Winter Camp 2014

This week I started one of my winter camps for my main school. It was suppose to be three days but it was cut down to two days only. I did mainly fun learning activities. I would like the camp to be longer so I can get to know my students a little better. It is better than desk forming. 

The first day I did name tags, reviewing camp rules, splitting them into teams and the Santa knot activity (human knot) since my camp theme revolved around Christmas. It was a two hour class. The next hour we did a Christmas scavenger hunt around the school. There was also a bonus there was one item that was a present. It was a surprise for the group, each box had a piece of candy for each of the members. It was a hit! The students loved it. 

The second day, we did a cooking class. We made reindeer poop (muddie buddie). The students were gross out about the mixture because it didn't look so appetizing. It looked more like "dong" as what the students said. "Dong" in Koren means poop which I thought was hilarious. In my head I was thinking wait until you try the crack (finish product)...It's like crack!! It is that good..After finish making the snack, the students were able to sample them. It was a HIT!! The students were begging for more but we had to play a Christmas bomb game. 

First, we did a review as a class and then the bomb game. At each table the snack was laid in the center and the students were handed one plastic glove. The students had a sandwich bag to put ther reindeer poop in when they earn points from the game. It was hilarious watching them trying to earn the points. They could even eat the snack either. I wanted them to wait until we finish the game or otherwise they will be eating instead of paying attention. It was a great amusing winter camp. I have one more winter camp to go that is one week long in January. So this will be my last post until next year. See you all in the following year.

Happy Holidays & a Happy New Year!!! <3

XOXO,

Chuiee

Bugok Hawaii

It getting very close to winter break and almost towards the end of the semester. My main school treats the students to a fun event during this time of year. From what I heard from last year, the 5th and 6th graders went skiing and the 1st-4th graders went to Bugok Hawaii. I had the opportunity to go to the first field trip with my students, therefore I was sooo excited. The students had many field trips throughout this semester but I was not invited to any trips...which I believe it has to do with the budget. The other times when I wasn't invited to the field trip I was in the school library fiddling on the computer. I wasn't sure were we were going tho but I found out when I got to our destination. There is limited usage of English at my main school. First event was snowtubing. It is really different from America. I use to go snowtubing in college in Pennslyvania so I can explain about the differences. In America, there are conveyor belts that pull you up with your snowtube, however in Korea you have to drag your tube up the hill. The hill is less steep compared to America. This is great a great exercise for the students and would wear them out more quickly...lol They also don't have double tubes but this could also be that this is an older snow/theme park. I was told that it is about 30 years old. Since Korea is so civil there is no need to make dividers but there is no person helping you down the hill. I remember when I went in PA there was a guy that would push you down the tube either with crazy spins and etc... but I tried doing that and one of my students, he mentioned to me that it was dangerous. He was so cute and adorable.

Very similar just some differences..

First Open Class

My first open class for my second school that I teach at, it was surprising to me because I thought my main school hosts the open class. It happened to be the week of a English talking competition and just around the corner of Thanksgiving. Before my open class, I also had to participate in the judging part of the English talking competition. I listened to over 15 speeches of my students and most of them were about their life and what they would like to do in the future. It was really great listening to my student's speeches. So my lesson for my open class was about Thanksgiving and making a turkey and discussing about what the students were thankful for. I ran out of time for the speaking time but the students got really crafty making the turkey. I don't think I did that bad but we will see. 

One of my cute students!

Customized Shoes from Seongsu-dong

From my previous post in Seoul Weekend I mentioned that I had place an order on two pair of customized shoes in Seongsu-dong. The shoes finally came in. It took about 2 months to received my shoes. After placing an order the owner of the shop told us to come back on a certain date back to Seoul. She mentioned that she will send one pair of shoes to my apartment but she asked that we come back to the store to get the other pair just in case I needed to alter the shoe. Nothing was delivered to my apartment. My Korean friend was so excited for me to get the shoes so everytime she asked if it came I told her that it didn't come. She called the store like every week or so for me. I felt so bad but this shoe thing is not happening again.

As promised, my Korean friend and I went back on the certain date she told us to come. She was not there and the sales associate working at the time called her multiple times. She did not pick up. At this point, my head was boiling I was mad, taking a trip to Seoul is quite expensive for me and she did not deliver the product as she mentioned. She was all talk and full of bs..I felt like I was scammed but there were many customers that came to pick up their shoes that they ordered. That day for some reason she was not at the store at all, the day that she mentioned for us to come. This was RED flags!!!She should of have called to let us know not to come. From that point on my friend had called the shoe lady multiple times to ask her about my shoes. It took about another month and I finally received a package at my door. Here is the finally product of the Oxford.. It was more burgundy than dark drown which I choose. It fits great but I didn't get the chance to wear them out yet. But the photo above the burgundy shoes I really like a lot but I'll rate the comfort level once I get a chance to wear them.

XOXO,

Erika

Zen Clinic in Busan

I have been wanting to go to a dermatologist in Korea for awhile to treat my cystic acne and acne scars. I recently meet a friend through mutual friends and for some reason we were talking about skincare and cosmetics...and it eventually ended her recommended a place where she went for her skincare treatments. It's called Zen Clinic in Busan. I went to a consultation with my friend in a really nice room. We didn't wait long since we made an appointment. My friend was super helpful with translating everything in English. The person that did the consultation did not really speak english at all, but she was super nice. She recommended to do the scar treatment solution also known as MCL31 in Korea. 

In english terms it is pretty much similar to the profractional laser treatment. She told me it will be painful but and your face will be red for the week. I was not thinking for the worst at all. hahha The rooms are really nice, the bed was warmed up with a heated blanket and my friend had the bed next to me which was great. They put white numbing cream all over my face and sealed it with plastic wrap...now the waiting part begins..30 min or so... while I was getting numb for some reason they had to draw some blood from me to formulate a cream to put on my face to reduce the pain...but I was like blood....it was very interesting to me and I still do not what it is called in english til this day but it was part of their service...I was a bit skeptical so I asked my friend laying near me so many questions.. if it was good or not. She said it was good because they added it as service for the package deal since I was a foreigner, she said it originally cost about $300 for this cream that they formulate. Yay for me!! 

After 20-30 minutes, they tell you to wipe off the numbing cream and wash your face with the cleanser that was provided. The numbing cream did however manage to get in my eye and it was burning a bit...Here comes the big part...I was taken to another room the window was slightly cracked but it was for a good reason... They use a laser similar like the profractional laser and an air suction...The pain was bearable but the first laser that touched my skin, did hurt a little I have to say...There was some parts of my face that was definitely more sensitive than other parts of my face...but it smells when they do the laser treatment. I did not know how bad my face would look until after I finished the session. 

My face was on FIRE, it was like a major sunburn. My pain tolerance is very low so everything hurts. I was in pain! I was like what did I agree on!!! Holy sh*&^! I was taken to another room for a ice pack mask, the nurse I would say did it twice since my face was on flames when she took it off. I told her in English, it hurts! knowing that she does not speak any English. About 20-30 minutes for each of the cold pack on my face to reduce the pain on my face. The cold pack felt so cold I wanted to take it off...I didn't know if it was hurting me more or relieving my pain... She asked me if I wanted a shot and I immediately said "YES!", it was to help reduce my pain on my face. Shot right on my right butt cheek but boy did it help! I highly recommended the shot if you are in pain! Recovering time took about 5 days...I'm not posting photos because it looks gross and I don't wanna scare you all away.

Welp here is my first time experience at a Derm! More to come since I'm not done with my sessions.

XOXO, 
Chuiee

Epik In Service Training

There is not much said about the EPIK In Service Training online..so I thought I would write about it...but mid-way through your employment there is a in service training. (I'm 5 months in my contract) It was not hard, it is preliminary questions retaining from the video lectures that you have to fully play or else you have to restart the video from the beginning. I learned it the hard way so just giving you all the heads up. There is approximately 15 or so videos more or less..I don't know exactly but it is around there. After completing the in service training, there is a certificate that you obtain from finishing the course stating that you have completed the EPIK In Service Training. It is all online so you don't have to go to anywhere which is great.

Good Luck!,

Chuiee

First time at Octagon in Gangnam

Photo courtesy of http://jowlehleh.net/  

I know it has been awhile since I have actually posted a post but I'll catch up before the end of this year. 

Time sure does fly by fast, I can't believe in a couple of weeks it's going to be 2015...Let's get back to were I left off... 

After my birthday weekend in Cheonan, the next weekend a friend that I have meet in EPIK invited me and some other friends down to go clubbing at one of Seoul best prestiges clubs called Octagon in Gangnam. It was my first time in Gangnam and I never wanted to leave. As you walk around, you can see many different cars ranging from a Porsche, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Chevy and etc...pretty much international brand cars. As to my surprise after exploring around Gangnam I wasn't homesick anymore, I was too much in love with the place. 

It was a great night at Octagon, we had access to VIP tickets and mind you we had plenty of free VIP drinking voucher that was included with our VIP tickets and a free voucher to store our coats and thing you didn't want to carry on the dance floor. ...Shout out to my friend in Incheon for the hookup!!! The music was lacking a bit, they played mostly techno shit that I don't know. I was hoping it had more of hip-hop music than anything else. I guess it is to classy for Gangnam. But this night was a night I didn't remember much besides that I was having a blast. Sorry there is really no pictures this night I was to plastered! 

The next morning was awful...My friend and I had a hangover and she was suppose to go to church that morning but we didn't end up getting back until like 5-6 am in the morning. But we both manage to get up at 11 am or earlier and boy we were not feeling well. We went to go find the Catholic church located in the area and we ended up going to a Presbyterian Church...It's just our luck after walking down massive hills throughout Gangnam, half hungover. My friend decided to call a cab and we finally got to the Catholic Church. Before we left, we ended up getting lunch together before heading back to are little town. The leaving part is the hardest part for me because I love the city.

Happy Clubbing! 

XOXO,
Chuiee

Korean's Experience to Tomato Soup

It was coming to the end of the semester for one of the schools that I teach at once a week. I have bribed the students that I will make them tomato soup since they never had it before. Of course it came with a price, it all depended on their behavior. That is like a childhood soup for me growing up and it's delicious!! But I wasn't to sure it I could deliver the taste that I had back home because it was my first time making it from scratch. But it is the effort that counts. 

I got all the ingredients and threw them in a rice cooker hoping that it would magically make delicious tomato soup. This would save me from making a mess in my tiny little corner of my kitchen. After an hour in the rice cooker, I blended it up with a hand blender.....Tada!!!

I thought it came out great for the first try. I didn't let the students try it until after school class came around. I had a really nice first grade teacher heat it up for me since her classroom had a stove...don't ask me why but it was in my favor... As soon as after school class came around I did my lesson and left enough time for the class to try my homemade tomato soup. I distributed them in paper cups and they were not able to sip it until everyone got one... As the students tried it, I was anxious to know what they thought about it...It was a hit to majority of the students and not so much to others...so it was mixed..but I did give some to the teachers at that school and they said it tasted like tomato juice...lmao and from my observation...they didn't really like it. It was definitely fun letting my student learn about American food.  

About Chuiee's Adventures

Come along with me on my journey and adventures while in South Korea. It's my first year teaching English and living abroad away from my home country. 

Epic Halloween Prankin' my Korean Students

It's the last week of October and Halloween was creeping in on Friday. I teach at different schools on certain days, therefore all my afternoon classes were about Halloween. I prepared my power point and grabbed some wonderful templates from the help of waygook. So my lessons for my afternoon class was very similar to each other. I had a power point about Halloween and new vocabulary (ex: ghost, Halloween, vampire, werewolf and etc.). After educating my students about Halloween, Students practice the term "trick or treat". Each student had a turn to say it, I rewarded the students with a piece of candy. I used my favorite source: youtube. 

I showed them what its like to go trick or treating, but I didn't show the civil ones, I showed them the trick or treat pranks. I thought it would be a great laugh and it was! They really enjoyed it and wanted to keep watching but I had one more video to show them. This time it's about a maze....to be exact a scary maze. I'm pretty sure if you are in America or anywhere else, you know what I am talking about. If you are up for the Halloween challenge haha...I quickly played the video and helped myself to the back of the room haha. I was so ready and recording with my iphone. Theses were my 5th and 6th graders, but this afternoon class consist of only 5th graders. These 5th graders can be a handful but I have to say, they are way better than my other 5th and 6th graders at my main school. I have better control of these students better than my other little runts. 

Most of my 5th and 6th graders know how to curse, so I implemented arm raise punishments. It is the entire class, that gets punished not the only one. This had help the students keep each other in check, tremendously. Anyway back to the epic prank story.  The best part is that I didn't realize how loud the projector was but it was perfect! Here is the clip of what their reactions was. I tried to keep myself together, while I was recording. It was such an epic week for me. I was laughing to the point were my tears were coming out..Students were scared but they loved it! Some students said they wanted to watch it again and other were just like "Teacherrrr!!!" IT WAS EPIC!!! Happy Halloween!! 

Gimhae Excursion

Korean Traditional Housing in Gimhae and are sleeping area. We slept on a heated floor in the traditional housing which was pretty nice. It reminded me of sleeping at my grandma's.. (:

Tea Time..

Made good luck charms with Gimhae's famous fish...(famous is commonly used in Korea)

Hiking up to the Gimhae astronomical observatory...it was to dark to take the picture but the view was pretty awesome...i just didn't have a good camera to capture the view. :(

It reminded me of being a little child again...this museum was very similar to the one I went to when I was little girl..

The Gimhae Excursion was sponsored by our education department. We had a great opportunity to stay in a Korean traditional house located in Gimhae for a night.

Making Korean Powdered Mung Bean traditional rice cake....Pounding cooked rice with a large mallet... (:

The finally master piece...it doesn't taste that bad...

 Korean traditional restaurant....delicious food..

 Table set up...super excited for the food..

 Korean traditional food...very colorful and nutritious. ^^

 Very elegant and pretty...

Some fancy tea....insect tea according to my co-teacher...

Some more delicious side dishes..

 Fried something...

 Fried vegetables..

 Food was constantly coming out so the dishes are changed every couple minutes...It felt like if we were getting rushed and scarfing down the food.....they should of gave us more time to enjoy the food..

 Fried vegetables..very yummy my favorite was the sweet potatoes..

 A lot of contrast colors making the food looks very pretty...almost to pretty to eat...

Birthday Weekend

After Halloween, my birthday is like around the corner. This year my birthday landed on Sunday. My Korean college friend had made plans for my fabulous birthday weekend. I was so excited for that weekend! We were supposed to go to spend a weekend in a pension in Taean, claming, and etc. My friend had already booked a place for all of us to stay for the weekend, so all we needed to do was to show up in Cheonan. As the weekend was approaching, the weather was not coping with us at all. It was raining that weekend and it was suppose to get even worst...Great! What a great start to my birthday weekend! TT Before heading out to the train station to Cheonan, I had dinner with a friend that was introduce to me by my main school. She was a college student in Changwon about the same age as I am. My colleagues told me that she would like to meet foreigners in Milyang. From what I heard from them, she lived in New York City for 3 years interning at a Korean company. We finally were meeting up for dinner on Friday. I was pretty excited!!!

But this week, I caught a cold this week somehow, so I had the sniffly running nose, cough and a throat that was aching. I thought it would be a great time to have some delicious Sam-se-tang. It was also drizzling and cold outside so it was perfect to have some chicken rice soup. We ended up talking, non-stop about ourselves and what we did in America. It was great until it was time to leave. I purchase a ticket to leave Milyang on Friday night so I can arrive at Cheonan at 10:45pm. My train was leaving at 7:10pm. So, we ended up leaving at 7pm, I thought I had enough time to get to the train station,,,boy was I wrong...I blame it all on the stupid rain...I quickly power walked to my apartment to grab my carry-on luggage and bolted out the door. I took a cab and there was traffic...for some reason since it's raining, people all of a sudden have different driving styles...being super slow...ughhh...As soon as I got to the train station, I ran as fast as I could with all the bags in my hands. I missed my train by 1 minute...I couldn't believe it...ughh... I saw it leaving and I was like F*%&@! I went to the counter and told them I just miss my train the representative helped get my reimbursement back but I had to pain a penalty fee of 4000 won. It is definitely better than the full amount. 

 

The representative was super nice and she helped me book another ticket for next train heading out to Cheonan but I had to wait an hour...and it was also double the price because it was KTX...TT....You learn from your mistakes!.. When I arrive in Cheonan station, my friend was at the station looking for me. I was apparently suppose to go to Cheonan-Asan station. That is why we couldn't find eachother....OMG moment...I felt so stupid...ughh..I had to take the metro to Cheonan-Asan. I followed all the signs for Cheonan-Asan but no one was waiting there, about 10 minutes passed. I started doubting myself and tripled check the signs and it had arrows assuring me that I was heading to Cheonan-Asan Station. I called my Korean friend and told her about my situation to just double check. I ended up giving my phone to a complete stranger after saying excuse me in Korean so my friend can check if I was at the correct place. Of course, I had to pick the most gorgeous looking man to help me hahaha and he was right in front of me so it was meant to be. I was standing on the wrong side...now it started to make sense that no one was standing over here...O.O...great now I look stupid...fml...>.< He was so helpful and the group of guys were so cute. As I was leaving the metro, they were waving goodbye. I respectfully said good-bye and gave them a head bow. I was laughing at myself because I made myself look like a fool in front of them standing on the wrong side...hahaha..you just got to love it..

I was finally at the correct station. I  meet up with my college friend and a friend from another town. I felt so sorry and bad because they had to wait another 20 minutes because of my careless mistakes. My Korean friend just got her driver's license not to long ago, so she was a newbie at drivng. She picked me up at the station and she has one of those cute small light aqua blue compact cars. I felt like I was in one of those light blue fake barbie doll cars hahaha. Anyways, we decided to go see a movie called Dracula in Port-a-Pent in Cheonan at CGV. It was my first movie theater in Korea and it was amazing. They had a wide selection of affordable food choices, a section of fashion displays, and much more. You even had the option to choose your seats of where you wanted to sit. After getting are cheese bacon fries and beer we headed to the room.

 

Outside of the movie theaters, there are many places to buy snacks from...which I love..something that I need to bring back to the States with me...and it is not overprices...

Fancy movie theater rooms...very elegant..

Morning breakfast from my Korean friend's mom...she is super sweet...rice cake and mandu...homemade of deliciousness... :)

Italian food for my birthday lunch....

Super cute chef....had to take the picture of him in front of the oven brick...

Table setting and the server was super nice and generous.. (:

This pasta dish was a red sauce pasta..very flavorful..it was delicious but it didn't blow me away...it very good Korean Italian food.

White sauce seafood pasta...very delicious and flavorful...

This pizza blowned me away..it was super delicious and cheesy...There is honey on the side were you drizzle on top of the pizza and it is phenomenally delicious...I want to go back just for this heavenly piece of master piece.

Of course, Bing-su to Cheesecake Patbingsu...droolss...

Oven fried chicken was pretty delicious....but for the pasta with grilled chicken probably not going to order that again...It tasted like boiled pasta with white sauce from a can poured on top..><

Late night drink...