Happy Holidays!!!!

Happy Holidays everyone! I hope you are all enjoying this fun month of festivities and shopping! It has been an interesting month here with all of the North Korean stuff going on, but it finally seems to have blown over again surprise, surprise. It was a little nerve racking for a bit, because everyone (Koreans and foreigners) seemed to be concerned. When people around me start to worry a lot and the news makes it seem like WW3 is about to happen at any moment, it's hard not to get sucked into all that madness. I will be boycotting all N. Korean news until I leave. I'm sure my sanity will thank me later. Thank you for all your kinds words, thoughts, and prayers. They always mean a lot.

These next two weeks my co-workers, students, and I will be on count down mode for Christmas vacation. I think we are all burnt out and need time away from school and each other. My kindergarten class has their holiday play next week. It should be complete chaos, especially because we haven't practiced much in class and they all informed me that they have not been practicing at home either. Sweeeeet. We have one week to nail it and figure out what we are doing. Pictures and possible video to follow.

I have a lot of festivities planned in the 2 weeks but I am most excited for my trip to Hiroshima, Japan. I leave on the 25th- 29th. It is a trip I have wanted to take since I first arrived in Asia. I will be going by myself, which is something that has been on my mental bucket list. The me 3 years ago would have thought I was crazy. I didn't want to go to a restaurant or a movie by myself because only "loners" did that. Phew, have I changed. I realize it sounds strange, but I figure if one can travel alone, he/she can do anything. Plus, I'm staying in a hostel so there are TONS of young people around to meet and hangout with. The nerd in me is ready to get my learn on and eat an obscene amount of sushi. I have a feeling both will be wonderful. If I get lost, who is going to know? I'm hoping for better luck in Japan this time around. I don't want to be homeless for a night. It wouldn't be as much "fun" alone. Muahhaha.

Thank you for all your love and support over the last 2 years. I couldn't have done it without you. Enjoy your time with your friends and family. Eat much. Laugh more. Then, if you're like me, eat again. I will miss being home once again for the holidays, but the great thing is, they always come back again next year. Stay safe if you are traveling.

xoxo

Allll Good

Hi friends! Please don't worry about the North Korea situation. All is well here in Seoul. Remember, everything on the news is exaggerated! Hope you are having a lovely week!

xoxo

Oh, Happy Day!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!

Thanks for getting married and having two wonderful, amazing, smart, and talented children.

Love you.

Colors Galore

Hi friends! It is a lovely fall day here in Seoul. I spent my morning getting brunch with friends, drank an obscene amount of coffee, and laughed. Then I went on an adventure to a few grocery stores looking for curry. Our mission was a success... we think. We will see when I..I mean my friends make it for dinner. I will be in the kitchen observing, giving moral support, sampling the tasty veggies, and refilling beverage glasses. I am very good at my role in the kitchen.

Fall in Korea is gorgeous. The summer is not so wonderful, but fall totally makes up for all the sweaty, rainy, and ridiculously sweltering weather. Last weekend my friends and I joined a tour group and went hiking, stayed in a folk village, and went to green tea fields. It was an amazing weekend of breathtaking views, great weather, and good company. It was Eryn and Jeff's first time out of the city, so it was nice to share that new adventure with them. They were troopers when we stayed in a minbak. They are basically cheap shotty little rooms that are known for being less than cleanly, but a great place to stay in for a few hours. That is exactly what we did. I don't think I slept more than two hours though. I was worried about getting possible critter bites, but mostly crapping my pants about my sleeping location in the room. My friend Sarah and I were sleeping right next to this strange door that led outside to a forest. I am someone who always thinks of the worse possible scenarios that could happen (thank you scary movies), and I was convinced that someone was going to open the door and pull both of us out by our feet. Luckily, we survived and no diseases or critters got the best of us. We woke up bright and early for our hike. It was an amazing hike! We took our time and laughed a lot. We had a lot of sweet encounters with Koreans giving us snacks, booze, and candy. That is one of the many things that I love about Koreans. They are so giving. They are great sharers, especially to us foreigners that probably always look like lost puppies. Also, we were in a lot of pictures with our fellow hikers, many of them were taken without asking (just my style). We ended the hike with ramyeon noodles and makkoli (rice wine). This a staple that everyone has before, during, and/or after a hike. I swear they drink all day. I don't know how they can hike and not fall off a mountain. Obviously, they are more coordinated than I am. Drinking + hiking = take Megan to the hospital.

Naejangsan Mountain


Minbak. We slept in our jackets and hoods. Anything so our bare skin wouldn't touch the crusty blankets and pillows.







Pretty amazing couple shirts

I don't know what Korean's infatuation with chicken fighting is, but people of all ages do it. (see halloween post) I guess its a great way to end the day? I hope I am that awesome when I am old. Like old as in my parents' age. :)


enjoying the lanterns at a temple on the mountain


lunch for champions

some of my favorite people




Combay (cheers)


best seat on the mountain

be careful. this mountain is notorious for rocks falling on bears.

I want to be her when I grow up. bad.ass.

Folk Village
We stayed overnight in this cute folk village. It is a village that looks, feels, and functions like old time Korea. It is surrounded by cobblestone walls. Inside is peaceful, green, and has cute little houses with roofs covered in straw. I'm not exactly sure what people do there, but we slept and enjoyed this strange place in rural Korea. We were there a total of 14-ish hours so we didn't do much there. However, I'm sure it would be a wonderful place to bring your family and spend the day. I got to pet a cow. That was fun! ha! But seriously, it was. I miss animals. I need a dog. stat. Good thing my mom promised to buy me a dog after graduation. I think I need to remind her of that.





Tea Fields
Our last stops for the weekend were at two tea plantations. Our first plantation was extremely expensive and well-known in the tea industry. We were able to pick tea flowers in the fields and then do some tea sampling in the cute cafe. The tea was delicious, but not worth the price. Apparently, it is the only plantation that plants each bush with a sprinkling of gold dust. I don't understand why that is an amazing thing to do, but the price reflects the gold. Each small cup runs about $30. Personally, I'll stick with my box of peppermint tea for $4. Our last stop was a green tea plantation. Both places were beautiful. It reminded me a lot of the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. Tea plantations are by far one of the most beautiful places I have seen in my life. I hope you all get the chance to see one someday.










It was a fabulous weekend. I miss the fresh mountain air and space. Times like this I get so excited about moving back to Colorado. It will be soon enough though.

I hope you Minnesota folk are enjoying your snow. I am a bit jealous. However, I'm sure the feeling will leave in two minutes. Have a wonderful weekend! Miss you all!

xoxo

Lost in Translation

Hi friends. Do you ever feel like things are going too well and you are just waiting for something to happen? Something to burst your happiness bubble of puppies, rainbows, and Legos. Technically, my bubble was not popped but my student named Rex's was. He is a lovely, crazy child. He is always getting out of his seat to show me a new dance move. Actually, he will do anything to get out of his seat. He is a ham. He craves attention. He will do anything for it and it often times leads to trouble. By often, I mean almost every day. I love him. He is the most creative and hilarious child in my class. Last week he came to class with two baseball sized bruises, one on each arm. He told his teachers that his father did it. When I saw the bruises, I almost lost it. I knew right away that there was nothing that we could do about it. The school called his mother and asked about it, but her response was that he fell. Typical. Rex, being an attention hungry kindergartner, proceeded to talk about it the rest of the day and showed other students. I didn't know how to handle that. I have never faced abuse in the classroom, especially that age. I didn't want to make him feel bad or feel like it was his fault. I could see the confusion in some of my students eyes about why his dad would do something like that. Especially because we teach them every day about being kind to their friends and others around them. It made me feel even worse when I heard other students talk about times that their mother or father hit them. It was a day that I will never forget because it was a wake-up call that I was not in Kansas...er..America anymore. There are procedures that must be followed as an educator in the States. However, none of these exist here...yet. This past year Korea finally stopped physical punishments in schools. They are slowly changing and becoming more westernized in their beliefs, but there are still many things that need to happen. I know things like this happen in the States and everywhere else for that matter, but it still doesn't make it any easier. We, as educators and adults, are supposed to keep children safe. We are not supposed to turn our cheek and hope others can do it or allow children to go home to unsafe environments. I may not be able to keep Rex or other children safe outside the classroom, but I can tell you one thing, they will feel loved and appreciated the best to my ability while they are in my presence. Culture is culture. I may not understand it always, but it is the way it is and I will continue to respect it. However, I don't have to like it.

Creeper part 2

My favorite day always involves tunes, a coffee in one hand and my camera in the other. I may be creeper, but I'm always creepy with a smile. Does that make it better? I spent a few hours on a gorgeous fall day this past weekend and rode my bike around Olympic Park. It has the best people watching because there are so many cute munchkins and families. I may not be an expert photographer, but it makes me happy. Happy is good.

















I'm heading south to see some foliage this weekend with friends! I can't wait to breathe some fresh air and enjoy the last few beautiful days of fall.

Have a fabulous week. I hope you are doing things that makes your own heart grin.

xoxo

Halloweenie

I love Halloween. It is so much fun to let loose and have fun with my students. There is no explanation needed. Good old fashion fun.
















Boo! xoxo