Locks of Love

One of my favorite things about visiting N Seoul Tower is getting to see the locks of love. Attached to the fences surrounding the tower are different kinds of locks with messages, names and dates written on them. These locks are symbolizing the love between couples. They put their locks on the fence, throw away the key and vow never to separate. It's amazing to see all of the locks, new and old, attached with pictures and anniversary dates. Everyday new couples add their locks to the fence and trees surrounding the tower. The locks symbolize what is important in life.

Seoul is the city of couples; young and old, it is rare to see a woman without an attractive man on her arm. Walking around the streets of Seoul, it is hard not to get annoyed by the canoodling couples walking by in matching outfits. As a single woman living here the lovey-dovey atmosphere sure gets nauseating but it's hard not to enjoy. One thing I've learned about this city is that, Seoul is in love with love.

Happy Lunar New Year^^

Happy Lunar New Year!

Thanks to the holiday I have a 5 day weekend. This gives me crucial time to organize everything in my apartment and get myself ready to ship things home. The reality of leaving Seoul is really sinking in now that I am throwing away clothes and ticket stubs that I thought I wanted to keep. Right now my apartment has three different piles of clothes: clothes to throw out, clothes to keep, and clothes to travel in. I really don't know how I accumlated so much stuff in this tiny studio apartment, but I have a feeling I will be shipping almost 10 boxes home. Whoops...blame it on the amazing Korean shopping.

With exactly one month left in the city my goals are to:

-take more pictures of the city

-eat as much Korean food as possible (including eel, duck and waffles)

-visit the Korean War Memorial

-go to my favorite places in Seoul once more, including Insadong, Myeongdong and Hongik University

-noraebang atleast once a week (if not more)

-take my job less seriously and actually enjoy the time I have with my students

I'll have to think of more...I can't believe it's almost over. T_T

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.

Happy Christmas Eve!

It's Christmas Eve and I'm almost finished with work. Tomorrow I will be flying to Thailand for my week long Christmas vacation! Ahhh, I thought this day would never come. First, I will be in Bangkok until the 28th and then I fly to Koh Samui until January 1st! This vacation is definitely well deserved, considering I haven't had a day off since Chuseok in September. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! Cheers to 2011~! Hoping it is as amazing as 2010~!