Christmas and medical test.

Last weekend was Christmas! (yay!!) My friend I was going to meet on Christmas eve had to cancel, so I spent most of the weekend eating and enjoying my wine ^^ Just as Christmas should be. On the actual day I ate a 3 course meal! Oh man! I could not move all day and I was still full today I swear!

I got a some dresses and a new watch off my mum and dad. I also got a cool cat hat ^^. It was nice watching my family opening presents back in the UK.

Anyways back to reality sadly today. Winter camp started today plus I had to go for my medical test for next year. Thankfully, one of the teachers at my school took me otherwise I would be clueless... But on the downside I couldn't eat or drink today ><

The medical test were the same as orientation except they took less blood and did a weird heart rate test where I had things all over me. It only took 20 minutes and cost 80,000 won. I will get my test results soon hopefully ^^

Least I have new years to look forward too :D

Pointless SMOE trip.

On Friday, all teachers resigning with SMOE had to go on a day trip with SMOE. I heard there was left over budget or something so they decided to take us native English teachers on a trip. But seriously the trip was around Seoul to all the places we had aleady been. Korea is not that big so it would off been better to take us even a bit out of Seoul. It was also one of the coldest days so far in Korea (-10 degrees that morning!). Other teachers in my school were off or just cooking in the nice warm office!! :(

So needless to say I was grumpy in the morning! It didn't help that they made us go to meeting point at 9am but we didn't leave until 9.40!!! The first place was Changdeokgung palace. Due to already the fact most of us had already been there, we were not the most happy bunch. Thankfully, I brought some handwarmers to keep me warm.

Next on the list was (I forgot the name!). I hadn't been there before so it was nice to see somewhere new but my feet were bloody freezing even through my boots and bedsocks! It was so cold that the lake had frozen over! Some crazy adjusshi decided to show off for us waygooks and ended up falling over the rope on the way out. He left rather red faced with his mates laughing haha!

Crazy adjusshi

kimchi fridge

The rest of the tour went quickly thankfully! 2 people escaped around this point but I think they were called back later on haha.

We then went to a tradtional resturant. I heard of a co-worker that this place is quite expensive so we were luckly to go there. The bibimbap there was delicious. It was the highlight of the trip. Plus, I spoke to 2 guys who have been here 2 years and were made to go on this trip. It made me feel less sorry for myself and also worry for next year ><.


After lunch we went to the teddy bear museum which was bizarre. It had 2 sections, old Korea and new Korea.

Namsam tower was the same as always. We were set free after where me and a friend went for some Christmas drinks and cake. I am eating too much this month!

Christmas party and snow!!

Last night I had a Christmas party with my friends from work. There was 7 of us in my small apartment by it was cosy rather than crowded. I also invited one of my friends who lives near me. We arranged a secret Santa last week so we put the gifts under the tree (though it was already full from gifts from home haha).

It was a really good night even though we couldn't drink as it was a work night. I think we got drunk on all the sugar! Oh my there was sooo much food. We were all worried there wouldn't be enough food but everyone had doggy bags to takes home and I had Sarah's left over lasagna this morning. It was the best homemade lasagna ever! Now I have an oven I can cook dishes like this!! I made chilli and jelly (not together) and Mina/Minji/Sue brough a selection of food from kimbap heaven. Craig and Juhee made cupcakes(though Juhee's were more fancy! :p).

We also had loads of chocolate and snacks! We ate so much that Craig couldn't take for about an hour after. Plus everyone loved my friend. They all got along so well! ^^ At one point they were discussing his scottish accent and Sarah tried to copy but ended up crying from laughter!

There was also some dancing which was funny in my small apartment. I love Christmas it just brings people together.

We opened some crackers that my mum sent us (don't worry mum! Not the homemade ones). It was the first time pulling crackers for some of my co-workers which was fun to see!

The winners!

Christmas next week! ^^

So, on Saturday I started my Christmas celebrations. On the actual day I am not seeing anyone as I have already done the celebrating with friends on Christmas and I enjoyed it but it didn't feel like Christmas. I few people have invited me to join them but I just want to watch Christmas movies, make a 3 course lunch and phone my family for a few hours.

This Saturday I was going to have a mini Christmas party with two of my friends whom I have known since I have come here. Sadly, one of them was sick so me and my other friend decided on a movie and dinner. But since we can't use our cards to pay through the CGV website we couldn't book tickets and the movie was sold out. That really annoys me though. My co was telling me that most websites will not allow us waygooks to pay online. I mean WTF! Single us out or summit. When people come to the UK they get the same card rights as everyone else! Blah! Just annoys me that I have to get my Korean friends to pay on their cards sometimes and I transfer the money to them.

So back to Saturday.... Me and my friend decided to splash out and go to a fancy resturant. It was so delicious! His face when he saw the steak was priceless haha. There was also a family celebrating a 1st birthday in there.The whole family was so cute and he was dressed in tradtional clothes! It felt like a proper Christmas meal. I got tipsy on some Sangria (The glasses were huge!). We then popped over to my mates house and watched two movies about drag queens. We even started dancing at one point. Oh wine! It was 2am when I got home. I haven't stayed out that late for ages but I didn't even notice the time at the end I was having such a laugh.

I actually feel really relaxed and happy at the moment. No-one making me feel bad for not wanting to go out. It's also Christmas next week and I get to see my family in a month. ^^

Yesterday, I just cleaned my apartment for my Christmas party and recovered from the previous night~~ I managed to download the Royal family Christmas special! So funny! I left my dvd of it back home :'(

Anyways off for shabu shabu later! Busy this week having mini celebrations with friends :D

One more year in Seoul!

I've just re-signed my contract for one more year in South korea. So far the process has been easy. My school just got me to sign the application last month and today my contract came. They are now sending it off to get stamped. I have to get my medical checks next month and then get my visa. There are a group of us who need medical checks so we will probably go together.

13 sleeps until Christmas

I'm so in the Christmas spirit ^^ I've watched 6 Christmas movies so far and listened to the elf sound track so many times I could sing the songs at karaoke! I admit to feeling a bit homesick when I watched the British Christmas movies!!! >< But I will be home soon for vacation.

Next week the fifth graders are going to make Christmas cards!! :D yay!!

Today, I met with my friend for shabu shabu( like a hotpot). I love shabu shabu. I lived in Tokyo for 8 months and never discovered it even though it is a Japanese dish. Though I was so homesick in Japan as I hated most of the food. If I had discovered shabu shabu then I might of been ok. The shabu shabu soup  today was so delicious. The resturant is part of a chain. If you want to go it's at Jonggak station exit 4. Turn right straight away and go straight for one minute. It's on your left upstairs.

Shabu shabu

We ate too much!! I felt like a slug after but that didn't stop us from having hot chocos and doughtnuts after.... :P

After me and my friend parted ways I went shopping to Uniqlo. I went to the one just outside Myeongdong as I am not going near there at this time of the season. I could see Myeongdong from across the road at one point and it was crazy! I am so glad my friend told me where the other Uniqlo was. On my way I past the Lotte department store and it was all decorated for Christmas. I wish I could see it at night but I imagine it will be crazy then.

I ended up buying myself some jumpers from Uniqlo and Mango. I always buy myself presents at Christmas and even wrap them up. If you can't spoil yourself at Christmas, when can you? I also got myself the new Harry Potter DVD last week off Amazon. They are all now under my tree wrapped. I also got my gran and nan some jumpers from Uniqlo for when I go back. And last but not least I got myself some 'My beauty diary' mask'. As they are my favourite and they were all half price. I need a nap now...

European Christmas market

Yesterday, me and my friend went to a European Christmas market. It wasn`t as big as we thought it would be but there was lots of different foods. My friend had mulled wine with a shot of wiskey haha. We had German sausages for lunch. Nom nom :P. We then went for a walk around the area and got lost trying to find a temple. We ended up in a cafe drinking strawberry tea (me) and wine (my friend). On the way back we found a family mart which sold salt n vinegar crisp!!!!! We brought them all!! ><

A good day out for my tummy! haha

It`s the most wonderful time of the year.

It`s finally December!! I love December! <3 I love all the days up to Christmas day as I just get that Christmassy feeling haha. I brought a Christmas tree as I would be homesick without one ^^ My mum also sent me advent calender. They have them here but I wanted some English chocolate. Nom nom. I also found some candy canes and chocolate tree decorations here.

Classroom Display

My display for grade 5 lesson ` This is my bedroom`. I made each group do a presentation for their dream bedroom.

The roleplay was from a pervious lesson ^^

Work trip day 2 - Siteseeing and more food

We had to wake up at 7.15am the next day for breakfast. I can only eat fruit or dry food (toast) in the morning so I couldn't really eat anything they had to offer. Plus, it was all the food I don't like at any time of the day. It was soya sauce fish, Spicy octopus noodles and rice. I ate some rice and then finished off my satsuma from my goodie bag (see pervious blog :p).

We then went for a small walk along the beach with some hot chocos/coffees. We boarded the coach not long after and were stuck on it for ages!!!! They played the movie 'Blind', I couldn't understand it but I got the basic idea what the plot was. It was really quite good. The adjummas on the bus were really into it.

One of the drunk teachers actually walked into the wet cement the night before....

Anyways we went to Buan. Our first stop was a artifical lake which wasn't a lake anymore because it was too big and cost too much to change the water from salt water. I was told there was protest about it etc. In fact the whole area is 3 times bigger that Seoul they told me and the government spent a lot of money making it in to a nature reserve (orginally that wasn't the  plan but again there were protest in the government ruining the land where bird migrate). Anyways there was a cool dam thing. The road ran through it and they made it look quite nice (even though it's not used anymore).

Lake/non lake....

Our second stop was a museum about the area. Me and Mina just played hide and seek which wasn't hard as it was only one room. After that we went to our lunch area. We were first made to go for a walk around the port and take a group picture (I don't think I was even in it as I was too short!). The area was like an older fishermans village.Though two adjumma food store were having a competition of who could play there music louder. At this point me and Sarah decided we were in step up 4! Luckly no-one else was around :P

When we entered the resturant most teachers were already there. The resturant was so small and not made to fit 90+ teachers. We saw our group around ta corner hidden but before we could sit down we heard a 'Laura, Sarah' we at first pretended not to hear but Sarah got captured to her way to the restroom and I couldn't ignore it when I heard my name said again. Yes, we were made to sit at the principals table. That is why I have no food pictures. Lunch was rice porridge (yuck), clams, and raw crab. The raw crab was intresting. I was told this resturant is the best as normally it smells so bad but this had no smell. We had to suck the meat out of its legs. Of course the male teachers were drinking raspberry wine by this point.

We then got back on the coach we made our way to a temple/hiking spot. There was the most beautiful tree there. The leaves were yellow in the middle then went out to red like it was on fire. The area is in a poem based on fact saying that after a battle many years ago the kings mistresses threw themselves off this cliff. My teacher said it was 30,000 but it was most likely 3 or 30 and the number got bigger and bigger throughout history. When we finished we saw the principal waiting with food (and drink).

Fire tree

The suicide cliff

Famous temple where many romantic poems were written

The journey back took too long as it was on Friday night in Seoul. We left at 4.30 and arrived back at 9pm!!!

We were still full from the last two days that we didn't need dinner!!! ><

Work trip - Day 1 - Daecheon beach and lots of food

Ok, I have to start this story a few days ago. Normally at schools they have work trips (sometimes overnight and soometimes...well...not). This trips are paid for by the teachers throughout the year as they are in some sort of group. As a foreign teacher we aren't expected (in most cases - I have heard about native teachers being asked to join) to pay this mmoney and join this group. Therefore we don't go on these trips which is probably fine with most people. I was the same and I was looking to my Friday off work relaxing. Yes I said WAS! Because a few days before the trip we got informed that the principal wanted the native teachers to go too.

Of course my co-teacher was happy, as it meant more young people there. I had to agree as it is one of them cases where the principal says you don't have to go...but you do. Nearer the actual date I started to look more forward to it as all of us younger girls got put into the same room ^^.

So on Wednesday night I packed my thermals. We left about 3.15pm on Thursday (School was closed Friday as a school holiday) after everyone had finished their lessons and kicked the students out of the school. On the bus we got a food bag full of goodies. Nope they don't cheap out here. If this was the Uk we would of got a packet of crisp (potato crips) and an apple. Oh I love Korea <3 (though I could murder for a packet of salt n vinegar crisp.

The journey wasn't too bad compaired to the last time I went to Daecheon beach as it was a Thursday. We arrived at our hotel around 6.15 and went to dinner at a resturant on the beach. I actually heard our someone say the principal owned the resturant but I could of heard wrong. Anyways, The resturant was full of hungry teachers so of course the adjusshis got drunk and ended up having red faces. We had sushi, soup, lots of other foods and ....live octopus again. Why?!?!?!?!?!  I filmed it so I'll put it on youtube soon..... I refused to eat it again. We all made Sarah eat it as she wasn't at the last staff meal so she was the only one who hadn't tried it. She ended up liking it haha.

sushi

It's alive!! Live octopus

It's super fresh!!!

We were outside waiting for the rest of the girls when the pricipal saw us (the rest of the teachers had escaped). He brought fireworks so we all went to the beach to set off fireworks and sparklers ^^

Me, Sarah and Mina ended up running around the beach like headless chickens haha

Me, Mina and Minji managed to escape but sadly Sarah got captured by the elder teachers for norabang. We hid (seriously mission impossible!!!!) behind a big electricty metal thingy and tried calling. We waited 20 minutes (OMG!! So cold) before she could escape with the help of two other young teachers who scaficied themselves for Sarah (they were made to go norabang until 12.20am).

Mina had been on a mission for clams since we boarded the bus earlier so we followed her to find a good clam resturant (she is an expert in all things food. That's why we get on so well.). We actually found a little place run by a grandmother with the most wrinkle free skin ever seen. Sarah even asked her how she looks so good at one point.

Omg! We ate so much by the end of it. I tried everytype of seafood possible that night. I think I ate half the ocean. It was so good though. So so good and so so fresh. We had this special ones which spice etc one. It tasted like the steak of the ocean. Yummy!

The owner even gave us a free bowl of the yummiest noodles ever!! All of this (including 2 bowls of soup) cost 30 pounds for 4 of us!! So cheap here!! Our office manager came in while we were eating and paid for us all (I didn't understand until after as they were doing the 'I'll pay', 'Noooo we will pay' conversation in Korean. Our office manger is so nice though, he is always smiling.

We ended back around 11pm. The heated floor in the hotel was on thank goodness!! My feet haven't been that warm for months!! ><