Update!

Well hello there! Long time no see… yeah, I know that’s kinda my fault. It has been *way* to long since I’ve sat down at my computer to write something, anything!

Due to the long absence I’m going to attempt to give you a whirlwind update from this summer. Ready?  시작!

Summers for an English teacher usually start with Summer English Camp. What these camps look like can vary from school to school. At Gachang it means three days of “special” english classes that include grades 1-6 (usually I only teach 3-6). They are meant to be a fun camp-like setting where students learn/practice English.  For this camp I had the “brilliant idea” (I’m still not sure if this was my best or worst idea ever) to make ice cream in a bag with all the classes. Besides a few too many “we’re out of ice!!” panics and three days of being covered in sticky saltiness it actually went off pretty well. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, English was spoken and ice cream was (miraculously!) made. Success!

Our camp ended with the students and their families camping out overnight on the school grounds. It was great fun to be a part of the night and see the students with their families, dance around to TeenTop around the campfire, watch them set off fireworks and then go have some chicken, beer and soju with the rest of the faculty in the science room after everyone was asleep (yes, that happened).

After summer camps I had a few weeks of teaching summer classes. These differ from summer camps in that only some students sign up and they are more like regular class periods.  Because this is during their summer break I had much smaller classes which was really very enjoyable. I also taught them completely on my own. While I absolutely adore my coteacher, it was nice to have a class totally to myself. Feels a little bit more like my old “classroom teacher” days. I also have more freedom in subject matter and did some things “just because” and “just for fun”.

Finally, the moment that all teachers wait for arrived. Summer vacation!! I was blessed to have my best friend from… forever, come and visit me. It was amazing having Mandy here, even though it was really too hot to do much more than sit inside and try not to overheat (seriously people, it. was. hot.). But it was fantastic, and a bit serial, to be able to show her around and show off Korea. It really is an amazing place that I would HIGHly recommend everyone visit. Just, maybe not at the height of summer! *^^*  

It was hard to say goodbye, though. And made me realize how very much I miss people back home. It’s been over a year since I’ve been there which just seems crazy to me! So, while Daegu is my home right now, I am very, very much looking forward to making the trek back over the ocean in the not too distant future for a little visit! Woot!!

The summer season ended with a five day trip to Jeju Island for 추석 (Chuseok)- it a bit like the Korean version of Thanksgiving. Jeju is considered to be one of Koreas great beauties and everyone seems to be very proud of it. It didn’t disappoint and I am already planning another trip back in the spring to do a bit more exploring! The landscape was absolutely breathtaking.

So I think brings us up to the present. We are about halfway through our second semester at school (how did that happen so fast?!?) and I am officially started on my second contract/year here. The temperatures have finally started to drop and Autumn is in the air! I’m very much looking forward to this new season!