Settling In

It has been about a month now since I've been in Korea and I think I'm settling in pretty well. I'm starting to feel at home here besides the fact that I can't speak any Korean. Work is starting to get tiring with the students becoming rowdier because they're getting more comfortable. I forgot just how hard it is to work with fifth graders. My younger students are adorable though. One of them holds my hands all the time, it's so cute. The weather is still chilly as ever, I can't wait until it gets warmer. I have all next week off for winter vacation! I'm hoping to do some cool things so I can post. Today I went to Namsan to the Seoul Tower but forgot my camera. It was an awesome place to be at and decorated nicely for the holidays.

Secret Santa at work. =)

One of my co-workers (below) who I have gotten really close with gave me all this! It was just what I needed, a new dining set, candles, chopsticks, tupperware, and of course a nice warm scarf.

A coffee shop that had individual booths with sliding doors for privacy. I really liked it, but it was decked out in girly stuff and all pink and white. Definitely nauseating to a guy, but apparently it's where all the couples go. The emphasis on couples stuff here is ridiculous. The whole culture is sooooo into the cute coupley things.

Cute drawing at the table.

A view of the door and the outside of the booths.

The booth we were out facing the window.

My dearest co-worker Michelle who left today back to the states. She has been such a great friend since I got here. She showed me around, helped me get settled in, and hung out with me. I'm very thankful I got to know her more, she is such an awesome gal. We're both from California!

The cake Helen and Lily (former co-workers) got her for her going away. It was such a sentimental moment. The cake was beautiful too.

Some of my students come early to class so I let them draw on the board. This student of mines is so adorable, I always smile when she's around. She drew a mouse bride with no groom. It was a funny moment.

A picture another student of mines drew. It is so bizarre to me that as young as they are they're already into all that cutesy stuff, such as this winking eye deal. Haha.

A glimpse of the area I live in. I was at a wedding hall on the twelfth floor looking out.

There are plenty of buildings and cars which makes it look like SF!

For my mother who keeps asking if there are cars on the streets. Yes there is and plenty of them too.

Weddings here are so interesting. The norm is for a wedding party to go to a wedding hall, have the ceremony, and then go eat at a communal dining area with other wedding parties. These ceremonies only last an hour at a time. It's like a cycle and in one day there can be about eleven weddings in one wedding hall. It's so crazy. Also, as you can see the wedding halls are pretty open so anyone can watch. I didn't even know this couple and I got to experience their wedding. It was pretty entertaining.

Ah the closest I've gotten to true American food. Actually it is, with all the right flavors. My friend Jin was nice enough to cook this for me. Hearty spaghetti and bread crusted chicken (it was a little burnt but still delicious). It reminded me of home and was a nice meal, so yummy!

Interesting 'Italian' dish at a restaurant. It was rice, kim chi, cheese, and seafood. It was good, but still does not beat my clay pot bi bim bap.

I finally had the Jajjangmyeon (Chinese Noodles with bean sauce). It was not bad, I like how it was soaked in sauce and it wasn't too salty.

OMG! An atrocity to the Vietnamese language. How can you mix up Phở (Vietnamese Noodles) with Phố (Alleyway)?! I actually found a Phở restaurant today in Myeong Dong, planning to go back and try it out. I just have a feeling I'm going to be disappointed. Haha, I should just make it myself.