Blue Sky Interlude

I'm happy to announce the rain let up for a few days earlier this week, during this monsoon season. The weekend was rainy though. Karen and I met at the gym again last Saturday morning, followed by lunch. I spent the rest of the day doing some errands and relaxing a bit. I FINALLY made it to a Dr. Fish cafe on the weekend, too! Everything about the cafe is normal at first glance - order your drink, sip and enjoy in the cozy atmosphere, browse the bookshelf...and if you so choose, pay an extra $2 to put your feet in with the fishies for 20 minutes! Boy does it ever tickle!! They go nuts, eating away at any skin they find delicious. My feet felt quite refreshed after that!

With all of this rain, and my gym membership expiring last Monday, I've had to get creative. Yesterday morning was no trouble getting out to run along the river, but this morning the rain was coming down. I was up and ready to be active though, so I ran up and down the stairs of my building a couple times (ground floor to ten, back to ground, up to ten, back to ground, and up to three, where I live). It was certainly a challenging change! I will definitely keep that up a few times a week! It wouldn't be worth it to renew at the gym, as you must pay for three months. Plus, my calendar is becoming busier and busier. I can just stay fit on my own - running, the stairs, yoga, and the outdoor equipment around the city are sufficient!

Tony Teacher came to visit Choo Choo on Monday to say his goodbyes. He has since left for Canada. It is making me get sadder and sadder about leaving. Every day I look at my kids and try to savour everything. How I would love to bring (some of) them back to Canada with me!

Tony Teacher and Leah Teacher with Venus class (my loves, my favourites...I started with them when they were Mercury!)

Julian (Venus) still amazes me every day. I wouldn't be surprised if I'm inspired to write a children's book based on his actions. He is obsessed with numbers. If he's drawing a picture of milk (this has happened on a couple occasions), he writes "1000 mL" or "190 mL" on his picture, depending on the size it is, of course. When we were reviewing time, I drew a clock on the board that read 7:27. Julian requested that I ask him a "PM" time. He looks at what I've drawn and within five seconds replies "it's 19:27". Let's remember this kid is actually only 5-years old. None of my Pluto kids could do this (my 7-year olds).

He loves prepositions, too. Now that he knows between and across from, he finds delight when he can apply them. "Leah Teacher, Wednesday is BETWEEN Tuesday and Thursday!" In fact, he applies everything he learns. It's amazing. Julian, the kid that no one liked when I arrived last September because he was such a menace. He mimics me perfectly, when he "takes over" the class. "Is everyone ready to start?" "How about _____?" He makes me happy.

I taught Venus class the game 3-6-9. I learned it as a drinking game. It's great for number review. Starting at 1, the kids count one at a time, around the circle. Any number containing 3, 6, or 9, however, the kids have to clap instead of saying the number. When they get to 33, 36, 39, they have to clap twice. They loved it, and we got up to the 70s. Of course, Julian wanted to play again, "but this time 4, 8, 12, 16"....Sorry, Julian, I don't think anyone else can play with you yet.

Excuse my Julian tangent. I could go on about him FOREVER.

Pluto class told me that I can leave Choo Choo and Korea in 2013. That's when they'll be ready for me to go. But not before then.

Here are some pictures from Monday evening after work. We went out for a farewell drink with Tony.

Selina and me

Me, Elly, Shana

Tony and me

We'll see each other again! He'll be in Kingston when I'm in Ottawa...and he's actually from Ottawa. So there.

Tuesday evening Magda and I met up for our weekly tea, walk, chat. We had to plan our upcoming weekend as well. We're going to Samcheok, on the east coast, for a park and beach weekend. Looking forward to it! Fingers crossed the rain won't interfere...!

Last night I packed a box of winter stuff to ship home!

I love this treat. It's red bean and shaved ice...when it's served at cafes, it usually has fruit and yogurt or ice cream with it too. Mmmmm.

Tomorrow at school we're making 팥빙수. I love this treat. It's red bean (surprise!) and shaved ice...when it's served at cafes, it usually has fruit and yogurt or ice cream with it too. Mmmmm. It's pronounced "pat-bing-soo".

Time to enjoy some reading (The Girl Who Played with Fire) on this quiet, rainy evening. Kammy had to cancel our language exchange.

OH! OH! OH! The release date of Harry Potter 7 Part 2 got changed!!! It wasn't supposed to come until DECEMBER in Korea, but it will be here NEXT WEDNESDAY!!! Opening night, here I come!!!

It's almost the weekend...again! xo