Climb On Jersey Boy

 Time to play catch-up once again. You'd think I would learn to just sit down and get stuff written down on time. Oh well, busy (and maybe slightly lazy) Laura Teacher. To begin, I know that I'm not allowed to talk about the cold here as The States has been put into a giant freezer. So I won't mention that it is frigid here as well...because that's not fair to all of you back home. Moving on from weather, let's start by throwing a bunch of delicious food pictures your way (you're welcome). Two weekends ago (was it really that long?), Kaitie and I prepped for an Arabic feast I was going to hold at my place for a small group of friends. Shopping for the ingredients required for these recipes can be a bit difficult, as Koreans have different spices and groceries available. Finding parsley involved visiting a few different grocery stores in the area. Chickpeas for hummus were purchased online, and the falafel mix was brought back from Delaware. After chopping up about a bucket-full of parsley and preparing the tabbouleh, the next night we were all ready to go! Our friends filled the holes in the meal by providing veggies for the hummus, some roasted eggplant, and pita bread (because what's an Arabic feast without pita bread). It was a great evening with delicious food. I love sharing my family's traditional meals with friends over here, some of whom had never tried Arabic food before coming to Korea!

Kaitie Chef

 Spread

Falafel (with some strange shapes thrown in)

hummus

tabbouleh

The Wednesday of this week I had my third-and-hopefully-almost-last open house at Little America. With my three little ones, my open house tends to be much less hectic and stressful, just because they each have a significant time to talk and participate in the shortened lesson. In the lesson we each owned a different shop where, as the store owners, we had to help our customers buy an item of their choice. The girls did a great job selling clothes, ice cream, and pets. After we spent all our money, the girls danced and sang, presented their speeches, and performed a jazz routine with Katrina's kids. After that crazy week of open houses for all of the teachers, it was so nice to be finished on Friday! You could literally feel a weight lifted from the teachers' room that had been hanging over us all the past month. Now to just get through the last month of the semester before starting all over again with new classes, books, and schedules! I'm getting ahead of myself.


This weekend, even though every weekend I think I really would love to just relax and do absolutely nothing around the house, was full of some exciting adventures around Seoul. Firstly, on Saturday, Dan, Mike, and I went rock climbing at an indoor gym in Suyu. Located in a North Face store (appropriate), this gym has all four walls covered in brightly-colored climbing holds and surfaces of all different difficulty. The last time I had been climbing was the summer before coming to Korea. In less shape and slightly nervous, I don't think I did very well that time, so now I was excited to see how much better I felt scaling these walls. After a short refresher from Dan and Mike's friend Bill, we started climbing. This sport not only works you physically, but you also have to think about where you are placing your feet and hands the entire time, especially if you decide to follow a designated color path created by the people at the gym. It was a great feeling to work my way all the way to the top! After about 4 goes, my arms weren't too sure about the whole thing and they decided not to work too well. I decided to push myself up one last time and barely made it up without using my forearms to hold onto the wall instead of my fingers. If you are looking for a different kind of workout, definitely check out climbing!

bouldering

 master belayer

After grabbing some juk from the sweetest little Korean grandmother ever, we made our way back to Mike's place to shower and get ready to hit the town for a bit. Kaitie came up and the night began with some tandoori chicken and fries to tide us over (the boys seemed to be hungry every hour or so...not sure where they put it). We spent the evening in a bar called Geckos, catching up with some friends and playing darts. Kaitie and I won in our Boys-vs-Girls match, despite what the boys might tell you. Girls rule, boys drool, sorry!

Sunday, Dan and I went to see Jersey Boys, which is in Korea with the original cast spreading the incredible songs of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. While I did not know about the back story to this musical group, I recognized nearly all of the songs. Some of which I didn't know were all from the same group! The men of this cast had breathtaking voices, especially the man playing the role of Frankie who has to hit some pretty high notes! Having "Walk Like a Man" permanently stuck in my head for the rest of the day is a minor side-effect of seeing this show. If it ever comes out near you, I would recommend checking it out! That's after you take up my previous recommendation of rock climbing of course. You have some busy weeks ahead of you I think!

This week, due to Lunar New Year, we only have 3 days of school! As Friday is a holiday, we had our birthday party/song contest on Monday. Not having the normal week to rehearse the song, the girls had to go with what we had been practicing throughout the month when we could fit in time around Open House rehearsal (we are busy busy bees). The kids all got up and gave their best, as usual, making it another great Birthday celebration in the books! 

 "Music Man"

 "Ants go Marching"

"Wheels on the Bus"

 

Here are my little ones singing our monthly song "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". Hope it brings back some good memories of that gem of a film!

 This song was much faster than I remembered when I chose it 6 months ago. I was actually nervous that it would turn into a jumbled mess as we rushed through it trying to keep up. As usual though, my girls pull through and do an amazing job with these crazy difficult song that Laura Teacher chooses for them!

 I'll end here with a look-see into the rest of my week. Grad classes starting up again means I have a bunch of homework to stay on top of now, but hey, what's a few more essays added to the week. Tonight (Tuesday) a group of coworkers and I are off to see the new Disney film "Frozen", which my students have been absolutely raving about over the past two weeks. I encourage them as they randomly break out into musical numbers from the movie in the middle of class. At least they are using their English! Then starting Thursday, I have a 4 day weekend, during which a friend and I are planning to venture off, against the cautionary warnings from my co-teachers about traffic, to enjoy a few days off. Who knows what kinds of adventures will happen over this weekend! Guess you will just have to tune in next week (wow I sound like a Nickelodeon show) to find out!

I hope everyone is staying healthy, warm, and happy in these less-than-stellar winter months. I cannot wait until I can soak in some Vitamin D and get some color back, as I'm starting to feel like the ghost of Chuseok past over here. Love you all and can't believe next month will mark my 18th month here in Bucheon!

Korean Phrase of the post:
큰 소녀는 울지 않는다
(keun sonyeoneun ulji anhneunda)
"Big Girls Don't Cry" (haha stuck in your head now!)


xoxox 

Laura Teacher is Slacking

Well, I think it's about time for a post. It has been about 3 weeks (slap on the wrist Laura Teacher). I didn't forget about posting something, believe me. It was in the back of my mind every day. I just did not have the pictures nor stories to really provide a good backbone to a post. Then I realized, you don't need cute pictures of kids (of which I have some...) nor live-threatening adventures (nope none of these) to put my thoughts down.

Reflecting on my trip home it feels like a dream. A very short, very happy dream. Things have gone pretty much back to normal here, for better or for worse. Back at Little America to finish off the semester. In March, things are going to turn upside-down as classes change, kindergarteners graduate, and two new teachers come in to replace (and fill the GIANT shoes) of Kaitie and Katrina. Those two are off on a 4 month adventure around South East Asia. I haven't seen the official itinerary, but I'm not sure I want to or else Kaitie might have to fit me into her backpack. My kids might miss me though.

It seems like a lot of people are leaving in March as contracts can start then or, like mine, in August. It comes with the experience here though, losing friends every 6 months. After being here for a year and half I've said goodbye to people who I've become so incredibly close with...I should stop talking about this- it's getting hard. ---Super Smooth Transition and Change of Topic---

I'm looking forward to being that older (in the sense of experience) teacher at Little America, showing the new teachers the ropes for my last six months! It will be fun to teach them about little Bucheon sites and how to use the subways just as my friends did for me a year and a half ago. As for what lies for me after Korea, I'm feeling this tremendous pull towards Europe. I would love to not only visit family and friends there but find a job in one of the many beautiful countries it has to offer! Those of you in that area keep your eyes open for me, will you? Anything where I can play with kids all day and still explore everything sounds perfect to me!

For now, though I need to enjoy as much as possible in Korea while I'm here! Kaitie and I are planning on visiting Busan sometime next month, as we have yet to travel down that way. We hope to hop on the KTX (Kaitie's namesake) and explore for the weekend! Some places I definitely want to check out down there include Haeundae Beach, which should be much less crowded when we go down- because sometimes it looks like this...

Not only do they not share my affinity for soaking up as much sun as humanly possible, they do the exact opposite; wearing winter gear like they are about to go skiing as they simultaneously sit under an umbrella applying SPF 157 sunscreen.

Another place I've heard about is Gukje market, where there seemingly endless streets of Korean trinkets, restaurants, street food, and probably lots of dried fish of various sizes and smells. I love exploring these areas, especially at night when they are clearer of tourists. Other than these two, Kaitie and I will just have to see where the weekend takes us!

Back to the present, next week I have the pleasure of completing my third open house at Little America. This year, the Korean teachers have decided to change it up from an incredibly scripted and structured lesson, to something a bit more free and conversational. Now, I'd be all for this change if it wasn't for the fact that they still expect the students to complete the lesson using accurate grammar and pronunciation throughout. I think they forget that the students are 7 years old, and if you want them to role play, they are definitely not going to do it perfectly. I'd much rather them have fun acting out my lesson, not speaking perfectly, than be nervous about saying things correctly. We have two more days next week to practice, so I hope to spread a feeling of relaxation and freedom to my students so that they can enjoy the lesson! I'll be sure to keep you posted on how it goes next week...cross your fingers for me....

** 'Cute Kids Photo' as promised **

I think this is the shortest post yet. I feel like I should go off and do something drastic this weekend just to give you something to read about! xoxo

Korean Phrase of the post:  
더 여행하고 싶어요
(deo yeonghaenghago shipeoyo)
I would love to travel more...

Home for the Holidays

Well, back in Korea after the fastest week ever in Delaware! Wish I could have had more time at home but that's what happens when you work at a private hagwon here. A week for winter vacation to spend as you'd like. I couldn't have chosen a better way to spend it than with friends and family back home who I haven't seen for over a year! The flight back was long, but relatively uneventful. I have to say, the harder flight was the hour and a half from Detroit to Philly knowing that I was SO close to seeing everyone. I was trying to use mind control to get the poor flight attendant to sit the heck down before landing, because I knew that once she sat, it meant we were officially landing! Walking through security and customs, I was attacked with screams, hugs, and posters with giraffes on them from my family. It was a bit surreal seeing them "in real life" as opposed to through my computer screen. We picked up my bag and made our way back home in the good ol' giant red suburban. Arriving around 3:30pm back home meant it was about 5:30am in Korea. My timing was all off, but I felt okay as we spend my first night at home with delicious spaghetti bolognese and a movie.

**Speaking of food: A warning for all of you who may be hungry...This post will have a LOT of food-porn. Go grab a snack to tide you over just in case**

The next morning, after a mediocre night of sleep, my family was incredible enough to save Christmas until I got home! Needless to say, Edward was overwhelmed with excitement over the gift possibilities that were waiting for him under our tree. He and I were the first ones up, so we opened our stockings together, just like old times.

 Henry with his gift reindeer

 Dad with his Grinch smile

ridiculously wrapped gift

Present from Al <3

Hunger Games Bow and Arrows

 After celebrating our Christmas day with brunch and trying to nap, I had the lovely Sara come to visit! That night we all went off to see Alex perform at World Cafe Live. There I got to see SO many friends that I've looked forward to catching up with! We chatted and hugged while Alex serenaded us on stage. After the performance a group of us made our way out to celebrate at the bars in Trolly Square, nearby home. Nothing has changed too much in Delaware I've found. Felt like I hadn't even left!






The next morning, Julie stopped in as well and we got to work baking a HUGE batch of the most delicious, Christmassy, addicting cookie in the entire world- Pfeffernusse. Say that 10 times fast.

 We tried to not eat all of these at once, and we succeeded for the most part. I wanted to bring some back for the coworkers to have as well! Let's see how many make it...






After saying goodbye to Sara and Julie, the family and I headed off to Chef's Haven in Hockessin to have a French meal cooked for us! The chef, Mark Eastman, owns this small shop and kitchen where you can book a night to learn how to create delicious recipes as well as buy your favorite cheese, bread, and truffles! 

**Prepare yourself for these food pictures**

Mark created a menu based on our favorite foods as well as his suggestions. We started with scallops in a cheesy, creamy sauce, then had a salad with goat cheese (these descriptions have been simplified), salmon with lentlis, and finally an incredible creme brulee. I could barely move after the meal, but I was perfectly happy with that.

Edward could barely handle his excitement, as he climbed over the counter.

 For those of you in the Delaware area, you owe it to yourself to check out Chefs Haven and book a cooking class for you and your family or friends! I promise he didn't pay me with bread and cheese to spread this message....But really though, you should do it.

The next morning we jumped in the car and traveled up to Fresco, an adorable Italian restaurant in New Jersey, to meet the family. My grandparents, aunt Lydia, uncle Tom, and cousins Thomas and Ramsey came down from Connecticut, while cousin Amanda came from New Brunswick in New Jersey, to see me (yay!) and also enjoy a great meal together.

**More food pictures**

  

 The food was mouth watering, and it was such a gift to see my family members who I haven't been able to see since I left for Korea. Some of them haven't changed at all, while my younger cousins suddenly grew 3 feet and sounds like a 40 year old man now... I'm feeling suddenly shorter after this trip. Catching up with them all makes me miss them all the more now looking back on it. I'm so glad that trip to meet them happened, even though it was shorter than I would have wished it to be! After driving home, we decided it was time to have a gingerbread house decorating competition, boys vs. girls. Mum, Alex, Beth, and I took over one house while Edward, Dad, and Pedro (the awesome foreign exchange student staying with my family) took the other house. Armed with icing sugar and an open pantry, we battled to the death...well almost....

 "Ted, Edward, Pedro aka TEP"

Some serious decorating with toothpick spikes

girls went with the classic look

 boys...well...chose a different route

Some pretty impressive architecture on the boys' part. The houses went up on display for our New Years party the next day, and our guests could vote for their favorite. The boys pulled ahead, although a little birdie told me that Edward put some extra votes in there...

Such a busy trip already, but the excitement hadn't even started yet. My parents put together an elaborate New Years party to have friends and neighbors come by and celebrate the new year with us. Each person I talked to asked about how I was doing here, what I've enjoyed the most, and what my plans are afterwards. I tried not to think too much about that last question, as my plans are pretty open at the moment. Squeezing around our house trying to say hello to everyone, I felt true happiness being home surrounded by friends and family. Here are some snapshots from the festivities!

Two generations of "big sisters" from Tatnall

 Tatnall reunion

After the countdown in the basement we danced the night away together until the party thinned to a very small group. The night ended with about 7 of us playing Taboo, under the slight influence of lots of alcohol, laughing til we were crying. Who could ask for a better way to bring in the new year than that? The next day, National Horizontal Day, was celebrated in full by the Saad clan and friends who came by to visit.

 For Christmas, Beth got the gals of the family an aerial-yoga class. For those of you who haven't heard of such a thing, just imagine circ de soleil in Vegas. Maybe on a slightly smaller scale...but only slightly...

We walked down into the studio where about 10 hammock-like fabrics hung from the cross beams on the ceiling. We spent the next hour flipping around, hanging upside down, and getting stuck in various positions all while trying to not look like an idiot. It was SO much fun! While I didn't feel like it was a workout, I was sore in brand new places the next day. If you all get the chance to do it, then I would definitely recommend it with some friends who don't judge you or post photos of you on the internet.

Pro aerial-yoga-ists (ists? ers? letes?)

That night it was time to finally have Christmas dinner! Alex decorated our beautiful table, and mum created a fabulous spread including some Saad family traditional Christmas food such as brussel sprouts, and yorkshire pudding!

 Sorry forgot to warn you about another food picture

And of course, what is Christmas without playing "Find the Pickle"?? Mum hid the small pickle ornament in the tree somewhere and on three, my sisters, Pedro, Edward, and I sprinted over from the table to see who would get good luck this year. Nearly immediately after taking the following blurry picture of him running, Edward picked out the small green pickle like he knew it was there all along. As the untrusting and skeptical sisters we are, we decided to have a rematch. Dad hid the pickle once more and again Edward found it in about 10 seconds... well, everyone has their own special gift I suppose! Double good luck for Edward!

The next day I got another Christmas present, a dentist appointment! Now, I'm not sure if I posted about my dental experiences here in Korea, but needless to say, it wasn't the most pleasant. After being told I have 13 cavities to fill and being attacked by a drill, I decided to just wait til I got home to face the dentist again. For those of you wondering, I in fact do not have 13 cavities, and my teeth are just fine! I know that's a huge relief to you all. This day also marked my final full day in the US before flying back off across the world. How else would I spend the day but with the dentist, a facial, some sushi, and an incredible Arabic dinner?

Driving around Delaware, it was hard to accept that a whole week had just gone by. I felt like I had just arrived when I would be going back to the dreaded airport the next morning. This whole week I tried my best to enjoy each and every moment with my family and friends. If I had more time I would have visited more people, taken more time out with my sisters and brother, my parents, Henry, but in the end, that was the time I had. Living abroad has been a life-changing experience, as cliche as that sounds. I wouldn't change my decision to come to Korea if I had the chance. Trips home like this though make it really hard to come back not knowing the next time I will be home to see everyone again. For those of you I didn't get to see this time around, know that I love you and can't wait to see you in the future wherever and whenever it may be! For those I DID get the pleasure of seeing, thank you so much for making my trip home that much more special! Giving that last hug to the family in the airport before the ridiculous journey home was really hard. I didn't want to let go, but thought the security people might think it was a bit odd for there to be 6 human shaped lumps in my carry-on luggage.

The following story tells the tale of Laura's adventure back to Korea.

Once upon a time, Laura had a 9:40am flight on Delta Airlines to Detroit, where she would have a leisurely 4 hours before her next and final leg to Incheon, South Korea. Due to the lack of internet on her mobile phone, Laura did not receive an email from Delta alerting her of that first flight being cancelled. Waiting in several un-moving lines to check in, Laura was placed on a new flight through US Airways at 11:14am, arriving in Detroit around 12:45, still providing enough time to get to the next flight. The previous night, North East America was the recipient of a substantial amount of snow. Not only did this cause the cancelled flight in the first place, but it also required the airplane Laura was sitting on to be defrosted. She fell asleep peacefully before take-off expecting to wake up mid-flight sometime. Unfortunately, she awoke to the sound of the defroster...an hour later...finishing up her plane. That current time being 12:30, she suddenly became anxious as this would only give her an hour and 45 minutes to get to her next flight, not including de-boarding and other time consuming airport procedures. Landing in Detroit, Laura rushed off the plane to find that she had to take a shuttle bus to the second terminal in order to get to her gate. The shuttle bus was 10 minutes late, and it took about 15 minutes to get to the alternate terminal. Pushing several old people and one small child out of the way (slight dramatization), Laura ran full speed across the airport to her gate, where her fellow passengers were boarding, calm as cucumbers. Taking her first breath in several hours, Laura sank into her seat ready for the 13 hour flight ahead of her. Taking a magical sleep-aid provided by her father, she slept for about 9 of those 13 hours, making it back to Korea relatively rested and ready to get back to her apartment about two hours later. Finally in her bed she fell asleep and will live happily ever after.

xoxox

Korean Phrase of the post:
나의 의류 건조기를 놓치는
(nawue wueryu geonjogleuhl nohjineun)
"I miss my clothes dryer"