Yoga & Kpop

Seeing how it is my goal to become active again. I have been trying to attend yoga since I've moved to Korea.  Of course, starting this goal over holidays that focus on eating like Christmas and Valentine’s Day is especially difficult. Plus, it’s been cold. I mean why would I ever leave the comforts (and warmth) of my home to attend a yoga class…that’s just insane. So I thought in order to light a match under my butt I will buy new shoes. It obviously worked because I got my a** out of bed and went downtown to class. It also helps that it is no longer cold outside. 

I haven't stretched or done anything strenuous for a really (I mean A REALLY) long time so I was a little worried going into class. I'm also still getting over my sinus infection so it's a little difficult to breath. Overall, the class was good and in actuality I think it helped clear my sinuses more. At times I was a little frustrated with myself because I couldn't keep my balance with certain poses like the one demonstrated in the upper right photo. I'm still a little annoyed I kept falling over. In my young years I could do this with my eyes literally closed. I do plan to practice a few yoga poses and kick butt in the next yoga class.

At one point the instructor did tell everyone to strike the candle pose and then she looks at me and says, "have you done this pose before?" I of course tell her, "no." I mean, I've done yoga before, but I was never a regular. As I'm telling her this I look around the room to see everyone doing this (exhibit B to the left). She then starts to grab for my legs and enthusiastically says, "I can help you." I immediately jerked my legs away and politely declined. Maybe next time.

Everyday I have students show me new music videos or songs from very famous Kpop stars. Unfortunately, I've started to really like these songs and I'm not ashamed. So you can also enjoy these catchy songs I've dedicated part of this post to spreading the joy of Kpop! Enjoy.

My favorite: Miss A - Bad Girl Good Girl

My other favorite: GD&TOP - High High

Kan Mi Youn - Paparazzi

Dal*Shabet - Suppa Duppa Diva

Fast forward to 1.45: IU - Good Day

Secret - Shy Boy

Introducing Venus

The past two months have been so busy that I haven't even introduced my new kindergarten class. So here they are! Since my school is so clever, each kindergarten class is named after a planet; hence the name Venus. Most pictures were taken recently during our field trip. Enjoy!

   

Update on cold: The cold isn't too bad. Yesterday I felt like death, but I was actually able to get rest last night. Well, until construction began on my apartment building at 7:45 am. Even with more rest and somewhat cleared sinuses, I lost my voice today. Instead of teaching I played scrabble and word games with all of my classes.

Conversation between Gwen (one of my students) and I:
me - popped a cough drop in my mouth during a game of scrabble
Gwen - Ugh, teacher give me candy.
me - It's not candy. It's a cough drop. It's medicine.
Gwen - what?
me - It's not candy. It's a cough drop. It's medicine for your throat.
Gwen - Oh, mo candy?
me - NO! It's medicine.
Gwen - Yes teacher. Mo candy?
me - Looking at Gwen sternly. Gwen, no it's medicine.
Gwen - Teacher I know. Mo candy is Korean for cough drop.

I'm not sure if that's how you spell cough drop in Korean, but that's basically what Gwen was saying (mo candy). After I realized what was going on I just burst out laughing. Gwen is pretty smart so she also caught on and after our laugh we continued to play scrabble.

They got me

You know the scene from movies where a person is sick, hair is a mess, they look like death and they’re in bed lying among snot filled tissues? That person is currently me. I’m not sure when the germs decided to attack my body, but it doesn’t matter. The only thing that does matter is they did. Bastards. I haven’t been able to properly breathe since about 4 o’clock yesterday and because of this, forget sleep. Between coughing, sneezing and wheezing when I breathe I’ve successfully slept three hours tonight. Yay for me! I’m not 100% sure when I was attacked. It could have been when a fellow colleague of mine, who is also sick, handed me a glass to use or when a little girl named Macy coughed in my face. I’m personally leaning towards Macy. She probably was pissed I gave her homework and decided to get back at me the only way she knew. Make me ill. Regardless of how it happened my face and head hurts. Plus it’s now going on 7 am and I’ve been up since about 4:30 am. I shouldn’t complain. I do have an eight hour work day filled with teaching and loud children to look forward to. Yay for me again.

What a great weekend

It's Sunday evening and I can honestly say it has been a great weekend. Saturday morning was spent in my Hangul class, which by the way is basically done. I just have one last class and then I'm done! I could take the second part, but I'm going to give myself time to digest/really know what I've learned so far. But, I'm definitely happy I took the class -- it makes life so much easier. After my Korean class I grabbed a fast lunch and went to Sun Bin Orphanage to volunteer. It's an all girls orphanage and although I've only volunteered maybe three times now, I definitely like it and will continue to give my time. Plus I've also met some awesome people! After volunteering I met some friends and we headed towards the Kia Tigers baseball game! It was my first baseball game so I didn't think I would be so into it, but I was and the Korean crowd is great! They cheer like football fans do back home. I personally thought fans were quiet at baseball games. If this is true for home it's definitely not true for Korea. They are loud, intoxicated and excited to cheer their team on...it was great and I want to go back!

Sunday was spent at Moodong Mountain. We hiked a little, picniced in a bamboo forest, went to a tea house and took a lot of pictures of cherry blossoms. Again great.

Tea House: green tea with smashed rice mixed with green tea leaves. Sounds weird, but pretty good.

Random photo from earlier this week. I've decided it's Octomom before giving birth.