Best Field Trip Ever

Yesterday I was asked to help with a field trip. I agreed. I am not really sure what "helping" entailed, but in Korea when your vice principals "asks" she is really "telling" :)

Then I found out that we were taking 180 5th graders to the World Track and Field Championships. I was so pumped and adding to my excitement was the fact that it was free for me to go! (you know how I love free).

Daegu Stadium

One of the positive aspects about teaching English is that I am not directly responsible for any class. My job for the field trip was to just stay with the group. Another positive aspect about teaching English is that my students only see me once a week, so they some of them thought it was really cool that I came with them.

A good time was had by all

for about 5 minutes

Then the kiddos got bored. I, on other hand, thoroughly enjoyed the first 3.5 hours (then I got tired of the kids being bored. Bored kids = kids who will get trouble).
The events of the morning were:

Women's Long Jump (for the heptathlon)
Men's High Jump (qualifier not the finals)
Women's 5k (qualifier not the finals)
Men's 1500 (qualifier not the finals)
Women's Javelin Throw (for the heptathlon)
Women's Triple Jump (qualifier not the final)

Can you guess what event was my favorite?

The Women's 5k, of course!

Even though we were in the nose-bleed section and even though I was only American in the nose-bleed section (everyone else was Korean), I cheered loud and proud for the American women in the 5k (and the other American athletes). The kiddos thought I was off my rocker.

USA!  USA!  USA!

2 of the 3 American women (for the 5k) made it to finals! Go ladies! It was so intense to watch the races. My heart was pumping as I watched the athletes and thought of the many times I had raced on the track.

By 12:45 I was ready to head back to school - it was quite warm out - and the students were finding the most interesting ways to amuse themselves.

I have no idea what this boy is doing.  But I told him to stop it  :)

I had so much fun today! By far, this was my favorite field trip of all time.

5 for 1

I have a list of things that need to get blogged about, but I feel like I do not have time.  So here is 5 blogs posts summarized and wrapped up into one:

1.) We are home!  In the last three weeks we are have spent 29 hours on planes, 30+ in cars, and 10 hours on trains, it feels good to not be traveling anywhere in the near future.  Don't get me wrong, we had a blast seeing people in America!  Check this post out for my cinnamon roll making fun!

2.) We moved!  We left our old apartment looking like this:

All of our material possessions in Korea

And came back to a new apartment filled with with same boxes.  Hopefully we will finish unpacking soon and we can give you a video tour of our new apartment.  I think my favorite thing about our new apartment is the two (yes, TWO) drawers in our kitchen!  Woohoo!

3.) Daegu 2011 is almost upon us!  I have seen more foreigners running in the last two days than I have seen in the last year.  I even crossed paths with some participating athletes on the running trail this morning!

4.) School starts on Monday.  The Korean school year runs similar to the calendar year, so we are starting second semester.  I think I am excited about seeing the kiddos.

5.) I finished the bib set I was working on while we were in the States.

The project is for a "brave knight".

Now I just need a little cutie to model it...

A new view

If you look out our window this is what you see:

 

At a different angle:

America

We are in America right now.  I am a little overwhelmed :)

These are things that I have completely forgotten about America:

American toilet paper is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!

Carpet is amazing!

I have tons of clothes in America (that are cute!)

Korean food in America tastes like Korean food in Korea (and does not make my stomach hurt)

American sized small = Korean sized large

People in America speak English very well.

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Even though we are somewhere over the pacific as you read this, I wanted to give a shout out to my Grandpa! 

Happy Birthday Grandpa Owl!

Fun fact about my grandpa (there are many, but I will just share one): My grandpa has been to Korea.  He came during the Korean War.

One more fun fact: He used to own a resturant!  How cool is that?!?!?

I can't wait to see him in a few days, along with everyone else!

The To-Do List

Today was the last day of work until (wait for it) August 29!

Woohooo!!!!!! Summer break!

I started on my to-do list for tomorrow:

First Day of Summer To-Do list:
___ Go to Seoul
___ Go to San Francisco
___ Go to Vegas
___ Go to Denver
___  Hug Mommaboma, Daddio, Bear, and B
___  Be in 2 places at once

packing

36 hours left to pack anything and everything

36 hours left to clean anything and everything

36 hours until vacation

Praise the Lord!

I looked down at this box right before I shut the lid and thought, "I pack the oddest things in the same box"  There is no method to my madness.