Thoughts on Transitions and Goodbyes and Feeling Like Joseph & His Robe of Many Colors By the Way My Former Principal Treated Me

THE MANY SHADES OF "GOODBYE!"

Most people who say, "See you later!" or "Let's catch up sometime" do so just as another polite and friendly way to extract themselves from a chance meeting-gone-too-lengthy and say "Goodbye" (without so much of the finality an actual goodbye entails). I have noticed this mostly in the Western world, and have adjusted accordingly in the years I have lived in the States.

However, here in South Korea, when someone tells me they want to "see [me] later," I have found they literally mean it. Like, the next day, I will receive a text asking  when I am available for lunch or coffee... that week. And then a follow-up text asking where and what time. I like this clear-cut, to-the-point, action-oriented interpretation of the above-mentioned phrases more!

My host sisters and students don't believe me, but I truly, absolutely adore the Principal's traditional Korean outfits. They're loose, elegant, and, yes, old-womanly-looking, but so cool! The only problem is they are also way out of my price range :/

I mention all of this because, right before my former principal left Yeongdo Girls High School to move on to her new 4-year appointment at another school, she invited me to come and visit her there. She seemed really genuine and eager when she gave this invitation in all-Korean (thanks to my co-teachers for translating), but I reverted back to my Western way of interpreting these parting words, and, though I could feel that the sentiment was definitely there, I didn't think she actually expected me to follow through when I said "Definitely! I will come to see you there!"

Fast-forward a couple of months and Park Mi Sook bujangnim invited me to come visit our gyojang seonsaengnim along with a handful of other teachers. She reminded me that the principal was especially fond of me and that my presence there would make the trip more meaningful as most of the teachers who are going to visit will also be leaving their schools after this year. Just like me. (It turns out, this see you later is just an extended formal goodbye). But did I want to go? 

OUR BELOVED FORMER PRINCIPAL 

We're talking about the Principal who would come in to the gyomushil to check on each teacher and give my hands a worried squeeze when she heard the terrible gravity of my winter cough; the woman who would give me extra pocket money for Fulbright's Fall Conference in Gyeongju and Spring Conference in Jeju, and the same one who gave my first-ever YDAC team a generous day allowance on top of what the U.S. Embassy in Seoul was already covering. The same principal who gave me gifts for my birthday and for Christmas, and wrote me an adorable New Years card, complete with personal artwork decorating the envelope! We're talking about this Principal, who, contrary to what I had believed, didn't do this for the other teachers at my school. (Feeling a bit like Joseph and his robe of many colors but - thankfully! - my co-teachers are far from being like jealous siblings).

FAVORITE MEMORIES WITH THE PRINCIPAL 

Since I have been remiss in posting regularly unlike my first month here in Korea, here are some Facebook posts to catch you up!

3/7/2014 | School admins with Michael Horn

12/24/2014 | Scarf and leather gloves from Principal
Sookhee: "The Principal really loves you!"

8/25/14 | Hogan Medlin, YGHS Fulbright ETA 2011, visiting!

1/9/15 | Principal congratulating the students who earned
YGHS its second First Place YDAC win!

And because we're talking about this Principal, I was definitely going. 

VISITING OUR BELOVED FORMER PRINCIPAL

Me: [asking co-teachers in genera] What should I bring? 

Sookhee: No, you don't need to bring anything. 

Me: Really...? What about a small gift or a card? 

Sookhee: [always making sure that I'm not "burdened" by anything] No, we've already got a gift for Principal. Other teachers pooled money and bought a gift already. 

Me: Oh...err - 

Sookhee: -But you don't have to worry about that! Principal really loves you. You just bring yourself and she will be happy!

Me: [thinking I would at least write a card] Okay, sounds good!

Mi Sook Bujangnim: Mimi - may I suggest you write a card for the Principal? I think it's a good idea

Me: Yeah, that's no problem, bujangnim!

KOREA ART & DESIGN HIGH SCHOOL

The entrance of our Principal's new high school. Sookhee translated that the Principal is only two years away from retirement but, unlike what most people expected she would do, she is not taking these last couple of years lightly. She's bent on revamping the curriculum of this arts and design-focused school so that its students can be as competitive as possible when it comes to university applications!

Gradually meeting up with teachers. Some came with watermelons, and others carried boxes full of plants in fancy earthenware 

There were four of these mini ponds in the mini park in front of the school. The shock of water and green plants was soothing to my eyes. It also helped me recover a bit after feeling motion sick in the back of my co-teacher's car

The Principal's warm welcome. She ushered us into her office, where she updated the teachers about the great tasks that are in front of her in this new school

Heading from the school to a restaurant to eat dinner together! Jeong Eun Ju Seonsaengnim had a prior appointment and so left the six of us to dine together

I was told there would be fish broth but, it turns out, the broth was made of powdered fish. I basically spent the whole meal waiting for the "real" fish broth to come out...

The rest of the group walking way ahead on our way back to the school as Park Mi Sook Bujangnim proudly shared some of her daughter's fashion designs with me on her smartphone

It was about 7:00 p.m. when we finished dinner and arrived back at the school. It took us another 30 minutes to get back to YGHS. I like this picture, capturing the Principal's face all lit up at our having visited her :)

Knowing that Jeon Mi Soon Gyojang Seonsaengnim would have a heck of a time translating my English writing, I asked Sookhee to translate my "short"-message-turned-kind-of-long on the other side of the card. She gave a disclaimer that not everything would transfer smoothly to Korean, but seeing her handwriting on the page a few minutes later was like witnessing Hangeul magic. I didn't care as long as the gist was on the page. Sookhee is the best!

TRANSITIONS ARE ROUGH FOR EVERYONE
My hope is that Jeon Gyojang Seonsaengnim would accomplish all the good she is setting out to do for the students at this school, and that her doing so will not leave her exhausted and depleted but even more charged with energy and life! I didn't account for this apparently rougher transition she would have in the card I gave to her. I kind of assumed that, after a couple of decades or so in the Korean education system, the transitions would be a piece of cake (for her and anyone). Perhaps it becomes easier, but I suppose a transition is still a transition.

I have less than two months left in this country, so my head is definitely full of thoughts concerning goodbyes and transitions. Seeing how much I love this country, my job, and my life here, the coming days are going to be rough. [Deep intake of breath] Very rough...

Coaching a YDAC Meeting While Sick & Almost Being Sent Home By My Own Students & Having a Late Christmas Dinner at Deacon Lee's House

A SHOUTOUT TO 유자차 (YUJA CHA) DURING WINTER

I no longer have classes, so my whole day today was free! However, my chronic cough has set in in full force and much of my free time is actually just spent indoors in pajamas and a robe. I wander from my bedroom to the kitchen and back, heating water in jibsanim's cute teapot and making 유자차 (yuja cha), lemon tea, for myself 4-5 times throughout the day. This hot cup of citrus-y goodness makes me feel as if good health is within my reach; however, in reality, the amount of sugar in this yuja cha is likely negatively affecting me in some way. 

YDAC MEETING A DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

I got out of bed and got dressed to go to school, doing my best not to step on the landmine of used tissue scattered across my floor. Even though it's the day after Christmas, my YDAC students and I had set up a meeting to smooth out our speech outline for the conference. (If they had had their way, we would have also had a meeting on Christmas Day. I, of course objected). We had a lot of work left to do, so, as much as I wanted to stay at home, I knew nothing would get done if I didn't do my part of coaching them through their ideas and editing their drafts. 

I arrived to find them lively and busily poring over their own drafts. It seemed I may have overestimated the importance of my role...

My team of 5 girls posing with some cute stuffed animal. I didn't have one as I was busy setting up the camera. My students nearly went mad searching for the perfect stuffed animal for me before we could take the next shot. Seriously, how cute are they?!?

Nevertheless, they were as honest and sweet as ever because, when I arrived, this exchange promptly took place, reenacted on my Facebook wall as follows: 

MEANWHILE, in Yeongdo Girls High School, I arrive at school for a YDAC meeting, coughing and sneezing:

Student 1: [with concern in her voice] Teacher, you better - err, you had better go to home

Me: Oh...Why? I just got here!

Student: Because you don't look well

Me: Really...? But I put on make-up today... :(

Students: No, no! Teacher, not your face. Face is okay

Me: ...but you said I don't look well...

Student: Face is okay. But your health is not well.

Me: Ahh...You are all so kind!

And then I gave each of them lollipops for their sweetness :)

GOING TO DEACON LEE'S HOUSE FOR DINNER

It must have been around 8:30 p.m. when we finished. Russel texted, inviting me to a dinner at Deacon Lee's house. I was very hungry, but was quite reluctant to accept because of how late I would be arriving (around 9:00 p.m.) and didn't want to hold them up.

I need not have worried.

When I finally accepted, and arrived there by taxi, the men were already fully immersed in their favorite pastime of eating. Jibsanim's sons were there, and his wife was bustling about making more food for them to eat. She also bustled my way and gave me food. Strangely enough, my intense hunger seemed to have shrunk my appetite because I could hardly finish the small bowl of rice and soup she gave me! It was nice to see their family, including Russel, together for the holidays.

I sat on the table using a chair while the men sat on the floor. I didn't want to break into the seeming spell they were in. I just sat back, did my own munching, blew my nose here and there, and enjoyed the atmosphere of...family.

Ah...I miss coming to this house

Gwan Jibsanim super busy cooking and serving her family! It is her habit to not eat until her family has eaten. Older Korean women really go above and beyond

Classic Shin Jae face

Jibsanims opening their gift. (They only got a Christmas card from me :/ - But, hey, it was personalized!). Personalized Christmas cards are pretty cool, too *cough*

The deacon and his wife admiring Russel's Christmas gift for them 

...like REALLY admiring

I think David Jibsanim likes it! He is touched...

I insisted on taking a family photo after dinner and before Russel and I left. Shin Yeong had already, apparently, fallen asleep though so this photo is not quite complete. 

THE HEALING PROPERTIES OF GOOD COMPANY
David and I had time to catch up a bit about how my family is doing back home. I shared some updates with him before leaving to go on a walk with Russel and calling it a night. Though I was more tired than ever after this interaction, I noticed I actually felt a lot better having been around people than other days when I would choose to stay at home and "get better" all by myself.

THANKFUL THAT CHRIST IS IN THE HEARTS OF MEN
I'm thankful for the blessing that is this family, and hope that God rewards them for the service and sacrifice they do at the church, especially on behalf of foreigners like Russel (whom they treat as a son) and me. When I think about the temporary nature of our stays in South Korea, I am even more amazed by the love people like David and his family show to us because they know from the very start that our stay is relatively short.

We will not be around in a year or two or three, but they still choose to invest in us. They still show us the best that their country, culture, and food has to offer. They pour their time and energy attending to our needs and fling the doors of their homes wide open so we would feel welcome. I love Korea most for the people who, like David, has shown me that, as a Christian, I have family anywhere I go.

Christmas is not so bad even when away from your own family when families like that of David's embrace you and remind you that family is anyone who shares your faith and love for Jesus Christ!

To All the Older Siblings in the World: Never Make a Promise You Cant Keep! (And Other Notes Related to My Contract Renewal in South Korea)

SKYPE CALL: MY SISTER FINDING OUT ABOUT MY CONTRACT RENEWAL [GULP]

Mama: - So, yeah, ever since she found out that you're returning to Korea for another year, she's been like this

Me: [sorrowfully] Oh my goodness, Ma! Why did you tell her?! No, wait - why didn't you tell her?! 

Mama: She found out on her own! 

Me: How?

Mama: Well, she was doing better and looked like she had finally accepted that you will be coming home three days later than you had originally said, so that was good...

Me: uh-huh...and...?

Mama: Yeah, so...

Me: Ma, and, what?

Mama: Oh, yes! Well, today, she was looking at the calendar again, and flipped to August. That's when she saw my note...

Me: [in much anguish] Oh noooo...

SKYPE CALL: MY ATTEMPT AT BRIBERY

[To Emily] LING, Ate Mimi MISSES you! I will come home soon, Ling. Don't miss me too much, okay?

Emily: Okay

Me: So, Ling, what would you like me to bring you from Korea? 

Emily: [thinking]

Me: [Not sure if she's understanding my question] Ling, do you want clothes? Or chocolates? Or snacks? Or clothes, chocolates AND snacks? What do you want, Ling? I will get it for you! 

Emily: [still thinking]

Me: ANYTHING at all! 

Some of my afternoon was spent online, searching for a blue, long-sleeved, Korean flight attendant uniform, which Emily said I must bring home to her from South Korea. She told me this quite passionately over Skype. 

the-way.co.kr
Thank you, Ju Hyeon!

SKYPE CALL: MY SISTER'S GIFT REQUEST FROM KOREA
Me: [off to the side to my mom] Ma, is she serious?

Mama: Unfortunately, yes...

Me: No, I mean, is she serious about the flight attendant uniform?

Mama: Yes, she is serious

Me: Mom, I'm talking about the flight attendant uniform that she said she wants: blue, long-sleeved, and specifically "Korean"

Mama: I'm telling you, she's being serious! 

Me: [groans] So, where did she get the idea that this is the perfect gift from me?!?!

Mama: I don't know, but I did notice that she's been Googling that a lot lately, and laughing to herself

Me: ...well, okay then. [Pause, and then] So, Ma...

Mama: Hmmm?

Me: In case I can't find this, uh, blue, long-sleeved, Korean flight attendant uniform anywhere in Korea, do you think Emily will be...very upset or...just normal upset? 

Mama: That's a good question...From the look on her face right now, I think she will be very upset...Do your best to look for it there

Me: [exaggerated groans of despair] Whyyyyyyy! [To Emily] LEMING, why can't you want a normal thing, like a pack of seaweed, or a pair of cute socks, or...or Korean chocolates?! I will buy you chocolates, is that okay?? A LOT of chocolates, yum!

Emily: [giggling at seeing my despairing face] No, no, no! Not A LOT chocolate. Uniform, yes! Mimi, uniform, coming home July 19. Emily, blue, uniform, plane! Yes, yes!

Me: Okay, I will do my best, Ling [insert super fake confident smile here]

Emily: [flashes me a huge, expectant smile over Skype before waving goodbye]

Me: [to Mama] I'm screwed 

Mama: [amused] Just do your best, nak

MY HOST SISTER COMES TO THE RESCUE
I was neck-deep in my despair when Ju Hyeon casually walked into my room and asked to borrow my iPad. I sighed and gave her the device, but not before explaining Emily's impossible dream gift. Ju Hyeon disappeared into the living room and came back a moment later with a Korean website that sells - what else - flight attendant uniforms. I was so excited/relieved/ecstatic/joyful in finding that this item did, indeed, exist out in the real world that I didn't immediately notice the steep price tag. Again, Whyyyyyyy?!

On the bright side, this is my opportunity to make up for being a horrible older sister, and failing to tell my youngest sister my life plans for the next year. Since I have left, she has been holding on to one date: "July 16, 2014," the date of my supposed return to the states, not knowing that my plans had changed. She was devastated to learn that I was actually coming home on July 19, 2014 (three days later than what I had originally promised her on our parting at Sea-Tac airport). I remember how tightly I clung to the promises of adults as a child, so I definitely understand how Emily might find these turn of events utterly unacceptable and inexcusable and even heartbreaking. 

[insert so much sadness here]

MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU

Do you remember someone making you a promise they were not able to keep? When was the promise made and why was it so important to you? Have you yourself made a promise that you may or may not have known you could not ultimately keep? Who did you make the promise to, and how did you (or did you not) make up for failing to deliver?

Share your experiences by writing in the comment box below!

Cake-Making: Celebrating My Host Parent's 20th Wedding Anniversary and Reflecting on Their Various Behind-the-Scenes Sacrifices for the Family

WHY DIDN'T I MAINTAIN MY KOREAN LANGUAGE LEARNING???

One of the major drawbacks of still not knowing Korean after one year in the country is finding out there are important events to be celebrated the night before they are to be celebrated.

Case in point: I was eating dinner last night when, reflecting upon the crazy school week ahead, I decided to tell my host mom that I would be working overtime at school at such and such night. She made many humming noises and fluttered to the big family calendar behind where I was eating, and immediately scrawled a bunch of important looking notes to herself in Korean.

Yummy, right? Scroll down below to see how Seo Yeon and I made this together *cough*!

THE KITCHEN CALENDAR: HOW I UNOFFICIALLY KNOW I AM PART OF THE KIM FAMILY

I went over to help her remember all of the particulars, and thought to ask her about the other notes she had scrawled there. 

Ah, this one is Seo Yeon's midterm exams. And those are Ju Hyeon's midterm exams. That day over there is Ju Hyeon's practice midterm exam, and that one is Seo Yeon's mock test. And these are the dates that I will help proctor my daughters' exams. 

Yes...yes, of course. Just...as I suspected.

What a string of depressing dates! But my host mom is not deterred. This calendar is crucial to how she runs her household, from the moment the girls wake up to the time they crawl back into the house from school (for Ju Hyeon) and from academy (for Seo Yeon). The girls work very hard at school and outside of school - yet behind them are Mom and Dad, without whom a single day for them would not be possible.

No joke. 

SUPER HOST MOM & EVERYTHING SHE DOES (NO, NOT EVEN)

Host Mom does everything for the girls - from being their supplemental human alarm clock at the start of their day and spoon-feeding them breakfast as they sit half-asleep on the dining table, to packing their backpacks with all of the day's essentials and combing, heat-protecting, and curling the ends of their hair and bangs as the girls shake themselves into their uniforms; from hurrying them out the door, tucking an umbrella in their backpacks (on rainy days) and pressing the "down" button on the elevator for them, to running back inside the house to quickly locate and deliver a forgotten something, such as a water bottle. 

And these are just the things I am able to observe as I, myself, drift between the bedroom, dining room, and bathroom also hurriedly getting ready for school. 

IT TAKES TENACITY. IT TAKES FAMILY

I am more than impressed by this sacrificial behind-the-scenes work. For me, this is what being family is all about. 

While gazing at the masterpiece of a calendar that was the family calendar, I noticed that the next day was marked by many even more important looking circles, squiggles, stars, and basically everything you could imagine fitting into a calendar day's box. 

DISCOVERING MY HOST PARENTS' WEDDING ANNIVERSARY BY ACCIDENT
Me: [Casually and clueless-ly] Mom, what is this?
Mom: [More humming] Mmm, Mom...mmm...Daddy together!

Me: Yes...Hmmm [I study her face for more context clues]
Mom: [Getting excited] Mom, Daddy, together mmm wedding!
Me: Oh...Oh! Oh wow! Tomorrow is your wedding anniversary?!?! [Feeling ashamed of myself]

Mom: Nae! 

Me: Wow, that's amazing! How long - err, how many years have you been married?

Mom: Mmm...20 years! 

I consulted my co-teacher as to what would be an appropriate gift to give my host parents for this very special day. She said that I was not required to do anything, but it would be nice to buy them a little present. The next day, I found myself wandering around Nampo with Seo Yeon, trying to locate a cake-making store the girls had spotted earlier in the year. 

SEO YEON AND I GO TO NAMPO TO MAKE A CAKE!

After some time, we found the cake store in Nampo!  

I was completely unprepared for what was to come. This is Seo Yeon obviously taking the lead as I resorted to documenting

Celebrating 20 Years of Love! 

Cute things that were super overpriced 

The store, complete with an area where you can sit down and get to decorating your cake with friends or family!

 

The clerk showed us how to make pretty icings for the cake

Not gonna lie, I was unimpressed by this bare-faced cake...

Seo Yeon and I looked at the cake for a good five minutes, imagining all of the different forms it could take, before diving in.

We decided to lace the cake first with pink icing, thinking a mistake at this step would be the least tragic

And then we added three pink roses on top! It was a major commitment that we argued about for quite some time before finally going with this arrangement. This is serious, people.

I'd like to think that Seo Yeon was not afraid that I would ruin the cake if I took over the icing...

Pretzels, our brilliant solution to the letters "LOVE" being too fat and heavy to stand up on their own

Seo Yeon writing our dedication message

She's so adorable! Oh, and, at this point, I am no longer ashamed of our cake :)

Ta-Da! I helped sprinkle those white and pink chocolate bits all over the place. I know, a work of art...

Basically Seo Yeon did everything that required touching any part of the cake, while I contributed by hovering over my host sister as she worked, and making suggestions as to the color scheme and the design the cake should have. When her masterpiece was finished, I took out my card to pay. Seo Yeon resisted this last move, arguing that she should pay for at least half since they were her parents.

She's getting too good at her English...

We went home with me carrying the cake box as if it contained the last tiny sprig of green plant on Wall-E's earth. Making it home with the cake intact was quite a feat, especially considering that Nampo is a circus around the afternoon and early evenings!

Who knew making a cake (even a technically ready-made one) would be so difficult! Just kidding. Like I said it, it was all Seo Yeon. We tried to sneak the cake into the house, but mom found out anyway.

[More pictures to come at a later post]

Teaching Motto: Less is More & Don't Assume Anything (No Really, Don't)

Students shyly hiding behind the door as I snap this photo on my way in

The E-Zone, I was [sort of, not really] quick to realize, stands for English-Zone.

What else could it stand for, Mimi?!

WHERE TEACHERS RECHARGE
It's the homeroom class of an English teacher - my Fulbright co-teacher, Sookhee, to be exact.

Behind a glass window in the back of the room (a-la Big Brother-style) is a room full of snacks and English teachers in various states of repose - some with their slippers off, rubbing their feet back to life, some with grapes half stuffed in their faces, and some with handkerchiefs draped over their heads as they nap.

The E-Zone itself has posters of English translations and conjugations of Korean words and concepts passively offering knowledge on every corner of the room - not to mention English essays written and illustrated by students plastered all over the walls .

The essays are pretty polished and likely written by older students, but they still made me hope. Maybe some of my classes - or some of my students in those classes - will be a bit more advanced than the ones I have encountered so far and I can assign essay-writing of the same caliber as the ones posted up!

No such luck.

Passing out very exciting "Introduce Yourself to Teacher" WSs! 

BREAKING AWAY FROM THE BREAKUP 

Tuesday is my "Friday" as far as lesson planning goes, so I gave my self-introduction and induced the same responses as last Thursday one last time. This was a bit of a relief as I could now tackle other, more important things other than how to carefully orchestrate a massively downplayed account of my recent break-up. 

NEW TEACHING MOTTO: DON'T ASSUME ANYTHING

I gave my students worksheets that allowed me to eyeball their language level, confidence level in the areas of Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening, as well as gather some biographical data that would hopefully aid in my effort to remember students. 

I modified this "Introduce Yourself to Teacher" worksheet for every class - with each version becoming more simple and less wordy. 

The "Less is More" motto I have adopted has now been joined by a "Don't Assume Anything" mentality. 

The importance of the second one was impressed upon me when I created what I thought were very convenient and matter-of-fact headers for my worksheets. 

VERSION 1:

Name: ____________________________

Date:   ____________________________

Class:  ____________________________

VERSION 1: HOW STUDENTS FILLED IT OUT

Name: _이름_______________________ - Students wrote their names in Korean, which is still hard for me to read. Must modify

Date:   _2013/27/8 or 27/8____________ - Students came up with all manner of writing the date, confusing me. Must also modify

Class:  _1__________________________ - Students wrote "1," which tells me their grade but not their class. Must modify!

VERSION 2:

Name: __(Korean)___/___(English)______

Date:   ___________/____/____________

Class:  _____________-______________

VERSION 2: HOW STUDENTS FILLED IT OUT

Name: __(Korean)___/___(English)_____ - Because of the parenthetical notes, students wrote their names microscopically

Date:   _________2013/27/_8__________ - Produced the same variety of date-writing, except this time, there are backslashes... -_-

Class:  __(insert student ID here)________  - Umm...? Why??

VERSION 3: 

Name: (Korean)_______/(English)_______ 

Date:   ________8/____/2013___________

Class:  __________1 - ________________

VERSION 3: HOW STUDENTS FILLED IT OUT

Name: (Korean)_주현_/(English)_Juhyeon_ - Yes!

Date:   ________8/_27___/2013_________  - Yes!

Class:  __________1 - 8________________ - and YES! 

Okay, so I actually skipped a few other versions for time's sake, but I was pleased with how the headers eventually elicited uniform and consistent responses. Though worksheet headers may be a small-enough detail, it's crucial at the moment, especially as I am just meeting my students and learning to organize class materials.

A student's motivation to learn English 

A student's father is a "salaryman"?

 And now, to the teacher's office...

 WELCOME TO MY [MESSY, OVERFLOWING, & INCREASINGLY HOMEY] DESK SPACE!

Check out my sweet name tag! (It really is the little things...)

TWO THINGS DEAR TO MY HEART: PHOTOGRAPHY, THE PHILIPPINES
It took a while for other teachers in the office to understand that I personally took the photos gracing my office space. They thought I was merely sharing someone else's work out of my love for landscape photography and for the Philippines. They would not be incorrect about those two loves, but why would I ever display someone else's photos when I am perfectly capable of capturing and re-producing the world through my own perspective?

Name placard no longer empty!

Shareena's lovely Christmas card

My fourth Husky Kick-Off

Name tags, and all the worksheet responses I have to read this weekend from my eight classes

THE TREES WE SACRIFICE AS TEACHERS

I have been a teacher for less than a week, and I already feel incredibly convicted by the amount of paper - and trees! - I am using! I know this is done in the name of education, but I am unused to and even uncomfortable with this kind of luxurious printing powers. I will change the way I teach class so as to require the least amount of paper without shortchanging my students. 

I left this afternoon with a part of the school awash in golden light. It was mesmerizing!

NAPS ARE TAKING OVER MY LIFE IN KOREA!
I function perfectly at school - albeit a bit sleepy the whole day - but, once I get home, it's all over. Some days, I don't even recall changing, or crawling into bed for what has become a pretty regular three-hour afternoon nap.

This evening, I slept so late that my host father had already come home from work. He greeted me cheerfully and presented me with this:

HOST PARENTS' GIFT: PORTABLE HARD DRIVE
He refused to let me pay him back, insisting this was his and host mom's gift to me. This was definitely not part of the agreement we made last time we were at Costco, but he was resolute. And I was a bit unsure if there was a cultural code I was breaking by not accepting a[nother] gift from my host parents.

The model I wanted to buy from Costco!

I was very pleased that host dad had gotten me exactly what I had been looking for just last week, but was beginning to understand why the OCs had given us phrases in Korean containing the English word "burden" as in - "I am burdened by this [gift]." I am racking my brain even more now on ways to, not repay, but reciprocate my host family's incredible generosity.

MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU
How do you handle the art of receiving gifts? What kind of gifts (specific items) would you recommend I buy/make/prepare for my Korean host family?