I decided to look through the pictures I've taken over the last few months and post some of what I've done, seen, and taught for some of you who I unfortunately don't get to talk to regularly.
One of my last posts was about my changing school and being full of uncertainty about the idea, but it's been the best decision I've made here. I love my new kids infinitely more (but it's going to be so much harder to leave them!) and feel like I'm actually responsible for them and need to care for them in every way. The working environment is also much more comfortable and positive. My coworkers, especially the Korean co-teachers I share classes with are wonderful and are actually my friends now instead of just people I check in with to make sure I'm giving the right test every now and then.
This is my last day of class in Sunae at my first school. The two girls closest to me were my favorites. Let's focus on the one in the purple dress, Julia. She's the coolest little girl I've ever met. That always-in-the-front-row kind who is normally annoying, but I was lucky enough to see her through the four months that were her transition from kindergarten to elementary and teach her in both age groups. The kids can come to ECC for kindergarten from age 5-7 (4-6 Western age), for three years, if they start early enough. When they turn eight, they go to elementary school but most kids come back in the afternoons for classes at ECC. During this transition, they actually start looking different - most of them have gotten cell phones for graduation presents, some have finally gone to the eye doctor and gotten cooler glasses, new haircuts and clothes, and a whole new attitude. For some, that was a bad thing, but Julia only got better. I used to have to call students in the evening for five minutes so their parents could hear them speaking English, and one time I called Julia, asked what she was doing and she said, "Listening to instrumental music." She introduced me to the kayakum, which I guess is what you'd imagine Asia to sound like...(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WLQEBnaoIk&feature=related)
Anyway, this picture below is the present she gave me when I left. I'd like you to form your opinion of what it is before you go on.
I quite possibly will be on my own on this one, but when I looked at this and she said, "I made it for you." I immediately thought cookie with chocolate chips and candy on top! Wrong. It was clay. Which I didn't find out until part of it was in my mouth. Yes. That happened. Luckily it was soft and better able than Humpty Dumpty (yes, I sing this in my sleep) to be put back together again.
I took this the first week of May, walking to my new school in Jukjeon. Buddha's birthday is at the end of May - we got the day off of school actually - and there were lanterns all over the country to celebrate the whole month.
The next four pictures were from the last weekend of May, when I had that day off. I thought it would be festive to go to a temple. And so I did. This is my favorite temple, Wawoojeongsa. I came here in 2008 and this was my first visit back to it.
This is the view from my favorite spot to sit and read, write, think or have a picnic with a friend. It's the most peaceful place I've ever been, if there aren't kids running around knocking the rock stacks down at that moment!
beautiful - like you!
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