Boryeong Mud Fest Round 2!

Hello!


I don't know if you remember, but Fluke and I went to Boryeong for a mud festival last year. We had heard at our EPIK orientation that of all the festivals Korea has to offer, the Boryeong Mud Fest was the one you should definitely go to. We had such an amazing time that we decided to go again!


We used Adventure Korea and got picked up in downtown Daegu early Saturday morning. We were really impressed with Adventure Korea last year, so why change tour companies this year?? :) Anyway, we got to Boryeong on a comfy AC-blasting bus (I napped pretty much the whole way!) and immediately changed into our swimsuits and hit the beach! We had about an hour before we headed to the mud flats nearby...


Side note: the mud used in the festival is transported to the beach from the nearby mud flats. With Adventure Korea, it is possible to visit these mud flats! ^-^


Here's some pics of Boryeong beach, the mud flats and the mud festival!! We got some really good ones this year thanks to my water-proof camera case!!

Beach! The water was actually pretty nice!

At the mud flats!

Playing a game...knock your partner over to win. I lost every time :'(

In the mud festival! Fluke won the race!

Getting ready to race!

Fluke one this one too :)

I won this one!! Yay!

Wearing a stretchy rope, run to the middle and hug your partner.
It's harder than it looks! and a ton of fun~

We had an amazing time, despite the cool weather and insane rainstorm at night! For anyone thinking of going to Boryeong for the mud festival...we highly recommend it!!!

Walking in the Jagalchi Fish Market, Running in Dadaepo Beach, and Hiking in Seoul

Hello!!!
So last weekend, we went to Busan with our friends! The main reason for the trip was the Dadaepo Beach race~ I signed up for my third 10km and 3 of our friends signed up for the 5km!! We figured it made sense to stay in Dadaepo to make the next morning easy, but after walking near the race start and not finding much, we decided to stay in the Jagalchi/Nampo area of Busan instead! This area is full of restaurants, shops, bars, and...the Jagalchi Fish Market! We spent the rest of our Saturday afternoon/evening exploring this area. Check out some of our pics!

One of the entrances to the fish market.

View from the top of the big Lotte department store in Nampo.

Sunday morning we made our way back to Dadaepo! It was an easy subway ride to Sinpyeong and then there were shuttle buses from the station to the race starting point. The race route was flat and along the coastline so we had a nice ocean breeze and pretty view! It was a perfect race day and...I finished the race in 53:28! That's 5 minutes faster than my first 10km time!!! I guess all my training worked! The picture below was from the Daegu Stadium race. The pictures of the Busan race aren't online yet...

Where's Jenn and Fluke?!?! I'll give you a hint...I'm wearing grey shorts and a white shirt. Still can't find us? We're to the right of the "S" in LEPORTS. ^^

Anyway, enough about running! Let's talk about hiking...
Two weeks ago, Fluke and I went up to see our friend in Seoul. We decided to hike Bukhansan again but start at a different point this time. We hiked on a ridge line (really fun and scary and awesome) AND made it to Baegundae Peak, the highest peak in Seoul (836.5 meters tall!!)... and it only took us...6 hours!!! Yes, we hiked for 6 hours! Definitely didn't start the morning thinking we would hike all day, but that's how it ended up! Sunday we headed back to Daegu, but first we went to Tomatillo to get some yummy Mexican food! We of course got 2 burritos to-go to have for dinner later that night. ^-^ Here's some of our favorite pictures from our hike and our food~

The start of our day! About 10am...

See Fluke way at the top?!?!

Our view of Seoul. It wasn't a clear day unfortunately.

Top of the ridge line part of our hike!

View from the ridge line.

On our way to Bagundae Peak...

We made it!! 
It looks cold...but it wasn't at all!! Just really cloudy.

Now for some food pics!!! So yummy!!!! ^-^*

Burrito Special at Tomatillo!!

Nachos at Tomatillo!

A little about teaching...and a little about running! ^-^*

Annyong everyone!


Instead of writing a lengthy post about one topic, I'm going to write a few stories/anecdotes/updates (??) on different topics!! First up...the best question a student has asked me this year...


Student: Hello, teacher! 
Me: Hello, **! How are you?
S: Good. Teacher, I have a question...
Me: Ok!
S: I play baseball.
Me: Yes, I know! 
S: I use baseball bat.
Me: Yes, that's correct.
S: So...do I use baseball ball?
Me: Good question! You use a baseball. You play baseball. It is the same word.
S: Teacher! So confusing! But ok. Same word. Thank you.
Me: You're welcome! Bye **!
S: Bye.


This conversation made my day!! ^-^


Topic #2: English Festival--April Fool's Day!
The past two weeks I have been teaching the 3rd-6th graders about April Fool's Day. I tell them a little bit about it (emphasizing that we say NICE jokes and everyone is happy and no one is sad), show some examples and we watch a few funny youtube videos. Then, after doing all of that (maybe 20 minutes), I tell them I have a word search handout. The first student to finish is the winner! I say, "Do not write your name. Circle the words. No talking. Ready? Go!" and the class is silent for a couple minutes. As soon as I see the advanced students starting to get frustrated/confused, I start laughing. I say, "I FOOLED YOU! HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY!!!!" and tell them no words are there. It is a joke. They get mad and tell me so with big smiles on their faces. Then I collect the handouts to reuse for the next class. Soooo funny! If you want to watch the video that was the biggest hit with my kids~go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blOrY-nEGaE&list=PLE77CF25A17A69A9E&index=1&feature=plpp_video I always watched the kids watch the video. They were cracking up!!!!! and I was laughing at them! ^-^


Topic #3: Running my first 10km!
So...basically since we returned to Daegu I've been running at the gym trying to get healthy, lose the weight I gained pigging out at home, etc. and my friend told me about the Daegu marathon. Now there was NO WAY I could run a marathon, but I figured...with 3 weeks left to train, I should be able to run a 10km! I registered for the race and researched training schedules (I had only been running 3-5km so I needed to gradually double my distance). Then I bought new running shoes (mine were at least 3-4years old and started hurting my feet), and began running with a purpose!!! I was pretty good about going to the gym 3-4 times/week, but having this marathon goal meant I was running 4-5 times/week without fail. I was SUPER motivated!!! Not only did I want to finish the 10km, I wanted to finish it withOUT stopping. 


The marathon was last Sunday morning. I saw the international athletes warm-up and talked with a few other English teachers I happened to see. We got lined up, I started my cardio app to track my time and distance (just as a reference), and I pushed play on my ipod. I was ready to start the race!!! We ran from city hall up to where the Daegu train station is and back around. It was so much fun!!!! The best part is...I finished it in about 58minutes!!! I don't know the official time yet, but based on my phone, it was about 58 minutes. I had been running it at the gym in about 67 minutes, so I was really happy with my time! The weather was perfect and with so many people running around me and people cheering from the sidewalks, it was a blast. I definitely got tired and my legs were super sore later that day, but I really enjoyed the 10km. Plus I got a "Finishers Medal" which is awesome! Fluke and some friends met me at the finish line and that was really cool because they woke up early to get there! They motivated me too because I told them I would finish between 9:10-9:20... I wanted to be on time! So thanks to Fluke and our friends for supporting me!! I think I will look up more races around Daegu and keep running. If for no other reason than to give myself another goal and keep my motivation up. Maybe the next one I can run in 50-55 minutes!!! ^o^ Here's a pic of me at the finish line!

Things my students say part III

Hi everyone! Fluke and I got new glasses!! (Post about that later...) and since my new glasses are much different than my old ones, I had some pretty funny reactions from my students. 


Student reactions on my first day of wearing my new glasses...


Student: Oh, teacher! new glasses!
Me: Yes! I have new glasses. Do you like them?
Student: Yes, of course! They look like mine :)


S: Oh! (points to glasses) Nice! (thumbs up)
Me: Thank you!


S: Oh, Jennipa teacha...you have new glasses.
Me: Yes!
S: talks in Korean to friends...and doesn't say anything else to me :)


S: Teacher! Why new glass?
Me: Why do I wear new glasses?
S: Yes.
Me: I wanted new glasses...and now I see better!
S: Oh... Good!


S: Looks at me for an awkward amount of time trying to figure out what is different....and then walks away.


S1: (points to glasses) glass? (looks to friend)
S2: new glass? (S1 and S2 look to S3)
S3: New glasses!
Me: Yes! I have new glasses! (I knew they would figure out what to say, so I waited for them to figure it out together)


Ok...that's all the ones I can remember! Because the students come to my classroom, I am able to welcome them at the start of every class. I always say, "good morning!" or "hello!" A few of the students and I have special routine greetings. Because I welcome the students this way and they are used to it, whenever they want to tell me something, or ask me something, they have the opportunity to do so before the bell rings. When they noticed my new glasses, they were able to speak enough English/use body language to have a short conversation. Overall, my favorite conversations are when a small group of students work together to say what's on their minds. Between 2-3 of them, they are always able to tell me what they want or ask me their question. It makes me feel good too because they work so hard to tell me in English instead of going to my Korean co-teacher for help to translate. 


I always learn something from the students during the conversations too. In the past two days, I've realized that the students need to learn the word... "glasses!" ^-^*


And here's a pic of us in our new glasses!

Things my Students Say No.2

Back with some more!


Walking through the hallways today, a 7th grade girls stops me and says
Student: "Teacher You! Saturday, I see you. Glasses. No!" 
Me: Ummm...
Student: "You...no glasses today?"
Me: (Aaah, she saw me on Saturday getting new glasses!) "Yes, no glasses today...contact lenses!!"
Student: "Ah, very good. Lenses!?! Teacher, you no wear glasses. Lenses only ok?" 
Me: Ok....?
I guess she didn't like me in my new glasses :(


In class last week, I finally taught a student to say "Nice to see you again." The past year or so, he has been saying "Nice to meet you" every time I see him. First thing he says to me when I walk in today, "Nice to meet you Teacher!" Sigh...


Talking to another English teacher about class, we look up and see an 8th grade girl looking at us intensely. She notices us looking and nods her head wisely at what we just said and says, "Yes...I understand Teachers." We weren't even talking to her!


Bad students have to carry a little slip of paper, and teachers in each of their periods mark down whether or not they are great, good, average, bad, or very bad. At the end of the day, I assume they show their parents? Anyways, one of my better students in 2nd period asked me to sign his, and I did, marking down "good." I noticed that the teacher for 1st period had put down "bad" and I asked him why.
 He said: "Oh, Art is 1st period. Very terrible. I don't like." 


Teaching my 9th grade class about how to use the word "recommend." 
Me: Can anyone recommend a good Korean singer for me to listen to?
Boy: Yes! I recommend G.NA.
Me: Great. Why do you recommend G.NA? 
Boy: (looks at all of his friends before saying this) She is very glamorous! (At which point, the whole class starts to laugh...)
Me: Ummm. (I turn to my Korean co-teacher and ask her what "glamorous" means). Blushing furiously, she says that it means that G.Na has a very big "chest." ^__^

Things my Students Say Part I

Sometimes my students say the funniest things. I thought I'd start writing some of them down!


1. A little bit of context first. This student is lower-level, and has never spoken to me directly before...until today. After I explained the directions for our first activity, he gives me a really intense look and says, "Teacher. I don't understand. Speak Korean. Please." ¯\_(ツ)_/¯


2. Right after class today, one of my students comes up to me and says, "Teacher, I miss you." Even though she literally just saw me 5 seconds ago.


3. Every day, without fail, if this particular student sees me, she will always say, "Teacher how are you? This is good morning!" Every day! In the morning, afternoon, after-school. It is always a good morning to her and it always made me smile. I was very sad to find out this week that she moved to the Phillipines to study abroad for a year. :(


4. "Teacher, do you know Cleveland Indians? My favorite team!" I just thought it was random that one of my students liked a baseball team from Cleveland. 




That's it for now. Bye!

Today Was a Good Day Volume III

Well...it wasn't really today, but I didn't have time to write about it on that day, so here it is now! Today was a good day volume III:


I have this particular class of 5th graders who, let's just say, are very difficult to teach. They are usually 5-7 mins late to class (not really their fault), which makes my lesson more rushed. When I only have 40 minutes, being 5-7 minutes late (plus 1 minute to get seated and organized) is a significant time to lose. They are a noisy bunch so it takes me (and my co-teacher) longer to get through the required textbook exercises (really boring, but apparently necessary to learning English). They know when they finish the textbook exercises, there is a game/activity. Yet, they still take forever to do the textbook exercises. Basically, this class is challenging in many ways. The part that is significant to why this day was a good day, is the part where...they walked into class 4 minutes early. Yes, I looked at the clock because I was SHOCKED they were early.


I always have a short interesting/entertaining video to show classes when they arrive to my classroom early. Some classes are always early (because in the previous period they were only next door and not in P.E. or a classroom 2 buildings away) and after giving them a couple minutes of playing/chatting/whatever it is those boys do, I start a video. Some students choose to talk quietly, go to the bathroom, or whatever. For the most part, all the students want to watch the video. 


Let's just say...this particular class hasn't seen a video in months. So when they walked in early, I said, "everyone sit down...I have a fun video to watch!" They looked at me like I was crazy...they weren't really sure what I meant. I pressed play on the "art with sand video" (Check them out--they are amazing) and watched the students watching the screen. The entire class was focused on the screen. They were quiet. They were entertained.  The best part is...when the video finished...I told them, "I always have a video before class. If you come to English class early, you can watch a video." Then the bell rang. We started class right on time. They finished the textbook exercises in record speed and efficiency. I gave them a "+1" on their class point chart for being such a good class. They had plenty of time to play the game. It was an amazing class. I reminded them that when they come to English class early, they get to watch a video. 


Cross your fingers that the next time I teach this class, they are at least 2 minutes early.

Busan 2011 Fireworks Festival

Last Saturday,


We went to the Busan 2011 Fireworks Festival. And was it worth it?? Definitely! The show started at 8 PM, and we got to Gwangali beach at 4:00 PM to get good seats. I know, how do you get good seats for a fireworks show?? Trust me...it got crowded. Gwangali beach is a pretty awesome area in Busan. It has a really sweet view. Basically, there is a bridge in the background of the beach, and at night, it lights up and changes color. This time, there would also be fireworks!


What I liked about the Busan 2011 Fireworks Festival:
- The fireworks show!
It was about 50 minutes long, and I saw some pretty spectacular displays. 
- The backdrop
Sitting on the beach, watching the fireworks go off from the bridge in the distance. Pretty awesome.
- Good friends and food
Went with two of our good friends, and of course, it was always nice to get a break from school lunch and whatnot.
- Easy to find a motel
We thought we might have some trouble finding a place to stay, but we were able to get a place right next to Gwangali beach!

What I didn't like about the Busan 2011 Fireworks Festival:
- The people
Oh my gosh, the people. The place was insanely packed. Like...everywhere. There literally was no spot on the beach that someone hadn't taken. And I don't like to complain, but wow, Koreans really don't have any regard for personal space or manners really. Jenn and I repeatedly got sand on us from Koreans stomping past us, and we had to constantly fight off people who wanted to sit next to us. Like, on the 5 inch spot of sand separating our blanket from the other groups blanket. To be fair, the Korean couple sitting next to us were just as annoyed! This was by far the most irritating aspect of the whole festival.
- The rain
Unfortunately...it was raining. And well, rain kinda sucks! But Jenn and I were prepared, and we brought our ponchos and umbrellas.


That's it!


Some things I'd do differently? 
Definitely look into watching the fireworks from a different area of Busan. I looked it up online beforehand, and apparently there were some different areas to see the fireworks from. I would rather be farther away than have to deal with all the pushing, shoving, and just general rudeness.


Overall, Jenn and I (and our friends) had a really good time. Sure, it got a little crazy with the over-crowding, but hey, once the fireworks started, it didn't really matter that it was raining or that there were way too many people crammed into one place. They were that amazing. And hey, you can't really beat a free 50 minute firework show. Just look at our clips! And these weren't even our favorite parts. I didn't film our favorite parts, because, well, I was too busy enjoying it! Anyway, talk to you all later!

Today Was a Good Day Vol. 2

Hi everyone! This is my first "Today was a good day" blog entry! Enjoy :)


I have a student who last semester was extremely difficult to control and this semester, still refuses to do anything, but is more quiet about it. Today I said, "Please open your book to page 132." I know he understands me. He opens his book and then says, "No, teacher. I won't do." Instead of *trying* to make him complete the exercises by staying beside him the entire time, I decide to do something new. I looked at his drawings on the inside of his torn book cover. I asked, "What's this?" He proceeds to tell me all about the monsters. I ask him to name the body parts, to count the body parts (I think there were 6 arms and 3 eyes???) and to label his monsters. We have a short conversation about his life. (I knew his living situation was far from ideal.) And he told me he is happy living with his grandparents (I don't know what exactly happened to his parents, except that under their care, he was not happy.) He walks to school (like most of the students) and has breakfast every morning.


I always knew that connecting with students and having meaningful conversations with them is the best way to motivate and teach them. Until today, I had not done that with this child. I'm embarrassed to admit this because it should have happened much, much earlier in the school year. Anyway, later in the period, during a partner creative writing activity, his partner asked me how to spell a word. I always ask the students to try to spell the word first and then I will help them. Well, this boy blurted out the correct spelling! (For a difficult word too!!!) Partners are supposed to help each other and learn from each other. Until this activity, I had never seen this boy be a "partner" or participate in a cooperative learning activity voluntarily. No, I don't think he will suddenly do all the textbook exercises without being prompted. No, I don't think he will suddenly be volunteering and raising his hand all the time. BUT, I do hope that his participation improves and he has more of a desire to learn English. I look forward to the next time I teach him. I wonder what short 2-minute conversation I will have next time???

Today was a Good Day Vol.1

I thought I'd try something new and maybe start a series of posts about a good day that Jenn or I have had. It'll give us a little break from writing about our super awesome weekends, and give you guys a little more info about what goes on in our lives daily. Let's begin!


Today was a good day,
                 I started off the morning with a nice cup of coffee, and had my favourite 7th grade girls class. I taught them how to use the "Would you like to ______" phrase, and then we played a Pokemon review game about it. They were really into it, and were shouting out Pokemon names and yelling "oooh, so cute!" every time they saw Pikachu. It was definitely a great way to start the morning. After their class, I had 2nd period with one of my 8th grade boys classes. They are one of my favourites, and I had a good time teaching them, "What's the matter? My blah blah blah." I always like my 8th grade boys, because even though they can get a little rowdy sometimes, they always have the most energy and enthusiasm out of all my classes. The trick is to get them to focus all that energy and enthusiasm into learning English.  After 2nd period, our school had an English festival for the next two hours. I judged a student presentation contest, in which they made awesome powerpoints and speeches about what they wanted to do with their future. (Mostly awesome. Haha). One student even talked about a popular PC game called Minecraft which I thought was really creative! 
                  After a solid lunch with corndogs (nice!), I had 5th period off so I used that time to prep for next week. Ok. So really, I used that time to relax and do some Fantasy Football. Which was so much more important! Hehe. Then in 6th period, I got to play a music trivia game with some more of my 8th grade boys. I was a little nervous at first because I thought boys wouldn't be as into music as my girls classes were, but they loved it! It's probably one of the benefits of having an all-boys/girls class? The boys can be boys, and not have to worry about acting "manly" all the time for the girls. School gets out in an hour, and after grading a couple newspaper articles, I should be able to use the rest of my time to just relax and maybe grab a cup of  coffee. All in all, not a bad day at the office! 

One of the few pics I have of me teaching!