Small Group Bowling

Touraments are in the air, apparently. The weekend following the volleyball tournament at school, the OEM small groups had a bowling tournament. Definitely a good time.


I went into the bowling tournament with very low expectations for my bowling performance. I was pleasantly surprised with a score of 120 on my first game. The second game didn't go quite as well... I think I maybe broke 100, but I don't remember for sure. I was shocked to be awarded with the title "Best Female Bowler." (FYI: The Best Male Bowler had a score of about 300.) I couldn't help but laugh... all I remember is getting gutter balls when I went bowling with the youth group back when I was in junior high. We had to give 25 cents to the food pantry for every gutter ball... and I'm pretty sure I was the most "generous" donor. lol.








(Couldn't help but think of Jana Alexis when I took this pic...)



I didn't do a good job with taking very many pictures... but Robert did! So if you really want to see more, you can check them out here: http://picasaweb.google.com/rodezman/20090425InterSmallGroupBowlingTournament#

Anyway, our Shinchon Small Group did well. We were deemed the winners of the tournament and were presented with gift certificates at Outback Steakhouse, which we immediately redeemed. It was a great evening.

We are the Champions: Part I

About a week ago, the teachers at my school invited me to participate in a volleyball tournament. The tournament was held between school teachers in my school district. It was kind of a big deal... our entire school schedule for the day was altered in order to accommodate the volleyball schedule and several of the teachers showed up to give their support.

I wasn't originally sure if I was actually going to play, so I didn't even bother bringing my shoes and athletic pants to school on the day of the tournament. However, during my morning prayer time with four of the other teachers, I really felt like I needed to participate - especially as the teachers were praying that the volleyball tournament would bring about school unity. So I decided to join the team. Kang Meesuk talked to the female gym teacher and managed to get some shoes and pants for me, which was such a blessing.


Getting ready...
I will admit, it was definitely out of my comfort zone to join the team, though. I found myself (once again) relying heavily upon my intuitive skills (which have grown a lot since coming to Korea, I think). I was definitely the only foreigner that played. Fortunately, there are lots of Konglish words (Korean and English mixed together) with volleyball here. It was fun to participate in a team sport... even though it had been several years since actually playing a game of volleyball.


Customary Korean bows before getting the game started.


Our AMAZING Cheongryang cheerleaders! It was so great to have their support!!! It was truly a community-building event. :D


In action


Cheongryang Joong Saranghae!
(We love Cheongrang Middle!)

Our last game was pretty intense. The score was neck-to-neck (is this a sports term? I feel like some of my English is beginning to leave me...) for pretty much the whole game. We definitely worked hard...


Our victorious team (with our school principal).


Receiving our championship certificate.


The lovely certificate (no trophy, I guess).


Way to represent, Cheongryang!!!


Our very happy and accomplished team.


Me with Kim Oo Ju.


I'm so glad Kang Meesuk came to cheer us on. She took the pics for me. I felt kind of like having her there was almost like having my mom there...


Lee In Nae (the female gym teacher) and I at our celebration dinner of samgaetang (a soup composed of chicken with rice inside and other random seasonings).


Five hours of volleyball yielded a district championship and a more unified group of Cheongryang teachers (an answer to our morning prayers). Although it was incredibly exhausting and I was QUITE sore the next day, it was well worth the time and effort.

What was I thinking?

Waygookin is the Korean term for "foreigner." Today I was reminded of the fact that I am still very much a foreigner here in Korea. [Sometimes I seem to be so comfortable here that I forget about that minor detail...]
----

I made it through half a semester without crying at school. This is significant improvement compared to last semester, where hardly a week seemed to go by without tears. Today, the tears returned to Cheongryang...

The cause: Overwhelming feelings of helplessness + exhaustion + feeling under the weather +undue stress/anxiety

So, I had to get a medical check-up at the hospital. This is a standard procedure for Native Teachers. For some reason, I didn't even think twice about going to get this check-up done by myself at the hospital across the street from my apartment. I figured it would be more convenient because of the location. Why I didn't consider the language barrier, I'm not sure.

Upon arriving at the hospital, I quickly realized that I was unprepared for this challenge. I had no idea where to go (fortunately, my co-teacher had written something in Korean for me to show people). I could not communicate hardly at all with the workers. I felt very helpless. I couldn't eat breakfast because they wanted to take a blood sample. The check-up seemed to take a long time and I did not enjoy being by myself.

After completing the medical exam (successfully, I think), I had to rush to school to administer make-up speaking tests to several of my students. Because things took longer at the hospital than expected, I was late giving the exams to my students. This wasn't a major problem, but definitely added to the stress I was already feeling.

As soon as my last student finished her exam and left the room, I couldn't keep the tears from streaming down. Unfortunately, my co-teacher was still in the room... and I felt ridiculous. She was very kind and understanding, though... along with several other teachers (word spreads like wildfire at my school). I'm thankful for all of their concern and care. And I'm thankful that school finished early today due to mid-terms. I'm thankful that I could have coffee after school with Kang Bo-gil. And I'm thankful that tomorrow is a new day.

Feeling Loved

On Wednesday, I had two girls surprise me with some pomegranate juice (which is absolutely DELICIOUS) and a super-sweet note.


I'm not sure what all of it says... but I think they were basically apologizing for their misbehaved class from a week or two ago. Unfortunately, the girls ran off before I got to ask them their names and which class they're in! They were a little shy... but SO thoughtful. Definitely made my day!

I am so thankful for my students...

Easter Lesson

I spent the week of April 13-17 teaching my students about Easter. It was a very interesting week, to say the least. I spent more time preparing this lesson than I've ever spent on any lesson in the past... and it was the most difficult lesson that I've ever taught. Usually by Tuesday my lesson flows pretty smoothly, but this one didn't come together until Thursday. It took awhile, but once it finally came together, I was quite pleased (and incredibly thankful). I feel like there's so much more I could say... but I'll just share some pics instead.

Some pictures from the lesson:

One of my friends was able to get plastic eggs from the US military base, which was SUCH a blessing! The students loved playing with them!


After the students listened to me share the story of Jesus' death and resurrection, they each got plastic Easter eggs with sentences from the story inside. The students had to read the sentences out loud together and then arranged them in the correct order.



In one of my advanced classes, we had lots of extra time left over. So, the students drew pictures based on what they learned during the lesson. I really appreciated their pictures!!!

















My co-teacher explained to me that this student was being quite genuine with his words and artwork. Most teenagers have pop stars as their "idols." It was cool to see this kid's heart.



It was definitely a special and memorable week. I'm so thankful for the teaching opportunities I have here in Korea!

Stay Tuned

I've got about three or four different blog posts composing themselves in my head... and I've been wanting to write about them all week...but I need to sleep!!!

Just a random fyi.^^

Loving life...
~Holly

Fusion at Olympic Park

Last week, Sara and I began working on our "Adventures List." This list is basically composed of the things that we want to do before our first year in Seoul is finished (reminds me of the lists Jana and I used to make when we were roommates). It's amazing how quickly time is flying!

The first thing on our list: A Fusion Picnic at Olympic Park
For those of you that don't know, fusion is "combining usually widely differing ethnic or regional ingredients, styles, or techniques" (thank you, dictionary.com). I had never really encountered fusion food before coming to Korea. I'm sure there must be fusion restaurants in the States, I just never paid attention to them before, I guess.


Our fusion menu: classic American PB&J, Korean-Chinese mandu (dumplings with meat and veggies inside), Korean kimbap (rice and veggies wrapped in seaweed), mango juice, California oranges, and Asian pear slices.


Sara doing one of her very classic "Sara" poses. =)


Right next to where we had our picnic! =)


How appropriate of a setting for a fusion meal...

It was simply delightful! I'm so thankful that Sara and I get to share adventures together this year. Looking forward to the many more in store...