHING from scratch -- first the croutons for the stuffing and salad, then pumpkin pie, everything.  Getting a can of pie filling just isn't an option in Korea.  Good thing we actually prefer making most of the meal from scratch anyway.  We were also working with two stove top burners and a small toaster oven.  We are thankful for these though!

Good food shot.  Delicious food with good friends, old and new.  Thanksgiving in Korea felt a bit strange.  I am still church shopping, so just had my own devotional at home.  There were good friends, but it was not the same as going "home" to my Mums' house.  It was a little chilly, but we didn't have snow.  (yet)  I had to go to work on Thursday and Friday.  I tried to talk to the kids about "American Thanksgiving" and even ended up taking in a pie for one class (long story) - but it was pretty much like any other day here for most people.  Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays (no big shocker, since I enjoy cooking and love to eat) - so I still celebrated it.  I was glad for my "sister" Anna and her efforts.  I am glad for new friends.  We still made a delicious meal.  I am glad to go to a job which I enjoy, even if I feel like it should be a "holiday".
  We all have so very much for which to be thankful.

Great Scenery

More pictures from 11/14/2010

 This is one of my fav. pictures from the bamboo forest itself. 

One of my favorite "tall trees" with me, looking at the surrounding area together.  

This one reminds me of USC campus.

Turning the other way.

More of my "Korean horseshoe..."

Happy Birthday to me!

A year ago, I would never have guessed how I would be spending my birthday this year... but I also can't imagine a better way for me to celebrate my 30th!  The day started with a short day trip to Dam Yeong, which is known for its bamboo.  This meant Eric and I took a bus for about 50 minutes, then figured out how to get from the bus station there to the Bamboo Forest.  We toured the bamboo for a while.  I have a slightly unnatural fascination with trees (which is a whole other blog topic...); so of course I loved this.  

  It was even better because my knee could now (sort-of) do the mini hikes.  Hooray.  Praise the Lord.  

  The day was even better because I got to share this mini adventure with one of my best friends, Eric.

 The bamboo forest is just how it sounds - a forest of bamboo trees.

 30 years young... and only getting better with age... right?

A happy happy birthday girl... 

so much happier and relaxed when I'm standing by Eric.

Welcome to the Big City

Now I live in Gwangju.  This is the 6th largest city in South Korea.  A couple of weeks ago, we (my friend Anna, acting as our tour guide; my guest, and me) went over to U-Square.  This is the the shopping district - like Jefferson Pointe for those of you in Fort Wayne and Harbison for those of you in Columbia, SC.  We were going to the "electronics super center" - Kumho World - which was like a candy store for my guest.  Fun times.  On the way, we walked over a "road bridge"... and paused to snap a few pictures of the traffic here.  Welcome to the big city, and my new home.

A bit more information, finally.

This week is already a bit of a whirlwind.  I have pretty much "settled into" both my apartment and my new job.  Most days, I go to the correct classroom and know the student's (English) names without looking at the seating chart in my book.  Except for a few of what I call "opportunity" students, the most difficult part of my job is usually operating the computer and the a/c in each room.  (Students stay in the same rooms, the teachers move from one classroom to the next.)  So, like any smart American - I ask my second grade students to help.  They are amazing with the electronics; so they help me with that and I help correct their word pronunciations.  It works out well.
  At work, I try to plan ahead as much as possible.  I like to write out lesson plans, looking at each class for the next few months.  This is particularly important because I teach fifteen different classes, ranging from American grades K through 5.  There are a few classes that I see more than once a week, but this is not true for most of them.  I use a variety of books, as well.  Compound this with coworkers whose native language is not English; and I am thankful that I seem to have some mad organizational skills.  However, even "the best laid plans" do not always work out; as my co-teachers and head teachers seem to use the Korean system of organization; which is mostly a mystery to everyone else.  So I am learning to be flexible and, while prepared as possible, also ready to adapt at a moment's notice.  I am also thankful that working with children of any age does not make me nervous.  I can talk to anyone about anything; so even if I am told to walk "cold" into a classroom and I haven't been able to prepare for that class, the students will still learn something that day.  It might be whatever I know best or am studying at the time; but they will learn something.
  Part of why I am trying to work so far ahead is that I have company coming this week.  (more on that later)
  I am not completely healthy yet, as I've been battling a nasty cold/sinus infection/allergy funk for about three weeks now.  Part of that is to be expected, as I had never been out of the US before and now live in Korea.  New food, new water, new environment; and weather that insists upon a 35-40 degree difference from 1:00 PM to 8:30 PM.  I did learn that going to the pharmacy can help significantly.  You just tell (or in my case motion to explain) your symptoms and the pharmacist gives you a box of "magic pills" for less than $5.  They do start clearing up the symptoms; but it still makes one wonder.
  My thoughts feel scattered, as there is so much to "catch up" on the blog here... I had a bit of a situation (my computer translated my blog back into Korean, which I don't actually know yet, and I didn't know how to add a post...) - but it should be better now.  As time permits, I will be filling in some more of the gaps of where I live, what I'm doing here, and the continued adventures of daily life as Hannah.
 

A whole new kind of South

It's true, from Indiana ... to South Carolina ... and now I'm in South Korea! I've been here almost two weeks. Finally, I am here - and in my apartment ... and I have the Internet ... and I will be filling in on the adventures of the past few weeks.
For now, though, I am here in Gwangju, South Korea. I will be teaching at an English school for the next year. I teach a variety of classes, children age five through 6th grade. They go to their Korean elementary school in the mornings, and then come over to my school for English school. Most of my students sleep less than I do, and are pretty much expected to continue in excellent performance.
There are so many "different" things to notice here ... It is exciting, exhausting, and slightly overwhelming. More to follow soon!