We are now over two weeks into our new semester and still have yet to get all our books in for our classes...frustration is a daily emotion now, whether or not we try to avoid it. For most classes we have to come up with busy work, or find something to teach the kids...or like some of the teachers, just talk to the kids for 25 minutes. Luckily, there are a lot of us in the same boat and we can share resources. I think after this weekend, all the books will be in and we can finally start a more normal routine with the kids. Yay!

I have really enjoyed my classes this semester, for the most part. They gave me the problem child again, but this time in a smaller classroom that gives him no room to get up and down from his seat. He also has better classmates that encourage him to stop speaking Korean, and to behave better. He has still been somewhat of an issue, but he hasn't hit me or spit on me...yet. He has, on the other hand, stuck his tongue out at me and a number of occasions, but now that he has a meaner Korean charge teacher, he is starting to figure out he doesn't want to be kicked out of class...it's starting to work better with him. So that's good news.

I also have the babies of the school. They are 5 yrs. old, Korean age...so that is between 3 and 4 American age. It's pretty tough because they don't even know how to pick up a pencil, yet the school has ordered them books that has them tracing full words already...ahh, again, frustration with the school. Luckily their Korean charge teacher is great and has allowed me to make them an alphabet book that consists of coloring and tracing one letter on each page. After this, I hope to slowly start their phonics book. They are adorable and I love singing songs and dancing around with them, but it's definitely the biggest language barrier I have throughout the day. I get by with a lot of hand gestures.

This past weekend, we went to Jingu, a city 2 hours away. Our friends Hannah and Daniel had been there previously and told us they had delicious thin crust pizza and Red Rock Oregon beer at a cool Italian-style Restaurant. We went with them, and had a great time. The restaurant had a live jazz band, and we ended up staying for 3 hours, eating tons of pizza, drinking beer, and playing games. The pizza was no Local Myth, but it was better than anything we've had in Korea. The beer, same...not amazing, but better than anything we have had here. We also spent a few hours at a huge fortress and an interesting museum about some Japan-Korean war. We spent a lot of time in the kids room and made some awesome artwork, using some ink pads and patterns...all in all, really fun weekend.

This weekend, we plan on hiking on Saturday, then going to see 3D Alice in Wonderland on Sunday. Oh, how I love weekends!! Tomorrow, we have bus duty in the morning, which despite the fact that we have to wake up a couple hours earlier, is actually pretty fun...then only 9 classes (for me) til finishie!!

It snowed a few days ago and has been cloudy/rainy for over a week..back to cold weather. But today was sunny and beautiful, so hoping it'll stay nice. Jared's back is feeling better and he is looking forward to getting back on the trail this weekend.

My parents said it was 70 degrees in STL a couple days ago...I wonder if Washington is getting warm already too??

Miss and Love to All!