Time for a little flash-back!
It’s been a busy few months in Korea. I’m going to try to catch you up as much as I can. It’s been extra busy for the last month because I now have my own 4th grade class. Yep – I’m a full-time teacher for our last semester here. More on that soon!
Today we are exactly 5 months from when we can come back to the US. We’re counting down and getting excited!
But for now, let’s look back to the fall highlights leading up to Christmas:
In early November, Patrick and I signed up with a few other KIS folks for a fun run: the Jeju Mandarin Marathon. I did the half-marathon with my friend Melissa, and Patrick did the 10k.
Happy runners pre-race! (We know we have to take happy photos before running…)
I managed to JUST make my goal time of <2 hours. Yay!
Soon came Thanksgiving. The school provided us a nice turkey dinner again, with all the fixings. They have to fly in turkeys from the US Military base, because they don't really have turkey here. My thanksgiving turkey was delivered with armed guards! 🙂 We also hosted a little extra thanksgiving with our friends.
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Friends-giving pot-lucky fun![/caption]
My first ever pie crusts! I felt very Martha Stewart.
Weather got colder. We don’t get much “real” winter here. Mostly just wind and dreary skies. But every once in a while we get real snow!
First real snow on the field at KIS.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Melissa and I (the two subs) got the itch to make our office a little more homey. We had a slow day of sub requests and got crafty!
Quiet day decorating shenanigans in the sub office!
Finished product. Cozy!
Just before Christmas, we decided to take in opening night of The Hobbit. We got a group of 10 people together and several of us dressed up. Dressing up for openings is NOT a thing here – we got lots of funny looks.
The well-dressed elves and hobbits!
On the last day of school before Christmas, the school hosts a party in Jeju City. Big banquet dinner and staff talent show.
Some of our business staff ladies performing!
I got recruited to a group performing an eclectic guitar/singing/Thai dance version of Silent Night. We won 4th place – worth $25 each!
Our talent show group. Very eclectic!
We were flying out the next morning, so just stayed the night. We wandered into a motel, played charades to get a room, and had a nice cozy night with Andrew and Melissa.
Our cozy floor-beds in Jeju-city.
6 airports (Jeju-Seoul domestic-Seoul International – Tokyo – LA – Denver) and TOO many hours later, we made home.
Welcome to CO dinner with poppers, wine, and both full families!
We packed in SO many friends and family into our very fast week home. It was so good for our hearts and souls to reconnect with people. And great for the stomach to nosh on some much-missed Mexican, ice cream, and microbrews!
Mexican feast with much of our wedding party – best friends and family reunited. 🙂
One fun “project” for the time in the states was a hair cut. I’d been planning to donate my hair since I moved to Korea, and it was finally long enough to feel good.
Long hair!
And presto! Short hair! 14″ donated.
My old roommate Tracy was traveling for a few days, so she let my parents dog-sit. Which meant we got extra doggie time with my favorite pooch!
Patrick playing with Queue.
Our visit perfectly lined up with my friends’ visit from Australia. It was so great to see Jenn and Drew, and meet their 6-month old girl, Hannah. Even if we only had time for a quick lunch.
Patrick, Beth, Jenn, Hannah, and Drew.
I’m so glad we got to see you all – and those we didn’t see, we promise to do our best to see you soon. And we are starting to really lay our groundwork to “repatriate” this summer. So though it’s a little delayed: Merry Christmas! God bless us, every one!