Sticker Charts

So if you didn't already know that I'm an elementary school teacher through and through... I started a sticker chart. Yes, like the ones you see in Kindergarten classrooms. They are also popular for potty training small children. My roommate, Andrea, and I are using a sticker chart on a daily basis now. 

It all started when Andrea was telling me about how she wanted to change her routine so she can be a more productive person. But I heard that she was starting a sticker chart. So I immediately became as excited as a puppy and freaked out, 

"OH MY GOSH YES!!! WE CAN HAVE A STICKER CHART! YOU'RE GENIUS!!!" 

Andrea became very confused at my mention of a sticker chart, because she actually said nothing about a sticker chart. However, one of my favorite things about Andrea is that she goes along with some of my weird ideas and gets just as excited about them as I do. So we have sticker charts. 

Each of us chose 7 things we wanted to do more of, to make into habits and all that jazz. Then if we do that thing, we get a sticker for that day. Each sticker equals a point, and we have a small point system set up for us. It works beautifully for us, even if we are adults. This just supports my theory that adults aren't really that much different from children. 

We have been told by our friends a couple of things regarding the sticker chart. One being that if anyone else tried it, it would not work as well. That our personalities and everything are just right for this to work. Also, we've been told that we cannot pronounce sticker chart like an adult, we are required to call it a "Stickoh chwart" (just imagine a two year old pronouncing it). 

And that, my friends, is how I've been a more productive member of society this past week. My mom would be proud at the amount of dishes/cleaning/etc I've done this week. She would also probably make a comment about why I didn't do that when I was a kid, to which I say: Some lessons just take longer to learn than others, and also sticker charts work. 

1st Year of Teaching Reflection

When teaching English in South Korea, especially in public schools, you hear the phrase "desk warming" a lot. Desk warming is a week, or sometimes weeks, where there are no students and therefore no classes. There may or may not even be anyone in the school. I find though, that desk warming has some value to it. I personally have done a lot of things in just 3 days. The reason I'm here today though is to reflect.

I graduated with a B.S of Elementary Education. During classes we were constantly taught to after a lesson reflect on what happened, what was good, what was bad, what worked, what should you change. So I would like to reflect on my first year of officially teaching.

I say officially because this is my first year teaching elementary aged students in a classroom as the official teacher. I've actually been teaching since I was in elementary school. I was that kid that set up all of their stuffed animals in a row and taught them from my old school workbooks and things. Sometimes I even made my younger sister sit there and listen to me teach. I even sometimes made my sisters friends join her in my lessons. Looking back now, I'm sure it was annoying, but whatever. I've also taught preschool for a few years and I've been voluntarily working with children in my previous churches and things for years. I've worked a few different summer camps and things as well.

Then in University we have to make all of these lesson plans with our future classes in our heads. For years, you look forward to this future class, they are officially your class. Never did I imagine my class would be teaching English in South Korea, however, I couldn't have picked something better.

I started off last year feeling slightly lost and clueless. I was trying to figure out how to do simple things like buy groceries, use the stove, or find the grocery store. Everything was brand new, ultra confusing, and very exciting! In school, I was teaching all of the 3rd and 4th grade classes and 2 5th grade classes and 2 6th grade classes. There was a huge language barrier with the younger grades, but they were cute. 6th graders were especially helpful as they would occasionally teach me how to say things properly. I'm pretty sure we spent the beginning of class for a good 4 classes trying to teach me how to pronounce the name of our local lake correctly. I also learned how to use English in a more understandable way for my students. Overall I feel like the first semester was trying to find my own footing and rhythm.

Starting second semester I taught only 5th and 6th grade which was perhaps the most fun thing on the planet. At the very least they found me amusing and fun. Which works for me because obviously my purpose was to brainwash them into thinking English was fun. We shared stories and danced a lot. I've got a lot of stories, but they won't translate very well without acting it out. Second semester I felt more secure in my everyday life. As in, I know where the grocery store is now, and I know how to ask for honey and oyster sauce but that's another story. As a result, my teaching became more like me and therefore better.

Then February comes and my 6th graders graduate. If I'm honest, I'm both really proud and really sad. This is the end of my first group of students. My first class that I have thought so much about for years. Maybe that's why I'm sad to see them go. I'll miss our secret high fives and weird class jokes. However, I love my students, all of them; and as a teacher I want to see them become smart, kind, and really cool people. So I proudly say "BYE!!! GOODLUCK!!" as they go to middle school, even though I want to say "hey, just stay in 6th grade forever and I'll just keep teaching you English." I did make them promise to say hello if they ever come back to visit here next year.

I'm also really excited about the new school year and the new students I'll meet. 3rd graders are going to be freaking adorable. Also, I'm planning a lesson that involves the "chika chicka slim shady" song.

So in my reflection I think I've decided that I'm really good at getting students to feel comfortable using English, and I'll continue to try and find new and interesting ways to teach students.

Sorry this one is a little boring... but it's an update. :)

NOT New Year's Resolutions

Growing up I always made New Year's Resolutions every New Year. The thing is that I decided my resolution minutes or even seconds before the New Year, therefore they didn't really hold any weight. They were just a cool thing to do. I don't remember any of them, except one. One year, my New Year's resolution was to not make New Year's resolutions, and I've kept that one. However, I do feel like it is a good thing to every once in awhile take a look at where you've been and ways you can reflect and better yourself. So now that it is February I have a few things I've thought about and want to incorporate into my lifestyle. Call them New Year's Resolutions if you want. I'm stubborn enough to keep to my last official New Year's resolution that I'm refusing to call them that. Anyways here is my list of things I want to do this year in no particular order.

1. Bake

I want to challenge myself to make more. I'm not bad, I make stuff that I'm proud to bring to gatherings of people; but living in Asia makes some things that I'm used to finding easily a little bit harder, or just really expensive. Therefore, I want to challenge myself to learn to make those things myself. Think old days. 

2. Read more, write more, create more. 

Basically develop an artsy side to myself. I've gotten out of the habit of reading books and gotten into the habit of watching tv, this year I'll find a nice balance. Also, in about a month I'll be moving to a new place with a new roommate who is a real life artist with a real art degree and has all the know how, I will take advantage of this opportunity. Also, I'll write more on here, because that is also a type of art and expression, and well, because I want to. 

3. Study Korean and Afrikaans

In America there tends to be a philosophy of *cue manly AMURICAH voice* "If you're livin' in this country you should speak English." So, since I'm living in Korea, I should learn Korean. That's a no-brainer. As for Afrikaans, my future roommate is from South Africa and is Afrikaans, so why not? Plus we kind of want to use it to talk without people knowing what we're talking about (other than other Afrikaans speakers, obviously). 

4. Develop a healthy lifestyle

You know eat the right food and exercise and all that fun stuff... it is a bit self explanatory. 

5. Travel and Explore More

The World is so big, I feel the need to see as much as possible! Also, I want to know my area of the world a little more. Everyday is a bit of an adventure, and I like it that way. 

6. Focus More on Putting Others First

I can be a bit selfish sometimes, I want to focus on not being selfish. 

So anyways, I'll try and keep this blog updated this year on how my Not New Year's Resolution's work out. 

Teacher's Day Green Tea Farm

In Korea, during the month of May, there are a lot of celebrations for people.  There is Children's Day, Parent's Day, and even Teacher's Day.

On Children's Day, parents honor their children usually with a present of some sort, kinda like Christmas.  In one of my sixth grade classes, we asked the students what they hoped to get, my favorite answer came from a boy who always sits in the left corner, who said "My parent's love is all I need."

Parent's Day is kinda like Mother's Day and Father's Day all in one.

Teacher's Day is kinda the same.  Most teacher's get the day off, so there is no school.  So I had a cool opportunity to go out to a tea farm and make my own green tea from the very beginning.  We (Beatrice, Kjirsten, Jiwon, and I)  got in a car to Iksan, a town close to Gunsan, where I live.  It was gorgeous there.

First we donned our lovely hats and then we went out to pick the tea leaves off the plants.

Kjirsten

Beatrice

Next we had to go inside and heat the leaves and mush them and pick out the stems. Except, there was no more gas... so we ended up eating lunch and going on a mini hike to see more of the tea fields.  It was actually quite beautiful.   

This sign is funny... The bathroom is only 150m to the left. ㅋㅋㅋ but it looks so picturesque. 

White tea farm. 

Finally, the gas came in and it was back to making the green tea.  We had to mush it and heat it and pick it apart and repeat 3 or 4 times.  It was tiring but fun.  

We actually, had to leave early, so I still don't have my tea... but it's all good.  I was exhausted so I went home and napped real hard.  Then for dinner Kjirsten and I ate bingsu which is pretty much one of the best desserts you will ever eat.

Adventure Korea - Seoraksan Buddha's Birthday Trip.

Catch up post #1.

Once again, I'm terrible at maintaining a blog.  So I thought maybe this week I could just make a blog post every couple of days that are a little bit shorter.  Probably heavily loaded with pictures that I've already posted to facebook.  Hahaha.

Anyways, this happened back in May.  Being in Asia, Buddha is a lot bigger of a deal than back home.  So, we got a long weekend.  During this weekend my best friend in all of Asia, Andrea, and I decided to go on a trip.  We ended up bringing along Mieke, Andrea's friend from her home back in South Africa.  Mieke is a real trouper.  She came on this trip with us maybe 2 days after she landed in Korea.  That's what I call adventure!

We went with a group here in Korea called Adventure Korea which is a really cool organization that plans trips for you and all you have to do is pay and show up ready to go.  The people are super nice and friendly too.

Anyways, we left for Seoul that Friday night and stayed in a hostel.  We ended up being placed in a room with some other girls going on the trip.  Side note: reason I love hostels is meeting random people you've never met before in your life and ending up sharing a room with them.  Well, a room and stories.  I love getting to know why people do what they do.  Call it weird. It's what I do.  I love talking to people about their lives and what they do.

The next morning we get up really early and get ready for the day.  Most of which was spent on a bus heading into Gangwon-do.  The first day we climb to the top of one of Korea's highest mountains.  It took a few hours and was totally exhausting.  The view at the top was beautiful, and totally worth feeling like total death while climbing what felt like a million stairs.

Before the hike

Our whole Adventure Korea group. 

At the bottom there is a huge Buddha guy.  

Half way up! 

Look at those stairs... 

Seriously endless stairs... 

View from the top - that's the East Sea

Another view from the top

Proof shot! We made it!! Also, it was super windy. 

A Temple place at the bottom of the mountain. 

I also love the hike back down.  I get a boost of energy at the top so I feel like I can practically fly down the mountain. Also... gravity helps you out going down.

One funny thing happened.  Not surprisingly, I fell.  Let me set the scene for you.

I'm on the way back down the mountain hopping from rock to rock on the path.  Things are no longer super vertical, but more horizontal.  We are almost at the very end.  It was cold at the top, but now warmer, so I have removed my jacket and tied it around my waist.  Then it happens, my feet betray me and slip out from under me.  There are a lot of Koreans around who have all turned to look at me with gasps.  I think to myself: it's okay, you can play this cool.  Just quickly get back up and go on like nothing happened. So I get up like nothing's wrong, and my feet betray me again, this time they step on the jacket that has been tied around my waist and I fall again.  I think: just get up and run away now, there is no smooth move anymore. So I literally jump up, my hand bleeding, say "I'm okay" and run away.  I still have a slight scar on my hand.

That night we eat dinner and turn in for bed fairly early.  The next morning we get up.  That day we go to a place to zipline on the beach.  It wasn't anything like what I had expected.  It wasn't scary in the slightest... but then again, after you've been skydiving, what is? I even used to be scared of roller coasters, but I got on one just last week and wasn't even a tiny bit nervous until we started going.  Then we had a whole day just to chill at this beautiful beach.  I got to dip my toes in the East Sea, which was actually really cold.  We even went on a little boat ride.

with Mieke after ziplining

At the beach

With beautiful Mieke at the beach

That Sunday was the last day, we went another hike up a beautiful mountain.

Just one shot from Sunday's hike. 

Some things I've noticed about Koreans and hiking.  First, they love it. Second, they are really good at it.  I'm not kidding when I say there are little old ladies out there (we call them Ajummahs here) that can out hike me and probably you... all while drinking 막걸리 (rice wine) and eating 김밥 (kimbap).  Seriously, I wish I can be that cool when I get old.  

Then, after lunch, we got on our bus and had a long bus ride back.  Seriously, traffic was rotten.  We almost missed our bus, but as always people are super helpful.  Some friends we made on the bus let us know that we could switch to the next bus.  We ended up having one of those moments where you run through a busy place to catch your bus/plane whatever in order to make it.  Luckily we made it just in time.  Yay us!! 

We then went home and slept... a lot.  

As a bonus... One of my absolute favorite things is finding English written on things soo... here is some English.. please tell me what this mean

So Many Things In So Little Time!

Don't say I didn't warn you guys that I was horrible at this whole blogging thing!

I guess I should fill you in on the past 2 months.  It is crazy for me to think that it has been two months.  Time seems to be moving by much more quickly here than it did back home.  I decided that is because I have done so much more with my time here than I would have back home.  Even little things, like going to Lotte Mart (think department store plus grocery store) to get a kettle turns into an adventure.

So today I thought that I could do a quick overview of some of the things I've done in my time spent here so far.  Hopefully it won't get too lengthy...

As a quick side note: most of you are friends on facebook... but if you want more day to day type things I tend to post more on twitter and instagram, so follow me there if you want more random day to day type updates.

Okay... here are 3 big adventures that I've done:

1. First trip to Seoul

In March I took my first trip to Seoul with a new friend I made (Hey Wendy!).  She wanted to go for her birthday, so we took a day trip there.  We got on the bus that morning and it took about 2 1/2 hours to get there, which in my opinion, isn't too shabby! There we met up with another friend (Hey Emily!).  They introduced me to the glorious wonder that is Kyobo and their fantastic English book section! YAY BOOKS!

Most of our day was spent at one of the old palaces.  Changdeokgung, and it's hidden back garden.  It was really cool, but would have been a billion times prettier if we went in spring.

Then we went to Insadong, which, as I was told, is the traditional arts market area of Seoul.  You could find some really cool things there, like traditional looking fans and masks.  We also went into this super cool tea shop.

Then we went to Myeongdong, which is shopping galore.  The street was covered with people selling things in their booths.  This is when my love for socks started.  Whoa, all of the adorable socks.  I may or may not have bought like 15 pairs of socks that day, but don't worry, not all are for me.  In addition, I haven't worn a pair of socks from home since that day.

Emily and Wendy 

Palace! 

Taking a break! 

Palace! 

2. EPIK Orientation

The end of March I went to Seoul for the EPIK orientation.  EPIK is English Program in Korea, for those that don't know, and it's the program I went through to get here.  We, meaning me and a ton of other English teachers, spent a week there taking workshops and classes to make us better teachers.  We even took a Taekwondo class, and I broke a board with my bare hand on the first try! We also went to a really cool traditional type musical. I met so many people from so many places! It was so interesting to see how the same language can be vastly different from one person to the other! It was pretty much like heaven to my social butterfly self.  At the end I even gave a speech, so that was pretty cool.

Taekwondo Class

Taekwondo Class

During our night out to see Miso! 

Our Korean class! 

Me giving a thank you speech.

Just Garfield outside a makeup store...

3. Seoul/Korvia Party

At the beginning of April I went back to Seoul with Andrea (a friend I made at the orientation) and we met Emily there.  That Saturday we went to Yeouido Park in Seoul to see pretty things.  We also went to Hongdae and checked it out.  We went to the Coffee Prince coffee shop there and to the Hongdae local market.  Then we went to Itaewon where that night we went to the Korvia party and again met a bunch of English teachers there.  I absolutely LOVE meeting new people.  Its a personal favorite of mine.  

Korvia is the consulting company that I went through to get here.  They are the best in every way possible! They have been so incredibly helpful and supportive every step of the way and if I had to go back and do it all over again, I would go through Korvia again.  The best.  One hundred percent.

Those are just some highlights of the big things I've done.  Now I'll do a list of the smaller things that I've done.  In my opinion, the smaller things have been what has added up and made everything so much more exciting.  I mean it when I say that everyday is a new adventure.  I'm in a totally new country, with a totally different language, in a totally different culture.  So these are some of my favorite things that have happened in my day to day adventures.

At the park

At the park

At the park

Street food is amazingly delicious! 

1.  Singing in the Shoe Store

One night I went to a local shoe store to buy a pair of black flats.  The guy that was in the store was really helpful.  There was also loud music playing in the store.  Then the next thing I know "Love is an Open Door" from Frozen comes on.  Now, everyone else seems to be over the whole Frozen thing, but I still love the soundtrack.  So, I start singing along, and he starts singing along, and the next thing you know we are having a sing along to Frozen while he helps me find a pair of black flats.  It was one of the greatest moments of my life.

2. Taxi Drivers

Before I got to Korea, I had never been in a taxi before, but taking a taxi is fun! Now, I don't have stories that I have heard other people having.  In general taxi's seem to have an "I do what I want cause I'm a taxi" kind of feel, but clinging for dear life while trying to talk to a driver in Korean about how you like the tulips in the road or where you are from just has a sense of fun and adventure to it.  Not to mention, sometimes they are really funny.  One taxi driver, driving a pink taxi, told us that he was the best taxi driver and best gagman in Korea; he then proceeded to turn up his jamming jazz music and rock out to it.  It was the best.

3. English Practice

It seems that because I am foreign here, there are some Koreans that are brave enough to strike up a conversation in English.  I love it.  I love talking to and meeting new people. I love hearing about what people are doing and where they come from.  And I am more than happy to spend 30 minutes on a subway talking to you in English so you have a chance to actually speak it.  It's one of my favorite things.

4. Communication

It is amazing how much you can communicate without knowing the language.  For example, almost every time I walk into Lotte Mart.  Once using cellphones and gestures I managed to figure out how to set up wifi in my apartment.  I also was taught how to make a little rice dish thing.  I love it.  It's fascinating.

5. My Students

Seriously, I love my students.  They are so much fun.  I have students from Preschool through 6th grade.  I love playing games with them and watching them learn English.  For example, in third grade one day they learned the expression "What's this?" and after that all they wanted to do was ask "TEACHER! what's this?" I love it.  They love it.  It's just fun all around.

6. The People

I've made some really awesome friends here! Seriously, I laugh all the time!

Overall, I'd have to say this has been one of the greatest things of my life so far.  It's only been two months, but I love it.

Anyways, hope you guys have a great day wherever you are.  I'll update again whenever it happens. Maybe next week since I'm making a weekend trip to Daegu... or not... we'll see... Hahaha.