Don't go!

One of my favorite kids left on Friday. His family is moving to a different area so he is changing schools. He has been in Kiwi class for 11 months now, so the rest of the kids were pretty devastated to see him go. I asked when I got in the classroom, "Kipper, how are you today?" and his reply was "Teacher, I am extremely sad today because no more school and I move away on Sunday." The rest of the kids started yelling "noooooo!" and "don't go, don't leave!" It was so sad. Before he got on his bus I made sure to find him in the crowd of students anxiously waiting to go home and I told him what a great kid he was and how much I am going to miss him. He almost cried. It's too bad one of my more annoying/bad students couldn't have moved away instead...

This really made me realize that I'm going to have to say goodbye to all of my students very soon. I only have 23 school days left. Time really has flown by.

Teacher, tea is delicious?

On Thursday my students had to partake in a Korean etiquette lesson. They all came to school in hanbok, which is traditional clothing usually worn on special occasions and holidays. The hanbok was so beautiful with its silky material and bright colors. The four 6-year old classes sat on the floor, together, in a circle and learned how to properly bow, pour and drink tea. Most of the students took the lesson very seriously, sitting with perfectly straight posture and sipping their tea ever-so elegantly. It was amazing to watch. Children in America could never be so dignified. You can hardly get older children to drink tea, let alone 6 year olds. And bowing to your elders and family? Never. It was amazing to see such culture beaming out of such small people.

Kiwi.

Apple.

How are you today?

Hair accessories.

사랑해^^ <3

Bowing practice

Boys.

Waiting to pour tea.

^^

Yum?

7 weeks!

7 weeks left in Korea!

Hungry?

My recent trip to Thailand exceeded all of my expectations. Great people, parties, beaches, culture, shopping and of course, great food. Thai food has always been my favorite, and I couldn't wait for the day to actually have the pleasure of eating authentic Thai food in Thailand. I usually will eat anything and am open to try new things but I have to admit- on this trip, I stuck to the basics. I just couldn't get enough of my favorite pad Thai, spicy curries and tom yum goong soup. How can you blame me?

Here's some Thai food porn from the trip: drool and enjoy!

Pad Thai from an outdoor food market in Bangkok- with tiny dried shrimp. My favorite one of the week.

Spring rolls with spicy sauce from Chatuchak Weekend Market

Thai iced tea with sweetened condensed milk

Rice, rice and more rice.

Roasted duck curry- to die for. Pretty sure I ate the entire bowl.

Banana nutella roti- best thing I've ever put in my mouth. Basically a crispy doughnut with bananas on the inside fried in oil and a massive amount of butter. Then smothered with nutella. Heaven.

Chicken Pad Thai

Red Chicken Curry

A Koh Samui candy given to me by our adorable cab driver. Made out of sugar and coconut milk, he said they were a specialty on the island and decided to give his last two candies to me and Haley.