A Reminder

I found a ripped out page from my notebook of lesson planning, and it was a journal post entry from way back when I was found out I was offered a teaching position by EPIK.

On my blog here, I enjoy writing about things that bring me happiness - having fun with my friends, when my students do well in certain activities. I don't like to post complaints about grievances in my life - being bored, frustrated, or annoyed when things don't go according to plan. I know it's normal, but my journal entry from a year and a half ago reminds me to be grateful for all my life experiences here. I'm not sure if I became a better person, but I definitely became a smarter one. I regret nothing.
Here goes:

Dec.23rd, 2014                           Sometime after 11 pm...

Two emails sent almost simultaneously from EPIK coordinator alerted me to awesome news, and just in time for Christmas too: I'm hired for a one-year contract with the Public Office of Education in Busan! Woohoo!

I know everyone's first choice is Seoul; mine was too, but apparently Busan is also a hot commodity, according to Telitha. Thank God I wasn't banished to some remote agricultural/mining/fishing village. I would still have went, but with a fraction of my enthusiasm now.

Salary-wise, it's not amazing or impressive, just ~$2000 a month. My goal is to save around ~$1000 per month. 

I wonder what I'm going to do for mother's day, Purp's graduation, and mom's birthday. I may have to navigate through the mailing system in Korea to send stuff back home. Other than that, I'm so excited!!!!

Michael and Linero's Super Chill Birthday

Man, we're so active and athletic. Even for birthday parties, the sports don't stop.

The crew had an early birthday dinner at a Japanese restaurant before we all rendezvous-ed at Tatsuya, level 9 of the infamous Judie's building in Seomyeon. We had snack foods and drinks over stimulating conversation prompts such as: Would you rather go out with a girl with super uneven teeth or crossed eyes? Indeed, we are mature adults.

After birthday cake, we got some tiramisu cups at Kiss The Tiramisu. Then we went to the arcade to shoot baskets, and ride the disco pang pang. Some people said sayonara and peaced out, while the rest of us decided to go bowling, and make it a competition.

It was fun and super chill; H-A-P-P-Y-B-I-R-T-H-D-A-Y gentlemen. You guys make an adorable couple.  <3333

Welcome to Spy Camp

I was determined to make summer English camp even better than last year, so I decided to do a spy/secret agent/detective theme. It took way more work than I expected, and I had to work overtime in order to prepare perfect days of camp for the students, but it was worth it. This year's camp definitely topped last year's Around The World theme.

Day 1

Take a spy aptitude quiz

Create spy ID's

Learn how to describe people's appearances and facial features.

Clothes Pin Tag with vocab words.

Make WANTED posters of themselves.

Song Lyrics Fill-in: Secret Agent Man

Tea-Making

Stain spy envelopes with tea bags

Watch 30 mins of Johnny English

Day 2

Review vocab

Senses Mission (Vision, Hearing, Smell)

Passcode Mission (Decode four codes to find the password), and make their own

Learn vocab: A good spy has/follows...

Sock skating game with new vocab

Logo Design: Suan Spy Academy

Song Lyric Fill-in: Man For All Seasons

Day 3

Scavenger Hunt for spy items

Food word-search and shopping list worksheets

3 Recipes: Double Cheese Sandwich, Double Berry Sandwich, Banana Vanilla Milkshake

Mr. Bean mask and class picture

Song Lyric Fill-in: Die Another Day

Day 4

James Bond presentation

Spy fashion design

Class Olympics game: Carry Me, Hammers Rock Papers Scissors, Arm Wrestle, Darts, Chopsticks Game

Song Lyrics Fill-In: Every time We Touch

Egg Mission (2 teams)

Day 5

Egg Drop Mission

Categories Game

Song Lyrics Fill-in: Every Breath You Take

Finish movie: Johnny English

Candy Pong game

Organize folders, surveys, certificates

clean-up, wrap-up, good-byes

Ahhh... two weeks of hectic planning and it's all over. The best part is going to lunch, and knowing that I'm going to a birthday party later to celebrate with my friends.

What's In My Backpack

I've been watching too many videos of what highschool students and university students in Japan and Korea have in their bag or backpack. 

Even though  I'm no longer a student, I do want to get one of those quintessential Korean square backpacks eventually, either before I leave or when my current bag breaks. For now, I'm still using my black and brown suede Herschel.

First, my duck thermos. Its sassy and fabulous.

My coffee mug with an non-inspirational inspirational French quote. I bought it for the straw, because it's metal and reusable, and so that my teeth won't be stained by coffee.

My metallic purple pencil case with my most daily essentials inside: USB, band aids, and touch up makeup items.

My awesome blue silicone Doraemon pouch wallet from Japan. Its oversized and adorable. I only use it for my bills so to keep the inside clean and blue.

My fobby super girly coin purse.

A trip of lip products: unscented colourless aloe vera and jojoba oil chaptick, tinted lip balm, current lip colour.

Current lip colour: CLIO Virgin Kiss Tension Lip in Butter Kiss

Some snacks: dried blueberries, bananas, macadamia nuts.