Birthday Wishes

A big thank-you to all of you who sent cards, e cards, gifts and birthday wishes. I had a wonderful day and was truly spoiled. We went out to dinner at a restaurant called Bennegins and the photo below was taken there. We all look very glamourous - not- as we went straight there after school.

Well it also diet time as the countdown to coming home begins. The ladies of GSIS spent lunch today lamenting on how we were suppose to drop all this weight living in an Asian country and how it is not falling off us the way we thought it would. I can't even blame my lack of exercise on the cold now as it is warming up nicely!

Emily is learning Korean at school and the beginning students are all in the one class despite age. They performed at Chapel this week. I was amazed that she could remember 3 songs in Korean.

Claudia just came in and saw me writing this blog and is most upset that she is not featuring in this so here are some shots of Claudia. She was given a pack of links for Christmas (300 links to be accurate) to make jewellery - we spent Saturday making lots of beautiful pieces.

Hair Cuts

We all got haircuts this week - not that I am showing you photos of me and Paul but here are the girls with very neat hair. The hairdresser straightend Emily's hair and so guess who now has bought a hair straightener? I can't get over how grown up they both look.

To Serve not to be Served.

The church we have been going to has a close relationship with a local orphanage and they were having a weekend working bee. So the Ciempka clan signed up. It was such a rewarding and fullfilling day. Our main aim was to help clean up after winter. Because of the need to stay indoors so much in winter the insides of older buildings really get dirty. So armed with buckets and mops and scrubbing brushes we set to work. Emily, Claudia and I worked in the girls dorm and Paul and the other blokes from Church did the boys dorm. By the end the day the place sparkled. But what was more important was the friends my girls made and the lessons they learnt. Emily and Claudia took some bags of toys they could live without and shared them with the girls - it was like Christmas for the little korean girls. Emily got such a kick out of how much happiness a bag of toys could bring. Claudia was traumatised by the whole event and kept trying to take the toys back as the girls were 'not playing with them properly!' But in the end she got over her tears. What helped was one little girl who came up to her, gave her a cuddle and said - Kahm sam nee da - or thank-you. In the end they played together for ages.

We all chipped in a bought Pizza lunch for the kids and the staff at the orphanage and below is a shot of us all munching away at pizza. By the end of Saturday we were stiff and pretty smelly but we all felt great. I have to say it was one of the most rewarding days I have ever had.

Toilet Rules and other Korean Facts

I keep getting asked to share with you all about daily life here in Korea. Your wish is my command so I have decided to educate you in the general rules we had to assume, guess, beg or learn by watching when we arrived. I warn you some of the things they do here are gross.

Toilet Rules

Whenever we enter a toilet I pray - Lord let there be a western toilet and not a squatty potty. For those people who have never seen a squatty i have provided you with a picture. The girls and I have been know to hold on for up to and hour rather than use one of these babies. Another thing with Korean toilets is the toilet paper rules. There is an unspoken rule in Korea that you throw toilet paper into a wastebasket next to the toilet- never flush. The whole thing seems unsanitary. I am not a follower of this rule as I just can't do it, and trust me it is not a pleasant sight when you are using the toilet. You would think in a country that have mobile phones the size of credit cards, that they could make a toilet pipes big enough to cope with toilet paper? Even toilets in our home can't cope with large amounts of paper - which is not so helpful with two little girls who like to use half a roll each trip! The plunger and the coathanger are my best friend.

Many public restrooms have an Etiquette Bell. The Etiquette Bell provides cover up noises for any sounds you may emit whilst using the toilet. So if you are in a Korean toilet and you hear birds tweeting - you know what your neighbour is up too. Once again - I am bemused, as rarely do they provide toilet paper (always carry it in your bag) and if they do it can't be flushed, but make sure no hears any sounds you may make. Practical, right?

Garbage/Rubbish/Trash Rules

Now this is complicated! You MUST put your garbage in the special bags you buy at the shop ($3 a bag) and you can only take your garbage out in this bag. Not that there is much that goes into this bag as there is a separate bag for cardborad, another one for tin, another one for plastic and then there is the food scraps. Food scraps have their own bin that is kept in your fridge (like 4L ice cream container) you fill it up, and then take it down to a massive wheely bin that is only for food. It is so gross opening the lid and emptying your food scraps - I leave that job for Paul. Your garbage can go out to the bins any time, but all the recycable must go out between 9 and 10pm on a Wednesday night. This is truly a Korean experience. It can become a social event. Everyone who lives in our building meet at the bins to sort their rubbish into correct piles. I can't help but laugh as I watch this happen - the guards get so cross when you stuff up. It didn't take me long to learn - stupid foreigner in Korean. I often wonder if anyone met their future husband or wife at the Trash Pile. I bet you are all wondering where the rubbish stored until Wednesday - and yes it is stored in your apartment till then. It is very annoying. I thought I was so clever leaving my recycable stuff in the stairwell until the Adgeshi (guards) made an announcement over the loud speaker in the apartments that this is not allowed - I am claiming that I can't speak Korean and so I don't know what he said.

Well I hope you feel educated in the finer things of life in Korea?

I couldn't leave you with horrible thoughts of toilets and garbage, so here is a shot of my two little ski bunnies and their friend Sarah - they were minutes from hitting the slopes.

Just Call me Pammy!

I am thinking I might change my name to Pamlea Andersen, and not because of my cup size. I now am offically a Life Guard. Stop laughing it is true. It took me many hours in the pool and many more on my knees learning CPR, but I did it. If you don't believe me I took the liberty of photographing my card for you all to see.

Now the next question.... Why? Well the school needed some people to train as lifeguards so that when the pool opens we are legally covered if anyone hurts themselves. Anyway not sure how it happened, but I was one selected to go. It got me 7 days out of school, but I did have to swim 300m non stop - which is a long way when you are as fit as I am!!!!

I am not sure how this message is getting out to you, whether you just get an email notification or if this page is delieverd to your email account. The actual address for the site is: www.ciempka.blogspot.com - as you can see, highly skilled in this area.

Happy Birthday Meech for 15th!

Is it March Already?

Yes we are alive.... I forgot the login details - you can all stop laughing, it has taken me ages to work it out.

Life is good , actually life is wonderful - Spring is here!!!!!!!! Mind you the temperature is still hovering between 4 - 10 degrees.

We are busy enjoying the third term of school and the kids are getting into life here. Emily has started Taekwondo and Claudia has started Ballet. Here is a picture of Em in her uniform. She is the only girl in her class and the only blondy too!

Hopefully it will be warm enough to start riding our bikes and getting back outdoors. Some sun would also be nice. Paul and I were only lamenting the other day at how white we are at the moment.

Well we celebrated Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year) in February and had 5 days in Seoul. It was great being able to see all the attractions we have had on the list to do as well as spending some much needed down time. We took a bus tour of the city, went to the National Museum, the War Memorial. We wandered through the street markets and enjoyed some time shopping.

This picture was taken at the War Memorial. Being an Aussie the most I knew about the Korean War was what I saw on MASH, which is not the most historically accurate show! This museum really opened my eyes to the war, the history of it and how it shaped Korea. We spent ages wandering around empty air craft and climbing on tanks. Emily adored it, she could have stayed all day - Claudia was happy just throwing rocks into an empty pond.

Another day we went to Insadong. Insadong is a famous art preccint. There are lots of traditional Korean artworks on display as well as art galleries, shops and art and craft markets. We had a lovely time wandering the streets. I was able to get some great pashminas and scarves. Paul keeps on telling me I only have one neck, so why do I need so many scarves? Korea may have fairly unappealing food and weather, but this place is an accessory wonderland. so my response continues to remain, "Why not!" Later in the day we found a children's area that was set up like Alice and Wonderland. The girls had a play and Mummy took many photos.

It was lovely being able to wake up late and catch up on some well needed reading and rest. I think the most exciting thing is that our hotel had a bath - you don't know what you are missing until you have to live without one! Each Ciempka girl had lovely long baths - it was heaven, and it far beats the baths the girls have been having lately (in a kimchi pot in the shower). Anyway we made the most of our break considering that was it until we finish up on June 15.

Kimchi Pot Bath!!!!

Well I think that will do me for this week. Hope you are all well and that the heat is not killing you. Can you believe we will be home in less than 13 weeks?

Donnah

Well it Snowed!

Despite all my requests towards heaven for it not to snow for our BBQ, it did. Saturday it snowed all day! Here is a picture of Paul taking out the rubbish in the snow.

It is such a tranquil feeling sitting up in your apartment watching snow fall on the world below. Someone called it the 'silent white' and I totally agree. The city is silent - well that is until all the kids run outside for a snow ball fight, or your daughter insists on building a snow man in 2 cm of snow. Snow is so clean and fresh - for about 10 minutes and then someone walks on it or drives on it and then very soon it is just brown slush. Regardless, I do love it when it snows, there is something magical about the whole thing.

Sunday morning dawned nice and sunny and we did manage to have a BBQ - man it was nice eating meat cooked on the BBQ. Although it felt funny having to wear a tracksuit, gloves, beanie, jacket and all the trimmings to keep warm. Our Australia Day celebrations were topped off with a viewing of "The Castle," munching on Cardbury Dairy Milk and Pascal's Party Mix (thanks Kymmie and Amy!!). Mind you, we needed to have the subtitles on so the Americans could understand it. Nevertheless, it felt good to be an Aussie.

I was sent this message by a friend and I thought it was such I nice thing that I wanted to share it with you.

1. There are at least two people in this world that you would die for.

2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.

4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

6. You mean the world to someone.

7. You are special and unique.

8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.

9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.

10. When you think the world has turned its back on you take another look.

11. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.

Have a great week.

Donnah