SeoulSurfin: March 2005

Dry Humor

Just thought I'd share something I learned from my G1 boys today: permanent marker can be removed from a dry-erase board with a pencil eraser.

Silent Sounds

Today I was making lessons plans for my G6-C class, and one of our stories for this month is "Moses Goes to a Concert." Moses is deaf, and he and his classmates attend a percussion concert of a musician who is also deaf. I decided to use the life of Beethoven as a "real-life" illustration, and as I was studying a biography online I came across an incredible quote. The following is a review of Beethoven's 5th Symphony (composition began in 1804 after the decline of his hearing had begun) by E.T.A. Hoffman (author and composer):

"Radiant beams shoot through the deep night of this region, and we become aware of gigantic shadows which, rocking back and forth, close in on us and destroy all within us except the pain of endless longing --- a longing in which every pleasure that rose up amid jubilant tones sinks and succumbs. Only through this pain, which, while consuming but not destroying love, hope, and joy, tries to burst our breasts with a full- voiced general cry from all the passions, do we live on and are captivated beholders of the spirits."

Wow.

Do NOT take music majors to karaoke bars; they take things waaaaaaaaaay too seriously!

Donovan and Kylie, rockin' it out with a classic...Mmmbop.

The director of the school, Mr. Lee, succumbing to peer pressure with "My Way.

Jason, crooning "You Are So Beautiful" to his lovely (and embarassed) girlfriend.

After work on Friday, our office went out to start the weekend off on a good note...

Lotte World Amusement Park...that tower is really there for the directionally challenged; if I can see the tower, I can find my apartment.

Thought my life was ending as I snapped this shot...that cab driver (bottom left) looked like he was ready to make some roadkill.

Never fails...pull out your camera and POOF...there goes the sun. Anyway, thought this sculpture deserved recognition, regardless of the light in which it's currently portrayed.

David, Tom, and Julia...oh, and in Korea it really is "Smile! Say 'kimchi'!"

Mindy and Kate, the little saving graces of my oh-so-challenging K-7 class.

Blazing our own trail through Seoul.

The epitome of grace and poise, Teresa sashays effortlessly down the trail as I stumble to keep myself balanced and UPRIGHT on my three-inch high (1/4 inch WIDE) heels...

Those boots were made for WALKING (NOT hiking).

This is a happy little hiking trail that Teresa and I tackled on a whim after church this morning. She looks remarkably fresh and pleasant considering that we'd just scaled a practically vertical incline, dress clothes and all.

Teresa and Mary LOVE working at JM!!!

(from left) Mr. Moon (quiet and kind, an incredibly helpful person and the only man I know that's sat through Evita and maintained a shred of sanity), Joan (WAY cool chick, backpacked around Europe for 3 months by herself...what an inspiration), are my earrings really that big?, and Jenny (stylish and sweet, her Persian has a litter of 6 that need loving homes...).

My guys - (from the left) David, Michael, Tony, and Johnny.

Loved the way the light was playing off the wall and trees here.

A Korean gentleman named Lee offered to take a picture of me to send home to my family. Talk about shock...that is the first time that I've actually been approached by a Korean since arriving in Incheon. Granted, the language barrier has a lot to do with that, but most of the natives prefer to ignore foreigners.