It's been a few weeks since I last posted something - sorry for the delay.
My only real excuse (besides being just too lazy) is that I have been sick for the past 2 weeks with a cold. I am finally starting to get better and hope to be outside this weekend soaking in the Spring sunshine (yep - Spring has arrived!!)

I was in Busan a couple of weeks ago visiting my friend Helen. It was great to be back south again and, although I only stayed for 1 night, we had a lot of fun. It was your typical Busan evening - complete with hours of drinking followed by a morning of regret for drinking so much the night before.

Work has been pretty busy, as we geared up for our Kindergarten graduation and began to say our good byes to a few of our coworkers who have finished their contracts.
Yesterday, we finally had the graduation ceremony and although it was a little sad to say good bye to students (and coworkers) we are looking forward to the new semester.

On March 5th I will start teaching my new class of 7 year olds. There are 7 of them, and they have already been studying English for at least a year (or more).
Until then I will be spending the rest of my week preparing my classroom and lessons for the new semester. Also, tomorrow is another holiday in Korea - which means a day off work!!
So I am sure I will have plenty of new stories to tell over the next few weeks

My social life has been a bit dull over the past few weeks - as a result of my cold - and trying to be good with my money. Hopefully, now that Spring has arrived things will start to improve.
There is talk tonight of an Oscar party - if we can download it in-time. It should be a fun evening (especially since we have tomorrow off work).

I am already looking forward to the summer. Jon and I have begun planning our vacation to the Philippines in July. It will mean another chance to see each other and a chance to explore a new country together. There is a lot to look forward to.

Below are some photos from graduation, and I will try to add a few from around town and a couple photos from my trip to Busan later.


Saturn class reciting our poem "Kindergarten"



Uranus class looking very enthusiastic while singing "It's a Small world"


Neptune Class did a great job singing 'Puff the Magic Dragon"



Jupiter Class getting into "Octopus's Garden"

The Year of the Pig

It's almost another New Year in Korea - this one celebrates the year of the pig.
The year of the pig is an auspicious occasion since (according to my favorite website Wikipedia) it is associated with fertility and virility. To bear children in the year of the pig is considered very fortunate, for they will be happy and honest.

To help kick off the celebrations at school we had a full day of cooking traditional Korean cookies, playing traditional Korean games and practicing the ever-important bow (which the children will perform for their grandparents in hopes of receiving some good ol' hard cash).
The students wore their beautiful Hanboks for the day - each decorated elaborately with elegant designs and ribbons.

As a gift from my boss, I received a giant box of apples - hmmm....I remember the days when we used to receive a bottle of wine - but I can only assume since cold-season has arrived in full force this year, they opted for a healthier option. Still wonderful.
Although I am not sure what I am going to do to eat 25 apples - as I have mentioned before, I don't have an oven. Any ideas for stove-top apple recipes are welcome.

I will be celebrating the New Year beginning over some drinks tonight with friends and then tomorrow I will be catching the bus down south to Busan to spend the weekend with my friend Helen, who will be moving to Poland in a few months.
It's wonderful to live in a country where I get to celebrate New Years twice!!

So Happy New Year to everyone !!!
-especially to Jon's coworkers, who I am told are following my blog religiously - Hilary that means you!!

새해 복 많이 받으세요 ( Sae Hae Bok Man Yi Bat Eu Sae Yo)

Enjoy the pics below

Colleen

Happy Valentines Day

I have realized that for a long time I have been looking for great things to happen in my life that would make me happy, when it turns out very little is needed to make a happy life.

The small things that made me happy today:
* Chocolates and cards from students - like icing on the cake
* emails from family and friends wishing me a Happy Valentines
* a morning phone call from Jon and 4 more throughout the day
* but perhaps the best gift was that he booked another trip to see me for 10 days in May

Things continue to be exceptionally good all around.
Happiness seems an understatement.
The future looks very good.

Happy Valentines Day!

C

Hockey Night in Canada...but in Korea and it was Sunday afternoon

It's been a while, but last Sunday a few of my fellow Canuks joined me in Itaewon for a few good games of hockey and (as usual) beer.

The day started at 10:30am with a bus ride into Seoul where we promptly made it to the pub for 11:30 - which in Korea is almost unheard of as an hour to serve beer - unless you are still drinking from the night before.
Perhaps we weaguks are a bit out of practice when it comes to our national past time, because no one seemed interested in the 3 games that we watched, opting instead for good conversation , a few games of trivial pursuit, poutine and beer.

Since there is no escaping immune-compromising Korea....I have come down with the first cold of the season....so I wasn't in the best form for Sunday's game-day. But after a few Tylenol cold tablets, a short nap in the bar and a few pints of beer, I had been revived.
Unfortunately, as of Monday morning my cold/flu was in full swing and resulted in me literally dragging my sorry self into work.

I am still waiting for my health insurance card, but might have to bite the bullet this morning and go to the doctor today - feels like someone is slicing away at my throat with a cheese grater....I know - nice image eh?
It looks like a day for word searches and quiet book work for the kiddies.

In other news, I am heading south to Busan for the weekend to visit Helen and see a few spots in the 'ol stomping grounds.
It's Lunar New Year, which means I get 3 whole days off work and it's time to get outta town for a couple of days.

I will keep you posted. Enjoy the hockey pics below

Clockwise:
Jill and Tyler get ready for the game

Gina didn't seem to mind that Sue was wearing her Toronto jersey...but the rest of us did.

Justin and Erika smile for the camera.

Thanks to the BC crowd for coming out and to Amanda, who despite possible head trauma still managed to show up (twice)...or maybe that's a result of possible head trauma?