Refreshed.

Warning: this blog is random and I am too lazy to organize it. If this were my student's paper I would tell him or her to focus on the trait of organization. Alas, it is not. And I am not SO nerdy that I cannot write a simple blog without considering all the six traits of writing. Haha. I need to get away from teaching for a bit.

First of all, I finally feel good. I didn't want to worry anyone, but last week I had the stomach flu on top of some infection that made my lymph nodes swell into giant marble-sized knots. I felt dizzy and nauseous and just plain lousy. However, at the end of last week I suddenly recovered. Nothing makes you appreciate health more than recovering from periods of sickness. It is fantastic to be able to move around without having fevers or fits of nausea. I feel back to my energetic self. Love it!

Secondly, I am feeling like my classes are really getting more comfortable. I definitely have moments where I realize I am a new teacher. But for the most part I have a lot of fun with my students. I am starting to get a little posse of kids who I have to kick out so I can get work done. I see me forcing students out instead of them fleeing as a good sign. This week is spirit week and it has been fun to dress up and get them excited about things. Today was pajamas day (a great excuse to wear comfy clothes). Tomorrow is copy cat day (and a group of us are dressing up like Korean teenagers... so fun. We bought these ridiculously long shirts with frilly bottoms and a giant dog print. We are going to layer these tank tops over tee shirts. We are also wearing heels with jeans, giant plastic hair bows, and massive hoop earrings. I don't understand fashion here. It's a fun bonding experience, though). Bad hair day on Wed is going to be a piece of cake. On the topic of aesthetics, my room feels more like a classroom too. The students have made bright posters that are all over. I like to joke that a rainbow threw up all over my walls.

Sarah visited this weekend and it was great to see someone from home. Even with bad weather (it finally switched to fall!), we had a great time. We got out of town for a day to go shopping with a bunch of people from my school. The school took two buses to Songtan (a big shopping area near an army base where everyone can speak English!). I ended up buying SO many decorations for my apartment. I came home with two lanterns and a custom ordered lamp. I also got two hand-made vases. Sarah and I also got a joint COSTCO membership this weekend. We said we were roommates... I guess we could be? I stayed in her apartment for almost a month!

Other: I am coaching elementary soccer right now and it is such a great stress relief. I love running around with the kids and they make me laugh. Last week my team had to pick a name. They went through all sorts of natural disasters and tried to blend them with the school color (gold)and the school mascot (dragon). My kids also got stuck on certain words (like disaster). The result? SOO many horrible choices: the Golden Earthquake Disaster Dragons, the Dragon Tornado Shooters, the Golden Disasters, the Hurricane Lightening Bolt Dragons... they really struggled to shorten names. Finally they stuck with Disaster of Doom... a name that makes little sense and probably does not exemplify the school's Christian values. We'll have to work on that. However it was pretty funny to watch them run up to one of the other elementary teams (the Ball Shooters) and shout out their scrimmage request: "The disaster of DOOOM, challenges YOUUUUUUUUUU. Do you accept?" They keep me laughing.

Another random aside: I am obsessed with aloe water. It is water that literally has bits of aloe floating in it. It's a little odd the first time, but it really moisturizes your skin and is great! So refreshing.

Yet another random bit: I am starting to sound like I'm from MN. My vowels are changing (I blame my coworker and constant distraction, Emily). I am also starting to pick up Canadian-isms (I have far too many people to blame here). I say "eh" a lot and some of my intonation has shifted. I'm going to come back from Korea sounding like some weird Minnesota-Canadian with a Korean accent. Why are I so susceptible to accents!?!

One final thought: the Korean TV stations like the randomest American shows (my viewing selections are highly limited): lots of CSI, never-ending showings of the Janice Dickenson's Agency show, the Biggest Loser, at least two-week-old E celebrity dish shows, and an occasional old episode of Gilmore Girls or So You Think You Can Dance. There are also a million and one horrible old action adventure movies that I never heard of in the states but are clearly American. SO random.

Anyhow, miss yall. Sorry for the randomness. My brain won't think in an organized fashion right now. Figured it's better to update stream-of-consciousness than not update at all.