Ski Pro

I finally learned how to ski!

We went yesterday to a place called Vivaldi Ski resort. Or as the Koreans would say it...Bibadi. (I'd really like to know why they would choose a name that requires so many letters that do not exist in the Korean alphabet.) The free shuttle bus picked us up near us at 6:20am, and we were there by 8, where we sipped a latte in the underground shopping mall while waiting for our friends John and Amanda. If I could have injected caffeine directly into my blood stream, I would have, but the latte did what it could to get me out of me 'woke-up-at-5:45am' stuper.

After a good hour or more of battling the Korean panic that always sets in when any crowds or lines materialize (which is ALL the time), we got our gear, our skis, our determination, and we were ready to roll. That is, we were ready to stand in line for 20 minutes for the lift to the bunny slope.

But the lines did not stop our fun. After about two hours of struggling and wedging and reaching my limit of frustration, I finally got it! I was carving like a pro by the end of the day. Unfortunately, my poor legs were a pile of jelly by the afternoon and my good form disappeared the last few runs, but I managed to get a few blues in before the day was out, and more than anything, I had fun! Skiing is way better when you don't totally suck.


Vivaldi was pretty cool. Other than the fact that it blasted K-pop (Korean pop music) from the loud speakers just like the resort we went to at Christmas. I seriously wonder why they think that's a good idea--they completely ruin the serene environment of being out of the city doing 'outdoorsy' stuff with loud, off-tune, aesthetically un-pleasing Korean ballades and poppy dance tunes that sound like a terrible Asian impression of Lady Gaga. Nobody wants to hear that stuff on their way up the ski lift.


But regardless, I would totally go back.

Kevin is 12 Years Old

Ok, so I think it's accurate to say that I'm experiencing a little bit of the "mid-winter" blues. It's cold, it's dreary, and there is a significant lack of color to be seen outside. I'm trying to cope, but life just feels a bit glum these days.

So I'm doing what I can. Yesterday, on my way home from the gym, I stopped at the flower shop around the corner from my building and bought myself flowers. I got 2 white daisies, a big bright orange flower, and a hot pink flower. They seemed like the cheeriest flowers in the shop. I did have a few problems with the shop owner, who could simply NOT comprehend that a person could by flowers for themself. He continued to shove the gift card in my face, and I continued to refuse, and when I said a polite "no thank you" to all the ribbon, he persistently said over and over "plesent! plesent!" and i persistently replied "no present! no present! me home! me home!" He finally gave me the flowers, shaking his head.

I found out today that my all time favorite childhood show "The Wonder Years" is called, here in Korea, "Kevin is 12 Years Old." I had a good laugh at that one. Especially since the show ran for several years, so Kevin, undoubtedly, could not have been 12 years old that entire time. I also found out that the Korean equivalent for the show "Ugly Betty" is called "Ugly Woody." He he.

Brrrrrrr.

I feel like I'm finally starting to get back on top of things in my life. The period after Christmas is over always tends to be a bit of a slump. It's cold, there are no Christmas carols to be heard in the stores, no Christmas gifts to shop for, no Christmas festivals to give you a reason to leave the house on the weekend, it's cold...

Yes, it's VERY cold here lately. Last week Monday, Korea got pounded with snow--the most they've had in a decade! Seems like everywhere in the world is having the most 'something' this winter. Most snow, most snow days, most days so cold you start looking for jobs near the equator...

Things at Feinschule are going well so far. I'm excited for the opportunities this school is bringing me. On February 6 there's a big conference with all 40 of their schools in Korea, where I have to do a big presentation (it's about time I finally cracked into the world of power point) on the drama curriculum that I'm creating. Eeeeek! (But let's be honest--presenting to a group of mostly Koreans with a ranging ability of English really eases the intimidation factor...)

Here's some photos from a couple weekends ago when Ali and I walked on Lake Park. (That's right--on. It should really be called 'Block-of-Ice Park' this winter.)


Ilsan from the park.


























"Quack Quack. We're the only 2 ducks left. Doh."
































The beloved block of ice, which Ali took great pride in finding.















And then proceeded to throw the entire way home until it was not so much a block, but rather a tiny chip of ice.

Feinschule is a Fine Schooluh

I have survived week one at my new school. (Well, almost survived...still gotta get through today!) The week started out rough, but it’s gotten better and better each day. Monday morning, I came in and literally stood in the corner for about an hour b/c nobody told me where to go or what to do. Everyone just sort of stared like I was a blonde alien. A really inconvenient blonde alien. But things are looking up, and I’m starting to get in the swing of things.

So my new school is called Feinschule English Institute. It’s the head office of a franchise of about 40 schools around Korea, so this particular branch is both the school and the publishing company, where they make a distribute their books to the other schools. It actually turned out that while I was on vacation, this school talked to the boss of my old school and somehow it was arranged that all of the kids from my old school would follow me here. As well as my favorite Korean teacher, Amy. So it’s been an adjustment for everyone trying to squeeze our kids in with theirs, and adjusting the schedule accordingly. But I think everyone’s getting used to it! I love having my kids and Amy with me! (But Amy’s not staying. Can’t win ‘em all I guess…)

My current role at the school is preparing curriculum for the start of the new school year, which is March 4. I’m going to be the music and drama teacher, so I’m getting my yearly plan for music class together. And more importantly (and much more time consuming), I have to create a drama curriculum for Feinschule, which I have to present at their conference with all the schools on February 6, and which will be used by all the schools. I need to make 4 different levels, with 6 dramas each, which, if you do the math, is 24 dramas. Eeek! And each drama requires 3 books—the play/story book, the activity book, and the teacher’s guide. And each drama needs to last 8 weeks. Fortunately, I only need to have a couple done by February 6! I don’t really know where to start, and I’m not really getting much guidance. But so it goes in Korea!

Everyone here seems pretty cool. There’s another foreign teacher from Arkansas, and one Korean-Canadian who works mostly with the curriculum. And the Koreans have been really great so far. I’m just glad to have my first week down. Only 51 to go! (Not thinking about that, not thinking about that….)

So, in other news, I went to see Muse last night!!!! It was so good to see a live show. Nobody comes to Korea, they just skip right on over to Japan. I would like to write a letter to all cool bands out there, that goes something like this:

Dear _______________ (insert cool band name),

Please come to Korea. It’s really not so bad. The galby is delicious.

Love, Teacher in Korea who misses good music

Maybe I would elaborate a little. But anyway, Muse was awesome. If I were a rock ‘n roll star, I would like to be the female version of Matt Belamy. I would totally rock out the piano like he does.

Happy Friday everyone!

Taebaek Ski Trip

So here's some shots from our ski trip! Other than the fact that I thought I could hit the second hardest slope after three runs on the bunny and ended up riding the whole thing down on my bum, getting a huge bruise on the my right butt cheek, and crying mid-way down the mountain, I had a great time! For the whole album of my holidays, click here.


All bundled up and ready to ski!












Drinkin a brewsky after a day on the slopes.













Where we stayed: the O2 Resort.














At the bottom of the slopes.













Look at me zoom down the mountain!

















Ali getting the feel of things...

















At the top of the mountain.













The view, about ready to ski down to the bottom...











Taking a break...

















The balcony on our condo.














The view from the condo.


























Happy New Year!!!