Professional Student Gamers

Nov 22, 2011

I came to school yesterday morning and discovered that my famous student grew more famous last week.

Around this time of year, last year, I discovered one of my students is a professional gamer. Like a real, no-joke, he-makes-more-money-than-his-parents-do, gets-invited-to-play-in-game-challenges-all-over-the-world-just-so-the-challenge-can-say-they-have-the-BLACK-RIDER-at-their-challenge,  professional gamer.  He plays the game "Krazy Kart Rider", which to my understanding is like Super Mario Brothers Racing.  You're in a little car, and you drive your man around a course on the screen.

 Well, last year I had no idea who he was.  But this year, I do!

To celebrate his win, this year the school made a giant banner.  Here are the pictures:

I'm guessing he either placed 1st in the 6th annual event....or he placed 6th in the first annual event....

That is his name right there.  Moon Ho Chuk.  (Sorry about the crappy romanization)

Gunsan will be COOL

Nov 22, 2011

Gunsan will soon be cool.  Here's the proof:

 Can we get an AMEN!

Not that Gunsan needs another coffee shop.  Seriously, they are worse in Korea than back at home.  There is one on every street corner--if not like three or four on a block.  But, Gunsan's mayor is trying to make Gunsan a Place To Come.  That means an international school, a English village, a major hospital, shopping center, parks, tourist economy (out on the island of Seonyudo), and so on and so forth.  And, so far, he's been pretty successful.  In four years they've built over half the city.  It's impressive.

So, now, in honor of their great move towards Places TO Be, we welcome a starbucks.  Big Smiles.

I really hope they have pumpkin lattes, or chai tea.  Been missing those...

And with that, I'll leave you with some of the coffee's I've recently had the pleasure of drinking.

This started out as a leaf, but morphed into something infinitely much cooler as I continued to drink it. 

Coffee Love

Reverse Trick Or Treating

Date: 10/31/2011

So, I went "Reverse Trick or Treating" on Halloween.  Instead of the students coming to me, I went to them.  And I brought my camera!  (Of Course!)
First picture:

This is one of my favorites:

Picture, please?  Okay, you can hide....

Classic "Girl Shot"  This is why I like taking pictures with male students.  You actually get to see their faces!!

See, this is much better~!

My 2nd favorite shot:

This is one of my favorite students.  I know as teachers we shouldn't have "Favorites" but seriously....he talks to me every day and he participates in class.  He's always up for volunteering and is a sweetie.  How can he not be a favorite?

I finally got a picture with some girls to show how close I was to the uniform!  I was pretty spot on!  Granted, I did borrow the clothes from students!  ;) 

My Halloween Costume

Date: 10/31/2011

Hello All!

Today's Halloween and there's nothing better than surprising your students by dressing up as one of them!  They are getting a real kick out of this today!

I've borrowed some clothes from students so that I'm in an official Seohyung Uniforn.  The only problem is the skirt isn't long enough so I keep getting these "Teacher!  Sexy!" comments.  But frankly, I'm just proud that I can fit into middle schooler's clothes!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Ponderings

October 18, 2011

At school, I've hit the ground running with Halloween themed activities.  We're talking about zombies, vampires, ghosts, and Frankenstein. I've been pretty impressed with my student's knowledge of the monsters.

But, at the same time, Halloween for most of my korean students and friends is just book knowledge.  I've asked every class (about 15 classes with 40 students each) if they've ever carved a pumpkin.  I think, TOTAL, there have been 5 students--and those are the ones who've lived in America for a year or two (because of Dad's Job).

Of my foreigner friends, only the ones from Canada and America have ever carved a pumpkin.   People from South Africa and New Zealand look at me funny when I say I really want to carve the guard.

So, I'm on the hunt for pumpkins in Gunsan.  I've seen the big size in other provinces...but so far, I'm striking out in Gunsan.  But I WILL rectify the fact that my best friends in Korea haven't carved a pumpkin.  And then we'll roast the seeds.

To top everything off, next week my kids are doing a contest: "Guess what Maggie's Halloween Costume!"  I'm debating on two options for costumes--we'll see if the first option is able to be put together (I'm relying on other people's help to pull it together).  But I've recently got some wind back into my sails so I feel like I can pull off the laughs, stares, and confusion caused by me dressing up at school.

But, to recap: Halloween is throughly an American holiday.  I feel sad for all the other little boys and girls who didn't get to run around, dressing in costume, screaming and fighting for candy.

Lotteria = Vampires

Date: Aug 4, 2011

The Korean version of McDonalds is a shop called Lotteria.  (Cafeteria + Lotte Mart = Lotteria). (I think this is right....It could just be some Konglish...)  A Lotteria just opened up on my way to walk.  It is dangerous.  I have a habit of stopping in the morning and getting an Iced Cafe Latte.  (I have to drink my milk somehow!!!)

Anyway, I love the guy behind the counter.  He probably speaks as much English as I do Korean, but we seem to get the messages across fairly uninterruptedly.  It is the same guy every day--with a few exceptions. So, he knows that I always get the same thing: Iced Cafe Latte with 1 syrup.  Except, somedays I also get a strawberry waffle--if I haven't been to Lotte Mart in a while and don't have any breakfast food.

Well, one day while the guy behind the counter (I don't know his name...) was making my latte, I happened to take a gander around the shop.  And I alarmed to discover that Lotteria is owned by vampires.  The proproganda is written clearly and in grammatically correct English.  It is written on the walls!  In Plain SIGHT!!

"Toch me, It's so easy to leave me.  Al alone with the memory of my DAYS IN THE SUN"

"I remember the time when I knew what happiness was"

"Life was beautiful then"

"memory...all alone in the moonlight"

"I can dream of the old days"

OPEN 24 hours, because Vampires have to work at night!

Don't the quotes sound like they come straight out of Edward's mouth?  Seriously?  They do.

Steve Jobs

Date: October 14, 2011

I was very surprised that the Koreans knew Steve Jobs.  I am a die hard Apple fan so I knew of him (not a lot, but some) and I was surpised that a country with such a strong electornic company (samsung) would know their rival company's president.

Anyway, Korea was with the world when Steve Jobs passed away.