Busy, busy, busy

I can't believe it has been two weeks since my last post! Well we have been a touch busy.

Last weekend we had the school's May Gala - a big fundraising dinner. Somehow Paul and I were involved in many aspects of the gala. Below is a very over exposed photo of us there, but I had to put it in as I don't have 50 chins and Paul is actually smiling - well sort of.

Last week was also the GSIS Student Art Show. Being the sole art teacher meant I was responsible for it all. Below are some shots from the art show - I apologise again for the lighting. My camera is driving me crazy! Fingers crossed my new one will be here soon.

4th Grade Art

8th Grade -Venetian Masks

Second Grade Art

7th Grade -Pop Art

First Grade

Kindergarten (Emily's Class)

Fifth Grade

Happy 40th Birthday Auntie Grace

Kimbap

Well another weekend is over and we are back into the hum drum of another week. Not much news other than we relaxed all weekend. We were able to go to the school pool for a couple of hours and I lay in the sun while the girls played on the swings. It is very sad how white I am, I asked Paul to photograph my legs yesterday to record how white I truly am, he wouldn't and he called me a dag!

After the swim we went to the shop across the road from school and had some kimbap for lunch.

Kimbap in not sushi. They are very different. They do share similar ingredients, seaweed and rice, and kimbap is rolled. But do not expect the same sweet vinegary taste of sushi rice or the normal fillings found in California or Avocado rolls. Kimbap, is plainer and cheaper. Kimbap has its standard fillings that really don't change a lot. You get damuji (a yellow pickled sweet radish), tuna, carrots, some greens, maybe spinach, and cooked egg. Sometimes if you are really lucky you may get some processed seafood in it which is actually made from tofu and contains no seafood. All this is rolled together with some sesame oil. The best part is that you get two rolls (like in the picture above) for around $2. I am yet to finish the both rolls. Paul and Emily love it. Claudia eats it only if she can poke out all the filling and just eat the rice, pickle and seaweed (kim). I have to admit it has taken me awhile to get used to the flavour and I still need soy sauce. It is a healthy and very cheap lunch out.

Congratulations!

My girlfriend Amy and her husband Brendan welcomed their third child this week. Flynn O Hearn was born on 20th May at 1.05pm. What a cutie!

Images of Korea

I stumbled across a blog by a Canadian girl - Eva McKinnon. She is living in Suwon and she has taken the most beautiful photos of this place. I wanted to show them to you to, to maybe help you understand why we are so besotted with this country.

Busy streets, cracks in the road, cars parked - wherever, shops, signs, pollution

- Korea and I love it.

The older people really give this place character - the older generation are really respected and cherished here. Nursing homes are few and far between and it is not uncommon to look after your parents until they pass away. Many grandparents look after the children, so the parents can go to work. The Adjima (grandmother) runs the home, the shopping, the cooking and cleaning so that the mother and father can go out and earn the money. Interesting concept. The economy is structured to keep the elderly busy and occupied much longer. It is not uncommon to see elderly people doing very light work so that they can feel like they contribute. Our school has 5 security guards - all of whom are over 70 and would be much use if anything went wrong. They sit in the security booth, watch the TV, earn very little, but they are still contributing.

I love the fact that the Korea is still steeped in culture. These ladies below are wearing their Hamboks (traditional dress). It is to observe the Lunar New Year. I love it that you can be walking down a busy street, surrounded by people modern clothes, talking on mobile phones and then you will see a Korean lady dressed in an exquisite Hambok.

Korean women wear Hamboks when they get married also.

I just adore this photo. It is at the Korean Folk Village. I can't explain it other than the fact that is so Korean.

OK that's it for another post. Have a great weekend.

The Corner Shop

Corner shops are called Karges (Kar gay) and you can buy anything there. Toilet paper, toothpaste, fruit and veges. Not like our shops at home that have the odd smattering of things. It is like a mini supermarket. They are also no more expensive than the supermarket.

The idea is that you do your big shop at the supermarket and then get everything else at the Karge. They are usually tiny and so crammed with things that you have to squeeze between the isles. Most apartment buildings have one at the bottom. Oh and they stink. A favored snack in Korea is squid jerky and that hangs all around the shop - so the odour is not so great when you walk in, but you get used to it.

Just a Thought....

This is for all the wonderful and smart, strong and beautiful women I know......

Someone will always be smarter.
Their house will be bigger.
They will drive a better car.
Their children will do better in school.
Their partners will fix more things around the house.
So let it go and love you and your circumstances.
Think about it.
The prettiest woman in the world can have hell in her heart.
The most highly favoured woman on your job may be unable to have children.
The richest woman you know - might be heartbreakingly lonely.
So, love you.
Love who you are right now.
Tell yourself, "I am too blessed to be stressed."

"To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world."

Rats and more Rats

My darling had to do her first project this week. Well, I had to do Emily's first project this week. I have no idea what her teacher was thinking setting a project for Kindergarten kids. Anyway she was so proud of her work. She could choose any animal in the world and Emily chose Rats! Where did this child come from?

Happy Mother's Day

A big warm and juicy kiss to all of those mothers out there! The girls and I were waiting for Paul to get his act together and take us to Church - so we had a photo shoot. Some I took holding the camera out from us ( can you guess which ones?), some Emily and Claudia took. The photo above was Paul's contribution

I was well and truly spoiled on Mother's Day. Presents, balloons, breakfast made by the girls, cards and then a session of ballon popping, lunch out and then don't fall over - Paul cleaned the kitchen. I felt very special.

We had a huge weekend. It started with the opening of the school's new Sports Complex. All the offical people in Suwon came including the Mayor. This was a very stressful event for as I was responsible for taking all the official photos and it would have to be the week that my camera has been playing up! But that is all about to change as my darling hubby is buying me a brand new digital SLR as my Mother's Day pressie.

Anyway, all went well, but I have put some shots below - Koreans have some intersting practises for formal ceremonies. I find these quite interesting, sorry if I bore you witless.

Every ceremony in Korea is all about flowers. The important people get to wear corsages - the bigger the better as for as the Korean's are concerned! This is our Headmaster with a florist shop in his pocket.

Whether it is the opening of an envelope or a building these enourmous flower arrangements are delivered. They stand almost 2m high and anybody associated with the event sends them, we had over 6 at our opening. The crazy thing is, is that they are not in water and the flowers maybe last 2-4 days so most of the time all you see are these tall mounds of dying flowers.

If you don't get sent flowers, you get pot plants in very ugly pots.

Only in Korea would an invited guest bring their dog!

When it is time to cut the ribbon, or should I say ribbons ( there has to be a minimum of three colours), it is a family affair. Every Tom Dick and Harry need to be present and have a pair of scissors. Now you are not allowed to hold the scissors in your bare hands, you need to have white gloves as well!!!!

Claudia found a much better thing to do with the ribbons!

And a here is my hunky husband showing off his new suit with Uncle Don.

Anyway better leave this post is turning into a very long one.

Happy Birthday Babcia for Sunday

Konglish

I love the way Korean's directly translate Hangul into English. Never mind about the grammatical structures, or even bothering to check it makes sense. Below are a few of favourites.

Suwon is so proud of their toilets, you can tour them!

This one is too bizarre to talk about.

I am not sure if they are offering services or requesting customers. They will drink anything here!
Hmm.... Sounds delicous

Interesting thing to put on a child's shirt!

My Philosophy on House Cleaning

• I don't do windows because ... I love birds and don't want one to fly into a clean window and get hurt.
• I don't wax floors because ... I am terrified a visitor will slip and get hurt then I'll feel terrible( plus they may sue me.)
• I don't mind the dust bunnies because ... They are very good company, I have named most of them, and they agree with everything I say.
• I don't disturb cobwebs because ... I want every creature to have a home of their own.
• I don't Spring Clean because ... I love all the seasons and don't want the others to get jealous
• I don't pull weeds in the garden because .. I don't want to get in God's way, HE is an excellent designer!
• I don't put things away because ... My husband will never be able to find them again.
• I don't do gourmet meals when I entertain because ... I don't want my guests to stress out over what to make when they invite me over for dinner.
• I don't iron because . I choose to believe them when they say "Permanent Press".
• I don't stress much on anything because "A Type" personalities die young and I want to stick around and become a wrinkled up crusty ol' woman!!!!

Well it works for me!

Happy Children's Day!!!

I am not sure if this is just a Korean thing but on Saturday May 5th it was Children's Day. Basically the concept is you do nice things for you kids. So most Korean children get presents and restaurants are really busy with families eating out. Another key thing is that all over Korea the international community gets to together and hosts International Fairs. Suwon was no different. They held a International Day that attracted over 5000 kids and their families. Our church was asked to have some stalls and I am not how, but I ended up running the Australian stall. So we painted boomerangs and painted faces. I stopped counting at the 400th face! I was amazed at how popular face painting was here - all day the queue was 10 kids deep.

Paul brought the girls down for a couple of hours and it was a good (but hot!) day.

I am constantly amazed at how much Korean society values children and truly panders to them. My kids can go nowhere without getting hugs, kisses or toys from complete strangers. On the whole this society truly fusses over their kids and gives them freedoms beyond their years;

• Children are allowed to stay up as late as they like, because it is their choice.
• It is not unusual to see kids at the shops or at the park at 11pm at night.
• You will always see mother's feeding their kids their food right up to the age of 10.
• If you child is the first born son - he is the most precious possesion and he calls the shots.
• If you get on public transport and it is crowded the older Koreans will put your child on their lap.
• I laugh at the 50 layers the kids are dressed in to go - singlets, thermals, tracksuit, jumper, jacket, beanie and scarf - and my kids are in a jumper and jeans!

I find it so amusing that on one hand Korean children are allowed to go to the shops on the bus by themselves from the age of 6 years, yet on the other hand Korean Mother's still expect the children to drink a minimum of 600mls of mik each day. Children can stay up all night and play video games all weekend, but if they go outside they must have 50 layers on. I am not critisizing as there are some wonderful aspects of the Korean society, I just find it amusing.

One way to keep your baby warm!

She Did It

My little Taekwondo legend made Yellow Belt this week. She is so proud of herself and so are we! Here she is with her teacher.