New Schedule

Basically what has happened, is that I've become the teacher of tiny, insane people.  Almost all of my classes are in the lowest level grouping at my school.  Sometimes, this makes me want to rip off my ears so that I can stop hearing the word "TEACHER!!!!!!!" but it's usually a good time.  Overall, it's so easy and the kids are cute.  I do have some Hellraisers, so I like to just think of that as pay back for all the teachers I gave shit to... you know who you are.  Muahaha.  Hopefully, I can get some pictures of the kids and some good writing responses this semester.  I am teaching a debate class so that should produce some winners.  I'm trying to be optimistic about this semester and hoping that it will go by quickly so that I can get my pretty little face to South East Asia.

Holla!!!

Oh, what do you have there, alien?

About a month ago, Jen and I went to this really sweet temple in PNU.  It's a student area but right behind it is a very pretty mountain.  We had decided to go to this temple because it had Buddhist carvings in the stone.  It sounded pretty sweet online but of course when we looked at the Lonely Planet it was all, "Ah, this temple's a piece of shit.  We know everything.  Silly traveler.  Why not go find some scary, dangerous temple where you're the only one around and nobody can help you if something terrible happens.  That kind of temple is the only one worth seeing."

Needless to say, I think the Lonely Planet is a piece of shit.  Seriously.  It makes every country sound like it's not as good as some other country.  But then, when you read about that other country, it's not as good as somewhere else.  Basically, the Lonely Planet is written by emo babies that think they're super awesome. 

Enough Lonely Planet, rant... no big deal I just bought the Lonely Planet:  South East Asia on a Shoestring... can someone else publish travel books that are easy to get a hold of? 

Anyways, this temple was pretty awesome.  We went up the mountain on a cable car and then did about an hour walk to get to the temple.  It was up a steep hill made of... concrete.  Totally normal, right?  In Korea, yes.  That concrete path was there for cars to get up the mountain... to a temple... with telephone poles and electricity and am I at a temple or the Holiday Inn on top the mountain?  bahhaha. 

The temple was pretty small but traditional.  The usual kinds of flowers drawn around and rooms with Buddha statues.  When we went up to check out the rooms, we turned the corner to see all the different pictures carved into the stone.  It was really different from other temples I have seen in Korea.  Also, really nice that they had preserved something like this.  Here are some pictures:

I'm pretty sure these are the names of the monks who have lived at the temple.  It's written in Chinese.

We drank some makkeoli when we came down from the temple.  It's a kind of rice wine that's pretty delicious and pretty K-style.  Some Koreans passed us and were impressed with our K-style way of drinking while hiking a mountain.  :) 

We got in line to get back down the mountain on the cable car.  In the line, was a really cute Korean baby.  He would not stop staring at us.  This is typical because I'm pretty sure the babies think we are aliens.  I mean giant eyes and white faces?  Obviously, aliens. 

His parents and grandparents were absolutely doting over him.  They were thrilled when I asked to take pictures of him.

The first smile we saw.

The way he and most Korean children look at us... all the time.  haha.



Lace the Alien Face Johnson

Kindies.

Today was a good day in Kindergarten. 

Only one student tried to smack me with a slappy, stick hand (which only has a middle finger, these days).

When a band marched past the window, only three kids yelled, "Dirty Ajoshi (married man)!" out of the window. 

When asked to sit down, only one student slid across the floor on his butt while yelling, "I'm still sitting!"

BUT 

They didn't speak Korean.  They didn't yell... besides the dirty man thing.  Their Korean teacher didn't have to come yell at them.

But mainly, none of them fought with me. 

Lace the Face, dealing with tiny people since 2000... dealing with tiny Korean people who don't speak English since 2009.

Procrastination: or a reason I never update this blog.

Hello, friends.  I'm sitting here listening to Bon Iver and thinking about how I should probably get myself together and write something, anything on this blog. 

Many things have been going on in this crazy place.
I have:
been in a parade.
walked in the Gwangalli bridge walk.
been waterskiing.
been to Spa Land.
finished another semester.
had another sports day.
went rock climbing. 

Let's start with the Gwangalli bridge walk.  So, there's this really pretty bridge across the beach that I live near.  It's called the Diamond Bridge and it lights up at night and I like it a lot.  Anyways, on one day of the year, they block traffic from coming onto the bridge so that people can walk across it.  Maybe it sounds stupid but it was actually really pretty and neat to see the beach from so high up. 

This is just after the beginning of the bridge walk, where we were so crowded I was pretty sure I was a sardine in a can.  I mean, there were people EVERYWHERE.  Also, some bitches trying to walk on my kicks.  Oh, you ain't even.

"What?" You ask?  Oh shit yes, those are conch shells they are playing.  Don't be jealous.

You're no baby.  Carry your own bag... and carry mom's stuff in there, too.

Eat your heart out, Koreans.

Pre-bridge walk conversation amongst Koreans.

"Woah!  The bridge walk is 2 hours long?"

"Yea, I told you that."

"Oh my god, we better make sure to pack a giant, bridge picnic."

"Shiiiit.  You know what's good."

Some light opera for bridge walking.  (This guy was actually very good.)

Do I need to say how cute this is?

I leave you with an ajumma (a married Korean woman in Korean but foreigners use this word to mean an old lady who wears her backpack as seen here, frequently pushes, and sometimes burps, farts, or picks her teeth next to you on the subway.) creep off challenge.  Just try and top this.



In conclusion, I would say the bridge walk was a success.  Directly following, we crushed some beers and had a good time at the beach. 

Lacey

All About Bad Manners

Writing Prompt: 

What are bad manners?  What do you think about people with bad manners?  Why do some people have good manners and others have bad manners?  What is your bad manner?

Student:

I think spit in a person's face, and throw dump re

fuseing, I don't like them.  but I'm gentleman.  Because

I have a good manner.  I don't doing.  I want a be a 

gentle man.  My sister have very bad manners.  my sister 

killing me and my sister character very dirty 

and very bad.  and my sister face very ugly.  but

I don't same my sister.  I think

'my sister pick up to bridge.'

I think I don't have bad manners.  I'm very 

perfectful.

You're a dream to me.

The following images are of what happens if you accidentally leave the floor heating on while your cat is home alone.

King of the DAMN castle.

Just posin'.

Ah, finally that human lets me live my life.

Needless to say, Mr. Peterson did not sleep on the bed once last night.  She laid on the floor all night like it was her salvation.

important items to consider.

http://makememinimal.com/2008/instrucciones-para-cuidar-un-bebe/

Check out this link if you think it's a good idea to have a baby.  You'll know how prepared you are by the helpful pictures.