I can't believe it has finally come down to the last month and a half! I have really almost made it a year here in SK. What a year it has been. Quick recap:
 |
Such a cute boy! |
November, crazy hectic month. Meeting a lot of new friends and had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving meal with friends. Even though I wasn't with family we made each other family for the day. There are several stores in Seoul, in an area called Itaewon, that are foreign food markets. Made a trip to a few of them to pick up all the trimmings to make turkey day feel like the real deal. We had turkey, mac& cheese, mashed taters, cranberry relish, the works. It was DELISH! It was also in November that I came across a Maggie look alike at one of the many shelters here in Korea. His name is Sunny, a 12 year old cocker spaniel who had lived his entire life (until meeting me) in the shelter and had been diagnosed with cancer (both lung and bone). Well me being the bleeding heart that I am couldn't leave the guy behind, so he became mine.
 |
How can you resist a face like that?! |
Before I knew it, along came December. This was actually a pretty rough month for me. I was sick for nearly 16 days. I went to the hospital 3 times, had numerous shots and who knows what kind of meds I was sent home with. Going to the hospital here in Korea is just like going to a clinic at home, it's not quite as serious as I had thought it would be. Also, being sick when your in a foreign country, with no one to clean up after you and go to the store for Sprite, well it sucks! lol I did manage however. We also got our first snow storm that would stick around until mid February. Did I mention that it is COLD here? OMG... yeah it gets crazy cold. I would spend days walking to school where it was -15f!!!!! I would have my eyes nearly freeze together. Very crazy! I am not used to it at all. Again we had a fabulous Christmas gathering at a friend's. This was a bit smaller than Thanksgiving with only the girls. It was wonderful. Such a great little community of friends that I have made here with wonderful people. Some of them have already left and I miss them dearly. They have all touched my life in great ways! December 29th was a very sad day for me as I watched Sunny die that day. He had been back and fourth to the vet in Seoul and his condition was just not improving, the Korean way is not to put the animal down but to let them go on their own time. That was probably the most difficult thing I have ever had to do. I will definitely miss that boy!
 |
The crazy Christmas gals! We had to make crazy faces. <3 them! |
 |
Trying to stay warm in my room for nearly 3 months... ugh!
|
January and February I had very little face time with the girls, save for my 10 day winter camp. My school doesn't turn the heat on in the building that I am in when there are no students. So you can imagine that I was freezing! I have never worn so many layers. The girls came back from winter break (started Dec 29) on Jan 30 and went on spring break Feb 8. During that time I had class maybe 4 times. Then it was back to sitting in my room alone, trying to stay warm. During spring break is when the Korean teachers plan for the next year seeing as the Korean school year begins in March. As I am not returning, I didn't have much to plan for, also I have no input on what they plan! I got in a lot of movies, internet surfing, and dancing to stay warm!
During my holiday I stayed home. The blistering cold was just too much for me to deal with, trying to go on many adventures. I did however make a day of things with my friend Kim. We went to Seoul and saw a 4D movie. This is where the seats move, they vibrate, puffs of air on your neck at intense parts of the film, water mists on your face. We saw the Life of Pi and it was AMAZING! We also went to one of a few casinos here. I actually won about 500$, luckily I take after my dad with luck at casinos and not my mom! haha :)
I've spent a lot of time going to the foreign food markets in Itaewon where I finally found diet Dr. Pepper! YAY. Also lunch meats, and other foods from home. It is a good thing that they do not make shoes in a size 10 here in Korea because I would definitely be spending far more money on shoes here!
Funny thing as much as I wanted to go home, for a brief moment I did say that I would sign on for another year. I didn't though! As much as I love my students and school, I must come home and find the next amazing opportunity. It hasn't quite sunk in that I have less than 50 days to go until I can drive again, see my friends and family and be annoyed by Maggie wanting me to throw her ball!
Peace, love and chicken grease! :) <3