An Eventful Week!

Thursday was my last day of the two week winter camp at Jung-Ang elementary school. I was very happy that it was over, so Thursday night we got an invite from our Adventure Korea tour guides, Byeonwoo and Kyungsu to meet up for some drinks. We agreed to meet in Bucheon around 8:30 p.m., so Nicole, myself and my Korean friend met up with them at the station and then we headed to a quaint little Korean style bar where the soju, and food were a flooding. While we waited for Carmela and Chris to show up we had already polished off about 6-7 bottles of soju. The party was really just getting started when they showed up and it only got crazier as the soju kept coming and the night went on.

Two of my most favorite Korean people in the world. Byeongwoo and Kyungsu, who couldn't help, but sport Carmela's ear muffs.

How can you not love him, with that adorable face and smile?!?! *Dad you should love him for wearing a Yankees hat and sweater.* Nicole and Kyungsu have a special Korean relationship...lol! It's called we drank too much soju together and now we are drunk. You know the party is just getting started or you a way too drunk when the table dancing to K-pop songs starts.

We actually didn't end up staying out too late because most people were way too drunk to continue the party. We ended up leaving Bucheon around 1:00 a.m. and heading back to Incheon. Nicole, my Korean friend and I cabbed together because we all live within walking distance of each other. I was given Friday off by my school, so I got to sleep in and catch up on some rest.

Friday was spent sleeping, packing my suitcase for winter vacation, shopping for some travel items and getting money exchanged at the bank. Friday night was Holly and Rebekah's joint birthday party, so I spent the afternoon buying Holly a gift and then I went over to Tracy's to visit with her before the party started because I hadn't seen her in two weeks, because she was off in Thailand. We hung out for a few hours together, went to Lotte to buy her vodka, bought Holly a birthday cake and then headed over to Holly's to watch a New Zealand TV show called, 'Outrageous Fortune' while we waited for the birthday party to start. Around 8:15 p.m. Tracy and I headed to the galbi restaurant ahead of everyone with Holly's cake and to get us a spot we would all fit.

Nicole, Holly and I at the birthday dinner. Carolina and Alison enjoying dinner and drinks.

The birthday girls cutting their cake at US 66, where we headed after dinner.

Alison and I need more pictures together since she lives so far now. This is us at US 66. Last stop for the evening was Mad Max for the Gus Train. You have to experience it on your birthday, so Nicole ordered the train for Rebekah and Holly both.

I opted for a sober night because I wanted to get up early to clean my apartment, shower, do last minute packing and chill before boarding my plane to Indonesia for my two week winter vacation. However, I didn't end up heading home until after 3:00 a.m., so my early morning wake-up call sucked, but was necessary.

Two Weeks Was Long Enough!

Last week was my last week of winter camps. This week was with the grade 5's and 6's and just like the week before there was the really good English speaking students and the not so good English speaking students.

This is James and Henry. They were from another elementary school and their English was GREAT! This is Kelly (left) and Diana, we had our love for Big Bang in common, which made me cooler. These two never wanted their pictures taken, but I manage to get them to take a cute one together. The Big Bang fans, Diana, Kelly and me, together discussing K-Pop and the lesson of the day. They were actually trying to cheat for one of the activities, by looking up the answers in the teacher's guide book. Cheeky! I'm such a good teacher. This was a lesson on the past tense that I had to teach. It's nice to know that the students were actually paying attention, for the most part. I'm such a good teacher making sure that the students understand the activity. This was one of the not so good English speaking students who was taking another class during this camp. She was a smart girl, but she didn't speak a lot, so I'm not sure how her English speaking ability is.

On the very last day of the camp we introduced the students to Canapes for the first part of the class and the last part of the class was spent making their own Canapes and then eating them for a snack.

Diana and Kelly are busy creating their Canapes. Henry was awesome and he was a crazy Canape maker and spoke great English. This girl was adorable, but she spoke no English and understood no English. However, her Canape making was good. Enjoying her Canape's she just made. We ended the camp with a Golden Bell Competition.

We asked the students a variety of questions and they had to write their answers on the white board. Then when time is up they hold the board up and we check their answers. They keep track of their score on the board and the winner(s) received a box of crackers...woot!

The students enjoying the Golden Bell Competition.

Since the camp only ran Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 a.m. I didn't have to work Friday because my school gave me it off and I got to leave every day of camp after the four of us teachers ate lunch together, which was around 3:00 p.m. The two week winter camp went by pretty fast, but the students English levels made it really painful to teach them, except the ones that understood and could speak it. I'm glad the camp is over because now I have my winter vacation to Indonesia for two weeks to look forward. I leave on Saturday night. WOOT!

Family Outing!!

When we arrived at the little town where the pension was we were told we had to walk about 6 minutes to get to it. Well, as were walking, up hill, with our bags, we knew it was more than a 6 minute walk. When we finally reached the pension we had to break off into groups of 9 for the rooms. Carmela, Nicole, Rebekah, Emily and I shared with 4 people we didn't know, but they were good people. Once we got to the room we chilled out before needing to meet for dinner. The dinner was in the pension restaurant, which was basically a tent outside.

Here is Nicole at dinner hiding her face like a typical Korean girl.

We were served pig with hot dogs in it and some side dishes.

Byeongwoo and Kyungsu from Adventure Korea cooked the samgipsal we would be eating as well. Carmela, Nicole and I bought about 8 bottles of soju to get us through Saturday night because we wanted to play drinking games and have fun with the tour guides. The soju drinking began at dinner and went well into the night.

Byeongwoo and Kyungsu cooking our dinner...I'm a bit worried at their cooking techniques.

A night view of the pension we stayed at. They had a rink in the middle of it.

Carmela and I at dinner, which wouldn't be complete without the "Victory" sign.

After dinner when the soju started to kick in and the bonfire began we decided it would be the perfect time to start doing 'Family Outing' challenges. Family Outing is a reality TV program in Korea with celebrities who live together with the hosts and they just do dares and challenges against each other. Before it got underway Nicole and Byeongwoo decided to fight, Korean style.

Nicole and Byeongwoo preparing for the fight.

Carmela decided that the challenge would be piggy back rides. Basically, this challenge went from one boy and one girl against one boy and one girl to eventually boys against girls. Byeongwoo and Kyungsu were the two boys and Nicole and Carmela were the two girls, I was the photographer extraordinaire.

Here are the 4 'Family Outing' members who participated in the challenge.

Kyungsu and Carmela won the first piggy back challenge, so here they are celebrating!

The piggy back challenge was never ending...Nicole is piggy backing Byeongwoo, why? I have no idea, but it made the challenge more challenging and super hilarious.

We actually had a pretty early night. After the soju drinking games, marshmallow roasting, 'Family Outing' challenges and playing in the snow we were in bed by 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning there was a hike for anyone interested in doing it and anyone who wasn't too hungover. I decided to do the hike because I wasn't hungover, just tired and I needed the exercise. I joined Rebekah and Emily who opted to do it, but Nicole and Carmela slept. We headed out after breakfast.

The air was crisp, clear and fresh and the view was good too.

We weren't even close to the top of the mountain at this point and I was sweating bullets.

Rebekah and I at the halfway point.

In order for us to get down the mountain we literally, had to slide on our asses. When I was finally able to stand up and walk the rest of the way down my butt was soaked and my ass was dirty. The hike was so good and the fresh air was nice, but my bum hated me. Once everyone got back from the hike we had to pack our things up and get ready to head home. The 2.5 hour bus ride home seemed way faster than when we were heading there and we got back to Seoul 2 hours ahead of schedule.

Ice Fishing Festival!

Last weekend, Nicole, Carmela and I went on the Adventure Korea Ice Fishing Festival trip in Hwacheon, Gangwon-do. It was about a 2.5 hour bus ride from Seoul. When we arrived at the festival we went straight to the ice fishing.

Carmela and Nicole are admiring their ice fishing hole hoping to catch some of the fish.

I was cold and no fish were biting. Everyone around us was catching the fish, just not us :(

We ice fished for a good while before we decided that we were hungry for lunch, too cold to continue and sad that we didn't catch any fish. We enjoyed our lunch and keeping warm before we headed back out into the cold to look around the rest of the festival.

There were amazing snow sculptures at the festival. This was one of the best.

This is a picture of all the people that were ice fishing. There were thousands of people at the festival and this isn't even half.

This is a view of the snowsledding area at the festival.

There was even a soju dance party for all to enjoy!

This was my favourite snow sculpture. It was so detailed and it looks absolutely AMAZING!!

Nicole wanted to try the ice soccer, so we met up with some of the people from the trip, including the tour guides and checked it out. Nicole fell a few times and ended up bruising her knee. Carmela and I opted for the sidelines and just enjoyed watching everyone else play, laugh and fall.

Nicole playing ice soccer. I think the helmet suits her...hahaha!

Carmela and I enjoyed our spots off the ice.

Our friends and Adventure Korea tour guides, kyungsu and byeongwoo.

We had the option of doing bare handed fishing. Basically, there is a pool full of freezing cold water that you jump into, in front of people, and try and catch fish. Carmela, Nicole and I were too cold from being outside all day and just didn't feel like doing it. Instead we stood on the sidelines with other spectators and cheered out Adventure Korea crew on...the brave ones.

Here are the brave ones from the tour jumping into the pool.

Here is the Adventure Korea crew looking for the fish. Some were lucky and caught fish, others weren't so lucky.

When the bare handed fishing ended we waited for the one's who participated to dry off, change and warm-up before heading back to the buses to head to our pension. We were glad to get on the bus after the freezing cold day we had. The heat was much needed.

:,( No One Likes Goodbyes :,(

Friday night was Nick's going away party in Bupyeong. He has spent his year in Korea and is heading home to New Zealand. It was my last time seeing him because I was away for the weekend and the good-bye was very very hard and emotional. We hugged and hugged and hugged and I didn't start crying until we let go and walked out of the bar.

We ate galbi and drank beer for dinner. There were only about 8 of us that showed for the dinner. After dinner we headed to N's pub for some drinks and to start with the goodbyes.

Mike and I at N's pub for Nick.

Nicole and Nick are pretty much brother and sister. She is very sad to see him leave.

Carolina and I haven't hung out in ages. The pretty lady just got back from Thailand.

Then Andrea and I opted for the self-portrait, becaue I mean, why not?!?!

Lindsay, Lisa and Tahee came out to say their goodbyes and I hadn't seen them all in ages, so it was nice to hang out with them.

May and I together at N's pub for Nick.

Since Nicole and I had to be up early for our weekend trip we didn't hang out to long at Nick's going away party. We left before midnight, so that we could catch the subway home. Saying goodbye to Nick was close to one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. He was an amazing person, he was fun, he loved to drink and party and he was always happy...sounds like he died. Well, to some of us not having him around has left a hole in our hearts. I LOVE NICK and will MISS HIM SO MUCH!!