Spring has come, maybe...

Hi!

Sorry for such a delay in posts... As usual, things are quite busy.  Lets see... What has happened since my last post?... A lot.

I'm actually referring to my agenda to see what has happened between then and now.
*Warning, this is going to be a long post~

Okay, well first. I finished up level 3 Korean.  My exams went better than expected, but were pretty stressful. whew.  I really really liked my level 3 classmates, so I was sad when the semester ended.

 at the graduation ceremony

 our teacher on the phone

 our class - minus a few people...

 funny picture, right?

 with our reading/listening teacher

We had a party at Hajir's house, the night after our final which was lots of fun~

with our COSTCO pizza - yes, Korea has Costco

Roxie, Hajir's adorable huskie

I had dinner with some of my former Korean classmates and former Korean teacher from my study abroad time at Yonsei University.  I hadn't seen my language teacher in 3 years!!! It was really fun to catch up with everyone.  Unfortunately, not all of us who are in Korea could make it that time, so will have to try again.  (There are a surprising number of us back in Korea).  We had Baskin Robins fondue, which was really tasty!!!

Gillian, Emily, our teacher and me 

soooo good! 

Soyeon, Sarang's sister was in Korea to visit her family, so I spent some time at their house, which is always fun!!! Soyeon and I went to this really nice park/palace with her aunt, cousin, and uncle too and took lots of pictures~ ^^ Her parents also took us to a really nice restaurant! yum~

 cute ducks!

I like the modern and the old all together in this picture

amazing. 

Soyeon and her mom 

me and her dad

Oh, I took the ASLPI (American Sign Language Proficiency Interview) exam on Feb. 28th.  (For those of you who know the TOFEL or TOIK exams, its the ASL equivalent)  I was really nervous for that, as I needed a certain minimum score for admittance into two of the graduate school programs I am applying for.  And honestly, I was really worried because after that ski trip, my ASL got kind of all mixed up.  Since I was around all KSL users, I was kind of mixing the two languages together. And I totally want to learn KSL, but after I got back from the ski trip, I made a conscious decision to not hangout with anyone who uses KSL until after my exam... haha.  Mixing the two during my interview would have been terrible; possibly a huge disaster, as the Korean sign for "correct" which looks exactly the same as the ASL sign for b*?!.  hahaha~   I had this huge fear I was going to accidentally sign "correct/right" in KSL instead of ASL, but thankfully, I did not.
Anyhow, the test was a bit difficult to set up since I'm in Korea and there was a 14 hour time difference. Plus, I needed to have to right software/equipment in order to take the test.  Luckily, one of my friends here had a video phone and was kind enough to A. let me use go to his apt. and use it, and B. be my proctor for the exam.  So, my exam was at 10 pm Korea time aka 8 am EST.  The interviewer was at Gallaudet University in Washington DC and my test was conducted over the internet via video phone (essentially like video skype).  It only lasted about 20 min. and I was surprised to get my test scores back by the end of the week!!! (On line it said it would take 2-3 weeks).  My scores was a 3.1, higher than what was required for entrance. Yes!

I also finished up the last of my application requirements for Gallaudets application, a video of myself in ASL introducing my self, educational background, and educational philosophy, and my goals statement sent off. Whew.

March 1st was a national holiday, so no school or work! woot!  I met up with my level 3 classmates for lunch at Mr. Pizza. It was kind of a going away party for Kyoko and Ayumi, who were both going to be going back to Japan soon.  Afterwards, I went to COEX mall and met up with Nathan, Hyunjeong, and Nik and we went to the aquarium.  The line into the aquarium was RIDICULOUS!!! It was like a mile long.... Everyone and their mother was there, literally. But it actually moved pretty fast. Although the exhibits were super crowded too... Even so, it was fun.

 there was totally squash on our pizza~ awesome.

March 3rd, Korean classes resumed and the new semester started.  4급 is significantly more difficult than 3급 in my opinion... there is a lot of reading, and unfortunately for the English speaking, or actually, the non-Japanese speaking students, our grammar book is lacking... But, I got my old teacher from 2급 who is awesome!!! I was so excited!!  I love her teaching style; she makes class really fun~ ^^

That weekend, March 4-6th, I went skiing again. The last time for the season, as the weather is warming up.  I went with Hyunjoo unni again.  There was one other person from the other ski trip along with one of her other friends.  We went to High One ski resort, which I think is the largest ski resort in Korea.  It was really fun and the weather was awesome.  Because we all had work, we met at Suwon Stn. and drove from there together.  We got in late on Friday, skiied on Saturday, and headed back on Sunday.
It was almost too warm.  I packed warm clothes and I was frying in them...

the view was amazing~ 

 in our condo

haha~ he fell asleep

On the way back to Seoul on Sunday we made a few detours to do some sightseeing, which was really fun!  We went to some famous restaurant that is known for their eel and smoked duck.  I'd never eaten eel before, but it was sooo delicious! I kind of freaked out though, because when they put it on the grill, the tails started moving!!! ah!!! I literally jumped back and hit the wall behind me.
Koreans find it very amusing how queasy Americans (or maybe its just me) get when they see their food moving, somehow still looking alive.  I'm getting better with it; I can eat whole fish with their heads, eyes, skin, and tails etc. and it doesn't bother me anymore; well for the most part.  But I'm still working on it with other foods. lol~
We also went to Donghae, the East Sea, that separates Korea from Japan.  It was really nice!!! wow.  And the weather was absolutely perfect.

 eel for lunch

 at Dong Hae, the East Sea

One of my best friends from 3급 was going back to Japan the following week (actually, the day of the earthquake and tsunami... thankful she was okay and her town is in the south), so on Wedesday we met up in Apgujang for dinner.  Afterwards we headed over to Gangnam and went to a bar, where one of our other classmates met up with us. It was really nice to hangout all together one last time.

 Hitomi, Muxiang, and Kyoko

Andy, me, Kyoko, Hajir, Alexandra, and Hitomi

On Friday, Nik, Henrikje (a Swiss korean drummer I met during that international drumming festival I partook in back in 2008) and I went to a drumming performance by 노름 마치 Noreum Machi, this really awesome poongmul group.  I had been incontact with the manager of the group for sometime, but hadn't managed to meet up yet.  So she invited us and gave us free tickets to the show! It was such an amazing performance!!!

On Saturday I went biking with my host sister by the HanGang River. The weather was great, and you can rent bikes for aprox. $3/hr. Nice!!! Later, I met up with Hangsun oppa, one of the guys who I'd gone skiing with. He lives in Busan, but had come into Seoul for the weekend.  We went to dinner and then watched the movie, "Rango."  Good movie, by the way.

This past Wednesday, I met up with Dewi and Ryoma, two of my Korean classmates from my study abroad time.  Ryoma was in Korea from Japan for a two week vacation, so we met up for dinner. It was really fun seeing him again! And even though Dewi lives in Korea, we don't get to see each other too often either~

Dewi, Ryoma, and me

On Thursday evening, after teaching, I went to Sogang University's sign language club.  I want to learn some KSL and I found this club and thought I'd give it a shot.  It was really fun! I totally don't have time for it, but I'm going to try and make it work... hehe.

Anyhow, I took on a tutoring job as well... It's one of my friends older sisters and she is really nice. We met for the first time yesterday to figure out logistics.  After that meeting, Nik and I hungout and watched "Modern Family."  It's hilarious and is pure 100% American humor.  I LOVE it.

Oh, also, I found out I got into one of the grad. schools I applied for, McDaniel College in MD!!! I am still waiting on one school, but am so relieved to know I have a future!!! haha.

I had to add this picture, only because I find it hilarious. Its garbage "art" in Myeongdong, one of the biggest shopping areas. 

Oh Korea... No comment.

Anyhow, thats all for now. Sorry this post was so long~ If you've read til here, thanks!

Also, I'd like to tell my Bubby to get better soon!!! If you read this Bubby, know that I'm thinking of you and I love you ^^

The Rest of my Time at SupHo

Hey~

So heres a brief run through about the rest of camp.  I was so busy, I never got a chance to update after the first week!

The first session was awesome!  I think I already talked about the girls in my cabin etc. But they were great! Most mornings they would wake up before the 7:30 alarm and I'd find them studying Korean! They cleaned the cabin daily without prompting and when it was our turn to do wakeup duty and meal presentation, they spent a lot of time planning and practicing for our presentation, pan-chan yeonguk (we had to do breakfast, lunch, and dinner).  Here is a link to one of their best ones:

video link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6HYGXcfp-0

During the first two week session I was also teaching samulnori, traditional Korean drumming twice a day.  Once in the morning to the two weekers, who rotated everyday and later in the afternoon as an elective to villagers who had chosen to take my class.
At the end of the first two weeks, my elective class gave a performance at the talent show.  I spend hours making the goggal hats for them to wear for their performance.  I taught them a standing piece, which was pretty difficult to do within such a short span of time. But they did a great job, although they loathed the hats I made them wear. ^__^

video link to one of our practices:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMJ6YFs7U6w

video link to their performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jro8lKsFxtY

Pictures from the first two week session:

진혁 and 한용 the camp's two biggest eaters!!!

some of the staff at Casion Night

~me and a hundred rolls of kimbap~ 

Oren (3) and Soru (18 months), kids of some of the staff. Aren't they adorable!?

Our Kwangju Cabin!

All the first session two week campers

In between sessions, staff gets one day off during the weekend.  I went with the credit kids into town on Saturday while they did laundry, went to Target, and out to dinner.  That is the only day within the month that they are at camp that they are given back their contraband ( cell phones, ipods, books in English) and are allowed to eat Amerian junk food.  And the kids go nuts!  They buy loads of junkfood at Target and inhale it as fast and as much as they can before the end of the night, when everything is taken away again.

Credit Weekend Pictures:

 campers invading the laundromat in Bemidji

Miseol, Youngeun, and Solmin at the laundromat

Mingee, Gayeong, Minji and me waiting for our laundry

Credit kids pigging out on junkfood at Target 

(note the multiple gallons of ice cream)

Gross.  The kids ate all this within a span of two hours.

 and this is how the table looked after all the junkfood was devoured. Stomach ache...

I had my day off on Sunday and went into the town of Bemidji with a bunch of staff. It was sooo much fun! Honestly, we didn't do anything particularly exciting, but I think it was all the more fun because we were stuck on campus at camp for so long. haha!  We walked around as a huge group and explored Bemidji and acted as tourists.  We ended up eating dinner at Green Mill and ate ourselves silly.

Day off Pictures:

Our Day Off!!!!

Staff with Paul Bunyan and Babe the Big Blue Ox, Bemidji icons

Minji and me with Paul Bunyan's moccassins

Staff wearing Minnesota T-shirts (they were 3 for $10 at Walgreens)

getting ready for a cold Minnesota winter???

After dinner at Green Mill

At the Bemidji State Park

We watched the sun set and the beach was beautiful

walking the trails

*group shot*

Right after the first session ended I had to start getting ready for our I-Day performance. That was an undertaking.  I-Day is when all of the language villages that are insession at that time get together to exchange music, dance, foods, and at the end each village gives a brief performance of some sort.  Most are dance, theatrical, or musical performances.
Getting ready was rather stressful, but in the end it all turned out well!  수고했어요!  It was a combination performance of taekwondo (martial arts), samulnori, gayageum (12 stringed zither), and b-boy (break dancing).
Because our performance plan kept changing, it was only finalized three days before our performance. So that meant the kids had one day to learn it and one day to practice it, and then it was show time!  I had them practice from nap time through class time one day for a total of two hours! with a 7 minute water break.  But afterwards, to try and make it up to them, I bought them all snacks.  
It was really hot that day (of course) and I was literally tying ribbons on the kids uniforms as they were walking to the performance area, minutes before the ending ceremony started.  Whew. ^^;;

Link to the big I-day performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n18OfqrCGks

Pictures from I-Day:

SupHo's grand entrance to I-Day

Charlie and Youngeun give Concordia Language Villages a special birthday wish

for their 50th Bday and introduce Sup Sogui Hosu

Junghye unni with her niece and nephew.  So cute!

Amazing fruit stand put on by the French camp

 Soru eating a snack

After I-Day, our class could finally relax, but just a bit.  We still had to get something ready for the talent show/closing program.  I decided I wanted them to do seol changu, or a changu solo.  Some of the kids had never really played changu before, as they preferred one of the other three instruments.  In the end, we did a bit of the changu solo and then transitioned into other beats that included the other instruments.
One of the beats we did has a chant that goes with it.  I had the kids come up with new lyrics for the chant to use vocabulary they they knew and understood instead of the traditional chant which talks about having a good harvest.  

This is what they came up with:
모기 모기 싫어 싫어 아! 아! 아! 아!
mosquitoes mosquitoes hate hate ah! ah! ah! ah! (direct translation)
김치 김치 좋아 좋아  매워! 매워! 매워! 매워!
kimchi kimchi like like spicy! spicy! spicy! spicy!
숲호에서 재미있는 사물놀이  앗싸!
At SupHo we play fun Samulnori yeah!
가 나 다 라 마 바 사 아 자 차 카 타 파 하
(the Korean alphabet) gah nah dah rah mah bah sah ah jah chah kah tah pah hah

It was a hit. The kids nailed it. It was awesome.
Here is a video of their performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RySRQtxU_Dw

On another note, the second session was for the younger kids and there was low enrollment for the younger two weekers this year.  So there were only 7 girls and 2 boys!  Since there were only 7 girls, we didn't need the two 2 week girls cabins that we had had the first session (there were ~25 two weekers the first session), so Eunji unni and I moved from our beloved Kwangju cabin to Busan along with Kyungmoon and Jenny, who were the counselors for the other former two week cabin.
Busan was much larger, but our first night with the second session girls we had three bats in our cabin!  So we had to call the bat catchers aka. some of the boy counselors.  One of the guys came and searched for an hour.  He found two bats and the girls had to move rooms.  Needless to say, the girls were a bit freaked out. 

poor little bat. you are doomed.

As long as no one is asleep while there are bats in the cabin, there is no problem. The problem occurs when someone is asleep in a cabin with bats because bat bites are so small you may not be able to see them.  In that case, everyone who was asleep while the bat was there needs to get rabbies shots, which cost $3,000 a person!!!!  
I think over the span of our four weeks at camp, there were something like 40 bats caught in various cabins and camp buildings.  After they are caught they need to be sent in for testing and then are euthanized.  Sad.

In comparison to our first session with the older campers, it was definitely different having younger kids our second session.  They were much more active, impulsive, and full of energy!!! haha. But also lots of fun and very cute!
Here is a video of them doing their meal presentation.  They presented the food to the melody for "doe a deer."  So cute!

Video link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEklLss-wS8

Pictures from Second Session:

Doesn't my class look like a blast?...

That's better

much happier looking

my drumming class - group shot

2 weekers burying Joonsu in the sand pile

girls putting makeup on male counselors

good job.  Pil looks beautifully creepy...

Soru followed trend and got a faux hawk

kids during evening program playing "Golden Bell" 

to test their Korean vocabulary knowledge 

campfire

2 weekers at the campfire

Minji, Jinwha unni and me out on the lake riding the pontoon

being silly during meal time

Gayeong and I during meal time

Okju eating a baby octopus!

saying goodbye

Anyhow, each session the two weekers put together a video based on a folktale that we focus on during camp.  This year we did the Nymph and the Woodcutter (선녀와 나무꾼) - the skit where I was pregnant and bore three children. ^^  So, the kids also acted out and filmed a rendition of this folktale.

Session 1 (ages 14-18):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8723rUfInI

Session 2 (ages 8-13):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6kmw9sXJxs

They all did a great job and the videos turned out hilarious!