Alas, I haven't written much the last few months. That does not mean I forgot you all ... instead I have been having to much fun perhaps? :-)
Last week was rather cold, and I was starting to wonder if I was back in Wisconsin again, with the amount of snow and the cold we were having. It was pretty to see the snow covered campus, however when it rained, then froze ... well it made for exciting adventures going across campus. Especially since it is a little hilly.
Thursday is the last day the students will be here for this school year. School years in South Korea run from February through December with a month off in January and July. So all the Juniors will be Seniors, the Sophomores will be Juniors, and we are getting several new students who are entering Sophomores. I'm looking forward to the new school year. Finally starting to get into the swing of things. Next term I believe will be smoother ... figuring out how to balance the ESL needs with the needed requirements and standards. Most of our students have lovely English skills when conversing and understanding what they are reading (except for "The Odyssey , that was a little difficult for the English I group, but they mostly started to understand it on their own by the end of the story), however when it comes to writing and explaining what they have read in some classes, such as US Government and History ... well it takes a little more time to go over several topics that back home would be much faster. However, there are many times when my students here grasp concepts ideas so much faster than their counterparts in the States.
Well two more days, One class has presentations, one class has a test, both have a paper to do over the break to make up for class days we miss since we are getting out a little early ... Soo, I'll be grading papers over break. :-) WooHoo!
Ok, off to grade some papers ...
Monday, December 17, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
Friday, October 12, 2012
WOOHOO! I Have My ARC!!! Next Up, A Phone!
The week did not start so well. A nasty cold decided to attach itself to me and hit hard on Monday. I honestly haven't really been with it much this week at all. Perhaps that is why this week seem to drag on, and on ...
I'm so thankful it is Friday and tomorrow is Sabbath!
A really exciting thing happened over this long and sniffly week. I was able to go pick up my Alien Registration Card this week in Suwon. Of course, it was Tuesday, and I was just barely hanging in there, and had cold medicine in me ... the drive down and back was just killer to stay awake, but I did see some interesting new sites. There is this really tall glass building, that you could see a closed in structure inside. I commented to S- (the immigration person for English Village who drove) that it was an interesting structure and he informed me that it was a famous elevator testing building. I don't think I had seen one of those before, I thought that interesting, and promptly fell back asleep, to be awakened as we drove through this man made, window like tunnel. I believe it was created to be a sound barrier to the nearby apartments. I asked S- if that was what it was for, he scoffed and said yes, but it was a waste of money because it didn't really work that great. Hehehe! Ok, so there is a bit of humor that once you get to know the guy and have ridden with him a few times, you would see. It's a good thing he isn't much of a conversationalist, because out I went again. (the trip back was worse, I kept falling asleep, then feeling so guilty for being asleep and would wake up with a start).
We got there, and in five minutes, I picked up my card. We didn't leave though, Sandy must have had to do some paperwork for another EV employee. He told me he would be done in one hour, so to go and walk around or whatever, and meet him back at the lobby of the immigration office or at the car.
Oh ... yeah, when you don't feel good, walking around, checking out the shops and whatever else did not sound fun. I actually wanted to just go to the car and sleep, but didn't feel comfortable asking if that would be ok. So instead I took a stroll around the block first one way, and then another. Then I went around another block. In my walk I found a little park where some older people were walking, some kids were playing on the playground, and a Jehovah's Witness got so excited to see a foreigner to practice talking in English and ask if I knew Jesus. She was a sweet girl, and was so excited when I said I was from the States, because she was going to Canada in a couple weeks. Hehe, she's in for a surprise when she realizes just how big both Canada and the US are. Anyway, she didn't push her beliefs on me, probably because I mentioned I was a Seventh-day Adventist in our conversation, she decided to use another approach which is kinda clever actually. She handed me a couple of the fliers and said that maybe these would be useful in teaching English, because they were written in English. It wouldn't work for my classes, obviously, since I'm not actually teaching the English Language, but Social Studies and English I ... I smiled and she wished me a good day, skipped back to her friend sitting on one of the benches and wrapped back up in a red blanket. I wish I had some pictures of her ... but alas, brain was not functioning well at that moment.
I walked around I don't know how many times. If I had someone with me, and a watch, I probably would have ventured out further. Had I a phone, I could have found out that only a few blocks away was a HomePlus ... instead, I decided to sit in the park for awhile, and watch a beautiful golden retriever and his/her master play together. I haven't seen that many dogs of that size here yet. Mostly just little Yorkies and other dogs of that size, or medium sized dogs tied up in front of places, close to their little dog houses. It was really nice to see. Course it really made me a little lonesome for my girls back home. <sigh>
Ah well, my day ended with this:
Here are a few shots from my walk around two blocks around Suwon Immigration Office from that day ... The leaves are starting to change color so with another teacher and the girl's dean, I'm headed back over there tomorrow, to visit an old fortress that has hiking trails and lots of trees that are supposed to be quite beautiful in the fall.
I'm so thankful it is Friday and tomorrow is Sabbath!
A really exciting thing happened over this long and sniffly week. I was able to go pick up my Alien Registration Card this week in Suwon. Of course, it was Tuesday, and I was just barely hanging in there, and had cold medicine in me ... the drive down and back was just killer to stay awake, but I did see some interesting new sites. There is this really tall glass building, that you could see a closed in structure inside. I commented to S- (the immigration person for English Village who drove) that it was an interesting structure and he informed me that it was a famous elevator testing building. I don't think I had seen one of those before, I thought that interesting, and promptly fell back asleep, to be awakened as we drove through this man made, window like tunnel. I believe it was created to be a sound barrier to the nearby apartments. I asked S- if that was what it was for, he scoffed and said yes, but it was a waste of money because it didn't really work that great. Hehehe! Ok, so there is a bit of humor that once you get to know the guy and have ridden with him a few times, you would see. It's a good thing he isn't much of a conversationalist, because out I went again. (the trip back was worse, I kept falling asleep, then feeling so guilty for being asleep and would wake up with a start).
We got there, and in five minutes, I picked up my card. We didn't leave though, Sandy must have had to do some paperwork for another EV employee. He told me he would be done in one hour, so to go and walk around or whatever, and meet him back at the lobby of the immigration office or at the car.
Oh ... yeah, when you don't feel good, walking around, checking out the shops and whatever else did not sound fun. I actually wanted to just go to the car and sleep, but didn't feel comfortable asking if that would be ok. So instead I took a stroll around the block first one way, and then another. Then I went around another block. In my walk I found a little park where some older people were walking, some kids were playing on the playground, and a Jehovah's Witness got so excited to see a foreigner to practice talking in English and ask if I knew Jesus. She was a sweet girl, and was so excited when I said I was from the States, because she was going to Canada in a couple weeks. Hehe, she's in for a surprise when she realizes just how big both Canada and the US are. Anyway, she didn't push her beliefs on me, probably because I mentioned I was a Seventh-day Adventist in our conversation, she decided to use another approach which is kinda clever actually. She handed me a couple of the fliers and said that maybe these would be useful in teaching English, because they were written in English. It wouldn't work for my classes, obviously, since I'm not actually teaching the English Language, but Social Studies and English I ... I smiled and she wished me a good day, skipped back to her friend sitting on one of the benches and wrapped back up in a red blanket. I wish I had some pictures of her ... but alas, brain was not functioning well at that moment.
I walked around I don't know how many times. If I had someone with me, and a watch, I probably would have ventured out further. Had I a phone, I could have found out that only a few blocks away was a HomePlus ... instead, I decided to sit in the park for awhile, and watch a beautiful golden retriever and his/her master play together. I haven't seen that many dogs of that size here yet. Mostly just little Yorkies and other dogs of that size, or medium sized dogs tied up in front of places, close to their little dog houses. It was really nice to see. Course it really made me a little lonesome for my girls back home. <sigh>
Ah well, my day ended with this:
Here are a few shots from my walk around two blocks around Suwon Immigration Office from that day ... The leaves are starting to change color so with another teacher and the girl's dean, I'm headed back over there tomorrow, to visit an old fortress that has hiking trails and lots of trees that are supposed to be quite beautiful in the fall.
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| The Immigration Office |
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| Not the best photo, but such a beautiful dog. Very puppy like in playing with his/her master. |
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| This was such a cute couple walking hand-in-hand. They looked like high school students, but they could be college ... |
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| So why do they wrap the tree up? |
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| I found this funny. I guess they don't like for people to back into the parking spaces here. |
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| back at campus, the leaves are changing too. |
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| Ahhh, they're little red hearts forming. :-) |
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| US Government Class busy looking up information about the Judicial Branch ... such a studious looking group. Good Kids :-) |
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| English I class writing in their journals. |
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Holiday Week
This week was the Chusoek Holiday here in Korea. It's similar to American Thanksgiving, but definitely different. Anyhow, I did a lot of walking ... did some exploring ... spent some time with some dear friends and got to know new friends ... A lovely week all the way around. Now it is Thursday tomorrow, the students are back and we have classes in the morning. I have a feeling the students won't be completely ready for classes. Review, pop-quiz, and then watch the first debates for Government class and read aloud book ... Read outside reading, creative writing, some journal writing, and read aloud book for English I ... Ok, without any other comment, some pictures from the week ...
Sorry about the excessive bad night pictures, but it a fun little music, lights and fountain show with friends. Looking forward to going back to many of these places, and those I did not get pictures. I know where I want to do my Christmas shopping. ;-) Also looking forward to getting a phone with Google maps so that I can also see where I'm at on the map and how to get where I want to go. :-)
Thursday, September 27, 2012
I Have the Best Students! Wherever I go ;-)
It is an ideal classroom, when all students are busy looking up information, taking notes and are pleasant to be around.
I'm sitting in my AP US Government Class, and let me tell you, they are a fun group and quite studious. They are all busy and on task looking up and comparing quickly governments of various countries around the world with US and ROK. They are a neat group, and I feel I'm bonding with most of the students here, both students in my classes and in the school in general.
A little bit ago, I handed out an invitation to the AP class for Friday supper at my place for the next Friday. Wow! They were so excited and "REALLY?" "AHHHH!!!" and such big smiles. I think they were pretty suprised and excited they are the first to be invited over. I'm actually going to be inviting all the students over for dinner throughout the semester, they just get to be first.
Now ... what am I going to make? HA! I don't have an oven, but their are those that do and said I could use their ovens if needed, and English Village has a kitchen with ovens as well. I will do a lot of prep work over the Chuseok Holiday, so that I can put it all together quickly on Friday.
Any suggestions???
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
A Month!
Ok, I know, it has been a couple weeks since I posted last, and what to you know, I've been here a month now! WOW! It is hard to believe it has already been a month, yet at the same time, has it only been a month?
So many things have happened since last I posted.
1. I talked in front of Church two Sabbaths ago in front of an International church ... Eeek! Ah well, I won't go into that much, but it went fine, and one of my students translated for me. Just found out, I'm talking again this week, but will not need a translator
2. I've now been to more places using the trains and subways, then what is on the subway/train line that just goes through our town to Seoul. Ok, only once, but it was to Times Square, which is pretty interesting. I didn't get to do a lot of exploring there when we went, so I want to go again, and see more of what there is.
3. Am at the halfway point to Mid-terms ... Yikes, it's going by fast.
4. I am taking a Korean Language class. We have now had lessons on the alphabet ... I have the vowels or ... oh wait, I don't know how to get my computer keys to type Korean letters yet ... anyway we just learned the consonants last night. I have some homework I need to finish before Thursday's class. I'm really excited, because I am now starting to hear the differences in the vowels when I hear people speaking in Korean. So Exciting! And I recognize the letters ... I'll soon be reading it, once I get the consonants down. Now understanding the different words is another story, but this is a start. :-)
Some pictures, mostly from a trip into Seoul:
So many things have happened since last I posted.
1. I talked in front of Church two Sabbaths ago in front of an International church ... Eeek! Ah well, I won't go into that much, but it went fine, and one of my students translated for me. Just found out, I'm talking again this week, but will not need a translator
2. I've now been to more places using the trains and subways, then what is on the subway/train line that just goes through our town to Seoul. Ok, only once, but it was to Times Square, which is pretty interesting. I didn't get to do a lot of exploring there when we went, so I want to go again, and see more of what there is.
3. Am at the halfway point to Mid-terms ... Yikes, it's going by fast.
4. I am taking a Korean Language class. We have now had lessons on the alphabet ... I have the vowels or ... oh wait, I don't know how to get my computer keys to type Korean letters yet ... anyway we just learned the consonants last night. I have some homework I need to finish before Thursday's class. I'm really excited, because I am now starting to hear the differences in the vowels when I hear people speaking in Korean. So Exciting! And I recognize the letters ... I'll soon be reading it, once I get the consonants down. Now understanding the different words is another story, but this is a start. :-)
Some pictures, mostly from a trip into Seoul:
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| Studying in the Library |
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| More studying, with more room for students. |
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| A rather interesting and artsy stairway ... |
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| Another shot as we went through... |
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| Walking to Times Square |
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| Times Square in the distance |
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| We have arrived ... |
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| We didn't get to explore much ... |
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| but what we did see was interesting |
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| looking down three floors up |
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| as we left, there was a band playing music on this stage |
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| another section ... this place is huge |
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| mmmmm .... lunch ;-) |
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| From the ground floor |
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| an interesting art piece outside Times Square |
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| I am still trying to decide what it is saying |
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| Outside Times Square |
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| Walking back to the station |
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| Sitting on the subway, heading home. |
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