Merry Christmas!

Yesterday we had the day off for Christmas. We briefly chatted with family back home via MSN, and then headed to a party hosted by some friends. In all over 20 people made it, so it was nice to eat and chat; we even did a Secret Santa gift exchange! We were thinking a lot about our family and friends back home, and were quite grateful to receive some very nice cards and pictures! Thanks again guys!!

Today it was back to work for us (last day for H, B still has to go in on Mon and Tues next week). H did a fun craft project where the kids made snowmen out of toilet paper rolls. They really had a blast with it! 

We're still going to university; our last class is January 12th. We're also staying busy doing Winer English Camps for 3 weeks, starting Jan 5th and getting done on the 23rd. We're hoping to leave for Malaysia/Singapore on the 26th of January and will be gone for 3 well deserved weeks!! (A friend will watch Chomps). 

This Sunday our Korean friend has told us she'll take us to a star observatory in the mountains, so we're hoping for good weather this Sunday!!  We're also planning on going to the East Coast for New Year's. Koreans love to watch the sun rise on January 1st as kind of a good way to bring in the new year, so we figure we'll try it this year also (luckily we don't have uni that day).  Finally, we're planning on meeting up with H's high school friend who lives in south-west korea for ice skating in Seoul next weekend! We've got all sorts of fun planned for the coming days!!

Christmas Day!

Part of the food spread for lunch.

H drew Seamus-here he is enjoying his Chinese alcohol!!

H's 7th graders posing with their snowmen.

H's 8th graders made a "Happy New Year" card & presented it in class (they also made me a hat/headband)

Frozen Solid

     We started last weekend at a going away party for some friends who are headed back home.  Saturday morn we had class in Seoul, and after grabbing some lunch nearby, returned to find our hot water not working. We thought we'd wait until Sunday morn, just in case they were doing regular maintanence, but it turns out that they were frozen solid. Three repairmen and 3 hours later, our hot water was back on. This happened last year also, but this year it was more severe. 

    B and his buddy went skiing Sunday night, and when he returned, he found our veranda partially flooded (a different pipe's drain had frozen shut). This pipe carries the 15 stories' dirty laundry water outside so luckily it was 11pm and not many were doing their laundry. On Monday I waited for a different repair man to come and fix it, and by the time he left, my school told me not to bother coming in (since the kids have finals and leave at 12:30 anyway). Monday we went in for our Ethics class, and last night we started our Marketing Management class. The professor is very interesting so it should be good. But, we have our 1st quiz this Saturday already...

   Today (Wed) we didn't go to school since we had a meeting regarding our Winter English camp. Since we both have finals at our middle schools, we were able to relax after the meeting. We're now getting ready to go into Seoul for class. B4 class, we'll be listening to a lecture from a man who was an aid worker in North Korea for some months. it should be interesting. Also, today is Emma's Sweet 16 ~ So happy B-day lil sis  :)

Dayle, H, Jaime and Thomas (T and I work at the same school).

Jo and I~Her and her boyfriend are going back home this week.

Sunday morning~ steaming our frozen pipes.

Turkey Day

Although we weren't able to celebrate Thanksgiving until Saturday, we had a very nice meal. About 20 or so Americans gathered at a friend's house and did a pot-luck style dinner. We brought apple pie (store bought) and broccoli salad (home-made). It was a wonderful meal and we were also able to meet some new people.

the night b4 there was a big EPIK meeting to discuss our winter English Camp schedule. After the meeting we were treated to a nice dinner.

Saturday we had class in Seoul and then of course made it back in time for the dinner.

Yesterday (the 2nd) H's school had a basketball game in a different city so some of the teachers went to cheer on the players. Their athletic system is much different than back home as there's usually only one school per city that has a particular sport. So, my school has a b-ball team, another school has a soccer team, and B's school has a judo team. For the most part, the athletes don't attend regular classes but instead practice 24/7. For example, i've only seen the b-ball players in my class once in a whole semester. Our team won last night so the teachers, players, and parents all had a nice meal of barbequed duck. It was a fun evening.

In 6 days we'll start our second class in Seoul....our schedules will be very busy running there so often. Luckily, however, we've decided to go to Malaysia for our winter break for sure. Since the won is very weak now, we considered staying in Korea all winter. 

Most of the EPIK teachers in our city enjoying a nice meal.

The Thanksgiving spread.

About half of the group chatting b4 dinner.

Chomps in his fave napping spot.