things i never thought i'd see tim do...

add it to the list. 

THIS is an update blog, one with a mishmash of things to be said and no real thread to tie all the topics together (aside from the me/Korea connection).  I hope to organize said topics into relevant paragraphs with clear subjects and details but... isn't that always the goal? Here's hoping.

1)  COREM graduation

On Friday we attended the graduation ceremony for the Kindergarten kids from all of the COREM schools in Busan.  It took place in a large auditorium over a period of about 2 hours.  Each child received their diploma in a very posh-looking, velours covered portfolio that also included their graduation pictures.  

kevin considers modelling after graduation.

The ceremony was fairly uneventful, and 90% of the time there was a high volume of conversation among the audience and students so whoever was on stage speaking was not really heard.  The highlight, of course, was the presentation by all of the foreign teachers ( about 50 in total) who sang a medley of 4 ABBA songs.  Apparently I am the only ABBA aficionado at our school (thanks Dad), which by default made me the representative singer for our song "Take a Chance".  There's something to put on the  ol' resume....

Tim teacher makes it through.

2)  Children's Grand Park

On Saturday, Tim and I took a trip to a place I'd heard of, but hadn't yet ventured to called: " CHILDREN'S GRAND PARK".  It sounded pretty grand, so I thought we'd check it out as a possible running location.  It was not too difficult to get there, via bus, subway, bus, but turned out to be a little too far to use as a running spot.  

However, it was a really impressive grounds with a few kilometres of walking trails and hiking trails up the mountain.  

There were also about 18 thousand spots to get soju, beer, or other convenient Korean treats, which gave me the idea for a running/Childrens Grand Park crawl... any takers?

Come to think of it, the park was a bit like all of Korea rolled into one:

-passed out men on benches

-badminton games in the middle of nowhere

-statues of obscure characters to pose with

-90% of people over 30 wearing puffy coats and hiking boots

-many opportunities to drink

Overall a really green and refreshing place which will be ten times more beautiful in the spring, I am sure. 

3) Our first First Birthday

This Sunday, our Korean co-teacher and friend, Tracy invited us to her twin nieces' first birthday party.  This invitation may seem a bit odd, given that we have never even met Tracy's family, but in Korea, first birthday parties are a pretty big deal. 

the entrance table

we placed this ballot in a box to predict the baby's future.

The reasoning (with the usual disclaimer that this is from what I understand), is that in the past, many babies died before their first birthdays from poor health, and the first birthday (or sometimes even the first 100 days) was really a feat to survive. 

I feel really privileged to have been part of this celebration because it really showed us the extent that which Korean families are really proud of each other and want to share good fortune with their friends and relatives.   

The party took place at a buffet-style restaurant, and was set up much like a wedding reception with pictures of the babies on display and tables set up for eating.  

might as well. 

The babies and their parents were all dressed in matching hanboks (the traditional Korean dress for special events) and they made sure to greet everyone who arrived. 

After having some food, there was a little show put on by a hired MC who did probably the most hilarious dance I have ever seen before. 

After a few of these dances, the babies were brought up to the front where they got them (with help) to pick small toys out of a box.  There were 6 toys, each representing something the baby would do in the future ( pencil for intelligence, stethoscope for a doctor, money for wealth, etc.). At the beginning of the evening, each guest made a guess as to what the baby would pick by putting a ballot in a container.  After the babies picked their toy, one of the guests who had predicted the choice got a prize.  

tracy and randi.

We were all singled out and stared at when the MC asked a question in Korean and we weren't sure why. It turned out that he had asked the crowd ' Which guest has come the furthest to be here tonight?"  and Randi, another foreign teacher and friend at our school won the prize!

WEINA!

There were many pictures taken and more food gobbled up to make for a very lavish and lovely evening - one that we will really cherish. 

one of the mini hostesses.

4) We can read!!

For the past few weeks we have been learning how to read hangul, the Korean alphabet.  We aren't experts in the language by ANY stretch of the imagination, but can make more sense of things like street signs, menus, and other random text.  You may see us standing together at a large sign outside a restaurant or store, tracing the letters with our hands and mouthing the syllables slowly. It's one way to learn. 

4 a) 

After telling one of my classes my full name (which blew their minds, because 4 syllables is a lot for a full Korean name), they have now started calling me:

Jill Captain Seymour teacher 

(unable to pronounce my middle name, Katherine)

5) Running paraphernalia. 

I finally got to use my new shoes! Since it had rained every day we went to the track, it was almost a month after I bought them, but they have finally met the track and all is well in the world.  As predicted they feel like paper slippers, but they definitely don't let you run 'lazy'. I'll just see how paper slippers do on 10k of asphalt....

That is all for now, along with a wish to our little co-worker Randi who is finished her contract and going back to Canada on Friday. She has been an amazing tour guide and support for us here in Korea and we wish her all the best at home  - we will miss her!! 

bye bye landi teacher!! :(