Busy, Busy

Seven work days left....

My work has me running around with my head chopped off.  All final grades have to be in by next Thursday, I worked this past Saturday and had to go in for a work lunch yesterday.  Plus, the million and one things you have to do before leaving a country.  The fun part is that Phillip and I are going to travel around Korea for a week or so before we leave, I can't wait for the day when I wake up and don't have to go to work...oh, sweet, sweetness. 

In the meantime we're just trying to spend some quality time with friends before we leave.  I'm just hoping for some lay-out time....oh laying out.  I think I've just switched to dreaming about relaxation methods.  Maybe Phillip was right, maybe I should sleep more. 

Anyway, I've been having a particularly large number of days where I just feel like an idiot lately.  Google was no help in finding the cause.  I think it's just a popular phrase.  Some groups popped up talking about meeting people that feel like idiots too, but that just sounds boring. 

RIP Tim

A good friend of mine and coworker, Tim Croese, passed away on May 10, 2011.  This past weekend some friends of his and I got together for a memorial at one of his favorite places on the Han River in Seoul.  We all loved you, Tim.

Guilt

Why does eating a normal sized candy bar make me feel like a fatty, but eating ten or so of the little ones doesn't??  For teacher appreciate day, one of my students gave me a bag with four full sized candy bars in it.  I want it.  I guess I'll be feeling like a fatty at random points this week.  My reasoning is if I eat them all this week, next week I won't have to worry about eating a candy bar.  Done and Done.

I've still got it...

Phillip and I have been in relationship going on three years now.  In that time, we've been inseparable which I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.  Anyway, this past weekend he needed me basically to leave him alone so he could finish up his final projects.  One of my best friends had invited us to go to Songtan for Mexican and another friend's wedding was this past weekend.  It's weird.  I've always been the super confident go-getter, but I was a bit nervous traveling on my own.  I used to do it all the time no problem, but recently I've felt a lack of courage venturing out without Phillip.  I made a plan, packed a bag, and off I went.  It was great!  I think I seriously needed this reboot.  I got hit on my two creepy guys in the first few hours.  They probably would have hit on a garden post, but it's just nice to know that you still look decent.  I had normal conversations with people without Phillip and I was clever and witty (at least I like to think so) and made friends.  I got to see Stu and She and had well...pretty good Mexican.  Something you also have to understand is that Mexican food is in the top ten of things missed, seriously up there with family, when overseas.  

My margarita was terrible.  They were nice enough to take it off of my tab though.

I had to take a picture of the spread.  This isn't even all the food that we ordered.  We kind of went crazy.  My cheese enchiladas were amazing.  The best thing on the menu.

Stu could have at least smiled.  The happy newly weds!!  I love you both!

After this delightful afternoon, I road the subway until I found a train station to take me to Daegu for Steve and Minjeong's wedding.  I thought I'd been to traditional Korean weddings.  I thought all Korean weddings consisted of Disney princess palaces, a light show and a fake cake that only the bride and groom got to eat in front of everyone.  I was so wrong.  There wedding was beautiful and screamed Confusionism!  It consisted of extreme bowing, and then, they were married!

This is the entrance to where Steve and Minjeong got married.

Steve and Minjeong are to be carried to the aisle.

Did I mention that the guys in the above photo carried both of them and dropped both of them with a thud at the end of the aisle.  Poor Minjeong, but it did make it more entertaining.

Extreme bowing

I now pronounce you man and wife.

The families bow.  I could not believe how much Steve looks like his mother.

Super happy.

Family shot.

I love Troy's expression in the back.  

It was a great weekend until the train ride back to Seoul.  I had to get a standing car on the slow train, so I had to stand for almost four hours on the way back to Seoul.  I should have listened to a guy at the wedding that was talking about already having his ticket.  Anyway, I'm still sore, but I did get through about 75% of Saughterhouse Five on my kindle, restored some confidence, and learned that I don't need Phillip to hold my hand, at least not with all things.

One Month Left....

I have one month left at my hagwon.  Most of the students know I'm leaving by now.  It's been sad.  I know I'm going to be crying all through May.  I've had a few that have decided to leave for various reasons this month.  One boy that came to my school a while ago wrote me the sweetest message and drew a beautiful picture for me.  He didn't have an English name when he came to me so I named him Ian.  Ian is super cute, a hard worker, and a great artist.  During the first semester I ever had him for debate, our topic was opening Korea's borders to immigrants, and some how we got on the topic of how mixed children were accepted in Korea.  He was in a pretty low level class and to clarify he raised his hand and said, "Like Mudbloods, Teacher?"  Yes, they're obsessed with Harry Potter here as well. 

I took pictures of the drawing and the letter he wrote me.  The letter made me cry. 

He's so sweet. I should use this as a recommendation letter.

He meant "for" Jessica.

Also, the bottom floor of my apartment building is being completely renovated.  It shakes the whole building and wakes me up super early.  They are banging as we speak.  I want to kill them.