As soon as I stepped foot in Tokyo in 2008, I knew I had caught the travelling bug. I decided I didn't just want to travel I wanted to experience the world! The different cultures, the people, the sites and most importantly (to me) the food!

Recently I have started to develop an interest in photography and hope to improve my skills while doing what I love most.

Welcome to my journey........

Monday, 27 February 2012

1 year in South Korea!

Last Wednesday (22nd feb) was my offical one year in South Korea! I didn't even realise until my friend mentioned that we had been here a year on Friday. It's been a good year with ups and downs with new friendships but also the odd fall out. I can safely say, I now have a good group of friends around me. I've been lucky in a lot of ways.

My school is ace. Because it's so big that we had (yes had! *sobs) four native English speakers. This gave me a chance to have friends in work so time flew by. Sadly, due to budget cuts in the Edu town program, one native teacher is leaving and the other is moving to the after school program.

There are also loads of younger teachers at my school and they speak English pretty well. Again, one of my friends left this year (yay! she is having a baby!! :D) but three of us are having a bookclub/cooking thing so we can visit her (and the cute baby when it is born!).

My principal is strict (I heard!) but he is powerful so that works in our favor. He is also kind. Last but  not least my (ex) co-teacher. I was sooo lucky to have had Mina as my first co-teacher! It was strange as everyone said we were like sisters in the way we acted and the foods we hated etc. But, I can always go and visit her upstairs. I met my new co-teacher the other day and she was really really nice. She said she was happy when she heard she got me which I take as a good sign. Oh yeah, that is my bad news. The principal decided I would have 5th and 6th grade again this year. I first found out on Thursday, I had 3rd n 4th so I took all my decorations down to us in my new classroom. Then on Monday, as an after thought, a teacher told me it had changed. I was so pissed! As the new 5th grade are horrible! Worse than sixth graders and last years sixth graders nearly killed me! I was hoping to do an evening language course this year but I won't be able to now. After teaching 6th grade last year, I was half dead during the week and then I had to use the weekend to zone out. I will be a zombie this year!

For this reason, me and Sarah decided we need a drink (or two)! We ended up in Itaewon (I am slowly liking this place more and more). First, we went for some Greek food (same place I went last week. Yummy!).


This is for sharing! I am not a pig!


But I wasn't only lucky with my school (except 6th grade). I think I was lucky with my apartment and the location. Sure, it isn't in the nicest area but it's fairly ok. Plus, it's on line 5 with is a pretty useful line for transfer and main locations. Even for the airports - Incheon 1 transfer, Gimpo 0.

So, all in all, I've been very lucky. I keep trying to tell myself this as everyone this week is going home/travelling and I half wish I was one of them. But then I realise there is nothing for me at home (just the unemployment line) and if I went travelling I would want to save up more. This year my plans are to save up loads of money for when I do go travelling/or house deposit and to see the rest of South Korea. Next month I am going Kimchi making as my first day trip! I also want to go travelling in my winter/summer holidays. I am still unsure about my third year as it depends on the SMOE budget cutbacks.

Anways, enough of thinking :p. Tuesday was pancake day! No, Sarah I didn't say American pancakes with cheese and blueberries!!! Bleugh!! For those who don't know. English pancake day is the Tuesday before lent. So back in the olden days people had to use up their stocks of milk, eggs etc. So they made 'pancake day' or 'shrove Tuesday'. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrove_Tuesday I don't know about other countries but we have lemon and sugar on the English pancakes. Yummy!

On Tueday, I invited my friend around for dinner then.....pancakes. We ate far too much that night! Butter curry then 5 pancakes each! I am getting fat!! :O


Julia taking pictures of pancakes!!

I am hungry just thinking of pancakes....

Ooo, I have been desk warming for the first time since I have been here. Though luckly, I have Sarah to keep me company and in Sarah's room there is a .....kitchen!! To make cookies!! So I spent the week making cookies. Though, I am not a sweet person (I meant sweet toothed!). I'd much rather have a packet of crisp or a pasty ^^ So everyone else got to eat my yummy cookies (or I got to give everyone food poisoning mwhahahahaha!!)

Coconut chewy cookies

Everything cookie bars



As I mentioned above I am getting into Itaewon so on Friday we ended up there again at the Bulgarian restaurant. There was so much to choose from so everyone was taking ages to choose (me mainly :P) which annoyed poor Lea as she hadn't eaten for over a week due to a bug. The food was lovely but sooo rich. I could only eat a bit. I would go again just to try something else. I seriously have to stop eating so much!! I look like I am having a baby! ><

After we went to some pubs. First was the English pub. We played darts and then left as it was small and all 'older' couples. Though there was a funny Korean couple there. The girl had a pint while the guy had this really girly cocktail...well, it made us all giggle :P.

Next we went to the Wolf hound, where there was so many cute guys! Big headed and knew that they were good looking of course, but a girl can still look.

Focused


My friend Lea is leaving tomorrow *sobs*. I am half glad as she has been ill over here due to the children germs. But I am mainly sad as I will miss her *sobs*. I knew this was coming from when I met her at orientation as she wanted to stay just a year but it will be weird her not being here. We met on Sunday for coffee which ended up turning into waffles (I can't diet! It's not in my blood!). She forced me in to a hug at the end as I hate goodbyes!!! >< Urgh.. I am sad just writing this! Bleugh!!! Though, I will most likely see her again as there is a direct train between our homes in the UK, plus we are both always travelling. So I will just say goodbye...for now (sounds like a threat!) and have a safe journey home ^^.

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