I have been wanting to go to Jeju Island to visit Rebekah since I got back to Korea. Rebekah is my super tight friend from California that I met in Yeosu last year while we were both teaching there. Last August, I believe, she and her boyfriend moved to Jeju Island, a beautiful destination in Korea to teach at public schools there. They are now living in a house in the countryside there.
I tried purchasing a ticket during the month of March and April, but there were no returning flights available so I hadn't been able to go. I contacted a travel agent and was put on a waiting list. Last night I got an email saying that there was a roundtrip flight available the last weekend in May, the 29-31st. I had to let her know and pay by today at 5pm so I called Rebekah while she was sleeping last night to confirm that was a good weekend for her to have a visitor. It was so I made all the arrangements today and will be taking a trip to Jeju at the end of the month.
I am so excited...I love it when things work out well, really love it! A little island adventure is welcome to come into my life, I don't mind :)
5.06.2009
5.03.2009
Beginning of May
I began my first weekend in May, returning to Yeosu for a very special visit, to enjoy the wedding of my good friend Laura-Line and her husband, Shi Young. They got married in a Catholic church in Yeochun and it was a beautiful wedding. The mass was conducted in Korean and I rarely had any idea what was going on, but it was very sweet and you could feel the love between the two of them and from all the people there to support their union. Personally, my favorite part was when the two of them stood to face the crowd and started crying together. They were drying each others tears and laughing and it filled my heart. Now they are off on a honeymoon in Bali, what a wonderful place to start off their marriage.
Other than the wedding, I had a packed weekend filled with visits to friends, my Yeosu family, I'd say. I spent Thursday night with my friend Seulgi and we met two of her friends who are dentists at the Yeosu Health Department. The next day I had lunch with Jessica and Jaimae, two very close friends, went to visit my old boss and saw some of my old students, visited my friend Julia and her husband and 11 month old daughter (she is has another on the way, in one month), and had dinner with my friend Elizabeth. Saturday was the wedding day, followed by lunch (of pork bone soup, delicious), a visit to Heunguksa temple for Buddha's birthday, a cultural singing performance by Shi Young's father (it was amazing), and then hours at the norae-bang (singing room) in celebration with Laura-Line, Shi Young, and their close friends. After that, a few of us went to a small night club in Yeochun. Jessica, my dear Korean friend (I think she is about 36 years old) had never been to a night club in her life so she wanted to have a new experience. She was a little nervous, but we all danced together and showed her some moves, it was great, she had fun. It just goes to show you, you are never too old to try something new if you are only brave enough. On Sunday, Jessica and I and her two sweet daugthers had lunch, went to a coffee shop and then I headed back to Busan.
This weekend was so heart filling. I am thankful for my time spent in Yeosu last year and all the deep friendships I made. I am lucky to have a home away from home in Korea where I can go and see many people that I love!!!
Other than the wedding, I had a packed weekend filled with visits to friends, my Yeosu family, I'd say. I spent Thursday night with my friend Seulgi and we met two of her friends who are dentists at the Yeosu Health Department. The next day I had lunch with Jessica and Jaimae, two very close friends, went to visit my old boss and saw some of my old students, visited my friend Julia and her husband and 11 month old daughter (she is has another on the way, in one month), and had dinner with my friend Elizabeth. Saturday was the wedding day, followed by lunch (of pork bone soup, delicious), a visit to Heunguksa temple for Buddha's birthday, a cultural singing performance by Shi Young's father (it was amazing), and then hours at the norae-bang (singing room) in celebration with Laura-Line, Shi Young, and their close friends. After that, a few of us went to a small night club in Yeochun. Jessica, my dear Korean friend (I think she is about 36 years old) had never been to a night club in her life so she wanted to have a new experience. She was a little nervous, but we all danced together and showed her some moves, it was great, she had fun. It just goes to show you, you are never too old to try something new if you are only brave enough. On Sunday, Jessica and I and her two sweet daugthers had lunch, went to a coffee shop and then I headed back to Busan.
This weekend was so heart filling. I am thankful for my time spent in Yeosu last year and all the deep friendships I made. I am lucky to have a home away from home in Korea where I can go and see many people that I love!!!
April showers turn into May flowers...
April was a trying month for me, to say the least. I was struggling with the fact that my job is not what I wanted or expected it to be. I am learning, time and time again, that I should not expect things from situations, rather go in with an open mind to learn the lessons that I need to learn.
I will briefly describe my issues, but don't want to dwell on them as I am coming to terms with the fact that I am in the perfect place, learning the perfect lessons, if during the times I really feel like I'm in the wrong place. So, I have 3 co-teachers and I rotate from class to class, grade 6 for two weeks, grade 5 for two weeks, and grades 3-4 for two weeks. This means that I see my students 4 times in 6 weeks. I have little to no control over how the classes are conducted and often feel like the methods we use and the material is very ineffectual. Luckily, I do have a special grade 5 class on my own every Wednesday where I am in charge and make the curriculum. This class is fun and the kids seem to really enjoy it. There are only 15 students in this class as opposed to 27-30 students in the regular classes. I also have a grade 3 after school class twice a week with 20 students and I also make the lessons for these classes. This is a good challenge as I have to make the lessons very interactive and exciting to keep the young students' attention. Finally, twice a week I have a small class for teachers that want to have English conversation. I prepare interesting topics and we talk together about them. This is nice as I get a little perspective on the minds of some Korean teachers.
Other than that, I was just generally feeling bummed that I am very busy and don't have much time to explore since Busan is so big and spread out, I often don't have time to commute to see friends or enjoy the sights. With the love, support, and advice of friends and family and A LOT of reflection, I am feeling a lot better in May, than I was in April. In the words of my mother, I am trying to make my time at school and in Busan, "an active mediation" and it is opening my heart and mind to what I need to learn during this time. Being busy is not my favorite thing, but I am learning to make wise use of my time and be as productive as possible in as little time as possible. It is a positive challenge although it is exhausting.
I am so thankful for a sound mind, body, and spirit. I am so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life, including family and friends. I am blessed that I continually learn the lesson that if I open my eyes, my mind, and my heart, my evolution is an amazing process of self discovery and nurturing of others. Life is beautiful and difficult, and amazing, and frustrating all at the same time. I am glad to be over this current hump in the road and know that I am a little bit stronger for the next one to come.
I will briefly describe my issues, but don't want to dwell on them as I am coming to terms with the fact that I am in the perfect place, learning the perfect lessons, if during the times I really feel like I'm in the wrong place. So, I have 3 co-teachers and I rotate from class to class, grade 6 for two weeks, grade 5 for two weeks, and grades 3-4 for two weeks. This means that I see my students 4 times in 6 weeks. I have little to no control over how the classes are conducted and often feel like the methods we use and the material is very ineffectual. Luckily, I do have a special grade 5 class on my own every Wednesday where I am in charge and make the curriculum. This class is fun and the kids seem to really enjoy it. There are only 15 students in this class as opposed to 27-30 students in the regular classes. I also have a grade 3 after school class twice a week with 20 students and I also make the lessons for these classes. This is a good challenge as I have to make the lessons very interactive and exciting to keep the young students' attention. Finally, twice a week I have a small class for teachers that want to have English conversation. I prepare interesting topics and we talk together about them. This is nice as I get a little perspective on the minds of some Korean teachers.
Other than that, I was just generally feeling bummed that I am very busy and don't have much time to explore since Busan is so big and spread out, I often don't have time to commute to see friends or enjoy the sights. With the love, support, and advice of friends and family and A LOT of reflection, I am feeling a lot better in May, than I was in April. In the words of my mother, I am trying to make my time at school and in Busan, "an active mediation" and it is opening my heart and mind to what I need to learn during this time. Being busy is not my favorite thing, but I am learning to make wise use of my time and be as productive as possible in as little time as possible. It is a positive challenge although it is exhausting.
I am so thankful for a sound mind, body, and spirit. I am so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life, including family and friends. I am blessed that I continually learn the lesson that if I open my eyes, my mind, and my heart, my evolution is an amazing process of self discovery and nurturing of others. Life is beautiful and difficult, and amazing, and frustrating all at the same time. I am glad to be over this current hump in the road and know that I am a little bit stronger for the next one to come.
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