Lazy Days

Alright well not too much has happened since I last wrote.
This week has not been as crazy with the kids because I have less of them. Only the elementary ones have come for week five classes. It is hard to believe I will be prepping for week six of my classes this weekend.
I am thinking of prepping for week six and week seven because my parents are coming to Seoul on Thursday.
I don't want to be doing my lesson plans when they are here. I want to spend the maximum time with them and hope that they enjoy themselves!

Tuesday night I had a dinner with my "group leader" and team at a Korean BBQ place. Each instructor at Mokdong has a group leader who will answer questions, help you in you have any problems, and in my case, watched my TV of my classes a couple times. My group leader's name is Sasha and she is really nice. I think she has been in Korea for about two years now.
She took five of us out to dinner and we had a great time. There were three of us who were new to teaching and three who have been there for a couple of years. Actually, there was a guy who has been in Korea for seven years! He doesn't know any Korean either. I am already feeling like a idiot for not knowing the language. Seven years of not knowing much, that seems crazy to me!

Wednesday I didn't have any school. I slept in and went to go get some breakfast. I then traveled to that same area where I went shopping a couple of weeks ago. I just wandered around because it was a cool fall day. I ended up at this one traditional market called Namdaemun Market. It reminded me of the Vietnam markets my parents and I went to.
They did have cheap things, but it was the atmosphere I admired. There were a lot of people around buying various items like hats, panty-hose, socks, etc. It is kind of just a whole bunch of things mixed together at this market.
It was an outdoor market, but once I walked in I had to stop and take it all in. One of the entrances was on a bit of a slant and I was able to stand at the top and look at the people shopping below.

The scene brought back the memories I had from Vietnam with my parents as well as the feeling of wow, am I really here?
I know I have been in Korea for a while now, however I still have these random moments when I have to take a step back and realize how lucky I am to be standing here right as this moment. It is really remarkable:)

Yesterday when Racheal and I were coming back from class we were watching some weird gigantic blow-up people walking down the street. There were like three or four of these "people-ballon figured" who were advertising the beer "D- Dry Finish." It was almost like a parade with these figured, blow up beer bottles, and women with streamers.
We thought it was pretty odd. Although it was more funny than odd.

We kept walking down the street to our apartment when we saw this mini silver bus with a big blow-up beer on top with people standing in line. We waited in line and finally got into this bus. They gave us free samples of the beer and then let us take the rest of the beer! We also got our pictures taken with the beer in our hand. Apparently the pictures will be on the website next week. If so, I will post them somehow!

As for this weekend, I don't have any solid plans. I know our friends from training are coming up again though. We might see a movie or just explore more. I do want to go back to that market again and see what I can buy!

Love,

Kristen