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Published: August 8th 2007
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Techno Mart skywalk
Jasmine, Duskim, and Me Yesterday was the first time since I have been here that I actually felt like a teacher. I find that I am not alwasy sure if my students understand me or if they are just really good at repeating at what I say...Jasmine and I think that we must sound like the voice of the teacher on Charlie Brown...whan whan whan whhannehwnwwhwnawhan...you know the one. I have been trying to teach my kindergartens the order of the days of the week. We go over them everyday starting with what day it is, what yesterday was and what tomorrow will be. And they always get them mixed up they will tell me that tomorrow is Monday when today it Wednesday. Granted, I am extactic that they even remember the days, yesterday they actually got all of them right!! I was so pumped! And then later in the day, we were reviewing our consonant blend sounds that we have been working on all week and they got all of the sounds without me helping them. I was so impressed and felt very satisfied as a first time teacher. I was even impressed with my after school kids. I have this one class
Techno Mart
Jasmine, Duskim, and Adam that I teach M, W, and F and they are off the wall. But the past couple of days they have really been showing me that they have been studying and are not making the same mistakes that they were when we started. I am hoping that this trend continues becuase its been such a great first month that if this is what I have to look forward too then I can see my time here being quite enjoyable. Today my kids were being so adorable when they first got to school, I let them color every morning until everyone has arrived. I have one little guy, E-wan, and he draws me the best pictures. However, today when it was time to take out their sketchbooks he just looked at me as though he was going to cry. So I asked him what was wrong and why he didn't want to color...guess what he told me?? "Teacher, no coloring book today"...and I said "How come?"... he says "I am so sad, fishy died so no color today". Isn't that cute? If you knew this kid you would think it was. Anyways so then we talked about pets and how we
can be sad sometimes when we lose a pet. Pretty dramatic I tell ya!
Anyways that is my little update about school...now onto the good stuff! I finally have my pictures from the Amazing Race so stay tuned for those at the end of this blog. This weekend was so relazing. I have been doing that a lot lately and it feels great to not always be on the go go go. Friday night was pretty chilled. Jasmine and I went to the gym and took a class called "Power Jam". I'm telling you it was pretty intense. Everything at that gym is intense! It was a mixture of weights and cardio all into one. Which made Saturday a very interesting adventure of being very sore. But nontheless, we were up early in the AM to meet Duskim for a trip to Techno- mart (worst place in the whole world if you ask me) and and adventure to the "63" building. This is the tallest building in South Korea at 264m. Its actually used for insureance brokers but within it there is also an aquarium, IMAX theatre, and sky deck that gives a birds eye view of Seoul. After spending
5 HOURS in techno mart it was a relief to do something a little more fun. But I have entered back into the cell phone world. Got myself a slim little black number that I hardly know how to use because it is super technological. I am sure that I will get the hang of it sooner or later. Sunday was an inside day...well supposed to be anyways. There is this really bad pollution here called Yellow Dust and Sunday was one of the worst days that they have had here in a long time. Here is some info taken from The Korean Times...
The haze is generated in the Gobi Desert along the northern Chinese and Mongolian border and in other parts of China's deserts. The prevailing westerly carries the dust to Korea and Japan.
Yellow dust pollution began 22 million years ago during the development of the great Asian deserts, according to the March 2002 issue of Nature.
Senior citizens, children and those suffering from respiratory diseases should stay home, a Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention official said.
''People should keep their windows closed, wear goggles, masks and long-sleeved shirts when going
Signs of Spring
Cherry Blossoms in full bloom! out, and drink plenty of water to help flush out the waste matter in the body,'' the official said.
The haze is generated in the Gobi Desert along the northern Chinese and Mongolian border and in other parts of China's deserts. The prevailing westerly carries the dust to Korea and Japan.
Yellow dust pollution began 22 million years ago during the development of the great Asian deserts, according to the March 2002 issue of Nature.
Senior citizens, children and those suffering from respiratory diseases should stay home, a Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention official said.
''People should keep their windows closed, wear goggles, masks and long-sleeved shirts when going out, and drink plenty of water to help flush out the waste matter in the body,'' the official said.
So I need to get a mask and I guess be on the alert for high yellow dust days. I did venture out on Sunday for a few hours and saw an alarming amount of people wearing masks. My kids sometimes where them to schoo, they actually look pretty adoreable.
This put a damper on Sunday afternoon but it was made up for the
evening. I went over to Jasmine and Adams for a rowdie game of phase 10. Jasmine put Adam and myslef to shame with her glorious win so now I must defend my honor the next time we play.
I find that there are a lot of things about me that have changed both physically and mentally. I have lost about 7lbs since joining the gym. But its not even about that...I feel much stronger and healthier than I have in a long time and it feels great. I am learning a lot about South Korea and I can't wait to get out there and see the rest of this beautiful land. Korea is 70% mountain covered so I will definately be going on a hiking trip in the near future. I think my favorite part of this adventure so far is all the people I have met and the moments we have shared. Its great to find people that you can talk to and can relate to what you are going through with an experience that they have had.
That being said, there are a lot of things that I miss about home although I am having no regrets
In the Aquarium
biggest turtle I have ever seen about this trip, I know that I will come home and be much stronger in body, "seoul" (lol) and mind. Feels great to be doing something that I am passionate about for once and not just doing it because its convenient. Looking forward to what happens next....
Much Love,
Trena xox
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Alissa
non-member comment
Please tell me you didn't......
Hey girl...just wanted to say I'm really enjoyin' your blog....looks like you are having a great time, you better enjoy it.....cause we both know that there's nothin' too cultural about the Camrose experience! Nonetheless I am looking forward to you coming back there, whatever trouble there is we'll find it. I would just like to comment on your newly acquired appetite....did you really eat that larvae?? Please tell me you didn't.....or at least tell me you plugged your nose, closed your eyes and swallowed hard and it went down like candy!! you are one crazy girl...thats why we luv ya! talk to you soon! PS still awaiting pics of your new place!!!