It’s been a while! I miss writing to you all, and once I let a couple weeks go by, I don’t even know where to start with an update.

We’ve been keeping busy in the build up to the holidays. Here are a few mini-stories from our life in the last couple weeks:

Drama kids

Part of Beth’s job responsibilities is being a “back-up” substitute for when more than one teacher is out and the one full-time sub is busy. Last week the Model UN took a trip to Turkey for a competition, so two teachers were out all week. I stepped up to cover for the drama teacher and got to take over play practices for the high school class.

So much fun! I got to relive some of my high school theatre days, and try my hand at mini-directing. I taught them some tongue twisters, group/trust-building exercises, and gave some good “time to get serious” speeches to encourage line learning. I had a blast.

Day of hiking

We knocked off another one of the twenty-or-so Olle Trails last weekend. A couple other teacher friends joined us. Considering it was early December, we were planning to just do a couple hours, but it was sunny and warm and so lovely that we just stayed out until almost sunset and finished the whole trail! Check out Facebook for more photos. Lots of coast-line, laughs, and some free fresh-squeezed mandarin juice on the trail!

Patrick, Beth, Christina and Heather at Odeolgae Rock about to start hiking Olle #7.

Christina and Heather climbing through the lava rocks on the “beach”.

Posing with freshly squeezed mandarin juice on the trail. Refreshing!

What a beautiful day for a hike! This is a coastline toward the end of our hike. The sun was getting low and making everything glow with late autumn warmth.

Christmas-y tidings

Thanks to our parents for sending/bringing over some lovely Christmas decorations! We’ve spruced up the apartment and got lots of compliments when we hosted the book club night this week. Very festive and homey.

Patrick with his new Lego mug and my fancy Christmas tree, complete with beach-find decorations!

Our advent calendar and a gorgeous advent wreath made by the sisters at church.

stockings hung by the tv with care?

Beth is also spending time at school helping the elementary school choir prep for Christmas by accompanying their choir concert next week. A new experience, but since the music practice rooms are not really sound-proof, word got out that I could play piano, and neither of the music teachers can, so they twisted my arm. 🙂 The great thing about school concerts is that everyone will be so focused on the kids that I’m sure they won’t notice when I mess up. 🙂

Patrick watching Beth practice in the music practice room at school.

We’ll be spending our actual Christmas day in Thailand. We are finally taking our “real” honeymoon for two and a half weeks, starting next Saturday. We’ll be spending three days at Angkor Wat in Cambodia, then a week in Chiang Mai (northern Thailand) with elephants, jungles, cooking classes, and temples; and finally almost a week on an island in the Gulf of Thailand snorkeling, scuba diving, and sipping drinks on the beach. Stories and photos to come in January I promise!

Thank you all for keeping up with us. We have been a little homesick over these holiday prep times, and are thinking of you often. Lots of love from Korea!