Having food forced upon me...

For some reason, I must look perpetually hungry. Two students had some milk tea that they had drunk 3/4 of and then practically pushed it into my mouth begging me to try it. Despite my refusals and the fact that they had already drank out of it, I finally took a sip and told them it was good. So they decided to give me the rest of it. :P

Then, as I was sitting in my chair with my cup of leftover tea next to me, the next and oldest class was coming in. Rose(14) walked in with a bag of cheese bread, walked up to me, and stuck one in my mouth, literally. lol It was an interesting day.

Another very special thing that happened was, when I was on my hour break and going to my local cafe, I happened to run into an old student. He's maybe 14 or 15 years old and was always a student that I liked. Very good natured and could be amusing at times. He was really excited to see me and he even gave me a hug, which somewhat surprised me. It's fun running into old students, especially when they give you that kind of greeting. :)

Today's Student Humor

I went into the men's bathroom yesterday and found four of my old students who were in my oldest(first year high school) and favorite class but have since moved to a special class taught by the owner's daughter. I went into the bathroom again tonight and found them all crowded in there again so I said, "Is this your guys meeting place or something?"

One boy's response, "We're the bathroom association." LOL

In other news, I ended up arm-wrestling a whole bunch of 8 year-olds today on my desk. I did okay when it was one-on-one(though one boy was surprisingly strong) but had more trouble with one-on-five. :P

I know I haven't been updating as much as I should be. There are so many things that happen and so many funny stories to tell and I should write them down because I forget them so quickly. There are times I leave class just laughing at how funny the kids were that class or the things that were said. Of course, there are other times when I leave feeling like I'm going to kill someone. But then I always run into some other student that brightens me back up. Children are my source of energy. I don't know that I could be anything else other than a teacher or the owner of an educational institution. I draw my energy and enthusiasm from kids. They are my greatest source of enjoyment and also my greatest source of stress. hehe

Now that I've been here for six months, the kids have really become comfortable with me and we have a really good relationship. Of course, there are a handful of kids who think I'm horrible and I don't much care for them either but there are a whole lot more kids that I love, even if I have to get on them or be harsh sometimes, which I hate having to do.

Of course, I still have so much to learn when it comes to teaching methods and classroom management and every day presents new situations and new learning experiences. But I always love it when kids come up to me and grab my arm, ask me for my phone number, tell me they want to meet me on the weekend, or just come up to hit me and run away laughing hoping that I'll chase them. :P Then it's always special when you have the older kids tell you how much they enjoy your classes or when, as one student says, they tell you, "you're a one-man show."

Then there are all the funny things that they say like, "Teacher! You hamburgers love?" or when a four-foot girl says, "Teacher, you're so short..." Or even better, "Teacher, your hair(pointing at my chin) is very pretty." The list goes on and on and I just wish I could remember all the things they say and do. Maybe I'll try to post at least one thing at the end of each day.

You know you're a bachelor...

when you go grocery shopping and this is what you buy:

1 L. 100 % White Grape-Peach Juice

Carton of Milk

Chocolate Bread

Loaf of Wheat Bread

8-pack of Yogurt

Box of Cereal

Gatorade + LifeWater

Snack

Bunch of Bananas

Chocolate

Single Serving Instant Spaghetti

Container of Kumquats

Pringles

Butter

Bag of Pears

4 Year Anniversary

I was just thinking and realized that it's been four years, this month, since I first came to Korea and realized that my future would involve living here in the future. It was then that I first visited the church that I now attend and first met the people that are such an important part of my life now. Yet, I had to wait more than three long years to again return to Korea but it was well worth the wait.

It's absolutely amazing to think how different life was, how different I was, just four years ago.

In 2005:
-I was 17 years old
-I had my drivers permit
-I had just gotten my first regular job - helping a lady who had an upholstery business
-I hadn't begun studying for college yet
-I was a proud Independent Fundamental Baptist
-I was a passionate Republican
-I first spoke, very bashfully, to a group of people - a five minute homeschooling testimony at my Korean church

Now, four years later, in 2009:
-I'm 21 years old
-I have a drivers license and a car
-I have a job as an ESL teacher at a private academy
-I have a degree in Business Administration from Thomas Edison State College and a most incredible group of friends that I met through my studies
-I'm a non-denominational Christian with Reformed beliefs
-I'm a registered Republican but Libertarian in my views
- Besides my regular school classes, I teach Sunday School every week, and teach in the afternoon service a couple times a month

It's amazing what a difference those four years can make in a person. I'm finally living my dream that I waited and prayed so long for. God has granted me the desires of my heart and I feel like I've so often been so ungrateful. I want my life here to reflect my dedication to Christ and a passion to serve Him in any way that He leads. I believe that God has led me to the place where I am, both physically and spiritually. And yet I know I have so far to go. I can only imagine what I will be like when I look back over another four years in 2013.

Feeling Contemplative...

Sometimes it feels like there is so much to think about, doesn't it?

I've been keeping my mind busy with how to improve classes and my teaching skills, goals for the future, relationships, and my spiritual life.

I came to my blog today and "Lifesong" started playing and that song always makes me want to raise my hands in worship. There's just something about it that really stirs me.

Empty hands held high
Such small sacrifice
If not joined with my life
I sing in vain tonight

We can say and make a show of worship but if it doesn't become a part of our life, we're singing in vain.

Lord I give my life
A living sacrifice
To reach a world in need
To be Your hands and feet

"Lord, use me to show you to those around me through my actions by showing love and meeting the practical needs of those who are suffering"

So may the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to You

"Let everything I do be pleasing in your sight, Lord."
Why does it seem like it so often doesn't?

Let my lifesong sing to You
Let my lifesong sing to You
I want to sign Your name to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to You

"Let my life sing to You, oh God. Let it show Your power in my life and let Your love be shown through me. I want to finish this day knowing that my heart was true to You. Let my lifestyle be pleasing to You."

Colossians 3:17 "Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus."

Starting English Sunday School

Sorry to everyone for not keeping you more informed over the past two months. I neglected to tell you a lot of important stuff, like going on the overnight teachers' trip to Everland and how I spent the Lunar New Year holiday. I'll try and work harder to keep you up to date. :)

It's been a really good weekend, so far, though it's almost over now. Yesterday, I met Eunbae for lunch and we went shopping in his hometown of Byeongjum afterwards. I met Dahea and Young-ah around 4 to plan for the start of our English Sunday School class at church and we spent about an hour over coffee working on it, which was fun.

Afterwards, Eunbae and I got a large carton of Baskin Robbins ice cream and ate the entire thing while watching a movie. I should also mention that I got four bags of cookies/chocolate from church friends for Valentines Day and several pieces of chocolate from a few students. I love it when I get things from my students. hehe

Today, I got up much earlier than I'm used to - 7:30. I wanted to make sure I had something to eat since I would be teaching and I'm usually dead Sunday mornings at church. I had a chance to eat and get a Caramel Cafe Latte from my favorite cafe, Haru Coffee, before Young-ah's dad came to pick me up.

Despite it being our first time leading SS, it went really great. I had enough food and coffee to make me sufficiently crazy during game time and energetic enough to lead songs with actions and give a 15 minute message. Honestly, though, I was out of breath after the game and song leading. hehe

It was really neat and everyone said that we all did well. Dahea translated and Young-ah and I did a short English program. It also felt great to have energy while at church, something I'm not used to. hehe

I decided to leave early, during the afternoon service, to catch the bus home and now I'm glad I did. Hyunjoo was meeting a friend in Osan and we ended up running in to each other at the bus stop(she had left church earlier). I don't get to talk with her much so it was really fun to talk for about 20 minutes as we went back to Osan.

After parting with Hyunjoo, I was walking towards Lotte Mart when I heard someone call my name. I turned around and Young-soon and her boyfriend Gyeong-sup were in the car behind me in the ally. They told me to jump in and they would drop me off at Lotte. It was really neat since I don't get to see them much but I really enjoy them.

And that was how my day went up to this point - it's nearly 4 pm. Now I'm thinking I might go out and shoot some basketball(what I went to Lotte for) before dinner. Then maybe relax with some gaming. Who knows. Don't forget to check out my facebook for pictures when I update. If you need a link, leave a comment. ;)