boys like to give me chocolate.

On Friday night I ran out of trash bags and I needed to buy some more asap, because in Korea you can't just throw your trash away in any old bag. There are several different types and even more sizes which are all coded. I looked up the Korean translation for "May I have some regular size trash bags please?"  It goes something like this: "Sseulaegi bongtu juseyo?"  And apparently my pronunciation is getting better because the clerk didn't even squint her eyes, raise her eyebrows, or ask me to repeat myself.  It felt so natural when she said "Olmana mani wonhashimnikkah?" (how many do you want) and I was able to answer and happily exit the store with the correct number of trash bags in hand. It was a small victory, yes, but it made my night :-)

We had our monthly kindergarten birthday party on Friday and 4 of my kiddies have birthdays in February.  The first time I saw one of the POLY birthday parties I was amazed.  I couldn't believe how elaborate they were!  Each class who has a student with a birthday that month has to perform a song at the birthday party and the birthday kids each recite a speech they have written about their birthday.  All of my birthday girls were wearing pretty princess dresses and my birthday boy was decked out in a gray suit.  They were SO adorable!

Alison - my birthday girl in Cygnus class

Christina, Jacob, and Jane - The Taurus birthday group ^.^

Just look at that swagger, what a heart breaker~

My birthday princess Christina~

I told you Christina was in love with Jacob~

Cygnus performing "The Addams Family"

Taurus performing "I Believe I Can Fly"

Cake Time!

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We made puppets in class the other day and I couldn't help but take a few photos, my kids are just too darn cute!

Vivian - she came back from vacation w/missing teeth, love

Charlie and his crocodile puppet

Shiloh

One of my 2nd grade classes <3

Andy, one of my 1st graders apparently scraped himself up a bit yesterday and I sent him to the front desk to get some ointment to put on his scrapes.  After he came back, we could tell he was still really uncomfortable.   He was trying not to touch his face, and then my sweet Hannah started fanning him.  It was so cute and funny and I love how his face looks so gangster in these photos~

He's got it made.

The Good girl & The Gangsta

 On Saturday I went to Ilsan to visit Eunice.  While I was on my way, I got picked up by two Korean military guys.  I must say, one of them had a pretty good pick up line.  First, I spot two Korean guys in uniform out of the corner of my eye, and then one walks up to me and says, "Do you like chocolate?"  How could I say no?  "Yes, I like chocolate," I manage to choke out between laughs.  "Here you go," one of the boys says as he hands me a Ferrero Rocher while the other stands on the sidelines cracking up.  I ended up talking to them for a while on the subway.  One of them could speak a little English and he would pause every few minutes trying to think of things to say to me.  It was entertaining :-)

The funny boys who gave me chocolate~

When I met up with Eunice, she was waiting for me in the subway and we had lunch at a fantastic Indian restaurant located in a nearby shopping area.  The food was AMAZING!  I'm craving it right now...

Chicken Tikka

Garlic Naan and a spicy, creamy, tomato-y sauce I forgot the name of~

Afterward, we walked around and did a little window shopping, had some coffee, and saw a movie.  It was so nice to catch up with her and have a lot of girl talk :-)

Eunice trying on bows to buy for her baby niece

Eunice & I

It was quite a trek coming back from Ilsan by subway and I got home around midnight.  On Sunday morning, I went to church with Peaches, who is one of my coworkers from Poly.  She started her contract about a month after me, but has been in Korea for a little over a year teaching.  She speaks Korean really well and has helped me out so much since we first met. I think she went to the doctor with me 3 times when I was sick, haha, although we were both being treated on more than one occasion.  We seem to have perpetual colds. 

After church she took me to a popular shopping district which is called "Karasukil."  It's a really nice area and we stumbled upon a few really cute shops.  Korean accessories are so big and bold that they sometimes catch me off-guard, but I love them!  The norm is a little funky, but always very girly.  I decided I needed to start collecting a few interesting accessories to bring back to the states with me so I bought a hair barrette that is shaped like a little top hat~

Shopping

This headband is like $200~

Another obnoxious headband

Peaches trying on a top hat barrette ^.^

We stumbled upon all of these different areas that are set up for people to pose and take pictures.  Peaches told me that it is really common for girls to come dressed up and take photos with these props.  Some even model clothing for internet shops.

I've been trying to write letters lately.  They take quite a while to travel back and forth from Korea to the U.S. but if you'd like to start exchanging snail mail with me, send me your address!  Let's revive this dying art together =)

All my love,

Miss Jones

Happy Valentine's Day!

First of all, I would like to thank everyone for the kind comments and messages I received last week.  Your words lifted me up and reminded me of all the marvelous things the Lord has blessed me with.  As I write this, "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men is playing on the radio and the words are exactly what my heart is speaking in this very moment~ 


"And I know you're shining down on me from heaven...like so many friends we've lost along the way...and I know eventually we'll be together, one sweet day..."

Alex- we have become so close over the years and I miss you immensely.  You are always able to cheer me up, and I laugh hysterically when you mock me in your grandma voice.  For some reason, I always have giggle fits when we are together.  I know I can be annoyingly motherly sometimes, but by now, I'm pretty sure you are able to brush it off thinking, "She can't help herself."   

I have such happy memories of the family nights we had in the Loren house when you, me, and Becky would eat dinner together and mock reality shows, or maybe even give our own critiques to the designers on Project Runway - you know you miss that ;-)  Anyway, what I'm really trying to say is that I cherish all of the memories we have made together and I'm missing you~

silliness <3

Alex and his other sisters~



We so coo brotha~

He makes me laugh~



Musical family time around the firebowl





Santa Monica Pier



Huntington Beach - 2009

 




Fresh off the plane from Mexico during the swine flu epidemic, lol 

 







Summer at Aunt Cindy & Uncle Dave's house

 
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On Friday night one of my coworkers was nice enough to invite a bunch of us girls over for a pre-valentine's day dinner.  A lot of talking, card playing, eating, and silliness pursued :)

Snackage, as my dad would say~

Me and Kristy

Michelle is a gangsta

Kristy, Guijung, and I

Me and Kerry

Kerry's faces always make me laugh~

pretty smile =D

What could be more perfect than a Hello Kitty cake that says "I love you."

I'm not sure how it started, but we had a mini food fight...

Icing wars

Taste good?

Poor Julie, icing in the eye~

 The rest of the weekend I relaxed and caught up on sleep, which was much needed.  I spent my Saturday afternoon writing letters in my fuzzy socks, while watching Aladdin and eating fruit loops :-)

I proctored another monthly exam last week at school which included an essay section.  The second grade essay question completely cracked me up and I have to share a couple of their responses with you~

Q: Imagine that cows gave soda instead of milk.  Write a story about what happens. 

A#1: "Once upon a time, there was a boy and a cow.  The boy loved Soda.  So, he find a old book that says "How to get soda" He saw quickly.  First says, dig a hole next to your very big tree.  He said "Soda!" But there was none, because his cow ate it.  Second, say this magic word to any cup "Abracadraba make a soda!"  Then it made it the soda he put the cup in his mouth, but the cow quickly get the soda and he ate it all up.  Last, said go front of the very big hill and say Soda 5 times he said it the soda came like rain but the cow also ate it quickly up. Next day, he was very sad that he had no soda yesterday.  He went to eat milk so he went to his cow.  He squeeze then suddenly soda came out and the cows color was black all over.  He was very happy.  He sold soda and became very rich and lived happily ever after." 

A#2: "Inside one forest, once there was a one farm.  A farmer named Brown had only two calfs.  Farmer Brown love d the calfs as he, because he didn;t have any sun or daughter, so he got one cow, but the cow had two calfs and soon, the cow die, so Farmer Brown had only two calfs in large farm.  Farmer Brown loved 2 calfs, so he always eat, wash, and sleep together with calfs.  One day, Farmer Brown and 2 calfs were eating breakfast together. Farmer Brown drank one cup of soda and thirsty calfs keep on crying loudly.  Farmer Brown thinked so noisy about calfs crying sound. So he gave the soda to calfs.  Calfs drank so deliciously, so calfs cried everyday at the eating time. And Farmer Brown had to gave soda everyday. So , when calfs grow up, two cows gave soda to Farmer Brown and he opened a soda shop."

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 I could feel Valentine's Day was in the air this morning when I was with my kindergartners.  I just had to start snapping pics when I noticed them coupling off in the library today~

Shiloh & Chris

Still so innocent~

Jacob & Christina

Christina is always gazing longingly into his eyes and the whole class knows she's in love with him~

They were hiding from the camera

Jacob & Ruby - Hey, he can't help it if the ladies love him ;)

Jane & Julia - so precious <3

 We decided to make some Valentine's Day cards for their Korean teacher, Elly, because she was sick today.  It was Gordon's idea - he can be so thoughtful sometimes.  You can't read it but he wrote, "To: Ms. Elly, I hope you get better and get to Poly and I will be with you.  I hope you will get better from talking with someone.  -Gordon."  ~They really are sweethearts.

Gordon

Lucy & Sally

Charlie-my awkward child w/ADD, but oh how I love him, his smile melts my heart <3

Joshua being silly

He got new glasses and they are adorably geeky :-)

 Lately I received a couple of invitations to Korean weddings.  One was from my co-teacher Ted, who is getting married at the end of this month.  We are all so excited for him!

Wedding Invitations

I had a wonderful Valentine's Day, the kids spoiled me and showered me with candies and chocolates.  I feel so loved... 

Wishing all of my loved ones the Happiest of Valentine's Days!

Hugs & Kisses,

Miss Jones <3