Winter has Arrived

It is the first of December here in South Korea, and our first snowfall has fallen. It is not sticking yet, but it is pretty when it falls.  :-)  It was rather pretty, and I could not be happier, since it did not snow before December.  :-)  Now the sun is peeking out, and a few flakes still fall ...

Oh, perhaps I spoke to soon.  It's coming down again fast and sticking, maybe.

Yup!  it is!!!  Excited students.  :-)

Ahh, the sun is out again ... All in 15 minutes.  :-)

This morning, in the middle of a class discussion of the viewpoint differences of Darcy and Bingley in regards to marriage eligibility of the Bennet sisters, one of my students very excitedly interupted, "Ohhh, look Miss Katie, it's SNOWING!!"

It's a rather nice way to start December.  Not like this tummy bug that kept me down & out yesterday, and is still twingy today.  Thus, students in my US History class are working on projects today.  Standing, walking around, talking a lot ... all rather uncomfortable as I discovered this morning with English I.  So glad we needed a project day - they have three major projects they are working on this quarter.  It was going to be Friday, but that is OK, today works fine for me.  They are a good class too.  Turn on some Christmas instrumental music, let them have time and they work so nice and quietly.  I love these kids!  Ok, I love all my kiddos!

Last night, several students had questions for their various projects and homework.  As they sent me questions, and I responded they figured out I was not feeling well.

"Are you sick teacher?  ㅠ ㅠ"
"I pray for you to be cure"

And other such messages.  Such sweethearts.

I want to go back to bed.  Laying down is the most comfortable ... in an hour ...

Feeling Nostalgic ... Class of 2015!

While taking class pictures at one of the palaces in Seoul ... this one makes me chuckle.

Our lovely Esther!

The Boys!   

 I love my students here at KAPA, they are MY Kiddos!  Both current students and those who have now graduated and are in their first year of college. There are students in all the classes that I have felt connections with, some with a closer bond than with others, but I love them all. 

Today however, I'm feeling a little partial to the senior class that I am a sponsor of. Perhaps it is because we are at mid-terms, and they are almost finished with this school year (though they do not graduate until 2015, we won't see them as much after December, unless they come back on weekends while working on their online duel-credit classes or if they come back as student workers/aides ... hope and pray this can happen for we need good tutors as we increase in number). They are probably extra special to me, seeing as they are graduating the same year as my high school class is having a rather significant reunion!  Yikes, how did the years skip by quickly?  Another special thing about this class is that on my first day teaching here, two years ago, students from this class made me feel especially welcome and honored! It was so surprising to have students welcome me so enthusiastically, and with sincerity wish me a good day. I was dissapointed when I discovered I would not have them in class for another semester.  I recall receiving a few bows with those ... hmm, what happened, we don't see those very often now?  I digress ...

Though they are significantly smaller in number than my graduating class (a class of 6 vs. 106+), they remind me at times of the class I graduated with.  They are quite different and unique from each other, yet they are very close.  They get irritated with one another at times, make silly mistakes and are kings of procrastination ... yet if someone is in need, they regularly pitch-in to help. They pray for, or ask for prayer for those that they care about, including those that irritate them.  Overall, a very generous group, highly admired by the underclassmen and helpful to faculty and staff. I'm so proud to be their sponsor. Even if at times I may get frustrated  (I wonder how often my classmates and I frustrated our teachers and sponsors at times). They keep me laughing and I feel blessed to work with them.  I'm so glad they are the class of 2015!  I'm going to miss these kiddos!

When told to look at Danny, as though he told a funny, real laughter erupted, and many of their personalities show through here.  These kids keep us laughing and smiling!  They have become a family in just over two years.  I love these kiddos!