Kiddos!

So, today is supposed to be the first week of my sixth term at Chungdahm, BUT we have a Swine Flu problem and I am now on a mandatory vacation! Being all ready for work and such, I thought it would be a good time to update this with some pictures from of my kids. We are on mandatory house arrest. Okay, that may be dramatic, but we were asked not to leave and I see that lasting for about 45 more minutes. None of us were directly or even really indirectly in contact with anyone from CDI that contracted the infamous disease, so I am making dinner plans.; At CDI I teach kids from grade 2 through middle school. These are some of my favorite students and/or interesting pictures from my time in Korea so far.



One of my first classes from the lower level and probably still one of my favorites! I am lucky some of these kids are still around and in my classes from time to time.


Doesn't this face just say trouble?? He eventually got kicked out of our academy. That's a hard thing to accomplish at a new private institute that wants his won.


Summertime classes. They didn't want to be there, and most days neither did I, but we had some fun! :)


Bell, who I renamed Bella after screwing up her name about five hundred times was one of my favorites. Each day she brought a HUGE bag of pens to class and every word she wrote was a different color. I found this entertaining and a probable way I would have dealt with being in school all of the time.


During the summer and winter terms we teach morning classes during their school vacations. This is Mike and he was a crazy student who used Chucky as an example in all his stories. I wonder if he knew that he looked a lot like Chucky?


Meet Lauren, she came to school one day after stepping in a mud pit. I found her crying in the bathroom and I had to help her de-mud and borrow her some flip-flops. I had a hard time getting the class to stop laughing, myself included at the sight of her tiny feet in my clown shoes.


My winter little ones were my favorite. Meet Susan, Lily and Jiny. These girls are smarter than smart and hilarious!


Somebody brought a plastic rat to class, so Susan and I had some photo fun with it!


Cherry is one of my favs. She is back in my class this term and hopefully won't be freaked out by the pig flu......


Hard at work, Emma is a new student who lately has been telling some funny stories in class.


Ahhhh, teacher has her camera....what do I do, I will put my head in my bag...

Those are my kids. While sitting in my "quarentined" apartment I wonder how many moms will pull their kids from the pig flu academy? Eh. I think I am getting paid for these 10 days and tomorrow I am off to the one beach in Korea.....whatchyagoingtodo?

Happy Birthday Buddha

Buddha's birthday is actually today, (May 2nd) but the celebration for him was last Sunday. The big celebration was a lantern parade. I missed it last year and almost missed it again. My friend Nate and I rushed out to Seoul after his dart tournament only to see that we had missed it all.... conceding to defeat we took off for dinner and what do you know, we caught part of the parade. Now the thing started at 7 and it was well past 9 by the time we caught up with it, but I got a good thirty minutes of lanterns, people and floats..... Plenty for me and I was partly happy I didn't show up earlier!


The birthday boy himself


Looks like he got a helicopter


These women ARE lotus lanterns


Monks celebrating


Drum woman


And America has pimp my car...I would much prefer to have my car lotused!

Running to Fukuoka

After I got back from vacation I spent an hour or so in immigration finding out that my work visa was invalid, eeek! I was going to need to apply for an entire new visa, and would not be legal to work for at least a month. Grrrr....... I guess being an illegal isn't a problem at my school, so I risked it and worked. Partly because my attitude upon arriving in Korea was one of not caring whether I stayed or left and getting caught would just mean going home earlier than planned. AIso, I didn't know if I would have a job if I said that I wouldn't work until I got my visa figured out.

After six weeks of hiding cash, stressing about paperwork and express mailing all the things I was off to Japan to make my time in Korea above board again. I arrived in Fukouka to find a number of teachers doing the same thing and with that a little group was created..

I enjoyed Japan and could see why people stay multiple years to teach there. It is a lot more westernized and the culture is a little more forgiving than that of Korea. I guess I could see myself living there before Seoul again, but a major consideration for all teachers is the money. Everything in Japan was way more expensive and teachers are paid less. Fine for the experience, but as I switch into saving mode for my year of backpacking I am happy with my choice to be in Korea.

The only thing I really ventured out alone for was fabric. Japanese fabric is really cute, massively popular and expensive at home. I now see why....its expensive there too. For being in a smaller town the choices were good. I found things rather easily and picked out some great stuff and can't wait to get stitching!


The arcade by the embassy had some crazy ways to waste your money.


The view of Fukuoka from a bridge.


Crafting, Japanese style.


I remember our group asking him...."Do you speak English, Do you speak English?" the pig stopped and just shook his head no. It was pretty adorable.


The teachers from Korea and a few English guys we hung out with that night.


These fish were as big as my thigh.


A japanese garden


Pretty pond picture.

Ubud and Monkey Forest

After a few days on Gili Tranwagnaw we headed back to the island of Bali and to the cultural hot spot of Ubud. I was sunburnt to a crisp, so this was the perfect place for me, away from the beach!

I had big plans to go to galleries and maybe see a dance, but after two weeks on the road I was exhausted and instead opted for a day of shopping and a visit to the Monkey Forest.

The shopping was great and different from the shops in Kuta that we saw when we first arrived. We saw more Indonesian art and less Roxy surf ware. A trip to the Monkey Sanctuary was next on the list. We spent the afternoon walking around the beautiful temples and watching some hilarious monkeys.


Monkey Forest Road


Offerings found outside every store


In Ubud they put flowers EVERYWHERE


Naptime?


Baby Monkey


My favorite monkey picture


THEIR temple


Checking out life on the outside.


Were you going to eat that? A Monkey getting his fix from the daily offerings around the forest.

Gili Trawangan

The next stop on our trip was the small island of Gili Trawangan. It's one of three islands that have become quite popular in the last few years. They each have their own personality. Gili Air is super duper quiet and often dubbed the honeymoon island. Gili Meno is in the middle island and boasts some quiet spots but has more going on than Gili Air. Gili Trawangan, where we were headed, is the party island or backpacker's island. It wasn't so much a constant rave, but it had more going one than the other two and people our own age. Since leaving Kuta Beach we have definitely been in the minority age wise.

All three of these islands are special because they have no motorized transport. No cars, bikes or trucks. After you depart the boat your choices are to walk, bike or hire a horse and cart. The island is small and we had little problem getting around and finding accommodation. I didn't take a lot of pictures, but here are a few shots of the island.


The plush boat we took to get to the island. It was a comfy ride!


Beautiful beaches and water


Island's preferred method of transport

Bali, a taste of paradise!

After three days in Kuala Lumpur we boarded a plane for our primary destination.. Bali, Indonesia. From the airport we sped off to Kuta Beach. This area has a reputation for being the "party" beach and also the site of the 2006 bombings. Now days any decent restaurant or bar boasts a security check at the front before you get in.

In addition to party atmosphere, there were lots of shops and cafes around. We did our fair share of shopping and with the tourism industry there suffering bargains were everywhere. We came away with some cute sundresses and souvenirs to boot.

The beach wasn't the paradise we were expecting. Lots of hawkers and if you didn't have an ipod in your ear you were being hassled by someone wanting to sell you everything from tattoos to surf lessons. So, we took off two days later and headed for Lombok, a short four hour ferry ride away.


To my surprise, this was the Bali sunrise that I ordered at dinner the first night! Understated.


More Billabong than San Diego


Bombing Memorial


Leaving Bali behind for Lombok!


While we were waiting to leave this boy was swimming around and decided to have a break on the dock.


One of the ferry employees fishing for dinner.....they came up fishless at the end of the journey.

Lombok is known as the new Bali. A place less spoilt by tourism with a more relaxed atmosphere. They were right! After a hellish ordeal getting transport to the island mostly due to poor planning, we ended up at the cutest hotel with the best beachside pool.

We really did little of substance in Sengigi, the most tourist town on the island. Most of the three days we spent there were relaxing by the pool and swimming.


Beach side pool, a little bit of paradise.


Best chicken satay I have ever had in my life!


Gone fishing...


A family playing on the beach.


Batu Bolong, the Temple I wanted to visit....

KL Chinatown

In Kuala Lumpur we stayed at a hostel in Chinatown. In addition to being in the heart of the "backpackers disctrict," this part of town is where you go for your "Praha" sunglasses and "Guccii" belts.


A Chinese Budhist temple.


Durian the smelliest fruit around! It is banned from most hostels and hotels.


The street food here was ridiculous. This man is making clay-pot soup.


The night market, the smaller part.....


Satay Man