Good morning everyone!
We are in Busan, the 2nd largest city in South Korea, and we are leaving from the airport very soon.
It was crazy getting out here. Took a bus to the city from Gwangju, took a taxi to the airport, the airport was not open (we got here really late), so we stayed at a hotel for 3 hours, then got another taxi and came back to the airport. Went through check-in, forgot there was a Gerber in my backpack, almost paid $100 to check in my backpack, but made it back through security with it. Whew!
We had a great time this year in Korea, and we will be coming back for more in about a month or so. Our dear friends we've made saw us off on Thursday night, as we had some soju and hung out in the Pagoda while the rain kept coming down. And somehow, we were able to have everything moved out of our apartment the next day at 3:00!
Thanks to all of the people we've met in Korea, and to all our teachers and kids who we'll miss very much. It was amazing.
Now, it's time to see our family, our friends, and our puppy dog Jojo back home. And of course eat some of that delicious unhealthy Western-style food again.
Here I come Taco Bell! - Troy
Here I come Fritz's Frozen Custard!!! - Sarah
Till next time...
We love you!
- The Harkins
Friday, July 25, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Our last days....
Well, we are leaving Korea in less than a week, and I must say it's been an amazing year.
So many friends made, places visited, new foods eaten, experiences experienced...
We've worked very hard doing what we do out here, encouraging young Korean children to learn English for their future. We've had some good days and bad days, good kids and bad kids, but we grew a lot this year, and feel that we can handle more of whatever life throws at us (imagine trying to get home in a taxi and you don't speak the language at 2:30 in the morning).
Sarah and I have grown so much closer together, and we continue to do so everyday. I know people who say that, but I really feel it. We've rubbed off on eachother so much since we've only had eachother to rely on out here. It's awesome!
But soon, we'll be back home, surrounded by our loving family and friends, and our dog Jo...
We're very excited about seeing everyone, and how much our brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews have grown!
We're out of here in 6 days now, and we still have a little work to do.
Take care everyone!
- The Harkins
So many friends made, places visited, new foods eaten, experiences experienced...
We've worked very hard doing what we do out here, encouraging young Korean children to learn English for their future. We've had some good days and bad days, good kids and bad kids, but we grew a lot this year, and feel that we can handle more of whatever life throws at us (imagine trying to get home in a taxi and you don't speak the language at 2:30 in the morning).
Sarah and I have grown so much closer together, and we continue to do so everyday. I know people who say that, but I really feel it. We've rubbed off on eachother so much since we've only had eachother to rely on out here. It's awesome!
But soon, we'll be back home, surrounded by our loving family and friends, and our dog Jo...
We're very excited about seeing everyone, and how much our brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews have grown!
We're out of here in 6 days now, and we still have a little work to do.
Take care everyone!
- The Harkins
Welcome..........welcome.........here is Neverland!
Ever since March, Sarah and I have been working with our kindergartners to help them memorize lines for their summer english play.
This year we did Peter Pan. And sure enough, it caused a lot of headache for the korean teachers, and for us as well.
It's quite a big deal to make sure that these kids who can barely read english (they are only 5 in western years) are able to memorize lines in English and perform these plays.
We're asked by our co-teachers to help them practice everyday. We felt so bad for the kids that couldn't do it. But somehow, everyone did ok, or excellent.
The best part was watching the actual play itself (lasts about 10-15 minutes). And of course, by helping the kids learn the play, we've memorized it ourselves.
The plays are ending this week, but now we don't know what to do with all this extra time in class we have where we aren't practicing Peter Pan. I've resorted to more reading time and singing songs, and I think Sarah just makes stuff with them.
We have a lot of pictures from our plays. They were adorable and very fun to watch. The parents seemed to really enjoy them, as they brought little flowers and treats for their kids, and got many pictures with them.
Speaking of pictures, I'll have some up soon.
- The Harkins
This year we did Peter Pan. And sure enough, it caused a lot of headache for the korean teachers, and for us as well.
It's quite a big deal to make sure that these kids who can barely read english (they are only 5 in western years) are able to memorize lines in English and perform these plays.
We're asked by our co-teachers to help them practice everyday. We felt so bad for the kids that couldn't do it. But somehow, everyone did ok, or excellent.
The best part was watching the actual play itself (lasts about 10-15 minutes). And of course, by helping the kids learn the play, we've memorized it ourselves.
The plays are ending this week, but now we don't know what to do with all this extra time in class we have where we aren't practicing Peter Pan. I've resorted to more reading time and singing songs, and I think Sarah just makes stuff with them.
We have a lot of pictures from our plays. They were adorable and very fun to watch. The parents seemed to really enjoy them, as they brought little flowers and treats for their kids, and got many pictures with them.
Speaking of pictures, I'll have some up soon.
- The Harkins
Book Party, what's that?!?
Greetings everyone!
Every now and then, something great happens at our school where the kids have fun and don't really learn any new english.
We have a book party.
What happens is that throughout the years that these children are at the english hogwans (school after school is finished for the day for these kids), they go through a series of books that help them develop their english skills.
Most books take 3 or 4 months.
One of my books lasted 10.
It was ridiculously hard, and waaaaaaaaaaaaay over the level of my 10 year old kids (the book is meant for teenagers). They were so bored with it, because it was too difficult to discuss in class.
But finally, we got through it. So I surprised them with a massive book party, a celebration of all the hard work they did for me for almost my entire time at Oedae. We had a Book Party.
Now a book party could be a number of things. We could order chicken, someone can bring in snacks and we can play a game, we could watch a movie or a cartoon in english...
I taught my kids how to make chili.
I brought in all the ingredients to make the chili, and I walked them through how to do it, from the cooking of the meat, to the addition of all the tomato sauces, and beans, and seasonings. They've never eaten anything like it, and they absolutely loved it!
Sorry everyone back home, but now I think that I make the best Chili in the world.
It was super fun, and I was so proud of my kids, that I took pictures.
I can't post them yet, but I will soon.
See the states in less than a week!
- The Harkins
Every now and then, something great happens at our school where the kids have fun and don't really learn any new english.
We have a book party.
What happens is that throughout the years that these children are at the english hogwans (school after school is finished for the day for these kids), they go through a series of books that help them develop their english skills.
Most books take 3 or 4 months.
One of my books lasted 10.
It was ridiculously hard, and waaaaaaaaaaaaay over the level of my 10 year old kids (the book is meant for teenagers). They were so bored with it, because it was too difficult to discuss in class.
But finally, we got through it. So I surprised them with a massive book party, a celebration of all the hard work they did for me for almost my entire time at Oedae. We had a Book Party.
Now a book party could be a number of things. We could order chicken, someone can bring in snacks and we can play a game, we could watch a movie or a cartoon in english...
I taught my kids how to make chili.
I brought in all the ingredients to make the chili, and I walked them through how to do it, from the cooking of the meat, to the addition of all the tomato sauces, and beans, and seasonings. They've never eaten anything like it, and they absolutely loved it!
Sorry everyone back home, but now I think that I make the best Chili in the world.
It was super fun, and I was so proud of my kids, that I took pictures.
I can't post them yet, but I will soon.
See the states in less than a week!
- The Harkins
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Muuuuuuuuudfest!
Talk about quite the reunion of people from all over the world.
This past weekend, Sarah and I went with 20 of our closest friends out here to the wonderful city of Boryeong, known for it's annual summertime beach mud festival.
The mud is not just wet dirt. It's manufactured in Boryeong, and is used for skin treatments.
We treated ourselved to some free mud, as did 1000s of other foreigners in what was the biggest turnout at any festival we've been to so far. We got to brush it on with big brushes, fight in it, slide on it, throw it at eachother. It was amazing!
After you are all covered in mud, and let it dry up, the simple solution to getting clean is jumping in the ocean!
We were treated at the end of the night to a large fireworks display that puts Boston's Pops fireworks, Fair St. Louis' fireworks, and maybe even the Chinese New Year to shame. They were amazing!!!!
It was a lot of fun, and we might be going back this weekend too!
I have a lot of pictures to post, but the camera is not on me right now. So come by tomorrow, and you can see for yourselves what all the fun was.
We'll see you soon!
- The Harkins
This past weekend, Sarah and I went with 20 of our closest friends out here to the wonderful city of Boryeong, known for it's annual summertime beach mud festival.
The mud is not just wet dirt. It's manufactured in Boryeong, and is used for skin treatments.
We treated ourselved to some free mud, as did 1000s of other foreigners in what was the biggest turnout at any festival we've been to so far. We got to brush it on with big brushes, fight in it, slide on it, throw it at eachother. It was amazing!
After you are all covered in mud, and let it dry up, the simple solution to getting clean is jumping in the ocean!
We were treated at the end of the night to a large fireworks display that puts Boston's Pops fireworks, Fair St. Louis' fireworks, and maybe even the Chinese New Year to shame. They were amazing!!!!
It was a lot of fun, and we might be going back this weekend too!
I have a lot of pictures to post, but the camera is not on me right now. So come by tomorrow, and you can see for yourselves what all the fun was.
We'll see you soon!
- The Harkins
Dentists are cheap!
After hearing about how inexpensive it was to go see a dentist here in Korea, Sarah and I have been to a clinic to see exactly what goes on.
It's the same as in the states, but it works out to be much much cheaper after all. We both got a cleaning, and I received some caps on 2 of my teeth. Sarah didn't appreciate getting her teeth cleaned (it hurts very much so, says Sarah). I didn't think much of it.
They throw in some free treatments and procedures there too, which was pretty nice. I have to go back in for a more intensive cleaning of my teeth tomorrow, so we'll see what happens then.
Overall, the healthcare out here is just as good as it is in the states, and for only a fraction of the price.
Hooray for that!
Smiling pretty,
The Harkins
It's the same as in the states, but it works out to be much much cheaper after all. We both got a cleaning, and I received some caps on 2 of my teeth. Sarah didn't appreciate getting her teeth cleaned (it hurts very much so, says Sarah). I didn't think much of it.
They throw in some free treatments and procedures there too, which was pretty nice. I have to go back in for a more intensive cleaning of my teeth tomorrow, so we'll see what happens then.
Overall, the healthcare out here is just as good as it is in the states, and for only a fraction of the price.
Hooray for that!
Smiling pretty,
The Harkins
Thursday, July 3, 2008
It's Official....
I am now a blackbelt in Teakgyeon. I get my belt in a little while along with 2 diplomas (1 Korean, 1 English), a card (so I am now a card carrying blackbelt). And apparently, I have to register because I am now considered a deadly weapon.
Going 9 times a week really paid off!
Wahoo!
Hope everyone is well back home! We're in our last month here, for now that is. We will see a lot of you soon!
- The Harkins
Going 9 times a week really paid off!
Wahoo!
Hope everyone is well back home! We're in our last month here, for now that is. We will see a lot of you soon!
- The Harkins
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