Thanksgiving Post ... Life is pretty sweet for Jilly Bean right now!!

Jill's "Thanksgiving" Post.

I spoke with my sister today ... and after our conversation it REALLY hit me that my life is pretty stress free right now, with very few demands on me. My greatest concern is how to keep my teaching interesting and of course getting to the bank each month to wire money home. I occasionally struggle with taking the best subway route ... but hey, if I am a few minutes late for a Museum or Palace ... it doesn't really matter too much. Although I was late for Church last month ... and missed my reading ... but someone covered for me so it all worked out!

I am really having the time of my life right now and I wanted to put it in writing that I know this and I am extremely grateful for it! I did struggle during my first few months here ... a new country, new profession, new friends (both local and visitors), etc ... but things have really come together and for that I am extremely thankful. There is a great group of teachers at my school and we are having lots of fun, site seeing and hanging out ... I am even dog sitting tonight for a friend who is in Seoul partying ... and who doesn't like to dog sit a toy schnoodle?!!

Don't get me wrong, I do miss my family and friends and look forward to seeing them at Christmas ... but I would not trade in this experience in for anything.

I am learning so much about myself - the good, the bad and the ugly. The biggest lesson to date is probably this "Everywhere you go, there you are"... I have finally learned to lighten up and not to take life so seriously ... it's only life after all ... I have to throw a special thanks to Sonja L. for some of that, my roomie prior to moving across the Pacific Pond!!

Some of my teaching days are a huge, huge struggle -- after all I am trained for teaching high school math and science ... But I know that many lessons (and probably most lessons) can be transferred so I am trying to embrace them with that attitude. Trying to garner enthusiasm out of Tweens is a challenge at the best of times, even when you speak the same language as them. When speaking a different language ... it can seem impossible and overwhelming ... I do my best and hope that they are learning. Especially the students I see at 6pm three days a week who are coming off long days and while they want to learn English ... they don't always want to do the work. Especially learning is English Grammer ... but alas I do my best to make the delivery and the class as "fun" as possible.

My Kindy kids are adorable and I absolutely love them ... the pics here and on Facebook certainly prove that ... but there are times when I would like to bop them over the head too.
The last 6 weeks have been crazy with late nights at a new local "restaurant", site seeing, site seeing and more site seeing. Getting out and around country has been fun and I look forward to doing more of it and posting - both here and on Facebook (which is more user friendly for uploading pictures)!

Love to everyone and ... Happy Thanksgiving!!

Korea ... Random Pics with short descriptions

Below you will find random photos of life in Korea for the past few months ... If you have any questions or want explanations ... just leave a comment and I will get back to you asap. I am having the time of my life!!

Seodaemun Prison - Liberation Day in Korea, August 15, 2007.

Baseball Game in Seoul
The game and cheerleaders - rather than having them on the field they are amongst the fans... great idea!!


















The beer guy ... looks like he might be carrying hotdogs too, right??!!

Nope, not in Korea ... here it's dried squid ... I tried it ... yup, not a fan...










Seoul Anglican Catherdral
my church in Korea. I travel 45 minutes on the subway into Seoul regularly on Sunday mornings to attend the "English Language Mission Seoul Anglican Diocese, An Anglican-Episcopal Community" at the Seoul Anglican Catherdral. The service is held in the Chapel of St. John the Baptist - a small room in the basement, and get this ... the service is held by a Vicar from Ireland!!

















Seongduk Palace

Around the corner from my Church is as well as City Hall and after my first Sunday service I caught the Changing of the Guard (or at least that is what I thought is was). What colourful outfits they are wearing ... put the Canadian Changing of the Guard in a different light. This is the entrance to Deoksugung Palace.

King Sejong - was the fourth monarch of the Joseon Dynasty. Born May 15, 1397 he was th third son of King Taejong and died April 8, 1540.

Sejong created Hangul (the Korean alphabet) and improved moveable printing type, allowing many books to be published.






His thrown!












I spent a about an hour here, walking around, writing in my journal and enjoy the tranquility of the Palace and Gardens in the middle of Seoul. While taking photos a Korean asked me if I would like my photo taken ... so here it is!!









The palace in the middle of the city ... with the crane in the background ... old and new ... tranquility and chaos ...