More than two months...

Wow, I can't believe it's been more than two months since I last blogged. It's kind of hard to remember all the things that went on during that period. It's quite warm here but not unbearingly so. We've entered the rainy season so it's wise to never leave home without an umbrella, though I often do. :P

Speaking of two months, I have only two months left in Korea. 7 1/2 weeks to be exact and I'm counting down the days, marking each one off on the calendar. I've already started looking for jobs and hope to have something lined up by the time I get home. Really looking forward to being back with my family and American friends hanging out at American cafes. Not sure if I'll remember how to order a coffee in English, though. :P

Right now I'm just trying to keep myself busy to pass the time by preparing for upcoming last minute trips I want to get in before going back to the States. The first of which will be to Cheju-do, a semi-tropical island off the southern coast of Korea. I've got a three day vacation starting Friday and ending Tuesday and am gonna spend my whole time there just relaxing on the beach, doing some biking, shopping, etc. It was on my list of things to do while in Korea and I'm really glad our schools short Summer vacation allows me to do it.

After that, I'm gonna give the USO a call and try to arrange a tour to the DMZ before I go. It's another thing that was high on my list to do and the window of opportunity is rapidly closing as I have 7 available Saturdays to schedule it on.

Finally, and the trip that will require the most planning, will be my end-of-contract celebratory trip to Japan. After my contract ends, I'm planning on taking a three of four day trip to Japan to do some sightseeing and experience the culture before leaving Asia. I will be returning to Korea one last time, though, in order to pick up my luggage, since I really don't want to be lugging my current household items all over Tokyo. It will give me a chance to say my final goodbyes and spend a little bit of time with friends, since I have to work just about right up until my departure date.

So those are my current plans and happenings in a nutshell. I also should mention that I've gotten on a much better sleeping schedule. I've been playing basketball in the mornings with a couple of older students at 9:30 so I've been getting to bed around 1 to 1:30 and getting up at 9, as opposed to my previous 4:00 to 12:00 sleeping pattern. I have to admit that I feel much better.

I'll try to keep this updated more frequently, since interesting things happen fairly regularly but are soon forgotten thanks to my genetically-inherited memory-deficient brain.

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."