The Disappearing Appendix

Many of you have heard, but for some this may come as a surprise. Last Friday I woke up at 2am with serious stomach pain. I thought I had the flu and spent the night vomiting and trying to find a way to ease the pain. By morning it was pretty clear that it wasn't going away, I called in sick and asked my boss to send a bus driver to get me to the hospital. Three hospitals, an ambulance ride, and an ultra-sound later it was pretty clear I had appendicitis. Luckily, it didn't rupture, just got really swollen, so they did emergency surgery Friday afternoon. I spent 5 days in the hospital, but am home now. I've still got a couple staples and some stitches in my stomach, but I'm on the road to recovery. Thanks to everyone who visited me in the hospital and sent their get well wishes.

Now, here's a lovely picture of the missing appendix! Woot.

And this is how lovely I looked post-surgery! The pj's were pretty comfy :)

A Day Of Firsts

Yesterday I threw caution to the wind and did 2, yes 2, daring things.

First I bungee jumped! I leaped from a 45ft tower dangling from the end of an elastic band. It was awesome! Getting off the tower required a few deep breaths and the ability to not look down, but I made it. I even did a completely unplanned flip. Unfortunately, my photographer on the ground thought it was someone else going and so the actual jump wasn't caught on film, just the after bounces.



Second, I ate Bondaegee. I have no idea if that's how it should be spelled. The English translation is the completely unappetizing Silk Worm Larva. I now know it is as bad as I thought it would be. Kids here love the stuff so you can always find it for sale next to cotton candy at any event where children may be present or outside the gates to elementary schools. It has a disgusting smell, as anyone who's spent anytime in Korea can tell you, and now I know it tastes as bad as it smells. Fortunately, this was caught on film, but she flipped it halfway through. You get the gist.

My New K1 Class

Allison, Allie, Jerry, Delicia, Jenny and Carly

Its a new semester here in Korea and as much as I miss my old kids I'm quickly falling in love with this new group. Its really different for me to have so many girls. My last 2 kindie classes were full of boys. I haven't had to break up a single fight yet!

And damn are they cute...and so smart. Here's a funny conversation that took place the 2nd day of school.

Delicia: Teacher, your hair is beautiful. Are you Caucasian?

Me: Yes.

Delicia: Why?

Me: Because my mommy and daddy and grandma and grandpa are caucasian. Are you Asian?

Delicia: Yes.

Me: Why?

Delicia: Because my mommy and daddy and everyone is Asian.

Spring Is In The Air

Fingers crossed, but I think Spring may soon be here. The weather's been getting warmer and days are getting longer. Yesterday it was 10 degrees. We tried to go to the Van Gogh exhibit at the Seoul National Art Museum, but apparently half of Seoul had the same idea. The line was about 5 blocks long. We had to walk for 10 minutes just to find the end of it! So, we scrapped that idea and decided to be touristy and visit the palace.

Graduation Tears

Hard to believe another year has come and gone. My 3 year anniversary in Korea was last week. Also, the end of February marks the end of the school year here. We spent the last month of Kindergarten rehearsing for the graduation ceremony. Each class learned a play with their foreign teacher, a dance with their Korean teacher and a drum performance with the drum teacher. Its a lot to remember for 5 and 6 year-olds! My kids did fantastic though, and I'm very proud of all of them. My part of the performance was a stage adaptation of "Who Stole The Cookies From The Cookie Jar?" The play finished with a song and dance of the Cookie Monster classic "C is for Cookie" It was riveting. We were up for a few Oscars, but sadly, didn't win. I'm hoping to get some pictures of the kids in their costumes from the parents.