What the what?! I'm posting on a Wednesday...ugh!

I started off updating my blogs every Saturday. After a few weekends of doing nothing but that and watching movies, I got lazy and updated on Sunday. Well, it's Sunday night and I guarantee I won't finish this post tonight. I have had weekend that consisted of adventures outside of my apartment!! This week I was socially busy. Very busy. This may be a long post....brace yourself:-)

Well wouldn't you know it? It's now TUESDAY evening and I still haven't updated!! How dreadful. I'm really falling behind here. I've got so much to say (I have a full Word page that has just one or two sentences per thought...and you already know how much I write per thought!!) :-)

PS-It's Wednesday evening now...if I don't finish tonight forget about it haha
So I just copied and pasted my little "to remember" list from Word and will fill it in.

Monday-dinner with Korean kinder teachers-new bffs-- Monica and Charlie planned to have us over on Tuesday for Joey's birthday. We were both excited but they told us Monday as we were heading home from work that, because Sophie's itinerary had been changed, she would now be arriving Tuesday night and we would not be able to go to their house for dinner. Instead, we were going to go out to eat with Charlie, Monica, and all the kindergarten teachers as they celebrated the end of the school term. That was about 6 oclock and they were going to pick us up at 7 or 7:30. Sound last minute to you? Welcome to Korea. Anyway, the Korean kindergarten teachers are mostly young and from what I had seen, fun and funny. These are not my coworkers, they are the teachers in the kindergarten next door. Sure enough, the night turned absolutely hilarious and whether or not that had to do with the gallons and gallons of beer and soju that was consumed, I'm not judging!! I was sitting sort of apart from the group laughing along with them being silly (they halfway apologized for a few things and I told Charlie to let them know that I loved it all! They reminded me so much of the way my friends and I act back home) but soon the funniest one called me over to sit next to her. She was, of course, on the loud end of the table so I knew I'd fit right in. We had an absolute wonderful time together and I exchanged numbers with a few of them and promised all of them a trip to a norebong (karaoke room) in the near future!! Seriously it was so much fun and I was so glad to have all these new friends. They're so adorable! I also wanna hit on one event earlier on Monday. As you know, maybe, there was a kindergarten class that once kidnapped me and fed me tons of snacks as I was on my way back to MBC OSS from the kindergarten (after lunch I walked downstairs, passing this classroom). Well I loved the teachers and the kids so much so every single day I would go to them and just spend a little time with them. Generally, they gave me more snacks. I went Monday to say my usual hello and the two teachers wanted to take pictures. We did and then I said that I would bring my camera in the next day for pictures. As soon as I realized this was the last day for the class (through very incorrect English words but correct gestures....vacation? false pointing up? ahhh they are moving up a grade...) I ran and got my camera so I could show everyone how adorable these children are and why I went back every day! I got some great pictures, but an even better video! ("I love you teacher" also, ignore my annoyingly loud "laugh." I was sick and almost in tears too!)

Tuesday-SPRING WEATHER! kindergarten graduation-my class that named me graduating/all the teachers crying and realizing how much they AND Monica love and care for them- sophie’s arrival midnight chat--

Tuesday made me think maybe I had slept through a few months and it was actually mid-April. It was BEAUTIFUL outside!! I could not have asked for better weather OR a better schedule to go along with it. It was kindergarten graduation and since I was not teaching until 3:20, I could enjoy both graduations (1 at 10:30, 1 at 2) and sit outside during the rest of the time. The kids were adorable in their cap and gowns and the parents were obviously proud that their child didn't fail to learn colors, numbers and how to bow as low as possible when greeting people. A couple things stood out to me: as each teacher read a special letter written to her class, they played music that I believe came straight out of the most dramatic soap opera, which made the sobbing into the microphone quite theatrical. Then, after all the kids have stood up and sat down multiple times and each kid's cap has fallen into their eyes at least twice, the head teacher tells all the kids to turn around and wave to their moms and dads, because, what is a graduation without great pictures of the kids waving from their seats? I thought it was just too funny, so I took a video. Also notice the super cute old grandpa hangin out:

Every single one of the teachers cried both times. Teachers whose classes weren't graduating! But I realized, if I had spent as much time with them as any of those teachers had, and they were leaving the school, I would have cried too. I mean it's actually surprising that I didn't! When we went to Gyeongju with the kindergarten, I spent most of the day with one class. They are the ones that named me Min Chi (which I just learned is actually Min Ji!) and they graduated Tuesday. I definitely almost cried, especially when one of the boys saw me standing in the back, turned around, excitedly hit the boys in front of him on the shoulders, presumably told them their favorite person named Erica was watching, and they all turned around with huge grins and waved at me. WOW. It was...wonderful. Every once in a while, one of the kids from that class would turn around and just smile at me. Aww! Seriously made my day! The rest of the day was fantastic and everyone was excited about the new teacher that was coming that night! Ok, I don't know about everybody else, but I was super pumped. She was going to be my neighbor and I had already planned a welcome party for her and the teachers the next night. So....she better be awesome. That was my thought basically haha I went home to clean and wait. I told Charlie to come get me when she got there, no matter how late! Well it wasn't too bad, I think she got in around 11 or so. We had a really great chat after Charlie and Monica left and I knew we were gonna get along! Not only does she have a sweet British accent, she's also into improv. It was fun to hang out with a girl, but also weird because I actually knew a thing or two about Jangyu that someone didn't!! I've only been here a month and a half but I was able to sort of answer a few questions and maybe help out. It was cool to be on the other end.

Wednesday-wine party and giggling teachers-games, teacher son, hilarity--I already blogged about how excited I was for the wine party. Now let me tell you, it was so so so much fun! The cheap wine was actually tasty and Hannah brought wine glasses so we wouldn't have to drink out of the mugs:-) Linda brought a cake and I had a few things for us to snack on as well. And Tina brought her kids. Now I'm going to be honest, her older son comes to our academy after his school to wait for a ride home, or something and I just don't like him. For lack of a better word, he's a brat. Actually that may be the perfect word. So I thought, OH GREAT when I first saw him. But then I met her younger son. I think he was about 2 years old or so and I couldn't tell you his name. What I can tell you, is that we got along swimmingly and played and played and played! Before all the playing, all the teachers enjoyed each other's company and the games were pretty freakin funny. After just half a glass of red wine each, Alice and Linda complained of the room spinning and headaches. Jennifer was funny as always and we were all able to share fun girl inside jokes before Joey got there. I was all raspy voiced but laughing that much made me feel a lot better! All the teachers helped to clean up and Sophie and I hung out a little longer after they left, doing accents and being awesome, basically.

Thursday-Thirsty Thursday at Wa--Every Thursday night is the official foreign teacher night at the local sort of western bar called Wa Bar. Well I don't really know if it's the official blah blah but if you go there on a Thursday night, tons of foreigners will be there. I hadn't gone on a Thursday before since I have to be at school in the morning. I've met several of the other foreign teachers in the area and really like them though. Joey wanted to take Sophie and introduce her to all the peoples and they were both able to "emotionally blackmail" me to come, as Sophie put it. So glad I did. I met a few more foreigners and befriended a few more of the Korean bartenders from across the street. Don't worry, they're all girls! I now introduce myself using both Erica and Min Ji and they all call me Min Ji. I think that's pretty cool ha. Oh, except for Olivia who has called me Hilary since we first met because she thinks I look like Hilary Duff!! Sound familiar?

Friday-exhaustion--I'm not sure exactly what I was reminding myself to write about here, besides being so worn out after work Friday! Sophie and I went to Lotte Mart so she could get some essentials and Lotteria is right on the way. It's a fast food place that has burgers. YUM! I hadn't had one since I got here and I chose a bulgogi burger, which you won't find in America, probably. At least not in most places! It was delicious. I then went home and crashed.

Saturday-Work on a sat and Gimhae-watching people fall on the bus, so much food--Yep, that's exactly what it sounds like. We had to go to school on Saturday morning for the English kindergarten's "entrance ceremony."I always kind of dread anything where we have to stand in front of the parents like this. It's so awkward for me and I just don't understand why they even have to give us the microphone! So this time I decided to say, "Annyeong Haseyo, my name's Erica and I'll be teaching English to your children." In a creepy, but not to bad, kinda way. They're gonna laugh and clap no matter what you say so might as well have a little fun with it. Then the kids went up to their new classrooms and met their teachers and had learned names, etc... Sophie, Joey and I were to pick a class and just chill in there with them. Let's just say, there are some really cute new kids!! Dannah (I've spelled her name like 24 different ways throughout the blog's life...she's the same one) had found a church for me in Gimhae but was knew the bus was a challenge for me. She decided to be awesome and told me that she would take me to Gimhae so we could ride the bus together and I could learn the route. How awesome is that?! The walk to the church was just about as long as the bus ride but we passed a Home Plus/Tesco/KFC (yeah, really!)/Mcdonalds/Dunkin Donuts and she decided we should get a snack. I was still a little full but she bought me some Korean taffy first, a whole bag of it, then some kind of really unhealthy but delicious snack with cheese in the middle. It was really good! So we finally got to the church, met the lady that she had spoken to, and left. Long trip for the 7 minute meeting hehe BUT the lady informed me that they could actually pick me up in their church van FOR FREE. The bus isn't expensive but that meant I wouldn't have to walk forever and I wouldn't have to take the dreaded bus:-) How nice! Then Donna (just for fun...) took me to the famous park and told me all about how beautiful it looks at night. I thought it was nice right then but it's got some crazy fountain/light show in the summer and at night everything lights up. Then she took me to eat and we had SO much food! I was stuffed but she said the funniest thing, "I know in America people eat BIG hamburgers and BIG coke. So, is this enough food?" hahaha It was delicious and PLENTY of food! The bus ride home was during a busy time and so many people were standing up, hanging on for dear life. I got a real kick out of watching veteran bus riders falling into other people, grabbing at people's backs and purses to not fall backwards, and make funny faces as they were jolted to and fro. It really makes me feel good to know that when that happens to me, I won't be the crazy American who hasn't learned to ride a bus yet (well, I AM/WILL BE that, they just won't know), I'll just fit right in.

Ask and you shall receive-dishes from Linda--I received a bag full of nice dishes from Linda teacher because I mentioned I didn't have enough dishes for the wine party. How many times have I given things away so easily after just hearing of a need in passing?

Package from home--THANKS MOM!! I got a great package with all kinds of goodies and really hilarious card for St. Patty's Day. Loved it!!

Kids-having sophie in my classes and feeling so proud of them being able to show off what we’ve learned. Fred and Aidan being so bad when I felt so bad and it was raining so hard! The next day, Fred was terribly wonderful again:-) My little giggle bot.--Sophie didn't have anything to do her first couple days so she spent a lot of time in my classes and I really enjoyed the kids being able to show off for her. I had this proud teacher feeling in the pit of my stomach. I loved watching them prove how much they've learned! Thursday was crazy. It was storming really badly and I wasn't feeling good and Fred and Aidan were both in terrible moods. Neither one did their homework and neither one wanted to do ANYthing. We didn't have a great day and it always worries me that this will be a permanent change for the worse. The next day, I was just hoping to see my smiling Fred again and sure enough, he was almost EXTRA happy and giggly!! Goodness I love that boy!! Aidan was good too and even though it was test day, we all enjoyed each other and class and life. Here's a picture of Fred giggling...hehe

Getting my alien card--

JOY OF A WORKING COFFEE MAKER!!!!--One of my first blog posts mentioned that I couldn't get my Keurig coffee maker aka Christmas present from mom aka delicious coffee to work. Well, GREAT NEWS!! I got a different adapter and IT WORKS!!! I sat there and took so many pictures of the coffee brewing because I was so stoked haha Here's a picture of what I look like when I am extremely happy...

Hoping I got paid--yeah basically what it sounds like. ha Thursday was payday (finally!) but I can't access my internet banking unless I download some Korean font or something. Jennifer's husband said he would help me when he can. Until then, I'm just trusting Charlie and God! I sure hope that paycheck is in my account!!

WHEW. I can breathe. That was.....long. A long post after a long wait. Haha I know you were on the edge of your seat waiting for me to post, so for that I apologize! How could I have let you go so long without a fix? And then to fill you with this lackluster update....I'm terribly sorry. It will just have to do for now! I have a really great story about Sunday but I know YOU are ready to finish reading and I am ready to finish writing!! Enjoy all the pictures and videos! There will soon be more on Facebook. Farewell (for a couple days). I will now go celebrate that I have posted by planning lessons for tomorrow. Fighting!



~Min Ji (apparently)~

I will actually leave you with what may be my favorite class picture because of the obviously awesome time they are having in my class. I present to you, Subin, Sally and Sue Swear They're Sober...