Still learning...

I just want to say ... recently, I've had many an opportunity to remind myself: I am still learning. Seriously, I am not exactly 'old' ... twenty-two is actually quite young, and because of that I am still learning. We all are ... and that's okay. Just as long as we remember to embrace our lessons, accept the humility we are struck with, and do our best to stay POSITIVE! I think optimism is the best gift anyone can ever give. And let's face it, we all know it's contagious. I challenge you and myself -- stop complaining; find the silver lining, and relish in it. Life is an ADVENTURE! (Right, C. Smith?) And we all must learn to take what we're dealt as it comes.


Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

And... I have to move.

So I was told today that I am going to have to move. I'm not exactly happy about that... I don't love my apartment, but I do like its view. I currently look out West onto the Dongdaemun skyline. I have a giant window and I get a lot of natural light. It's not a stretch to say that it's one of the things that has helped keep me going. When I get stressed about life here, or have a less than stellar day - I just look down on the street, or out to the city skyline take a moment to remember where I am living and what I've taken on. I know it's not the worst thing in the world, but I am really, really bummed out. I tried to tell my boss that I don't want to move, but they don't seem to care. I thought if I had to move, at least I could move to the apartment building where the other teachers live - but no. I am just moving down to the 6th floor (right now I am on the top floor) and to the other side of the building... so I will face ...more apartments. I am trying to be positive. And of course this all came about when I've just started to feel comfortable in my apartment, which could bum me out (and - as you can tell - kind of has) or I can see it as a gift of subtle humility, a new challenge, a sign or an opportunity to take some bad news and react with some semblance of grace. Ugh...we'll see how I do.

ALLELUIA! We made it. :-)

I'm pretty much a dork about everything in my life, but I am a huge dork for my faith... and for a Catholic, it just doesn't get any better than Holy Week. During Holy Week we celebrate the holiest events of our history, and commemorate the institution of the Church itself. Even better, after forty days of Lent (when we do our best to live humbly, and work on our relationships with God, and each other, and basically just try to do better) at Easter we kick of FIFTY days of celebrating! A lot of people forget that part... yes we 'punish' ourselves for forty days (not exactly, but okay.) but after that, we reward ourselves and party for fifty!

I was looking forward to this time, since it is basically the best week of the year. Let me tell you, Korea did not disappoint! Granted, the services at my parish were much different than the traditional Catholic community I was blessed to grow up in, but they were beautiful none the less. After Easter Vigil on Saturday my friends and I all met up at a benefit to support the Bill Kapoun Burn Fund at the Wolfhound (which raised, I hear, at least 7 million won... but maybe over 10 million won! or $10,000). It was so fitting that in this time when we are celebrating the newness of life that one be remembered with such passion, love and generosity. Those of us who never knew Bill have been lucky enough to be a part of his life, and what he wanted his life to be -- it really was a miracle witnessed. To see the compassion and love shared by everyone in the cramped and crowded bar, remembering a friend, making new ones, and living out every moment of the gift that is life. AMAZING! And then of course a few of us splurged and met up for a DELICIOUS dinner at Syd n' Mels tonight. Eating a good hearty meal and laughing with friends - sometimes I think that there is nothing better in life. I couldn't imagine a better way to spend Easter! Surrounded by friends, celebrating love and life, and being happy with the paths we're on... and learning to enjoy the journey.

I wish you all Happy and Holy Easters ~ Alleluia!

St. Patrick's Day in Seoul

You never would have guessed it ... but the place to be on St. Patty's Day, outside of Dublin or Donegal, maybe, is Seoul, South Korea! The Koreans hosted a spectacular prade and festival downtown that was organized by the Irish Association of Korea and the Wolfhound Pub. There was plenty of food, drink, and dance - and of course lots o' green. Andrea and I made it to the party and met up with a bunch of people from our notorious Lunar New Year trip. We enjoyed the afternoon, and made friends with the most awesome woman in Korea. This crazy ajumma (or, old woman.. basically) joined our group and danced, and DRANK the day away. She didn't speak any English, but that didn't stop her! She actually force-fed us Korean cookies. I can't say that having Korean old lady hands in/anywhere near my mouth was on my life-list, but I can check it off none the less. After dinner at a Thai place (we didn't want to wait anywhere else) courtesy of Richard (Thanks again!!) we all headed over to the Wolfhound where the party was just getting started. We met up with Kirsten and Liz, their co-worker Leah, and were later joined by Carla, and some other mutual expat friends. Basically, one way or another, nearly every person who I know in Korea was in this bar, AT THE SAME TIME! The whole day/night was a lot of fun. I had been looking forward to St. Patrick's Day because it really is one of my favorite holidays. Themed Parties aside, a day that promotes just being happy and friendly for the sake of it is all good in my book! And I felt so lucky to be spending it, with my fellow CUA alums, and a mess of new friends; in -of all places- Korea. What is my life!?

Erin Go Braugh! and Happy Holy Week.

Cheonggyecheon Plaza

The Cheonggyecheon is a stream that runs through Seoul. It has a gorgeous walking path with a bunch of fountains, murals etc. Cheonggyecheon Plaza is where the stream starts.

Andrea and the Irish flag/collage-thing. You could write on a post it and add it to the flag.

Being a good Irish Catholic; I chose green ;-)

From across the street as the festival died down... There were banners all over showing the Korean and Irish flags. Actually, I think my friends stole one.

The crazy ajumma right after she pulled Mullen into the circle o' dancers.

Sporting our green and enjoying the day!

St. Patrick's Day would not, nay, COULD not be complete without a Guinness, and I got this one for free!! Thank you Wolfhound.

Some friends from the Lunar New Year ski trip

I feel like this picture belongs on the wall of a bar somewhere - So happy!

Kirstin is lame and didn't wear green.

Everyone at Wolfhound.

Woo Jae

woo Jae is one of my new students in Libra class, and he is adorable. He wears suspenders with his uniform, but not the "kid" kind... so he looks like a mini-stock broker or something. And he is constantly wiggling his nose like a rabbit! I couldn't help myself and caught it on video today while we were practicing writing our names. Enjoy.

Public Enemy Number One!!

I found this gem online before going to bed tonight and had to share it.



Clayton Kershaw is one of the Dodgers most exciting prospects. It's not likely that he'll make it to the starting rotation this season, but hey, he's just 20 years old so that's not all that bad. That clip makes me smile. I'm an old-school baseball fan. I love small ball games and pitchers duels. Homeruns may be exciting, but I'd rather see extra base hits and smart base-running win my games. Kershaw's curve is killer and hearing Vin Scully (a god amongst men) call it makes it all that better.

I love this time of year!! When the weather begins to warm up. When the days begin getting longer. When Baseball's Spring Training is winding down, and everyone is dusting off their baseball gear for the coming Summer! When Holy Week is upon us, and we have one final week to dedicate to our Lenten promises before commemorating Christ's Passion and celebrating His Resurrection!

I guess you could say I have Spring Fever. I am so affected by the seasons and weather... it's crazy. Maybe it's because I was lucky enough to grow up in Southern California ... where we never really had seasons, and the sun shined most of the year. But it's no secret, that when the winter comes, I'm irritable. I don't like being cold. (But Erica, don't you love skiing? - Yes, I do. But I like to visit the winter. Enjoy it. And then go back to the beach where I belong.) The weather in Seoul has really warmed up the past week. And knock on wood that it continues to do so! It even broke 60 degrees today! Not even the dreaded yellow dust can break my spirits. Even though I won't be able to go to any Dodger games this year...sigh.... I am still excited for baseball season. I'll watch the games online - I'll be good. Aaaaand, professional baseball in Korea started up last weekend and I plan on going to many-a-game. I'll be rooting for the Doosan Bears... b/c the other Seoul team is the Giants and that's just against my nature. good news is the Bears' colors are blue and white!! So I can still say - with a new double meaning- THINK BLUE!

My High School has QUIDDITCH Team!?!

So I've heard through the grapevine that the high school I went to for my freshman year has started a Quidditch team. hahah! The news is old enough that none of the local news articles will load, but from what I gather when I google "Rosary High School + Quidditch" a few Seniors have a league, complete with all four Hogwarts houses. I find it funny that they use the Hogwarts houses as their teams, as Hogwarts isn't the only place they play Quidditch... in the 'Wizarding World' it's like any other sport with professional clubs and leagues ... so essentially, these girls could just make their own teams up. Oh, well. It's obviously a club sport and apparently is the most exciting thing to happen at the school "since there were streakers a few years back." ... You see, Rosary is an all girls Catholic (no, with a name like Rosary?!?) school with one brother school and one sister school. (As an almost Rosary Royal I will say that the Servite boys like Rosary Girls better than the Connelly ones.) A group from the boys' school crahes Rosary's campus... probably every three years. It happened when my sister went there, and it happened when I went there... I remember when I was a Freshmen and three guys in just their jockeys (you'd think they would have the guts to REALLY streak!) came running through campus. There was more screaming than at any boy bands' concert, I'm sure. The entire school just started screaming and running around like the clowns were Brad Pitt and George Clooney .... ugh, I was really embarassed!

Anyway, they have a quidditch team.. that's cool. Good for them.

A Rough Week...

I regret to write that a foreign teacher and his girlfriend, who were friends of a friend passed away this past week. I didn't know them, but I feel for their friends and his family. From what I have read and been told I've learned that they were amazing and an inspiring individuals. Please keep them and their family and friends in you your prayers. I am sure they are in a better place.

This news also comes on the heels of some other personal losses that I would rather not elaborate on out of respect -- but please, whatever your beliefs, just take some time this week and keep those lost, and those they left behind in your thoughts.

Eternal rest grant unto them oh, Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

On a Happier Note - SLP Graduation

So much has happened in the past weeks I haven't had a chance to write about SLP... but a lot has gone on at work too! February 25th was graduation for the IP (intensive pre-school) students. The kids had been practicing songs that we taught them - most of them were Disney songs or pop songs with the lyrics changed to be about finishing pre-school. I taught Libra class for the month of February, and we sang "At SLP I Grow Up" to the tune of "Under the Sea"

We learned many things last ye-ar, there's so many things we know.
Our tea-cher taught us last year, so now it is time to go!
Oo-oh! At SLP! .... I gro-ow up! ....
Now I can SPEAK! Now I can READ! Now I can WRIIIIIIIITE!
Now I can sing a lot of songs, and I can make a lot of friends; Listen to me! I have a sto-ry! In SLP!!!

It was cute. And I got to teach them cha-cha dance moves, so that was fun. But even MORE fun was Mars class' song. I didn't teach them so I wasn't supposed to pick, but the other teachers weren't sure what to do - and since I taught them to sing every 60s pop song I know... I helped them re-write Do Wah Diddy to be about graduating and going to elementary school. I didn't mind because it's no secret that I liked Mars class better. (Don't feel bad or judge me - Libra class were the ones that BIT each other!!!! read my posts from November.) Anyway, I knew that the kids loved Do Wah Diddy because we sang it every week in Music, and listened to it every day at lunch - so it was a sure hit:

For one year I have come to SLP; Singing Do Wah Diddy-Diddy dum Diddy do!
I have learned to write and I have learned to read; Singing Do Wah Diddy-Diddy dum Diddy do!

English! (English!) Is fun! (Is fun!) English is fun, and the fun has just begun!

The students seemed to have a lot of fun singing it, which was the main point anyway. Of course, no ceremony is complete at SLP without all the pomp and circumstance.... LITERALLY! The preschool completion certificates! (Well technically I had to sign 17 because one parent sent it back to school because she didn't like how Kimberly and I wrote our names... she thought it was too faint. ?!) At the end of the ceremony all of the teachers went on stage and spoke about their classes. Some of the teachers who have been hear a year got pretty emotional ... I just told my kids to always have fun, to never lose their imaginations (something Korean kids are SEVERELY lacking in my opinion) and when things got tough; to always remember to just "Hang Loose" and kids wore velvet caps and gowns and walked the stage receiving diplomas! I had to sign 16 say "No Worries!" .... then I told them 'hasta luego' ... like we said at the end of every day. :) If I accomplish anything while I am a teacher, it will be that my kids HAVE FUN and have a sense of humor about themselves. Being able to laugh at my troubles has saved me more than anything else I ever learned at school.

I have had new students for the past week at work. And I have to say, I've missed the old ones a lot! But more about that next time, in a few days. This post is already pretty long.

Min Jeong - I love this girl.

Do Wah Diddy!

You Eun and Su Hyun - They're way overwhelmed..

Young Seo, Bo Hyun, and Min Jeong - They look so grown up!

PS: Thanks so much to those who have sent their prayers and support for Will. It really means a lot. XOXO

So I had a gun pointed at me today.

Every Sunday I go to mass at the International Parish in Hannam, and then usually head to Itaewon to get food and read for a few hours. I was walking to a foreign book shop in after brunch at RMT and this Korean guy (looked to be in his mid 20s) was walking around with his friend aiming a gun at people!!! He pointed it right in my face! I am hoping that it was maybe just a toy or a lighter or something ... but it really looked real. I was terrified. He pointed it down this hill and acted like he was going to shoot it, cracked some joke with his friend, and then stopped and pointed it right in my face! I froze and then he kept walking away from me.... I have no idea what he was doing, but seriously, what the heck? People scare me.