FRIDAY DECEMBER 7, 2007 @ 1:31 pm{Seoul}; 11:31 pm{Toronto}Let's talk!
Mood:
Listening to: You Needed Me, Boyzone
You gave me hope, when I was at the end
You turned my life back into truth again
You gave me strength, to stand alone again,
To face the world out on my own again
...
You needed me
I can't believe it's true, I can't believe it's you
You were there when I needed You.
It has been SUCH a long time since I have listened to Boyzone. Seriously, I am
a huge fan...or I was. My first major crush was Ronan Keating lol. It was known by almost
my entire school at the time...and when he got married people were very careful...and they brought
me the newspaper clipping very solemnly. HAHA...that was so hilarious. I was like, oh
yeah...okay. They didn't know how to take it. Renu, do you remember that? In the assembly?
Oh the song that just came on is awesome. "Hallelujah, for all You've done!" That's not the
title, it's a lyric from the song...I love Hillsongs.
So...this is gonna be a majorly long post...this past week has been eventful- very! Brace yourself.
Saturday December 1, 2007:
Because Richard's birthday on the 2nd and Jeff's on the 5th, we decided to do a joint birthday
celebration for the boys. We went to Lotte World (almost like Disney Land but not)...and I had to be
very prepared because Jen, who was appalled that I had never ice skated in my life, said she would teach me.
Let me tell you, there was a lot of trepidation within me - for good reason. I am not good with things
when I feel like I have no control of my being. Unfortunately Kelly was ill so she couldn't make
Lotte World. But okay, there were 13 of us - all at Lotte World's skating rink...and Unni and I were the
newbies to the world of ice skating. It was so scary, but still lots of fun! I actually did it...no, I never
was on my own - I had to hold on to someone all the time. For which this is a HUGE thank you - Jen, Jeff, Becky
and Lara (who does not know about this blog- but that's okay) I am SO GRATEFUL. Especially Jen and Jeff - I
worried for your arms. I had such a death grip on them, thanks guys - you're awesome!
After ice skating, we went lookign for the rides. Um..okay, so Unni had a gift voucher for four people
which she used for myself and the birthday boys. And we were supposed to be together - so guess what the
other three wanted to do? Gyro drop - for the folks in Canada - think worse than Drop Zone *cries*...yes I was on
it - and half my life left me! haha...not quite but close enough. Then we went for bumper cars...best game ever!
It was a loooooong wait...about 40-ish mins would you say? But then we got to play...for what? 10 mins? It was good though.
There was an interesting donkey there...mechanical...that pooped chocolate? Guys help me out here!
After, we all made our way to Itaewon for dinner at Toque, a restaurant with really nice ambience. After dinner
we went to this bar-type place...The Bungalow. This place is seriously cool...everytime we go we get a different room, and
always, it's a good time. This time we got a room with low chair-types. Anyway, Becky and I went and
got the cake and surprised the boys. I don't know if they were expecting it though? LOL...I'm skeptical, but
we all had fun. I must say that my legs were so sore I don't know how I walked at all then and for the
subsequent 4 days!
Sunday, Dec 2, 2007 - I went to church, and Unni came too! It was awesome. It was the first sermon for me, with the
senior Pastor. It was good, and Unni liked the church too. After church we wanted to go to the Newcomers' Meeting,
but it was full. However I met some people, also Canadian who made me promise I'd come back - and said they'd
look for me to make sure. It was funny...but good. I met the pastor's wife, who is also Canadian. I am meeting a lot of Canadians here!
Also, the church is doing an angel sponsor with an Orphanage near Incheon (sponsor a child for Christmas - buy them a gift and pray for them) and
I got a little boy. His name is Jung Ho and he's a cutie...at least from what I could make out from the pic of him that I saw.
I'd say he's a cutie anyways! LOL. I'm excited for this.
After church, I hung around Gangnam with Karin and Xavier (her
little boy) who I love! It's so fun teasing him and just talking to him. I miss the child-like nature
of children. I know I'm a teacher but getting to spend time with kids outside of school settings
is something else. I made a bet with Xav and I lost! So now I owe him ice cream. He's a smartie - he
made up a contract which he made his mom and I sign. And then proceeded to add to it after - so I told
him it was void. He figured since mom signed it, that meant either one of us would have to buy him ice cream!
Anyway, we went to a worship service that night...it was awesome. The worship leader, Brian Kim - that is some annointing! His voice is amazing, and more than that his passion is inspiring. I loved the service because it broke me. I cannot say enough how much I love being in a church where the passion for God is everywhere...and infectious. This worship service was at a different one from the one I go to, but it is somehow connected with the church I go to. Either way, all I can say is God is amazing!
Poor Xavier though, I know he was tired by the end of the
day - as were Karin and I. But we popped into a toy store on the way home and I became the new owner of a hula hoop - after Xavier made me hula by the roadside so he could take a picture which he said he hadn't taken!! So I was hulaing for a bit there feeling like a geek with Karin laughing. Good times, good times.
So now, Monday rolls along...and it begins with drama lol. I'm such a storyteller!
Monday Dec 3, 2007: Halfway through the day my co-teacher asked me if I checked whether I got paid for my
extra classes...and I said yes. But then I checked to see if it was right. Considering that the teacher in charged
made a mistake last month I didn't think it was possible this month - but no, I was short a good chunk this time. Not as much
as last time but nonetheless - it was short. And when we told the teacher in charge, she said (to cover herself so she would not have to
pass the paper to the VP & Principal which would say she made a mistake) "tell Ness to skip the extra classes to make up for that
amount of time." Okay, I was not impressed and so I sent her a message telling her that I didn't think it was fair to the kids
or myself and I didn't want to skip the classes. Anyway...to make a long story short, she ended up cancelling my extra classes
for this term entirely - so it's the most abrupt ending ever! And I am not getting paid for the classes I should have had this week. THEN the woman had the gall to stand up during the staff meeting
and dis my co-teacher who did nothing wrong. I was not - and am still not impressed or very happy with her or the situation.
Anyway...for the rest of the week I have been trying hard and praying hard to forgive her and to not go through major rants
in my mind about her where I say some choice and not so nice things about her. So those of you who do pray - please pray for
grace for me. I need to forgive and let it go. But on Monday, in my pique, I made Banana bread because baking calms me.
The hardest thing for me is that it is my kids who are really shafted. What sort of
teacher goes on the logic of, 'it doesn't matter if the class is cancelled, the kids would rather go home anyway'???
Anyway - on account of Kimchi Making season, my principal let all the teachers go home early on Wednesday and Thursday. So,
on Wednesday, I head home with a heavy heart (literally) because it was the first extra class and I had to tell the kids that
it was over. And I had some time so I made some Strawberry Bread before heading over to Jen & Jeff's for Jeff's birthday surprise! :D
It made me happy...I actually took the bread right out of the oven, put it into a gift bag and head out! But the surprise for Jeff
is more interesting! lol. Kelly, Sara, Becky, Rich and I went to Eungam with all the fixings for a pesto pasta meal, and Kelly with
yummy pecan tarts (sooo good) and with Jen's help were able to get to Jen & Jeff's and surprise him. Sara covered the peep hole and
we all sang "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and ended it with Happy Birthday! LOL...it was good. Kelly cooked the food (thanks again
Kelly)...and we all sat on the floor...or most of us...and had dinner with only Christmas lights on. It was great. I hope you had a
good birthday Jeff!
Then yesterday (Thursday) Ali, Bridgette and I went to Lotte Mart to shop for our sponsor children. Seriously, it is
so awesome to do this. I've never done it before, but we were all so excited to buy the gifts. Picking them out, debating over them,
how to bend the price limit, the gift wrap, cards...it was really good. And we were starving by the time we got to the Youngpoong at
Jongak to meet Karin and Xavier. Ah, I love that kid! As soon as we got to the food area, we spotted him with ice cream. The
first thing he said was, "you just got here?...really, just now?" When I said yes, he was like..."Man! I just bought my ice cream!"
And then I remembered that I owe him ice cream. I had to check myself before saying I'd get him ice cream after church and amended it to
"if mom says okay, then I'll get it for you after church". And then he proceeded to tell me he didn't think I knew my times tables
and quiz me. Good times :)
Today was really good...I didn't sleep well last night so I expected to be tired today. But the grade 4's were much better today...
I can't complain about them at all! YAY! And I got to do "All I Want for Christmas (is my two front teeth)" with them - it was fun!
They enjoyed it and me more I think. Oh well...it fit with the lesson so that worked out well :) And I was kinda sad this morning
knowing it was my second extra class today, my 5th and 6th graders. I really love this class - the girls are awesome. So I was having a hard
time within myself to have to tell them. I told the girls today that class was over, they didn't have to stay. But if they wanted, they
could stay and we'd make Christmas decorations. All of them chose to stay and we had a blast!I had them draw stockings and make a garland and stars
and snow flakes. Then, in the middle of class they said "Teacher, next week we have class?" I was really having a hard time internally, but my co-teacher explained to them that they were done and there
would be no class next week. So after ten minutes they said, "Teacher, can we come and help you next week?" I told them they didn't have to
come to class - they could go home, but they said "teacher, can we come?" so I asked if they wanted to, and they said yes. So they
are coming to brighten up my Friday afternoon next week as well. Seriously, it made my heart happy. It was the first inkling Christmas-y-ness that I have been able to experience here. I decorated my tree, am decorating my room, but being with the kids, with Christmas music in the background, just talking and gluing paper/cutting paper/drawing and coloring with smiles made it feel like there was some Christmas spirit in Korea after all.
The lack thereof has been really upsetting to me. Everytime I try to ask the kids something I feel like there is nothing, apart from the times I see them in the washroom or the hallways and ask, "are you excited for Christmas?"...and then proceed to have to explain 'excited'...and then they get all happy.
Today at lunch some of the teachers were talking about taxi's and one of my friend teacher heard 'date'...yeah, even in Korean the two sound nothing alike. So they were teasing her saying that's what's on your mind. And honestly she does have it on the brain. Then they turned to me because just before I was talking with her about Christmas and my sponsor child and had a huge smile on my face. And the teacher said, "Ness do (also)" ...and I said, "yeah, well...maybe.." and he said "oh, it's because Christmas is coming," knowingly...and I said "No. Not for a man! Christmas is for family and friends." That surprised him, and the other teachers. And they were asking..."just for you or in America and Canada?" So I said, in Canada and America. So they were telling me it's not like that in Korea, and then started talking about how that was good - the family and friends thing - and then turned to me and told me it was different. So I said, "yeah, that's why it makes me sad." It was interesting, because of how differently they thought, and more so that they were surprised by it. Well...like I have been saying...it's all about Jesus. If He could come humble Himself enough to come to the earth and die for me, I am not going to give His birthday to stupid cupid! 'Nuff said.
After school, I went and got some Christmas gifts and came home and immediately started rearranging my room. So now, my space is different
and I like it - thanks to Ali! And then I was washing my dishes just now and broke my only plate *sigh*
Okay, that's all...like it isn't enough!Be blessed:)
P.S. I got Jen & Jeff's Christmas card in the mail! YAY...Thanks guys:))
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