Life has been full of occurrences the past few months. Going back to the States for a week, a new semester, family coming to Korea, it's hard to keep track of it all! But let me try to give a brief rundown on the main events~~

The end of February saw me back safely to the US for a week and a half to spend much-needed quality time with family in Denver. Everyone was able to be home together for a weekend, which was such a blessing. I was able to have happy moments with not only the family, but also with American shopping!! Shoes that fit my Western gorilla feet, jeans that extend past my calf, who knew that such ordinary items would be worth their weight in gold to me this far into my time in Korea! Not only was I able to revel in American shopss, but I made sure to stuff myself silly with food that I had been missing from home. Top of the list was salmon and fresh baby spinach. Mmmmm.

Being around such ordinary things in America was a wonderful reminder to not take for granted the little things we see daily. As much as I loved being home, it was a good wake up call to make sure to appreciate every day I've been given in Korea. Just as moments at home were fleeting, they are here as well, and I don't want to miss a single one!

I'm now one month into the new school year here. It's bizarre to Americans, but Koreans work their school year differently, instead beginning a new school year with the beginning of a new calendar year. Vacation times still roughly coincide with those in the US, but even those vary in their utility. Technically speaking, the students have most of January and February off for their winter and spring vacations, yet they use this time for intense educational camps. I led an English camp for interested students in January, and know already that I will do something similar in July.

While I don't think that I will be a teacher for life, I've come to love the chance to work with students here. There is the obvious English instruction, but I've come to love what happens outside of the classroom even more than I do English. And that's saying something! The students have begun to overcome their instilled Korean shyness to actually interact with the weird foreign alien teacher! Obviously some are more willing to talk than others, but everyday brings me new stories and smiles from what happens at Nammun.

If the rest of my time continues in the same fashion, it will have been a fantastic year indeed!

written by  Rachel in Korea! on March 30, 2009 from Seoul, South Korea
from the travel blog: South Korea, 2008-2009
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rachel! i am glad you got to refresh your wardrobe with clothes from the us. i feel you on the giant feet thing.

written by  Mari on June 7, 2009

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