I must say that having my students call me "Goldilocks" and "Cinderella" this week is a step up from last week's "as fat as Leah teacher". haha Oh, Korea. I thank you for your mild mild spring. It's been 16-18 degrees and sunny all week, and will be the same on the weekend! (Though, it is supposed to rain tomorrow. Meh, it's a work day for me.) I thank you for all the people that have no shame in shouting and pointing "Waygookin!" when they see me. This is the Korean word for "foreigner". Men, women, and children do this on a regular basis. I thank you for the giggly school girls and boys who say, "HELLO!" when they see you. There was a group of three especially giddy girls that greeted me as I left the gym today. They got so bashful when I replied. As we carried on, one said, "very pretty". Aww. Now who's the bashful one?
Most of all, I thank Korea for introducing me to (one of) the love(s) of my life, red bean: red bean porridge, red bean paste, everything red bean. I seriously cannot get enough of my fishie-shaped pancakes filled with red bean. There are some red bean popsicles that I am keen to try. And on the weekend I tried this ice cream sandwich...it was fish-shaped, with vanilla ice cream and, you guessed it, red bean. YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My Venus kids are hilarious. The arts and crafts and science activities for April were late arriving this month, so the kids' schedule had to get moved around. Venus class was mad at me on Monday when science wasn't available. They were doubly angry yesterday when arts and crafts wasn't available. "I'm sorry, Venus class! The mail is slow!" "Leah Teacher, it's NOT okay!", shout nine little students, not quite in unison. I was almost their hero this morning as I announced that science had arrived and we could do it for our first period. I totally blew it. I called them "Mercury class", and they HATE when I do that. I quickly learnt that my first few days as Venus teacher, after addressing Mercury for half a year. Yes, I was very fast to correct and catch myself. However, I slipped up today. Ouch. Oh dear. I will definitely post a photo of Pluto's craft for this week. They had to make Africans...??????
Knowing that teacher's college (I've officially accepted Ottawa) is in the not-so-distant future has provoked many feelings this past weekend. I feel relief, to FINALLY know what the next chapter of my adventure holds. I feel nostalgic, as I really do love living here. There are many things I still want to do, and suddenly five months doesn't seem enough time! I will definitely take advantage of my time here and enjoy it. I feel ready to go back to school. I've been out for three years now and I am really looking forward to the craziness that readings and assignments and exams bring (I say that now). It's exciting to know I am getting closer and closer to where I ultimately want to be. I feel...matured? As much as I love my nomadic lifestyle, I am eager to be part of something not-so temporary. To get really personal, if the right person comes along, I will be in a place where I know I'll be more willing to, um, accommodate. I absolutely REFUSE to say "settle down". That makes my stomach flop, and not in a good way. Haha Someday? I was so exhausted from all the excitement of the week that I went to bed at 11 last Friday night. Saturday morning I was up and went for my first outdoor run here. It was great! I ran along the river. Lots of people are always out and about on the pathways there. Hunter and I had a fantastic evening celebrating Ottawa. We ened up at Slang, described as "clubby bar", and were surrounded by Koreans. It was awesome and hilarious and all of them wanted to dance with us and be our friends. B-list celebs right here. Oh ya. Sunday was lovely. I packed up some almonds, strawberries, and crosswords, and sat in the sun. Met up with Melissa for coffee, then we took a nice walk along the river. Somehow, pretty much EVERY weekend I end up at Uniqlo, a Gap/Old Navy-esque store, though I don't always buy things. So we went there together too. Sunday was a VERY early night to bed.
And here I am, on WEDNESDAY evening already! It scares me how fast time flies! Pictures soon! Thanks again for all the love, support, and good vibes re: teacher's college!! xo
Most of all, I thank Korea for introducing me to (one of) the love(s) of my life, red bean: red bean porridge, red bean paste, everything red bean. I seriously cannot get enough of my fishie-shaped pancakes filled with red bean. There are some red bean popsicles that I am keen to try. And on the weekend I tried this ice cream sandwich...it was fish-shaped, with vanilla ice cream and, you guessed it, red bean. YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
My Venus kids are hilarious. The arts and crafts and science activities for April were late arriving this month, so the kids' schedule had to get moved around. Venus class was mad at me on Monday when science wasn't available. They were doubly angry yesterday when arts and crafts wasn't available. "I'm sorry, Venus class! The mail is slow!" "Leah Teacher, it's NOT okay!", shout nine little students, not quite in unison. I was almost their hero this morning as I announced that science had arrived and we could do it for our first period. I totally blew it. I called them "Mercury class", and they HATE when I do that. I quickly learnt that my first few days as Venus teacher, after addressing Mercury for half a year. Yes, I was very fast to correct and catch myself. However, I slipped up today. Ouch. Oh dear. I will definitely post a photo of Pluto's craft for this week. They had to make Africans...?????? 
Knowing that teacher's college (I've officially accepted Ottawa) is in the not-so-distant future has provoked many feelings this past weekend. I feel relief, to FINALLY know what the next chapter of my adventure holds. I feel nostalgic, as I really do love living here. There are many things I still want to do, and suddenly five months doesn't seem enough time! I will definitely take advantage of my time here and enjoy it. I feel ready to go back to school. I've been out for three years now and I am really looking forward to the craziness that readings and assignments and exams bring (I say that now). It's exciting to know I am getting closer and closer to where I ultimately want to be. I feel...matured? As much as I love my nomadic lifestyle, I am eager to be part of something not-so temporary. To get really personal, if the right person comes along, I will be in a place where I know I'll be more willing to, um, accommodate. I absolutely REFUSE to say "settle down". That makes my stomach flop, and not in a good way. Haha Someday? I was so exhausted from all the excitement of the week that I went to bed at 11 last Friday night. Saturday morning I was up and went for my first outdoor run here. It was great! I ran along the river. Lots of people are always out and about on the pathways there. Hunter and I had a fantastic evening celebrating Ottawa. We ened up at Slang, described as "clubby bar", and were surrounded by Koreans. It was awesome and hilarious and all of them wanted to dance with us and be our friends. B-list celebs right here. Oh ya. Sunday was lovely. I packed up some almonds, strawberries, and crosswords, and sat in the sun. Met up with Melissa for coffee, then we took a nice walk along the river. Somehow, pretty much EVERY weekend I end up at Uniqlo, a Gap/Old Navy-esque store, though I don't always buy things. So we went there together too. Sunday was a VERY early night to bed. 
And here I am, on WEDNESDAY evening already! It scares me how fast time flies! Pictures soon! Thanks again for all the love, support, and good vibes re: teacher's college!! xo
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