I want the day off too! Friday.

Today is 'work experience day' at school (I only know this because I just google-translated the Korean written on the board in the staffroom). There are no students and it looks like I'm the only teacher who has to come in. It's just me and the admin staff. First of all, thanks for telling me (read with extreme sarcasm), and secondly - why make me come to work? It's not like I have work to do. Mr B., you cancelled my after school class, and I gave you the entire summer camp lesson plan yesterday... why? WHY?! All the other teachers get the day off... I guess I'm special.

Shit - this means there's no school lunch today. And I obviously didn't bring any food with me... so it's overpriced fruit from the supermarket down the road, or unhealthy disgusting junk food. Oh, woe is me.

At least it's Friday, right?

Very wet Thursday

Apparently there's a typhoon on the way! I'm not too sure what this means, but I think there's going to be lots of wind and rain. It's already pretty wet, and also really humid. I'm so sticky! But it's not so bad, so far :) 

Japan is very close now - only 5 days to go :) and only three of those are work days, so really only three days to go.

Interestingly, Mr B. has not requested a plan for summer camp, which starts the same day I get back to work from being on holiday. I have the whole thing done, planned, and prepped, but he doesn't know that. There is a lot of discussion around the office about English Camp (but that's all I can understand of it, it's in Korean), and I saw Mr B. making some sort of lesson plan on his computer that had the same dates as camp. So, either he's teaching a camp at the same time - which is totally possible and likely - OR he's making a camp plan that I'll have to follow. Which would be weird. I've never heard of that happening before, and I'm not sure why he'd do that other than he's a control freak or my lessons weren't acceptable. Rather than try to talk to him about it (frustration central, seriously this man misinterprets just about everything I say unless I'm asking for money or time off - that he understands), I'm just going to leave it well alone. I'm doing the best I can in this weird system!

Not much is going on this week. It's hot and wet, overcast, and I'm getting some teaching time in but nothing amazing. Oh, I did have an open class yesterday though, that I thought went really well. When I tried to ask Mr B. for some feedback he just gave me a round of applause, which was nice but not helpful :) Also, no sign of the promised info about whether the school can keep me for another year. Maybe tomorrow.

Today's five things:

1) Rain storms are a bit exciting - as long as they're short lived!

2) Lunch today was good - I have no idea what any of it was called, but it was tasty.

3) I've decided to try and get a university job. When I get back from Japan I'll start things moving in that direction and see what I can get. Korea has a crap-ton of universities, so hopefully I can find one in this area. If not, I'll stay at this school, or get a hagwon job until I can move on up to a uni position.

4) Japan soon!

5) I have no plans for the weekend. Maybe a walk, maybe go out, but I want to spend a big chunk just relaxing.

Good day (touch wood) Monday

Right so, the weekend.

Friday night Andy and I went and had Korean BBQ for dinner, which is pretty normal, but this time we went to a duck restaurant and at a whole heap of BBQ duck meat! It was yum! But, mum's duck is still the best :)

On Saturday I caught the train into Seoul and met up with Amy and we went to the 63 building. It was an ok trip. Not really very 'Korean', but really touristy. We went up the the 59th floor, I think, and saw the view, which was good. We got quite a clear patch, and it was only after went came back to ground level that it started raining. As well as going up so high, we also went to a boring 3D dinosaur IMAX movie, and ok aquarium, and a pretty funny wax museum. None of the attractions were actually that wonderful, but put them all together and it was a pretty fun day. 

On Sunday Andy and I went to Dongtan for lunch. We ended up having sushi again, and it was really yummy. Then we went to a coffee shop by central park and I had a hot chocolate and Andy had some weird Turkish ice cream. It was weird because it was all kind of gooey - I wasn't very impressed by it. Then we had a walk in the park, and it once again stopped raining just long enough for a walk, which was nice. Andy also ordered me some memory cards and stuff that I'd been wanting, using a Korean website - which worked out to be about a million times cheaper than buying them regularly, so that was awesome. I'll finally be able to back up my photos and this blog! And take pictures on my phone - which I think will be convenient since I don't carry my camera 100% of the time.

Sunday night we went to a BBQ place I've been to a couple of times, but actually hadn't eaten their BBQ food. Turns out it was amazing! Seriously good galbi. Andy liked it too, so I guess we'll be going back. Well, I hope so anyway! It was super tasty.

And that was my weekend. Pretty good overall :) Next weekend I want to do a bit of walking/hiking, and also pack for Japan. Only 8ish days to go!

*     *     *

Ok, so today is Monday again. So far, so good. I totally did not want my nice relaxing weekend to end, but oh well. With my summer holidays just around the corner, it makes getting to work easier. Haha, not sure what I'm going to do when they're gone, but I'll worry about that when I get there. Plan a weekend away or something, I guess. Jeju, anyone?

Today's been good. I've taught 3 classes, and one's been cancelled, so that's me done for the day. Lunch was tasty, and I'm pretty happy. Touch wood, I can keep it up.

Today's 5:

1) Good classes today.

2) Mr B says he'll find out about me renewing this week. I'm not sure which outcome I'm hoping for :-D

3) Andy is going to buy us money for Japan from the bank so it's cheaper than the airport. As if he wasn't awesome enough already?

4) I fancy cooking something this week. I didn't cook dinner at all last week. I'm thinking some chicken satay would be nice.

5) It's quite cool today, a nice break from the intense heat and humidity. I'm all about the variety.

Super Sunday

Had a lovely day with Andy today. it rained nearly all day, but that didn't stop going out for lunch, or a walk in the park.

1) Sushi for lunch.

2) Nice walk in the park.

3) hot chocolate

4) I saw a cute guinea pig.

5) REALLY yummy BBQ for dinner :)

Quick Five things Saturday

Phew, I'm exhausted! I made it to the 63 building with Amy, and only got home at about 6.40pm. So, here's five things and some photos of Seoul. I'll write about it all on Monday :)

1) I have yummy salmon sushi for lunch

2) I got a seat on the train on the way in.

3) I didn't rain most of the time I was outside.

4) The 63 building was fun.

5) Amy was good fun too :)

The outside of the 63 building

Seal at the aquarium

Lunch

Han River

Sharing is caring Friday

Not sure why, but I think it's because I like to at least try to be a nice person, I've brought a cake to work to share with all the teachers this afternoon. Oh no, I know why. Because it was cluttering up my freezer, and I didn't want to eat it all and the easiest way to get rid of it, while collecting work brownie points, is to share it with the sugar crazed teachers at work. I'm hoping for a double win of getting rid of the cake AND making myself look good. Altruism is SO overrated :)

Anyway, today's five things:

1) No student was turned upside down, hit, or even picked up by Mr B during class today. Yesterday he straddled a boys head to demonstrate 'riding a bike'. I am 100% not kidding or exaggerating. He straddled a kids head. Even more amazing, the kid wasn't bothered at all. Totally normal.

2) Only 1 hour and 45 minutes until it's officially the weekend! 63 building, here I come!

3) I have spent the last hour and a half trying not to snort-laugh too loudly at the hilarious reviews of what sounds like a truly awful romance novel. I'd never heard of it, but apparently it's taking the world by storm.. well, it's taking women who want to read sexy books by storm. Only, I've read a lot of extract now and the books is written so badly I don't think I could even read it if I wanted to. Just because it's sexy doesn't mean the quality of the writing should suffer. The book is called '50 Shades of Grey', and while I haven't read it, so can't comment, this website can. Serious snort-laugh material.

4) There was a thunder storm last night and it was fun.

5) I slept well.

I will not complain about work Thursday

I will not complain about work. I will not complain about work. I will not complain about work. I will not complain about work. I will not complain about work. I will not complain about work. I will not complain about work. I will not complain about work.

I will not complain about work.

I will instead shut up and either work to fix the problem, or bear with it until the situation can be changed.

Step one: I have decided that I'm not chasing these stupid men around to get my stupid book signed every day. I will sign it and then I'll leave it on their desk and they can give it back to me when they're done. Minor problem = solved.

In other news, lunch today was roast pork! Awesome!

And I'm planning on cleaning my apartment this afternoon.

And I had one kick-ass home made fruit salad for breakfast.

And I ate delicious pizza for dinner last night (my first bread in over three months!).

Four different types of topping - and there was A LOT of topping, but I actually really enjoyed it!

And it turns out if I freeze a particular type of Korean rice cake, it turns out a little similar to ice cream mochi.

And it's now under two weeks until Andy and I go to Japan.

And Andy is awesome. He's also extremely good looking, which is a total bonus.

And I have great friends, even if most of them live in a different hemisphere.

And it's Thursday, which means tomorrow is... Friday, which is basically the weekend :)

And I bought a random dress from the market hoping it would fit, and it totally does.

And it's only two and a half hours until I can go home, clean my room, eat delicious Korean watermelon (seriously, it's amazing), and read my book on my comfy bed.

Bed makeover :)

Excellent :)