Graduation

Last week was Kinder Graduation at school. It was a little crazy the days leading up to it with all the practicing but, it went very well. I will miss my classes and get a new Kinder class on Tuesday. I am off today (Monday) for Independence Movement Day. It is so nice to have a three day weekend after a crazy week. I am enjoying my day off because I know with the start of the new semester things will be hectic for a while.
Tomorrow I start teaching all new classes. I have 12 children in my kinder class. My afternoon classes will be 1st, 2nd, and 4th grades. I should have some of my old students which will be nice to know a few kids in each class.
Things have been very busy the last few weeks. Three new teachers came last week and they will start teaching their classes when the new semester starts this week. It seems like only yesterday I was the new teacher! Time really does go by fast!
The weather is also starting to get nicer and spring is just around the corner. This weekend was great with temperatures in the 50s and the sun out. I am excited for things to be green again. Seoul has a ton of palaces and gardens that are supposed to be beautiful in the springtime.
I will update everyone soon with how the new semester goes. I know one thing is for sure....I will be busy for the next few weeks.

Here are pictures from Seoul last weekend with my friend Gena, the graduation, and a few of my elementary classes.
Take care and talk to you soon!

Happy Lunar New Year!

This past weekend was Lunar New Year in Korea. I am off work today (Monday) for the holiday. On Friday at school we had games and activities for the kids. All the children came to school dressed up in their hanboks, which are traditional Korean clothes. The girls wore dresses and the boys wore pants and a shirt. All the kids were adorable! It was a fun morning of playing traditional Korean games.

The new semester is coming up soon! I will have all new classes and we are getting three new teachers so things will be a little different but, I think the change of pace will be good for everyone.

Last week I also past my four month mark of being in Korea! I can't believe I have been here that long...it doesn't feel like it at all. I know I always say time goes by fast but it really does. At school I am always so busy the days seem to run together.

I am enjoying my three day weekend and I think all the teachers needed a little break too. I was able to go into Seoul to meet up with my friend Tonya who is also teaching at Poly in another city. It was the first time I have seen her here. It was nice to see a familiar face and hear about her experience.

Hope all is well back home and talk to everyone soon!

Golden Birthday

On January 23rd I celebrated my golden birthday in Korea. I went out with teachers from work on Friday and on Saturday I met my friend Emily in Seoul for a day of shopping. It was a great birthday but, it really didn't feel like it at all!
My parents sent me a package with delicious Cose Dolci cookies from back home. I always love to get those!

Things with work are flying by. The end of February is kindergarten graduation which we are starting to prepare for. All the kinder students will sing a song then each class with perform a little act. My students are saying what their favorite subject was at Poly.

We are also starting the new semester in March so things are going to be a little crazy with new students, teachers, and the change of schedule. I don't know yet what classes I will be teaching but, hopefully we find out soon.

I have been keeping myself busy on the weekends too. This past weekend I went with a few other teachers to Insadong. It is the traditional Korean area in Seoul. It is a long street with traditional food and goods. I bought a hand painted fan with the Korean national flower on it.

I can't believe it is February already! Things are going very well and time is flying by! Hope all is well back home!