The long stretch of only school related activity continues, but I thought I would update a bit on what I've done. My after-school classes have been keeping me really busy as there is no curriculum for them, simply what I want to do. I describe those classes as a welcomed burden... they can be an absolute horror to plan for, but I see the genuine interest in the students as I teach. That is a welcomed change from the slow and boring national curriculum that I teach every day!!! Thus far I've taught about natural disasters with my 5th-6th graders, and animals with my 3rd-4th graders... The younger students gave presentations about animals and I was very impressed with about 85% of my class. Next up is alternative energy with my older students, and my younger students' class is being taken over by an actress who is teaching a play for the English festival that is coming in June.
School volleyball has continued with an increased intensity. I'm split on how I feel about this, as a local restaurant has a banner proclaiming they're the official hangout or restaurant of the school's vball team. We also have been coached by an ex-member of the S. Korean national volleyball team. I enjoy the exercise and bonding it has brought on, but it can be difficult to plan around the volleyball schedule since I usually get less than 24 hours notice about our matches. Recently we played in a tournament between 8 or so schools and took first place. You had to be over the age of 40 or be a female to participate so I was tasked with cheering on the team via "highting" yelps. "highting" is the korean way of saying "fighting" and is a team unity cheer to get everyone revved up. or so i think?
Here's a photo of the team and fellow "highting" yelpers
Not much else is new. I should be home from July 24th-August 5th, but plane tickets have not been purchased yet, so don't bank on that.
That'll be all for now.
Hope all is well with whoever reads this.
keith
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Birthday!
I was quite surprised how word spread in the school about my birthday. Approximately 2 or 3 weeks ago the students asked when my birthday was... I told them but actually thought they'd forget or not care when the day came. Sure enough the kids remembered and I was bombarded by happy birthday wishes from every kid in the school. It was fun to listen to them sing Happy Birthday to me in English, and funny when they all pronounced my name as Keeeiiisss. Furthermore, I had a couple students write me birthday messages, give me candy, and best of all they were well-behaved for the WHOLE day. I never realized how much of a treat that is for a teacher! I only taught a couple classes on friday, so I was amazed at how many students ran down to the English room in between classes to see me.
Saturday was the actual celebration with friends, as I planned a small dinner with a few close people at a brazilian steakhouse. This may actually go down as the best decision I ever make in my life, as the food at the restaurant was phenomenal. Seriously, quite possibly the best meal I've had. Many people know of these restaurants, but in case you have never happened across one of these gold mines allow me to paint you a beautiful picture... The restaurant was a smaller place on the 2nd floor of a small building. Nothing on the outside or walkway up seemed special or of significance. However, as soon as I walked in I realized this place was going to blow my toupee away. They have long metal spears that they place chunks of rump roast, sirloin, and other steak on. Then they roast the meat in a hellish contraption that I imagine is unique in some way or another... I didn't worry about that, I was more concerned with my plate. Then, a server comes to your table with one of the spears and a knife. You eye up the chunk of meat and try to stop drooling as the server places the spear near your plate and slices off a PERFECTLY cooked slab of meat. CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP.... DONE! at this point I would have thought "wow, that was delicious." However, as you finish your first slab the server comes out with a new kind of meat that has been kissed by the fire spitting hell-machine in the back. The guy asks if you want a rare slice or something else, all I really remember is not caring, because I know anything thats about to come off that gigantic piece of meat is going to be delectable. This process continues until you can't feel feelings anymore or when they think you might actually blow. Besides steak they offered chicken wings, chicken hearts (chewy, not bad though), and BACON.
Bacon deserves its own paragraph... the bacon was thick and smokey. It was also wrapped around smaller pieces of steak to give it a bit more to chew. It was unbelievable...
Anyways, I went to the restaurant with Nate, Braden, Wolfish and Diana. For followers of the blog you might recall this group from my trip to Hong Kong (minus Diana). These guys have been the bees' knees when it comes to friends (this sentence would include Diana). I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to enjoy such a great meal with. I'm very thankful for them showing up on their saturday night to saturate themselves with meat on my birthday.
Following the dinner we went out for some celebratory drinks, however that is not newsworthy. Although D did drop a flaming shot on the floor of the bar and I couldn't stop laughing. In her defense there was a fan in the bar and it did threaten to start her on fire as well. Oh well... no one got hurt so it's all good.
Finally, the last of the birthday celebrations was today. Fran, a co-worker and more importantly a friend, from last semester, has her birthday tomorrow. We had been trying to meet up for dinner since she left Maeyeoul, but our schedules have been conflicting. Luckily we found time between our two birthdays to meet for dinner and celebrate. I got her a small assortment of dessert cakes along with a bottle of wine, and she gave me very nice wallet! We dined at a restaurant called VIPS in Suwon, and I was lucky enough to meet her son, Ryan. He seems like a bright young man (6th grade), who already speaks great English (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree). Overall a great 23rd (or 24th in Korea) birthday!
Here are a few photos from the celebrations:
Saturday was the actual celebration with friends, as I planned a small dinner with a few close people at a brazilian steakhouse. This may actually go down as the best decision I ever make in my life, as the food at the restaurant was phenomenal. Seriously, quite possibly the best meal I've had. Many people know of these restaurants, but in case you have never happened across one of these gold mines allow me to paint you a beautiful picture... The restaurant was a smaller place on the 2nd floor of a small building. Nothing on the outside or walkway up seemed special or of significance. However, as soon as I walked in I realized this place was going to blow my toupee away. They have long metal spears that they place chunks of rump roast, sirloin, and other steak on. Then they roast the meat in a hellish contraption that I imagine is unique in some way or another... I didn't worry about that, I was more concerned with my plate. Then, a server comes to your table with one of the spears and a knife. You eye up the chunk of meat and try to stop drooling as the server places the spear near your plate and slices off a PERFECTLY cooked slab of meat. CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP.... DONE! at this point I would have thought "wow, that was delicious." However, as you finish your first slab the server comes out with a new kind of meat that has been kissed by the fire spitting hell-machine in the back. The guy asks if you want a rare slice or something else, all I really remember is not caring, because I know anything thats about to come off that gigantic piece of meat is going to be delectable. This process continues until you can't feel feelings anymore or when they think you might actually blow. Besides steak they offered chicken wings, chicken hearts (chewy, not bad though), and BACON.
Bacon deserves its own paragraph... the bacon was thick and smokey. It was also wrapped around smaller pieces of steak to give it a bit more to chew. It was unbelievable...
Anyways, I went to the restaurant with Nate, Braden, Wolfish and Diana. For followers of the blog you might recall this group from my trip to Hong Kong (minus Diana). These guys have been the bees' knees when it comes to friends (this sentence would include Diana). I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to enjoy such a great meal with. I'm very thankful for them showing up on their saturday night to saturate themselves with meat on my birthday.
Following the dinner we went out for some celebratory drinks, however that is not newsworthy. Although D did drop a flaming shot on the floor of the bar and I couldn't stop laughing. In her defense there was a fan in the bar and it did threaten to start her on fire as well. Oh well... no one got hurt so it's all good.
Finally, the last of the birthday celebrations was today. Fran, a co-worker and more importantly a friend, from last semester, has her birthday tomorrow. We had been trying to meet up for dinner since she left Maeyeoul, but our schedules have been conflicting. Luckily we found time between our two birthdays to meet for dinner and celebrate. I got her a small assortment of dessert cakes along with a bottle of wine, and she gave me very nice wallet! We dined at a restaurant called VIPS in Suwon, and I was lucky enough to meet her son, Ryan. He seems like a bright young man (6th grade), who already speaks great English (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree). Overall a great 23rd (or 24th in Korea) birthday!
Here are a few photos from the celebrations:
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| throwing up the twos |
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| happy bersday, teacha keeeiiisss |
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| tried to make it bigger so it is easier to read |
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| happy |
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| full |
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