Screen English

Every three months as the middle school students are forced to study ridiculous amounts (I’ll write another blog on that soon), I have the fantastic opportunity to teach different and unique classes with my elementary students.  Many of these classes I have disliked, however this month I have had the fantastic opportunity to teach Screen English.  And I use the term “teach” incredibly loosely. 

Basically for seventy minutes, twice a week, for four weeks, I have around twelve students (4th-6th grade) and we watch a different American movie each week. We usually watch around 50 minutes of the video a day so one easily stretches out for both class periods. Their comprehension levels vary greatly so I tried to get movies that would appeal to all levels.

The first week I tried to be creative and get one of those terribly annoying children’s movies that they would love. Judy Moody and the Not So Bummer Summer. 

Cupcake Class!!!

Most everyone that know me knows that I have a love affair with cupcakes.  This weekend (in Korea!!!) my friends and I took a cupcake class where we learned how to decorate cupcakes. It was awesome kinds of fun! 

We took the class in Eunhang-dong (은행동), where it is part of the Sung Sim Dang bakery and The Flying Pan restaurant. For those in Daejeon wanting to do this, it was held at The Oven Story which is on the third floor of The Flying Pan.

 

Never a dull moment…

I regularly seem to forget the most important advice I give to all newbies in Korea.  The moment you get homesick, anxious, depressed or just plain bored… go outside.  Funny things happen when you go outside.

Tonight Lee Ann and I met for dinner after work at our favorite bbq place, LA Galbi.  My best Korean friend, Chang Lee, greeted us at the door (as he always does) and led us to our seats.  After taking our order he asks if we would like Cola (Coke/Pepsi) or Cider (Sprite). (He always gives me free drinks. He’s a good friend.)  We tell him we would like 2 colas and he seems completely shocked. 

“2?“

“Yes, 2. “

“2? Not 1?”

“Yes.  Du-gae. 2. “

“Wow.”  Hahaha. and he giggled as he walked off.

Me & My Cow

One of the biggest highlights of my trip home…

She’s was so sweet!  I wanted to take her home. The lopsided white one could have come home with me, too. 

Lessons for 2012

Hello.  I’ve made a habit of writing down my lessons learned at the end of each year but truly this year, I don’t think I have any.  Of course there have been little things along the way, but nothing blog worthy. 2011 was a pretty enjoyable year for me.  I have absolutely no complaints.  (I figure after surviving 2009 and 2010 with as much grace as I could possibly muster, Karma owed me a good one.)

Back in Korea Update

I've been ordered to blog.  Apparently, I've been slacking.  My apologies.

In chronological order....

1.  I had the most amazing trip home.  Words cannot even begin to describe it.  I've never been so at peace in St Louis in my 30 years of life.  It was simply perfect. I had two weeks with family there and of course, that still didn't seem like enough.  I could have happily stayed a month.  Other than celebrating Christmas a few weeks early and meeting my nephew for the first time, nothing really of merit happened.  I was just able to enjoy the relaxed company of family, slept, and ate (a lot).  It was bliss.  I love my family.