FastFastFast

Time is flying by!
With summer camp over, school is back in session. The kids came back as cute as ever, with new haircuts and a renewed anti-work sentiment (just my sixth graders, really, for that one).

I figured today would be a good time to write a blog- it's been quite a while. Also, I have a bit of free time because the students are at home today. For those somehow unfamiliar with the situation, the biggest typhoon in decades is due to hit Seoul around 3:00 pm today (I've heard there's a hurricane headed for the US, too! Be Safe!). Pictures are up on Korean news sites, and my co-teacher and I have been checking out the damage that has occurred in southern Korea already... You can find windows blown-in, broken, and even a HomePlus missing a chunk of its siding. But not here!

The clouds here are moving rather quickly. I know right now most of my teacher friends are scattered around Bucheon, with a few in other locations. I work up toward the top of Bucheon, in Ojeong-gu. (Note: the typhoon is coming from Japan, and then working its way up Korea toward China.) Aside from racing clouds and dancing crops, it really looks like it could just be a bad storm. But it's not raining very hard, so the clouds and lack of sunshine make it feel rather ominous. And then there's the fact that it's looked like this since morning.

Makes for a productive day, though! I've planned my after school lesson for tomorrow, and typed up a schedule for the remainder of the semester. We also watched Leap Year (프로포즈 데이), the romantic comedy with Amy Adams and Matthew Goode, who still looks reaaal good ;). It was cute, but entirely predictable. From the box in the beginning being earrings and not an engagement ring, to knowing she would fall for the bartender the second she walked into the bar even before knowing it was Matthew Goode playing him. Then it was certain. Her character was also terribly annoying. Between the portrayal of Americans in Love Actually and this film, I feel like I should start acting more risque, bothersome, and materialistic. I'm just not living up to the standard!

Quite frankly, I'm okay with that, though.

In news related to furthering myself from the ignorant standard, I had my speaking test/interview with Sogang University this past week. Haha, I was so nervous! I completely blanked. I wrote out a list of talking points and potential topics (because I knew I would blank) after coming to terms with the fact that I'm a bit anal retentive, but they didn't even pop up. The way she asked questions was also different than the way I'm used to them being said, but that's okay. I don't think I showcased all that I really know... The course is supposed to be challenging, but hopefully I placed at a level where I will still need to push myself a bit. Still, I'm sooooo excited to be able to study the Korean language. It's getting to the point where it's frustrating to no ends to not be able to communicate with people. It really hit me during summer camp when parents would call in for their kids. I understood what they were saying, but I didn't know where to begin for a reply. This will change from now on, though! I will study hard. I'll put up a post detailing the different Korean language programs at the various schools in Seoul. Which school you should study at depends on what you want, because the programs are quite different. I may even do it today.


Aiya. So it's a bit after 1:00... Two hours till the typhoon will hit us the way we've been waiting for (I'M ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITED), and four hours until the farewell dinner for the principal. That's right- it's still on! TyphoonShmyphoon. Let's eat! And drink. Good thing I wore my rain boots today. Also, I really think that rain boots should be one word, not two. Look: rainboots. ..Beautiful.

Speaking of beautiful, it is already September next month. I will be wearing sweaters and dancing in the leaves soon. Time is a funny little concept.


Take care, everyone <3